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Photo by Samantha Lazar

It’s been a while since I roamed the hallways of a museum, peering through glass cases at ancient artifacts and admiring the artwork of a by-gone era. However I recently took myself, and a close friend, to the National Constitution Center to see Ancient Rome & America, an exquisite showcase that depicts the classical influence of the Roman Empire that shaped our Nation.

Ancient Rome & America showcases the cultural, political, and social connections between Rome and America. Artifacts from Italy and America bring together a never-before-seen collection of parallels in architecture, sculpture and sports.

I never realized the similarities between a Roman gladiator helmet and a modern day football helmet worn by our own Philadelphia Eagles, or how the classic architecture found on many buildings in our Nation’s Capital resemble the architecture found on Roman temples and state homes.

The well-directed showcase includes a busts of our own founding fathers, including George Washington, and Philly’s favorite son, Ben Franklin, portrayed wearing togas!

Ancient Rome & America runs through August 1 at the National Constitution Center. For more information, visit the National Constitution Center’s official website.

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

We sure do love our vibrant Gayborhood, and to show appreciation for this bustling enclave, we’re celebrating for two weeks, from July 10th through the 24th, with There’s No Place Like Home.

This summer celebration runs concurrently with QFest; Philadelphia’s LGBT film festival, which will screen the documentary film Welcome to the Gayborhood to help commemorate the occasion.

Featured events include:

· Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Opening Party: This press conference, which features an appearance by Mayor Michael Nutter, serves as the official kick-off for the Gayborhood celebration. Revelers then head to Q Lounge & Kitchen for an opening reception. Starts at 4pm on July 10th, at 13th & Locust St.

· QFest Film Screening: Bars throughout the Gayborhood will screen the documentary film Welcome to the Gayborhood on July 10th at 6pm.

· Gayborhood Photo Retrospective: This photo exhibition displays images from various phases of the Gayborhood’s evolution. It’s on display July 10th through July 24th at the William Way Community Center.

· Gayborhood Block Party: This bash kicks off at noon and runs until 6pm on July 11th, and takes over 13th St between Locust and Walnut, and Camac St between Locust & Spruce. Local shops, organizations, and vendors will line the streets.

· Re-launch Dance Party: On July 11th, Roland Belmares will DJ at Voyeur Nightclub. This dance party starts early, kicking off at 4pm!

· Rainbow Street Signs: The city unveils 32 new rainbow street signs (for a total of 69 signs) marking intersections throughout the Gayborhood. The official unveiling of these signs takes place at 13th and Chancellor on July 11th, 2pm.

· Rainbow Discount Card: Valid July 10th through July 24th, the Rainbow Discount Card entitles bearers to special discounts and surprises at Gayborhood businesses. Cards are available at Woody’s, Tabu Lounge & Sports Bar, Q Lounge + Kitchen and Tavern on Camac while supplies last.

For more information on There’s No Place Like Home and the Rainbow Discount Card, visit the event’s official Facebook page.

There’s No Place Like Home [ www.facebook.com ]

Philly Pride Parade, Circa 2004, Photo courtesy Philly Pride Presents

With two days worth of events, education and entertainment scheduled, come join the Philly Pride Parade & Festival this weekend, and be one of this year’s 25,000 participants.

The 22nd Annual LGBT Pride Parade & Festival takes place this Sunday, June 13th from noon until 6pm. The Parade begins at 13th & Locust and proceeds East on Market Street, then down Chestnut St to Penn’s Landing.

The festival will feature entertainment on the new RiverStage, a dance area, family zone, pet zone, education stations, and a variety of local food and beverages.

The festival will also feature over 90 different organizations and over 40 different merchants selling novelties, craft and products. And don’t forget movie night this Saturday at Penn’s Landing. They’re screening Mamma Mia!

For more information about Philly Pride Presents or Pride Day, visit their official website.

Penn’s Landing [ visitphilly.com ]

Philadelphia’s own Equality Forum looks to close the week-long event with a grand finale celebration of education, networking, and the advancement of GLBT civil rights at The Piazza in Northern Liberties.

SundayOUT! at The Piazza features live entertainment and over 100 artisans, vendors, and community organizations. The architecturally exciting Piazza and adjacent Liberties Walk offer something for everyone — stylish boutiques, cafés, bars, galleries and more! There is over seven hours of entertainment, celebration and fun to be had including:

* Live Entertainment presented by Q102 and My106.1
* Fashion Show
* TLA “Gays in Hollywood”
* Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus Cabaret, w/ special guest Rent star Anthony Rapp
* Philadelphia Freedom Band
* Dance Performances

There are free, round-trip shuttles available every 15 minutes from Knock in Center City, which is located on the corner of 12th & Locust St. Admission to the event is only $10 for adults, $5 for students.

