Peter Javian and Teresa Chang, in their studios

It’s time again of one Philadelphia’s coolest events, POST aka the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours. It’s a chance to visit artists in their native habitat. And unlike the Zoo, you won’t get in trouble if you feed them.

Long story short:
- a lot of Philadelphia artists open their studios to the public for a weekend.
- the city is roughly divided in half. Artists east of Broad Street are open the weekend of October 3 & 4. West of Broad is the following weekend, October 10 & 11.
- it’s FREE unless you want to buy some art, but there is no pressure.

The hard part is narrowing down which artists you want to see. There are lot of artists and they can be a little spread out (Philadelphia is a good sized city), though you could see them all if you really tried. Go to the POST website to figure out your itinerary. There are also free hard copy brochures available around the city.

POST has been going on for a number of years now and I have done one or both weekends every year. I usually pick a few high density locations and visit all the artists there, which often led to some very pleasant surprises. Some artists that didn’t read well to me wound up being the ones that had the most impact. I also make a point to hit some more isolated artists that especially peak my interest. It’s a nice balance. And if you miss a few this year, you can catch them next year.

It’s a great chance to meet artists and see where and how they work. And it’s free!

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours
www.philaopenstudios.com

ARTIST STUDIOS EAST OF BROAD STREET
The weekend of October 3-4, 2009, Noon-6pm
South Philly, Bella Vista, Queen Village, South Street, Center City, Old City, Northern Liberties, Kensington, Fishtown, and Port Richmond

ARTIST STUDIOS WEST OF BROAD STREET
The weekend of October 10-11, 2009, Noon-6pm
Germantown, Mt. Airy, Chestnut Hill, East Falls, Manayunk, Roxborough, West Philly,  North Philly, Fairmount, Center City, and Graduate Hospital

Located directly across from Independence Hall, in the lobby of The Curtis Center, is The Dream Garden, an artistic cooperation between Maxfield Parrish and Louis Comfort Tiffany. USHistory.org offers an excellent description of the history of The Dream Garden.

The Dream Garden, a mosaic made of Tiffany glass, is stunning. I’ll leave it at that. It’s the sort of work you need to see to truly appreciate, so go check it out. There’s seating, it’s free, and it’s air conditioned. It’s a wonderful place for a short rest while exploring Independence National Historic Park. On weekdays, you can enter through 6th Street, right across from Independence Hall. On Saturday, enter though the Curtis Center’s 7th Street entrance.

The Dream Garden
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm; Sat 10am-1pm
Free!

The Curtis Center
601-45 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 238-6450

In front the Living History Center on 3rd Street below Chestnut there is a three part 3-D map of Independence National Historic Park. These were built to last. Sitting out in the elements for decades now, they’ve gotten a little faded, but remain in great shape.

Located in front of what was the Park’s then modern (circa 1970′s) Visitors Center, these 3-D maps were designed to give the blind a better understanding of the Park. They were (and still are) pretty neat for sighted people as well. While they didn’t make the cut to be in the new Visitors Center at 6th and Market, these wonderful maps definitely deserve a visit.

Living History Center
3rd and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 629-4026

One of the lesser known attractions at the Independence National Historic Park is the Bishop White House. Which is a shame because it’s well worth seeing.

In addition to being the Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Pennsylvania around the time of the Revolution, Bishop White was chaplain to the Continental Congress. He was also a very, very rich man. The house has been restored to how it was when the bishop lived here. He was original owner and lived there from 1787 til his death in 1836. Many of the furnishings belonged to the bishop.

Being a rich and powerful man, most of the important people of the time were guests in his house, including George Washington, John Adams, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. One of things I remembered from when I toured it as a kid was the indoor “necessity”, which was very rare. It’s still there.

With 8 levels, it’s a huge house. I guess it had to be; he lived there with his 12 grandchildren.

Entrance to The Bishop White House is by ticketed tour only. Tickets are FREE and are available the Visitors Center at 6th and Market. Tickets are first come, first serve. Tours take approximately one hour and includes the much more modest Todd House, which was the home a middle class family. Two tours for the price of none!

Bishop White House
309 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
www.nps.gov/inde/bishop-white-house.htm

If you find yourself in the historic area on a weekday at lunchtime, Amada, one of Philly’s best restaurants, has an amazing lunch deal. Choice of soup, plus choice of salad or sandwich for $14.50. Sure, it isn’t as cheap as hitting up a food truck, but hey, you get what you pay for.

There are two soups to choose from. When I went, it was a warm day, so I had the gazpacho with ham, olive and egg. Cool, refreshing, and tasty. There are four salads and four sandwiches to choose from. I had the delicious skirt steak pepito, pictured above. All sandwiches are served with spicy fries.

