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White Dog Cafe is easing the pain of summer ending with a Rum & Reggae End Of Summer Bash aboard the chic Ben Franklin Yacht, this Sunday, August 28 from 5-8:30 p.m.

Meet at Pier 24, at 401 N. Columbus Boulevard, to board the yacht, which sets sail at 5:30 p.m. for a delicious and fun-filled evening cruise.

Your ticket, $55 per person, includes an all you can eat buffet prepared by Chef Eric Yost of the White Dog Cafe, unlimited draft beer and rum punch and dancing to the reggae tunes of CULTUREAL.

Tickets are available online.

Rum & Reggae End Of Summer Bash
Where: Ben Franklin Yacht, meet at Pier 24, 401 N. Columbus Blvd.
When: Sunday, August 28, 5-8:30 p.m.
Cost: $55
More info: www.whitedogcafe.ticketleap.com

The new, yet-to-be-named plaza outside 30th Street Station will create an inviting, animated public space at one of Philadelphia's most important gateways, with amenities, seating, plantings, and lots of trees. (Image courtesy University City District)

30th Street Station is one of the most prominent gateways to the Philadelphia region. And it is about to become a lot more welcoming and a lot more pedestrian friendly.

The University City District (UCD) has teamed up with the Planning Commission, the Streets Department, Amtrak, Brandywine Realty Trust, the Schuylkill River Development Corporation and others on a great new project for the area immediately outside of the south entrance to 30th Street Station.

The outer parking lane along Market Street is being reclaimed as a 40-foot wide, block-long sidewalk and pedestrian plaza. The area will include movable tables and chairs, seasonal plantings, brightly-colored umbrellas for shade and great activities including music performances, yoga classes and holiday celebrations. One additional rendering is below.

Future phases of development for this new public space include food kiosks, additional plantings and a permanent landscaped buffer from Market Street.

This is the latest in a string of very impressive public space developments and efforts from University City District, helping to make their neighborhood more vibrant, accessible and pedestrian friendly, while also forging a stronger connection with Center City.

Even better: phase one of this project is set to be completed by this Labor Day Weekend!!

But before the ribbon is cut, UCD wants your assistance. They’re crowdsourcing a name for the new public space, meaning you can submit a name suggestion for the new public space. If your name is picked, you’ll win a $500 Amtrak gift certificate! You have until September 30 at midnight to submit your suggestion, along with your contact info and an explanation for your choice, to newpublicspace@universitycity.org.

Click here for the entry requirements and rules.

Everything about this project is awesome. Sometimes we’re so proud to be Philadelphians we don’t even know what to do with ourselves.

Name Philadelphia’s Next Great Public Space! [University City District]

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With historic vessels to board, a ship’s hull to rivet and cargo to unload with miniature cranes, Philadelphia’s maritime museum conveys what the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers have meant to the city over the years. (Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC)

Hold on to the last semblance of summer through October, thanks to the Independence Seaport Museum, with the Philadelphia Seaport Festival, September 8-October 8.

It’s a month-long celebration of all things seaport, with a variety of activities on and around the Delaware River. The festival kicks off Thursday, September 8 with the arrival of the tall ship, Kalmar Nyckel, and ends with the Seaport Museum’s 4th annual Wooden Boat Festival on Saturday, October 8.

The full schedule:

• September 8-16, 18-21: Delaware’s Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel will be docked at the Seaport Museum. Public sails daily.

• September 10: The 10th annual Southeastern Pennsylvania Coast Day. Seaport Museum admission is $5 all day.

• September 14-17 and October 7-8: New Jersey’s Tall Ship AJ Meerwald will be docked at the Seaport Museum. Public sails daily.

• September 17: Talk Like a Pirate Day. See a pirate battle on the Delaware River, hear about real pirates of Philadelphia on a walking tour or lecture, or take a pirate sail aboard the Summer Wind. B-101 and Buzzbee will be on hand with music, games and giveaways.

