May 10, 2013
Head to the IVC on Thursday, May 16 for an awesome giveaway of free roundtrip tickets on Spirit Airlines, which is starting new service to/from Philadelphia this month. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)
This news may sound too good to be true, but it’s not.
The first 1,000 (yes, 1,000) people to visit the Independence Visitor Center on Thursday, May 16 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. will receive 25,000 free frequent flyer miles from Spirit Airlines.
That’s enough for a roundtrip flight!
Just pay the taxes and fees on top of your free flight, and voila, you’re ready to jet set.
The day of free miles is in celebration of the new Spirit Airlines flights now flying to and from the Philadelphia International Airport.
Spirit Airlines flies all over the U.S. from Philadelphia, including direct flights to direct to Dallas, Myrtle Beach and Las Vegas.
Don your sunglasses for a trip to Miami, your cowboy boots for a trip to Dallas or try your luck along the Las Vegas strip.
Spirit Airlines Frequent Flyer Miles Giveaway
When: Thursday, May 16, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: Independence Visitor Center, 1 N. Independence Mall
Cost: Free
More info: www.phlvisitorcenter.com
May 10, 2013
Phillip James Brannon, Ross Beschler and Lance Coadie Williams in Robert O'Hara's sassy play Bootycandy at The Wilma Theater. (Photo by Alexander Iziliaev)
In an alternate universe where Willy Wonka serves up chocolate eroticism and sugared sensuality, it might not be difficult to imagine the perennial Gobstopper replaced by a treat called “Bootycandy.”
While it may not be hitting real-world snack shelves any time soon, Bootycandy will titillate your theatrical taste-buds as The Wilma Theater’s season closer, running May 15-June 16.
The play (and the title) sketch out scenarios loosely based on writer and director Robert O’Hara’s experiences growing up gay and African-American.
It’s sex-ed class given the vaudeville treatment, where characters jump from preaching at the church pulpit to digging up romance on the beaches of a deserted island.
Tickets for the month-long run are available online, but you can extend the experience with several post-show chats and a Tria wine tasting.
Bootcandy
When: May 15-June 16
Where: The Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad Street
Cost: $19.50-$39
More info: www.wilmatheater.org
May 10, 2013
The PHLASH Downtown Look resumes service for the summer today, May 10. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)
Shuttling from one fantastic Philly attraction to another just got even easier. The PHLASH Downtown Loop launches its 2013 season today, Friday, May 10.
The Phlash is the quick, easy and inexpensive connection to key Philadelphia historic attractions and cultural institutions. A key amenity for visitors and locals, the Phlash is the quickest way to travel from the Historic District to the Parkway to the Zoo and Please Touch Museum.
The bright purple trolley is one the best ways to get around to more than 19 key locations in Center City, including Penn’s Landing, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Eastern State Penitentiary, the Barnes Foundation and the Philadelphia Zoo.
Starting today, the trolley will operate Friday, Saturday and Sunday. After Memorial Day, May 27, the service will be available seven days a week through Labor Day, September 2.
The pickups run approximately every 15 minutes between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. along the main route. The Philadelphia Zoo and Please Touch Museum transfer loop provides service every 15 minutes departing from the Philadelphia Museum of Art between 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
The trolley is just $2 each time you board, and free for seniors and children under 4 years old.
See the complete route below, then hop-on and hop-off the purple trolley to see Philadelphia in a PHLASH!
PHLASH Downtown Loop
When: Launching today, May 10
Where: 19 stops throughout the city
Cost: $2 per ride, free for seniors and children under 4
More info: www.phillyphlash.com
May 9, 2013
Tonight, go experience the arts, attractions and restaurants of Philadelphia, including waterfront beer garden Morgan's Pier, which opens today. (Photo by M. Edlow for GPTMC)
Start the weekend early, and head out tonight to enjoy the spring season at any number of the events lined up for this evening.
Though storms may be in the forecast, cross your fingers and head to the season opening of Morgan’s Pier to taste chef George Sabatino’s new menu and gaze at lovely waterfront views.
