Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

The Calendar of Events is organized as follows:

November 2009
December 2009
January 2010
February 2010
March 2010
April 2010
May 2010
June 2010
July 2010
August 2010
September 2010
October 2010
Ongoing Activities

NOVEMBER 2009

Through November 1, 2009
HAUNTED POE. This theatrical work unites literature, history and theater with the haunted attraction genre during the 200^th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s birth. A 10,000-square-foot warehouse is transformed into an eerie maze of chambers featuring short vignettes of 11 of Poe’s pieces, including “The Tell-tale Heart,” “The Raven” and “The Cask of Amontillado.” (215) 627-2577, hauntedpoe.com

Through November

The following itinerary is available on gophila.com/barkleyhendricks.

LOCATION: Historic Philadelphia, Center City and North Philadelphia

TRANSPORTATION: On foot, by taxi or car

DURATION: Two nights and two days

Note: Locations picked by Barkley and friends are indicated as such. Other places are suggestions of the tourism office.

Philly’s flavors, faces, rhythms and spaces have always been on the cutting edge of cool. Need proof? Acclaimed artist and local son Barkley L. Hendricks is bringing his Birth of the Cool career retrospective home to his alma mater, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), through January 3, 2010—making this

Pet lovers are crazy about their animal companions and spend more than $40 billion a year in the U.S. on pet services and accoutrements to prove it. For those who love to spoil their pet but hate to leave him behind while traveling, the Philadelphia region proves to be the “purr-fect” getaway. Pet-friendly hotels, restaurants and retail shops welcome visitors and their animal companions in all sections of the city and its suburbs. From canine-friendly parks to Very Important Pet (VIP) hotel programs, the Philadelphia region makes it easy for visitors to bring their furry friends along for the ride.

In Philadelphia and The Countryside® visitors motivated by adrenaline can attempt just about any type of active and sometimes challenging outdoor activity. Thanks to the area’s excitingly varied terrain and legendary tradition of athleticism, no matter the season, there’s a zip line, ski slope, rock wall, mountain-bike trail or white-water river ready to be conquered in the city and in the four nearby counties. Here’s a look:

By Air:

• Tree Canopy Tours – Spring Mountain Adventures in Montgomery County is one of the only places in the country that offers treetop canopy tours—a series of zip line and rope

After exploring the Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy exhibition, appearing only in Philadelphia, only in 2009 (April 4 through September 7, 2009 at The Franklin Institute Science Museum), visitors are encouraged to spend a night or two and enjoy other exhibitions and events in the region. Here’s a look at what’s going on while Galileo’s in town:

Fun Art And Culture:

• The popular three-day West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Festival—now in its sixth year—features all types of jazz alongside visual artists, craft vendors and more. This year’s lineup features WAR, Jeffrey Osbourne, Average

Wide-angle Panoramas With Skyline In Background:

• South Street Bridge: Skyline view from west, over the Schuylkill River. As of April 2008, parts of the bridge are under construction and access could be tricky.
• Penn Tower Hotel (roof, 22 stories high): Close to Schuylkill River, skyline view from west. 33^rd Street & Civic Center Boulevard, (215) 898-0405 (Request official permission well in advance of shoot.)
• University of Pennsylvania High Rise Residences (roof or glass-walled penthouse lounges, 26 stories high): East-facing view overlooking the center of University of Pennsylvania campus with sight lines through to Center City; unobscured view from

Thanks in part to the popularity of TV shows like The Amazing Race and movies like National Treasure (filmed partially in Philadelphia) that send people around the world on the search for clues, prizes and hidden treasures, Philadelphia attractions are mapping out creative ways to help visitors get to know the region. City-wide scavenger hunts, card games that rely on knowledge of historic buildings and participatory re-enactments of Colonial playtime allow both kids and adults to learn more about the city while jumping right into the action. Here’s a look at some of the fun and games taking place in

MAY 2009

May 3, 2009
BLUE CROSS 30TH ANNUAL BROAD STREET RUN. The largest and one of the fastest 10-milers in the nation goes from North Philadelphia down the length of Broad Street to The Navy Yard to raise money for the American Cancer Society. (215) 683-3594, broadstreetrun.com

May 8-9, 2009
DAD VAIL REGATTA. Championship rowers from more than 100 colleges and universities compete at the world’s largest collegiate regatta, which celebrates its 71^st anniversary this year. (610) 623-8590, dadvail.org

May 9, 2009
QUAD COUNTY METRIC BIKE RIDE. Cyclists pedal at their own pace and ride up to 76

DONNA SCHORR, a young-at-heart Baby Boomer
Director of Communications

Yes, I take a train ride to the city every day, and at this age, I’m no expert on late night clubbing. But I’ve lived in or near Philly for decades (never mind how many), and I can tell you a lot about great things to see and do that don’t cost a fortune. Here are some of my sentimental favorites:

Rittenhouse Square
When I miss my dad, I visit his memorial bench in one of the most loved green spots in the city, Rittenhouse Square. Here is the heart and

Southeastern Pennsylvania is continuing to emerge as a major force in the nation’s wine industry. As wineries usher in major changes that promise to significantly enhance their visitors’ experience, Pennsylvania wines as a whole are continuing to make steady gains in quality, quantity and recognition. Over the past eight years, the number of the state’s wineries has doubled, increasing from around 60 in 2000 to 120 today. And, by winning top awards at the prestigious San Francisco and Los Angeles County Fair Competitions and international critics’ tasting challenges, Pennsylvania vintners have proven they can craft worthy wines.