• September 17-24: Pirate Week. Enjoy pirate-themed sails on the Summer Wind ship.

• September 18: Pirate Battle on the Delaware River. Choose sides and board your ship!

• September 23-27: Danish Tall ship Danmark will be docked at Penn’s Landing. Free deck tours for the public.

• October 1: Philadelphia Cup Regatta. Watch sailboats from all over the region compete for the Philadelphia Cup. The races will conclude with the awarding of the Philadelphia Cup at the end of the day.

• October 8: 4th Annual Wooden Boat Festival. This day-long, family-friendly event celebrates the tradition of boat building, from small dinghies to the Barkentine Gazela in the basin. Learn what makes boats float and discover the art of boat building in the Seaport Museum’s Workshop on the Water.

Enjoy this opportunity to say a final, sweet (or salty?) goodbye to summer.

Independence Seaport Museum’s Philadelphia Seaport Festival
When: September 8-October 8
Where: 211 S. Columbus Boulevard
Cost: Most events free
More info: www.phillyseaport.org

“I’d Rather Be Here” Productions is bringing Wawapalooza to the Fringe Festival for the fifth year, with Wawapalooza 5: Under Destruction.

It’s a deconstructive comedy whose subjects run the gamut from baseball fans, college kids, new parents and the Apple store to lame bachelor parties, meditation and the laundromat.

It’s Philly-centric, it’s hilarious and your ticket comes with one free drink.

Sold? We thought so. Tickets are available online.

Wawapalooza 5: Under Destruction at the Philly Fringe Festival
When: September 2-17
Where: Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. 8th Street
Cost: $15
More info: www.idratherbehere.com

Liz Scarlett’s homey Old City boutique is the soup-to-nuts of home stores, offering everything from hot pink flatware to earthy tea sets. (Photo courtesy Scarlett Alley)

If folks mistake you for a stowaway on a train because your bag looks like a rag on a stick, then get to Scarlett Alley boutique in Old City this Thursday, August 25 for a trunk show featuring the handbags of HOBO International.

Since 1993 Scarlett Alley has been bringing the “new” to Old City. And this Thursday marks the kick-off to a fall season full of events which will highlight brands that have been with them since the beginning.

Celebrate the history, evolution and partnership of both Scarlett Alley and HOBO International as you munch on yummy sides-on-a-stick (think fruit skewers, tomato and mozzarella) and, keeping with the hobo/train theme, imbibe on sidecars: a delish brandy concoction.

Favors such as reusable bags and coupons towards a future event will be given out and two door prizes (HOBO wallets) will be awarded throughout the evening.

The best part? This night only the entire stock of HOBO International handbags will be 20% off, while all summer bags, jewelry, scarves and hats will be 60% off.

Happy shopping!

Scarlett Alley
When: Thursday, August 25, 4:30-8 p.m.
Where: 241 Race Street
Cost: Pay as you go
More info: www.scarlettalley.com

Take advantage of summer while you still can — get out there and enjoy the beautiful weather. (Clockwise from top: Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC, Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC, photo courtesy Crowne Plaza Philadelphia Downtown)

Don’t look now, but summer is winding down. Labor Day is less than two weeks away. And the official first day of fall, the fall equinox, is September 23 this year. Before you break down in hysterics, keep in mind that this means you still have time to enjoy and take advantage of summer in Philadelphia.

Below, we lay it all out for you: where, and how, and when to partake in all the sunshine-drenched festivities you can from now until the first night we don’t need our A.C. anymore.

Our definitive maximize-the-summer-fun-while-you-still-can guide:

Outdoor Dining

• Our Top Picks For Waterfront Dining In Philadelphia: One of the highlights of summer is enjoying a satisfying meal or cooling drink outdoors, awash in sunshine or beneath the stars. Add to that the further refreshment of dining by the riverside, and you’ve got the makings of a sublime summer experience.

