Philly's Fun Festivals

Philadelphia Folk Festival

The Philadelphia Folk Festival is a four-day festival of folk music held annually near Schwenksville, PA. Since its inception in1962, the late-summer musical event is dedicated to preserving the past, promoting the present and securing the future of folk music. With WXPN’s Gene Shay as the MC, the event draws hundreds of contemporary and traditional artists in genres including World/Fusion, Celtic, Singer/Songwriter, Folk Rock, Country and audiences of over 10,000 people per day. Held the third weekend in August, the event with 75 hours of music by 5 dozen bands on 6 stages draws fans from across the country.

Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe

Now in its 14^th year, The Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe is internationally recognized as a presenter of performing arts, producing work of performing artists not only from Philadelphia but, around the world in two concurrent festivals in September throughout Philadelphia. The mission of the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival is to commission, develop, and present a wide range of the latest cutting-edge, high-quality performance.

Philly Fringe is an unfiltered festival, where new and established artists present their work free of a selection process. For some it’s a once-a-year or once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a show; for professional companies, it can be an opportunity to try something new and join in the fun. This year, performances run from September 3 -18, 2010.

Philadelphia Film Festival

This year, the Philadelphia Film Society presents the 19th annual Philadelphia Film Festival from October 14 - October 24, 2010 showing works by emerging filmmakers at venues throughout the city such as the Ritz and the Prince Theaters. The calendar features events, receptions, industry panels and seminars throughout the duration of the festival.

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Philadelphia's Speculative Fiction Fellows

Michael Swanwick

Philadelphia speculative fiction author, Michael Swanwick has published 7 novels, most recently, The Dragons of Babel. In 1991, his Stations of the Tide won the Nebula ward for Best Novel.

On differences between sci fi and fantasy, the author says, “Science fiction, no matter how strange it gets, has the advantage of literality. It's talking about a world that could really be, that could exist in what we imagine this universe might be. That's an extraordinary advantage. Fantasy is more fluid; it has the freedom to deal with irrational things as real. Science fiction usually doesn't, not in the same way. There's a greater freedom than SF affords, but it comes at a price. The payoff has to justify that extraordinary license.”

Gregory Frost

Greg Frost, writes science fiction and fantasy and directs a fiction writing workshop at Swarthmore College. His most recent works are Shadowbridge and Lord Tophet and his novelette, "Madonna of the Maquiladora" was a finalist for the Nebula and the Hugo Award.

A founding partner of The Liars Club, Frost initially trained as an artist. He’s also done research for television shows and acted in a couple of independent horror movies.

James Morrow

Philadelphia born, James Morrow is a self-described "scientific humanist” whose satire tends to skewer organized religion. His most well-known work, the Godhead Trilogy begins with Towing Jehovah, for which he won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1995. He followed up with Blameless in Abaddon, with God's body becoming part of a religious theme park. He concluded the trilogy with The Eternal Footman nominated for a Locus Fantasy Award in 1997. His recent, Shambling Toward Hiroshima is a playful romp of the nuclear era blends the destruction of World War II with the horrifying delight of monster movies.

Jacob Schwartz, Philadelphia Astrologer

On Wednesday, January 13, 2010, astrologer, Jacob Schwartz left this earthly plane and is now among the stars. He was the best and will be sorely missed.

Jacob received a Master's Degree from the University of Chicago followed by a Doctorate in Communications from the University of Illinois.

As a young man, his profession was conducting survey research and public opinion polls, but in 1974 many were shocked when he left that world behind and became a full time astrologer.

Fascinated with the study of asteroids, Jacob published "The Asteroid Name Encyclopedia" and was the author of the "Asteroid Signatures" report for the Kepler astrology program. In addition to scores of articles relating to asteroids, he wrote columns for Horoscope Guide Magazine and the Philadelphia magazine, New Frontiers.

A founder of the Philadelphia Astrological Society, Jacob was the first Western astrologer to lecture, teach, write and conduct an astrological business in what was then Russia.

Philly’s Finest Film Stars

Bradley Cooper – Hangover star attended Germantown Academy

Will Smith - Overbrook HS grad is boffo box office

Bruce Willis – grew up in Penns Grove, NJ

Tina Fey - Emmy award winner is a Upper Darby HS grad

Richard Gere - Oscar nominee was born in Philly

Linda Fiorentino – Rosemont College grad star of The Last Seduction

Maria Bello – born in Norristown and attended Villanova

Terrence Howard – currently lives in Montgomery County

Seth Green - West Philly actor had his first acting gig at age 8

Larry Fine – starred in dozens of funny films as one of the Three Stooges

Philly's First Ladies of Mystery

Cheers to some of Philadelphia's most notable and successful mystery writers!

Lisa Scottoline
With over 25 million books in print and a regular column, Chick Wit, in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Lisa Scottoline is truly Philly’s First Lady of Crime. The Philadelphia author and lawyer first published Everywhere that Mary Went in 1994 and since then she’s penned an additional fifteen popular titles, notably, Daddy’s Girl, Killer Smile, Dirty Blond. Lisa’s next book, Think Twice is due March, 2010.

Gillian Roberts
Although she’s moved on, Gillian Roberts is still best known for her award –winning Amanda Pepper crime series. In her fourteenth and final Pepper book appropriately entitled, All’s Well That Ends Well, schoolteacher, Amanda’s making a career change. She’s earned her PI certificate and is set exit stage right, bidding her students at Philly Prep—and her fans—goodbye. Roberts, however, promises to be back with new challenges as she tackles a work of historical fiction set in seventeenth century Mexico.

Cordelia Biddle
Society Hill resident, Cordelia Biddle takes a look at Philly crime from an historical perspective in her Martha Beale series. Beginning with The Conjourer and following up with her latest, Deception’s Daughter, would-be sleuth, Beale joins forces with homicide investigator, Thomas Kelman in 19^th century Philadelphia, where, then as now, affluence, murder, and tawdry street life may often collide.

Merry Jones
Merry Jones draws on her past experiences and relationships as a communications professional in the creation of her sleuth, Zoe Hayes. With no aspiration to the life of an investigator, Zoe is a Center City Philadelphia art therapist who has a way of stumbling into the midst of crimes. In Jones’ latest book, The Borrowed and Blue Murders, the therapist once again finds herself in the middle of a homicide.

Top Philly sandwich makers of 2009

In the spirit of year-end listmaking, let’s give a high five to the top Philly sandwich makers of 2009. And kudos to author and self-proclaimed low-brow foodie, Carolyn Wyman for immortalizing Philly food legends in her latest book, The Great Philly Cheesesteak Book!

My top sandwich locations in no particular order:

John Roast Pork

Please be open on Saturday, please?

McNally’s Tavern of Chestnut Hill

Home of the Schmitter

Philip’s Steaks

23^rd and Passsyunk

Gooey Looie’s

231 McClellan Street in Pennsport

Mo's Hot Dogs

23rd & Washington

Johnny’s Hots

A great sausage sandwich and cheesesteaks too in Fishtown

Flicks shot in Philly that did well at the box office

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

Is that the Champs Elysee, or what?

Baby Mama (2008)

Starring and directed by Tina Fey

In Her Shoes (2005)

Shot in Philly based on Jen Weiner’s book

The Sixth Sense (1999)

M. Night Shamaylan”s masterpiece

Blow Out (1981)

Starring John Travolta and directed by Brian De Palma

Rocky I-V (1976 – 1990)

Twelve Monkeys (1995)

Directed by Terry Gilliam, starring Brad Pitt

What’s your favorite movie with a Philly connection?