Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

Art lovers, garden enthusiasts, film connoisseurs and sports fans keep coming back year after year for festivals, sporting events, art shows, parades and cultural events in Philadelphia. Here’s what’s going on in the region in 2011*:

January:

• Thousands of decorative strutters kick off the New Year by marching up Broad Street in the festive day-long Mummers Parade that ends with the Fancy Brigade Finale at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. January 1, 2011. phillymummers.com

March:

• The Pennsylvania Convention Center is the site of the Philadelphia International Flower Show, the oldest and largest indoor show of its kind. The annual

The Calendar of Events is organized as follows:

September 2010
October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
January 2011
February 2011
March 2011
April 2011
May 2011
June 2011
July 2011
August 2011
September 2011
Ongoing Activities

SEPTEMBER 2010

Through September 2010, Wednesdays
PM @ PENN MUSEUM. The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology keeps its doors open until 8:00 p.m. for special programs, performances and exhibitions, plus happy hour food and spirits. (215) 898-4000, penn.museum

Through September 5, 2010
ICONS OF COSTUME: HOLLYWOOD’S GOLDEN ERA. Fashionistas and movie buffs converge during this James A. Michener Art Museum exhibition,

Fall is a cool time to come out and celebrate being gay and lesbian in Philadelphia. For the first time ever this year, the city welcomes hunks from around the country for the U.S. National Mr. Gay competition. Gay and lesbian travelers can also look forward to outdoor festivals, fabulous fundraisers and a medley of musical theater shows and performances at popular venues throughout the city. Here’s a look at fall in gay-friendly Philadelphia and The Countryside®:

A Little Competition:

• The temperatures may be dropping, but the competition heats up during the second annual Gayborhood Games at Voyeur Nightclub,

Make no bones about it: Philadelphia has the sauciest, smokiest ribs and the crispiest, juiciest wings around. Whether it’s a box of baby backs from a takeout spot, an authentic Texas-style brisket on a picnic table or a high-end restaurant’s take on Korean fried chicken, these down-home eats are sure to appease any and all comfort-food cravings. Here are just a few places to pick up the delectable dishes all over the Philadelphia region:

Right On ’Cue:

• At Jimmy’s BBQ, a diminutive chow-stop in Malvern, the tasty fare includes pulled chicken with a lemon pepper/brown sugar rub, hickory-smoked pulled

The cornerstone of Philadelphia’s haunted season, Terror Behind the Walls at the historic Eastern State Penitentiary amps up the scary factor this year with a VIP offer that pairs the acclaimed haunted house with a chilling nighttime tour of the prison’s cellblocks. Thrill-seeking families, couples and friends continue their Halloween excursion with the hayrides, parties, festivals—and more haunted houses, of course—that transform one of the country’s most historic regions into a Halloween destination sure to scare, surprise and entertain. From devilish dance parties and peculiar pumpkin patches to eerie explorations through some of the region’s most historic sites, there’s something

A city reveals itself through its street food, and Philadelphia has always had a bountiful spread of on-the-fly options. Local food trucks run the gamut from student grub in stainless steel carts to upscale eats in high-tech mobile kitchens to roving trucks that keep foodies up-to-date on their whereabouts through Twitter. And now even Iron Chef Jose Garces is getting in on the food truck phenomenon with Guapos Tacos, an on-the-go taco truck that will hit the streets in October. Here’s a look at some of Philly’s must-try trucks—serving soft pretzels, pork roll sandwiches, elegant pastries, espresso drinks, global fare

Women have always had—and still have—a strong influence on what and how Americans eat. Yet from Betty Crocker to Rachel Ray, historically most have wielded that power from behind a stove. Today, there’s a new crop of women influencing the next generation of eaters—and many of them can be found right here in the Philadelphia region. But instead of making cooking simpler and eating easier, these female foodies are committed to providing quality, local food and beverage. And, instead of cooking up change from the kitchen, these smart and sassy ladies have chosen to cut the proverbial apron strings and

Come fall, Philadelphia and The Countryside® abound with opportunities to experience local festivals celebrating the region’s rich tradition of farming and seasonal harvests. From a fest that hails garlic in the Pocono Mountains to an urban harvest from Lancaster County farms in downtown Philly and a parade dedicated to all things mushroom in Kennett Square, fall is the best time to sample local homegrown flavors.

In Season In September:

• September 4-5: Garlic shows up in everything from salsa to ice cream at the 16th annual Pocono Garlic Festival at Shawnee Mountain Ski area, with garlic-themed vendors, crafts, cooking demos,

A major art exhibition, a Puerto Rican parade, and grassroots community events keep the party going during Philadelphia’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, taking place from September 15 to October 15, 2010. The culturally inclined can check out special exhibitions, including The African American Museum in Philadelphia’s VOICES: African American and Latina Women Share their Stories of Success and Taller Puertorriqueño’s Faces/Facades: Mirror of a Community, while sports fans get their fill at the Phillies’ Latino Family Celebration at Citizens Bank Park. And of course, visitors and residents will be dancing all month long thanks to fun fiestas such as the

Una exposición de arte a gran escala, un desfile puertorriqueño y actos comunitarios populares mantienen viva la fiesta durante los festejos del Mes del Patrimonio Hispano de Filadelfia, del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre de 2010. Los amantes de lo cultural pueden echarle un ojo a las exposiciones especiales, entre ellas: «VOCES: Mujeres Afroamericanas y Latinas Platican sobre sus Éxitos» (VOICES: African American and Latina Women Share their Stories of Success) en The African American Museum in Philadelphia, y «Rostros y Fachadas: Espejo de la Comunidad» (Faces/Facades: Mirror of a Community) en el Taller

As summer winds down, Philly gears up with end-of-season deals at two great Center City hotels and some fun must-dos, including weekly fireworks over the Delaware River at Penn’s Landing. The end of summer also marks visitors’ last chance to take in some big exhibitions and fun happenings, including Late Renoir at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the James A. Michener Art Museum’s Icons of Costume: Hollywood’s Golden Era.

