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The three-day Pennsylvania Dutch Festival will feature all kinds of PA Dutch treats: Sticky Buns, Shoofly Pie, Jams, Jellies, Soft Pretzels, Barbecue Chicken, Scrapple, Amish-style sausage sandwiches and more. (Top and bottom left photos by G. Widman for GPTMC; bottom right courtesy Reading Terminal)

The 22nd annual Pennsylvania Dutch Festival makes it way back to town from August 11-13 with three (free!) days celebrating the finest traditions of the Pennsylvania Dutch — good food, handmade crafts, and a country street fair.

The festival will be held at Reading Terminal Market’s center court seating area, where you can browse through handmade crafts such as quilts, woodcrafts, paintings, hand-braided rugs and much more.

The Food

Enjoy delicious, traditional Pennsylvania Dutch eats including sticky buns, shoofly pie, donuts, jams, jellies, soft pretzels, barbecue chicken, barbecue ribs, scrapple, Amish-style sausage sandwiches, chicken potpie — and that’s only the beginning.

The Fair

On Saturday, August 13, the fun moves outdoors with a country street fair on Arch Street, featuring Amish buggy rides, horse drawn wagon rides, a petting zoo and live bluegrass entertainment.

And don’t sweat finding a parking spot: $4 parking will be available at the nearby Parkway Garage at 12th and Filbert Streets. What’s not to love?

22nd Annual Pennsylvania Dutch Festival
When: August 11-13, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Reading Terminal Market, 12th and Arch Streets
Cost: Free
More info: www.readingterminalmarket.org

The 14th season of the summer concert series will feature numerous local and national artists. (Photo courtesy Delaware River Waterfront Corporation)

Cool off on scorching summer nights with a (free!) smooth jazz concert at Penn’s Landing, running at 7:30 p.m. Fridays nights for the month of August.

The concert series is returning for its 14th season. It provides the perfect setting for a laid back summer evening that still brings the chic factor.

This season’s intriguing lineup of award winning smooth jazz artists will delight music lovers, but also satisfy jazz newbies. The series kicks off Friday, August 5 with Toronto-based “acid jazz” group Four 80 East, combining R&B, jazz, and soul music.

It concludes Friday, August 26 with Philadelphia native acclaimed guitarist Kevin Eubanks, former music director of the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”

The series is sponsored by WDAS-FM, along with CW Philly 57 and CBS 3.

Free live music, a dose of culture, cool breeze off the Delaware River — sounds like the makings of a sublime summer night in Philadelphia.

Smooth Jazz Summer Nights Concert Series
Where: RiverStage on the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, Columbus Boulevard at Chestnut Street
When: Fridays in August, 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
More info: www.delawareriverevents.com

Name of the game tonight is to stay cool. Franklin Fountain is one such spot to do exactly that. (Photo by D. Swanson)

It’s a scorcher out there, but there are lots of ways to beat the heat and enjoy an awesome summer night.

Here are some great options for how to spend your evening:

• University City Dining Days: Through July 28, nearly 30 participating restaurants are offering an array of hot deals on dinner. These offers clock in at either $15, $25 or $30 for three courses, making them both delicious and accessible for just about everyone. Remember you can still enter our giveaway: win $100 in restaurant gift certificates!

Where: Nearly 30 participating restaurants in West Philadelphia
When: Now- July 28
Cost: $15, $25 or $30

• Screenings Under the Stars at Penn’s Landing: It’s definitely a few degrees cooler on the water’s edge and The RiverStage at Penn’s Landing does double duty as an outdoor movie theater, bringing popular movies to the Delaware River on Thursday nights at dusk. Tonight’s movie is the awesome, oscar-winning flick The Social Network.

Where: River Stage on Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, Columbus Blvd. at Chestnut Street
When: Thursday, July 21, 8:30 p.m.
Cost: Free

• The National Constitution Center’s $5 after 5: Summer Nights: For only $5, families can enjoy the museum’s extended summer hours (it stays open until 8 p.m.) and all the center has to offer including the award-winning theater show “Freedom Rising,” “The Story of We the People,” and the center’s summer blockbuster exhibition Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon.

Where: 525 Arch Street
When: Thursday, July 22, 5-8 p.m. (Thursdays all summer)
Cost: $5 (kids are free)

• Schuylkill Banks 2011 Movie Nights: It’s definitely a few degrees cooler along the water’s edge and that’s true for the Schuylkill River Park as well. Head to the Schuylkill River Banks by the Chestnut Street Bridge to watch Iron Man under the night skies.

