By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
This weekend has a trifecta of events which are traditionally party time events – Cinco de Mayo, the Kentucky Derby and Winterthur Point-to-Point.
There will be a bustle of activity this weekend on Kennett Pike just a few miles south of Kennett Square at Winterthur (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-888-4600,www.winterthur.org) with the staging of the annual Winterthur Point-to-Point Races — an event that has become one of premier attractions in the Brandywine Valley each year.
This year’s 45th annual staging of the event is scheduled for May 7 from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Alison Hershbell Pony Races is scheduled for noon and the Parade of River Hills Foxhounds at 12:30 p.m. followed by the George A. “Frolic” Weymouth Parade of Antique Carriages at 1p.m. and the Stick Horse Races (ages 4 and under) at 1:30 p.m.
The Point-to-Point features a variety of cross-country equestrian events. The main events are the steeplechase races. The races, which are on a course just over three miles long, include eight fences that are jumped 17 times.
Post time for the first steeplechase event is the Isabella du Pont Sharp Memorial Maiden Timber Race at 2 p.m. — after the National Anthem at 1:50 p.m. The Point-to-Point’s other featured races will be the Winterthur Bowl at 2:30 p.m., the Vicmead Plate at 3 p.m. and the Middletown Cup at 3:30 p.m.
The full-day event will also include all of its other traditional annual features such as the pony rides, food tents, the traditional opening ceremony with the bagpipers of the Delaware State Police Pipe Band and the legendary “Tailgate Picnic Competition.”
Video link for Point-to-Point — https://youtu.be/dLPom4ZRk6I.
Tickets are $60.
In addition to the three big events this weekend, it’s also time for First Friday celebrations.
A special event in downtown West Chester this weekend will be the May edition of First Friday.
This will be a special First Friday because it features the West Chester Spring Gallery Walk. The popular annual event will be held on May 5 from 4-8 p.m.
There will be a festival atmosphere along the streets of West Chester when area businesses feature pop-up gallery shows for local artists while several West Chester galleries will host their own art reception events.
This event celebrates the thriving community of artists and galleries that make greater West Chester their home. Multiple galleries combine with additional “one-night-only” show hosts throughout the downtown business area to showcase some great local Chester County artists.
Attendees can discover stunning artwork, connect with fellow creatives, and find the perfect piece for their home.
Presented by Sunset Hill Jewelers and Fine Arts Gallery and hosted by The West Chester Business Improvement District, this evening is open to the public with free, on-street metered parking starting at 4 p.m.
Phoenixville First Fridays (http://www.phoenixvillefirst.org) are returning this month from 5:50-8:30 p.m. beginning May 5.
This year, First Fridays will operate within the weekly Bridge Street open-air closure to create an ambiance of a night market all along Bridge Street.
During the months of May, October, and November, Main Street will be closed in addition to the open-air closures taking place on Bridge Street.
There will be live musicians placed throughout downtown on Bridge and Main Streets, and handmade craft vendors and artists displaying and selling their art in the Main and Bridge Street parking lot.
Lancaster’s popular First Friday (http://www.visitlancastercity.com/first-friday/) is an arts extravaganza that runs from 5-9 p.m. on May 5. Visitors to downtown Lancaster will have the opportunity to discover innovative exhibitions, performances and perhaps a few surprises as they walk the streets lined with trees and distinctive architecture.
This weekend’s event will introduce the First Friday Trolley which will be free to the public every First Friday of the month from May through October.
Guests are invited to join the staff this Friday for the first ride. The trolley will make stops within the Arts District Loop. Along the route you can find art galleries, shops, restaurants, bars, and more.
Non-traditional boutiques and excellent restaurants complement the art galleries, artisan studios, museums, performing groups, professional theater, symphony orchestra and art college.
Some of the featured attractions can be found at the DeMuth Museum, My Aunt Debbie, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, Tiny Town, The Common Wheel, PA Guild of Craftsmen, LSJ Studios, The Ware Center, Move It Studio, Tellus260 and First Reformed Church.
Another First Friday event this weekend will take place in Old City Philadelphia (230 Vine Street and locations throughout Old City Philadelphia, 215- 625-9200,www.oldcitydistrict.org).
On the first Friday of each month — year-round — Old City’s galleries, studios, shops and restaurants open their doors for First Friday, in an epic exhibition of the neighborhood’s vibrant arts scene.
Old City Arts Association launched First Friday in 1991 to introduce Philadelphia to the improving neighborhood and the artists and designers who were bringing it back to life.
Two decades later, Old City is a nationally recognized arts destination, named in 2013 as one of the country’s top ArtPlaces by the ArtPlace Foundation.
On the first Friday evening of every month, the streets of Old City fill with art lovers of all kinds who wander among the neighborhood’s 40-plus galleries, most of which are open from 5-9 p.m.
This is a big year for the Yellow Springs Art Show (Art School Road, Chester Springs, www.yellowsprings.org), which is celebrating its golden anniversary in 2023.
The Yellow Springs Art Show got its start back in 1973 as a free event featuring a variety of artists displaying their work on clotheslines.
It has changed immeasurably since then and has become one of the largest and most prestigious annual art shows in the Delaware Valley.
