The Checklist - April 2012

The internet is full of magical, mystical things. So much, in fact, that it is sometimes hard to sift through all of the crap to get some decent information. In the interest of providing you with colorful ideas for everyday life, we here at the What present the Checklist so that you may find some helpful information from other sites along with a comic that makes us giggle.

Seduce Her With Your Space

Men's Health Magazine

Men's and women's magazines often times are a bit out of touch with the reality of everyday men and women, but every once and awhile they have some good information. For example, the Men's Health website recently posted an article about sprucing up your living space to boost your attractiveness to a potential significant other. Many of the tips in this article are spot on, a provide a good lead-in to some of our upcoming features relating to snazzing up your apartment. 

Rittenhouse Fair and Square

Philadelphia Art Alliance

I am a big fan of local, handmade goods. I even run a shop that focuses on the sale of such goods. So you can imagine how pleased I was to find that the Philadelphia Art Alliance has put together a special pop-up shop featuring some of Philly's finest artisans and craftspeople for the month of April. This shop will be open from 11-5, Tuesdays through Sundays from April 10-24. Be sure to swing by next time you find yourself in Rittenhouse Square.

Out on the Town - First Fridays

Philly First Fridays, North of Arch St.

When living in a city, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the amount of great experiences. Often it is difficult to keep track of all the goings-on associated with city living. We here at The What Magazine pride ourselves on finding colorful ideas for making the most of your urban experience with Out on the Town, a feature highlighting the latest and greatest in your city.

On the first Friday of each month, Philadelphia galleries open their doors for free. Art enthusiasts and cheap people alike are able to enjoy artwork presented in a variety of media alongside free snacks and drinks. The First Friday tradition began in Old City, and today remains very popular in the neighborhood. However, most First Friday-goers never make it north of Arch Street, thus missing out on some of the most unique gallery experiences in the city.

Song of the Day - 9.Feb.12

 

If this song isn't already in your rotation, it soon will be. Like our recipes here at the What, it's simple and delicious (if a song can be delicious). Not to mention it has a seriously cool (body paint!) video. Here's to hoping that "Somebody That I Used To Know" is the start of a string of great music from Gotye.

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.

Summer in the City: Philadelphia

If you are within visiting distance of the City of Brotherly Love, you need to set aside some space on your summer calendar for a visit or two. Each year Philadelphians are keen to top the stellar summer from the year before by packing the calendar full of awesome events. From the best Independence Day celebration in the nation to a superb selection of concerts, Philadelphia is the place to be in summer. Below, check out our picks for each month.

JUNE
Kicking off the summer season is the Elfreth's Alley 76th annual Fete Day Celebration. This traditional event, dating back to the 1930's, is one of the two times each year that the residents of our nation's oldest street kindly open their homes to the public. The main event of this two-day summer spectacular occurs on Saturday, June 4th, between the hours of noon and 5PM. During this time around a dozen of these historic houses will be open for the public to tour. In addition to this decades-old tradition, the Museum of Elfreth's Alley will debut an exciting new event known as the Famous Philadelphian First Friday Auction. Celebrities with ties to Philadelphia have donated original artwork or signed memorabilia to be auctioned off, benefiting the struggling museum's education and preservation efforts. Tickets for this event cover both days of fun and excitement, and are 20% cheaper when purchased online prior to the event.

Weekly Top Five - 24.Mar.11

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 Top Five, a feature focused on five fantastic things that you should become familiar with.

Where To Be This Month

 

April is a big month for the What, as we prepare to celebrate our first full year of bringing you colorful ideas for everyday life. As a part of that celebration, we want you to come and celebrate with us. During April, our awesome staff of writers will be out and about in Philadelphia at the following events, and we hope that you come join in the fun!

5. Glass Blowing - The majority of this list is populated with events connected to the Philadelphia Science Festival. The Science of Glass Blowing, a joint effort between Hudson Beach Glass and Philadelphia University, will be a live demonstration explaining the process of glass blowing. With mouth-blown glass being a great way to class up your apartment, the What will be in attendance to see how it's done. The event falls on April 16th, and begins at 6:30PM at Hudson Beach Glass in Old City.

