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Sunday is pay-what-you-wish at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, a great chance to check out the brand new Van Gogh Up Close exhibition. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

No matter what the weather decides to do this weekend (it’s so hard to keep up!), there are activities and festivities aplenty.

Warm up with one of our picks for fireside dining or the new daily hot chocolate bar at the Omni.

Catch a Philly basketball game (NBA or NCAA), or take in one of the newly opened art exhibitions (the New York Times calls the newly opened Van Gogh Up Close “a succinct, revelatory exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art”).

Tonight’s First Friday, and Sunday is something else important that we just can’t… hold on… what is it again? Ah, the Super Bowl! Even though it’s depressingly Eagle-less, we have you covered on where to watch or pick up good eats.

Of course, don’t forget to enter our 29 Nights of Dates Contest each day this weekend.

All of our top picks for this weekend, below:

Friday, February 3

First Friday in Manayunk, Old City, Doylestown, on Frankford Avenue and Chestnut Hill

Center City Restaurant Week — Closing Day!

Art After 5 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Marvels & Monsters: Unmasking Asian Images in U.S. Comics at the Asian Arts Initiative (Fri, Sat, Sun) — Opening Day!

Intelligent Design at the Michener Art Museum (Fri, Sat, Sun) — Opening Day!

Art Stroll in Historic Kennett Square

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat

The Pigeon Presents: The Philadelphia Poetry Slam

46th Anniversary Chinese New Year Banquet at Ocean City Restaurant

Unframed and Uncorked Art Sale at the Main Line Art Center

“Totems and Topographies: Samantha Mitchell” at Grizzly Grizzly Gallery

Green Chair Dance Group at the Annenberg Center (Fri, Sat)

First Friday Wine and Speakeasy at the Wine School

Art Show at Hot Diggity

The First Friday Fighting Burrito Comedy Showcase

Vox Populi Gallery Talk: Erik Geschke and Ronald Lambert

First Friday party at Smak Parlour

Saturday, February 4

LaSalle vs. St. Joseph’s at the Palestra

Mitchell & Ness 17th Annual Winter Sale — Closing Day!

Meadowbrook Farm Tropical Plant Sale

Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit at PAFA (Fri, Sat, Sun)

The Pajanimals Pajama Party at The Market & Shops at Comcast Center

20th African American Children’s Book Fair

Heart On Your Sleeve Sale at Third Street Habit

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Chinatown gets festive this weekend with a Lion Dance Parade this Sunday, just one of many festivities happening in Philadelphia.
(Photo by Christian Carrollo of PicturePhilly)

Tons of great stuff going down this weekend, from the bigger-and-better-than-ever Philadelphia Auto Show to the grand opening of PAFA’s latest blockbuster exhibition, Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit.

Feast to your heart’s content on a budget at Route 6′s Lobster Week, Pizzeria Stella’s Pizza Week, Tashan’s awesome $50 for $35 deal and any of the hundreds of Center City Restaurant Week participating restaurants.

Check out all our top picks for how to spend your weekend in Philly, below:

Friday, January 27

Our guide to restaurants and bars with extracurriculars, from ping pong and shuffleboard to Jenga and Pac-Man

Art After 5 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Jrue Holiday Bobblehead Night: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Charlotte Bobcats

Pig Iron Theatre Company’s The Aporkalypse

Arcadia Boutique’s Winter Attic Sale & Spring Pre-Sale (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Bus Stop Boutique’s Warehouse Sale (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Pearls of the East: 10th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration at International House

Wok ‘N Walk tour of Chinatown (Fri, Sat, Sun)

2012 Lambertville*New Hope Winter Festival (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Philagrafika presents “Doing Time | Depth of Surface” at Moore College (Fri, Sat, Sun) — Opening Day!