Where: Schuylkill River Banks by the Walnut Street Bridge
When: Thursday, July 21, around 8:20 p.m. (Thursdays through August)
Cost: Free

• 3rd Annual Pizza Olympics: More than 20 South Philly pizza parlors will put their pies to the test as guests (that means you) sample an unlimited variety of slices and vote for their favorites. There will also be music by DJ Russ Ferrante, raffles, giveaways and more. All raffle proceeds will benefit the Katie Kirlin Fund, which fosters participation in wheelchair sports for Philadelphia children in the region.

Where: Penns Landing Caterers, 1301 S. Columbus Boulevard
When: Thursday, July 21, 6-9 p.m.
Cost: $10

• Shakespeare in Clark Park: Head over to West Philadelphia’s Clark Park to catch an open-air, free performance of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. The troupe performs in “The Bowl” area of the park, near the intersection of Chester Avenue and 43rd Street.

Where: Clark Park, 43rd and Baltimore Avenue
When: Thursday, July 21, 7 p.m. (through July 24)
Cost: Free

• Ballet X Summer Series: The ballet isn’t always just for monocle-sporting aristocrats or evil dance instructors straight out of an episode of I Love Lucy. Ballet X at the Wilma Theater presents audiences with a series of shows at once culturally relevant and eminently hip.

Where: The Wilma Theater, Broad and Spruce Streets
When: Thursday, July 21, 8 p.m. (through July 24)
Cost: General $30, Senior $25, Students $20

• BYOB Thursdays at Balcony Restaurant: The newly opened Balcony Restaurant at The Doubletree By Hilton Philadelphia Center City is making Thursdays BYOB until Labor Day.

Where: 237 S. Broad Street
When: Thursdays through Labor Day
Cost: Varies

Starting on August 3, Paoli’s Trattoria San Nicola will be bringing back their annual Opera Evenings for the fourth year. For four Wednesdays in a row (August 3, 10, 17 and 24), restaurant patrons have the opportunity to dine on a six course tasting menu while being serenaded by some of Philly’s most talented opera singers. For lovers of fine food and music, it’s a match made in heaven.

The six-course meal, family-style meal features specialty dishes associated with world-renowned Italian singers and artists. These include the Bellini, Penne Pavarotti (a pasta that tenor Luciano Pavarotti is said to have favored), classic Saltimbocca, and an authentic Opera Cake, the classic seven-layer cake whose origins date to the Roman Empire.

This event isn’t just dinner and a show. Diners will also have the opportunity to cast a vote for their favorite performer. The winner will be announced at the event’s final evening on August 24. A portion of the proceeds from these Opera evenings go benefit the Opera Company of Philadelphia. The grand prize for the winning contestant will include a subscription for two to the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s 2011-2012 Opera at the Academy Series, in addition to a $500 cash prize. Call (610) 695-8990 to make your reservations.

Opera Evenings at Trattoria San Nicola
When: 6:30 p.m. on August 3, 10, 14 and 24
Where: Manor Road, Paoli
Cost: $49.50 per person, wine flight an additional $15
More info: www.sannicola.net

Locals and visitors alike can appreciate the Doubletree's new dining spot, overlooking the Avenue of the Arts and the Academy of Music.(Photos by G. Widman for GPTMC)

The Doubletree By Hilton Philadelphia Center City recently opened Balcony Restaurant, formerly The Academy Café.

Located on the mezzanine level of the hotel, Balcony affords a great view of the Avenue of the Arts. The restaurant offers a comfort food menu featuring new twists on old favorites. Think mac ‘n cheese, grilled cheese and tomato soup, lump crab cakes and homemade meatloaf, alongside interesting renditions like skillet lasagna and beef sliders.

The hotel recently completed a two-year long $13 million renovation program. As part of those changes, a visually stunning new chandelier hangs over the atrium, treating diners at Balcony to a visual ”feast” of colors and design.

Bonus: now through Labor Day, the restaurant is making Thursdays BYOB. So you can enjoy fantastic views and delicious food at a great bargain all summer long.

Locals and visitors alike should stop by!

Balcony Restaurant
237 S. Broad Street
www.balconyonbroad.com

Previously: The Doubletree Hotel’s New Restaurant, Balcony, Is Officially Open, Serving All-American Comfort Food With A Great View

With 5,284 reserved seats and 600 lawn spaces, the Dell Music Center is the fourth largest performance venue in the city.
(Photo by Dan King for GPTMC)

A close cousin of the Mann Center, the Dell Music Center in scenic Fairmount Park is an undiscovered musical gem on Philadelphia’s summertime concert scene.