The portions for the Catalan Express Lunch are normal size, not tapas size as you might expect from the city’s premiere tapas restaurant. I left plenty full. Lunch is served Monday to Friday from 11:30am – 2:30pm.

Amada Restaurant
217-219 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia PA 19106
(215) 625-2450
www.amadarestaurant.com

Photo courtesy of Please Touch Museum

Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park is one of two buildings still standing from 1876 Centennial Exhibition. Ever since the Please Touch Museum restored and moved to the historic Memorial Hall, many of us grown-ups wanted to check out the building and what they’ve done with it. Now here’s our chance.

The Please Touch Museum is now hosting a Stuff for Grown-Ups Tour at the museum, which includes a self-guided tour of a restored Memorial Hall. Adults will be able to scope out the Centennial Exploration exhibit, which features a scale model, built in 1889, depicting the more than 200 buildings erected for the Centennial. There’s also the museum art collection, which includes two indoor murals created by Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program and a 40-foot replica of the Statue of Liberty’s Arm and Torch created out of toys, games and other ‘found objects,’ gathered and assembled by Philadelphia artist Leo Sewell.

While you’re there, check out the museum’s collection of artifacts of childhood memories, which include The Rocket Express, the kid-sized monorail from the John Wanamaker department store, and the set and costumes from the children’s TV show Captain Noah and his Magical Ark. They probably won’t mind if you break into the “send your pictures to dear old Captain Noah” song. And even if they do mind, I’ll probably do it if the mood strikes. If they rename it to the Please Don’t Sing Museum, blame me.

Go today, go right way. Relive your childhood at dear old Please Touch Museum.

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

There are a lot of really great cheese steak places here in Philly. Well here’s another, but with a twist if you’d like. CJ’s Steak & Eggs in Tacony makes a killer steak and egg sandwich. Deceptively simple, but superb. Four simple grilled ingredients, steak, egg, onions, and cheese very cleanly served up on a fresh roll make for a really tasty early (they open at 5am) or late (available all day) breakfast. On Saturday nights they stay open late, so it can also make for a great late night snack after a fun night out.

CJ’s is nothing fancy, but it is clean and functional. You order at the counter, grab a beverage, then grab a seat in a booth. Pay on your way out.

CJ’s is located on the left hand side of Cottman Ave. at State Road, immediately as you come off the Cottman Ave. exit of I-95 North. If you are coming south on 95, the easiest way is to turn right onto Bleigh at the exit, then turn left onto State Road at the traffic light. Cottman Ave will be one light down on your left, cross Cottman and turn into their parking lot.

A 12″ steak with egg, cheese and onions and a 20oz soda are a little under $8. Maybe if you eat oatmeal all week, your cardiologist will let you have one on the weekend.

CJ’s Steak N Eggs
5000 Cottman Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19135
(215) 333-5300

Philadelphia is a city blessed with many wonderful holiday traditions, many of which charmingly feature once very cool but now very dated technology. The newest attraction though is state of the art. The Comcast Holiday Spectacular utilizes the LED video wall at the Comcast Center, which just so happens to be the world’s largest. Last time I was there, I saw a huge crowd, most of whom didn’t appear to be Center City office workers.

The 15 minute show runs on the hour. Scenes include a condensed version of The Nutcracker, a big-band dance number on the Art Museum steps, a realistic sleigh ride, an ice skating number, and a children’s choir. Of course a portion of it is on YouTube. Modern life being what it is, we watched the YouTube video on my phone while waiting for the real thing to begin.

I recommend stopping by the Comcast Center concourse first for a cannoli from Termini Brothers to enjoy during the show. Give me a cannoli and I’ll stand through quite a few video musical dance numbers. The Comcast Holiday Spectacular is a great addition to Center City’s holiday attractions. It is a tradition I expect that will get better every year, especially as they figure out how to make best use of the challenging gap-tooth shaped video screen.

Holiday Lights @ Comcast
Up through New Years Day!
On the hour from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m, with the exception of 5pm on weekdays.

Comcast Center
1701 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA

In the tradition of German Christmas Markets, a village of 50 wooden huts has arisen on the west side of City Hall. While many of the vendors feature items that are German and/or Christmas inspired, there are also many vendors with items from other cultures. Prices range from jaw-droppingly expensive to very affordable. There really is something for everyone.

There are also a good number of food vendors throughout the village. Every few steps you are presented with another food option, just like in Germany. Food options include grilled bratwurst, potato pancakes. fresh crepes, packaged bakery treats, and hot pretzels topped with ham and cheese.

