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The New Year's Eve Philly Overnight® Hotel Package makes planning simple. (Photo courtesy Philadelphia Marriott Downtown)

New Year’s Eve is fast-approaching, but you’re not out of luck with a convenient and value-packed solution to planning a weekend getaway.

Check out our options for New Year’s Eve Dinner, plans for New Year’s Day, and stay tuned for a guide to viewing the Penn’s Landing Fireworks plus other options for how to spend the last night of 2010.

But most importantly, the exclusive New Year’s Eve edition of our super popular Philly Overnight® Hotel Package has you covered on the accommodations front.

For starters, you get two nights’ accommodation (Friday and Saturday) and free parking (a $75+ value at most Center City hotels), but the New Year’s Eve Weekend hotel package also includes (deep breath): 2 free tickets to the Blue Cross RiverRink, a “Buy One, Get One Free” cheesesteak offer at four participating locations, a free $10 game play voucher at Dave and Buster’s, check-in gift including teddy bear and map, and late check-out on Sunday.

CLICK HERE to search rates and availability at participating hotels.

Exclusive New Year’s Eve Weekend Philly Overnight® Hotel Package [Visit Philly]

Ghost Tours of Philadelphia will present their New Year’s Eve Ghost Tours Friday, December 31st at 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.

The 75 minute candlelight tours will begin at the historic Physick House in Society Hill and conclude at the Powel House, the site of many of high society’s holiday parties from yesteryear. Expect the spinning of ghostly tales of merriment and mayhem, concluding with a champagne “Toast with a Ghost.” Dr. Physick’s Soda Pop, America’s first soda, will also be offered.

In each historic mansion, guests will hear ghost stories and lore from long ago, including the legends of phantom celebrations, reports of local ghostly activity and haunting resolutions gone seriously awry.

Tickets are $25 per person (ages 13 and up only).

A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks. Mark the passing of 2010 in most memorable fashion — it’ll be sure to be a New Year’s Eve you won’t forget.

New Year’s Eve Ghost Tour
When: Friday, December 31st, 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Where: Physick House, 321 S. 4th Street
Cost: $25
More info: www.ghosttour.net

Ring in 2011 with two fireworks shows on the Delaware River as SugarHouse Casino Presents Twice the Fireworks! Twice the Fun!
(Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

As we’ve mentioned, Penn’s Landing is hosting two spectacular fireworks shows this New Year’s Eve, one at 6 p.m. and one at midnight.

The displays, along the Delaware River, are about 15 minutes each, set against the beautiful backdrop of the Philadelphia skyline. But where exactly is the best vantage point?

Here are our top picks for fireworks-viewing spots hosting official New Year’s Eve parties:

• Blue Cross RiverRink: The rink hosts the 17th annual New Year’s Eve Parties On Ice from 5 to 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. The convenient location on Columbus Boulevard at Market Street offers an up-front view of the fireworks. Enjoy great food, live entertainment in the heated indoor facility, and — of course — ice-skating. Tickets to the Parties on Ice are $30 for skaters and $20 for spectators, available for purchase at the Kimmel Center Box Office through Tuesday, December 28th.

• Battleship New Jersey: View the fireworks from the decks of the battleship, across the Delaware River. Prizes, music, food and bar service will be available. The ship opens at 4 p.m. for the 6 p.m show, and 10 p.m. for the midnight show. Tickets are $8, available online. You can also spend the first night of 2011 aboard the Battleship. After dinner in the crew’s mess, a ride in the flight simulator, a tour of the ship and a non-alcoholic toast during the midnight fireworks, guests can head down to the bunks for a Navy-style sleepover. Tickets are $60.95.