Hotel Specials:

• To celebrate its Travel + Leisure rankings as the #52 hotel in the world and the #10 hotel in the U.S., The Rittenhouse Hotel invites their guests

In the heat of summer, Philadelphia’s restaurant scene continues to sizzle. Trending right now are highly anticipated openings from seasoned chefs, quick-service stops for drinks and nibbles and new places to dine at the region’s recreational hubs. Meanwhile, the fresh and local options keep on coming. Whether it’s the reopening of a beloved Mexican-French bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) spot or a brand new bar that serves free pizza, a school-themed bistro with local produce or a roving sausage truck, there are plenty of hot new culinary stars this season. This summer’s menu also features some big names: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

America’s story continues to unfold in Historic Philadelphia with the openings of The President’s House: Freedom and Slavery in Making a New Nation, the National Museum of American Jewish History and Liberty 360 this fall. Located next to two of our nation’s most prominent symbols of freedom—the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall—The President’s House reveals the contradiction of slavery in the new nation, while the National Museum of American Jewish History tells the story of American Jews from 1654 through the present day and includes a variety of interactive experiences, including one that invites visitors to make their own story

This is an Independence National Historical Park press release.

The National Park Service has awarded a $4,394,000 contract under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to Daniel J. Keating Company, a general contractor and construction management firm based in Narberth, PA.

This project will include repointing and replacing damaged brick masonry, installing or replacing wood shingle roofing and flashings, restoring and painting window sashes and frames and doors and frames of Independence Hall Tower. Carpentry repairs will include painting and caulking on all exposed wood decorative building elements over the full height of the tower. This project will also require

La historia de los Estados Unidos sigue en evolución en la Filadelfia Histórica con la inauguración, este otoño, del «Sitio Histórico Conmemorativo de la Residencia Presidencial» (President’s House Commemorative Site) y la del «Museo Nacional de Historia Judeo-Americana» (National Museum of American Jewish History). Con su ubicación junto a dos de los símbolos más significativos de nuestra libertad—la Campana de la Libertad (Liberty Bell) y el Edificio Independencia (Independence Hall)—la «Residencia del Presidente» revela la contradicción de la esclavitud en la nueva nación, mientras que el «Museo Nacional de Historia Judeo-Americana» (National Museum of American Jewish

Ten-hut! Historic Philadelphia, where the Army, Navy and Marines were first established, is proud to announce year two for its show-your-military ID-and-save discount program, featuring approximately 40 attractions, restaurants and shops, including special savings for the Art of the American Soldier exhibition on view at the National Constitution Center from September 24, 2010 through January 10, 2011. The discounts, available through December 31, 2010 at numerous establishments throughout Historic Philadelphia, can be found at visitphilly.com/military.

The discount program complements a new recognition program by the Philadelphia-based Liberty USO, which will award Philadelphia weekend getaways to select military families. Two-night

Spanish-speaking visitors to Philadelphia can feel truly welcomed at many of the region’s tourist attractions, thanks to a wealth of bilingual docents, translated audio guides and multi-lingual written materials. Each year, more than one million domestic visitors to Greater Philadelphia are of Hispanic origin. Because of this influx, the region’s historical and cultural highlights are busy making accommodations so that their Spanish-speaking guests don’t have to miss out on a thing.

Historical Interpretation:

• Independence Visitor Center (IVC) – The best place to launch a visit to Philadelphia is at the IVC, where multilingual concierge staff can assist with all

Los hablantes de español de visita en Filadelfia pueden sentirse realmente bienvenidos en muchas de las atracciones turísticas de la región gracias a la abundancia de personal docente bilingüe, de guías de audio traducidas y de material escrito multilingüe. Cada año, más de un millón de los visitantes nacionales a la Zona Metropolitana de Filadelfia (Greater Philadelphia) es de origen hispano. Debido a esta afluencia, los puntos históricos y culturales más destacados de la región están haciendo toda suerte de arreglos para que no se pierdan nada sus invitados de habla española.

Interpretación histórica:

• Centro de Información para Visitantes

Dining is big business in Philadelphia, with visitors spending $1.3 billion on food and beverage in 2009, according to Tourism Economics. Those in search of healthy choices will be thrilled with the region’s vast and ever-evolving dining scene. From upscale white tablecloth with inventive vegetable creations to raw foods and gluten-free dishes, Philly’s veg-friendly scene offers possibilities a plenty. Here are some spots worth checking out:

Destination Dining:

• Vegetable lovers flock to Bucks County, where Mike Jackson’s Blue Sage Vegetarian Grille turns out creative, big-portioned vegetarian food (no meat substitutes) in a cozy, romantic atmosphere. 772 2^nd Street

Starting July 21, the popular Megabus will bring people from nine new cities (11 total) to Philadelphia for fares starting as low as $1—and the timing is perfect. Bus riders can plan a mega-value trip to Philadelphia and The Countryside^® by booking special exhibition and family hotel packages that come with free tickets, discounts and other giveaways at visitphilly.com.

Exhibition Packages:

• The one- or two-night Summer with Renoir Hotel Package comes with free untimed tickets for two to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, housing the Late Renoir exhibition through September 6 along with its own permanent collection