SundayOut! At the Piazza
May 2nd, 2010, Noon – 7pm

The Piazza at Schmidts [ visitphilly.com ]

Kate Brennan as Katherine, Photo by G DeCandia

I really love the Society Hill Playhouse. The atmosphere, both eclectic and eccentric, is perfect for new talent to grace the stage surrounded by comfy couches and candle-lit tables – well… until the lights go out.

Kate Brenna’s Some Assembly Required: A New Meta-Musical introduces audiences to her protagonist; Katherine – a troubled, but hopeful dreamer who escapes into her own self-medicated delusions that feature musical numbers, voice recordings, pop-culture references and lots of junk food.

But, what is reality and what is fantasy? Is Katherine really sitting in her living room, watching infomercials and snacking on crisp celery? Is she really conversing with a brother who pleads with her to shower, and go food shopping – although his efforts render him quite futile against her obsession with the television.

Josh Totora as Auggie, Photo by John Michael Szczepaniak-Gillece

I kept asking these questions to myself throughout the show, and it was these questions that kept me interested until the very end. I’ll stop here, because I don’t want to divulge any additional information regarding the ending.

My suggestion: Go see the show, and purchase a bag of Pepperidge Farm Cookies while you’re there.

Some Assembly Required
Now through April 17th, 2010

Society Hill Playhouse
507 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 923-0210
www.societyhillplayhouse.org

Imagine the mind of Katherine – a troubled, but hopeful dreamer who escapes into her own self-medicated delusions that feature musical numbers, a cabaret night club and lots of junk food – sounds pretty fun right?

Sift through bags of Pepperridge Farm cookies and M&M’s with Katherine to determine the difference between dreams and reality in Kate Brenna’s Some Assembly Required: A New Meta-Musical, coming to the Red Room at The Society Hill Playhouse.

Some Assembly Required, produced by BCKSEET Productions, introduces 12 original songs, features a six-piece band and examines the health care crisis in a whole new way.

This all-together new production begins with a preview on March 25th and opens March 26th and runs through April 17. Tickets are $15-$25, which includes one complimentary beverage from the bar (beer, wine, soda, or water).

Some Assembly Required
March 26th – April 17th, 2010

Society Hill Playhouse
507 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 923-0210
www.societyhillplayhouse.org

Dog Reads Book by Maira Kalman, Image courtesy the ICA

At first glance, one observes Maira Kalman’s collection of ordinary objects, illustrations and tapestries as a simple display of contemporary life collected during family road trips or leisurely Sunday strolls. With closer observation, however, spectators of Ms. Kalman’s work are brought along a journey that spans 30 years of fashion, food and art. Her works illuminate the joy, and even sadness, of life’s overwhelming and sometimes tepid moments.

On display until June 6th, 2010 at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Ms. Kalman’s Various Illuminations (Of A Crazy World) aims to amaze and inspire onlookers to laugh and enjoy life’s little pleasures amid a studio of over 100 original drawings, journal entries and displays of “many tables of many things.” Her artwork blends garage sale mundane with the humor of Dr. Seuss.

Strolling through the living canvas that is Ms. Kalman’s work – I found myself flipping through childrens’ books with that contained many of her most popular illustrations, peering over tables and shelves that contained bobby pins, balls of strings, and even 30 year old onion rings!

Kalman hopes that her artwork will lift the spirit, and it did just that. I found myself chuckling at her original gouache on paper drawings such as Dog Reads Book, and New Yorkistan.

Her awesome display is a trip down memory lane both for the artist and observer. Her artwork pervades the ordinary and makes it extraordinary.

Philagrafika 2010
www.philagrafika2010.org

Institute of Contemporary Art
118 South 36th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3289
(215) 898-5911
www.icaphila.org

Inside Good Dog, Photo by M. Kennedy for GPTMC

Come, sit, and stay a while for Good Dog Bar’s 6th Annual Anniversary party this Sunday, December 6th. The celebration kicks off at 4 PM with good beer and good times – all in the name of charity.

Good Dog Bar, one of my favorite Center City establishments, is working closely with the Morris Animal Shelter of Philadelphia and will match 100% of the raffle money raised and donate 10% of the evening’s sales to the shelter. That’s a good dog!

Bar patrons will be treated to passed appetizers and drink specials as well as games, raffles and prizes. Winners of Good Dog’s 6th Annual Photo Contest will also be announced that night.

