World Cafe Live: Groundbreaking Music

World Café Live takes the groundbreaking syndicated radio show one step further, offering patrons a chance to see world-class performers live on stage in two different venues every day of the week. The space is also home to a café and bar featuring a tasty array of food and drink. The café offers weekday lunch specials with soups, sandwiches, salads and wraps for a mere $8. The regular menu dishes out taste pleasers like Pan Seared Sea Scallops, Duck Confit, Gouda & Broccoli Bread Pudding, Fish & Chips and a Portabella Burger. Free music performances are often scheduled in the bar and café areas. Stop by for Happy Hour to partake of tasty food and drink specials. Check out their Peanut Butter and Jams music concerts for the kids. See their website for performance schedules and ticket info.

World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 222-1400
http://www.yelp.com/biz/world-cafe-live-philadelphia

Schuylkill Banks: Riverside Bliss

If you haven’t gotten the memo, Schuylkill Banks is Philadelphia’s premier riverfront destination, replete with greenways, parks, riverfront docks, boathouses, residential areas and industrial sites. Go there to walk, jog, bicycle, rollerblade, stroll, sunbathe and picnic along the river’s banks in a fun, vibrant outdoor environment. It’s just a hop-skip from many Philadelphia neighborhoods, providing a great opportunity to get out and enjoy the great outdoors close to home. More than a mile of trail connects to Kelly Drive and 5,805 feet of trail is located at Grays Ferry Crescent. Bring your kayak and set off on the river, or bring a pole and fish along the banks. Whatever activity you choose, be sure to take advantage of this fantastic outdoor space in the heart of the city.

Schuykill Banks
Philadelphia, PA 19103
http://www.yelp.com/biz/schuylkill-banks-philadelphia

Tria Fermentation School: Learn About Wine

Want to learn more about the process of making and tasting beer, wine, and cheese? Tria Fermentation School is the place to do it. It hosts a variety of classes with experts on winemaking, brewing, and cheese-making from around the world. Whether you’re a culinary professional, a brewery wannabe, or simply want to enhance your knowledge and have a good time doing it, these classes are sure to sate your curiosity – plus you get to eat and drink the object of your studies. See the website for a list of classes and enrollment info. 

1601 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19176
(215) 972-7076

Arden Theatre Company: Take The Stage

The City of Brotherly Love has no shortage of world-class theatrical companies, but few have won as much acclaim as the Arden Theatre. This Old City institution has been presenting exceptional dramatic and comedic works since 1988. Since then, they have racked up a truly impressive slate of awards, including 250 Barrymore Award nominations and 53 wins. In 1995, they purchased their current building, which they renovated to house two auditoriums. The 360-seat F. Otto Haas is the main stage, while the smaller Arcadia Stage is used for more intimate productions. Both have exceptional sightlines and excellent acoustics. The Arden presents a very diverse collection of works every year, including all-ages performances and new works commissioned especially for the group. The company also supports the Arden Drama School and the Arden For All program, which provides theatre tickets and books to underserved children. It’s well worth a visit, no matter what is on stage.

Arden Theatre Company
40 N. 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 922-1122
http://www.yelp.com/biz/arden-theatre-company-philadelphia

Philly’s Magic Gardens: Mystical Mosaics

If you’re in the City of Brotherly Love, you owe it to yourself to make a stop at the Magic Gardens, an astonishing folk art monument that has been a locus of the South Street neighborhood for over a decade. The work of sculptor and mosaicist Isaiah Zagar, the Magic Gardens comprise an indoor gallery surrounded by a humongous labyrinth, where all of the walls are coated with gorgeous tile collages. Zagar started work on the project in 1994 in the vacant lot next to his studio space, excavating tunnels and pathways and building a truly magnificent installation. A nonprofit organization bought the lot in 2002 with the intention of preserving it for the ages. The subject matter of the mosaics can be a little ribald, so it’s not for conservative souls. Admission is just five dollars. Bring a camera, because the sheer amount of detail in these pieces is hard to take in with just one visit.

