After more then a decade in the grind of development, Paine’s Park skatepark is set to make its public debut on May 22.

Since the project was first conceptualized in 2002 by Franklin’s Paine Skatepark Fund, it has aimed to create a new dialogue between skateboarding, landscape architecture and city planning.

Located on the Schuylkill River Banks, Paine’s Park is set to officially open for community use on Wednesday, May 22, with an onsite ribbon-cutting event from 4 to 6 p.m.

Look out for food trucks by Rita’s, Guapos Tacos and La Colombe, as well as skater demos featuring pros Chris Cole, Kerry Getz and Tom Asta. Plus, Philadelphia Flyers songstress Lauren Hart is slated to to sing the National Anthem and DJ Gregg Nyce will spin tunes.

Cost: Free
More info: www.franklinspaine.com

Tours range from Center City locales, including Society Hill and Rittenhouse Square, to notable neighborhoods such as South of South, Fishtown and Callowhill. There are specialized themed tours such as Lewis and Clark in Philadelphia, Bankers' Heaven, and Art Deco and even a walk over the Ben Franklin Bridge.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students with ID, free for children 10 and under accompanied by an adult. Reservations are not required, but tickets may be purchased in advance at the Philadelphia Visitor Centers or online at www.phlvisitorcenter.com/tour/preservation-alliance-greater-philadelphia-architectural-walking-tour.

Women In Architecture is proud to present its inaugural Scholarship Event to promote open discussion of design topics affecting the Greater Philadelphia region while benefiting a student’s pursuit of architecture. The program will begin with a keynote address by Inga Saffron, notable Philadelphia Inquirer Architecture Critic. The program will then continue with a moderated interactive discussion whereby audience input will be formulated into an editorial piece for submission to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Come join us for what is sure to be an exciting and thought provoking event bringing together professionals from throughout the region.

Cost: $20 student / $40 AIA / $50 non-AIA/ $250 scholar supporter

Eight Sites, Nine Projects, Six Weeks To Explore The City

Opening May 23, the Festival engages nine wonderful but underused (and mostly inaccessible) sites across the city of Philadelphia, from a 19th century row house synagogue in South Philadelphia to the empty and beguiling Germantown Town Hall. Each of the sites will be activated by art–in most cases artist interventions that engage with the site and its history and draw in the audience to take part in the remaking of the city. Our local, national, and international artists include the collectives Rabid Hands, Camp Little Hope, Dufala Brothers, King Britt and Data Garden, Ars Nova Workshop, Information Department, and artists Ben Neiditz and Zach Webber, Andrew Dahlgren, and Ruth Scott.

In Germantown, take part in a Utopian reimagining of a town hall that never was.

In Frankford, play 21st century primitive soundscapes in a museum dedicated to neighborhood history.

On the banks of the Delaware, explore the tidal estuary in an improvised settlement and reimagine the DIY dwellings of tomorrow.

In Center City, sign into a 200-year-old private library visited by E.A. Poe, and curate your own reading room of handmade artbooks, explosive color samplers, historic wallpaper, and literary texts.

In South Philadelphia, listen to contemporary radical jewish music and visit an experimental knitting factory at this 100-year-old time capsule synagogue.

At the abandoned Kelly Natatorium, belly up to the magical “Water Bar” and pour yourself a special Schuylkill Punch.

In West Philadelphia, find yourself inside an abandoned vaudeville turned theater turned secret fraternal lodge turned church with some very special characters.

There’s much more, of course, but we can’t tell you everything just yet.

The sites will be open Thursday to Sunday from May 23 until June 30. We’ll feature special performances and presentations throughout. On April 1, we launch a special Festival website. Here, you’ll be able to purchase tickets, sign up as a volunteer, and donate money and materials. Starting May 1, the Festival website will host a Festival blog, where audiences will be able to engage with the sites and the artists.

The Old City attraction hosts a celebratory weekend this Memorial Day.

 Franklin Square hosts family-friendly festivities for all to enjoy. Children are invited to hop aboard the Lightning Bolt Express for a train ride around the park. Be sure to grab a bite to eat at the popular SquareBurger restaurant, ride around and around on the Philadelphia Park Liberty Carousel and challenge friends and family to a game of mini golf.

