Mummies of the World

This new exhibit, Mummies of the World, opens at the Franklin Institute on June 18.

By Nichole Baldino

The famous Mummies of the World exhibit is described as “the largest exhibition of mummies and related artifacts ever assembled”. It’s making it’s East Coast Debut at the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia’s favorite  science museum, on June 18 and will remain open to the public until October 23.

In the exhibit, visitors can learn about the ancient practice of mummification, as well as the ancient people that took part in it. It is comprised of over 150 real human and animal mummies dating back 6,500 years. These mummies originated from Asia Oceania, South America, Europe, and Ancient Egypt.

Mummification happens two ways: naturally and artificially.

According to the Mummies of the World official website, “natural mummies are preserved by the environment in which they died”. Climates that are hot and dry or cold and dry aid in this process.

Artificial mummification is the practice of bandaging or wrapping the dead as part of a burial tradition. This was most commonly done by the Ancient Egyptians. During the exhibit, visitors will come face-to-face (quite literally!) with both types of mummies. The Franklin’s tradition of hands-on displays coupled with multi-media exhibitions guarantees this to be a unique and unforgettable experience.

Included in the exhibit will be the “Detmold Child” – a Peruvian child mummy from 6,420 years ago, “Baron von Holz” – a 17th century nobleman, and various animal mummies – an Egyptian cat whose cast is elaborately decorated, a howler monkey dressed in a grass skirt, and a lizard from the Sahara desert.

Visitors can visit the mummies and explore the museum seven days a week. The mummies will stay up past museum hours  Thursdays through Sundays from 5 to 8:30pm, with the last admission at 7pm.

On these nights, tickets are $19.50 for adults, $17.50 for seniors, and $14.50 for children. On regular business hours (9am to 5:30pm) admission is $26.50 for adults, $24.50 for seniors, and $19.50 for children, but includes admission to the rest of the museum. Tickets can be purchased on their website or at the Franklin Institute.

Two Fun and Free Concerts

DEK : By Laura Robb

This past Saturday, the Philadelphia area held two large free events, one in the Northern Liberties area of Philadelphia, the other in New Jersey’s Camden.

Philadelphia’s popular country station WXTU held its 27th anniversary show at the Camden waterfront’s Susquehanna Bank Center.  Performers included American Idols Casey James with Jason Aldean as the headliner.

WXTU throws this massive party each and every year to celebrate its birthday. They make this event free to all, planning ticket runs to raffle off tickets.

They hold the ticket runs all over the The Pennsylvania and New Jersey listening areas where listeners come out by the hundreds to win a coveted pair of these tickets.

Many people of all ages come every year hours before the concert ever starts for the annual country-style tailgate. The parking lots quickly filled up  with cars, pickup trucks, grills, and beer where people celebrated the unofficial start of summer country concerts.

“We come to this show every year, and always get here by 9 AM,” forty-year-old mother of two Beth Wilson said.

Wilson, her husband and a large group of their friends all come to this concert to start off their summer. They all come for the party, and look forward to it all year.

Across the River in Philly, The Piazza at Schmidt’s hosted the  seasons second Summer Block Party show hosted by Radio 104.5.  This alternative rock station hosts several concerts for their listeners free of charge. 

This years first lineup was with the talented Company of Thieves and She Wants Revenge. Just the day prior, Company of Thieves played another free show, live on the radio.

A few thousand people showed up to the Philadelphia event experiencing the beautiful Piazza, in the charming neighborhood of Northern Liberties.

Both events were a great time for anyone who attended. Summer is a time where people love to celebrate life, and there is no better way than to do that with a concert, not to mention a free one!

Check out 104.5′s website to view a lineup of the other Block Parties this summer.

Tune Up Philly

Tune Up Philly director Stanford Thompson aims to help Philadelphia’s underprivileged children one instrument at a time.

By Nichole Baldino

Philadelphia Youth Orchestra’s Tune Up Philly is holding a free concert at St. Francis De Sales on Sunday, June 5 at 2pm. Located at 47th Street and Springfield Avenue, this school holds weekday after school music instruction for students living in difficult social and economic conditions.

Tune Up is inspired by El Sistema, a similar program in Venezuela where professional musician José Antonio Abreu began a free classical music program for children from impoverished backgrounds.The lives of participants in this program have all improved, and Stanford Thompson saw the need for that educational reform here. Just like El Sistema, he is choosing to use music to model social organization and peer development.

According to Thompson’s website, “Tune Up Philly believes that music education is a powerful vehicle for children to master skills that will enable them to acquire valuable tools for cooperative learning, teamwork, academic success and self-esteem.”

The program operates on four core values – (1) that everybody has the right to a dignified life filled with contributions, (2) that each child can express themselves through music and art and therefore reap the benefits, (3) that effective education should be based on love, approval, and community, and (4) that there is no such thing as a musical disability.

