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The Kimmel Center, Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC

This is not the place to recount the long and infamous history of Philadelphia sports fans — their passion hitting a level of obsessiveness beyond most.

Now is the time, though, to look forward to the return of The Philly Fan, the one-man hit show starring Barrymore Award winner Tom McCarthy and written by award-winning playwright Bruce Graham that is becoming gospel at the church of Philadelphia fandom.

The limited six-week engagement beginning Sept. 23 – Oct. 31 at the Kimmel Center’s Innovation Studio features a slew of content since it first debuted to much fanfare in 2004 — including updates from a Phillies World Series win and a Donvan McNabb trade.

The one man tour-de-force is hailed as a biting, hilarious journey through a half-century of Philadelphia sports history, including all the requisite ups and downs and with a familiar sense of impending doom and undying love.

Tickets are now available at $35 for Thursday and Friday performances and $47 for Saturday and Sunday performances. For more information, visit the Kimmel Center’s official website.

The Philly Fan
Sept. 23rd – Oct 31st, 2010

The Kimmel Center
260 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 790-5800
www.kimmelcenter.org

This weekend, the Hardy Plant Society is hosting their annual Fall Gardeners’ Market, inviting several nurseries and artists from around the region to come sell their plants and crafts.

They’ve expanded their offerings this year and are now including botanical-themed gift items, like jewelry and pottery.

The Gardeners’ Market is free and open to the public, and runs from 9am to 2pm this Saturday. For more information on the event, as well as directions, visit the Hardy Plant Society’s official website.

Fall Gardeners’ Market
Saturday, August 21, 2010, 9 am – 2 pm
www.hardyplant.org

Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge
1601 Valley Forge Road, Valley Forge, PA 19482
(610) 933-8825
www.freedomsfoundation.org

Outside the Ryerss Museum, Photo courtesy the Museum

The Fox Chase Reading Series continues this weekend, with another fine selection of local poets reading outdoors, this time at the historic Ryerss Museum & Library.

Participating poets include Diane Sahms-Guarnieri, Carlos Soto Roman, Patrick Lucy, Rodger Lowenthal, Catherine Staples, Jacob Russell, and G Emil Reutter.

The reading is free, and starts at 1pm, wrapping up at 3:30pm. Stop by, listen to some poetry, and enjoy the gorgeous view from the Ryerss’ amazing porch.

Ryerss Museum and Library
7370 Central Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111
(215) 685-0544
www.ryerssmuseum.org

Outside Amada in Old City. (Photo courtesy Amada)

Starting on Wednesday, August 18th, Chef Jose Garces’ Old City restaurant Amada will host a special $55 Heirloom Tomato Chef’s Tasting Menu.

The four-course tasting menu will include:

Tomate Coca, a crispy flat bread with tomato sofriget sauce and Manchego cheese, topped with herb-marinated heirloom tomatoes; Salmorejo Soup, chilled heirloom tomato soup garnished with farm-fresh egg and Serrano ham salad; and Ensalada de Tomate con Chorizo, heirloom tomato salad with a warm Chorizo Bilbao and sherry vinaigrette, served with fresh goat cheese and Jamon Iberico.

All of this is in honor of the annual La Tomatina Festival in Buñel, Spain. You know, the festival that features the world’s largest food fight, and involves over 150,000 tomatoes hurled around town. But please, don’t throw your food around at Amada. It is way too delicious.

Amada [Visit Philly]

The Amberella Gallery in Northern Liberties is launching a new exhibition this Saturday, August 14th, and they want you to come out for the opening reception.

Entitled Planchette, the exhibit is” a collection of paintings, writings, and miniature altars based around the on-going discourse between [participating artists] J.L. Schnabel and Danielle Vogel.”

The opening reception kicks off at 7pm and wraps up at 11pm. The exhibit runs through September 1st. For more information on the gallery and the artists participating, visit Amberella’s official website.

