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The NHL has released a rendering of what the Winter Classic could look like at Citizens Bank Park if we're lucky enough to get a little snowy cooperation from Mother Nature. (Image courtesy the NHL)

The 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic is getting closer and closer, now just less than two weeks away, and the process of transforming Citizens Bank Park into a giant outdoor hockey rink is officially underway.

To build anticipation for the game even further, the NHL has released the above rendering of what the Winter Classic could look like if we get a little snowy cooperation from Mother Nature. And we’re not going to lie… it looks pretty awesome.

If you’re looking for tickets to the game, conveniently enough, today is the last day to enter our contest to win two tickets to attend the Winter Classic yourself. It’s probably a good idea to go ahead and enter before its too late.

And below, check out one of the newer commercials for the Winter Classic, that features some glamour shots of Philadelphia and the Flyers at a few landmarks around town.

2012 NHL Winter Classic: Philadelphia Flyers vs. New York Rangers
When: January 2, 2012 at 1 p.m.
Where: Citizens Bank Park, Citizens Bank Way and Pattison Avenue
More info: www.nhl.com/winterclassic

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McCrossen's is proving it can do more than great beer with a decadent champagne and truffle dinner this Thursday. (Photo courtesy McCrossen's Tavern)

Since arriving at McCrossen’s Tavern in July 2010, Chef Townsend Wentz has slowly seduced his clientele with French-inspired dishes, weaving in elements and techniques from his culinary past at the Fountain and Lacroix at Rittenhouse.

He will continue the seduction on Thursday, December 29 with a four-course black truffle dinner that showcases the highly prized delicacy.

Each serving will be paired with premier French Grower Champagnes carefully selected by GM and Sommelier Lauren Harris.

So, what exactly is a truffle? It’s a relative of the mushroom that is typically found around the roots of hardwood trees in late autumn and winter. The truffle has a pungent perfume and intense, earthy flavor synonymous with umami, that elusive and savory fifth taste sense.

The black variety, or the Périgord truffle, will arrive from southwest France and be presented in four unique dishes.

As Wentz says of the truffle, “It is a worthwhile extravagance that everyone deserves at least once a year, or in their lifetime. We wanted to give our guests a high-quality dinner at a reasonable price to thank them for their patronage. I want this to be an unforgettable taste memory for them.”

Make your reservations now by calling (215) 854-0923.

French Black Truffle Dinner at McCrossen’s Tavern
When: Thursday, December 29, 6:30 p.m.
Where: 529 N. 20th Street
Cost: $100, plus tax & gratuity
More info: www.mccrossens.com

The full menu is included below.

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Talula's Garden's lush greenery becomes winterized with twinkling lights and fragrant tree boughs. (Photo courtesy Groundswell)

Groundswell Design Group, Hopewell, New Jersey-based landscape architects, have applied their ultra-green thumbs to Stephen Starr and Aimee Olexy’s Talula’s Garden, and the results are fantastic.

The restaurant was featured on Fox 29′s Good Day Philadelphia this week, a great reminder to book your holiday dinner reservations before none are left.

Talula’s Garden is serving a six-course New Year’s Eve dinner, and you can book a table for that or any other holiday meal by calling (215) 592-7787.

Check out some photos of other Starr restaurants decked out for the holidays, including Parc and The Dandelion.

And below, we included a behind-the-scenes shot of Fox 29 taping at Talula’s Garden.

Talula’s Garden
210 W. Washington Square
www.talulasgarden.com

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You best arrive early to get lucky; New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are sure to be even more busy than ever at the always-bustling Federal Donuts. (Photo by S. Viggiano for GPTMC)

Federal Donuts, the ragingly popular donuts and fried chicken shop from master restaurant partners Michael Solomonov and Steven Cook, plus BODHi Coffee owners Thomas Henneman and Bob Logue and local food expert Felicia D’Ambrosio, is helping you ring in 2012, and say goodbye to 2011, in delicious style.

Federal Donuts, lovingly dubbed FedDo, will be serving their regular menu on New Year’s Eve and will stay open until they are sold out.

With record sales in record time since Day 1, the shop is sure to run out rather quickly of delicious fried sugary dough. So make sure you beat the clock and get there on the earlier side. (The shop opens at 7 a.m.)

Then, FedDo is designating New Year’s Day as Chicken Wing Day. Starting at noon, enjoy six whole wings for $9 or 12 whole wings for $17. Both come with Japanese pickles, a honey donut and your choice of seasoning or glaze. The shop will be open until they sell out.

Sounds like the perfect hangover snack (we didn’t say that) or Mummers Parade munchie. See you in line!

Federal Donuts
1219 S. Second Street
www.federaldonuts.com

Ever heard of a poetry slam? It’s a spoken word competition between poets performing original work judged by members of the audience.