Tashan Restaurant Week $50 for $35 deal (Fri, Sun)

Center City Restaurant Week (Fri, Sun)

Frankford Hall Late-Night Menu (Fri, Sat)

Lobster Week at Route 6 (Fri, Sun)

Friday Night Flights at Ristorante Panorama

Winter Adventure Tours at Eastern State Penitentiary (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Pizza Week at Pizzeria Stella (Fri, Sun)

Saturday, January 28

Doug Collins Bobblehead Night: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Detroit Pistons

Philadelphia Auto Show (Sat, Sun)

Valentine’s Day Retail Roundup: Top Picks For Philadelphia Card and Gift Shops

Jerry Blavat at the Kimmel Center

Iron Hill Brewery’s Belgium Comes to West Chester 2012

155th Anniversary Concert of the Academy of Music

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There's a ton going on at the Philadelphia Museum of Art this weekend, from Art after 5 tonight, the new Zoe Strauss exhibition, and Ceinese New Year festivities on Sunday. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

It’s a big foodie weekend, with Center City Restaurant Week’s winter 2012 edition kicking off, Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran’s new tapas spot Jamonera openings its doors a birthday cake contest in Peddler’s Village and more.

For details on all of the above, plus the dozens of other non-food-related events going on this weekend, check out our top picks, below:

Friday, January 20

Our guide to restaurants and bars with extracurriculars, from ping pong and shuffleboard to Jenga and Pac-Man

Art After 5 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Orchid Extravaganza at Longwood Gardens (Fri, Sat, Sun) — Opening Day!

InterAct Theatre Company’s Microcrisis (Fri, Sat, Sun) — Opening Day!

Celebration of Benjamin Franklin’s 306th Birthday

Denim Habit’s Winter Blues Sale (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Claire Lynch at World Cafe Live

Bryn Mawr College Performing Arts Series Welcomes Ying Quartet

The Space Savers Project Reception

Philadelphia Theatre Company’s The Scottsboro Boys (Fri, Sat, Sun) — Opening Day!

Nicole Miller Winter Sale (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Friday Night Flights at Ristorante Panorama

Winter Adventure Tours at Eastern State Penitentiary (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Giant Mysterious Dinosaurs at the Franklin Institute (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Saturday, January 21

Our Top Picks For Fireside Dining At Bars And Restaurants In Philadelphia

Zoe Strauss: Ten Years at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Chinatown Abakus Chinese New Year Party

The Trouble with Trippels III at Johnny Brenda’s

Composer Dave Burrell’s Civilians During War Time Premieres at the Rosenbach Museum & Library

Gravers Lane Gallery in Chestnut Hill presents Gerhard Meling

Sonic Arts Union: David Behrman + Ensemble at International House Philadelphia

Julie Charnet and her Jazz Quartet at Tavern 17

Barrels, Bourbon and Bugs at Iron Hill Brewery in Maple Shade

Big Ass Beerfest

The Month of Monkey Bread at Jones

Brian Sanders’ JUNK Snowball

Peddler’s Village 50th Birthday Cake Contest

Proof at Walnut Street Theatre’s Independence Studio on 3 (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Sunday, January 22

Chinatown New Year’s Eve Midnight Celebration

Main Line Chinese Culture Center Chinese New Year Free Community Gala

Body Awareness at the Wilma Theater (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Free Sunday morning admission at the Brandywine River Museum

Mavis Smith: Hidden Realities at the Michener Museum

Center City Restaurant Week — Opening Day!

Pizza Week at Pizzeria Stella — Opening Day!

Opening Night of Jamonera

Clifford the Big Red Dog at the Philadelphia Zoo (Sat, Sun)

“Duett” Artist Discussion at the Grizzly Grizzly Gallery

Let’s Pretend We’re Married at Act II Playhouse (Fri, Sat, Sun) — Closing Day!

Memphis at the Academy of Music (Fri, Sat, Sun) — Closing Day!

Ambler Restaurant Week (Fri, Sat, Sun) — Closing Day!

Philadelphia Home Show (Fri, Sat, Sun) — Closing Day!

Joan Shepp’s Annual Basement Sale (Fri, Sat, Sun) — Closing Day!