• The Philadelphia Belle: Choose from a sunset or midnight New Year’s Eve cruise — both end in the closest-possible viewing of the fireworks shows, directly on the water. The sunset cruise boards at 3:30 p.m. and sails from 4 to 6:30 p.m.; enjoy a four course sit-down dinner, cash bar, live entertainment, party favors and viewing of the 6 p.m. fireworks. ($99.95 per adult, $75 per child 4-12). The midnight cruise boards at 9 p.m. and sails from 9:30 to 12:30 a.m.; a four course sit-down dinner is also served, along with a premium open bar, champagne toast at midnight, live entertainment and party favors ($180 per person). Reservations can be made online.

• Independence Seaport Museum: The museum will stay open late on New Year’s Eve so guests can enjoy the 6 p.m. fireworks from the second floor balcony overlooking the river. There will be music and a sparkling cider toast at 6 p.m. This event is free for Seaport Museum members, and included with regular admission ($12 for adults, $10 for Seniors, $7 for children/college students/military, free for children under 3).

More picks below.

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The Macy’s Holiday Light Show, a Philadelphia holiday tradition since 1956, makes for the perfect Christmas weekend family outing.
(Photo by Andrew Weiss Photography)

uwishunu wishes you a very Merry Christmas.

Here are our abbreviated Holiday Weekend Picks:

Friday

Click here for eleventh hour shopping ideas, including Philadelphia museum gift shops, the newly opened Jonathan Adler store, and The Shops at Liberty Place.

Saturday

Check out our guide to local restaurant options for Christmas dinner. Happy feasting!

Sunday

Celebrate Boxing Day with all-day beer specials at Pub & Kitchen or Memphis Taproom.
 
We’ll be back on Monday with a guide to New Year’s Eve fireworks-watching, more ideas for how to spend the big evening, and other good stuff.

(Photo courtesy Andrew Weiss Photography)

Celebrate the holiday patriotically. (Photo courtesy Washington Crossing Historic Park)

Head to Washington Crossing Historic Park Christmas Day, December 25th, at 1 p.m. for the historic annual reenactment of George Washington crossing the Delaware River, an act that changed the course of history.

History lovers will be delighted to join in honoring the soldiers of 1776 as their heroic Crossing is recreated. See the spot where, Christmas Night 1776, General Washington’s boats quietly took the soldiers to the battles of Trenton and Princeton.

Walk among the grounds where his troops waited patiently by the side of the Delaware River, close by several historic houses and work buildings that represent Pennsylvania industry and home life in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Celebrate the holiday in patriotic fashion.

Tip: Bundle up and bring a thermos of something warm to drink; the wind coming off the river can be icy.

Washington Crossing Reenactment
Where: Washington Crossing Historic Park, 1112 River Road, Washington Crossing, PA
When: Christmas Day, 1 p.m.
Cost: FREE
More info: www.ushistory.org/washingtoncrossing

Make your New Year's dinner plans. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

We’ve had you covered for Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas dinner at restaurants around town.

No fewer options abound for New Year’s Eve dinner.

And as we celebrate the close of this decade, in a city whose restaurant scene is ever-flourishing, you can’t go wrong with the place you choose.

We have a comprehensive New Year’s Eve dining guide on Visit Philly. Foobooz also has a thorough roundup, sortable by location and extras you’re looking for (vegetarian, live music, etc).

New Year’s Eve Dining In Philadelphia [Visit Philly]
New Year’s Eve Guide [Foobooz]

Post your resolutions on the Resolution Wall.
(Photo courtesy Kimmel Center)

Warm up indoors on New Year’s Day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with free entertainment at the Kimmel Center and a bird’s eye view of the 111th annual Mummers Parade.

The schedule includes family-friendly performances like acoustic jazz quartet Hot Club of Philadelphia and puppeteer-band Two of a Kind, plus crafts (face-painting, balloon animals, and more) on the Commonwealth Plaza level.

There will also be warm drinks, beverages, and light fare for families and friends to enjoy. The menu includes freshly prepared sandwiches with vegetarian options, hot dogs, soft pretzels, soups and salads, along with hot chocolate, Philly-brewed beer, wine and specialty martinis.