With 5,284 reserved seats and 600 lawn spaces, the Dell’s acoustic location is considered one of the very best in the Philadelphia area. Formerly the Robin Hood Dell East, this open-air amphitheater is the fourth largest performance venue in the city, following the Wells Fargo Center, Temple’s Liacouras Center and the Mann.

The History

The Dell has been providing world-class entertainment to Philadelphians for the past 39 years — Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Patti Labelle, Jill Scott, Frankie Beverly and Brian McKnight are just a few of the legends that have graced the Dell stage. In all that time, if you haven’t made it out to a concert, this summer provides ample opportunity.

The season lineup

The summer 2011 season, going on now through September 4, is packed with big names, from The Delfonics to Ginuwine to Marsha Ambrosius. Relax and listen to the best in rhythm & blues, gospel and jazz.

Tickets to all shows are available online.

Food

The concession stand sells chicken fingers, fish, french fries, hot dogs, hamburgers, cheesesteaks, pretzels and ice cream for $5-$10 so you can snack to your heart’s content during the show. Note that you cannot bring in outside food or drink, except for unopened bottled water. There is also no alcohol sold on site, or allowed in.

Getting there

The Dell has detailed driving directions, and there’s free (!!) parking in the surrounding park area. There are also a limited number of handicapped parking spaces in the box office parking lot.

Or you can go green and take SEPTA: the 61 bus stops at Ridge and Dauphin, a short walk to the Dell; the 54 stops at 33rd and Dauphin, a little bit of a longer walk.

Check out Philly 360′s spotlight on the Dell for a closer look at the center’s role in Philadelphia music history including an interview with singer/songwriter/producer Brian McKnight.

Dell Music Center
Ridge Avenue & Huntingdon Drive
www.mydelleast.com

This August, Fridays at Penn Treaty Park will be a bit more exciting with the launch of Fantastic Fridays, a new free concert series at the park that includes spectacular fireworks displays after each show.

The family-friendly Fantastic Fridays series will occur three Fridays next month, with a different theme at each show. Check out the schedule below:

• August 5th: Sensational Soul Cruisers
• August 19th: British Invasion (a musical tribute to the Beatles and 60s music)
• August 26: End of Summer Jam with Fusebox (the greatest rock hits from the 60s to today)

The fun begins at 6:30 p.m. and concludes with a fireworks display over the Delaware River, making for a perfect summer night.

And remember to bring a blanket, food, beverages and of course, plenty of energy!

Fantastic Fridays at Penn Treaty Park
When: August 5, 19 and 16
Where: Penn Treaty Park, Delaware Avenue and Beach Street
Cost: FREE
More info: www.penntreatypark.org

Make a summer evening out of it: stroll through Rittenhouse, stop by the exhibit and grab ice cream or cold drinks nearby. (Photo courtesy Gallery 339)

Gallery 339 near Rittenhouse presents About Face, a group photography show featuring twenty-five contemporary photographers.

The show will open tomorrow, the evening of Friday, July 22, with a reception from 6-8 p.m. It focuses on recent portraiture concerned with the face, motivated by the concept that faces embody our individuality yet at the same time maintain ubiquity among people.

As the gallery explains, “We are confronted with other faces (and occasionally our own) on such a routine basis that we stop examining them with any great amount of care. Like buildings in a city, only the most striking ones stand out, and the rest blend together as part of the context of daily life.” The show makes for a thought-provoking evening.

The participating photographers range from the internationally acclaimed to those just starting out in the field.

The gallery is open Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and Sunday and Monday by appointment.

About Face at Gallery 339
When: July 22-September 10
Where: 339 S. 21st Street
Cost: Free
More info: www.gallery339.com

On the front page of today’s New York Times, the lead image is of people cooling off from the heat with a dip in Devil’s Pool, the hidden and off-limits watering hole in the Wissahickon Valley Park.

It’s a cool shout out for one of Philadelphia’s hidden treasures: the Wissahickon Gorge.

There are 57 miles of trails in the lush, 1,800-acre Wissahickon Gorge, crossing forest and meadow before plunging down to the waters of the Wissahickon Creek. Walking, biking, horseback riding, fishing and swimming are all popular activities.

Forbidden Drive, a low-lying gravel road that follows the creek, leads directly to the historic Valley Green Inn, the last remaining example of the many roadhouses and taverns that once flourished here and a great place to get a drink or a snack.

Devil’s Pool itself is located off the Wissahickon Trail but swimming and jumping into Devil’s Pool is actually prohibited.

For more information about the Wissahickon Valley Park and the efforts to clean up the Wissahickon Creek, check out the Friends of Wissahickon.

