The annually displayed Garden Railway is fashioned entirely from natural materials: leaves, bark, vines, twigs, logs and more.
(Photo courtesy Morris Arboretum)

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city even for just an afternoon this weekend; with 92 acres of lush land and gorgeous gardens, the Morris Arboretum guarantees the chaos of the city will be nothing but a distant memory.

And this weekend is the perfect opportunity to check it out as Memorial Day Weekend coincides with the annual kick-off of the arboretum’s spectacular Garden Railway Display.

With a different theme every year, the Garden Railway Display is a miniature world set in the splendor of a summer garden that features meticulously detailed historic buildings created entirely out of natural materials. This year’s display, Painted Ladies, opens this Saturday, May 28, and is a replication of the magnificent Victorian-style homes that were first created after the California Gold Rush in the late 1840s.

From 1-3 p.m., guests can lose themselves in the intricate displays, enjoy the companionship of volunteers decked out in Victorian garb, partake in various art and crafts and treat themselves to free ice cream.

The display will continue through Labor Day Weekend. Other special events planned in conjunction with the exhibit are Pennsylvania Train Weekend on Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12, Train Enthusiast Night on Thursday, June 16 and Circus Week at the Garden Railway every Sunday from June 26 to July 4.

The Morris Arboretum’s Garden Railway Display Grand Opening
When: Saturday, May 28, 1-3 p.m.
Where: 100 E. Northwestern Avenue
Cost: Kids 3-17 $7, Students and active military $7, Adults $16, Seniors (65+) $14, PennCard holders and Children under 3 Free
More info: www.morrisarboretum.org

Are you guilty of peeking and peering into the gorgeous houses of Society Hill? It’s difficult not to fantasize about living the life of luxury in a lavish mansion — but now you can get one step closer to the good life.

As part of Society Hill’s 33rd Annual Open House and Garden Tour, more than 10 private homes will be opening their doors to give you a first-hand look into their exceptional properties and gardens.

The self-guided tour, which includes complimentary light refreshments, will occur on Sunday, May 22 from 1-5 p.m. and will feature some of the most historic houses in the city dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, with style and décor ranging from colonial to contemporary.

In conjunction with the tour, the Society Hill Civic Association is also presenting “Dining with Discounts,” a partnership with five area restaurants to offer lunch and dinner discounts for all tour ticket buyers.

All proceeds from the tour will be used for neighborhood improvement and beautification projects. To purchase your ticket call The Society Hill Civic Association at (215) 629-1288, or email mattdejulio@aol.com.

Society Hill’s 33rd Annual Open House and Garden Tour
When: Sunday, May 22, 1-5 p.m.
Where: Self-guided tour begins at Old Pine Street Church, 412 Pine Street
Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door, group rates available
More info: www.societyhillcivic.org

Barnaby's is just one of many eateries participating in Restaurant Week.
(Photo courtesy Barnaby's)

What’s a better combination than food and film?

The delightful duo is being brought to you for three days straight with West Chester’s Annual Restaurant Week and Film Festival events. Now through May 1, you can treat yourself to delicious cuisine and exceptional independent short films.

West Chester Restaurant Week, a seven-day celebration of the downtown West Chester culinary scene, kicked off on April 25 and features more than 13 local restaurants. Cuisine ranges from traditional to French to Italian to Mediterranean, so there’s something for everyone. Every participating restaurant will offer a special multi-course, fixed-price menu for lunch and/or dinner. Click here for a complete list of participating restaurants.

The coinciding West Chester’s 7th Annual Film Festival brings more than 60 short films to movie-lovers with genres including animation, drama, documentary, comedy and experimental. All films are up to 30 minutes in length and have been submitted by independent filmmakers from around the world. Films will be shown all weekend long; click here for a full schedule.

And don’t miss tonight’s opening party at Iron Hill Brewery, 5-7 p.m. Buy a party ticket at Iron Hill and get a free pass to the first block of films, PLUS meet the directors, actors and sponsors.

Check out a new eatery or visit an old favorite, and catch a great film this weekend in West Chester. Gorgeous spring forecast: road trip much?

West Chester Restaurant Week
When: Now through Sunday, May 1
Where: Click here for a complete list of participating restaurants
Cost: Varies
More info: www.westchesterbid.com

West Chester Film Festival
When: Now through Sunday, May 1
Where: Click here for a complete list of venues
Cost: $8 per two hour block of films, $6 for senior citizens and students, $3 for children 5-12
More info: www.westchesterfilmfestival.com

The Academy of Natural Sciences is just one of many places hosting Earth Day activities on Friday, April 22.
(Photo by W. Klein courtesy Academy of Natural Sciences)

Earth Day celebrations have been happening for more than 40 years; the holiday was created in 1970 to inspire awareness and appreciation for good ol’ planet Earth.