Celebrate the Year of the Dragon at the Museum

Inquiring Minds: Rosenbach Researchers Report Back at the Rosenbach Museum & Library (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Fleming’s Steakhouse Sunday Prime Rib Deal

Arden Theatre’s Charlotte’s Web (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Take in the breathtaking wintertime view overlooking the Delaware River and Benjamin Franklin Bridge at the Blue Cross RiverRink this weekend, just one of many winter activities you can partake in. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

It’s an arts-packed weekend, with the grand opening of Philadelphia photographer Zoe Strauss’ mid-career retrospective at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, theater shows aplenty, a few fun concerts at World Cafe Live and more.

Plus, as always, it’s a delicious food-filled weekend, with Federal Donuts launching fried chicken weekend dinner service, a final Pop-up Paladar at Cuba Libre, Friday The Firkinteenth at Grey Lodge and much more.

Check out all our top picks for how to spend this long holiday weekend, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., below:

Friday, January 13

Our Guide To Hot Drinks In Philadelphia To Help You Keep Warm

Friday The Firkinteenth at the Grey Lodge Pub

Art After 5 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Sandra Bernhard: “I love being me, don’t you?” at the Painted Bride (Fri, Sat)

Live Jazz at Paradiso

Minas Brazilian Jazz at World Cafe Live

Pop-up Paladares at Cuba Libre — Closing Day!

Friday Night Flights at Ristorante Panorama

Saturday, January 14

Philadelphia Home Show (Sat, Sun, Mon) — Opening Day!

Jerry Seinfeld at the Kimmel Center

Academy of Natural Sciences’ Heat Wave Weekend (Sat, Sun, Mon)

The Month of Monkey Bread at Jones

Federal Donuts starts serving fried chicken for dinner on weekends — Opening Day!

Zoe Strauss: Ten Years at the Philadelphia Museum of Art — Opening Day!

“An Afternoon with Martin Luther King Jr.” at the Free Library

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Chef Guillermo Pernot (center) recently visited Cuba where he met and cooked with notable local chefs; tonight you can enjoy the collaborative cooking of Pernot and the Havana chefs. (Photo courtesy Cuba Libre)

[Evenings in Philadelphia are always action-packed, and we want to help you cherry-pick from all the events and activities going on. On certain days that promise particularly bustling evenings, we round up our selections for the most can't-miss pursuits with which to fill your schedule. See you out there!]

• Our top picks for weeknight indoor fun in Philadelphia

• “What Would the Founding Fathers Think of Facebook?” at the National Constitution Center: Join fellow social media junkies as the National Constitution Center hosts “What Would the Founding Fathers Think of Facebook?,” a discussion on the often unrealized effects of social networking on both our private and public lives.

Where: 525 Arch Street
When: Thursday, January 12, 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $10, $7 for Members, students and teachers

• Pop-up Paladare at Cuba Libre: James Beard Award-winning Chef-Partner Guillermo Pernot of Old City’s Cuba Libre is hosting “Pop-up Paladares,” a series of dinners named after Cuba’s popular restaurants set inside a chef’s own home. The Pop-up Paladares feature Havana’s most notable chefs. Tonight’s your second to last chance to take part!

Where: 10 S. 2nd Street
When: Thursday, January 12, 6 and 8:30 p.m. seatings; final night is Friday, January 13
Cost: $39 per person

• Theatre Confetti Relaunch Event: Theatre Confetti (formerly known as Nice People Theatre Company) is relaunching tonight with a sensational grand opening event. Your ticket includes an open wine and beer pop-up bar by Rolling Barrel Events, limited edition tea-flavored Brown Betty cupcakes and $2 tacos from the Taco Loco truck. There will also be a live auction featuring two seats at COOK and a stunning Tiffany & Co. ring. Also in store is a theatrical surprise component.

Where: Underground Arts at the Wolf Building, 1200 Callowhill Street
When: Thursday, January 12, 7 p.m.
Cost: $30

• “Motion Pictures: Early Animation” at International House Philadelphia: The International House of Philadelphia in University City is hosting a fun, nostalgia-inducing event tonight titled “Motion Pictures: Early Animation,” a collection of animation showcasing work by some of the earliest animators.

Where: 3701 Chestnut Street
When: Thursday, January 12, 7 p.m.
Cost: $7 for students and seniors, $9 General Admission

• Body Awareness at the Wilma Theater: Currently at The Wilma is Body Awareness, a smash hit off-Broadway comedy. Nominated for the Drama Desk Best New Play award, this touching comedy is one you don’t want to miss.

