Monthly Top Five - December

Hey, remember the What's Weekly Top 5 feature? So do we. The only problem is that it rarely came on a weekly basis, so we're switching gears. In  High Fidelity, the characters compare their top fives in a variety of categories. Being big fans of both the film and novel, we here at the What bring you our Weekly Monthly Top Five, a feature focused on five fantastic things that you should become familiar with.

Reasons to Visit Philadelphia in 2012

The City of Brotherly Love is a fantastic destination for arts and culture. With a great selection of museums, galleries, and theaters, there is no shortage of fantastic cultural institutions to choose from. While many flock to New York for theater or Washington for museums, Philadelphia has the best of both worlds. In 2012, several exciting events and exhibits are scheduled to be the highlight of Philly's cultural calendar.


5. Philly (Insert Fun Thing Here) Week - Chances are that no matter where your interests lie, Philly has a week for that. During Restaurant Week one can sample a variety of delicacies from the city's stellar selection of top-notch dining establishments. Fashion Week comes twice a year and boasts the best of Philly fashion. After taking a sabbatical in 2011, we can only hope it returns in 2012! If not, one can always find comfort in Beer Week. Beer Week is likely my favorite of all the weeks, as it is the perfect way for Philly's excellent roster of brewers to show their stuff.


4. The Festival Circuit - Philadelphia has become a hotbed for a variety of festivals over the years. With fests celebrating Film, Craft Beer, and all things folksy leading the helm, there are two somewhat newer festivals that lead the pack. In only its second year, the Philadelphia Science Festival looks to be at the top of many to-do lists after a strong debut in 2011 (as discussed by the What here). Perhaps the most anticipated of the many festivals offered in Philadelphia, is the Live Arts & Fringe fest. With a brand new headquarters and an ever-growing roster of participants, the Fringe is always a fantastic fest.

3. The Main Event(s) - While many of the festivals and weeks are chock full of great events to attend, there are several stand-alone events that warrant mention. For beer lovers, there is Brauhaus Schmitz' annual Oktoberfest celebration and the Museum of Elfreth's Alley's second annual Brew Fest, this year featuring a special Prohibition theme. The Convention Center will keep busy with the Auto, Flower, Home, and Antiques Shows, all worth checking out should your interests line up with one of those titles. Yet perhaps the most exciting event to hit Philly in 2012 will be the first one as the NHL Winter Classic emanates from Citizen's Bank Park.


2. Exhibit A - Philly's museums are pretty spectacular on their own, and in 2012 many of them will be upping the ante with new exhibits. The Franklin Institute will get to work on a huge addition to make room for traveling exhibitions, as well as a brand-new exhibit on the brain, all while hosting the Dead Sea Scrolls. The National Constitution Center will showcase a traveling exhibit centered on the life and music of Bruce Springsteen for the first half of the year and then finish out 2012 with a Prohibition-themed exhibit. The Museum of Elfreth's Alley will team with Drexel University's Fashion and Design department to introduce an exhibit tying modern fashion to the 18th century tailors and dressmakers that once inhabited the historic street.

1. Ya Know, Whatever - There is certainly no shortage of things to do on any given day in Philadelphia. For history nerds, spend a day or two walking through American history  in Old City. Artsy folks can enjoy the Philadelphia Museum of Art while Rocky fans run up the steps. Foodies can indulge in Rittenhouse Square, or for foodies on a budget, Fairmount and Northern Liberties. There's Fairmount Park for those who want to enjoy beautiful views of the Schuylkill River or toss a frisbee around. There is certainly no shortage of fun to be had in the City of Brotherly Love, so come by and check it out!


For more information, check in with the good folks over at Visit Philly.