Events

WACHOVIA FUN –
Sept. 6, the Hero Scholarship Thrill Show.
Sept. 24, Appetite for Awareness.
Oct. 4, the world famous Lipizzaner Stallions.
Oct. 23,Gymnastics Superstars.
Nov. 22, Playhouse Disney Live!
Information: (215) 336-2000.

PHASHION PHEST – Sept. 22, at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. Phashion Phest is the Delaware Valley’s premier fashion event showcasing upscale fashion from your favorite retailers. Experience a reception featuring local experts in hair, cosmetics and accessories.
Information: (215) 670-4323.

CAMPUS PHILLY KICKOFF and College Day on the Parkway – Sept. 27. FREE college student admission to many Ben Franklin Parkway museums, an open air concert, skateboarding demo and contest, and more.
Information: (215) 988-1707.

AT THE PA CONVENTION CENTER – Nov. 13-16, Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. This premier show and sale of contemporary crafts will include 195 of the finest and most dynamic craft artists in the United States. Guest artists from Israel will be featured.
Information: (215) 418-4700.

THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE – America’s oldest parade of its kind will stroll down Market Street to the Art Museum on Nov. 27. The parade celebrates the start of the holiday season with elaborate floats, celebrities, musicians, giant balloons, performers and the first glimpse of Santa Claus.
Information: (215) 581-4529.

YULETIDE RIDE – It’s lovely weather for a train ride together with you! Bring the kids and camera and take a magical train ride with Santa Claus Saturday, Nov. 29 from Woodcrest Station in Cherry Hill to Center City Philadelphia. The Yuletide Ride is free one way when boarding at Woodcrest. Return trip tickets for passengers ages 5 and up will be available.
Information: (856) 772-6968.

Shopping

PHILADELPHIA - From exclusive boutiques at Liberty Place and Rittenhouse Row to Old City’s galleries and antique shops, the city offers all a shopper could ask for. Macy’s, The Gallery and the thriving Market & Chestnut Street centers are all just a short stroll from a PATCO station. Don’t miss Restaurant Week (Sept. 14-19) or Gallery Night on Oct. 17.
Information: www.centercityphila.org

Sports

Zip to the stadiums on PATCO and SEPTA. Loads of free parking at PATCO stations. Discount roundtrip SEPTA transfers are only $2.40 from vending machines located at all NJ stations. Exit PATCO at 12th & 13th and Locust St. station and follow signs in the concourse to the Broad St. Line South. Go teams! Go PATCO!

PHILLIES - Take yourself out to a ball game at Citizens Bank Park.
Information: (215) 463-1000 or www.phillies.mlb.com

FLYERS - Watch our team fire up the ice at the Wachovia Center. Most games start at 7:00 p.m
Information: (215) 755-9700 or www.philadelphiaflyers.com

EAGLES - Donovan and a new crew gear up for the new season. Preseason action at Lincoln Financial Field: Aug. 14, Carolina Panthers (8 p.m.); Aug. 17, Eagles Carnival and Auction (3-8 p.m.); Aug. 28, New York Jets (6:30).
Information: (215) 463-5000 or www.philadelphiaeagles.com

PHILADELPHIA DISTANCE RUN - Sept. 21. The annual 13.1 mile half marathon will also include a children’s run and a fitness and merchandise expo.
Information: (856) 450-6510

Theaters

ARDEN THEATRE - 40 North 2nd Street

Sept. 11 - Oct. 12 - Candide
Oct. 9 - Nov. 30, - Gee’s Bend a celebration of the human spirit among the women of Gee’s Bend, Alabama.
Information: (215) 922-1122 or www.ardentheatre.org

OPERA COMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA - at the Academy of Music.

Oct. 10, 12, 15, 19, 24, - Fidelio
Nov. 14, 16, 19, 21, 23 - The Italian Girl in Algiers an evening of unforgettable vocal acrobatics.
Information: (215) 893-3600 or www.operaphilly.com

PHILADELPHIA THEATRE COMPANY - at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad Street.