But for those who want to head indoors, plenty of festivities abound. Snag tickets to opening night of the Pennsylvania Ballet’s performance of Carnival of Animals — featuring actor John Lithgow! — closing night of the Philadelphia Jewish Music Festival or Rennie Harris PureMovement’s performance for Koresh Dance Company’s Spring Dance Festival.
Check out our top picks for tonight, below.
• Morgan’s Pier Opens for the Season: Spring has sprung, the favorite waterfront spot, Morgan’s Pier is open for the 2013 season as of tonight. Chef George Sabatino’s has introduced all-new menus; a polished picnic menu, vegetarian menu, kids menu and a new nightly prix-fixe menu. Doors open tonight at 4 p.m. and the kitchen’s stoves are slated to turn on to churn out food for hungry guests at 5 p.m. Take in the sweeping views of the Delaware River and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge while listening to Dave P. of the Making Time events spin the best tunes for moving and grooving around the venue. Live music for free? We’re in. Dave P. takes the stage at 10 p.m.
When: Thursday, May 9, 4 p.m.
Where: Morgan’s Pier, 221 N. Columbus Boulevard
Cost: Free
• The Pennsylvania Ballet presents Carnival of the Animals: Tonight marks the first of five Carnival of the Animals performances by the Pennsylvania Ballet at the Academy of Music. The series of performances welcomes a collaborative effort between Christopher Wheeldon’s Carnival of the Animals and works by George Balanchine. The show opens with two of Balanchine’s classic works, Ballo della Regina followed by The Four Temperaments; Carnival of the Animals immediately follows. Enjoy narration written by Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor John Lithgow who will be performing live for this evening’s audience! Also enjoy innovative choreography throughout the show. Tonight’s debut performance beings at 7:30 p.m.
When: Thursday, May 9, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad Street
Cost: $30 and up
• Philadelphia Jewish Music Festival Closing Night: The nine-day Philadelphia Jewish Music Festival ends tonight with a special showing of the 1918 silent film, The Yellow Ticket. The silent film will be accompanied by live music from violinist Alicia Svigals and Canadian pianist Marilyn Lerner to give the film a new depth. The show begins at 8 p.m. Bonus, National Museum of American Jewish History members receive a ticket discount.
When: Thursday, May 9, 8 p.m.
Where: The Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad Street
Cost: $10-$18
• Come Together: Koresh Dance Company’s 2013 Spring Dance Festival: Koresh Dance Company’s Spring Dance Festival is in full swing. Tonight, a number of talented, local dance troupes and choreographers come together at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre for an evening of dance of all sorts. Performers tonight include Rennie Harris PureMovement, Putty Dance Project, BalletFleming, Nora Gibson Performance Project, Just Sole: Street Dance Theater, Kun-Yang Lin Dancers and Koresh Dance Company.
When: Thursday, May 9, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad Street
Cost: $25-$35
• Late-Night Happy Hour at The Mildred: Enjoy wine all the way from South Africa as Adi Badenhorst, a winemaker from Badenhorst Winery, visits The Mildred for a late-night happy hour. From 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. learn about the wines from the expert and sample the offerings as well. Stella Artois’ new Cidre beverage will also be available. Tasty treats from the full bar menu will be offered at a deep discount of 50 percent. Libations will be available for discount price as well, indulge in $5 drafts, $3 Bud Light and a $5 featured cocktail.
When: Thursday, May 9, 10 p.m.-1 a.m.
Where: The Mildred, 824 S 8th Street
Cost: Pay as you go
• Belgian Beer Night at Devil’s Den: In alliance with St. Killian Importing, Devil’s Den hosts an evening of Belgian Beer from 7 to 10 p.m. For those looking for a libation or two, selected Belgian Beers from St. Killian’s Importing will be $1 off. Whether you’re looking for a fruity Belgian White or a darker and spicy Belgian Beer, one of the many beers hand selected for guests will satisfy your taste buds.
When: Thursday, May 9, 7-10 p.m.