Good Dog will feature 10 new draught beers including Good Fish brewed just for the pub by Flying Fish Ale – one of my favorite local beers to the Philly area!

The celebration runs from 4 PM to 2 AM with all levels open to the public. See you there!

Good Dog Bar
224 S. 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 985-9600
www.gooddogbar.com

Photo courtesy the Devon Theatre

An ensemble cast of local Philadelphia talent sang and danced their way across the Devon Theater’s stage Friday to a packed house of theater goers for an electric performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

While most would think the retelling of a biblical story would be wrought with proverbs and passages and little humor; Joseph is no ordinary story. The musical delivers comedy, fun and a plethora of contemporary music amid the telling a man who had a dream – and the gift of seeing the future.

As a fan of Joseph, I was pleasantly surprised with the Devon’s take on this classic story and Broadway show. Musical numbers like “Potiphar” and “Benjamin’s Calypso,” were updated to reflect current trends in popular culture.

This talented cast of 14 young men and women harmonized and sang while performing choreographed dance sequences that included jumps, flips and other acrobatic maneuvers that both children and adults “chortled with praise.” You Joseph fans will understand what I mean.

Joseph runs through December 13th. Tickets cost $25 for an adult and $15 for students. For more information please visit the Devon Theatre’s official website.

Devon Theater
6333 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19135
www.devontheater.org

Photography courtesy the Devon Theatre

Like so many fun and energetic shows that have graced the Devon Theater’s stage, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat promises to electrify audience members while telling the biblical story of a man who had a dream – and a gift of seeing the future.

Somewhat askew of traditional Joseph performances, the Devon’s stage show promises to rock the house with rock and pop music amid the re-telling of the story of Joseph, his jealous brothers, and one very loud garment.

The Devon Theater’s production will feature eight men and six women playing each and every role in this classic story.
Evening performances are currently running Thursday through Saturday at 7:00 PM, with matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM. There’s also a special mid-week matinee next Friday, November 17th, at 2PM.

Joseph is running now through December 13th. Tickets cost $25 for an adult and $15 for students. For more information please visit the Devon Theater’s official website.

Devon Theater
6333 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19135
(215) 338-6300
www.devontheater.org

It’s autumn in Philadelphia again. There’s a crisp sensation in the air, cool breezes blow through Rittenhouse Square and Independence Mall. Fall weather is perfect for an early morning walk or run. And what better way to to put your abilities to the test than participating in Philadelphia’s longest running awareness walk?

Join nearly 15,000 Philadelphians and members of the Greater Philadelphia area on October 18th for AIDS Walk Philly. Funds raised will help over 30 AIDS organizations local to the Delaware Valley. What started as a group of 300 individuals in 1987 has significantly grown in size, but contributions from more individuals are needed.

Anyone interested in joining the walk/run or donating funds is urged to register online at their official website. Each “walker” is requested to make a minimum pledge of $45, for which they will receive an AIDS Walk Philly t-shirt.

Registration beings sharply at 7:30 AM the day of the walk/run. Opening Ceremonies will begin at 8:30 AM with a reading of names and an opening of panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt. The 12K AIDS Walk will begin at 9:00 AM at the Philadelphia Art Museum and end at Eakins Oval (near the steps of the Museum). The AIDS walk route travels Kelly Drive crosses Falls Bridge and back down Martin Luther King Drive.

The 5K AIDS Run will begin at 8:00 AM down MLK Drive and an awards ceremony will be held for winners of the run prior to the 9:00 AM kickoff of the walk.

For more information please visit their official website. Good luck, runners and walkers!

In a city that loves competition, it’s no surprise that Philadelphia’s own Gayborhood is set to announce its “best of” winners on Saturday, September 26th during the first annual Gayborhood Games at PURE Nightclub. This groundbreaking event takes place tomorrow, September 26th, and will pit local talent against one another for prizes and a year’s worth of citywide bragging rights.

Join local talent and a plethora of celebrity judges as they choose the best bartender, drag performer, best singer, hairstylist/salon, and even comedian. Celebrity judges include Christopher Ciccone (Madonna’s brother and best selling author), Tim Bennett of Sirus OutQ’s Focus Group and Philly’s own Karen Gross, editor of Where Philadelphia Magazine.

So put on your game face, come on down, register for some friendly competition, and show us what you got. All area residents are eligible to participate. For more information on the games, please visit the official Philadelphia Nightlife Gay website.

First Annual Gayborhood Games
September 26th, 2009

Pure Nightclub
1221 St. James Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 735-5772