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Head to the Philadelphia History Museum tonight, 6-8 p.m., for another “Conversations” series event: “Conversations on Political Cartoons,” moderated by politician, former city controller, and local personality Jonathan Saidel.

The talk will delve into the creative processes of the city’s legendary political cartoonists, Tony Auth at the Philadelphia Inquirer, and Signe Wilkinson at the Daily News.

A selection of cartoons from the Philadelphia History Museum collection will be on display exclusively for this event.

The museum, located just around the corner from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, has been an exciting gateway into Philadelphia history for nearly 70 years. Its insight into political cartoons and how they’ve told the story of this city is sure to be fascinating.

Email kate.bieg@philadelphiahistory.org or call (215) 685-4827 for advance tickets; they’re also available online.

Conversations On Political Cartoons
Where: Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent, 15 S. 7th Street
When: Wednesday, March 23, 6-8 p.m.
Cost: $10
More info: www.philadelphiahistory.org

The beer is called Saizanne, after Suzanne and its saison style. (Photo courtesy Iron Hill)

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant head brewer Chris LaPierre and Suzanne “Beer Lass” Woods, his girlfriend, beer lover and president of women’s beer appreciation club In Pursuit of Ale (IPA), are collaborating to create a special new beer.

Combining Woods’ favorite condiment, green and pink peppercorns, with a traditional Belgian-style saison (typically a refreshing, low-alcohol pale ale), the beer is the long-time couple’s first joint effort.

Called Saizanne, it will be “unfiltered, light-bodied, bright and complex with earthy, fruity, spicy character and a refreshing finish.” Yum.

The beer will be brewed on March 29 beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Iron Hill’s Maple Shade location. Then, Saturday, April 30 from noon to 5 p.m., Woods and her beer club will officially debut the new beer with a festive party. Guests can meet and greet Woods and sample the beer.

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
124 East Kings Highway, Maple Shade, NJ
www.ironhillbrewery.com

Cheesesteaks, barbecue and Crab Fries – Oh My! The food at Citizens Bank Park is award-winning, and deservedly so.
(Clockwise from top: G. Widman for GPTMC, R. Kennedy for GPTMC, B. Krist for GPTMC)

We’re just nine, that’s right, nine short days away from Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park, so it’s time to start getting excited about what’s new at the ballpark this season.

We’ve already mentioned the giant new HD jumbotron — 7,372 square feet large to be exact, the largest in the National League — that has been installed for the new season.

We also tipped you off about the “At the Ballpark” feature in the MLB At-Bat app that lets you order ballpark food through your iPhone and have it delivered directly to your seat, which debuted with a test run at the end of last season. It was a success, so the ordering-food-from-your-seat component of the At-Bat 2011 app will be in full operation at CBP this season.

And today, the Phillies released what else is new at the ballpark for 2011. Here’s a rundown on some brand new concessions being offered:

• The Return of Tastykakes: After not being available at the Phillies’ stadiums for years due to melting issues, Aramark is bringing back Tastykakes to Phillies games complete with a custom cooler to keep them chilled on hot summer days at select concessions. Chocolate Cupcakes, Butterscotch Krimpets and Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes will be available at South Philadelphia Market stands (behind Sections 106, 177, 128, 206, 318 and 323) and Hall of Fame and Diamond Clubs. Sugar-Free Tastykakes available at Philly Fresh (behind Section 139; see below).

• A New Philly Fresh stand: This new stand will be located behind Section 139 in Left Field and feature healthier menu options than the ballpark standards (not that there’s anything wrong with crab fries, cheesesteaks, BBQ and the like…).

Fare at the new Philly Fresh concession will include the Hall of Fame Salad (mixed greens, red grapes, pistachios, dried cranberries, blue cheese, balsamic vinaigrette); Shanghai Chicken Salad (grilled chicken breast, mixed greens, crispy Asian-style noodles, carrots, scallions, low-fat ginger soy dressing); trail mix; whole-grain pretzels; strawberry banana and mango smoothies; low-fat yogurt and berry parfait; hummus dip with pita crisps; carrots and celery with low-fat ranch dressing; Go-Gurt yogurt and sugar-free Tastykakes.

Below, we have info on a few more tasty additions.