The Kimmel Center will also be providing ticket giveaways within the facility and on the Kimmel Center’s Facebook and Twitter pages to the following performances: STOMP (Feb 15th-20th), 2011 Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA) (April 7th–May 1st), Mary Poppins, and select “Kimmel Center Presents” Spring performances.

A full schedule of New Year’s Day events at the Kimmel Center is available online.

2011 New Year’s Day Celebration
Where: Kimmel Center, Broad & Spruce Streets
When: January 1st, 2011, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: FREE
More info: www.kimmelcenter.org

Safran and Turney are an unstoppable duo. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

Valerie Safran and Marcie Turney participated in an online chat with Craig LaBan last week, in which they discussed a number of things including the inspiration for Barbuzzo, a few of their favorite places to eat, and some of their plans for future growth.

2010 has already been a year of whirlwind growth for the restauranteur-chef pair: first they opened Barbuzzo, their inaugural venture into the world of liquor licensed restaurants (Lolita and Bindi are BYOBs).

They then launched a We Heart Philly gift series, featuring designer totes, ceramic mugs, tees, stationary and onesies that pay homage to the city that has offered the entrepreneurial pair such a warm embrace.

What do they want to tackle next? Just a cookbook and a restaurant with a rooftop garden… Valerie explains:

“Buy a commercial building in Center City, renovate it, build our dream house on the top floor, garden on the roof and restaurant on the first floor. After that, a cooking/entertaining book and continue to develop products for our website.”

If Safran and Turney’s six restaurants and boutiques along 13th Street are destined to see their ranks swell, all we can do is wait eagerly. You can keep apprised of the pair’s doings via their blog.

Turney and Safran: Their ‘empire’ and what’s next [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Start off 2011 on the right foot. (Credit: iStockPhoto)

Race into the New Year at the Linc!

For New Year’s Eve 2010, McFadden’s at Citizens Bank Park will host the second annual midnight run around Lincoln Financial Field providing an open bar, sweatshirts, and cash awards to the fastest male and female runner; the catch on that last one? You have to be decked out in eveningwear. Last year, about 80% of runners were thus clad, all the way down to the fur stole.

Start off those New Year’s resolutions to stay fit on the right foot, or simply bring your A-game to the field before the pro athletes, with an original NYE plan.

The 5K race will begin at midnight. The field is limited to 750 guests. A post race celebration will consist of an open bar with food from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. for all participants of legal age (ID required).

The registration fee is $45 before December 29th, and $50 on race night.

There will be free parking in the Toyota parking lots at Citizens Bank Way and Pattison Avenue.

You can register online.

New Year’s Eve Midnight Run
Where: McFadden’s at Citizens Bank Park
When: Friday, December 31st, midnight
Cost: $45 by December 29th, $50 day of
More info: www.racoonsports.com

Exterior of the Philadelphia Museum of Art (photo by M. McClellan for GPTMC)

As we head into the final days of the year, many people are coming into a bit of vacation time. A wonderful way to take advantage of time off is to visit one of the city’s grandest institutions, the Philadelphia Museum of Art. However, because the PMA want their employees to be able to enjoy their own holidays, there are some changes to their normal hours.

On Friday, December 24, the Museum and Rodin Museum will close at 3 p.m. There will be no Art After 5 program that evening and Granite Hill, the Gallery Café at Perelman and the Balcony Café will be closed. On Saturday, December 25, all Museum facilities are closed.

On Monday, December 27, the Museum will be open (a change from their usual hours) to allow for those still on vacation from school and work to visit. However, the Rodin Museum will be closed.

On Friday, December 31, the Museum is open. Art After 5 will feature a New Year’s Eve pre-party celebration until 8:45 p.m. The Museum will be open on New Year’s Day (be aware that there may be traffic issues, due to the Mummers Parade on Broad Street). The Rodin Museum is closed.

For more information about current exhibitions at the PMA, click here. We particularly recommend that you see the Michelangelo Pistoletto installation before it leaves the museum in mid-January.