If you haven’t celebrated since your elementary school days, this year is the perfect time to take advantage of any of the fun events offered in Philadelphia. We mentioned yesterday that the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability is supporting a month’s worth of earth-friendly programming. Check out a sampling of options for celebrating the April 22 holiday, below:

• The National Constitution Center: The National Constitution Center and Earth Day might not seem to go hand in hand, but this year the Constitution Center is celebrating the going green trend. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., as part of the Philadelphia Science Festival, children and their families can learn about the responsibility of active citizens to care for the environment. This free event includes interactive activities, crafts and programs featuring members of local, eco-friendly organizations.

• The Franklin Institute: If you’re looking for something more education-focused this Earth Day, the Franklin Institute is the place to be. At 7 p.m. at the Franklin Theater, the Franklin Institute will be hosting a symposium, “Climate Change: Its Impact… Our Action.” This lively discussion and debate will teach attendees about the science behind climate change, as well as the range of innovative policy solutions related to building practices, water usage, food distribution and energy production and distribution.

More, below.

• The Academy of Natural Sciences: Free with museum admission, the Academy will be hosting their annual Earth Day Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The day-long event will feature fun, hands-on “green” activities. Academy scientists will explain how they monitor pollution, measure climate change, test fish and identify invasive species in our local waters, as well as give tips on how to be a better steward of the environment.

• The Philadelphia Zoo: From Thursday, April 21 to Saturday, April 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the zoo will be hosting a “Spring Fling: Party With Your Planet” celebration. The Earth Day event (included with admission) will include games, music and information to explain conservation and protection of animals around the world.

• National Liberty Museum: Celebrate Earth Week, April 19-23, by enjoying a free guided tour and special craft project included admission. The tour will focus on international environmental heroes, such as Wangari Maathai, Rachel Carson and Al Gore. The craft activity, creating flowers from recycled paper, will utilize the material collected from the museum’s “Shredder” exhibit.

• The Mural Arts Program: This event takes place April 30, the weekend following Earth Day, but we still want to keep it on your radar. From 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Mural Arts will be collaborating with Kensington CAPA High School to construct an urban organic vegetable garden and paint a beautiful mural. Mayor Nutter will be in attendance to kick off one of the shifts. Volunteer for the day to play a direct role in creating a legacy project to serve the community.

The Philadelphia Antiques Show marks its 50th year as the major fundraiser for Penn Medicine. (Photo courtesy Philadelphia Antiques Show)

If modern and trendy isn’t your style, but all things antique and vintage melt your heart, then the annual Philadelphia Antiques Show is the place to be this April.

Widely recognized as the premier American antiques and decorative arts show in the country, the Philadelphia Antiques Show will take over the Cruise Terminal at the Philadelphia Navy Yard For five days, beginning April 9 (with a preview gala April 8). The expo will be showcasing one-of-a-kind finds with items that span from furniture, folk and fine art, ceramics and porcelain to silver, jewelry and textiles.

This year’s show is expected to attract 10,000 visitors, and will feature 50 of the nation’s leading antiques dealers and fine art galleries in honor of the show’s 50th anniversary.

Known throughout the country as the top venue for antique furnishings and decorative arts for the American home, the Philadelphia Antiques Show has raised more than $17 million as a major fundraiser for Penn Medicine since its inception in 1962.

Check out the website for a full schedule of events (including a free lecture series and a juried flower exhibit) and to purchase tickets. Proceeds go towards the Penn Ovarian Cancer Research Center.

Philadelphia Antiques Show
When: April 8-12 (times vary; note: April 8 is the preview gala only)
Where: The Navy Yard, 5100 S. Broad Street
Cost: $20 for adults, $17 for ages 65+, Navy Yard employees, WHYY members, and for all tickets purchased before April 1, $12 for students and University of Pennsylvania Health System employees
More info: www.philaantiques.com

If you’ve yet to take advantage of Philadelphia’s many parades, you’re missing out. Luckily, you have a chance soon to catch one of the most storied: on Easter Sunday, April 24, the South Street Headhouse District will be holding its annual Easter Parade.

This year the district is revamping the parade, making it bigger and more vibrant than ever in celebration of its 80th year.