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The star of The Food Network's "Viva Daisy!", Daisy Martinez. (Photo courtesy Daisy Martinez)

[This is the ninth installment of our ¡Philly Te Ama! Video Series that spotlights noteworthy Latinos with a connection to Philadelphia in order to learn more about why they love it here.]

Today we ask another super talented national celebrity why she loves Philadelphia. Food Network star Daisy Martinez is no stranger to Philadelphia’s food scene. Constantly raising the bar with her cooking show and authoring best-selling books, Martinez is a great example of how Latinas can morph something as simple as home cooking into something incredibly fun and exciting.

In the video below, Martinez talks about why Latinos need to eat healthier, some of her favorite restaurants in Philadelphia and of course how she loves eating her cheesesteak. Martinez also gives Latino(a)s advice on how to make it in the food business.

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With mini golf, a carousel, a playground and SquareBurger, Franklin Square is the only one of Philadelphia’s five original squares dedicated entirely to fun. (Clockwise from top: J. Holder for GPTMC, R. Kennedy for GPTMC, J. Smith for GPTMC)

Franklin Square, one of the most family-friendly and fun-filled of Philadelphia’s five original public squares laid out by William Penn, officially reopens for the 2011 season on Friday, April 1.

They’ll be special opening Day festivities all day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

And, of course, you can play Philly Mini Golf, take a ride on the Philadelphia Park Liberty Carousel, access the award-winning playgrounds, and, last but not least, have a delicious meal at Stephen Starr’s awesome SquareBurger hamburger shack, conveniently located in the center of the park.

That’s right burger fans — SquareBurger will be opening for the season on Friday, April 1 as well.

Returning to the SquareBurger menu this year will be the popular Tastykake milkshake, The Cake Shake, and the Krimpet-filled Butterscotch Sundae. Also returning will be their delicious hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs — including the salami-wrapped Philly Dog — chicken fingers, french fries, salads and more.

And new this year is the Birthday Bonanza Sundae, celebrating five seasons of fun in Franklin Square: one scoop vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce, one scoop chocolate ice cream with caramel sauce, topped with whipped cream and a cherry.

Squareburger opens at 11 a.m. every day and always closes one hour before Franklin Square closes. See below for more information, including Franklin Square’s hours of operation and a mouthwatering photo of some SquareBurger treats.

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An exciting new interactive educational exhibit is coming to the zoo, April 9. (Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC)

On Saturday, April 9 the Philadelphia Zoo, in partnership with the world-renowned Jim Henson Company, will present the opening of the first and only exhibit of its kind: X•tink•shun: A Wild Puppet X•perience.

X•tink•shun tells the story of endangered species through specially created characters, including Didi the Dodo, Leo the Golden Lion Tamarin and Iggle the Eaglet. Together, they’re striving to enlist the aid of humans in their struggle for survival.

To wit: their mission is “to bring about the x•tink•shun of extinction.”

The centerpiece of the exhibit is live theatrical puppet presentations that educate guests on the plight of threatened species and habitats.

Interactive components include the daily “March of the Wild Parade” where zoo guests will march through the concourse among high-flying animal puppets to the tune of a specially composed song written and performed by Grammy award-winning artist Dan Zanes. Plus, at the X•Clamation Station guests can create their own words and expressions of support to help leave their mark at the Philadelphia Zoo.

The overall message is to appreciate and understand threatened wildlife in all of its incredible vibrancy. Where better to stake this campaign than at America’s first zoo?

Tickets are available in advance online.

X•tink•shun: A Wild Puppet X•perience
Where: Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Avenue
When: April 9-October 31
Cost: Zoo admission is $18 for adults, $15 for children 2-11 and free for children under 2
More info: www.philadelphiazoo.org

The new park will turn a vacant, one-acre pier just south of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge into a vibrant public space with trees, a promenade, a lawn, and a terrace — all with spectacular river views. (Images courtesy Delaware River Waterfront Corporation)

The Race Street Pier, built on the vacant Pier 11 as an Early Action project that’s part of the ambitious Civic Vision for the Central Delaware Riverfront, opens to the public on May 12 with an official ribbon cutting from Mayor Nutter.

But you can join the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation in a special preview celebration of this exciting new outdoor park on the Delaware River the previous evening, May 11.