For the students involved, music can act as a mode for change within their own lives. It brings a sense of accomplishment and pride, responsibility and possibility, and allows them to overcome their disadvantages in an accepting environment.

A strict class schedule promotes structure and discipline and performances allow the students’ pride to resonate to their family, friends, and neighbors. Having an opportunity to experience this overwhelming feeling  first-hand (for free!) is sure to be an unforgettable and inspiring experience, so don’t miss it!

Equality for All

Philly’s LGBT community gathered at the Piazza in Northern Liberties last Sunday to round out the Equality Forum.

By: Kate Hartman

Philadelphia hosted its 19th annual Equality Forum this past week. The city was a buzz with many different activities designed to raise awareness and celebrate the LGBT community. Throughout the week, there were a series of panels, parties, films, and art galleries. The whole forum ended with SundayOUT @ The Piazza.

The Piazza opened at noon and was packed throughout the day with people coming to see the performances, mill around the tables, and enjoy the Sunday sunshine. Outside the Piazza there were stands selling baked goods, scarves, t-shirts, and photos. There was plenty of outside dining so that patrons could enjoy the festivities like the drag queen karaoke while they had lunch. Restaurants, shops, and galleries lined the Piazza. There was plenty for visitors to see before they even entered the main square.

General admission into the Piazza was $10 and $5 for students. People had access to over 150 artisan tables and food vendors. There was plenty of stands to walk around and admire. There were companies selling t-shirts and artwork. Also, there were rows of tables handing out information on LGBT programs in Philly. There were even STD testing sites and stands that promoted safe sex practices and handed out protection. 

There was a large stage at the end of the Piazza where Kid Akimbo, Kat DeLuna, and Jonathan Bascope performed throughout the day. There was a large screen above the stage that broadcast the performances so that people could wander through the stands and still enjoy the show. The bars that lined the square invited people to wander in and out all day. SundayOut @ The Piazza united Philadelphia’s LGBT community in a large celebration. It was the perfect way to end the Equality Forum.

For more information on the Equality Forum visit their website: www.equalityforum.com

VI DEGREES

Social awareness takes center stage in VI Degrees

By: Antonio Boone

The newly casted and directed stage play VI Degrees uses an eclectic cast of characters to examine  social sexual network in which they are all connected. This shared network isn’t a shared network of love but one of lust that leads audiences to become aware of the staggering effects that HIV/AIDS has on the African American Community.

African Americans account for the highest number of new HIV/AIDS cases, infections and HIV/AIDS related deaths than any other ethnic group in the United States. VI Degrees originally premiered under the direction of Kash Goins, the founder of Go Kash Productions. This new production is under the direction of Donja Love. Earlier this year Love released his own production “This Nigger Files”, which received rave reviews and a very successful run of sold out shows.

An award winning play VI Degrees is sure to entertain as well as raise awareness about the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic that is slowly taking over America.

Family Style in Chinatown

Come and experience the hearts, voices and thoughts of people from different cultures and communities in Chinatown.

By Antonio Boone

Being the cultural melting pot that it is Philadelphia always has a variety of cultural programs taking place everyday throughout the city. Whether you are Greek, Caribbean, African or Latino there is an event that celebrates every culture. Every 3^rd Friday of each month Asian culture is celebrated in Chinatown with the Family Style Open Mic! Hosted by Philly’s own poetry duo Yellow Rage, the open mic is described in promo ads as a place for  “sharing stories, song, dance, poetry among Asian Americans and the extended family from all communities and cultures.” The next Family Style will be taking place on April 15^th at 7:30P.M. with featured performer iLL-Literacy. Family Style is held at 1219 Vine St, Chinatown, PA. For advanced sign up go here.

 

JUMP into Philly Music!

Local music is he heartbeat of Philadelphia’s vibrant culture. Philly music lovers capture the sound of their city within the pages of JUMP: The Philly Music Project.

By: Antonio Boone

The culture of Philadelphia is evident on the surface. Murals are born on tired slabs on concrete and breathe new life into old neighborhoods. Theaters take up residence in hidden alley ways and main streets while local music of any and every genre flows through the eardrums and of every Philadelphia inhabitant. To capture the essence of Philadelphia’s local music in a few dozen pages seems like an impossible task but local writer, photographer and Temple journalism professor George Miller has seemingly captured lighting in a bottle.

The first issue of Jump dropped in early March filling newsstands on college campuses, record stores and restaurants with its unique coverage of music that has never been seen in Philadelphia. “It was unbelievable- the amount of talent that we have here (or that comes through Philly), and the appreciation that we have for that talent. That’s why this mag exists. We love our music” says Miller in the opening feature for Jump. Jump has taken over the city and can be found at a variety of locations throughout Philadelphia. This Coming Monday, March 28th will also mark the official launch party for Jump. Check out the website for more details!

