Philadelphia is My Home

10
Dec

Fess Up

Author: Momish, Category: Attractions, Family Friendly, Free Events, Kids, Philly Tourist, Something to Do

Hello, my name is Momish and I am a Christmas junkie.

Fess up, people.  I know I am not alone here.  You too love this stuff, admit it.  If you’re a junkie like me, you’ve got your car radio tuned to B101, singing along to the six versions of ”Jingle Bell Rock” they play every day. 

You’ve changed your Windows wall paper to a winter wonderland scene, complete with falling snow. Forget that it slows everything down to a crawl on your PC… you gotta have the falling snow.

You’re spending every weekend searching for that perfect gift, ornament or decoration.  You’ve marched along with the Winter Warlock, putting “one foot in front of the other” on more than one occasion.  And before you even take your coat off, you’re eagerly sifting through the mail to see what new cards you got.

But most of all, you’ve already been to Macy’s to see the holiday light show.  You sat your adult bum down next to that eagle statue, then you watched, smiled and sang along with all the third graders, just like you did when you were in third grade. 

As cheesy as it is, you know you still love it.  C’mon, how can anyone resist a smile when Frosty’s arms blink up, down, up, down, up, down.  It’s classic. Personally, I think it is the organ music that lends itself to that magical feeling.  Well, that mixed with a big, fat dose of nostalgia.

So, have you been yet?  Fess up!

Check out Centercityphila.org for all Holiday Events going on around the city.

Photo by J. Smith for GPTMC

26
Nov

There’s Still Time

Author: Momish, Category: Attractions, Entertainment, Free Events, History, Philly Tourist, Something to Do

You have until December 31st, so there is still plenty of time really.  

I am not talking about any holiday stuff here.  No, nothing to do with shopping or decorating or cocktail parties or anything hectic like that. I am talking about culture.  Treating yourself by taking a nice needed break from the hectic. 

In between the endless commercialism and the agony of battling consumerism, wouldn’t you just love to squeeze in some culture?  Take a relaxing and educating stroll around a museum?  How about one that is actually doable, as in you can see all the exhibits in less than two hours.  

And for free!  Now that sure makes it a bit more doable, doesn’t it? No dipping into your Christmas Club savings.

The Perelman Building at the Philadelphia Museum of Art has free admission until the end of the year.  Right now, the exhibits include a great collection of evening gowns from three Philadelphian designers and a collection of modern decorative art among others. 

But the best part (aside from being free, of course) is that it is just enough without being overwhelming.  Because the last thing you need right now is more overwhelming. You want to escape overwhelming at all costs, right?

Just think, after a two hour stroll that awakens your visual and mental senses, you just might be ready to tackle those long lines and crowded stores again.  It might even inspire you to get a little more creative with your wrapping this year.

At the very least, you’ll have something interesting to talk about at all those holiday cocktail parties you’ve got lined up on your calendar.  I’m telling you, you need this.

 The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

08
Nov

Scarred For Life

Author: Momish, Category: Attractions, Entertainment, Family Friendly, Local News, Nightlife, Philly Tourist, Something to Do

When I was around ten years old, my girlfriend and I sneaked into her parent’s bathroom and started snooping around.

We found a bottle of her mom’s perfume and went to town.  We dabbed it all over our wrists and behind our ears, just like grown up ladies do before a fancy night out on the town.

Then my friend dropped the bottle.  It fell into the toilet, where it promptly shattered into a million pieces when it hit the porcelain.  A more apt description would be that it exploded.  Glass went flying in every direction and one sharp piece sliced an inch gash in my leg.

I still have the scar.  As far as scars go, it isn’t that big.  Yet, it is there.  For life.  It doesn’t smell like Oscar de la Renta anymore, but I notice it every time I am wearing a skirt and cross my legs.

Every scar has a story.  Some funny, some heart breaking, some just bizarre.  But a story, none-the-less.  This is why I think the exhibit Thin Skinned Thick will be mesmerizing.