Free

http://www.visitphilly.com/museums-attractions/philadelphia/franklin-square/

Tours range from Center City locales, including Society Hill and Rittenhouse Square, to notable neighborhoods such as South of South, Fishtown and Callowhill. There are specialized themed tours such as Lewis and Clark in Philadelphia, Bankers' Heaven, and Art Deco and even a walk over the Ben Franklin Bridge.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students with ID, free for children 10 and under accompanied by an adult. Reservations are not required, but tickets may be purchased in advance at the Philadelphia Visitor Centers or online at www.phlvisitorcenter.com/tour/preservation-alliance-greater-philadelphia-architectural-walking-tour.

The Historic Philadelphia Center raises its hat to Memorial Day with a slew of events.

Each day at 3:45 p.m. listen to a live reading of the Declaration of Independence located behind Independence Hall. At 10 benches throughout the historic district, listen to stories about America’s history from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children are invitied to march to a militant drum at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. where they will learn marching and musket etiquette at the Signers’ Garden. Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell will also be open all weekend long for visitors.

Free

http://historicphiladelphia.org/historic-philadelphia-center/

Tours range from Center City locales, including Society Hill and Rittenhouse Square, to notable neighborhoods such as South of South, Fishtown and Callowhill. There are specialized themed tours such as Lewis and Clark in Philadelphia, Bankers' Heaven, and Art Deco and even a walk over the Ben Franklin Bridge.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students with ID, free for children 10 and under accompanied by an adult. Reservations are not required, but tickets may be purchased in advance at the Philadelphia Visitor Centers or online at www.phlvisitorcenter.com/tour/preservation-alliance-greater-philadelphia-architectural-walking-tour.

 Laurel Hill Cemetery is home to the burial plot of General George Gordon Meade, a war hero from the Battle of Gettysburg. On Sunday, May 26 honor the famed war hero, and all war heroes, at the cemetery which will host a service and wreath-laying followed by a reception with complimentary refreshments.

Visitors can enter through Laurel Hill’s Gatehouse at 3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19132. Free parking is located in the lot across the street from the Gatehouse.

Admission to the event is FREE and open to the public. For additional information, phone (215) 228-8200.

http://www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org/

Tours range from Center City locales, including Society Hill and Rittenhouse Square, to notable neighborhoods such as South of South, Fishtown and Callowhill. There are specialized themed tours such as Lewis and Clark in Philadelphia, Bankers' Heaven, and Art Deco and even a walk over the Ben Franklin Bridge.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students with ID, free for children 10 and under accompanied by an adult. Reservations are not required, but tickets may be purchased in advance at the Philadelphia Visitor Centers or online at www.phlvisitorcenter.com/tour/preservation-alliance-greater-philadelphia-architectural-walking-tour.

Dr. and Mrs. Barnes spent decades developing their lovely, eleven- acre private estate into a living laboratory of rare plant specimens collected from all over the world.  Intended for use by students of the Barnes Arboretum School, begun in 1941, today it is home to over twenty state champion trees along with collections of roses, lilacs, peonies, ferns, and other ornamental species.  As an intact example of early 20th century landscape design, the Barnes Arboretum also provides a perspective into the unique personalities and pedagogical philosophies of its founders.

Reservations required: online or call 215.278.7200

$12 for members

http://www.barnesfoundation.org/programs/may/guided-tour-of-the-barnes-arboretum

Ed Bacon and the Future of Philadelphia

"Building Philadelphia: Architecture, History & Politics" is the definitive course on the development of Philadelphia and its architecture. This engaging 10-part lecture series is taught by a selection of architects, urban planners, art historians, and social historians from local universities and architecture firms. Topics covered include William Penn's original plan, Archaeology & Preservation in Philadelphia, major urban planning projects such as the Benjamin Franklin Parkway & Society Hill, Skyscrapers, Modernism in Philadelphia, and the future of development in the city.

