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Sip Cold Brews in a Waterfront Beer Garden at Morgan’s Pier

July 16, 2015 by

If you can’t think of anything more relaxing than sipping an ice cold beer outdoors along the water, then you’ll fall in love with Morgan’s Pier. This summertime beer garden is situated right along the Delaware River Waterfront and offers enough wooden picnic tables to accommodate up to 500 people, making it a great place to plan a party or hang out after work with friends.

There is a casual yet upscale menu curated by some of the best local chefs in the area, and it includes peel-and-eat shrimp, grilled whole lobsters, and large gourmet sandwiches. Specialty cocktails and wines are served in addition to the extensive beer menu, and everything changes from month to month to serve only what’s in season. On the weekends, you’ll even find a full brunch menu complete with morning libations at Morgan’s Pier, one of the coolest and most relaxing seasonal spots in all of Philadelphia.

Morgan’s Pier
221 N. Columbus Boulevard
Philadelphia PA, 19123
(215) 279-7134
www.morganspier.com

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Bartram’s Garden: Experience Botanical History

June 11, 2015 by

In 1728, a Pennsylvania Quaker named John Bartram purchased 102 acres near Philadelphia and began assembling one of the most extensive botanical collections in the world. His garden remains the oldest existing botanical garden in the United States, and during Bartram's lifetime, the garden was visited and enjoyed by dignitaries like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.You can spend the day exploring Bartram's Garden, as well!

Visiting the garden on your own is always free, but Yelp reviewers recommend signing up for one of the guided tours, which will explain the garden's layout and design, as well as help you identify the historical significance of certain plants. As an added bonus, you'll get a spectacular view of the Philadelphia skyline from the estate's meadowlands. Don’t forget to stop by the historic buildings that housed Bartram’s family, and be sure to step inside the nursery where you can purchase native Pennsylvania cuttings and seedlings.

Bartram's Garden
54th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19143
(215) 729-5281
www.bartramsgarden.org
www.yelp.com/biz/bartrams-garden-philadelphia

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Capogiro Gelato: A Sweet Italian Tradition

May 14, 2015 by

If you’re looking for a great cup of gelato to complete a dinner out in Rittenhouse Square, a visit to Capogiro Gelato is a must. This artisan gelato shop is conveniently located next to some of the most popular restaurants and shopping locales in the city, and it serves a wide variety of different gelato flavors in its futuristic storefront.

Inside, Capogiro is decorated with bright blue walls, a retro ice cream counter area, and a large glass display case where customers can admire the colorful gelatos. It may be hard to decide between mouthwatering flavors like Thai coconut, peanut and salted caramel and bourbon butterscotch, but luckily the friendly employees offer as many samples as you need before making a decision.

Enjoy your gelato at one of the many tables inside, or take it to go and eat it while taking a walk around the scenic city block.

Capogiro Gelato
117 S. 20th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 636-9250
www.capogirogelato.com
www.yelp.com/biz/capogiro-gelato-philadelphia

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The Wilma Theater: Splendid Stage

May 7, 2015 by

Founded in 1973, the Wilma Theater has received more Barrymore Awards than any other theatre company on Earth, which is pretty impressive. This exceptional incubator was created to develop theatrical artists in the community and encourage the production of original works. In 1979, the company began collaborating with Czech artists Blanka and Jiri Zizka, who took the group to new levels of success. The pair moved the company to their new 300-seat theatre in 2006, and their productions have played in Philadelphia and all over the world.

It’s a great place to see a performance, with incredible sightlines and acoustics, and the material is uniformly great. The group has worked with luminaries like Tom Stoppard and Arthur Miller. Their seasons are innovative and invigorating, pushing boundaries and tackling challenging subjects. The Wilma offers a number of discount programs for students and seniors.

Visit the Wilma's website to see a calendar of upcoming events!

The Wilma Theater
265 S. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 546-7824
www.wilmatheater.org
www.yelp.com/biz/the-wilma-theater-philadelphia

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Quintessence Theatre Group: See the Classics

April 9, 2015 by

In the fall of 2009, Alexander Burns and Pamela Reichen established Quintessence Theatre Group to bring classic performances to patrons in Mt. Airy. All performances are held at the Sedgwick Theatre, originally a cinema opened in 1928. It's full of gorgeous art deco touches.

The theatre group has performed classical plays like Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, and Moliere’s Don Juan. The theatre group also offers workshops for children and adults interested in dramatic acting.

Visit the website for season and ticket information!

Quintessence Theatre Group
The Sedgwick Theater
7137 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19119
(215) 240-6055
www.QuintessenceTheatre.org
www.yelp.com/biz/quintessence-theatre-group-philadelphia

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Peruse 3 Floors of Funky, Quirky Folk Art at Eye’s Gallery

April 2, 2015 by

Eye's Gallery is a distinctive shopping destination in Philadelphia. Its three levels of this store are chock full of unique, fair trade items made by artisans from Latin America to India; expect pottery, tapestries, furniture, wood carvings, mirrors, and many more international goods. The store also carries women’s and men’s clothing, as well as jewelry and accessories.