Photographer Amie Potsic’s collection examines scarring in an artistic, beautiful way.  And each photograph is accompanied by the subject’s story behind the scar.

The exhibit’s grand opening is this Friday at 6:00 PM at the Sol Mednick Gallery (The University of the Arts, 211 S. Broad St., 15th flr. 215-717-6300).  Continues until December 14th. 

OK, so there’s lots of time, but why wait? Everyone loves a good story.  But more importantly, eveyone needs a chance to see beauty where we never thought to look before.

25
Oct

Clue In Real Life

Author: Momish, Category: Attractions, Entertainment, Family Friendly, Philly Tourist, Something to Do

Here’s a fun event that fits in well with Halloween: 

The Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion Mystery Tour.   The tour is 20 minutes long, and takes you throughout the mansion.  As you visit each room, you meet a new character who will tell his or her story as they drop you hints and clues as to which of them is the murderer.

It’s like the Clue game, only live in person.  Just being in a mansion seems to drum up the old Clue memories.  What did Mrs. Peacock really do with that candlestick?

Anyway, the murdering is only going on for this weekend, so get you handy dandy notebook ready and get sleuthing. 

Tours are on October 26, 27 & 28, from 6PM - 9PM and cost 10-12 bucks.  Check out the site for more detail and directions.

But hey, if you pre-order from Fun Savers, they only cost you 7 boo bucks. (call 215-438-1861 and mention “fun savers”)

EVENTS

18
Oct

Urg (um, I mean Erg) Is Too A Word

Author: Momish, Category: Family Friendly, Free Events, Kids, Resources, Something to Do

It’s a work unit.

I know this because I do a lot of crossword puzzles.  Which is also why I play a mean game of Scrabble.  I love Scrabble, but no one will play with me because I always win.

This is why I was thrilled to death to find the Free Library’s Philly Plays Scrabble program which holds Scrabble competitions throughout this month.

If you are a Scrabble buff, here’s your chance to shine.  You might even find yourself amongst some serious competition.

Bring. It. On.

Check out the Librabry’s website for more details, as well as a slew of other great events they host.  When was the last time you actually went to the library?  With the world’s wealth of imformation a simple Google click away, I am sure it’s been quite some time you have walked through those doors.  I know I haven’t been here in ages.  And I miss that old beautiful building on the Parkway.  It’s the first free library in the country, you know.

So c’mon, put on your Scrabble thinking caps and and haul your Google addicted butts over to the library.  I could use some stiff competition.

(Philly Plays Scrabble has events throughout many Library branches.  Check the website for dates and times, since each vary.)

21
Sep

Thrill Me

Author: Momish, Category: Attractions, Current Events, Entertainment, Nightlife, Philly Tourist, Something to Do

Thrill me, chill me!

I love Halloween and am beginning to see the signs of this great season everywhere. (Just go into any CVS, orange and black assault you the second you walk in)

I’m always looking for the fun things to do around this time.  There are lost of hayrides and pumpkin picking farms.  The one thing that is right in our back yards which I have never done is Terror Behind The Walls at the old and creepy Eastern State Penitentiary.

I would think just being in that place at night would give me enough chills.

Has anyone done this?  Is it worth the price? (tickets start at 20 bucks!)

17
Sep

Starting Some New Routines

Author: Momish, Category: General, Local Charity, Resources, Something to Do, Volunteer

Now that summer is over and school has begun, I am sure you are settling back into your usual routines.

There is just something about the fall, with the change in the air, that makes me become reflective and serene.  Maybe its the fact that you can sit outside comfortably without sweating to death or swatting away a million bugs.  In any case, these past few nights have been great for chilling in the back yard and thinking, thinking, thinking.

