Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

As if making an international name for itself in the 19^th and 20^th centuries with an underdog championship boxer movie character, dueling cheesesteak purveyors, the Mummers and, well, a cracked bell didn’t make Philadelphia quirky enough, it seems the 21^st century will continue to propagate that fun-loving mystique with strange and wonderful annual events held every month of the year. Here’s a look at the city’s quirky side:

March 2010:

• The

Como el corazón de la cultura y de la vida hispanoamericana en Filadelfia, el Centro de Oro es la sede de numerosas organizaciones internacionales no lucrativas, de muchos establecimientos cuyos propietarios van en la tercera o en la cuarta generación, y de residentes cuyos orígenes representan a casi todos los países de habla hispana del mundo. Los visitantes a este animado enclave—a poca distancia del Centro de la Ciudad (Center City) en taxi—pueden agasajarse con

The hub of Latino culture and life in Philadelphia, El Centro De Oro is home to several international non-profit organizations, many third and fourth generation family-owned businesses and residents descending from almost every Latino country across the globe. Visitors to this lively enclave—just a short cab ride from Center City Philadelphia—can feast on authentic Latin/Caribbean dishes at Isla Verde, get inspired by the work of Puerto Rican artists at Taller Puertorriqueño or feel their way

Lights on, curtains up. It’s Philadelphia’s moment, as the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA) turns a bright spotlight on the city’s arts and cultural scene. For three weeks, from April 7 through May 1, 2011, audiences will revel in an array of one-time, only-in-Philadelphia productions by some of the region’s top talents—many of whom will partner with or present international performers. PIFA will feature music, dance, fashion, fine arts, poetry, cuisine and more—all

In July 2009, the Kimmel Center, Inc. appointed J. Edward Cambron as executive director of the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA), a city-wide arts and cultural festival inspired by the Kimmel Center. In this role, he oversees all aspects of the annual festival, which will take place April 7 through May 1, 2011. Mr. Cambron comes to PIFA with almost 30 years experience in arts research, management, marketing and development.

Mr. Cambron spent

In July 2007, Anne Ewers assumed the role of president and CEO of Kimmel Center, Inc., (KCI), the $35 million organization that owns and operates the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, home to eight resident companies presenting a wide range of music, dance and theater offerings, and manages the Academy of Music and Merriam Theater.

During her first year with the Kimmel Center, Ms. Ewers led the company in retiring its $30 million construction

DESCRIPTION: Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is a performing arts destination in the heart of Philadelphia and the centerpiece of the city’s Avenue of the Arts. The Kimmel Center consists of two freestanding performance halls enclosed beneath a spectacular 150-foot vaulted glass ceiling or, in the words of architect Rafael Viñoly, “two jewels inside a glass box.”

Notable architectural facts:

• 61,048 linear feet of structural steel tubing supporting the glass roof
• 1,400 tons of

The time was 1910 through 1920, the waning days of the “Belle Epoque” (or the “Beautiful Era”). The place was Paris, where a previous generation of artists had already changed the rules with their groundbreaking leap into Impressionism. The City of Lights was a magnet for artistic rebels who reshaped and redefined art, and the atmosphere was one of unprecedented imagination and creativity that would dictate how the world defined and interpreted art for the

FESTIVAL NAME: Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA)

DATES: April 7 through May 1, 2011

OVERVIEW: The Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA) creates a place on the world stage for the city’s arts and cultural scene with a three-week festival featuring free and ticketed performances and activities. Inspired by the Kimmel Center, PIFA celebrates the collaboration, innovation and creativity present in every art form. The first-ever festival—centered around the theme “Paris: 1910-1920”—showcases

¡Luces! ¡Arriba el telón! Filadelfia estará en su momento cuando el «Festival Internacional de Arte de Filadelfia» (Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts o PIFA) enfoque un brillante reflector sobre el escenario de arte y cultura de la ciudad. Durante tres semanas desde el 7 de abril hasta el 1 de mayo de 2011, el público se deleitará con una serie de producciones —únicas y en exclusiva para Filadelfia— presentadas por algunos de los productores