October marks the official start of candy corn, cardigans, gorgeous autumn foliage and the end of a sweet and relaxing summer. But, October also means the beginning of the new theatre season that will attract audiences to the lit-up playhouses throughout the city. One of the more popular Avenue of the Arts theatres, The Wilma, will be opening for its tenth season with "Coming Home," the third-ever production of the latest play written by Athol Fugard, called “the greatest active playwright in the English-speaking world” by "Time" magazine.           

   Do you want to experience historic Philadelphia from an entirely different perspective? Then get onboard the "Summer Wind" and spend a day on the water! The "Summer Wind" is a steel-hulked, junk-rigged ocean cruising schooner designed by naval architect Thomas E. Colvin. She sails regularly along the Delaware River in Philadelphia in addition to private charters to the Chesapeake Bay.

            The "Summer Wind’s" experienced and friendly crew has sailing in their blood. They are all lifelong sailors who just can’t get enough of the sea and salt air.

            The "Summer Wind’s" history tour will teach you about the many contributions the Delaware River had to the growth of America’s first city. From Swedish settlers of the early 17^th century to William Penn, the Delaware River has long been the lifeblood of Philadelphia. Sail back in time and learn about the people, ships, and commerce that helped both Philadelphia and America grow!

            Want to take that special someone on a romantic mini-getaway? The "Summer Wind’s" Sunset Sail is the perfect opportunity to do so! Enjoy the romantic sounds of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett and others at the end of a gorgeous day. As the sun sinks low into the skyline, you’ll feel like the city has lit up just for you.

            Their sailing schedule varies each day with one-hour, one-and-a-half-hour and two-and-a-half-hour sails. Tickets range in price from $30 to $60 per person. For more information, visit the Web site at www.americansailingtours.com.

»  More Still time to catch a gust of 'Summer Wind'

   It is my personal belief that puppies are the first step to world peace. Everybody loves puppies. A person could have a bad back, no money and a stolen car, but if they saw a cute little puppy running toward them, they would immediately smile, regardless of the situation they were in.

   If you love dogs as much as I do, then you should come out to Philadelphia PAWS’ third annual Mutt Strut on Oct. 31. The Mutt Strut will consist of dogs and their people hiking a scenic 1.5 mile path through FDR Park to raise funds and awareness for PAWS’ efforts to save the city’s homeless, abused, abandoned and unwanted animals.

    If you don’t have a mutt to strut,  it isn’t a problem! You can still register and participate in a great cause or “rent” a PAWS dog for the day and make a new friend.

    The registration fee to enter is $25 per person ($10 for children 12 and under).

   All participants will receive a PAWS eco-bag and a dog bandana on the day of the event. You will also be eligible to win prizes as you earn money for your furry frinds! If you earn $100, you get a PAWS T-shirt. If you earn $250, you get a fleece blanket, and if you raise $500, you’ll win a $25 gift certificate to PAWS Adoption Center/Pet Supply. If you really go all out and you earn $1,000, you’ll get your choice of either an iPod Shuffle or a $100 gift certificate to your choice of dozens of Philadelphia shops and restaurants.

»  More PAWS third annual Mutt Strut

   One of the longest running arguments between cities is one between Baltimore and Philadelphia. Almost as epic as the baseball feud between Boston and New York City, Philly’s beef with Baltimore is regarding one of the most brilliant poets in history, Edgar Allan Poe. Even though Poe is buried in Baltimore, he lived in both cities during his lifetime and wrote some of his most celebrated works in Philadelphia.

   Philadelphia is celebrating this legendary poet with a Poe Walking Tour in Laurel Hill Cemetery on Thursday, Aug. 20 at dusk. The “candle-lit” tour (i.e. bring your own flashlight) will explore Poe’s literature, anecdotes and his life. The event is free but space is limited.

    The tour will include ten stops at the graves associated with Poe’s life, including Henry Beck Hirst, Joseph Clay Neal and George Rex Graham. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of Poe’s circle of friends and hear selections from the author’s work performed by Haunted Poe cast members. At the end of the walk, a toast will be offered to the lives and legacies of Poe and his contemporaries.

   For more information and to hold a spot, please visit the Web site at www.hauntedpoe.com.