A Philadelphia artistic collective called “The Pigeon” organizes monthly poetry slams at The Media Bureau in Northern Liberties, every first Friday.

A poetry workshop begins at 7:30, slam sign-up is at 8:30, and the show, a three round elimination slam, starts at 9 p.m. The next show is just a week and a half away on January 6. All ages are welcome; tickets are $10, or two students for $10.

Want a taste of what to expect?

Watch the new original online webseries: 1 On 1 Slams. Co-hosts of te Philadelphia Poetry Slam Alyesha Wise and Jacob Winterstein invite Philly’s best performance poets to perform their original work on the streets of Philadelphia in front of three pedestrians-turned-judges.

The 1 On 1 Slams are the first of their kind, a unique twist on the globally popular poetry slam format. According to Poetry Slam Incorporated, in 1986 construction worker and poet Marc Smith looking to breathe life into the open mic format created what’s now known as poetry slam.

And Philadelphia, unbeknownst to many people, has a happening scene for it.

Philadelphia Poetry Slams
When: First Friday of each month (upcoming: January 6, February 3)
Where: Media Bureau Studios 725 N. 4th Street
Cost: $10 (students two for $10)
More info: www.facebook.com

Peddler's Village is all atwinkle for the holidays, just one of many spots hosting neighborhood social activities you'd be best to catch this week. (Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC)

A few weeks ago, we laid out all the holiday neighborhood social activities taking place in and around the city.

To make sure you capitalize on all the festivities, we’re now providing you with a quick run-down of neighborhood merriment still going on during this eleventh hour of Christmas time.

Get some local shopping done, mingle with others and enjoy this most wonderful time of the year with the help of the following activities:

• Chestnut Hill’s Stag & Doe Nights: Wednesday, December 21 from 6-9 p.m. is this season’s final Stag & Doe Night. Chestnut Hill truly shines as its one-of-a-kind shops open their doors and welcome you with wonderful gift ideas, refreshments and personalized service. Stroll Germantown Avenue and savor the festive decorations, including lights twinkling in the trees, carolers singing on the street and fresh pine boughs decorating the shops.

• Photos with Santa at the Alphabet Garden on East Passyunk: This Wednesday, December 21 (6-8 p.m.) and Saturday (1-3 p.m.) are your last chance to post with Old St. Nick at the Alphabet Garden, 1631 East Passyunk Avenue. Santa will also be strolling the Avenue on December 23 and 24.

• Fairmount Reindeer Romp: Head out to Fairmount for the 14th Annual Reindeer Romp on Thursday December 22, starting at 6 p.m. The Romp is a great excuse to get out to Fairmount to experience the neighborhood’s bounty of great restaurants and bars.

• Peddler’s Village’s Gingerbread House Competition and Display: A visual delight, these gingerbread house entries are displayed through January 1 in the Village Gazebo. While you’re there, enjoy all the village has to offer in the wintertime. Bonus: it’s beautifully decorated, Victorian-style, with fruit wreaths and greenery.

• Haddonfield’s Candlelight Shopping: On Friday nights through December 23, the streets will be aglow with holiday warmth for the town’s annual Candlelight Shopping, complete with light-lined streets, in-store holiday events, live entertainment and an appearance from Santa.

The Please Touch Museum hosts an annual New Year's Eve celebration for the younger set at noon, and is just one of several family-friendly New Year's Eve celebrations taking place in Philadelphia. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

Philadelphia is the perfect destination for families searching for kid-friendly New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Revelers of all ages can ring in 2012 with a “Countdown to Noon” at the Please Touch Museum or by watching the “Square” drop at Franklin Square before the explosive fireworks show at Penn’s Landing at 6 p.m.

Check out more of our top family-friendly celebrations, below:

• SugarHouse Casino presents Twice the Fireworks, Twice the Fun: Philadelphia is hosting not one, but two gorgeous New Year’s Eve fireworks display at Penn’s Landing to ring in the New Year. The first show begins at 6 p.m., which is a perfect time for families with children. The second fireworks show takes place at 12 midnight.

• Please Touch Museum: The Please Touch Museum rings in 2012 early with Countdown to Noon on December 31. The museum opens at 9:00 a.m. and holds “Noon Year” party activities with music and confetti. Countdowns take place at 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m.

• Blue Cross RiverRink: Winter sports enthusiasts celebrate at the Blue Cross RiverRink’s 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 (5:00-7:00 p.m.) and late (11:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m.) parties. Tickets are $30 for skaters and $20 for spectators.

• Independence Seaport Museum: A maritime New Year’s Eve celebration is on deck at the Independence Seaport Museum along the Philadelphia waterfront. Grab a complimentary party hat and noisemaker before heading outside to the second-floor terrace to watch the fireworks spectacular over the Delaware River at 6 p.m.

