TARGET SPONSORS FIRST WEDNESDAYS AT PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM AND COMMUNITY NIGHT AT THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE

January 8, 2010, Philadelphia, PA: Target, known for its efforts to make museums accessible to the community, will continue its sponsorship of special free or low-priced admission at two of Philadelphia’s most popular museums through March 2011.  Target Community Night at The Franklin Institute, which takes place on the third Wednesday of the month from 5-8 p.m., welcomes visitors from underserved communities to enjoy free admission. Please Touch Museum at Memorial Hall will also continue its Target First Wednesdays, staying open late on the first Wednesday of each month with $2 admission between 5-7 p.m.

“Target is proud to continue our support with the Please Touch Museum and The Franklin Institute,” said Laysha Ward, president, community relations, Target. “Through these unique partnerships, we hope to help make valuable, hands-on learning experiences more accessible and affordable to Philadelphia families, while providing an opportunity to spend quality time together.”

RE{gogreengo]MIX by Composer Joseph Hallman Available on iTunes!

You can pick it up on iTunes here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id340718534

It includes some awesome remixes by Paul Pinto, Dj Carl Michaels,
Jamie Johnson, Gemini Wolf’s Megan Cauley, Peter (Prince of New York)
Clement, Michi Wiancko (Kono Michi), and of course Joseph Hallman!

Go grab your copy!, the album is a diverse mix of really superb mixes.
Each artist brings something totally unique to the table from Michi’s
violin layerings and Megan’s dark glitchies to DJ Carl MIchaels and
Jamie Johnson’s energetic house mixes!

On Stage Philadelphia

Philly Live Arts + Fringe Preview Nights at Plays and Players Theatre

Monday, August 17, 2009 at 8:00 PM

Monday, August 24, 2009 at 8:00 PM

Monday, August 31, 2009 at 8:00 PM
On Stage Philadelphia features ten minute sneak-peak performances of upcoming productions in the Philadelphia area representing a wide range of artistic disciplines. Following the performances, audiences will have an opportunity to meet and mingle with artists, and enjoy special offers to the upcoming productions at the post-show marketplace. Audiences are provided with an opportunity to see which performances are compatible to their interests, and frequently go on to attend the full versions of what they see at preview night.

Plays & Players Theatre

1714 Delancey Place
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 735-0630
Website: www.playsandplayers.org
Map & Directions

WHAT TO DO NEARBY?

As luck would have it, Plays and Players Theatre is centrally located in the Rittenhouse Sq area with lots and lots to do nearby. OnStage Philadelphia doesn’t start til 8pm, so you can hit up any of the local bars for happy hour or dinner. PhilaCulturati favorites include Tank Bar (upstairs at Friday, Saturday, Sunday), and the Black Sheep for a laid-back atmosphere with seriously good food. Rittenhouse also has some stellar window shopping opportunities. Check out all the cute boutiques and galleries, and specialty stores. Hello World, DiBruno Bros Gourmet Market, and Barney’s New York should top your list.

Seaport Starlight Cinema

Tuesday, August 18, 7 pm

“Throw Things at Popeye!”

Enjoy an evening of madcap mayhem at Independence Seaport Museum’s outdoor amphitheatre showing of the Robert Altman film, Popeye, starring Robin Williams and Shelly Duval with audience participation a la The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Could Olive be Janet, Popeye Brad, and Bluto Dr. Frank-N-Furter? Hit the thrift shops and come dressed as your favorite Popeye character (Popeye, Olive Oyl, Bluto, Swee’pea, Wimpy, Poopdeck Pappy or any of the cartoon’s characters) and compete for the rare and coveted Golden Can of Spinach Award.  Audience members will be armed with fun “props” to interact with the movie, including green confetti to throw at the sight of spinach, bubbles to blow when Popeye smokes his pipe, kazoos to toot whenever a character breaks out in song, and more. There will be free popcorn, give-aways, activities, trivia contests, and a life-size Popeye to pose with – bring your camera, family, friends, a blanket, and a picnic supper for a delightful evening.

Doors open at 7 pm; movie begins at sunset. The Seaport’s featured exhibit, Skin & Bones – Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor, will be open for viewing prior to the movie.  Find the tattooed Popeye in the exhibit. Admission is $5 per person.  In case of rain, movie will be shown in tented second-floor balcony overlooking the Delaware River. Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Columbus Blvd. & Walnut St., Philadelphia.  215-413-8655. www.phillyseaport.org

WHAT TO DO NEARBY?