Julia Zagar and her artist husband Isaiah, whose distinctive mosaic art covers the facade of the building, opened Eye's Gallery in 1968 after serving in the Peace Corps. (They also own the Magic Gardens outdoor art installation six blocks away at 1020 South Street.)

Eye's Gallery's hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

Eye's Gallery
402 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 925-0193
http://www.eyesgallery.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/eyes-gallery-philadelphia

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Pack a Picnic and Enjoy Some People-Watching at Rittenhouse Square Park

March 12, 2015 by

Rittenhouse Square Park is a lovely green oasis located at 18th and Walnut streets, in the center of Philadelphia's tony Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. The planning for Rittenhouse Square dates back to the original plans of Philadelphia. Benjamin Franklin envisioned five green spaces for the citizens of Philadelphia to enjoy, one of these being Rittenhouse Square. Not only is this park rich with history, Rittenhouse Square Park is adjacent to some of the best shopping and dining experiences in the city!

Great for a picnic, relaxing walk, just hanging out, or reading a book on a bench, the park is beautifully landscaped and maintained. Open year-round, the park also hosts many special events including festivals, arts and crafts shows, farmers' markets, concerts, outdoor movie screenings, holiday tree lightings, and the like. Tired from a day of sightseeing? Grab a cup of coffee and a sweet treat from a nearby coffee shop and just sit back and people-watch.

There's always something interesting to see at Rittenhouse Square!

Rittenhouse Square
210 Rittenhouse Square
Philadelphia, PA 19103
www.visitphilly.com/museums-attractions/philadelphia/rittenhouse-square-park
www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60795-d138255-Reviews-Rittenhouse_Square-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html

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Bartram’s Gardens: A Botanical Tour Through Pennsylvania History

February 12, 2015 by

A National Historic Landmark built along the Schuylkill Riverfront in West Philadelphia, Bartram's Gardens is a 102-acre oasis in the heart of the city. Formerly the private residence of botanist John Bartram, a third-generation Pennsylvania Quaker, Bartram's Gardens is home to a comprehensive collection of North American plants. The gardens can be traced all the way back to 1728!

Open year-round, Bartram's Gardens offers visitors an opportunity to traverse the same gardens that Bartram, himself, enjoyed back in the 18th century. The collection includes shrubs, herbaceous plants, and the country's oldest ginkgo and Franklinia alatamaha trees! The gardens are open for tours April through October, and the site also hosts a playground, ball fields, picnic tables, and a dock. The gift shop abounds with local products, honey harvested on-site, books, seeds, bulbs, and other unusual distinct items.

The facilities are also available to host your special event, so call or check the website for additional information!

Bartram's Gardens
5400 Lindbergh Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19143
(215) 729-5281
www,bartramsgarden.org
www.yelp.com/biz/bartrams-garden-philadelphia

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Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts: World-Class Concerts in Center City

February 5, 2015 by

Walk through the doors and experience the grandeur of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, located along the Avenue of the Arts in Center City. Home to the Philadelphia Orchestra, a number of performances are presented almost nightly here and might include the Pennsylvania Ballet, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, French Circus, a jazz quartet, or family-friendly events.

The main stage in Verizon Hall features 2,500 elegant red mahogany seats with adjustable acoustical panels and is shaped like a cello. The Center also features the smaller 650-seat Perelman Theater with a rotating stage—ideal for chamber music, dance, and drama. The Center's acoustics are state-of-the-art, and the top floors of the building offer breathtaking views of the city. The PECO Cafe, tucked inside the Commonwealth Plaza (which surrounds the performances stages), offers coffee and light snacks.

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Broad and Spruce Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19102
www.kimmelcenter.org
www.yelp.com

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Please Touch Museum: A Fun Philadelphia Museum

January 15, 2015 by

While most major cities have a children’s museum, none are quite like the Please Touch Museum. Philadelphia’s most hands-on museum targets creativity in children ages seven and younger, and it uses kids’ inherent desire to touch and explore to create a truly unique learning experience.

Exhibits like the Flight Fantasy and Rainforest Rhythm enable visitors and their families to run, jump, crawl, and feel in order to learn about the world around them. Kids will race miniature sailboats and blow bubbles to discover how water moves, play hopscotch in a cloud, create their own rockets, and even make music during every visit to the Please Touch Museum. The museum also offers a number of different youth programs and story hours for children of all ages.

The Please Touch Museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Please Touch Museum
4231 Avenue of the Republic
Philadelphia, PA 19131
(215) 581-3181
www.pleasetouchmuseum.org
www.yelp.com/biz/please-touch-museum-philadelphia

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