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An extremely talented cast plus delicious Italian food make for an exciting addition to the burgeoning Midtown Village neighborhood. (Photo courtesy Walnut Street Supper Club)

The Walnut Street Supper Club, an exciting new venture by Midtown Village Association Founder James McManaman and iconic Philadelphia restaurateur Ralph Berarducci — owner of Portofino for 38 years — will open its doors next Wednesday, December 28 in the former Portofino space on Walnut Street.

Walnut Street Supper Club will honor Portofino’s classic Italian cuisine in addition to serving American classics, including baby back ribs, delicious New York Strip steaks and succulent seafood favorites.

But food aside, two of the Walnut Street Supper Club’s most noteworthy features are its retro ambiance and its magnetic live entertainment.

The dining room is expansive (it seats 175) and glamorous, with both floor and mezzanine seating. Bonus: there are no minimums or cover charges, unlike most venues in the city that host live music.

Patrons will be treated to nightly live entertainment a la 1940s supper club. A baby grand piano takes center stage while musical director Jeremiah Downes and his team of talented waitresses/bartenders-turned-singers perform American Songbook standards (think Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Darrin and Judy Garland).

The restaurant will provide discounted parking at 1201 Walnut Street, the lot around the corner.

Homegrown talent, 1940s nostalgia plus delicious food right in the heart of one of the city’s most happening neighborhoods is a recipe for nothing other than success.

Reservations are being taken now for New Year’s Eve! Call (215) 923-8208 to secure your spot.

Walnut Street Supper Club
1227 Walnut Street
www.walnutstreetsupperclub.com

Longwood Gardens has commissioned acclaimed light artist Bruce Munro to transform the entire property into a fantastical illuminated wonderland. (Image courtesy Longwood)

While Longwood Gardens Christmas is going strong, the world-famous Chester County attraction is looking ahead to perhaps its most exciting summer ever.

Longwood Gardens has commissioned renowned UK light artist Bruce Munro to present a garden-wide exhibition, Light Installations by Bruce Munro, in the summer of 2012, and it’s going to be an absolute don’t-miss experience.

This is Munro’s very first garden installation in the U.S. (adding to his long list of credentials, including having done interior light design work for Mick Jagger, Sting and J.K. Rowling) and will showcase never-before-seen absolutely dazzling views of Longwood at night.

We’ve laid out a few highlights of this very, very cool exhibition to prime you for its arrival:

Installation

Bruce Munro will arrive in April to begin installing the exhibition. It will take 60-90 days (!), a measure of the presentation’s breadth.

The Exhibition

Light Installations by Bruce Munro will consist of 11 installations, 7 outside in areas not usually seen by the public, stretching all the way to the property’s farthest reaches, 3 inside the grand four-acre conservatory and a small collection of illuminated sculptures in Longwood’s historic Music Room.

“Forest of Light” invites guests to wander through a serene forest of 20,000 illuminated stems reminiscent of blooming flowers. Longwood’s undulating Meadow will play host to the “Water Towers,” a collection of 69 symmetric towers creating a glowing maze of light that changes hues to music.

In “Waterlilies in Bloom,” Munro will pay homage to Longwood’s iconic waterlily platters and set his shimmering interpretations to float on the Large Lake. Nearby, the 6,000 stem installation “Field of Light” beckons visitors toward its enchanting glow. “Arrow Spring” mixes horticultural splendor and beeswax candles to create a hillside stream.

Inside the Conservatory, the Orangery will be adorned with six grand Snowball Chandeliers, each more than nine feet wide and formed by 127 glass balls, suspended from the towering ceiling. Also inside, “Light Shower” rains more than 1,600 drops of twinkling lights over the flooded Fern Floor.

Bonus: all materials will be low impact and will be repurposed, recycled or composted.

Extras

Bruce may create two or three special pieces for the Longdwood gift shop, so you’ll be able to take home a part of the exhibition.

There will be fun programming almost every night of the summer related to LIGHT!, which will stay open until 11 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays all summer long. Think garden parties, special tours and more. Chester County will have dinner packages to pair with your Longwood experience.

Bonus: the exhibition will close with a fireworks show set to 80′s music!

Light Installations by Bruce Munro is a vehicle for Longwood to convey that it’s so much more than a gorgeous horticultural display. It’s contemporary, accessible and engaging. And we can’t wait to see it let its hair down this summer.

See below for additional images.

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Celebrate Christmas with a delicious dinner, holiday lights sight-seeing or a visit to the Christmas Village, closing December 24. (Photo by M. Fischetti for GPTMC)

The most wonderful weekend of the year is upon us (actually, we think every weekend in Philadelphia is wonderful), and there are plenty of ways to celebrate.

We have a highly curated list of the best options for Christmas Eve and Christmas night dinner, what holiday happenings are worth your time this weekend, and what non-Christmas celebrations are going on as well.

