Three new installations in Fairmount Park’s remarkable historic mansion, Mount Pleasant, are opening visitors’ eyes to little-known aspects of Philadelphia’s past. The newly furnished rooms focus on Lifestyle, Craftsmanship and Biography, providing useful contexts for the stunning house John Adams once described as “the most elegant seat in Pennsylvania.”

Lewis and Clark Revisited: A Trail in Modern Day
December 15, 2007 through February 10, 2008

In 1804, Merriweather Lewis and William Clark led an unprecedented overland expedition across North America and back, pioneering the western exploration and expansion of the United States. Two centuries later, photographer Greg MacGregor retraced their journey to see the present state of this historic route.

Grab your “Holiday Passport” and get into the spirit of the holiday season Sunday, December 2nd, 1:30 to 4:00 p.m., when the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology celebrates its 12th annual FREE Peace Around the World family-oriented afternoon.

Arden Theatre Company will present Sleeping Beauty December 5, 2007 through January 27, 2008. Sleeping Beauty is proudly sponsored by PECO and the entire 2007/08 season is sponsored by PNC Bank.

What happens to artists’ works after they leave the annual Craft Show that benefits the Philadelphia Museum of Art? Most of the innovative glass, metal, clay, fiber or wood objects are snatched up by buyers eager to build their personal collections; sometimes, however, a work may catch the eye of a curator and join the Museum’s craft collection.

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2007-08 Master Class Series features classes led by violinist Midori, Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Tuba Carol Jantsch (Wednesday, November 14), Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Viola Choong-Jin Chang (Tuesday, March 11), Philadelphia Orchestra Bass Clarinet Paul Demers (Friday, April 18), and organist Thierry Escaich (Tuesday, May 6).

The Philadelphia Museum of Art will present a survey of video and film by contemporary artists from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, the first of its kind in the United States. Live Cinema/Return of the Image: Video from Central Asia (on view November 16, 2007 through February 17, 2008 in Gallery 179) looks at recent developments in the artistic production of a region that has been largely underrepresented in the international art world.

On Sunday, November 11, 2007, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology opens at 12:30 p.m .—half an hour early—to fit in all the magic, as the Museum presents HARRY POTTER AND THE MAGICAL MUGGLE MUSEUM.

The Franklin Institute celebrates the creepiest time of year with its annual Halloween Spooktacular on Saturday, October 27, 2007 from noon to 3 pm, a festival of everything that goes bump in the night! Lucy Hawking will read from her new book, “George’s Secret Key to the Universe”.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Art After 5 series continues to bring the best in jazz and world music to area audiences, from classic sounds to innovative emerging artists. Each Friday evening the Great Stair Hall is transformed into an intimate cabaret, with table service, cocktails, elegant café-style appetizers, and desserts.

Philadelphia Theatre Company opens its new home, the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, with Being Alive, a new musical celebration of the songs of Stephen Sondheim on October 24 through December 2. Conceived and directed by Billy Porter working closely with Sondheim, the ensemble cast features Bryan Terrell Clark, Chuck Cooper, Vanita Harbour, Patina Miller, Jesse Nader, Leslie Odom, Jr., Nandi Walker and Rema Webb.

The Marian Anderson Award has announced the program planned to honor actor and activist Richard Gere on November 12, 2007, at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, when he receives the 2007 Marian Anderson Award.