4. Bingo at PYT - To longtime readers of the What, this is nothing new. We have been singing the praises of PYT and its weekly Bingo night for most of the last year. Held every Wednesday night from 8-10PM, buy in is free and prizes include beer, burgers, fries, shots, and swag. With themed nights, there is something for everyone at bingo. This coming Wednesday, fans of the epic It's Always Sunny episode featuring the dance-off can try their hand at Dance Your Ass Off Bingo. If you're looking for a trip down memory lane, there's A Night to Remember Bingo, which will feature a screening of Titanic. Finally, come celebrate the What's first birthday with Easter Bingo, complete with an Easter Egg Hunt.

Day Tripper: A Day in DC

One of the many perks of living in Philadelphia is its proximity to so many snazzy places. Philadelphians are within a two or three hour drive of the mountains, the ocean, and some of the coolest and most important cities in the world. With that in mind, the What is proud to present Day Tripper, our guide to the numerous fun trips you can take in and around the Philadelphia region.

The Destination

Washington, DC is one of my favorite cities in the world, and second only to Philadelphia in the states. Aside from being the nation's capital, it has a ton of culture and easily walkable or accessible via their fantastic Metro system. Like New York, DC is a destination that will pop up frequently in the Day Tripper feature. For this particular trip, we will be focusing on a day that is ideal for a date or a small group of friends (perhaps even a double-date). Furthermore, keep in mind that this itinerary is designed for a very specific Saturday, March 19, 2011. Also, you probably want to wear black and red. It becomes important later.

Kicking Off December, Philly Style

With Thanksgiving looming just around the corner, many are excited about their plans for the weekend. Whether it be partying on Wednesday night, pigging out on Thursday, or shopping on Friday, everyone seems to be abuzz over the long weekend's events. However, in Philadelphia, there is much more to be excited about for the following weekend.

To begin with, there's Wednesday. Aside from kicking off the month of December, Wednesday also provides the opportunity to visit the Please Touch Museum on the cheap. Please Touch offers its First Wednesday deal of lowering the admission price for visitors over the age of one to just $2 between five and seven at night. It's fun for the family and easy on the wallet, a good way to start December.

The following evening may not be a family event, but is very fun and well worth the trip to South Street. On the first Thursday of every month one can catch Bobby Zankel and the Warriors of the Wonderful Sound at the Tritone at 15th and South. You will be blown away by the amount of people at the bar, and even more blown away when you realize half of them are in the band. Swing by the Tritone on first Thursdays to enjoy fried pickles and the South Philly Special (Pa can of PBR and a shot of whiskey for three bucks) while enjoying the swinging jazz grooves of Zankel and his warriors.

If you are not familiar with what comes next, shame on you! On the first Friday of each month, several art galleries in Old City open their doors between 5 and 9PM for free. You can peruse the galleries, purchase original art, and mingle with an eclectic crowd. There are dozens of galleries to choose from, with most of them falling between Vine and Market Streets to the North and South and Front and Third Streets to the East and West. Plus, you will be right around the corner from fantastic restaurants like Positano Coast, the Race Street Cafe, and Q BBQ and Tequila.

The grand finale of this fun-filled extended weekend happens to be the unofficial kick off of the holiday season in Philadelphia. Elfreth's Alley presents its annual Deck the Alley celebration. In addition to the carolers and tours of many of the Alley's historic homes, this year the pot has been sweetened. Edward A. Mauger, author of Philadelphia Then and Now will be on hand signing copies of his book. Furthermore, a special deluxe package is being offered. For $135, you will get your ticket to Deck the Alley, a carriage ride through Old City and Society Hill to the Physick House, where refreshments will be served. From there, you will enjoy a meal at the legendary City Tavern. Remember, this is one of only two times this year that the residents of Elfreth's Alley will open their private, historic homes to the public, and tickets have been selling fast!

As we at the What have mentioned before, it is hard to rival the Philadelphia holiday season. The weekend following Thanksgiving is just the tip of the iceberg, as the City of Brotherly Love will be sure to keep you busy and full of holiday cheer for several weeks to come.

For more information:
First Wednesday at the Please Touch Museum
Tritone Events Schedule
First Friday
Deck the Alley