Our top picks for this long holiday weekend, Friday night through Monday, below:

Friday, December 23

ComedySportz Philadelphia’s “A Very Special Ladies and Gentlemen Christmas Special” — Closing Day!

Haddonfield’s Candlelight Shopping — Closing Day!

Woodmere Art Museum Friday Night Jazz: Holiday Edition

Art After 5 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art: Escape to Toyland

Fancy Folks: Art And Mummery at City Hall

Roundup: Our Top 10 Picks For Holiday Dates In And Around Philadelphia

Twelve Nights of Christmas Cocktails at Square 1682 — Closing Day!

Lantern Theater Company’s Private Lives

Laughing All the Way at Act II Playhouse (Fri, Sat)

1812 Productions’ This Is The Week That Is (Fri, Mon)

Pennsylvania Ballet’s The Nutcracker (Fri, Sat, Mon)

Saturday, December 24

Our Top Picks For Feasts Of The Seven Fishes In Philadelphia

Roundup: Where To Eat Out For Christmas Eve In Philadelphia

The Moo Shu Jew Show at the Gershman Y

Christmas Village in Philadelphia — Closing Day!

Warm up with our guide to hot drinks

Our Top Picks For Holiday Theater In Philadelphia

Reading Terminal Market Holiday Railroad (Fri, Sat, Mon)

ToyTime and Under the Tree at the Mercer Museum (Fri, Sat, Mon)

Read on, below.

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Nangellini Gallery on South Street was just one participant in South Street Headhouse District's Window Wonderland display competition. (Photo courtesy Nangellini)

We’re still in the thick of holiday season, and Philadelphia’s shop owners are doing an awesome job of displaying their holiday cheer.

Check out a few shots of some of our favorite festive displays to maximize your holiday spirit on this Christmas Eve Eve!

And you can reference our holiday gift guides for a last-minute shopping S.O.S.

Duross & Langel was one of Center City's first shops to get all decked out for the holidays, and it sparkles for blocks. (Photo by T. Scheid for GPTMC)

More, below.

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Complex Magazine released its lineup of the 25 Best Men’s Style Brands of 2011 and Philly’s own vintage sportswear brand Mitchell & Ness made the cut. As the magazine puts it, “The brand that most likely brought snapbacks back, Mitchell & Ness has been killing it this year.” We think so, too. Check out their exclusive NHL Winter Classic line, the only line to sell vintage player tees bearing the names and numbers of iconic players from the Flyers and Rangers. The brand is a perfect go-to for last-minute holiday gifts, like authentic jerseys, t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, hats and more. [Complex Magazine]

You've still got time to pick up last-minute holiday purchases; we're here to help. (Credit: iStockPhoto)

You’re not the only one.

It’s not reasonable to expect a hard-working person to fit in what should basically be a year-long endeavor into a few weeks’ time. No matter the length of your holiday shopping list, it’s a nearly indomitable feat to complete all your purchasing before it gets down to the final days (or hours) before the holidays.

No matter what holiday you celebrate, you still have a tiny bit of time left for holiday shopping, but it’s definitely crunch time.

Check out our guides to 11th hour holiday shopping. And breathe.

• Uwishunu’s Official Holiday Gift Guide: Our all-local gift guide includes everything from jewelry to clothing to food to beer and more.

• Philly Homegrown’s 2011 (Mostly) Edible Gift Guide: Satisfy the locavore on your list with any of the options on this slew of great, and delicious, gift options that also support local farmers, brewers and bakers.

• Holiday Gift Guide Addendum: We tailored a digestible list of tickets, memberships, and pre-packaged food, drink and miscellaneous items perfect for last-minute holiday shopping.

• Our Museum Gift Shop Guide: The excellent museum gift shops throughout the Philadelphia region have a wealth of creative gifts for everyone on your list, plus you can multi-task. Take in an exhibit, cross a name off your list.

Live music, a glass of wine and great art make for a fantastic kick-off to the weekend. (Photo courtesy Woodmere)

Every Friday night, Woodmere Art Museum hosts an evening of live jazz music, light fare and wine amidst some of the best fine art in the region.

This Friday, December 23, the museum is hosting a special holiday edition of Friday Night Jazz with Holiday Classics: Arpeggio Jazz Trio.

Holiday classics performed will include “Let It Snow,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “The Christmas Song,” “Jingle Bells,” “We Three Kings,” and others.

All of these tunes will be infused with a jazzy flavor.

Enjoy great music, a glass of hard cider and do your last minute shopping at the museum shop. Light fare and wine served.

Get a video preview of the Arpeggio Jazz Trio right here.

