Center City District Restaurant Week
Those weeks of holiday scrimping and saving are finally behind you so now’s a good time to enjoy what little discretionary cash you’ve got left over. Center City District Restaurant Week is one idea for a modest treat. More than 100 restaurants are serving the usual three-course dinners for $35 (minus alcohol, tax and tip) January 25 – 30. Chose from hard-to-get tables at restaurants like 10 Arts, Zahav and Bindi or stick with neighborhood standbys like Marathon Grill and Bridget Foy’s. Visit www.centercityphila.org
No matter who you are, where you grew up or how much money your family had we all have at least one thing in common: Sesame Street. The longest-running children’s show in history, which currently airs in 120 countries, has made Big Bird, Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch universal icons but five decades on the tube hasn’t always been easy. Former TV Guide writer Michael Davis chronicles the show’s history from its inception at a dinner party to how Elmo saved Sesame Street. Wed., Jan. 28, 7:30pm, $5 – $10, Gershman Y, 401 South Broad St., 215.545.4400, www.gershmany.org
The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts marks a milestone event with the arrival of George Tooker’s first retrospective in three decades. The artist, who was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bush in 2007, is one of the names associated with Magic Realism, a movement characterized by ordinary settings with fantasy-like details. What’s noteworthy about Tooker’s art is how he quietly incorporates the post-war American mentality into many of his early, most defining pieces. More than 60 paintings and drawings dating back to 1945 will be on exhibit. Fri., Jan. 30, Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm; Sunday, 11am – 5pm, $30 – $60, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, 118 N. Broad St., 215.972.7600, www.pafa.org
Car-buying might not be at the top of the list for this year but eventually you’ll be back in the market for a new ride. In the meantime, check out all that’s old, new and eco-friendly at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. One of the largest auto shows in the country, look for East Coast debuts, exotic rides, vintage cars, concept models and alternative fuel technology. DUB Magazine hosts DUB Live! featuring customized celeb vehicles and tricked-out bikes. This year’s celebrity appearances include Shane Victorino, DeSean Jackson, Hugh Douglas and Andre Iguodala. The Black Tie Tailgate Charitable Preview Gala kicks things off on January 30 with proceeds benefiting The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Sat., Jan. 31 – Sun., Feb. 8, $6 – $12, check Web site for times, Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St., 215.418.4700, www.phillyautoshow.com
AroundPhilly Staff
