John's Philadelphia / South Jersey Blog

Originally founded as the summer home of the Philadelphia Orchestra, The Mann Center for the Performing Arts is the only outdoor cultural arts venue in the Philadelphia region and one of the largest of its kind in the nation.

This unique open-air theater has hosted some of the world’s best-known artists and performances. Today, The Mann offers a range of arts programs like nowhere else in the area—from orchestra to opera, dance to drumming, pops and jazz to rock and roll.

The Mann Center for the Performing Arts has announced its 2008 schedule of events. We will add information on additional events when they become available. Click on any link for ticket information.

Check out the 2008 Mann Center for the Performing Arts Calendar of Events.

_{Mann Center Photo by M. Kennedy for GPTMC}

The 70th edition of the Dad Vail Regatta will be held this Friday and Saturday, May 9 and 10, 2008.

The Dad Vail Regatta is just one of over 60 regattas scheduled on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia each year, arguably the most of any rowing racing course in the United States.

The Dad Vail Regatta is the largest collegiate regatta in the United States. Hundreds of colleges and their student athletes visit the city of Philadelphia during the second weekend of May every year. Read more about the 2008 Dad Vail Regatta.

View our Gallery of Kelly Drive and Schuylkill River Photos.

Philadelphia resident Anna May Jarvis very close to her mother. When her mother died on the second Sunday in May of 1906, Anna was devastated and became obsessed with creating a day to help people to remember everything that mothers do for their families. Three years later, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania became the first city to proclaim a Mother's Day officially.

There are many choices of things to do in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area to honor the mother in your life whether it's your own mom or the mother of your children. Here are a few suggestions.

There's a lot going on this May in the Greater Philadelphia / South Jersey area.

Whether its going to see a concert, a play or a Phillies game, there is so much to do now that good weather is now here. Mothers Day is on May 11 and you'll find plenty of great choices to make a special day for that very special person.

Check out these calendars of events for May 2008

• Philadelphia Area May 2008 Arts, Events, Exhibits and Festivals
  
  
• South Jersey Area May 2008 Events Calendar
  
  
• Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts / Academy of Music May 2008 Events
  
  
• Philadelphia Theater Guide - A Guide to What's on Stage at Philadelphia Area Theaters
  
  
• National Constitution Center Events and Programs
  
  
• May 2008 Casino Headliners in Atlantic City
  
  

The 16th annual Equality Forum will feature 63 programs including 34 panels, 14 parties and 15 special events. Equality Forum 2008 will be held from Monday, April 28 to Sunday, May 4 in Philadelphia. The largest annual national and international GLBT civil rights forum has no registration fee and all substantive programs are free.

Equality Forum 2008 includes two Governors, three Congressmen, 60 participating nonprofit organizations, 64 leaders, 14 parties and 15 special events. “We are at the epicenter of our civil rights movement with Equality Forum 2008 reflecting our aspirations,” said Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director of Equality Forum. Gays and Lesbians in the Muslim World is the international focus. Read more...

The current season of CBS's Big Brother entitled Big Brother 9 - Till Death Do You Part ends this Sunday when a jury of seven former housemates will choose between the two final residents of the Big Brother House to award $500,000 to the winner and $50,000 to the second place finisher.

The two finalists are 29 year-old former Cherry Hill, NJ resident Adam "Baller" Jasinski and 27 year-old Ohio resident Ryan Quicksall. Both have survived a three month residency inside the Big Brother House in Los Angeles, California where their every move is broadcast live over the Internet and shown three times a week on CBS TV and every night on Showtime.

CBS's Big Brother reality series is never short on controversy. This season's first, and biggest controversy, involved Jasinski and comments he made early on during the show's three month run involving a job he held as public relations manager for the United Autism Foundation in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Read more...

When addressing the crowd at the Clinton victory celebration Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell noted that Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and U.S. Representatives Allyson Schwartz and Joe Sestak all demonstrated "Profiles in Courage" for backing Senator Hillary Clinton.

This is especially true of Mayor Nutter who, knowing that Senator Barack Obama would carry Philadelphia's black vote by overwhelming numbers, endorsed Clinton despite what was clearly pressure to do otherwise. Should Senator Clinton prevail, win the Democratic nomination and then the general election, Philadelphia will surely benefit from Nutter's steadfast support.

Voters in the Pennsylvania State Senate First District defied tradition and showed that they have had their fill of politicians with questionable ethics and those under federal investigation. They chose the relatively unknown Larry Farnese over machine politician and union leader John J. Dougherty to replace the retiring (and indicted) State Senator Vince Fumo. Read more...

The dates for the 113th running of the Penn Relay Carnival are set for the last weekend in April of 2008, April 22-26 at historic Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania.

Following one of the most successful Penn Relays last year, the 2008 Penn Relays promise to carry on the tradition of track & field excellence that has long been associated with the Penn Relay Carnival.

Find out more about this year's Penn Relays.

View a Full Schedule of all 2008 Events at the Penn Relays.

It's been all over the news and TV for several weeks. Tomorrow it all comes to a head. The great Philadelphia debate of who makes the best cheesesteak will once and forever be decided. Well, maybe not forever, but at least for tomorrow.

After tasting the products of 45 cheesesteak shops, the top six cheesesteaks will go up against each other tomorrow in the grand finale of 610 WIP's Glen Macnow's Ultimate Cheesesteak Challenge. It will all take place at Paddy Whack's Irish Sports Pub at 2nd and South Streets in Philadelphia. Read more...

The 2008 schedule for the Philadelphia Eagles has been released. The Philadelphia Eagles will open the 2008 season on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Eagles will have at least five prime time games in the upcoming season, including a game on Thanksgiving night at home against the Arizona Cardinals. (Additional games may be added as part of the NFL's flex game program late in the season.)

In addition to the Thanksgiving night game against Arizona, the Eagles other prime time games will be Monday, September 15 at the Cowboys, at the Bears on Sunday, September 28, at home against the Giants on Sunday, November 9, and at home against the Browns on Monday, December 15, 2008.

The Eagles will have their bye in week seven of the season.

View the entire 2008 Philadelphia Eagles schedule.