Woodmere Art Museum Friday Night Jazz: Holiday Edition
When: Friday, December 23, 6-8 p.m.
Where: 9201 Germantown Avenue
Cost: $20
More info: www.woodmereartmuseum.org

Villanova and Temple will face off against some of the country's top college basketball teams in the next two months at the Wells Fargo Center. (Photo courtesy Wells Fargo Center)

The Wells Fargo Center plays host to a wide range of events all year, from Sixers and Flyers games to SportsRadio’s 94 WIP’s annual Wing Bowl to Disney on Ice to pop concerts to the 2011 Champions Tennis Series.

One of the most exciting on the docket is the arrival of five of the nation’s top basketball teams, set to roll into town in early January.

#1 Syracuse will tipoff against Villanova on Wednesday, January 11 at 7 p.m., while Coach K and his #5 ranked Blue Devils will be in town to face our own Temple on Wednesday, January 4 at 7 p.m.

Later in the season, Villanova will play host to #10 Marquette on Saturday, January 28 and will then battle defending champion and #9 UConn on Monday, February 20.

The arrival of Syracuse marks the first time a potentially top-ranked team would play at the Wells Fargo Center since it happened twice in February of 2006; when #1 Duke played Temple and #1 UConn faced Villanova. Villanova defeated UConn that day and has a winning record against ranked teams at the Wells Fargo Center since 2005.

Fun fact: these four games will bring 13 of the country’s top 100 NBA prospects through South Philly by the end of the season!

Tickets for Villanova and Temple Men’s Basketball at the Wells Fargo Center are available exclusively at ComcastTIX.com, by phone at 1 (800) 298-4200, or at the Wells Fargo Center Box Office.

Check out the full schedules for Villanova and Temple, below.

Villanova Men’s Basketball Schedule at the Wells Fargo Center:

Wed., Jan. 11, 7 p.m. vs. Syracuse University
Sat., Jan. 28, noon vs. Marquette University
Sat., Feb 18, 9 p.m. vs. University of Notre Dame
Mon., Feb. 20, 7 p.m. vs. University of Connecticut

Temple Men’s Basketball Schedule at the Wells Fargo Center:

Wed., Jan. 4, 7 p.m. vs. Duke University

Wells Fargo Center Events [Official Site]

Young naturalists can enjoy a week's worth of up-close examination of specimens, special live shows, craft-making and more. (Photo by Jason Farris for ANSP)

The Academy of Natural Sciences, one of the world’s foremost natural history museums, is celebrating the final week of the year with “All Star Week,” featuring a different animal or insect from December 27-30.

Here’s the schedule:

• Dinosaur Day: Tuesday, December 27, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Academy naturalists will bring dinosaurs to life with special presentations in Dinosaur Hall. Test your knowledge of dinosaurs at science stations, and watch a live animal show at 11 a.m. There will be a dinosaur-themed game at 2 p.m., and kids can make dinosaur crafts to take home.

• Animal Day: Wednesday, December 28, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Academy naturalists will roam the museum with live animals. Ask experts your questions and have your family picture taken with the academy’s birds, snakes and other fascinating animals. Live animal shows will take place at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Make an animal craft to take home.

• Butterfly Day: Thursday, December 29, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Learn about the fascinating life cycle of the butterfly and see an array of butterfly specimens from the academy’s impressive scientific collection. Live animal shows take place at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Make a butterfly craft to take home.

• Weird Things in a Jar Day: Friday, December 30, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Get a close look at some of the stranger specimens that academy scientists have collected over the last 200 years. Learn how scientists prepare specimens for study and storage and make your own weird-thing-in-a-jar craft to take home.

Academy Of Natural Sciences “All Star Week”
Where: 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
When: December 27-30
Cost: Adults (age 13 and above) $12, Kids 3-12 $10, Kids under 3 and seniors (age 65+) free, Military and students $10
More info: www.ansp.org

Besides serving as the Fringe Festival's official Festival Bar, RUBA is a great spot for community events, as you'll see tonight. (Photo courtesy Philly Fringe)

If you’re like many holiday shoppers, you’ve probably got a few more holiday gifts to pick up before you can cross all those names off your shopping list.

Let the awesome Northern Liberties venue RUBA help you out as it hosts a special Draughts ‘N Crafts night tonight, chock-full of unique, handmade Christmas gifts on sale, and some that you can create yourself.

On sale will be the works of the talented men and women of the Traveling Wares, a group of craftspeople that sells handmade jewelry, handbags, ceramics, photograph, textiles, clothing, accessories and other gift items in the Philadelphia area.

Perhaps more exciting than the the gift shopping is the terrarium Christmas ornament-making that all visitors can try their hands at. There will be instruction by Co-Artistic Director Madi Distefano on how to get that tiny little cactus into that tiny little hole in that fragile little glass ornament.

They’ll be serving up winter ales, Bailey’s and whiskey, so come out for a relaxing holiday break. Grab a drink, a stocking-stuffer and put your DIY skills to the test.

Draughts ‘N Crafts at RUBA
When: Thursday, December 22, 6-9 p.m.
Where: 416 Green Street
Cost: Pay as you go
More info: www.bratproductions.org