Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

Starting March 21, DC-ers can use the low-cost Megabus to travel to nearby Philadelphia—and there are plenty of reasons to make a trip this spring. Once they arrive at 30^th Street Station or Historic Philadelphia, the city’s two Megabus stops, visitors can choose from a ton of big-name events and exhibitions, such as Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Gunther von Hagens’ Body Worlds 2 & The Brain at The Franklin Institute and the National Constitution Center’s Ancient Rome & America.

For even more savings, DC visitors who book one of the 70

Philadelphia, aptly dubbed the City of Brotherly Love, caters to lovers looking to re-energize their relationships at cultural sites, romantic eateries, outdoor attractions and other swoon-worthy spots. And thanks to the With Love, Philadelphia XOXO™ campaign, couples who book one of 70 hotel packages—including some romantically themed offers—featured on visitphilly.com/withlove receive a special gift at check-in. The giveaway includes Philly Fill-Ins word games, a five-pack of With Love postcards, a With Love pin and the Official Philly Brag Book, filled with 200 reasons to love the Philadelphia region, along with maps and coupons. The packages are bookable online at visitphilly.com/withlove

Through April 13, residents of Beantown can take advantage of Southwest Airlines’ introductory rate of $59 (one-way fare) to Philadelphia for flights booked for June 27 through August 13, 2010. And since new, only-in-Philly and must-see events pack the region’s calendar this summer, the timing is perfect. Cleopatra makes her world debut at The Franklin Institute, while the National Constitution Center focuses on Ancient Rome & America. Late Renoir at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, a brand new soccer team and stadium, an animal-themed LEGO exhibit at the Philadelphia Zoo, a spectacular Fourth of July celebration and more give trip

The Calendar of Events is organized as follows:

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

MARCH 2010

Through March 7, 2010
THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY. The Walnut Street Theatre presents this story of American college men in the 1960s who come together to build character, strengthen bonds and create a better future for their fraternity, but do they have what it takes to make things right? (215) 574-3550, walnutstreettheatre.org

Through March 7, 2010
PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL FLOWER SHOW. Themed “Passport to the World,”

Historical Sites & Attractions:

• Wannabe sailors can spend the night in the nation’s most decorated battleship, the Battleship New Jersey, and take tours of the officers’ and crew’s mess halls, communications center and high-tech command center. 62 Battleship Place, Camden, (856) 877-6262, battleshipnewjersey.org
• Meet America’s most famous flag maker in her interactive 18^th-century upholstery shop at the Betsy Ross House. Visitors learn all about Betsy’s life and legend from the lady herself. In the summer months, enjoy free Colonial-style entertainment in the courtyard. 239 Arch Street, (215) 686-1252, betsyrosshouse.org
• Penny-pinchers and spendthrifts alike cash in on the

This June, visitors to Philadelphia and The Countryside® will find so much to do that they’ll have to stay three, four or five days. Ancient history buffs delve into the story of history’s most mysterious leader during the world-premiere Cleopatra exhibition at The Franklin Institute, and then discover the parallels between the much-storied ancient empire and America during Ancient Rome & America at the National Constitution Center. Late Renoir at the Philadelphia Museum of Art examines an iconic master, while the James A. Michener Art Museum’s Icons of Costume reveals the art of movie fashion. Outdoor events, family fun, annual

Visitors to Philadelphia can choose from an assortment of options to explore the region, including those of the automotive, audio, self-guided and water-based varieties. And the sightseeing fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Those who come out at night can join tours that feature high-tech storytelling, behind-the-scenes action and even spirits from beyond. Here’s a selection of tours available throughout the region:

History Lessons By Day & Night:

• Colonial Kids’ Quest – When the Declaration of Independence goes missing, kids play detective as they follow this kid- and stroller-friendly walking tour to historical sites. The program runs

Travelers who want an international getaway without the international price tag can set their sights on Philadelphia, where a taste of all the world's cultures converge. From city boulevards that recall the elegance of the Champs-Élysées to lively Italian marketplaces to serene Japanese gardens that mimic Kyoto, Philadelphia and The Countryside® offers visitors a chance to explore every corner of the globe—no passport required. Here are some of the sites, sounds, smells and stops not to miss:

Vive La France!:

• French émigré architect Paul Philippe Cret planned the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, a wide boulevard lined with statuary, trees and

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 luck of the Irish may have run out for some of the Emerald Isle natives and descendants interred at Laurel Hill Cemetery, where on St.

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 through a flamenco dance lesson at Raíces Culturales Latinoamericanas. Here are some suggestions for those who want to get a taste of the Latin flavor

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 generously flavored with the essence of Paris, circa 1910-1920.

Inspired by the Kimmel Center, PIFA promises to be an out-of-the-box arts festival that honors the

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 the majority of his career with the Philadelphia Orchestra Association (POA), where he served in leadership capacities for more than 20 years. After joining the

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 debt, raised the endowment from $40 million to $72 million and closed the 2007-2008 fiscal year with a $1.2 million surplus to be used for

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 steel supporting the glass end walls
• 156,677 square feet (3.6 acres) of glass glazing

LOCATION: Broad & Spruce Streets, Philadelphia, PA

OPENED: December 16, 2001

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 rest of the
20th century and beyond.

The first-ever Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA), April 7-May 1, 2011, takes its inspiration from that

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 newly commissioned works, unexpected partnerships with both local and international artists and non-traditional and emerging art forms, along with classic performances that will engage residents

Philadelphia celebrates African-American history 365 days a year, but things really heat up in February when the region’s museums, arts and cultural organizations and historic sites recognize Black History Month. For the first time, the new permanent exhibition at The African American Museum in Philadelphia will be open in February. Just one highlight of the city’s celebration, Audacious Freedom explores the experiences and contributions of African-American trailblazers in Philadelphia and the U.S.

Those celebrating Black History Month in the Philadelphia region this winter can take advantage of the long weekend (February 12-15) by booking one of the 70 hotel packages—including

This spring, Philadelphia and The Countryside® continues its event-filled year with Pablo Picasso, Body Worlds 2, a Roman Empire exhibition and so much more, giving visitors plenty of reasons to spend a weekend or more in town. The Philadelphia Museum of Art examines an art master’s most dramatic years with Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris, while the inaugural Philagrafika 2010: The Graphic Unconscious debuts as a one-of-a-kind print festival. Science and history buffs will be busy with Gunther von Hagens’ can’t-look-away Body Worlds 2 & The Brain at The Franklin Institute and the National Constitution Center’s Ancient Rome &

During the three-day weekend in February, travelers to the Philadelphia region can enjoy a romantic getaway or a presidential adventure—or a bit of both. Where better to celebrate the Presidents’ Day/Valentine’s Day weekend than in the birthplace of the nation and the City of Brotherly Love? After long walks in the region’s picturesque countryside, visitors can take in a few presidential sites—there are plenty in Philadelphia and The Countryside®—followed by a romantic dinner for two. Mix in a mural ride on a “Love Train,” a mating tour around the nation’s first zoo, the Oath of Office, a birthday cake

As the second decade of the new millennium gets underway, some of Philadelphia’s most venerated cultural and historical institutions are gearing up to spend the current decade newly energized and outfitted for a tech-savvy, sophisticated new generation of visitors. Throughout Historic Philadelphia, Center City and Philadelphia’s countryside, tourist attractions are launching revolutionized technological experiences, adding thousands of square feet to their display areas, moving their collections both around the block and miles away and showcasing innovative and blockbuster exhibitions. What’s more, two new hotels in Center City—Le Méridien Philadelphia and Hotel Palomar Philadelphia—give visitors more options as they