Where: Devil’s Den, 1148 S. 11th Street
Cost: Pay as you go
May 9, 2013
Wawa Welcome America returns to celebrate Independence Day and American history from July 1-7 with the country's largest free outdoor concert and a massive fireworks display on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and much more. (Photo courtesy Wawa Welcome America)
Summer is sneaking up on us and bringing along with it some of our favorite celebrations, including the hugely popular Wawa Welcome America festival. From July 1 through July 7 the celebration returns to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and beyond to celebrate Independence Day with live — and free! — music from Grammy-winning musicians, a parade, fireworks, a food festival and plenty of other activities across the city.
Legendary musicians take the stage in front of the Art Museum year after year, and this 4th of July is no different. The lineup features John Mayer, Ne-Yo, Jill Scott, J. Cole, Grace Potter, Ben Taylor, Demi Lovato and local favorites The Roots.
And this year, for the first time ever, VH1 has partnered up with Wawa Welcome America to provide a high-definition nationwide broadcast of the Philly 4th of July Jam. Check out a preview here.
Plus, favorite Wawa Welcome America events return to Philadelphia and provide festivities from border to border.
The all-time favorite Wawa Hoagie Day makes a grand return to the Independence Visitor Center lawn on Tuesday, July 2, and for the first time the National Constitution Center will offer free admission in honor of Wawa Hoagie Day. Also in celebration of the festival, the National Constitution Center hosts a special exhibit on the history of the hoagie in America.
Movies, concerts and fireworks abound over the course of the week. Look for outdoor screenings of Rocky and Silver Linings Playbook as the happenings roll on.
Fireworks light up the sky on multiple occasions throughout the week, and the grand finale fireworks are slated for July 4 immediately following the concert on the parkway.
Prepare your stomachs, the festival ends with the annual Taste of Philadelphia open-air food festival at Penn’s Landing. The food-filled event is from July 5 to 7 and features live entertainment from Marsha Ambrosius on Saturday, July 6 and other live music as well. Also on Saturday, July 6, Adventure Aquarium watch the sky over the Delaware River come alive with fireworks from Adventure Aquarium.
Stay tuned for more information and events as the celebration of America’s birthday nears!
Wawa Welcome America!
When: July 1-7
Where: Various locations
Cost: Free
More info: www.welcomeamerica.com
May 9, 2013
Sister Cities Park hosts the culture filled International Festival on Saturday, May 11. (Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC)
This Saturday, May 11, Philadelphia is set to pay tribute to its 10 sister cities with the Sister Cities Park International Festival, a free festival also celebrating Love Your Park Week.
Be transported around the world with a number of activities honoring the rich culture of Philadelphia’s sister cities, which include Florence, Italy; Tel Aviv, Israel; Torun, Poland; Tianjin, China; Incheon, Korea; Douala, Cameroon; and Aix-en-Provence, France.
A full schedule of music and activities is set for Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.
Mini French lessons help attendees speak the language, while performers will expose folks to the various cultures. Look for dancers from the Guang Hua Chinese School, music from the Italian Consul, Taiko Drummers from Japan, a Cameroonian fashion show, Polish Folk dances and more. A complete schedule of the day’s entertainment is available online.
Additionally, learn to cook authentic meals at cooking demonstrations. Chef Michele Haines of Aix-en-Provence, France and Spring Mill Café, Conshohocken will stand up a noon with guest chef Alexander Zhurkin, of Nizhny Novogorod, Russia. At 1:30 p.m., Giuseppe Giuliani of Florence, Italy and Ristorante La Buca demonstrates his arts. Finally, at 2:30 p.m., Maria di Marco of Abruzzi, Italy and Mamma Maria Ristorante Italiano in South Philadelphia presents her style of fare.
To accompany the cuisine, gain access to the wine garden and sample wines from local wineries for $10. Purchase wine by the glass or bottle to enjoy at café tables with a great view of the entire festival. And, receive a 10% discount on bottles of wine purchased at the festival.
The park, home to a casual cafe, boat pond, grassy areas and a fountain, is open daily and home to frequent special events and family-friendly activities. Check here for more on upcoming events.
Sister Cities Park International Festival
When: Saturday, May 11, noon-5 p.m. Rain Date: Sunday, May 12
Where: Sister Cities Park, 18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Cost: Free
More info: www.centercityphila.org
May 9, 2013
On May 11, NextFab Studio hosts the only open casting call in the northeast for the popular reality show, Shark Tank. (Image courtesy ABC)
On Saturday, May 11, the best and brightest will gather at Graduate Hospital’s NextFab Studio in hopes of making their way to ABC’s popular reality television show Shark Tank.
