Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
This year’s spring break happens to coincide with a number of different events including the annual Philadelphia Flower Show and Philly Beer Week. While some will find Beer Week’s five beer tasting festivals exciting, others will be more excited about Septa’s incentive for beer-tasters, a $9 all-day Bus-Trolley-Rail pass available from March 6-15.
For those of you who had wished you could sneak away over break, you can consider the Flower Show, located in the Convention Center by Market East station. This year’s theme is “Bella Italia,” in honor of which events will include Italian folk dancing as well as vendors, chef demos, and free food (and a lot of flowers).
For a slightly different European experience, the Philadelphia Art Museum’s “Cezanne and Beyond” exhibit has encouraged a number of French-themed itineraries such as a Philadelphia Bistro like “Parc” on Rittenhouse (or creperie—for which “Beau Monde” off of South Street is highly recommended), followed by a visit to the Parkway and walk to the Rodin museum.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 15 is also a major Philadelphia tradition, celebrated here since 1771 (making it the second oldest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the Country). In addition to the Center City Parade, you can check out the popular Old City gastro-pub, “The Plough and Stars,” or see tomorrow night’s “Danu Irish Music Concert” at Penn’s Annenberg Center.
Finally for a few more arts notes, don’t forget about the World Café’s Friday Free at Noon concerts (today’s lineup includes Shemekia Copeland and the Indigo Girls); the Wilma Theater’s ongoing production of “Scorched,” the story of twins who are requested in their mother’s will to deliver letters to their father in Lebanon who they believed was dead; and the Philadelphia Ballet whose “Cinderella” begins running on March 13.
Whatever you do and wherever you go, have a safe and happy break!
