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Click the image above to visit visitphilly.com/cleopatra.

Can’t wait to check out the June 5 premiere of Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt? Well, here’s something to tide you over: visitphilly.com/cleopatra launched this week, providing all sorts of juicy info about that lady in the black eyeliner.

On the site, you can get pumped for the exhibition by learning The Cleopatra Story, exploring a Map of Artifacts found in the search for her tomb and reading our exclusive Top 10 Tips for Visiting Philadelphia.

And don’t forget that you can buy your tickets now!

So check out the site, then run like an Egyptian (it’s just faster) to the world premiere at The Franklin Institute on June 5.

Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt [visitphilly.com]

In anticipation of Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt — making its world premiere at The Franklin Institute on June 5 — several area journalists are visiting Egypt to get an up-close-and-personal look at the search for one of history’s most enigmatic women.

In the below video, Action News’ Sarah Bloomquist previews her trip to Alexandria, giving us a sneak peek at some of the artifacts making the trip from the ocean floor to Philadelphlia. (Spoiler: these are some ginormous statues.)

To learn the story of Cleopatra, browse exhibition artifacts and purchase tickets, check out visitphilly.com/cleopatra.

Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt [visitphilly.com]

Get your walking shoes on: Society Hill’s 32nd Annual Open House and Garden Tour will take place on Sunday, May 23, 2010, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Tickets are now on sale for this self-guided tour of 10+ private homes and gardens in one of our nation’s most historic neighborhoods, once frequented by such notable names as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.

Each year, the Society Hill Tour offers a new selection of exceptional homes and gardens that range in style and décor from the 18th and 19th century periods to the most contemporary. This year, something new has been added: five area restaurants (Bistro Romano, Bridget Foy’s, City Tavern, Positano Coast and Zeke’s Deli) will offer discounts for lunch or dinner for ticket holders.

Sponsored by the Society Hill Civic Association, the tour’s proceeds are used for neighborhood improvement and beautification projects. Light refreshments will be served, included with your $25 ticket.

Advance ticket purchases are encouraged. To purchase a ticket, contact the Society Hill Civic Association at (215) 629-1288, or send an email to mattdejulio@aol.com. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the tour at Old Pine Street Church (412 Pine Street).

Enjoy the tour!

Society Hill’s 32nd Annual Open House and Garden Tour
Sunday, May 23, 2010; 1-5 p.m.
societyhillcivic.com

Do you like music? How about charitable efforts that help out the community? How about both?

This Sunday (May 16), visitors to the Point Breeze neighborhood’s outdoor Concert Garden (2056-58 Ellsworth Street) will be treated to a jazz serenade, the first in the neighborhood’s Summer Jazz Series taking place from 1-5 p.m. every third Sunday of the month. (BYO lawn chair!)

Cost for the four-band concert, along with food and drink, is a suggested minimum $5 donation, with all proceeds going towards programming and maintenance for the Concert Garden.

Bands performing at the kick-0ff concert include Big Unkle, The Modern Day Jazz Collective, BAM and Wavelength.

(Are you jazzed yet? Just had to go there.)

For more info about the Summer Jazz Series and other events in Point Breeze, visit pbpioneers.com. And check out upcomingevents.com for more — surprise! — upcoming events in Philadelphia.

Summer Jazz Series
The Concert Garden at Point Breeze
May 16 @ 1 p.m.; every third Sunday of the month through late August
2056-58 Ellsworth Street, Philadelphia, PA

The search for Cleopatra and Mark Antony's tomb continues. (Photo courtesy of AEI)

Tickets are now on sale for Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt, making its world premiere at The Franklin Institute from June 5, 2010 – January 2, 2011.

If the only thing you know about Cleopatra is that Elizabeth Taylor played her in a movie, here are some quick facts: 1) She seduced both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, having children with both; 2) She was a brilliant ruler and spoke several languages; 3) She may or may not have plotted the murder of her brother; and 4) The tomb she shares with Mark Antony has never been found. Which brings us to this exhibition.

Cleopatra focuses on the present-day search for Cleopatra’s remains throughout Egypt and Crete, told through never-before-seen artifacts and multimedia components. Along the way, you’ll learn more about Cleopatra’s seductive personality; her lasting legacy in fashion and film; and why two modern-day explorers think they can find her.

To purchase tickets, click here. And if you’re looking to stay over, book the Cleopatra VIP Hotel Package.

Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt [visitphilly.com]

This Saturday evening from 10 – 3:30 a.m. (!!!), get your party on — with a fitness twist — at Bodyrock Bootcamp Gym‘s Get Fresh party.

Some background info: Located in West Philly, Bodyrock has an…interesting approach to fitness. Set on helping you master your body before you hit the weights, they swear they can “take you from biggie to smalls” via classic calisthenics with elements of gymnastics, yoga, strength training, martial arts and even breakdance.