The popular show stars millionaire and billionaire businessmen and businesswomen like Mark Cuban and Daymond John, who made their way from the bottom and are now at the top of their fields. The show’s contestants pitch their product or service to the super-successful panel in hopes of receiving the funding their business needs to succeed.
Do you think you have an up-and-coming business that has what it takes to win over the Sharks? You’re in luck.
On Saturday, May 11, as early as 5 a.m., hopefuls are invited to line up in order to guarantee a spot in front of ABC’s casting team, where they will be given one minute to make their product or service stand out.
From there, talented businessmen and businesswomen will move onto the next round which is in front of the camera for national television and in front of the famous entrepreneurs.
Only the first 500 people are guaranteed a chance to present their pitches, and wristbands will be given out to the first 500 people at the designated waiting area at 25 Street and Washington Avenue begininning at 9 a.m. Make sure to bring a completed application, which you can download here.
Shark Tank Open Casting Call at NextFab Studio
When: Saturday, May 11, 9-11 a.m.
Where: NextFab Studio, 2025 Washington Avenue
Cost: Free
More info: www.nextfabstudio.com
May 9, 2013
The Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta celebrates its 75th anniversary May 10-11 with rowers from more than 120 participating colleges and universities. (Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC)
Hot on the heels of city sporting extravaganzas the Penn Relays and Broad Street Run, another well-attended competition draws world-class athletes to Philadelphia.
On May 10-11, the 75th annual Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta sails on the scenic Schuylkill River. The two-day event is the largest collegiate regatta in the United States with representation from 125 universities and colleges, 3,500 racers and more than 10,000 spectators. Plus, admission is completely free to all who want to take in the games.
The rowing races take place on the Schuylkill in sight of historic Boathouse Row on Kelly Drive in Fairmount Park, and the race itself is named for Harry Emerson “Dad” Vail, a long-time coach at the University of Wisconsin with a passion for crew that’s inspired generations of rowers.
A record 127 universities and colleges from across North America participated in 2012, and for its 75th anniversary “diamond jubilee” year, the regatta promises to be bigger and better than ever.
Whether you’re a crew enthusiast or a novice, the regatta represents a chance to enjoy the spring season and see top-notch athletics for free.
Read on for our guide to this festive sporting event.
• Getting There: The races occur roughly two miles north of Boathouse Row, about five miles northwest of Center City. Those coming on foot or by public transportation can pick up a free shuttle bus from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at 25th Street and Kelly Drive, just outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art (near the statue of St. Joan of Arc).
Those driving should head towards Kelly Drive in Fairmount Park. The road will be closed for the event, but cars will be directed through the park and to remote lots (which charge a nominal parking fee), where free shuttles will pick up and drop off every 15-20 minutes. The event is also easily accessible by bike. For updates on parking and security, check here.
• The Course: The Dad Vail races take place on a six-lane, Olympic-length course. They begin just north of where Kelly Drive intersects Hunting Park Avenue, and end 2,000 meters later at the Grand Stand, just above the Columbia Avenue Bridge. Check out the complete course map below and here.
• Best Views: The ideal place to catch the action is the Grand Stand near the Jack Kelly statue, where the races will conclude. But shuttle buses will also stop at Rowers Village, near the start of the course, the Canoe Club (mid-course) or the 500 meter mark (final quarter).
• The Races: Pick up a program and Heat Sheets, which have the race schedule and map of which schools are racing in which lanes. Then after each race, listen to the PA system by the finish line for finalized results.
• The Food: The event features a Food Court with Philly favorites like cheesesteaks and hoagies, plus many other menu items and even alcoholic beverages. And attendees are welcome to pack a picnic.
• Meet the Athletes: The Rowers Village by the launch area is where racers relax and recharge when they’re not in the heat of competition. Some vendors even set up shop to sell rowing-related goods.
The Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta
When: May 10-11
Where: Kelly Drive
Cost: Free
More info: www.dadvail.org
For the 2013 course map, see below. (more…)
May 9, 2013
Go aboard the Independence Seaport Museum's historic cruiser Olympia this weekend for the third annual Warship Olympia Tattoo Arts Convention, May 10-12. (Image courtesy Independence Seaport Museum)
Hey, sailor.
Step aboard the Independence Seaport Museum’s historic Spanish-American war cruiser Olympia to see or get acetate or modern tattoos during the Warship Olympia Tattoo Arts Convention this weekend, May 10-12.
During the three-day convention, tattoo artists set up shop on the decks and in the cabins of the historic ship, tattooing willing attendees on the floating museum warship from 1890.
Organized by Troy Timpel and Villain Arts, who also produces the annual Philadelphia Tattoo Convention, this weekend’s tattoo arts convention spotlights traditional American tattoo techniques and the application of vintage acetate stencils (circa 1900 to 1970s) in a historically accurate assembly-line setup.
If you prefer just to try your hand at drinking like a sailor, check out the convention’s after parties at South Street’s Tattooed Mom on Friday after 11 p.m. and Northern Liberties’ Gunner’s Run on Saturday.
Tickets to the convention are $20 per day, or $40 for the weekend, and are available at the door.
Tattoos are an additional cost, of course, and prices vary by artist.
The convention tickets do include regular admission to the Independence Seaport Museum, though. Don’t miss the dramatic brand-new exhibition Tides of Freedom: African Presence on the Delaware River, curated by University of Pennsylvania professor of Sociology and Africana Studies Tukufu Zuberi.
Warship Olympia Tattoo Arts Convention
When: May 10, 2-11 p.m.; May 11-12, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Where: Independence Seaport Museum’s Olympia cruiser, 211 South Christopher Columbus Boulevard
Cost: $20 per day; $40 for the weekend
More info: www.phillyseaport.com and www.villainarts.com
May 9, 2013
In celebration of International Museum Day certain Philadelphia museums are providing art and history buffs with free admission on Saturday, May 18. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)
Across the globe, museums are celebrating their important role in modern society with the annual International Museum Day. Take part by taking advantage of free admission and other cool discounts at participating local museums on Saturday, May 18.
In addition to International Museum Day, another free-for-all festivity, Art Museum Day, also offers participants free admission. Both events center aim to highlight museums’ positive impact on the world.
All you need to do to get free admission is visit any one of the participating museums on Satruday — you do NOT need to register online in advance to take advantage of free admission to take in world-class exhibitions and collections. Between the two events, five museums in the Philadelphia area are welcoming guests at no charge.
• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts: Stop by the North Broad Street art museum for a day of free admission and a 10-percent discount at the museum store. International Museum Day also conveniently falls in the midst of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts’ 112th-annual student art show, which opens this Friday, May 10, so Museum Day participants get a free look at impressive artwork from up-and-coming student artists. Participants are also invited to view other exhibits currently on view at the museum like Modern Women at PAFA: From Cassatt to O’Keeffe and A New Look: Samuel F.B. Morse’s Gallery of the Louvre.
• Philadelphia Museum of Art: Receive free admission to all of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s buildings on Saturday, May 18; the main building, Perelman Building, Rodin Museum and Historic House Mount Pleasant are all welcoming guests with open arms at no cost. Visit the museum’s current exhibits; Art of Golf, Great and Mighty Things: Outsider Art from the Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz Collection, Journeys to New Worlds and CandyCoated Wonderland. After your PMA visit, take in the spring weather in any of the gardens or green spaces surrounding the museum.
• Brandywine River Museum: In addition to providing Art Museum Day guests with free admission, the Brandywine River Museum is hosting a cool exhibit, Ides of March: The Making of a Masterpiece by Andrew Wyeth. The exhibition features the painting itself, and dozens of the studies that aided Wyeth in the creation of the painting.
• Delaware Art Museum: Wilmington’s Delaware Art Museum invites guests to take in the museum’s expansive collection for free for the worldwide museum celebration. Discover photography, illustrations from notable illustrators, paintings and more at the all day event.
International Museum Day
When: Saturday, May 18
Where: Participating museums
Cost: Free
More info: www.network.icom.museum