The day begins at 1 p.m. at the Passyunk and South intersection where a street-wide multicultural arts parade will commence down South Street. Highlighted in the day’s events will be circus performers, regional artists from the Arts on South organization, local Mummers groups decked out in authentic attire, a car show, music and giveaways courtesy of B101, and a doggie parade presented by PAWS animal shelter.

The day’s festivities will wrap up in Headhouse Square with a contest to honor the day’s most festive and colorfully dressed families with Halloween’s Henri David as the judge.

Also new this year: an Easter Parade citywide social media campaign. In anticipation of the parade, the South Street Headhouse District will be sending out their bunny every weekend leading up to Easter Sunday. If you tweet or tag a photo with him, you are automatically entered to win various prizes!

80th Annual Easter Parade
When: Sunday, April 24, 1-3 p.m.
Where: Headhouse Square, 2nd and Lombard Streets
Cost: FREE
More info: www.southstreet.com

Acclaimed chefs, like Noel McMeel formerly of Chez Panisse in San Francisco, will demonstrative live every day. (Photo courtesy Flower Show)

At this year’s “Springtime in Paris” themed Philadelphia International Flower Show, it won’t just be a gorgeous array of flowers transfixing attendees. Tying into this year’s theme, the Flower Show will also be featuring an international array of food and wine.

Free live cooking demonstrations will be given daily by the best chefs of the region, including:

• Pastry Chef Cedric Barbaret of Le Bec Fin
• Chef Daniel Stern of R2L
• Chef Peter Woolsey of Bistrot La Minette
• Chef Jason Goodman of PARC Brasserie
• Chef Guillermo Tellez of Square 1682
• Jean-Marie Lacroix himself of Lacroix

A demo will be held three times a day in Room 204C of the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Click here for a complete schedule.

Plus: a trip to Paris just isn’t complete without a glass of wine. With this in mind, the PA Wine & Spirits Store will once again be hosting free wine tastings daily, highlighting a variety of wines from the world’s finest makers, including (appropriately) the vineyards of the Bordeaux region of France. The wine tastings will take place in the Grand Hall, located down the Concourse from the cooking demonstrations, on Sundays 1-4 p.m. and Monday through Saturday, 2-7 p.m.

2011 Philadelphia International Flower Show
Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center, 12th and Arch Streets
When: March 6-13
Cost: Adults $25, Students $20, Children $15
More info: www.theflowershow.com

Each product is named after a Philadelphia location or iconic woman. (Photo courtesy Four Seasons)

Calling all die-hard Philadelphians: the Four Seasons Hotel has found yet another way you can show your devotion to the City of Brotherly Love — with your makeup!

The Spa at the Four Seasons Hotel has added local celebrity makeup artist Carie Brescia’s goods to their already impressive collection of beauty products (Aromatherapy and Naturopathica, to name two). The line is the Spa’s first Philadelphia-based brand.

Carie’s inspiration for the makeup line was none other than Philadelphia and the vast history that the city offers to visitors and residents alike, as well as strong, motivational women in its history.

Included in the line is a selection of lipstick, lip gloss, mascara and cream blush that range in price from $18 to $24. Check out the blushes, which are all named after Philadelphia’s historic squares (the Rittenhouse comes in a subtle, pale pink).

The Spa is open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m., so stop by today and pamper yourself… to show your Philly pride.

Four Seasons Hotel Spa
One Logan Square
www.fourseasons.com/philadelphia

Interested in immersing yourself in a foreign culture without having to pay the airfare? The Israeli Film Festival, coming February 26 until April 9, is the perfect opportunity.

Beginnings its 15th consecutive year in Philadelphia, the Israeli Film Festival will feature eight prize-winning films by Israeli filmmakers. The festival aims to increase awareness of the Israeli culture while simultaneously showcasing the unique talent behind exceptional films.

The festival opens with The Matchmaker, an enchanting coming-of-age tale about the redemptive power of love and the manifold incarnations of friendship. Precious Life is a searing documentary about Israeli/Palestinian relations that come to the forefront when a Palestinian woman turns to Israeli physicians to try to save her sick infant.

Gei Oni is a historical epic that interweaves the story of the first wave of Jewish European migration to Palestine at the end of the 19th century with an unusual love story. Lebanon explores Israel’s ill-fated 1982 invasion of Lebanon through the eyes of a team of young Israeli soldiers. A delightful slapstick comedy, This is Sodom reenacts the moment of birth of the Jewish people as the biblical character Lot tries haplessly to resist the temptations of the infamous city of Sodom.

Below, check out a description of the remaining films.