The

Much Ado About Arboretums
In part because the Quakers who settled in Pennsylvania were meticulous about identifying and cataloguing the forms of natural life they discovered here, the Philadelphia region is internationally recognized for its wealth of arboretums. Chestnut Hill’s Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania breaks ground this fall for a new Horticulture Center. The first new major building at the arboretum in 100 years, the 33,000-square-foot center will boast a large indoor assembly space. This project will be Penn’s first newly constructed “green” building, with plans to achieve Platinum Level LEED™ Certification. Also this fall, the arboretum’s

For visitors looking to explore the Philadelphia region’s beautiful and historic outdoors from the seat of a bicycle, the back of a horse or with a paddle in hand, the following vendors are ready to provide the equipment and guidance necessary. All of this information and more is available at boundlessphiladelphia.com.

By Bicycle:
The Philadelphia region boasts hundreds of miles of trails and a wide network of quiet country roads, many of which wind past rolling hills, horse farms and battlefields. Here’s a list of bicycle rental shops:

• Breakaway Bikes: For rentals right on Chestnut Street in Center City

Boundless Philadelphia™, a $1.7 million campaign by the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation to promote the region’s outdoor offerings, kicks off its second year with three new initiatives: enhanced features on BoundlessPhiladelphia.com, major partnerships and a hotel package. These enhancements will raise the visibility of the campaign to runners and cyclists and offer visitor-friendly amenities to all outdoor enthusiasts.
 

Research shaping Boundless Philadelphia’s™ marketing plan found that outdoor activities are important to 44% of potential visitors to Philadelphia (source: TNS Travel and Transit, April 2007) and that the lack of a comprehensive outdoor Web site was the single biggest

Already an established favorite among cyclists, Philadelphia continues to build its reputation as a great biking region thanks to new events, expanded trails, locally made products, city-to-countryside routes and reliable bike clubs. These assets help make the city one of the most important cycling destinations in the country.
 

New Developments:
The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is embarking upon a plan to produce one of the largest bike rides in the country this summer. Taking place on September 9, BikePhilly 2007 is expected to draw thousands of cyclists for rides that run from 10 to 50 miles over city

The Philadelphia region continues to create a regional “runner heaven” with the opening of a new spur of the Schuylkill River Trail and the completion of the Streuble Trail in Chester County. This system of linked greenway trails are a key reason why Philadelphia’s running scene continued its competitive streak this year, generating record numbers of participants in the region’s three marquee events: The Philadelphia Marathon, The Jefferson Hospital Distance Run and the Broad Street Run. These competitions, in addition to the hundreds of other races held throughout the region, help make the Philadelphia region a favorite choice for

Summer is outdoor time, and Philadelphian’s love to play outside. In fact, every city resident lives within one mile of one of the Fairmont Park System’s 63 parks. From the leafy trails, historic gardens and the exuberant crowds at festival upon festival, there’s plenty of outdoor fun in the city that William Penn designed as a “Greene Countrie Town.” For complete listings of these and other outdoor activities in Boundless Philadelphia™, visit www.gophila.com/outdoors:

Boundless Events:

• Devon Horse Show And Country Fair – The oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed horse competition in the United States, held on Philadelphia’s Main Line,

Firmly established as a heritage tourism hotspot, Philadelphia is ready to show off its green side, with a new tourism campaign that invites visitors to come play outside. Called Boundless Philadelphia, the $1.7 million effort promotes the quality and quantity of the Philadelphia region’s natural assets and outdoor experiences. Although surprising to some, the area consistently ranks as one of the best biking, running and rowing cities by national publications such as Runner’s World and Bicycling Magazine. The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) is at the helm of the three-year campaign, which aims to show the average

A few marquee competitions, as well as hundreds of other large, small and mid-sized races held in the region during the spring, summer and fall months are just part of the reason why Philadelphia is so popular among competitive runners. For casual runners, Philadelphia boasts a rich network of pocket parks, charming shopping districts and narrow, pedestrian-friendly streets that link up to long, bucolic stretches of rural landscape, making downtown Philadelphia appealing to those of all fitness levels.

Recreational Running:
Casual runners should consider a jaunt through the streets of the Italian Market, along the Avenue of the Arts

With more than 200 miles of bike lanes in the city and 100 miles of off-road trails, bicycling is one of the most popular ways to experience Philadelphia and The Countryside™. It’s no surprise that Philadelphia is consistently rated among the top five big cities for cycling by publications such as Bicycling Magazine. Locals treasure the region’s extensive trail systems, and visitors come here for cycling events, most notably the Commerce Bank Philadelphia International Championship (formerly the International Pro Cycling Championship) and the annual Covered Bridges Ride in Bucks County.
 

Recreational Biking:
New amenities are making it easier for

The picturesque row of historic buildings that face Kelly Drive and light up the waters of the Schuylkill River at night has long been synonymous with Philadelphia postcards. What many don’t know though is that Boathouse Row, home to Philadelphia’s rowing community, is a leading epicenter of the nation’s championship aspirations for the sport. It is a magnet for the grass roots development of national and world championship medalists and has been home to a long list of Olympic competitors and coaches.

The boathouses are home away from home for more high school competitors than any other U.S. city