Philly’s Magic Gardens
1020 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 733-0390
http://www.yelp.com/biz/philadelphias-magic-gardens-philadelphia

Institute of Contemporary Art: The Look Of The New

Founded in 1963 at one of the most productive and exciting periods in American visual arts, the Institute of Contemporary Art has earned a reputation for identifying future talents early in their professional careers and giving them the support they need to develop their work. Andy Warhol had his first museum show here, for instance. For over half a century, the museum has been an essential part of Philadelphia’s cultural and artistic life, and it’s still going strong. The Museum hosts no permanent collection, but it presents a dozen new exhibitions each year. The ICA also offers a wide variety of educational programs and lectures on a diverse assortment of topics. Best of all, admission is absolutely free! The comforting, minimal space is a great place to take a date or just spend an afternoon lost in thought. The first Wednesday of every month is a great time to visit, as the Museum hosts music, participatory activities and more.

Institute of Contemporary Art
118 S. 36th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 898-7108
http://www.yelp.com/biz/institute-of-contemporary-art-philadelphia

The Athenaeum of Philadelphia: Historic Library

This special collections library was founded in 1814 to preserve and collect materials about antiquities, design and art in America. Scholars, students, architects, designers, history buffs, and curators avail themselves of these materials in the Athenaeum’s elegant reading rooms. Situated in an 1845 Italianate Revival brownstone building, the interiors are lushly designed, with vaulted ceilings and beautiful embellishments. A small bookstore features inventory on corresponding subjects. Open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

219 S. 6th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-2688

Rosenbach Museum and Library: An Amazing Collection

Located in two beautiful townhouses on Delancey Place, the Rosenbach Museum and Library is one of Philadelphia’s most impressive storehouses of knowledge. Chartered to bring the collections of Philip and A.S.W. Rosenbach to the public eye, the Museum opened its doors in 1954. The Rosenbach brothers were Philadelphia institutions, becoming one of the most respected rare book dealers in America during the early part of the 20th century. They sold a huge variety of pricey manuscripts, but the materials they held back for their private collection are far more interesting. The townhouses are primarily furnished in the decorative arts style of the time, with gorgeous 18th century English pieces. The library, of course, is the crown jewel of the Museum, with a staggering collection of rare books. Sign up for a guided tour to have the opportunity to learn more about those volumes and even read from some – it’s a connection with history that you won’t soon forget.

Rosenbach Museum and Library
2008-2010 Delancey Place
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 732-1600
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rosenbach-museum-and-library-philadelphia

The Philadelphia Orchestra: Classic Concerts

The Philadelphia Orchestra makes its home at the breathtaking Kimmel Center, and strives to deliver fabulous classical concerts to the Philadelphia public. The orchestra was started back in 1900, and has had an impressive history of renowned conductors, international tours, and countless popular recordings of classic masterpieces. The orchestra is currently under the direction of conductor Charles Dutoit, and continues to perform delightful symphonies from all eras and nations. With a goal to make music accessible, the orchestra offers reasonably priced package deals with ticket prices as low as $15 per concert. Also, the eZseatU ticket program offers an array of wallet-friendly options for college students. Though the Kimmel Center season officially begins in October, the Philadelphia Orchestra continues to offer free neighborhood concerts and educational programs to students all year long.

Philadelphia Orchestra
260 S. Broad Street
Suite 1600
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 893-1900

The Kelly Writers House: Pick Up The Pen

Philadelphia has been home to many of the greatest men of American letters, so it’s no surprise that the city is seeking to keep its literary tradition alive at the Kelly Writers House. Founded in 1995 by a group of students, teachers, and alumni at the University of Pennsylvania, the facility is a thriving hotspot for the literary arts in all their forms, staging over 300 events yearly. Some of the biggest events include the Fellows program, which brings nationally famous writers in for a brief residency where they discuss their work, speaking with students during the day and then hosting a panel at night. These are typically packed to the gills. The interesting thing about the Writers House is that it actually is a house – events take place in the living room, and seats are often at a premium. Everything is free, but for popular programs it’s wise to RSVP.

The Kelly Writers House
University of Pennsylvania
3805 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 573-9748
http://www.yelp.com/biz/kelly-writers-house-philadelphia

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