Inside Look at Flower Show

A portion of the Temple University Flower Show exhibit, "Ecolibrium."

Junior Kelsey Stanton offers an inside look behind this year’s Flower Show exhibit for Temple University.

By Mike Revak

“For starters, our design shows a balance between French traditions and our own modern interpretations, all with a sustainable twist. Now classic French gardens most people think of are rigid with elaborate manicured garden designs that were really just built to echo the architecture of the palaces they belonged to,” says Stanton. “Our design takes those superficial French garden themes and sort of throws them away.”

“Within the exhibit itself, our main components are: L’Orangerie, which features a green roof for stormwater maintenance; Le Parterre has a fairly wide variety of plants for color and pollinating insects; and Le Bassin is a water garden that is designed to collect stormwater and be a habitat for wildlife (we even have fish!!). All parts of our exhibit also feature recycled materials: we use recycled lumber originally from construction waste; mushroom wood which is recycled from mushroom farming; Papercrete, a plaster derived from recycled newspapers; and Plastisoil(TM), a permeable pavement in development by Temple professor Dr. Naji Khoury that is made of soil and crushed plastic water bottles. Our brochures are even made using 80% post-consumer waste!”

Starting yesterday, and continuing through Sunday, the world’s largest indoor flower show once again comes to Philadelphia. With a central theme of “Springtime in Paris,” attendees can look to experience a wide range of exhibits throught the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

In addition to the variety of exhibits on displays, visitors can also participate in daily wine tastings, live entertainment, culinary presentations, book signings and much more.

Located just a few blocks away from City Hall, the Philadelphia Flower Show continues through this Sunday.

“When the Smoke Cleared” Returns to Philadelphia

Critically acclaimed play comes back to where it all began for two free shows this week.

By Mike Revak

After winning 2^nd runner up in the 2010 Philly Urban Theatre Festival, “When the Smoke Cleared” is coming back to Philadelphia for two performances this week. The play, which offers free admission to all, will be shown at the Sharon Baptist Church on Friday, February 25, as a student-only presentation and on Saturday, February 26, as an event open to the general public.

The plot synopsis is as follows: “Life tragically spirals out of control for 3 young men as they struggle to find acceptance and merely exist in an imperfect world. Searching for love, security, and normalcy becomes both dangerous and deadly. The tight bond they share proves to be toxic as they explore drugs, sex, and suicide, consequently resulting in irreversibly shattering realities for unsuspecting victims. In a shocking twist, an unlikely hero emerges with hopes of derailing any further destruction, but it could be too late.”

Written and directed by Shenille Melton, an alumnus of Drexel University’s Business Marketing program, the project is a production of iChoose2live LLC, of which Melton is the founder and CEO. Through this program, Melton aims to encourage young adults to explore a variety of art and education with the idea that limitations are non-existent.

The play was originally seen during last year’s Philly Urban Theatre Festival. The Festival, started by actor and producer Kash Goins, aims to utilize the event as a forum where Philadelphia-based playwrights and directors of productions central to the African-American experience can work together.

The play will be held at Sharon Baptist Church, located at 3955 Conshohocken Ave., Philadelphia, PA. The Friday students-only show will start at 11:00 a.m. and the Saturday show begins at 7:00 p.m. Both shows offer free admission.

The Review of 2011 Philadelphia Auto Show

This year,  the auto show got greener.

By : Judy Kim

The 2011 Philadelphia International Auto Show went on at the Pennsylvania Convention Center for nine days, ended on Feb. 6th. The show was owned and produced by the Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia. There were approximately 700 vehicles, including pre-production, vintage, classic, exotic, and green model cars, displayed throughout 550,000 square-feet on three different floors.

America’s passion for cars has brought more than 200,000 visitors annually.

The show provided an opportunity for auto dealers to introduce and showcase new vehicle models, without having to approach every single customer from their own stores. This show was also very helpful to attendees, who can be the future car buyers, because the program educates visitors about up and coming vehicles and allows them to compare different models.

Technology was definitely a dominant theme in this auto show.  The technological, yet economical car characteristics like fuel efficient engines drew potential buyers’ attention. The looks of these cars were quite unique, too.

“I really loved the newer technologies at this event,” George Swales, one of attendees, said. “The fact that we are looking at the greener cars, like the electric vehicles and the hybrids… Twenty years from now, we’ll be all driving a very, very different vehicles than the ones that are brought today,” Swales added.

Although any form of selling, purchasing or even signing car buying contracts was banned during the show, the auto dealers agreed on exit surveys that the increase in the area’s new car sales is always influenced by this auto show. The auto sales are expected to increase more this year, since the show had the test ride event that Toyota and Kia were offering to visitors on certain products for the first time. This year, the test ride event took place outside, but it will take place inside of the building next year.