Philadelphia: Eight: Events, Exhibitions and Attractions in Center City

There is never a shortage of entertainment in the City of Brotherly Love. Here are eight suggestions for the holidays, for the near future, or for any time.

1. Butterflies! at the Academy of Natural Sciences. The Academy's newest permanent exhibit is an interactive experience that melds computer technology with the colorful marvels of nature. For two dollars, plus the normal admission price to the museum, visitors can wander through a miniature rain forest and observe the closest thing to butterflies in their natural habitat. Hundreds of winged wonders from North and South America, Africa, and Asia gracefully flutter through lush, diverse foliage. The Academy receives weekly shipments of fresh chrysalises (butterflies) and cocoons (moths). A caretaker is on hand to answer questions. The Academy of Natural Sciences is located at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, just south of Logan Circle. Hours are weekdays from 10:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., and weekends 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Call 215-299-1000 for more information.

2. Amarna: Ancient Egypt's Place in the Sun, at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 3260 South Street. As a sort of precursor to the Franklin's Institute's Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of Pharoahs, slated for February through November of 2007, comes an exhibit that explores and attempts to recreate the birthplace of the boy king. Though the objects on display until next November can hardly compete with the lavishness and splendor of the contents of Tut's burial chamber, they nonetheless give archaeologists significant insight into a culture that flourished over 3,000 years ago, during the reign of Tut's father, Akhenaten. Statues depicting the royal family, jewelry, dining implements and mundane household items share space in this comprehensive collection of antiquity. Hours are 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. Sundays. Standard museum admission of $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for children apply. Contact the museum at 215-898-4000.

3. Student recitals at the Curtis Institute of Music. A Philadelphia cultural icon for over 80 years, the Curtis Institute of Music tries to give something back to the community that has supported it, and accomplishes this nicely by holding free performances. Talented, aspiring professional musicians regale audiences thrice weekly, with free concerts on Mondays, Wednesday s and Fridays at 8:00 p.m. in Field Concert Hall, at 1726 Locust Street. This recital series runs through next May, at which time there will be a hiatus until mid-October. Performances feature opera and classical music, solo and ensemble, and occasionally a combination of the latter. The concert hall fills up quickly, so arriving 30 minutes prior to the start is a good idea. Recitals last about two hours. For more information on the student recital series, call the recital hotline at 215-893-5261.

4. First Fridays, various art galleries in Old City. In its 16th year, this series sponsored by the Old City Arts Association focuses on both publicizing local art galleries and providing an entertaining, relaxing atmosphere for socializing, particularly for the 20's and 30's age group. The first Friday of every month (hence the name), attendees leisurely work their way through a number of participating art galleries which feature new exhibitions coinciding with the event. Complimentary light refreshments are usually offered, and the gallery-hopping generally begins at around 6:00 p.m., and concludes at around 9:30 p.m. In a typical evening, most people will hit about 10 or 12 galleries. For questions, call the Old City Arts Association at 215-925-9200.

5. Monday Poetry Series at the Free Library of Philadelphia, main branch. The first Monday of every month features two guest readers reciting their poetry, followed by an open mic during which audience members are welcome to share their work. Held in the Skyline Room of the main library at 19th and Vine streets, the readings run from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., and have featured many well-known area poets, as well as promising new stars on the Philadelphia poetry scene. Poets Dan McGuire, and Eileen D'Angelo - who is the director of the Media-based Mad Poets Society- take turns hosting the readings. Call the Free Library of Philadelphia at 215-686-5322.

6. Enchanted Colonial Village, Please Touch Museum. A mystical, magical Christmas diorama comes to life at the Please Touch Museum, located at 210 North 21st Street. This portable, ¾ scale hamlet originally consisted of 18 holiday-themed shops, staffed by mechanical mannequins, and was built specifically for Lit Brothers Department Store in 1962. When the retailer went out of business 15 years later, the entire display bounced from warehouse to warehouse, occasionally resurfacing for brief yuletide appearances. Although reduced to about half of its original components, the Village seems to have found a home in Philadelphia, but is slated for occasional future forays. The remaining scenes feature a toy shop, bakery, smithy, Christmas dinner, school, tailor, general store, watchmaker, wig shop and a crowd of carolers (Hillman). The exhibit runs until December 30. Admission is $9.95. The Please Touch Museum can be reached at 215-963-0667.

7. Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia, Independence Visitors Center. Sadly, many locals couldn't care less about visiting historically-important sites within their own city, but for those who do care, or for the millions of visitors, there is the Constitutional Walking Tour. Officially consisting of 33 sites, all located within a one-square mile radius of the Old City, this self-guided promenade combines historical flair, architectural splendor and modern magnificence. Some of the tour stops require prior arrangements for admission, but at the very least, all can be viewed from the outside, giving visitors a unique insight into what was and what is the City of Brotherly Love. The itinerary includes several "must-see" sites, like Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Center, Christ Church Cemetery, the First Bank of the United States and Philadelphia's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Call 215-525-1776 for more details.

8. A Christmas Carol at Mum Puppettheater, 115 Arch Street. Philadelphia's concert halls, cinemas and theaters are mainstays of its cultural and artistic appeal, and feature a number of institutions that veer away from the traditional. Among these is the Mum Puppettheater, founded by Robert Smthe in 1985. The theater stresses that its performances are not strictly for kids, and are intended to appeal to a diverse populace. A typical season consists of half a dozen different productions, diverse, enlightening, sometimes frightening, but always entertaining. Until December 30, the featured show is A Christmas Carol, performed entirely by two players -one for scrooge, and one for all of the others. The puppets are colorful, beautiful, decorative, and at times, grotesque. Performances run daily until December 30. Tickets are around $25, and can be purchased by calling 215-925-7686.

Sources

"Butterflies! is Open!" The Academy of Natural Sciences
15 Dec. 2006 .

"Amarna: Ancient Egypt's Place in the Sun." University of Pennsylvania Museum of
Archaeology and Anthropology 15 Dec. 2006 .

"Student Recital Series." The Curtis Institute of Music 15 Dec. 2006 .

Burwasser, Peter. "thesuitespot." Philadelphia City Paper 10-16 Oct. 2002 15 Dec.
2006 .

"First Friday." gophila.com 1998-2005. Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.
15 Dec. 2006. .

"The Ultimate Online Philadelphia Poetry Calendar!" poetz!.com. Ed. Jackie Sheeler. 15 Dec.
2006 .

"Enchanted Colonial Village." Please Touch Museum. 16 Dec. 2006.
.

Hillman, Chris. "The History of Philadelphia's Enchanted Colonial Village." Chris Hillman's
Animatronics Site! 16 Dec. 2006.
.

The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia. The Constitutional Foundation, Inc. 16 Dec.
2006. .

Zinman, Toby. "Mum's Take on Dickens Classic." Philadelphia Inquirer 16 Dec. 2006.

Mum Puppettheater. 16 Dec. 2006 .