• Franklin Square: Franklin Square is celebrating New Year’s Eve with a free, kid-friendly dropping “square” in lieu of the famous ball. Take a final spin on the Philadelphia Park Liberty Carousel for 2011, putt through the Liberty Bell at Philly Mini Golf, enjoy SquareBurger’s hearty winter menu and watch Penn’s Landing’s Fireworks early show at 6 p.m., visible from Franklin Square! The fun begins at 5 p.m.

• Battleship New Jersey: Over on the other side of the river, revelers test their sea legs on the Battleship New Jersey, docked on the Camden waterfront. Enjoy music, food and bar concessions, as well as a unique view of both fireworks shows at 6 p.m. and midnight.

• Longwood Gardens: Families celebrate 2012 in botanical splendor at Longwood Gardens with kid-pleasing festivities including a party hat craft station in the ballroom, magicians, jugglers and live music in the Conservatory all culminating with a fireworks show at 6 p.m.

• New Year’s Eve at the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia: The Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing kicking off the New Year with not one, but two celebrations. Enjoy a delicious New Year’s Eve Family Buffet starting at 4 p.m. The kids have their own buffet complete with sliders and chicken nuggets, while the adults can dine on herb roasted beef tenderloin and pan-seared salmon. Save room for the Desert Explosion at 5:30 p.m. before the 6 p.m. fireworks show at Penn’s Landing.

Every day of the week between Christmas and New Year's, the Franklin Institute is hosting exciting interactive programming. (Photo by Darryl Moran courtesy Franklin Institute)

In honor of the final week of 2011, beginning Monday, December 26, the Franklin Institute is hosting a slew of special programming.

To begin with, as we already mentioned, the museum is opening its popular Joel N. Bloom Observatory to the public every night during the week of December 26-30. Monday through Friday at 5 p.m., visitors will have a rare opportunity to see the night sky from the rooftop of the Franklin Institute.

But in addition to that, there’s tons going on. Check it out:

• Science in a Snap: December 26-January 1. Catch a quick science demo in the Atrium. Museum Educators will present a variety of science topics with dynamic (and sometimes explosive!) experiments.

• Papermaking: December 26-January 2. Try your hand at making a piece of paper to take home, using pulp made from recycled office paper.

• Eye and Heart Dissections: December 26-January 2. Learn how your own eyes and heart work as you watch the dissection of a real cow’s eye, and a real sheep’s heart.

• Dinosaur Dig Pit: December 26-January 2. Examine fossil and bone replicas in this hands-on Dinosaur Dig Pit. Excavate specimens and learn more about paleontology. Ticket to Giant Mysterious Dinosaurs required.

• Chemistry Show: December 26-January 2. Explore chemistry with on-stage demos ranging from combustion to pH testing to polymers and more! Make sure to check out the CSI: The Experience exhibit.

• Science of Fireworks Show: December 26-January 2. Discover the science behind what makes fireworks sparkle, whistle and have colors.

The museum will also be open with special holiday hours. We’ve included the full schedule below.

Franklin Institute Holiday Activities
Where: 222 N. 20th Street
When: December 26-January 2
Cost: Tickets start at $12.50
More info: www2.fi.edu

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Get a front row seat for the New Year's Eve fireworks display, enjoy a delicious dinner at any Garces restaurant and spend two nights at the chic Hotel Palomar. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

In addition to our monster 2012 NHL Winter Classic giveaway (complete with a pair of tickets to the game, an authentic Winter Classic Flyers jersey and two pairs of Winter Classic Alumni Game tickets) we’re giving away a V.I.P. New Year’s Eve Weekend in Philadelphia.

The giveaway includes a two night hotel stay at the Hotel Palomar, a $100 Garces Restaurant Group gift card for dinner, New Year’s Eve fireworks tickets, Blue Cross RiverRink Skating Party tickets, passes to the Franklin Institute’s CSI Exhibition and Mummers Parade and Fancy Brigade Show tickets.

Click here to enter!

You have until tomorrow, December 21, to enter both contests. You can enter once a day, so that leaves two more chances per person. Good luck!

Previously: Contest: Enter To Win A V.I.P. New Year’s Eve Weekend In Philadelphia Complete With A Two-Night Hotel Stay, Mummers, Fireworks And More!

A Tuesday night is as good as any to enjoy an hour-long open bar, right? Tonight Valanni is offering anyone who brings a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots an open bar from 11 p.m.-12 a.m.. The cocktail list contains dozens of holiday-perfect concoctions (think White Cosmos, Ginger Margaritas and Seasonal Sangria). Plus, don’t forget about the bar’s new Skinny Cocktails if you’re trying to counteract some of that holiday pudge. There’s also an extensive wine and beer list, with a local beer or two snuck in. Need a late night snack to accompany your drinks? Valanni has a huge late-night bites menu. Drink and dine for a good cause this evening.