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The Philadelphia Magazine 50 Best Restaurants roundup hasn’t yet hit newsstands, but they’ve unveiled a sneak peek of the rankings online.

As of today you can view the top 20; as of tomorrow, Thursday, December 23rd, you’ll be able to browse through the entire 50.

Expect some surprises, some droolworthy photos, and some fresh fodder for dinner reservation ideas.

The 2011 Philly Mag 50 [Philly Mag via Foobooz]

The New Year's Eve Philly Overnight® Hotel Package is our most bonus-packed ever. (Photo courtesy Philadelphia Marriott Downtown)

New Year’s Eve is just a week away. But we’ve got you covered on the plan-making with the exclusive New Year’s Eve edition of our super popular Philly Overnight® Hotel Package.

You can’t beat the convenience factor — or the value. 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 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 — we saved the best for last — late check-out on Sunday.

CLICK HERE to search rates and availability at participating hotels. We just searched, and despite time winding down, you can still book a number of Center City hotels for around $200 a night.

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

Tie the knot Valentine's Weekend aboard the Mural Arts' Love Train in the City of Brotherly Love. (Photo courtesy Mural Arts Program)

Last we mentioned the Mural Arts Program’s Love Letter Tour, we offered a front row look at Canadian couple Todd and Meaghan’s engagement aboard the Market-Frankford El to the tune of the Penn Glee Club, and the background of Stephen Powers’ Love Letter murals.

Now Mural Arts is dialing things up a notch. They’re looking for one lucky couple to be married by Mayor Michael Nutter on the Love Train, Sunday, February 13th, 2011.

Are you looking for a quintessentially Philadelphia way to celebrate your love? (It is the City of Brotherly Love, after all). Enter to win, by emailing events@muralarts.org: tell the Mural Arts Program why you would be the perfect couple to be married on the Love Train. Attach a video, a photo, a poem…be creative!

For those interested in the tour, sans knot-tying: the Love Train, a one-of-a-kind romantic Valentine’s Weekend experience, has a limited registration of 360 passengers (or 180 couples). It’s an exclusive 5 m.p.h. tour aboard a privately-chartered, festively-decorated, SEPTA El Train to view the Love Letter murals that span from 46th through 63rd Streets around the Market Street corridor. The murals read like love notes from a boy to his unrequited love, in non-sequential messages. The tour departs from (where else?) Love Park.

The Love Train tour and reception will be followed by a screening of the feature film A Love Letter for You, included in the price of the event. The film combines documentary footage of the 50 rooftop murals in West Philadelphia along with a narrative to tell the story of the project.

Tickets for the Love Train can be purchased at 215-685-0754. or online.

Love Letter Train Tour [Mural Arts Program]

The Please Touch Museum counts down to 2011 at noon with music, art and appearances by Clifford the Big Red Dog and Stellaluna.
(Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

Philadelphia is going all out for New Year’s, and it’s the perfect destination for families seeking a kid-friendly celebration. Whether it’s “Counting Down to Noon” at the Please Touch Museum or face-painting at Longwood Gardens, there’s something for everyone in 2011.

• Please Touch Museum: The museum rings in 2011 early with Countdown to Noon on December 31st. The museum opens at 9 a.m. and holds “Noon Year” party activities with music and confetti. Countdowns take place at noon and 1 p.m.

• Betsy Ross House: On December 31st, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., history buffs can party with the country’s most famous seamstress in honor of her 259th birthday, which is actually on January 1st. The guest of honor entertains at the Betsy Ross House with cake from City Tavern, kids’ crafts and audio tours of her former home.

• Blue Cross RiverRink: Winter sports enthusiasts can celebrate at the Blue Cross RiverRink New Year’s Eve Party on Ice, a family-friendly affair that boasts one of the best views of the city’s breathtaking fireworks displays over the Delaware River. Skaters can catch one of two sparkling shows during the early (5-7 p.m.) and late (11 p.m.-1 a.m.) parties. Tickets are $30 for skaters and $20 for spectators.

Check out more picks below.

(more…)

(Photo courtesy Four Seasons)

OpenTable has released its annual “Best Of” list, featuring the 50 best restaurants in the U.S. according to more than 7 million reviews of 15,000 restaurants submitted by OpenTable diners.

Two Philadelphia restaurant scene mainstays, Vetri and The Fountain Restaurant at the Four Seasons, made the cut.

