Pickelodeon: Philadelphia Science Festival 2012

Welcome to Pickelodeon, a little feature where we review all that is reviewable in the world. Pickelodeon is your one stop shop for the inside scoop on the best restaurants, bars, movies, music, events, and anything else you want to hear someone else's opinion on before you try it. Drop us a line in the comment box for any suggestions on what we should review next!

Philadelphia Science Festival 2012

If you have not been to a Philadelphia Science Festival event, you are missing out. Learning about chemistry and mechanics with beer, using comedy to discuss sexual impulses and food cravings, discussing instinct and survival in the context of a zombie apocalypse, speed dating, scavenger hunts, quizzo, and more make this fest unlike any science classroom you could imagine. The Philadelphia Science Festival is so cool that this is the second time we're reviewing it! (You can check out last year's preview here and the review here)

The 2012 Festival built upon the success of last year's extravaganza and the entire year of planning that went into this event shows. The Franklin Institute staff that run the Festival have outdone themselves and set the bar high for the 2013 event, assuming the aforementioned zombie apocalypse doesn't happen before then. Let's take a look at a few events that have stood out from this year's festival.

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.

Pickelodeon: The Philadelphia Science Festival

Welcome to Pickelodeon, a little feature where we review all that is reviewable in the world. Pickelodeon is your one stop shop for the inside scoop on the best restaurants, bars, movies, music, events, and anything else you want to hear someone else's opinion on before you try it. Drop us a line in the comment box for any suggestions on what we should review next!

The Philadelphia Science Festival

Science is everywhere! Or so says the slogan for the Franklin Institute's Discovery Camp. Over the past week, the Philadelphia Science Festival has shown the City of Brotherly Love that science truly is everywhere, from the beer they drink to the glass from which they drink. This two-week extravaganza has featured events that made astronomy astronomical, ecology economical, and physics physically impossible to ignore. Cheesy plays on words aside, the festival has inspired an interest in science and technology learning city-wide, and there is still a week to go.

April is for Science

In just one week the City of Philadelphia will be immersed in Science discussion, ideas, shows, and activities. From the universities and community centers to pubs and your street corner, Science will be everywhere, and you're invited!

This is the first annual Philadelphia Science Festival.

The festival will run from April 15 - 28 and kicks off with The Big Jump, at 11:00am on April 15. All around the city, Phiadelphians will be jumping to kick off the festival and may trigger a seismic event! Later that evening, at Kite and Key, will be the unveiling of the yet to be named festival beer brewed by Yards Brewing Company. To cast your vote for the name of the beer go to - PSF Name That Science Festival Beer. You have until Monday to cast your vote.

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.

Christmastime in the City

Whether you like it or not, it's that time of year. The time of year when the stores bring out a dazzling array of red and green stuff and your mailbox fills with a heaping load of catalogs. While most of us are still coming down from a Halloween high or looking forward to a delicious turkey dinner in two weeks, the commercial world is busy telling us all that it's Christmastime. For city-dwellers, this is especially exciting. Most major cities have fantastic holiday traditions, and Philadelphia is no exception. Following are the top yuletide stops for you to make in Philly this holiday season.

Macy's Christmas Light Show

Since 1956, the light show has been presented in the main gallery of the Wanamaker building. This breathtaking display was narrated by John Facenda, the voice of NFL Films, for many years before a new narration was recorded by Julie Andrews in 2006. Andrews' narration is paired with the beautiful blinking lights telling classic holiday tales such as the Nutcracker and Frosty the Snowman featuring musical accompaniment from a live organist playing the massive organ. This show will air every hour between 10AM and 8PM daily from the day after Thanksgiving until New Year's Eve. Get there early for a good seat! 

The Dickens Village at Macy's
When Strawbridge's shut its doors several years ago, many (including myself) feared that it marked the end for the Dickens Village. Luckily, Macy's wasted no time in moving the village across the street to the Wanamaker building, placing it in the same building as the Light Show for everyone's Christmas convenience. The village tells the story of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol with 26 different scenes from the famous novel. Over 100 animatronic characters bring the tale to life as you read actual text from the novel on sign posts set throughout the miniature version of 1840's London. A new feature added by Macy's comes at the end of the exhibit, at which point you are escorted into a room to have a quick chat and a photo with Father Christmas himself!

Deck the Alley
When visiting the oldest continuously occupied residential street in the United States, many people wish they could see the inside of the historic Elfreth's Alley houses. Well, on December 4th, you will finally get your chance! As many as 14 of the residents living on the alley will graciously open their homes for touring. Outside, expect to see carolers in period garb and classic Christmas decor. Inside, you will find refreshments (often provided by the fantastic Race Street Cafe) and a book signing with David Papp, author of the children's book The Scarlet Stockings Spy. Tickets are selling fast, so do not hesitate to pick yours up!

