Campbell's Field on the Delaware River Waterfront; Photo by D. Brady

The Camden Riversharks host two games this weekend that boast post-game fireworks displays. One on Friday night, July 3, at 7:05 and the second on Saturday night, July 4, at 5:35.

The fireworks displays will be over the field, with the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the Philadelphia Skyline as a very picturesque backdrop.

Plenty of tickets are available for both games.

And tickets start at just $9.

CLICK HERE for more information on the Camden Riversharks official website.

Camden Riversharks [gophila.com]

Image courtesy of The 700 Level

This afternoon at the Comcast Center, the 76ers announced the return of its classic, familiar logo famously used during the heyday of Dr. J, Maurice Cheeks and the championship team of ‘83.

Simple yet powerful, the new/old logo conjures fond memories for many older Sixers fans, and provides a sense of optimism for the current ones. Reportedly, the new, updated uniforms will be unveiled later this summer.

The Sixers recently completed a season which saw them reach the playoffs, and are eagerly awaiting the return of All-Star forward Elton Brand and the fresh philosophy of new Head Coach Eddie Jordan.

Normally, I’d tell you to pick up some subway tokens, a parking pass, or catch a cab if you were heading to the Bank to catch the Phillies play. But why trouble yourself with fees, taxis, and waiting for public transit when all you need is a bicycle and some friends.

Join the Bike Coalition of Greater Philadelphia on Friday, May 29th to catch the Phillies play the Nationals at Citizen Bank, as they bike ride to the Stadium!

Whether you’ve played in traffic before or just a novice to city riding, there will be two group rides to ensure you make it to the game in one piece.

For beginners, head over to the Schuylkill Banks where our newly appointed Bicycle Ambassadors of Philadelphia will give you safety tips and rules on how to handle the traffic lights, potholes, and honking cars before leading you through South Philly.

If you live off a bicycle like me, meet at City Hall to take the ride down Broad. Don’t worry about parking, there will be complimentary valet bike parking provided by Neighborhood Bike Works. How special!

Tickets for Bike Night are limited so be sure to reserve your $25 ticket by calling 215-Bicycle ext 3 or email jill (at) bicyclecoaltion.org.

Bike to the BallPark Phillies vs Nationals at the Citizens Bank
Fri May 29th - Novices meet at Schuylkill River Trail @ 5:45pm
Experienced Riders meet at City Hall @ 6:15pm
www.bicyclecoaltion.org

The 1916 Philadelphia Phillies

You may know The Betsy Ross House as the restored home of the famous revolutionary seamstress and a cute little museum dedicated to the Stars and Stripes and the birth of America. But did you know that it also hosts temporary exhibits?

Play Ball! is a new exhibit on the history of Philly baseball that’s coming to the house May 21st, and will be on display all summer, with new objects rotating in every month. You definitely know about the World Champion Phillies; did you know that before there was a curse of Billy Penn even before there was a mascot in a funny green suit? There were also the Philadelphia Athletics, the Philadelphia Stars, and (my personal favorite) the Philadelphia Pythians?

The exhibit is being co-presented by the Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Co. and the Phillies, and is free with admission to the house (a measly $3). It’ll explore the history of baseball in the City of Brotherly Love: learn about the first African American teams, see original jerseys and photographs, check out seats from Connie Mack Stadium, and more! And make sure to check out the rest of the house, if you haven’t seen it yet!

Play Ball!
May 21st - September

The Betsy Ross House
239 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.betsyrosshouse.org

The World Rock Paper Scissors Society (est. 1918) has some crucial RPS advice on its web site:

“Experienced and talented trainers can be invaluable in building an RPS career, but beware of charlatans.”

Competitors would be wise to heed that advice through this summer if they have any hopes of winning the fourth annual Pabst Blue Ribbon Philadelphia Rock Paper Scissors City League Championship Series (yes, that’s the PBRPRPSCLCS).