• Our Guide To Picnicking In Philadelphia: Technically, July is National Picnic Month. But in our opinion it’s never too late for a useful guide to DIY outdoor eating in Philadelphia. Here we’ve outlined the most picnic-friendly parks and other swatches of green space that cry out for picnicking pairs and groups; some of the best cafes and other grocery spots that you can rely on to supply aforementioned picnic basket with delicious food and drink; and more.

• Our Top Picks For Some Of The Best Rooftop Bars In Philadelphia: One of the best ways to soak up some of those final rays of sunshine is to indulge in a rooftop drink or meal. Thankfully leisurely alfresco dining and drinking under the stars, several stories off the ground, is available amply in Philadelphia. The great city views and subsequent escape from reality came at no extra charge.

• 2011 Is The Summer Of The Beer Garden: Breezy beer gardens are popping up everywhere this summer in Philly and we couldn’t be happier. Here we run down where you can find a few (read: a lot).

• Our Picks For Some Of The Best Food Trucks In Philadelphia: Philadelphia has always been a street food forerunner. Local food trucks run the gamut from student grub in stainless steel carts to upscale eats in high-tech mobile kitchens, and summer is the best season to stand in line, grab a bite and chow down on a bench or knoll nearby.

Summer Eats and Drinks

• Refreshing With Love, Philadelphia XOXO-Themed Food And Drinks: Philadelphia locals and visitors can enjoy sweet treats and cool sips served with love. That is, With Love, Philadelphia XOXO.

• Our Top Picks For Some Of The Best Hot Dogs In Philadelphia: Philadelphia is clearly in the midst of a burgeoning hot dog food trend these days. Fueling the demand for dogs even higher: summer is prime hot dog season. So next time you’re in the mood for a delicious dog or two, we double dog dare you to try any — or all — of the following.

• Our Top Picks For Some Of The Best Oyster Dishes In And Around Philadelphia: Probably the most well-known aphrodisiac, plus one of the most summer-centric foods, oysters are also extremely nutritious. To capitalize on all this, top Philadelphia chefs have been serving both tried-and-true and new and unusual preparations of the delicious mollusk.

• Our Guide To Frozen Treats And Cold Drinks In Philadelphia: Cool down with bites and beverages perfectly suited to summertime: ice cream, water ice, frozen drinks and ice cold beers abound in Philadelphia.

Lots more below.

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7 Fingers, a Montreal-based circus arts company, is bringing their high-energy urban acrobatics show TRACES to the Philadelphia Live Arts and Philly Fringe Festival, September 15-18 at the Merriam Theater.

The show was performed on NBC’s top-rated talent search “America’s Got Talent” on July 20, and the Philadelphia stint is part of a national tour. In short, this something you don’t want to miss.

The family-friendly show, performed by seven artists, includes traditional Chinese acrobatics, tumbling through hoops, leaping between giant poles, combined with skateboarding and mixed with theater, music and contemporary dance.

Note: following the 8 p.m. performance on September 17, there will be a post-show Q&A with the artists from TRACES and instructors from the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts.

Tickets are on sale now and range from $15 to $55 with discounts for students and festival members, and can be purchased online or at the Kimmel Center.

TRACES for the Philly Fringe Festival
When: September 15-18
Where: Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad Street
Cost: Tickets start at $15
More info: www.kimmelcenter.org

Every 9½ minutes someone becomes infected with HIV in the U.S.; AIDS Walk/Run Philly is a great chance to contribute to the cause. (Photos courtesy AIDS Fund)

2011 marks the 30th year of the AIDS epidemic, as well as the 25th Annual AIDS Walk Philly, to take place on October 16.

In honor of these two milestones, AIDS Fund has developed a multimedia display of pictures, newspaper clippings, personal stories, videos and artwork titled 1981 – Until It’s Over…

The exhibition encompasses the history of HIV/AIDS in Philadelphia and the country as as a whole. It will be on display from September 15–December 15 at the William Way Community Center, with an Opening Reception on September 15 from 6-8 p.m.