Oct. 22 - Nov. 23 - Unusual Acts of Devotion a “love letter” to New York and its people.
Information: (215) 985-0420 or www.phillytheatreco.com

WALNUT STREET THEATRE - 825 Walnut Street

Sept. 2 - Oct. 19 - State Fair a big old-fashioned American musical comedy
Nov. 4 - Jan. 4 - Hairspray It’s 1962 and it’s time for change in Baltimore!
Information: (215) 574-3550 or www.wstonline.org

WILMA THEATER - Broad and Spruce Streets.

Sept. 17 - Oct. 26 - Rock 'n' Roll Set to a score of radical music that changed a generation, Tom Stoppard’s epic tale combines history, conflict and passion in 1968 Czechoslovakia.
Information: (215) 546-7824 or www.wilmatheater.org

Music & Dance

THE KIMMEL CENTER - Broad & Spruce Streets.  The Avenue of the Arts’ spectacular showplace offers exciting shows at four venues: Verizon Hall (VH), Perelman Theater (PT), Innovation Studio (IS), and the Academy of Music (AM).

Sept. 3 - 14 - Parenting 101 The Musical (IS)

Oct. 16 - 19 - PHILADANCO (PT)

Nov. 28 - 30 - Wizard of Oz (AM)

Information: (215) 893-1999 or www.kimmelcenter.org.

PENNSYLVANIA BALLET - at the Academy of Music. Oct. 29 - Nov. 2, Balanchine & Beyond – a program that includes the premiere of Twyla Tharp’s Push Comes to Shove and Mauro Bigonzetti’s Kazimir’s Colours.
Information: (215) 551-7000

PETER NERO AND THE PHILLY POPS - at the Kimmel Center. Oct. 5, 8, 10, 11 & 12, the season opens with Broadway Showstoppers.
Information: (215) 546-6400 or www.phillypops.com

THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA - at the Kimmel Center. Throughout the 2008-09 season maestro Charles Dutoit will focus on the music of Hector Berlioz and pieces written for the Ballets Russes.
Information: (215) 893-1555 or www.philorch.org

Exhibitions

The PHLASH is the quick, inexpensive and easy way to get around the city - just $1 per ride. Hop on and off daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. , through Nov. 30.

ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCE - 19th Street and the Parkway. The museum features dinosaurs, gems, mummies and wildlife specimens.
Information: (215) 299-1000 or www.acnatsci.org

ATWATER KENT MUSEUM - 15 South 7th Street. The Atwater Kent Museum is the gateway to Philadelphia history.
Information: (215) 685-4830 or www.philadelphiahistory.org

“FIRST FRIDAY” IN OLD CITY - More than 40 art galleries and shops stay open late the first Friday of the month.
Information: (215) 592-7752

FRANKLIN INSTITUTE SCIENCE MUSEUM - 20th Street and the Parkway

Through Nov. 2 - Real Pirates

Opening Nov. 28 - The Chronicles of Narnia Exhibition

now playing at the Omnimax Theater - Grand Canyon Adventure, Alps, Wild Ocean and Mystic India.

Information: (215) 448-1200 or www.fi.edu

PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMY OF THE FINE ARTS - Broad & Cherry Streets

Ongoing - Trompe l'oeil Paintings from the Collection.

June 28 - Sept. 21 - Reverberations

Information: (215) 972-7600 or www.pafa.org

PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART - Parkway at 26th Street

through Oct. 26 - American Folk Painting from the Collection

through Oct. 26 - Calder Jewelry

Sept. 16 - Dec. 14 - Gee’s Bend

Information: (215) 763-8100 or www.philamuseum.org

PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM - 210 North 21st Street. Come visit one of the country’s best children’s museums, specifically designed for kids seven years and younger.
Information: 215-963-0667 or www.pleasetouchmuseum.org

Information and events listed in JOYRIDES are subject to change and/ or cancellation.