Competitions began April 20th and run through the June 13th, when the championship competition will be held at Connie’s Ric Rac in South Philly. The prize for the city-wide champion, besides eternal glory, is a title, trophy and $1,000. Last year’s winner, the first female champ, was Mr. Is of team David Bowie’s Package.

Cash prizes are awarded at all events (see a full schedule here). Regular competitions are held at The Raven Lounge, Dirty Franks and The Dive with additional cash prizes awarded at the end of the season to reward the strongest players in several categories. And here’s the coolest part: Every event’s only $1.

PBRPRPSCLCS
Now thru June 13
www.rpscityleague.com

In case you missed it while out enjoying the weather this past weekend:

The Sixers stole a win from their opponent, the Orlando Magic, in dramatic fashion on Sunday and continue the series tonight. Win or lose, the furiously inconsistent (yet amazingly entertaining) team returns home to South Philly this weekend for games 3 and 4 of the series.

Lucky for you, tickets are still available. If you haven’t been to a game this year, why not start with one that actually matters?

Game 3 – Friday, April 24 at 8:00 p.m.
Game 4 – Sunday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m.

Click here for game and ticket information.

The City of Brotherly Love Softball League kicks off their 2009 season Sunday April 19th at the Dairy Fields in Fairmount Park. Come out and support your local Philadelphians of the queer perspective who have a passion for America’s past-time.

What started out as two teams 26 years ago, the CBLSL has grown to over 650 members, 31 teams and multiple divisions for men and women.

The CBLSL is open to gay men and lesbians of all skill levels with a passion for softball, exercise and fun. The womens’ league consists of three divisions while the men’s’ league has three levels, with competitive levels A and B playing each other throughout the season vying for a chance to compete in the Amateur Sports Alliance of North America World Series (ASANA) later this year. The 2009 season is slated to commence July 26th.

The rules of softball are slightly different from those of baseball. The game itself is played at a slower pace, with pitchers standing anywhere from 6 to 12 feet off the pitcher’s mound and all pitches are thrown underhand. Softballs are larger than those of baseballs and no stealing of bases is allowed in softball leagues. Otherwise it’s play ball!

So grab a hot dog and come out to support your local LGBT community as they kick off the spring sports season this weekend! For more information please visit: www.CBLSL.org.

City of Brotherly Love Softball League
www.CBLSL.org

Philadelphia is a very progressive city when it comes to gluten-free food. Approximately 1 in 133 Americans suffer from Celiac Disease, entailing an intolerance to gluten, and Philadelphia restaurants like Amada, Osteria and Gayle have responded by offering gluten-free menu items.

The playoff-bound 76ers, too, are heeding the call. At this Friday night’s game vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers (7 p.m. at the Wachovia Center), gluten-free food and gluten-free beer (!) will be available to sample and purchase, while public service announcements will educate the Sixers faithful about the dangers of the disease.

So if you’ve got a gluten-free lifestyle and you think you can’t pig out on game-day grub, think again.

And during the game, the Sixers will honor Larry and Bethann Kagan with the team’s Hometown Hero Award for their tireless dedication to raising awareness of Celiac Disease. Both have been dedicated volunteers and loyal supporters of the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) since its founding in 2003.

Tickets to Friday’s game vs. Cleveland are available exclusively through ComcastTIX at sixers.com or by calling 1-800-298-4200. Individual first round playoff home games at the Wachovia Center are now on sale at the same locations.

CLICK HERE for more information about Celiac Disease and the NFCA.

Ok, so I thought I was a tough chick because I played rugby in college. And I continued to think that even after I stopped playing when I graduated. That was until I met real, live roller derby girls. Now they are hardcore. Although, being the competitor that I am, I still thought “they don’t look that tough; I bet I could be a roller girl.” Now my competitive thoughts can be put to the test.