If you travel counterclockwise from City Hall’s west portal, your last stop in the village will be Santa’s House. When I peaked in the window, Santa had his hands and lap full with a gaggle of young Philadelphians. Children of all ages can get their picture taken with Santa. There are variety of photo options including portraits, ornaments and photo magnets.

Located in between Macy’s, with its holiday double dose, and the Comcast Center’s Holiday Spectacular, the Christmas Village gives you another festive thing to do in between. But hurry! Today is the village’s last day.

Philadelphia Christmas Village

Philadelphia’s City Hall
Broad St & Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 686-1776

After several hundred years, the American Philosophical Society has recreated itself as very innovative scientific institution. And they didn’t amputate their name or dumb down their mission to do it. Echoing the themes of their UNDAUNTED: Five American Explorers, 1760-2006 program, they are teaming up with Secret Cinema, another innovative and quirky Philadelphia institution, to present two free films about exploration.

Jay Schwartz has been digging up and showing rare old movies at various locations in the metro area, under the Secret Cinema banner, for over 15 years. The APS has being doing their thing for over 250 years. This is an opportunity to experience two of Philadelphia’s coolest little treasures simultaneously, and for free. Two, two treasures in one!

- This week features Nanook of the North. Next week will feature The Sky Above, the Mud Below.
- Doors open at 6pm, allowing time to explore the APS exhibition about five American explorers.
- The movie starts at 7p.m.
- The movie will be followed by refreshments and a discussion moderated by Henrika Kuklick and Brett Keyser.

Wednesday, October 29: Nanook of the North, 1922
In Robert Flaherty’s famous documentary, Nanook, an Inuit hunter, and his family struggle to survive harsh conditions in the upper Hudson Bay region. Nanook of the North was the first full-length, anthropological documentary in cinematographic history and became a smash hit both in the press and at the box office. This silent film will be accompanied by live piano music played by Don Kinnier.

Wednesday, November 5: The Sky Above, the Mud Below, 1961
In 1959, documentarian/adventurer Pierre-Dominique Gaisseau organized a seven-month expedition deep into the heart of New Guinea, accompanied by six fellow explorers, four soldiers, and 60 bearers. The expedition encounters many challenges such as headhunters, cannibals, leeches, and swarms of insects while they cross the rugged landscape. During the seven-month trip three men lost their lives, eight were wounded, and 22 were felled by illness, leaving only the director and his radio engineer to complete the journey. The film won the 1962 Academy Award for “best documentary feature.”

Admission is FREE (why pay more?)

APS Museum
104 South Fifth Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 440-3442
www.APSMuseum.org

Most everyone is aware of the great deal that is Center City Restaurant Week. 3 courses = $35, and discounts can be found for garage parking. However Center City Restaurant Week comes but twice a year. Well up in Mayfair, every week is Restaurant Week at Rylei Restaurant. 3 courses are only $30, and there is plenty of free on street parking after 6pm.

Sure it’s reasonably priced, but is it any good? Darn tootin’ it is. But you don’t have to just take my word for it, Craig Leban gave them a very nice review. The small but solid menu for this upscale fine dining restaurant changes seasonally. A true Mom & Pop business, husband Jose Vargas is the chef, while wife and mother Jennifer Brennan-Vargas works the dining room.

Don’t miss the Chocolate Pasta, a first course choice. Talking about missing stuff, Rylei is very easy to drive past (repeatedly). Just park anywhere on Frankford between Princeton and Tyson and look for their black awning.

Rylei Restaurant
7144 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19135
(215) 335-0414
www.ryleirestaurant.com

Closed Sundays and Mondays.

Having been to a lot of beer events over the years, I really wasn’t too excited about Brew at the Zoo. I went anyway since some really good folks are involved with it and because it was for a good cause, United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation. Plus with a free shuttle bus two blocks from my house, how could I not go? I got to say I was way wrong. There’s something really right about drinking beer while looking at critters.

After 4 years at Elmwood Park Zoo in nearby Norristown, Brew at the Zoo moved to the much larger Philadelphia Zoo this year. The Philadelphia Zoo easily accommodated the larger than expected crowd.

Summer nights in Philadelphia can be hellish, but it was a gorgeous night for it, relatively cool, low humidity, and clear skies. Readily available maps helped folks find the beer and food stands, which were spread around zoo, encouraging visitors to wander around and explore.

Admission to the zoo, beer from several local microbreweries (and a few not so local), and food from several local restaurants were included in the $40 admission price ($50 at the door). This event seemed to attract very few of the usual suspects for craft beer events, showing that Philadelphia’s amazing craft beer scene may have hit the crossover point.