Light Displays
The Philadelphia region is home to a variety of impressive holiday decoration displays. Several blocks throughout the city, especially in Southwark and Manayunk, will work together to decorate, while other houses go all out on their own. One such house is located at Fairfax Road and Huey Avenue in Drexel Hill. This house puts on a display that would shame the Griswolds. From lights, to animatronics, to a life-size Santa in his sleigh complete with all of his reindeer, this place has it all. It's easily accessible from the Drexel Park stop on either the 101 or 102 trolleys from 69th Street, and well worth the trip into Delco.

Holiday Train Sets
Nothing says Christmas like a decent holiday model train setup, and there are several to check out in Philly. The Franklin Institute and Septa Museum will often present modest sets in their respective museum spaces. The best set in the city, however, can be found in the old Reading Railroad building. Enter the door next to Dunkin Donuts and you'll be greeted with the expansive set. With sections representing cities, suburbs, and rural areas, this set has it all. Also, kids (and adults) will get a kick out of being able to operate select parts of the display.

Links & Last Words
This list is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to celebrating the holidays in the City of Brotherly Love. We welcome your comments to address any of your favorite traditions we may have left out. Check out the links below for more information, and have a happy holiday season!

• Macy's Light Show & Dickens Village
• Deck the Alley at Elfreth's Alley
• Map of Fairfax Rd. and Huey Ave.
• Holiday Train Sets in PA

Five fantastic tips to make your Franklin Institute visit better

The Franklin Institute Science Museum is always a fun and educational trip to take. However, many visitors at the museum easily lose their way, miss out on shows, and generally get grumpy when caught up in a crowd. In this article you will find five tips to help you easily navigate the museum’s halls, avoid crowds, and make the most of your visit to the Franklin Institute.

Tip #1: Making an entrance
There are several different ways one can enter the Franklin Institute. For those who drive, there is garage parking. The parking garage has an elevator (and stairs) that will drop you off in the Atrium, or lobby. A key thing here is to remember that parking garage access is on the second floor, not the first or fourth as many assume. Were you to walk or take public transportation to the museum, you would most likely walk up the big staircase out front of the building and enter via the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial. This, again, means a second floor entrance, and you will find the Atrium located behind the memorial. Should you require a handicapped accessible entrance, one can be found to the right of the big staircase at the front of the building. This is the only instance in which general public will enter or exit the building via the first floor.

Tip #2: The map is your friend
For whatever reason, many people have issues carrying a map in their hands as it gives the impression that they do not know where they are going. Well, if you are not familiar with the building, you more than likely do not know where you are going, so get a map. Maps are available in the Atrium, where you purchase your tickets. One can also view the map here on the Franklin Institute’s website. Another important item to pick up in the Atrium is the daily schedule, which will let you know the schedules for shows and live demonstrations.

Tip #3: Go against the flow
About 90% of visitors at the Franklin Institute start their visit on the second floor, either rushing to the Giant Heart exhibit or the recently revamped Electricity and Changing Earth exhibits. From there, they will scurry up the Pendulum Stairs to Sports Challenge and run amok. The best way to avoid these crowds is to start on either the first or fourth floors. On some days, the Observatory will be open on the fourth floor, and is a great place to stop by early in your visit when it is at its least busy point of the day. Should that be closed, start your day on the first floor all the way in the back of the building where you can ride the Baldwin 60000 locomotive without a crowd of screaming children or check out shows at the Franklin Theater or Planetarium. Save the popular exhibits such as the Giant Heart and Sports Challenge for lunchtime or the end of your day.

Tip #4: Go in with a game plan
Plan ahead! This is a key element to fully enjoying your Franklin Institute experience. Check the website at www.fi.edu and see if there are any major events that may lead to extra crowds. Go over the map, as mentioned above, and plan out which exhibits you would like to see the most. Call ahead to reserve tickets for any shows you may want to see, and ask if anything special is happening on the day on which you plan to attend. Familiarize yourself with the current traveling exhibit. If it is in its first or last week, there will be extra crowds on hand.

Tip #5: Know your surroundings
There are times when the museum can be a bit crowded due to a lot of field trips or any other number of reasons. When this happens, it’s helpful to know the area around the museum. Peak filed trip time is between 11AM and 2PM. If you find the building too crowded, you can visit the Free Library, which is right across the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. If Ben’s Bistro is too crowded, you could get some pizza at Little John’s, which is behind the museum at 21st and Race Streets, or grab a beer and a sandwich at Cherry Street Tavern, which is about two blocks behind the museum at 22nd and Cherry Streets.

Hopefully these tips will make your next visit to the Franklin Institute run smoothly. For more information on Franklin Institute events, you can keep checking this column and become a fan of the Franklin Institute on Facebook.

*From Patrick Wittwer's page on Examiner.com