On Monday, March 30th, you and I can try out to be Philly Roller Girls! (Sorry dudes.) It starts promptly at 7pm at Millennium Skateworld in Camden, NJ. Be prepared for the tryouts to last about 3 hours. Skates can be provided at the rink for no charge if you don’t have your own. Also, be sure to take your ID with you because all skaters must be 21 years or older. (It’s a dangerous sport for those kiddies!) It is recommended that skaters wear comfy clothing. You wouldn’t want your favorite pair of jeans ripped when you’re mauled by an opponent.

At tryouts, each girl will fill out a questionnaire for PRG to find out how bad they really want it, then skaters will be put to the test on wheels. Things the trainers will be looking for: good balance, comfort on skates, direction-taking, and a few laps around the rink with air to spare. By the end of the week, each girl will find out whether she has made the cut for the Fresh Meat team.

If you can skate, are in good physical condition, and have always longed to be a Philthy Britch or Broad Street Butcher, attend the try outs on Monday! Can’t hurt. Er… yet.

Philly Roller Girls
www.phillyrollerderby.com

Millennium Skateworld
1900 Carman St, Camden, NJ 08105

The icy grip of winter is melting away, the trees and flowers are beginning to reveal signs of life, and the afternoons are getting longer by the day. The long-anticipated advent of spring carries with it an annual tradition that many families treasure – the beginning of Major League Baseball season!

On Saturday, March 14 from 11 AM to 3 PM, bring the family over to The Franklin Institute for a phantastic Phillies celebration. To inaugurate the Phillies’ 2009 season, Independence Blue Cross is sponsoring Phillies Spring Training Day. This popular annual event is free with paid admission to The Franklin Institute.

The whole family will get a thrill from meeting the best mascot in sports, the Phillie Phanatic, who will bring the Phillies’ 2008 World Series Championship Trophy with him for the day! Don’t pass up an opportunity to get up close and personal with Philadelphia’s first major sports championship trophy since 1983. Get everyone geared up in their phavorite red, blue, or maroon Phillies apparel to meet the Phanatic and Phillies announcer Don Baker, as well as the Phanstormers and the Phillies Ball Girls. Mascots from Philadelphia-area minor league teams will also be in attendance to enhance the festivities.

While at The Franklin Institute, don’t forget to test the little guy’s or girl’s throwing arm with the radar gun in the Sports Challenge Exhibit. If the kids need a little energy boost after all those pitches, go nuts and splurge on a couple of Dollar Dogs. There’s no better way to savor the Phillies’ World Series triumph one last time while getting ready for what should be an exhilarating 2009 season. Plan an exciting and educational journey to The Franklin Institute and join the fun!

For more information, visit The Franklin’s official website.

The Franklin Institute
222 N 20th St, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 448-1200
www2.fi.edu

The Flyers host the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night at 7 PM at the Wachovia Center. The Kings, led by Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, and Alexander Frolov, are in 12th place in the Western Conference playoff race, but are only five points behind the eighth-seeded Minnesota Wild. Great tickets are still available to see the Flyers try to avenge a 2-1 loss to the Kings in Los Angeles on January 3rd.

Despite a heartbreaking 5-4 home loss to the Penguins this past Saturday, the Flyers are victorious in five of their last seven games. Holding onto a narrow two-point lead over the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers for the Eastern Conference’s fourth playoff spot, the Flyers need the support of Philly’s best fans on Wednesday. The Flyers will try to win one more game without fan favorite Danny Briere, who is scheduled to return from a groin injury on Friday against Montreal.

Flyers team captain Mike Richards, red-hot after scoring eight points in two games last week, was just named the NHL’s First Star of the Week. Richards is showing true leadership this season, tallying 23 goals, 37 assists, and a plus 23 rating to go along with a league-leading seven shorthanded goals. Pull on your #18 sweater and come out to see the Flyers solidify their standing as one of the Eastern Conference’s dominant teams!

Philadelphia Flyers
flyers.nhl.com

Post by Jacqueline Rupp

Wanna have some fun and feel good about it? Well if you are a sports fan, and a hockey fan in particular, there’s no place better place to be than at the Wachovia Center this Sunday for the Flyers Wives Fight for Lives Carnival.