But Saturday’s all about the party, so you can leave the sweatbands at home — in fact, the “freshest” (open to your fashion-istic interpretation) outfits will be rewarded with sweet prizes (see below).

For only $10 (ladies pay only $5 before 11 p.m.), you can look forward to:

- Music: sounds by DJ Jae Atchlei of “The Dirty Middle Class”

- Live Performances: KillerWhale, The Tremmors and The Abyss

- Drinks: Open bar, BYOB & free PBR all night (or until it runs out)

- Grand Prizes and Awards: For the Ladies – “Queen Fressh-Ness” award; For the Gents – “Sir Fressh-A-Lot” award; Prizes include special stuff from Juicy Couture, MAC, Bath & Bodyworks, G-Shock and Activision

So get decked out in your tube tops and Jimmy Choos and head to the gym. No push-ups required.

Get Fresh Party @ Bodyrock Bootcamp Gym
Saturday, April 10, 10 p.m. – 3:30 a.m.

Bodyrock Bootcamp Gym
3858 Lancaster Avenue
bodyrockbootcamp.ning.com

A good place to be when you're hungry. (Photo courtesy of Village Voice)

If I didn’t know Philadelphia meant “brotherly love,” I might assume it meant “food utopia.” Such is the splendor of the dining situation here, where you can choose from amazing steakhouses, taquerias, food carts and tapas joints for each meal.

So I can only nod knowingly — and get a little hungry for lunch — while reading The Village Voice‘s food-centric piece, “Snapper Soup, Texas Weiners, and Cheesesteaks: Things I Ate in Philadelphia This Weekend.”

Over the course of two days, writer Robert Sietsema tackles brisket in Bucks County, hot dogs in Chinatown, all manner of food at Reading Terminal Market, the super-huge portions at Famous Fourth Street Deli (“The place calls itself a Brooklyn-style deli, but there aren’t that many delis this good left in Brooklyn,” he writes), wine at Jose Garces’ Tinto and — badge of food honor time — cheesesteaks at both Pat’s and Geno’s.

“It seems that you can’t get a bad bite in Philadelphia,” writes a likely full Sietsema. Well said — though we coulda told you that.

You can read the whole, delicious thing here.

Snapper Soup, Texas Weiners, and Cheesesteaks [The Village Voice]

Bibou (dish pictured, bottom) hopes to take home a James Beard Foundation Award.

Bibou, Osteria, Vetri Zahav and Stephen Starr are among the finalists for the 2010 James Beard Foundation Awards, as Grub Street Philadelphia reports.

Here’s the breakdown:

Best New Restaurant
- Bibou

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic
- Michael Solomonov, Zahav
- Jeff Michaud, Osteria

Outstanding Restaurateur
- Stephen Starr, Stephen Starr Organization

Outstanding Service
- Vetri

Congratulations to our Philly foodie finalists, who will take on the nation’s best at the May 3 award ceremony — and a special thumbs-up to Philadelphia’s 15+ semifinalists, as announced on February 18.

James Beard Awards: The Philly Finalists [Grub Street Philadelphia]

The James Beard Award; and a dish at Bibou.

Known as the Oscars for foodies, the James Beard Foundation Awards unveiled its semifinalists today, confirming what you uwishunu readers already know: Philadelphia’s got some fantastic restaurants.

Special props to Bibou (two nominations), Tria (two nominations), Vetri (three nominations) and newcomer Koo Zee Doo (four nominations) for representing Philadelphia so tastily.

Stay tuned for the finalists (March 22) and the winners (May 3).

Full list of Greater Philadelphia semifinalists after the jump!

(more…)

Photo by J. Smith

Much has been made of the fact that Valentine’s Day falls on the upcoming three-day weekend: the perfect time to snuggle up, give your sweetie a dozen roses, yada yada yada.

But, lest we forget, it’s Presidents’ Day Weekend too! And the perfect way to pay your respects to the red, white and blue this weekend is to follow our Presidential Itinerary over at visitphilly.com, which outlines 200+ years of presidential goings-on in our fair city.

You’ll learn where Thomas Jefferson knocked back pints, where Bill Clinton went for after-dinner cocktails and just how former presidential hopeful John Kerry takes his cheesesteaks (hint: Philadelphians won’t approve).

Check out the itinerary here. Stars and stripes forever!

The Presidential Itinerary [visitphilly.com]

We made it to 2010! And the place to be is Broad Street (between Washington Ave. and City Hall), where the famously only-in-Philadelphia Mummers Parade comes equipped with 10,000+ men and women in the most elaborate costumes you've ever seen. Happy New Year! (Photo by R. Kennedy)

The Mummers Parade [gophila.com]

Hey party-goers: Look to the sky at 6 p.m. and 12 midnight to catch Philadelphia's two (yes, two!) fireworks displays heralding the New Year. (Photo by G. Widman)

New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display [gophila.com]