The easiest way to get to and from the Independence Seaport Museum is by foot over the Walnut Street pedestrian bridge. If you’re parking, there is a lot at Penns Landing or metered parking on Front Street. If you’re bussing, the 21, 42, 17, and 12 all take you within blocks of Front and Walnut St. Or the El drops you off at 2nd and Market. Old City is chock full of eating establishments for all culinary inclinations and wallet sizes.

An outdoor movie a la Rocky Horror screams date night so why not hit up The Franklin Fountain for a Sundae (open til midnight!) or try happy hour at Positano.

The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen Fine Craft Fair will be held 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday July 25th and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday July 26 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, Wilmington, DE.  Admission is $7 for adults; children 12 and under are free. For more information call the Pennsylvania Guild at 717-431-8706 or visit www.pacrafts.org. Click and Save $1 with the ad below! 

Dela…where?! Don’t fret. Wilmington, Delaware is a simple train ride or short drive from Philadelphia. You’ll get there faster than you would the shore. Fine art, culture, cute shops, restaurants… go ahead, explore our neighbors to the south.  For more cool things to do in Wilmington check out http://www.riverfrontwilm.com.  Oh, and want one more reason to go to Delaware: tax free shopping and dining! [See below for train discount and information.]

The Brandywine Valley’s premier Fine Craft Fair, this 3^rd annual summer event brings thousands of loyal art patrons and festival goers to Wilmington’s Riverfront in search of exquisite contemporary and traditional crafts.  In 2009, the Pennsylvania Guild will make its home in Wilmington for one weekend, but the guild would like to make lasting connections with local businesses and organizations that make Wilmington their home the other 363 days of the year. The Delaware Art Museum, Delaware by Hand, and the Biggs Museum of American Art will have representatives present during the course of the weekend and will be giving daily talks to our 170 participating craftspeople and our 5,000 attendees. 

TRAIN: The French St. Station is 1/2 mile away along the Riverwalk. You can take the River Taxi from there or hoof it– it’s 1/2 mile along the river! Septa: Ride the R2 from Philly. Amtrak: All north/south Amtrak trains stop at Wilmington Station, more than 55 trains a day. Amtrak offers a 10% discount off the lowest available rail fare to Wilmington, DE between July 22 and July 29, 2009. To book your reservation call Amtrak at 1 (800) 872-7245 and reference Convention Fare Code X87W-961 (can’t get the discount over the net). 

First Person Arts’ Story Slam @ L’Etage Cabaret, 6th and Bainbridge. Doors open at 7:30, slam starts at 8:30. $8 21+.

DINNER:  Little Fish, 6th and Catharine St. Reservations recommended, 215-413-3464.

Comical, entertaining and inspiring, First Person Arts’ StorySlams blend open mic comedy with performance art. What is a ‘Story Slam?’ Much like a poetry slam, a story slam is an open competition for people to tell their stories drawn from real life occurrences, performed sans-script, in front of a live audience. Each month has a different theme such as “bad ideas,” “I think we’re alone now,” or “baggage”.

Nestled on the border of Queen’s Village and Bella Vista neighborhoods, L’Etage Cabaret is an awesome venue for these performances. Directly above Beau Monde Creperie, on the northwest corner (think: to your right if you’re walking down 6th from South St) the entrance is marked with a tile mosaic, just after the Creperie’s outdoor seating. During the StorySlam, L’Etage will be offering $4 well drinks.

Still not sure what a story slam is? Check out some of last year’s performances on YouTube:

Make a night of it! Two blocks south from L’Etage at 6th and Catharine, is one of the best, most affordable seafood restaurants you will ever find. Period. AND it’s BYOB! The aptly named Little Fish is a small restaurant run by chef/owner Mike Stollernwerk and his wife, Marilyn. The almost one-room restaurant is open to the kitchen where you can see your fresh fish being prepared to order. Stollernwerk does incredible things with mahi mahi, diver scallops, skate, even surf and turf. And don’t get caught up in just the entrees, the calamari and mussels are superb starters, side dishes are paired with their entrees to perfection (butternut squash, braised collards, sweet potatoe puree), and I’ll be drooling on my keyboard as I list the desserts…star anise creme brulee, chocolate truffle torte… [sigh].

Please do make reservations, as the small restaurant fills quickly. Open 5:30 – 10. Call 215-413-3464 for reservations.  Make sure you stop by the Wine & Spirits store at 724 South Street for libations.

Stay tuned for other places in the vicinity to visit.