Where: Broad & Spruce Streets
When: Thursday, January 12, 7:30 p.m.; show runs through February 5
Cost: Tickets start at $23

The famous Fried Chicken at Federal Donuts will now be available for dinner on Saturdays and Sundays. (Photo by S. Viggiano for GPTMC)

Yes! Federal Donuts has finally decided to make their insanely delicious fried chicken available in the evenings! Even if it is only two nights a week…

In response to the seemingly endless demand for their incredibly popular birds, Federal Donuts will start serving fried chicken for dinner on the weekends, in addition to the lunch service already in place.

Beginning this Saturday and Sunday, January 14-15, the super popular donuts and fried chicken shop in South Philadelphia from Michael Solomonov and Steven Cook will introduce dinner service starting at 5 p.m.

Just like during lunch service, the fried chicken will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis so get there early. You can order a half chicken or six whole wings for $9 or a whole chicken or 12 whole wings for $17, served with accompanying honey glaze donuts and Japanese pickles.

The chicken is offered two ways: glazed, tossed with flavors such as Chile-Garlic and Honey-Ginger; and crispy, dusted with custom blended, seasoned salts such as Za’atar and Harissa.

And yes, the chicken is as excessively delicious as it sounds. You’ve been warned.

Federal Donuts [Official Site]

This weekend is your last chance to see Longwood Gardens' annual Christmas display, a dramatic illumination of the entire property. (Photo courtesy Longwood Gardens)

This winter weekend brings the Sixers home opener, First Friday in neighborhoods throughout the city, the closing of several holiday attractions and shows and much more.

Stay warm by keeping busy, which won’t be a challenge given the amount of activity happening.

Check out our top picks for this weekend, below:

Friday, January 6

First Friday in Manayunk, Old City, Doylestown, on Frankford Avenue and Chestnut Hill

Home Opener: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Detroit Pistons: 7 p.m.

Art After 5: Tango Night at the Philadelphia Museum Of Art

Body Awareness at the Wilma Theater

“Duett: Matt Giel & Alanna Lawley” at Grizzly Grizzly Gallery — Opening Day!

The Philadelphia Poetry Slam at The Media Bureau

Salsa Caliente at The Painted Bride Art Center

Our Guide To Public Ice Skating In Philadelphia

Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Merriam Theater (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol The IMAX© Experience at the Franklin Institute (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Friday Night Flights at Ristorante Panorama

First Friday at The Wine School: A Speakeasy Education

Saturday, January 7

Public Ice Skating on the Winter Classic Ice Rink at Citizens Bank Park

Inquiring Minds: Rosenbach Researchers Report Back at the Rosenbach Museum & Library (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Our Top Picks For Fireside Dining At Bars And Restaurants In Philadelphia

UCD Christmas Tree and Electronics Recycling

Cabin Fever Wine & Cheese Tastings at Chadds Ford Winery

South Moon Under Winter Sale

Winter Adventure Tours at Eastern State Penitentiary (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Giant Mysterious Dinosaurs at the Franklin Institute (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Fighting for Democracy: Who is the “We” in “We the People”? at the National Constitution Center (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Check out the rest of our weekend picks below…

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Warm up with Heat Wave Weekend at the oldest continually operating museum of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. (Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC)

Starting this month, join the Academy of Natural Sciences for “Wild Weekends,” select weekends when families can create crafts, engage in special interactive activities, examine museum specimens, meet live animals and view special presentations.

Up next is “Heat Wave Weekend” from Saturday, January 14 through Monday, January 16 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., when you can learn about academy expeditions to some of the hottest habitats on Earth.

You will have the distinct opportunity to conduct your own climate change experiment, and meet some animals that have developed unique ways of dealing with the Earth’s increasing temperatures.

Lastly, kids and adults alike will enjoy making sun catchers to help bring a little sunshine to your home.

Bonus: to honor Martin Luther King Day of Service on Monday, January 16, those who volunteer for any organization and show a valid volunteer ID will receive $2 off general admission all weekend long.

