Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

2012 is a year to look backward and forward in the Philadelphia region. In a nod to the past, several of the region’s cultural institutions will showcase globally revered treasures from the worlds of religion and art that date from antiquity to the 20^th century. But with eyes focused on the future, the region is also embracing some of the most modern interpretive artwork ever commissioned. Plus, a number of the city’s museums are unveiling major renovations that will enable them to thrive for many years to come. Here are just 12 reasons to visit in 2012:

Relocations, Redesigns,

New Museums Add Even More Cultural Cred
This summer, the Barnes Foundation’s Philadelphia campus marks its first full season on the culturally rich Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Home to one of the world’s greatest collections of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and early Modern paintings, the Barnes Foundation’s new building combines the vision of original owner Dr. Albert Barnes with a contemporary and green execution. In view of the Barnes, the Rodin Museum will reopen this summer after a major renovation and welcome visitors to stand in awe of The Thinker, The Kiss and The Gates of Hell, plus wander around the beautiful outdoor

When the Barnes Foundation opens to the public on Saturday, May 19, 2012 (after the collection’s relocation from nearby Merion, Pennsylvania), the already-compelling cultural district along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia will become the focus of the art world, and a new interactive website, visitphilly.com/withart, is launching on May 15 to help visitors curate their own plentiful art experiences.

To tell the whole story of the parkway and the city, a growing list of organizations have partnered for the city’s first-ever coordinated and sustained visual arts marketing campaign called With Art Philadelphia™. Led by the Greater Philadelphia Tourism

2012 is going to be a blockbuster year for art in Philadelphia. Incomparable works from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy will make a rare U.S. appearance at the James A. Michener Art Museum. The Barnes Foundation will relocate its collection from nearby Merion, Pennsylvania to Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway. And the Philadelphia Museum of Art will mount an exhibition that brings together masterpieces from Gauguin, Cézanne and Matisse for the first time. Before, during and after these exciting artistic endeavors, fans of the visual arts can tour the newly reopened Rodin Museum, home to the largest collection of the

On the heels of Jay-Z’s announcement of the Labor Day weekend Budweiser Made in America festival, Philadelphia is gearing up for another musical bash—Black Music Month. Founded more than 30 years ago by the city’s famed songwriter and record producer Kenny Gamble and on-air personality Dyana Williams, the month-long celebration features different genres of music, including jazz, hip-hop and rap—all representing the influence of black performers and producers. A highlight of the festivities: The Roots Picnic, which takes place for two full days for the first time in its five-year run.

Black Music’s Roots In Philly:
Soul, R&B and

In Philadelphia, the first weekend of June starts off the busy tourism season with four big draws in just three days. Visitors to Philadelphia can catch all the action by booking the Philly Overnight® Hotel Package on visitphilly.com/hotels. The package comes with two nights at one of more than 30 hotels and free hotel parking. Here are the big events happening for June’s premiere:

• Philly Beer Week – Brewers, crafters and beer lovers pour into Philadelphia for this fifth annual sudsy celebration. The “Opening Tap” event on Friday night signifies the beginning of the 10-day event, which continues with

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:

January:

• Setting the standard for quirky events, the Mummers Parade kicks off every New Year with more than 15,000 men, women and children spending thousands of dollars on

Reading Terminal Market Expansion
A favorite of residents and tourists alike, Philly’s preeminent indoor market and local food hub has been around since 1892, but in 2012 the Reading Terminal Market is getting bigger and better. With increased sales, a growing city population and the recently enlarged Pennsylvania Convention Center stretching its capacity, the market—housing all of Philly’s classic foods (cheesesteaks, hoagies, soft pretzels and more) under one roof—is in the midst of a $3.5 million revamp. Storage has been moved to the basement, opening up stalls for five new retailers, and bathrooms are getting a needed update, in addition

February 7, 2012 marks an international literary celebration: Charles’ Dickens 200^th birthday. In the City of Brotherly Love, visited by Dickens in 1842, the Free Library of Philadelphia leads the festivities for 365 days during A Year of Dickens, highlighting the renowned institution’s collection of Dickens letters, first editions and other works and including literary salons, a birthday party, tours, shows and special deals. Also inside the library, book lovers swoon over Dickens’ actual desk—where he wrote his unfinished The Mystery of Edwin Drood—plus a stuffed raven that serves as a literary mascot. For up-to-date information on all-things

One of the country’s most successful tourism blogs, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation’s (GPTMC) uwishunu.com celebrates its fifth anniversary by launching Philly 101, a daily video series starring 101 Philadelphians who will share their Philly tips and insights (ones that you wish you knew). This engaging project comes after the site welcomed a record-breaking two million visits in 2011—that’s one million more visits than in 2010.

Philly 101:
The Philly 101 video series will launch in March 2012 and run for 101 days. People will find the videos on the GPTMC’s social media sites, such as facebook.com/visitphilly,