Full Series: $150 General Public, $100 Members, $50 Students / AIA Associates

Individual Lectures: $20 General Public, $15 Members, $10 Students / AIA Associates

http://www.cvent.com/events/2013-cfa-building-philadelphia-lecture-series/event-summary-0221793ab70f4315803034a07360d422.aspx

Alongside the picnic-appropriate menu, garden goers can also order from a menu of root beer, sangria and local craft beer from Philly favorites Victory Brewing Company, Yards Brewing Company and Philadelphia Brewing Company.

After May 29, food and beverages will be sold from retrofitted shipping containers Monday through Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 1-11 p.m.; and Sunday, noon-10 p.m.

With the garden’s proximity to the University of the Arts, expect impromptu performances and exhibitions of music, dance, theater, sculpture, photography and other visual arts by both undergrad and graduate students.

The pop-up garden opens May 21st, but return on Wednesday, May 29 at 11:30 a.m. for a celebration to mark the grand opening of both the green garden and the beer garden.

More info: www.phsonline.org

Tours range from Center City locales, including Society Hill and Rittenhouse Square, to notable neighborhoods such as South of South, Fishtown and Callowhill. There are specialized themed tours such as Lewis and Clark in Philadelphia, Bankers' Heaven, and Art Deco and even a walk over the Ben Franklin Bridge.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students with ID, free for children 10 and under accompanied by an adult. Reservations are not required, but tickets may be purchased in advance at the Philadelphia Visitor Centers or online at www.phlvisitorcenter.com/tour/preservation-alliance-greater-philadelphia-architectural-walking-tour.

The Philadelphia region leads the nation in garden heritage sites. How do our historic landscape stewards sustain both garden and mission in the 21st century? What are best practices and opportunities? This conference explores how we govern, interpret, curate and plan. Participants enjoy connection and information sharing among historic garden leaders, practitioners and enthusiasts. Registration limited to 75 participants.

$85

Details/tickets: http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/ed_gardening_w_history.shtml

Award-winning writer-director Nathaniel Kahn will present My Architect: A Son’s Journey, his Oscar-nominated film about Louis Kahn. The film weaves together the biography of the elder Kahn, a tour of his major buildings, and his son’s search for his largely absent and always elusive father into an emotionally and visually compelling narrative. A film-festival favorite, My Architect earned Kahn the Directors Guild of America award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary in 2004. The screening will be followed by a conversation with the director. Light refreshments will be served.

Admission is free for CHHS members; non-member tickets are $15. Seating is limited and early reservations are strongly recommended. 

http://chhist.org/

Kick off the world's largest beer celebration of its kind with a festival like no other. Welcome the arrival of the Hammer of Glory from its daylong relay through the streets of Philadelphia, cheer award-winning brewers and watch Mayor Nutter smash open the first official keg of the week: Brotherly Suds 4.

Opening Ceremony - FREE - 6:30 p.m.

http://www.phillybeerweek.org/opening_tap.cfm

The Roots Picnic, the annual music extravaganza from our hometown hip-hop heroes, returns for its sixth year on June 1.

With a reputation as the hardest working band in music, The Roots deliver a blockbuster day of concerts every year. This year’s show is set to hit Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing on Saturday, June 1 and, as always, the lineup includes talent from a wide range of genres.

For the group’s 2013 festival, headliners span from up-and-coming guitar star Gary Clark Jr., who has performed at festivals like Coachella and Bonnaroo, to hip-hop legend Naughty By Nature.

Cost: $50

http://www.okayplayer.com/rootspicnic

We want to celebrate and promote our booming fitness initiative with an all-day Fit Fest including our first-time event Walk the Wall, followed by Manayunk Fitness Week. 

The first ever Fit Fest will take place on June 1st, 2013 from 9AM until 3PM in the Levering Street Parking Lot. During the festival, visitors will participate in FREE live 30-minute workout classes, enjoy on-site health consultations, explore the trails along the Tow Path, and Walk The Wall! This is a family friendly event and will offer kid friendly fitness activities as well! Don't forget to come dressed in your fitness best!

The Fit Fest will kick-off Manayunk Fitness Week which will run from Sunday June 2nd thru Friday June 7th.

http://business.manayunk.com/events/details/manayunk-fit-festival-448