I like to give myself fresh starts come fall.  Maybe pick up new projects, begin a new task, kick start a lingering idea or project…

One of the things I definitely want to do this year is to volunteer my time.  I want to get my daughter involved in volunteer work too.  She is old enough to be of some help for a few hours a week, I think. 

So I have been researching volunteer opportunities around the area.  With the toddler I am fairly limited, but still managed to find a few options.  And just in case you too were sitting around these past few nights reflecting on ways to bring more enrichment into your lives, I am passing along some of the volunteer opportunities I stumbled upon.  It’s never too late to start a new routine and fall is the best time to do it.

Volunteering is like buying a pair of shoes though. It has to be a good fit.  For your personality, your schedule and your passions.  Otherwise it becomes a second job, instead of means of personal fulfillment and growth.

I think the kid and I are gonna put in some hard physical labor over at Philabundance a few hours a week (still waiting to hear if they need us so wish me luck!).

Center for Literacy - Adult Tutoring (3 hours per week)

The Career Wardrobe - Boutique Assistants (1 hour per week)

Philabundance - Food drives, packaging, etc. (not sure of hours and days)

Check out Greater Philadelphia Cares for many more opportunities available.  And if you have an organization that needs helping hands, please feel free to give us a shout out!

13
Sep

Bloody Good Ballet

Author: Momish, Category: Attractions, Entertainment, Family Friendly, Nightlife, Philly Tourist, Something to Do

The Pennsylvania Ballet is performing Dracula again this year.  And indeed, it is a bloody good ballet!

The costumes and set design of this ballet are magnificent.  I have seen it twice and each time was mesmerized by the contrast between the graceful and beautiful dances against the gloomy and sinister settings.

 Kids too would like this ballet due to it’s special effects and easy-to-follow well known story line.  Lots of beautiful fairy tale like costumes paired with dancers flying around stage (literally). 

 Performances begin October 26th, just in time to jump start that Halloween feeling.  They even have a performance on Halloween, if you aren’t bogged down with taking your little ones trick or treating that is.

I will probably skip it this year, seeing as I have already seen it.  But, you never know.   This kind of stuff never gets old.

If the full priced tickets are too steep for you, remember you can always show up an hour before performance time and try your luck at scoring half priced tickets.  Considering this is the third year they are doing this ballet, chances are good that most regulars and die-hards have already seen it.

Here’s a tip: Go in pairs for the half priced tickets.  Last time we went to the ballet an hour before show time, there were three of us.  The best seats they could give us were in the nose bleed section.  Meanwhile, we saw plenty of empty seats much closer, but only with two seats together at the most.  Therefore, I suggest going in even numbers so you can break up into pairs and get the best seats available!

Visit the PA Ballet website for more details about Dracula and other upcoming performances.  Dracula runs from 10/26-11/03.

06
Sep

Victorian, Victorian

Author: Momish, Category: Attractions, Current Events, History, Philly Tourist, Something to Do

Now here is a tour I could totally get into.  The Victorian Philadelphia West of Broad, happening this weekend at 10:00.  Tour starts at the gorgeous Bellevue Hotel, which makes perfect sense.

 A leisurely walk throughout the west side of center city while learning all about the Victorian architecture.  All those hidden nooks and crannies, marvulous buildings you walk past so often and barely notice.   But when you go in them, they take your breath away and transform you to another time.

I love the Victorian era, there is something so romantic and idealistic about it.  Sometimes I think that is was the last golden age, if not the last innocent age.

Hosted by Landmarks, so check out their website for more information.

05
Sep

Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay

Author: Momish, Category: Current Events, Free Events, Local News, Something to Do

Well, river actually.

Anyway, tomorrow night you can check out the new dock along the river in Manayunk.  The dedication ceremony is at 5:00 PM.  Plus you get to meet the Manayunk Dragon Boat Racing team that will be heading to the World Championships in Sydney this year.

Or if you prefer, here’s just another excuse to hang out in Manayunk! Yeah!

Check out Manayunk’s website for more details!