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  • The Cleopatra Girlfriends Weekend Itinerary

    Strong, shrewd, beautiful and beguiling, Cleopatra, the last Pharaoh to rule Egypt before the completion of the Roman conquest, has been portrayed reverently by historians and Hollywood alike, making her an enduring icon and role model to women. As such, the world debut of Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt at The Franklin Institute, which runs from June 5, 2010 through January 2, 2011, will likely resonate with thousands of women who admire the ancient queen. It´s also an ideal opportunity to gather friends together for a girlfriends� getaway in Philly.

    Check In

    Pamper yourselves like the royalty that you are by checking into one of 11 hotels offering the Cleopatra VIP Hotel Package. The package includes overnight accommodations for two and two VIP (untimed, bypass-the-line) tickets to the exhibition. Before you leave, dress in comfortable shoes and clothes that transition well from day to evening, as your day takes you from sightseeing to a sultry night out.

    Diamonds Are A Girl´s Best Friend

    Take a pleasant walk through Washington Square, one of William Penn´s original parks, to adorn your body in true Cleopatra fashion by picking up some baubles on Jewelers Row, the nation´s oldest diamond district and also one of its largest.

  • Celebrate the Harvest Season at the Peter Wentz Farmstead

    Looking for some autumnal, harvest-y activities to do with friends or family over the next few weeks? Consider paying a visit to the Peter Wentz Farmstead in Worcester, PA. Each fall, they host a series of weekend festivals. First up is an event that´s part of their Laerenswaert series, this Saturday, September 11th. A German phrase that means �worth learning,� they´ll be focusing in on the Farmstead´s Colonial gardens from 1-3 p.m.

    On Saturday, September 25th, they´ll be showcasing the Fall Harvest, 18th century-style. Demonstrations will include preserving fruits and vegetables, apple cider pressing and the breaking, scutching and combing of flax, to eventually being spun into linen thread. This event runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

    The Peter Wentz Farmstead was built in 1758 and served as George Washington´s headquarters during his attempt to keep the British out of Philadelphia in the fall of 1777. Currently, it is run by Montgomery County as a fully restored historical site and admission is free.

  • A Weekend in Historic Philadelphia�on a Budget

    So you´re on vacation. Believe it or not, that doesn´t mean you have to splurge!

    In Historic Philadelphia, you´ll find plenty of places where prices haven´t changed much since our Founding Fathers were milling about town.

    And we have put an entire weekend itinerary together for you, a step-by-step guide full of budget-conscious meals, fun stuff for the family and even a few cost-effective cocktails.

    Welcome to Philadelphia, “America´s best beer-drinking city.” To start your vacation on the right foot � rather, the right barstool � head to The Khyber, a charmingly gritty bar in the middle of 2nd Street.

    This is a great spot to get a casual burger and fries, knock back a few local microbrews and catch an up-and-coming live act. And for authentic Philadelphia attitude, you really can´t do much better than The Khyber.

    Just up the street is National Mechanics, a newer bar known for its gastropub-esque menu and quirky decor. Try a delicious salad or a gourmet burger � everything is tasty and light on your wallet.

    From Old City, it´s just a short, breezy walk down to Penn´s Landing where, on Friday nights, you can catch free concerts all summer long. Ranging from gospel to jazz to R&B, the music is family-friendly and the scenery � the Delaware River to the east and the Philadelphia skyline to the west � is pretty much unbeatable.

    Extra credit: If you visit Philadelphia for a mid-week stay, you can get cinematic on Thursday nights in the Summer with Penn´s Landing´s free Screenings Under the Stars.

    And if you visit during the colder months, lace up and skate at the Blue Cross RiverRink. This ice rink comes equipped with a heated pavilion, snack bar and lessons for the whole family.

  • Free Library Festival

    April 17-18, 2010

    The Experience

    Now in its fourth year, the Free Library Festival is the Library´s annual burst of ideas and inspiration.

    Well on its way to becoming a Philadelphia tradition, the Festival weekend is packed with free programming for all ages, including talks by bestselling authors, poetry readings, musical performances, tours of the Library´s special collections and programs and activities just for children. A fun, free way to spend the day, the Free Library Festival connects book lovers from throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

    For a full schedule of performances, view the Festival Program.

    Meet the Authors

    The Free Library will host more than 50 authors on-stage at the 2010 Free Library Festival, including Tina Campbell of the urban gospel duo Mary Mary, talk show host Chelsea Handler, Sapphire � author of Push, basis for the award-winning film Precious, Man Booker Prize winner Yann Martel, Edgar Award-winning mystery author Harlan Coben, Oprah Winfrey biographer Kitty Kelley, pop singer/songwriter Tommy James, a reading and performance by Antonino D�Ambrosio about the making of Johnny Cash´s Bitter Tears album, New York Times bestselling novelist Chang-rae Lee, the story of a road trip with the late David Foster Wallace by David Lipsky, and many, many more.