Amberella Gallery Presents: Planchette
August 14th – September 1st, 2010

Amberella Gallery
1050 N Hancock St, Ste 62, Philadelphia, PA 19123
(610) 283-5669
www.amberellagallery.wordpress.com

Inside the Constitution Center, Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC

Need to beat the heat? The Constitution Center is hosting a special event this Saturday, August 14th, inviting visitors to do just that.

Entitled Beating the Heat: Long Philadelphia Summers, this program explores why Summer is such a riveting time in our city’s history. You’ll learn about the Constitution Convention in 1787, the tragic Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793, and more.

At 11am, 1pm, and 3pm, guests can experience an interactive program in the Grand Hall Lobby, all bout Philadelphia’s most memorable Summer moments. At noon and 2pm, visitors can tour Signers’ Hall and learn how delegates to the Constitution Convention spent their long summer days.

All programs are free with museum admission.

National Constitution Center
525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 409-6700
www.constitutioncenter.org

Outside the National Constitution Center, Photo by J. Smith for GPTMC

Heads up, tickets to this year’s Liberty Medal ceremony at the National Constitution Center are up for grabs starting tomorrow, at 10am, Wednesday, August 11th. Ticket availability is limited, and are offered up on a first come, first served basis. Tickets for this event are free.

The ceremony is set to take place on Monday, September 13th, at the NCC. President William J. Clinton (who is also Chairman of the National Constitution Center) will present Prime Minster Tony Blair this year’s award.

The event will also be broadcast live on 6ABC, and webcast live on the news network’s website. So if you can’t make it in person, don’t worry.

For more information on the Liberty Medal, past winners, and to score your free tickets, visit the National Constitution Center’s official website.

National Constitution Center
525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 409-6700
www.constitutioncenter.org

Outside Memorial Hall, Photo courtesy the Please Touch Museum

At the end of August, the Please Touch Museum is hosting their first annual Stroller in the Park event, a 5K walk promoting healthy, active living.

The walk begins at Memorial Hall on Sunday, August 29th, at 8am, and will follow the newly created 5k path in Fairmount Park. The path is designed to start and finish right in front of Memorial Hall.

Family registration for up to four participants is $100, $75 for museum members. Individuals can participate too, at $30 per person. You can register online here, on the Please Touch Museum’s website.

Please Touch Museum
4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, PA 19131
(215) 581-3181
www.pleasetouchmuseum.org

The Academy of Natural Sciences, Photo by Will Klein

This Saturday and Sunday, August 14th and 15th, stop by the Academy of Natural Sciences for their annual Bug Fest, a celebration of all things creepy and/or crawly. This is the third year the Academy has hosted the event, and this one will center around Lorenzo Langstroth, the father of American beekeeping.

During the weekend-long festival, guests can watch Steve “The Beeman” wear a beard of bees as he lectures about the importance of the little insect. Scientists at the Academy will race roaches (you heard me), introduce you to over 50 species of live insects, and demonstrate how to properly collect and pin your own insect collection.

All of this making you… hungry? You can sample exotic foods made with insects, prepared by Cajun chef Zack Lemann.

For more information on the festival, check out the Academy of Natural Sciences’ official website.

Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 299-1000
www.ansp.org

A jazz group performing at the Chaddsford Winery, Photo by S. Legato

Love music? How about wine? Excellent. Continue reading.

Until the end of the month, you can catch Summer Nights Under the Stars, every Friday at the Chaddsford Winery. Admission is only $22, and guests can look forward to live music in the winery’s beautiful outdoor setting, whilst sipping on crisp glasses of wine.

The concerts run from 6:30pm to 9:30pm, with an array of performers, from The Red Alert Band (60′s dance) to Alligator Zydeco (Southern soul). For a full list of dates and groups, visit the Chaddsford Winery’s official website.

Chaddsford Winery
632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, PA 19317
(610) 388-6221
www.chaddsford.com