»  More Haunted Poe tour

   Being a native Philadelphian comes with certain responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities include preferring Tony Luke’s to tourist hotspot Geno’s, and loving all of the "Rocky" movies unconditionally and from the bottom of your heart. Since I have a deep phobia of cheesesteaks, I have the second one covered. I have been to the statue, I have run up the Art Museum stairs with that annoying theme song playing in my mind, and I have two fish appropriately named Cuff and Link.  Yes, dear reader, I love Rocky!
    If an epic coming-of-age movie about a Kennsington boxer isn’t your thing, there is no need to fret. Philadelphia has been the backdrop to dozens of other movies and television shows including "The Sixth Sense," "In Her Shoes," "12 Monkeys," "Beloved," "Up Close and Personal," "Unbreakable" and "National Treasure." Now you can have the chance to discover a little bit of Philadelphia history that’s not in the textbooks. You can get the inside scoop on some of your favorite stars and films that were all shot right in Philly! You can visit the locations where all of the action took place and learn how the stunts and dialogues were performed. The tour takes you through Center City, Old City, Queen Village, South Philadelphia, the Parkway Museum District and the Fairmount/Art Museum area. It will visit 38 sites representing more than 25 movies and television shows that have been made in Philadelphia. At the 38 locations, you will see more than 55 movie clips that took place at that exact location. The tour bus is equipped with TV monitors for viewing all of these famous shots.
    The tour is approximately two-and-a-half hours long and takes place every Saturday at 10 a.m. Tickets are $35 for adults, $30 for seniors and children under 12. For more information please visit www.toursignup.com/movie.

    One of the focal points of summer for me has always been the Fourth of July. I think it’s because I’m a bit of a pyromaniac and have always been attracted to events where people are allowed to blow things up legally. Another plus about watching fireworks is the feeling of community and kinsmenship that seems to envelope the entire audience. I, for one, get this warm fuzzy feeling in my stomach and start thinking, “Aw, we are all in this together” and then I lie my head back down on the warm grass and look up at the night sky.

The downside of the Fourth of July is that it only happens once a year, and for some reason people don’t really appreciate their neighbors firing off firecrackers on the other 364 days. I’m happy to announce though, that Longwood Garden’s will be celebrating summer with a bang. As if its gorgeous expanse of 1,050 acres of gardens and flowers isn’t enough, Kennett Square’s Longwood Gardens will be filling five summer nights with concerts, fountains, and of course, fireworks!

On Sept. 6, Longwood Gardens will host the Khachaturian Cavalcade, featuring the music of Aram Khachturian. The show will include the tuneful Mazurka, Nocturne, Waltz, Romance and Gallop.

On Aug. 8 and Sept. 19, folks can enjoy the sassy songs of ABBA. The show will be a salute to the disco era, playing hits like Dancing Queen, Knowing Me, Knowing You, and Take a Chance on Me.

»  More Summer fireworks aren't all over

   Like most people, I prefer to spend most of my summer evenings outside. I’ll take the dog for a walk at dusk, bike along Kelly Drive, have dinner at an outdoor table with my friends, or simply explore parts of the city I’ve never seen before.

   Summer is my favorite time of the year, and I want to make the most of this fabulous season.

   This summer, Philadelphia is hosting a plethora of events that will help you make this a summer to remember. Why not spend the warm summer evenings under the stars with the silver screen? Penn’s Landing will transform its Great Plaza into a unique, outdoor theater for yet another season of "Screening Under the Stars." Beginning in June, and every Thursday night at promptly 8:30 p.m., a different movie will be featured.

   And the best part about this whole thing? The event is free!

   So round up your gaggle of girlfriends or call that cute guy you’ve been eyeing up at your local coffee shop and ask him out on a date. Have fun this summer on a budget and enjoy the show!

   For more information and a schedule of titles, please visit the Web site at www.delawareriverevents.com.
 

»  More Silver screen under the stars

   Children have an innate need to touch things. This is how they discover and learn about the world around them. Not a lot of places, however, cater to this impulse. Parents are constantly yelling at their kids to “Take that crayon out of your mouth!” and “Let go of the dog’s ear!” If a child picks up a toy at a department store or an apple in the produce aisle, they are scolded. The Please Touch Museum of Philadelphia understands that children gain knowledge through their sense of touch and has built a fun, safe environment for kids to learn and play. The museum has over 12,500 toys and games from 1945 to present that are all prominently displayed throughout the museum.
   Now adults can have their chance to unleash their inner child. The Please Touch Museum has recently launched its “Grown-Up Tours.” The tours are a stroll down memory lane where participants can learn about the colorful history of the unique museum. The tour features a walk through the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, which was the world’s largest fair for which Memorial Hall was built. Guests can enjoy the restored architecture of the famous building while learning about the pieces of artwork that were displayed in the galleries at the Centennial.
   Another feature is the museum’s fully restored Woodside Park Dentzel Carousel, which originally operated at a Philadelphia amusement park less than ten blocks from Memorial Hall. The carousel’s animals, which date back to 1908, include 40 horses, four cats, two pigs, two goats and four rabbits.
   The history of growing up in Philadelphia is also an important part of the tour. You can climb aboard the Rocket Express, a monorail that carried children above the eighth floor toy department at the famous local John Wanamaker’s department store. You can also revisit the set and costumes of the hit kids' show Captain Noah and his Magical Ark.
   Self-guided Grown-Up Tours are now available seven days a week for $10 per person. Guided group tours can be scheduled between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays. For more information please visit www.pleasetouchmuseum.org.