Be the first to see Philadelphia’s newest park, while enjoying fare from local Philadelphia restaurants, ambient entertainment and beverages from Yards Brewing Company, Ansonia Wines and Luksosowa Vodka. The evening will be capped off by an exciting landside fireworks display, at 8:30 p.m.

Race Street Pier is an integral part of a series of open space improvements as part of the new Master Plan proposed for every half mile along the central Delaware. The park features two levels — an upper level with a grand sky promenade and a lower level for gathering and recreation — plus 37 full-grown trees. Gorgeous!

Tickets for the preview event, $150, will be available for purchase online starting April 1 [website coming soon]. Proceeds from the special May 11 preview event will be used to fund arts programming to help keep the new waterfront animated and highly used.

To learn more about the park plans, check out our previous coverage on the Race Street Pier here.

Preview Event for the Race Street Pier
Where: Columbus Boulevard at Race Street on the Delaware River
When: Wednesday, May 11, 6-9 p.m.
Cost: $150
More info: www.delawareriverwaterfrontcorp.com

Arts and crafts activities are free, in the Annenberg plaza. (Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC)

The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the 27th annual Philadelphia International Children’s Festival, Thursday, April 7–Friday, April 9.

This year, families can enjoy live performances perfect for the young (and young at heart) including Basil Twist’s puppet masterpiece Petrushka; ScrapArtsMusic, a percussion performance using instruments crafted from industrial scraps; Native American storyteller and dancer Thirza Defoe; and stage, TV and film actor John Lithgow and the Sunny Street Strutters.

Plus, there will be crafts, face painting, jugglers and more in the Children’s Festival Fun Zone on the Annenberg Center Outdoor Plaza. And you can meet the Phillie Phanatic on Saturday, April 9 at noon!

Founded in 1985, the Philadelphia International Children’s Festival was the first of its kind in the entire country. The eagerly anticipated springtime tradition attracts more than 15,000 children and their families each year.

Tickets, and show times, are available online.

27th Philadelphia International Children’s Festival
When: April 7-9
Where: Annenberg Center
Cost: Tickets are $10-$15 for one show and access to the Fun Zone; $25 for three main stage shows, access to the Fun Zone and lunch (April 9 only)

The Mural Arts Program celebrated its 25th anniversary from October 2008 through October 2009.
(Photo by Jack Ramsdale courtesy Mural Arts)

The global news agency Reuters gave Philadelphia’s popular public art program Mural Arts a nice shoutout yesterday.

According to the article, Mural Arts is the largest public art program in the United States (there are over 3,500 murals on display), having transformed urban landscapes in very corner of Philadelphia.

The murals, the first of which was painted in 1984, depict local heroes, national legends and community pleasures. The murals are painted on parachute paper, which is applied to buildings like wallpaper and then sealed.

Click here for Mural Arts tour tickets to experience the murals yourself, if you haven’t already.

The article points to how Philadelphia has earned international praise as the “City of Murals.” We’ve truly earned the title, and will continue to fulfill it: “How Philly Moves,” which will be one of the largest murals in America (it will stretch for half a mile long, and 75 feet high) is set for completion at the Philadelphia International Airport in just a few months.

Murals brighten city, depict Philadelphia history [Reuters]

The Flame of Liberty, a 20-foot-tall pillar of crimson glass, is part of the museum's permanent collection. (Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC)

The National Liberty Museum is unveiling a new glass art show March 24, Generation To Generation, a showcase of five families whose works exemplify positive family values.

Glass art is the centerpiece of the museum; it’s the medium it uses in its official mission to promote non-violence and acceptance of others. That is, freedom is “fragile,” like glass.

This new special exhibition builds on that theme of the fragility of liberty, and ties in the strength and power of families. The show suggests that emphasizing positive family values can reinforce positive characteristics in those inside and outside the family.

View exceptional glass sculptures in a beautiful setting, and embrace the value of family.

RSVP for the opening reception including a beer tasting, 6 p.m. on March 24, at (215) 925-2800 x 117 or mcoll@libertymuseum.org. The show will continue through April.

“Generation To Generation” opening reception
Where: National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut Street
When: Thursday, March 24, 6 p.m.
Cost: FREE
More info: www.libertymuseum.org