Update: To clarify, swimming in and jumping into Devil’s Pool is both illegal and dangerous. Over the weekend, a police officer was stationed at Devil’s Pool to prevent anyone from doing either.

Bathers beat the midday heat at the Devil’s Pool in Philadelphia [New York Times]

Previously:
Roundup: Our Guide To How To Beat The Heat In Philadelphia; Frozen Treats, Cold Drinks, Water Sports And More

Philadelphia plays host to dozens of great music and arts festivals during the warm summer months, but few draw as big of a crowd as the XPoNential Music Festival at Wiggins Park on the Camden Waterfront. (Photo courtesy WXPN)

WXPN’s annual XPoNential Music Festival returns to Wiggins Park on the Camden Waterfront this weekend, July 22-24.

This year’s festival (the 18th annual!) features some big-name artists of both local and national fame. The awesome music is just one aspect of the festival. It’s in addition to great food and drinks, kids’ activities and the perfect summer setting: an expansive grassy knoll where you can set up picnic blankets and lawn chairs and while the summer afternoon away.

Check out our guide to all of the above, so you’ll be fully prepared for festival enjoyment:

The Music

The festival features two stages: Marina and River.

Some of this year’s musical highlights (30+ artists!) over the three days of the festival include Emmylou Harris, Citizen Cope, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Smithereens, Ben Folds, Shemekia Copeland, Booker T., Joseph Arthur, North Mississippi Allstars Duo, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Ra Ra Riot and many more.

You can check out the full lineup for Friday, Saturday and Sunday online.

Food and Drinks

The XPoNential Music Festival offers a variety of food vendors including Qdoba Mexican Grill, Ben & Jerry’s and J-Dogs, plus typical festival fare from Liberty Concession, Sara Festival and Festival Food Management.

Dining options include: burgers, chicken tenders, fries, periogies, gyros, salads, cheesesteaks, BBQ pork sandwiches, jambalaya, hot dogs, soft pretzels, crab cakes, fried shrimp, nachos, tacos and more plus several vegetarian meal options including falafel, portabella mushroom sandwiches, veggie platters and hummus with grape leaves. Meal items range from $3-12.

Beverage options include fresh lemonade, smoothies, iced coffee, soda, water, sports drinks and beer. Beverages range from $2.50-6. Available beers are Flying Fish Farmhouse Summer Ale, Flying Fish Hopfish, Flying Fish ESB, Corona and Red Stripe. All beers are $6. The festival will also feature free wine tastings in the XPN Members Only area from Auburn Road Winery.

If you’re on a budget feel free to bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages, as the event welcomes guests to pack their own coolers, blankets and small chairs.

Vendors

Check out the thorough festival map and guide, below, for a reference on all the vendors who will be at the event. They range from crafts booths (dotted along the Wiggins Park Marina) to festival sponsors (scattered throughout) to eco-focused companies (clustered on “Village Green” behind the Marina Stage).

Getting There

The RiverLink Ferry connects Penn’s Landing with the Adventure Aquarium just down the street from Wiggins Park. It’s only a $7 round trip ferry ride to the event.

Other public transportation options are available here; SEPTA’s subway and regional rail stop at the Aquarium station at Delaware Avenue and Federal Street, just a short walk down Riverside Drive to Wiggins Park. Bike racks are also available outside the festival.

If you’re driving, parking is available at daily rates set by the lot operators. Insider tip: since there are concerts at the nearby Susquehanna Bank Center, make plans to arrive early on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to ensure you get a spot.

Kids Corner Garden

The interactive, eco-focused Kids Corner garden runs Saturday and Sunday, noon-6 p.m., a four-acre spot featuring make & take craft stations, family friendly activities, exciting amusement rides (Commerce Carousel, Arrow River Train and Butterfly Spring Ride), themed gardens and nature walks with Jane Kirkland of TakeAWalk.com.

Exhibits include a Dinosaur Garden, Maze, Picnic Garden, Tree House and five different Storybook Gardens, each designed to explore. Also on site celebrating nature will be a team from The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, plus a story-telling team from Historic Philadelphia and Once Upon A Nation.

That’s about all. And a heads up: you can check out WXPN’s live online radio stream to listen in on some of this year’s performers and get a taste of what you’ll be hearing at the festival!

Tickets are available online.

There’s a full map and graphic festival guide, below.

2011 XPoNential Music Festival
Where: Wiggins Park, Camden Waterfront, Mickle Street at Riverside Drive
When: July 22-24, Friday 5-10:30 p.m., Saturday 12-10:30 p.m., Sunday 12-10 p.m.
Cost: Tickets start at $15 for adults, $5 for children ages 2-12
More info: www.xpn.org (more…)