This indoor festival has all the makings of a traditional carnival: prizes, games of chance, clowns, music and balloon-but with a decidedly hockey theme. You can soak a player at the dunk tank, get your photo snapped with Lord Stanley’s Cup and shoot goals against Martin Biron and others. Players like Carter Richards and Briere Gagne will be on hand for photos and autographs and you can also meet Flyers fan favs from the past. For Flyers fans this is a great opportunity to meet and greet the players you cheer!

While at the party be sure to try your hand at a little Guitar Hero and Dance Revolution and take a chance to win cool stuff, namely a Harley Davidson Sportster! Last year the carnival took in approximately $700,000 that was all donated to area charities such as children’s health research and community-based organizations.

The party gets started at 1:30 P.M. and runs until 6:00 P.M on Sunday, February 22nd. General Admission tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for kids 12 and under.

Wachovia Center
3601 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148
(800) 298-4200
www.flyerscarnival.com

Post by Adam Dembowitz

The Philadelphia Wings, Philly’s indoor lacrosse team, welcome the rival Boston Blazers to the Wachovia Center tonight at 8 PM. Tickets (www.wingslax.com) are available for tonight’s game for as little as $10.

The Wings (2-4) can tie the Blazers (3-3) for third place in the East Division with a win tonight. Mat Giles, the team’s preeminent scorer with 27 points, will lead the charge as the Wings try to continue the exceptional play they began last Friday with a victory over the previously undefeated, division-leading Buffalo Bandits. Philadelphia fans are a big reason why the Wings have won more titles than any other team in the history of professional indoor lacrosse, so go show your support for the six-time champs!

In partnership with the American Heart Association, the Wings are hosting “Go Red for Women Night” for tonight’s game against the Blazers. Wings players will be wearing their red jerseys, and the team welcomes all fans to wear red to support the effort to “Go Red for Women.” The Wings will raise awareness for heart disease and strokes among women by making public address announcements, giving tips on heart health, and distributing information at booths throughout the concourse area. Head over to the Wachovia Center for some fast-paced, heart-pounding action, and enjoy the game!

Wachovia Center
3601 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19148
(215) 336-3600

Post by Adam Dembowitz / Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers host the Ottawa Senators tonight at 7 PM at the Wachovia Center. Limited tickets are still available for this classic battle between Eastern Conference rivals.

The Flyers, second in the Atlantic Division with 65 points, look to pad their stellar 15-6-3 home record with a win against the Senators, who sit in last place in the Northeast Division with 44 points. Go out and cheer your Fly Guys, like Jeff Carter, whose 34 goals this season have already surpassed his 29 goals from last year.

The Flyers are coming off two tough road wins in a row. On Saturday, they beat the Bruins, 4-3, in Boston, and on Sunday, they defeated the Atlanta Thrashers, 3-2. Come support the Flyers as they try to start a winning streak by taking down the Senators!

Wachovia Center
3600 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19148
(215) 336-3600

Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers

Well, football’s over and spring training hasn’t begun yet. Now what? Oh yeah, NBA basketball!

Grab some friends and head to the Wachovia Center for a Sixers game. The team has recently hit a nice stride and is right in the mix of potential playoff contenders; and lucky for us, a bunch of great deals are still available:

Guys Night Out

• 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 beers, 4 Philadelphia Park Passes, 4 Dancers Calendars, 4 Dave & Buster’s Power Cards, and a special meet and greet with the Sixers Dancers
• Package starts at $125

Ladies Night Out

• 2 tickets, 2 chicken salads, 2 glasses of wine, 2 t-shirts, 2 gift cards to Salon L’etoile Spa
• Package starts at $50

All You Can Eat tickets

• Unlimited hot dogs, popcorn, nachos, soda and ice cream
• Tickets are $33

There’s no telling how long these packages are going to be available if the Sixers keep winning, so my suggestion is to buy now before they change their minds!