California trumped New York this year as the state with the most winning restaurants (eight). With its 328% increase in fine dining spots since 1992, don’t count Philadelphia out of the race for next year’s top spot.

Check out the full list online.

OpenTable Diners Reveal Their Top 50 Favorites [OpenTable]

Produce at the Fair Food Farmstand (photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC)

It’s well known that while the Thanksgiving menu is set, traditional Christmas feasting is far less regimented. If you’re Italian, you might do the Seven Fishes. For my father’s Protestant ancestors, clam chowder or oyster stew was traditional on Christmas Eve, followed the next day by a large hunk of roasted meat. Whether you follow tradition (a giant ham, perhaps?) or carve out a fresh menu for yourself each year, Philly Homegrown wants to remind you that there are still lots of lovely, locally available items, even during these dark, cold days.

Reading Terminal Market’s Fair Food Farmstand is currently stocked with all manner of local produce, including freshly dug potatoes, mountains of hearty greens, brussels sprouts, leeks (we have just the recipe for you too) and cranberries from just over the bridge. They’re open until 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve, closed December 25 and 26.

Pumpkin Market is also offers an array of local produce (according to their Facebook page, they just got a delivery of local cranberries). They also carry local cheeses, baked goods and items that make for excellent edible gifts (they’re always happy to help you put together a charming basket of jams, crackers and treats). They’re open until 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve, closed Christmas Day and then open again on December 26,

For those of you in the city’s Northwest suburbs, we recommend visiting one of the Weaver’s Way Co-ops. They now have locations in Mt. Airy, Ogontz and Chestnut Hill to make local shopping even easier. And you don’t have to be a member to shop there. You can drop in for a few staples without any sort of commitment. All stores are open until 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, closed on Christmas Day and then they resum regular hours.

If you’re in search of more local recipes, make sure to check out Philly Homegrown’s extensive (and ever-growing) archive of recipes.

Stephen Starr is set to open Philadelphia restaurant #15 next week. (Photo courtesy STARR Restaurants)

Stephen Starr will add the U.K. to his global culinary resume with The Dandelion, his new British-inspired pub at 18th and Sansom Streets set to open next week.

UPDATE: Dandelion will open at 3 p.m. on December 31st.

The two-level, 135-seat restaurant — which will be the 15th currently operating restaurant in Philadelphia for Stephen Starr — pays homage to contemporary British cuisine, drawing inspiration from across-the-pond gastropubs. Norwich, England native Chef Robert Aikens helms The Dandelion’s kitchen.

For the daily menu, expect unique takes on classic British fare like:

• Winter Root Vegetable Soup with local cheddar and buttermilk bread croutons
• Cumberland Sausages with Mashed Potato and Onion Gravy
• Beer-battered fish and chips
• Sticky Toffee Pudding with Date Ice Cream.

Complementing the cuisine is a U.K.-exclusive beer list.

On Sundays, feast on a traditional family-style roast, and on weekends enjoy brunch in the form of a traditional full English breakfast. Also, in truest British style, an afternoon tea menu will feature English teas served in imported Brown Betty pots. Guests can dig into a selection of cakes, scones and biscuits served on traditional tiered serving trays.

The Dandelion, while loyal to its British roots, also waves the flag of Philadelphia with the preservation of the space’s original architecture, what was once two residences. Shawn Hausman Design — of STARR Restaurants’ Parc and Butcher & Singer — used reclaimed building materials, artwork, furniture and decorative pieces found during numerous trips to England.

The restaurant’s opening hours are lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday through Saturday 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. As mentioned above, the restaurant will also offer brunch and afternoon tea in the coming weeks.

Take a trip to England without the pricey airfare, or the need for an umbrella and galoshes. You have a week or two to start honing that faux-British accent.

The Dandelion
122-124 South 18th Street

The Avenue of the Arts will host multiple New Year's Eve performances. (Photo courtesy Kimmel Center)

True to its newly minted reputation as a creative hotbed, Philadelphia provides performing arts-lovers with a wide range of options for New Year’s Eve. Each of these shows is exclusive to the city and unparalleled in artistic quality. You can’t choose wrong.

• The Pennsylvania Ballet’s The Nutcracker at the Academy of Music: Catch the very last show on December 31st. Noon. Tickets range from $15 to $139.

• Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at the Walnut Street Theatre: Sparks fly and snow falls in this classic reproduction of the Paramount Pictures film, featuring can’t-get-out-of-your-head songs. 8 p.m. Tickets range from $13.75 to $91.25.

• Peter Nero and the Philly Pops’ Swinging in the New Year at Verizon Hall: Enjoy a one-night-only performance by a Philadelphia paradigm. 8 p.m. Tickets range from $46 to $90.

• Blue Man Group at the Merriam Theater: Get a thrill from this group’s high-octane theatrical performance. 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $85.

• Cirque du Soleil:Dralion at Temple’s Licaouras Center: Dralion is the fusion of ancient Chinese circus tradition and the avant-garde approach of Cirque du Soleil. The show is a celebration of life and the four elements that maintain the natural order: air, water, fire and earth. 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tickets range from $36 to $95.

• The Borrowers at the Arden Theatre: Discover a world of endless possibilities and enchanting adventures. Noon. Tickets range from $16 to $30.

• This Is The Week That Is by 1812 Productions at Plays & Players Theatre: A political comedy whose wit is not only bipartisan but also appealing to politics-phobes, the show is rewritten on a nightly basis (really) to keep up with the most breaking scandals and scoops of local and national politics. 8 p.m. $32.

• ComedySportz at the Adrienne Theater: Kiss 2010 goodbye lightheartedly at one of two improv comedy shows, 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. $20 for adults, $25 for students.

Don't miss the Cleopatra exhibit at the Franklin Institute — now through January 2nd. (Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC)

The Franklin Institute has a week-long series of discounts and events planned to kick off the final week of its blockbuster exhibition, Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt.

The exhibition’s final week, Monday, December 27th through Sunday, January 2nd, will feature extended hours: December 27th-29th, the exhibit will remain open until 7 p.m., and December 30th-January 2nd, the exhibit will remain open until 8:30 p.m.

Also enjoy a 30% discount on Egyptian merchandise in the Franklin’s Sci-Store all week long.

Most importantly: the exhibit is open on New Year’s Day. These final week specials are capped off by a special free parking promotion to all Cleopatra ticket-holders on Saturday, January 1st, an additional day to see the popular exhibit before it closes officially on January 2nd. That means you can make a weekend out of it.

Tickets are available online.

Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt
The Franklin Institute
222 N. 20th Street
cleopatra.visitphilly.com

Franklin Square is brilliantly lit for the season. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

With Christmas just around the corner, we wanted to highlight some of the city’s major seasonal attractions you should make sure to visit. From light shows to dance shows, there’s plenty of holiday cheer to still go around.

Here are our top must-see picks:

• The Macy’s Holiday Light Show: This Philadelphia holiday tradition dating back to 1956 makes for the perfect seasonal family outing: free, festive, and certainly flashy. Open through New Year’s Eve.

• Christmas Village at Dilworth Plaza: Browse through the Village’s 80 quaint, wooden booths full of gifts for everyone on your list. Open through Christmas Eve.

• The Comcast Holiday Spectacular: Sparkling Christmas lights, a 1940s swing-dance rendition of “Jingle Bell Rock,” and ice sculptures coming to life are a sampling of what the program features, shown on the 2,100 square foot screen, the the largest four-millimeter LED screen in the world. Open through New Year’s Eve.

• Blue Cross RiverRink: Philadelphia’s only public outdoor ice rink is Olympic-sized and features an indoor heated facility with a snack bar, game room and more. Open through March 6th, 2011.

• The Pennsylvania Ballet’s The Nutcracker: World-class dancing meets sumptuous costume and set design, with a cast of characters to enchant each audience member. Open through New Year’s Eve.

• Reading Terminal Holiday Railroad: Kids and adults alike delight in this 500 square foot model railroad display with almost a third of a mile of track and twelve working train lines. Open through January 2nd, 2011.

• Longwood Gardens Christmas: Nothing short of a winter wonderland, Longwood Gardens gets strung in half a million brilliant lights strung on over 39 miles of cord. Holiday performances further supplement the magic, with everything from children’s choirs to a capella troupes to a handbell ensemble. Open through January 9th, 2011.

• Peddler’s Village: With more than 70 specialty shops and eight restaurants, you’ll love the Village’s charm and its beautiful, festive decorations. Open through January 1st, 2011.

And, of course, the city is bedecked in millions of brilliant lights from Franklin Square to Love Park to Philadelphians’ homes. Feast your eyes on a video of the holiday lights, online.