In addition, registration is now open for the 12 kilometer (8.4 mile) 25th AIDS Walk Philly, which will take place Sunday, October 16. The money raised goes toward HIV prevention education, public awareness, and HIV care services here in the greater Philadelphia region. To register, call 215-731-WALK or sign up online.

One out of five people infected with HIV in the U.S. don’t know it. And every 9½ minutes someone becomes infected with HIV in the U.S. Walk, and visit the exhibition, to help raise vital funds for these individuals in both the Philadelphia area and the country at large.

1981 – Until It’s Over…
When: September 15–December 15
Where: William Way Community Center, 1315 Spruce Street
Cost: Free
More info: www.aidsfundphilly.org

25th Annual AIDS Walk Philly
When: Sunday, October 16, prep begins 7 a.m., race begins 9 a.m.
Where: starts at Art Museum
Cost: $50
More info: www.aidswalkphilly.org

The National Constitution Center is uniting with a coalition of leaders from across the city to plan a city-wide commemoration that fosters an atmosphere of mutual respect and dignity across lines of religious, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity. (Photo courtesy the National Constitution Center)

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of September 11th, 2001, the National Constitution Center, leaders of the City of Philadelphia, the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia and the Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia have joined together to host a city wide event to pay tribute to our nation.

In honor of the event, the co-hosting organizations have created a pledge to promote a spirit of unity amongst the people. The Pledge reads “We the People of Greater Philadelphia unite in grief, remembrance, and hope, stand for justice, tolerance, and compassion, and commit to building community, understanding, and a more perfect union.”

On Sunday, September 11, the National Constitution Center will open its doors at 9:30 a.m., and an enlarged copy of this pledge will be on display in the Grand Hall Lobby as well as online. There will be a public commemoration on Independence Mall as well, led by Mayor Nutter, at 5:30 p.m.

Visitors are encouraged to sign the pledge, as well as write any hopes and prayers for the future. The event offers a free admission charge to first responders (that means fire, police and emergency medical personnel).

Additionally, the center will be extending its Spies, Traitors & Saboteurs: Fear and Freedom in America exhibit, a dramatic feature centering around protecting national security and civil liberties in a post-9/11 world, including news reports and artifacts on display.

Several additional free events will be held free at the National Constitution Center that day, examining the impact of 9/11 on American lives and in remembrance of those lost. For example, professional actors, directors, playwrights and designers from New York City, Philadelphia and D.C. will read the stories of the victims of 9/11; you can attend an interfaith prayer gathering, “Memory and Hope,” led by the Religious Leaders Council at Arch Street Meetinghouse, and more.

The full event schedule is available online.

9/11 Commemoration at the National Constitution Center
Where: 525 Arch Street
When: Sunday, September 111
Cost: Free
More info: www.constitutioncenter.org

The action-packed Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe Festival begins in just over two weeks and in addition to keeping you informed of the Festival’s highlights, we’re giving you the chance to win a pair of passes to three different Live Arts and Fringe shows!

One lucky Grand Prize winner will receive:

• Two vouchers to any Live Arts and Fringe Festival event
• Two vouchers to a performance of Traces
• Two vouchers to the Thursday, September 8 performance of the Green Fairy Cabaret

Now, a bit about the shows:

Traces is a high-energy urban acrobatics display for all ages from 7 Fingers, a Montreal-based circus arts company. The show features traditional Chinese acrobatics, tumbling through hoops and leaping between giant poles, combined with skateboarding, music, contemporary dance and humor.

Green Fairy Cabaret is a dazzling flight show by the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, full of aerial and acrobatic feats, with comedy, juggling and much more.

Sounds awesome, doesn’t it? Well remember, the fun doesn’t end there; remember, the winner also receives two vouchers to ANY Festival event. And if you’re overwhelmed by the number of shows (more than 180 in 16 days) taking place, check out our Fringe Picks series.

The contest runs through August 31, and you can enter once per day, per e-mail address — so remember to return daily to increase your chance to win.

Enter below for your chance to win.

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