Academy of Natural Sciences’ Heat Wave Weekend
When: January 14-16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Cost: Free with museum admission
More info: www.ansp.org

New Year's Week in Philadelphia culminates with a long holiday weekend full of non-stop fun with fireworks, parties, concerts, performances, Mummers, the NHL Winter Classic and more. (Photo credits clockwise from top left: G. Widman for GPTMC, courtesy NHL, G. Widman for GPTMC, courtesy the Kimmel Center)

It’s here. New Year’s Eve is upon us, so make sure you enjoy the final weekend of the year by closing out 2011 with a bang and ringing in 2012 with a strut.

Good thing there’s plenty going on, from a special dance party edition of After After 5 tonight at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and two fireworks shows at Penn’s Landing on New Year’s Eve to the 112th Annual Mummers Parade and, of course, the 2012 NHL Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park.

Below, our top picks for New Year’s Eve weekend:

Friday, December 30

Art After 5: New Year’s Eve dance party at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Laughing All the Way at Act II Playhouse (Fri, Sat) — Closing Day!

Pennsylvania Ballet’s The Nutcracker (Fri, Sat) — Closing Day!

Fancy Folks: Art And Mummery at City Hall

Roundup: Our Top 10 Picks For Holiday Dates In And Around Philadelphia

Gas & Electric Arts’ Hershel And The Hanukkah Goblins (Fri, Sat) — Closing Day!

Jersey Boys at the Forrest Theatre (Fri, Sat)

Our Guide To Public Ice Skating In Philadelphia

Saturday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve

NHL Winter Classic Spectator Plaza (Sat, Sun, Mon)

Our Top Picks For New Year’s Eve Dining In Philadelphia

Our Top Picks For Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Celebrations

New Year’s Eve Fireworks In Philadelphia: Best Places To Watch

Our Top Picks For Alternative New Year’s Eve Celebrations

New Year’s Eve Ghost Tour

Lantern Theater Company’s Private Lives

National Constitution Center’s Winter Holiday Celebration

Kwanzaa Celebrations at the African American Museum in Philadelphia

Check out the rest of our picks for New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and the long holiday weekend below…

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Celebrate Christmas with a delicious dinner, holiday lights sight-seeing or a visit to the Christmas Village, closing December 24. (Photo by M. Fischetti for GPTMC)

The most wonderful weekend of the year is upon us (actually, we think every weekend in Philadelphia is wonderful), and there are plenty of ways to celebrate.

We have a highly curated list of the best options for Christmas Eve and Christmas night dinner, what holiday happenings are worth your time this weekend, and what non-Christmas celebrations are going on as well.

Our top picks for this long holiday weekend, Friday night through Monday, below:

Friday, December 23

ComedySportz Philadelphia’s “A Very Special Ladies and Gentlemen Christmas Special” — Closing Day!

Haddonfield’s Candlelight Shopping — Closing Day!

Woodmere Art Museum Friday Night Jazz: Holiday Edition

Art After 5 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art: Escape to Toyland

Fancy Folks: Art And Mummery at City Hall

Roundup: Our Top 10 Picks For Holiday Dates In And Around Philadelphia

Twelve Nights of Christmas Cocktails at Square 1682 — Closing Day!

Lantern Theater Company’s Private Lives

Laughing All the Way at Act II Playhouse (Fri, Sat)

1812 Productions’ This Is The Week That Is (Fri, Mon)

Pennsylvania Ballet’s The Nutcracker (Fri, Sat, Mon)

Saturday, December 24

Our Top Picks For Feasts Of The Seven Fishes In Philadelphia

Roundup: Where To Eat Out For Christmas Eve In Philadelphia

The Moo Shu Jew Show at the Gershman Y

Christmas Village in Philadelphia — Closing Day!

Warm up with our guide to hot drinks

Our Top Picks For Holiday Theater In Philadelphia

Reading Terminal Market Holiday Railroad (Fri, Sat, Mon)

ToyTime and Under the Tree at the Mercer Museum (Fri, Sat, Mon)

Read on, below.

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