The Human Resources Manager is a touching tragic-comedy that tells the story of an HR Manager at Jerusalem’s largest bakery who must claim the body of a bakery employee who was killed in a suicide bombing. Missing Father is a documentary about Israel’s legendary but discredited Chief of Staff David Elazar. The festival closes with Voices from El Sayed, a firsthand look into the Bedouin village of El-Sayed, which is home to the largest percentage of deaf people in the world.

Special events include dessert receptions following each of the films and special guest talk-back appearances by the films’ directors.

Tickets are available online.

Israeli Film Festival of Greater Philadelphia
When: February 26-April 9
Where: Locations vary; schedule available online.
Cost: General admission $10 to $12 a film, Tickets for the opening film, A Matter of Size, $15 to $18, Students always free
More info: www.iffphila.com

Having trouble coming up with a creative Valentine’s Day idea for your loved ones? This year, it doesn’t have to involve the standard chocolates, flowers and dinner trio. The Philadelphia Zoo has created a truly unique and fun-filled way to celebrate this Valentine’s Day with their Wild at Heart holiday celebration.

For two days only (Saturday, February 12th and Sunday, February 13th) the zoo will be devoted to Valentine’s Day. This special promotion includes a personalized tour by a zoo expert of the most famous animal couples featuring plenty of unknown interesting facts to keep you on your toes; hot chocolate to keep you warm in this chilly weather; and admission to the zoo after the tour.

Switch things up this Valentine’s Day and take advantage of the opportunity to get an up-close and personal look at some of the 1,300 animals (many of which are rare and endangered) that call the Philadelphia Zoo their home!

Wild at Heart Packages:

• $20 includes two zoo admissions and the Wild at Heart self-tour
• $40 includes two zoo admissions, two hot chocolates, one plush, and a Wild at Heart self-tour
• $50 includes four zoo admissions, four hot chocolates, and a Wild at Heart self-tour (each additional person is $12.00, which includes zoo admission and a hot chocolate)

Call (215) 243-5235 for tickets.

The Philadelphia Zoo
3400 West Girard Avenue
www.philadelphiazoo.org

This year, your favorite holiday CD just isn’t going to cut it; not when you can bring the classic tunes of the holidays to life with Holiday POPS!

Running now through December 22nd at the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall, Holiday POPS! presents a delightful assortment of beloved seasonal classics and glorious gospel music. The opening performance is tonight at 8 p.m.

The ensemble features Grammy-Award winning conductor Peter Nero, his playful orchestra, renowned organist Peter Conte, and the incredible voices of Broadway star Rachel York, the Philadelphia Boys Choir, and the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas Gospel Choir.

Now in its 31st year, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops is a one-of-a kind orchestra that blends together a group of talented musicians from throughout the Philadelphia region to perform a wide variety of musical genres.

Don’t miss out on the gorgeous sounds of the holiday season. Buy your tickets today online.

Tickets range from $25 to $110.

Holiday POPS!
Wednesday, December 15th at 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 18th at 3 p.m.
Sunday, December 19th at 8 p.m.
Tuesday, December 21st at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, December 22nd at 8 p.m.
www.phillypops.org

The Kimmel Center
Broad and Spruce Streets
www.kimmelcenter.org

The Bike Tour Stops to Admire a Mural

Sure, you’ve seen some of the murals scattered throughout the city – with more than 3,000 gracing the walls of Philadelphia it would be impossible not to! But do you have any idea why these murals were painted, the inspiration behind each one, or how they were created? Now’s your chance to find out… all while riding your bicycle.

The recently launched bicycle tour is the perfect way to discover the murals of the city while remaining active and on the move. The tour is approximately two hours long and occurs the second Saturday of every month from now until November. The tour consists of about 20 murals and is led by trained and experienced guides who can tell you everything you could possibly want to know about each and every mural.

Tour Guide Stops to Discuss a Mural

A truly hands-on experience, you can actually go right up to the murals and feel the materials used to create it and see how it was transferred to its current location. Each tour is limited to a small group creating a very interactive experience. Another perk of the bike tour is the opportunity to stumble upon murals that you otherwise never would have found – those hidden away in gardens, backyards, or between buildings.

Although each mural is striking, even more significant is what each one represents and its contribution to the Philadelphia community. See Philadelphia like you’ve never seen it before with the Mural Arts Program bicycle tour. To see a full schedule of all tours, please visit www.muralarts.org/tours.

Upcoming Bike Tour Dates:
* July 10, 2010
* August 14, 2010
* September 11, 2010
* October 9, 2010

Mural Arts Tours [ www.muralarts.org ]