The show is still free and open to the public. The popular annual event now features close to 200 participating artists — including many artists who are new to the show this year.
The show is running now through May 14 in Historic Yellow Springs Lincoln BuildingShow hours are from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.
The 2023 Yellow Springs Art Show will have on display more than 3,000 pieces of fine art in a wide range of media and styles – oils, watercolors, bronze sculptures, pastels, landscapes, still life, three-dimensional works, seascapes and abstract.
All proceeds benefit arts education, environmental protection and historic preservation of the 300-year-old village of Historic Yellow Springs.
Every Saturday and Sunday in May, the Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, http://www.chaddsford.com) is presenting “Mimosas with Mom.”
The winery is honoring mom and mimosa lovers with bubbly pours and seasonal specials. This intimate 60-minute experience takes place in the Barrel Room and provides access to some of its latest wine releases.
Each session will begin with a brief classroom-style presentation by a Chaddsford Wine Educator. After the pairings are introduced and explained, your group will have an hour to enjoy the carefully curated selections while raising a well-deserved toast to all the matriarchs in your life.
The 2023 Pairing Line Up is — Greeting Wine: Watermelon mimosa with fresh watermelon juice and 2021 Sparkling White; 2022 Dry Rosé; 2022 Harbinger; 2021 Demi-Sec Niagara and Shareable Charcuterie Board by J. Scott Catering.
Outside food is not permitted during this program but guests can enjoy food truck fare from Common Good Pizza.
This program is $35/person with three seatings times per day — noon, 2 and 4 p.m.
Advanced reservations are required and are non-refundable. Guests under 21 years old are not permitted to attend.
From April 28 through May 14, international traveling Do Portugal Circus will take up residence in the King of Prussia Mall Parking Lot (160 North Gulph Road, King of Prussia, www.doportugalcircus.com).
The international travelling show, “CIRQUE,” has been produced by Do Portugal Circus for more than 25 years.
A combination of circus talent and magic takes audiences on a journey of laughter and pure amazement. Do Portugal Circus’ athletic and passionate artists will leave patrons gasping in awe as they perform their death-defying acts.
Some of the featured acts are Juggler Carlos, Hand Balancing Eddy, Magic C Man, Hula Hoop Xena and The Circus Showgirls.
And of course, there will be a clown. No circus is complete without one and Do Portugal Circus showcases a wonderful clown that keeps audiences laughing from start to finish.
This is a professional show that delights audiences of all ages.
Ticket prices start at $15.
From May 4-14, this area will host very special circus experience – Cirque Italia Water Circus (https://cirqueitalia.com/).
The circus will take up residence at Philadelphia Premium Outlets (18 Lightcap Road, Pottstown).
Cirque Italia Water Circus is a show like no other. It is the first traveling water circus in the United States.
The circus’ stage holds 35,000 gallons of water and features a dynamic lid which lifts 35 feet into the air, allowing water to fall like rain from above as fountains dazzle below.
This incredible show takes place under “Grande Tenta” — the circus’ majestic white and blue big top tent which came all the way from Italy.
Cirque Italia is the collaboration of the American dream and the tenacious leadership of one strong Italian entrepreneur, Manuel Rebecchi.
Rebecchi, Cirque Italia’s owner and founder, has a deep-seeded history in the circus industry. His late aunt, Moira Orfei, ran one of the largest circus shows in Europe.
When Rebecchi came to the states several years ago, he wanted to create something special and memorable. He was actually inspired to create the water stage while drinking a bottle of water one day.
This production is a European style circus show with no animals and a Las Vegas style water show. It’s a water spectacular similar to a smaller-scale Bellagio fountain show.
Starting with its creation in 2012, the Water Circus has advanced into one of the most innovative traveling shows to be staged in the United States. With more than 30 artists, chosen in rigorous auditions from around 25 different countries, Cirque Italia delivers high-end entertainment at an affordable cost to nearly two million people in about 50 cities each year.
Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwodgardens.org) is now featuring one of its popular annual special events, “Spring Blooms” – but just for a few more days. May 7 will be the final day for the 2023 edition of “Spring Blooms.”
Some of the showcase blooms are Glory-of-the-snow (upward facing, sky blue flowers), Silver-squill (small, bulbous plants that are a striking dark gray with vivid green patches and a deep violet underside), Yulan Magnolia (a deciduous tree native to central and eastern China), Clivia (lightly fragrant, buttery yellow flowers with overlapping petals that produce a beautiful floral display) and Star Magnolia (early blooming deciduous with fragrant, double white flowers).
Visitors to Longwood Gardens can embark on a poignant journey with “Voices in the Landscape: Deeply Rooted with Storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston.” This is a series of 10 stops throughout the Gardens which honor the contributions of the African American community through the lens of horticulture and the power of story.
Participants will follow along as storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston honors and celebrates the strength, resilience, and contributions of the African American community through the lens of horticulture and the power of story.
Those taking the tour can hear an ancient Zulu creation myth paired with the oldest plant on Earth in the Conservatory; make their way to the Lookout Loft Treehouse and learn the story of the significance and symbolism of woods and meadows; and call out the name of an ancestor in remembrance at the Large Lake while a traditional spiritual soothes your soul.
“Voices in the Landscape” signage is at each stop. Each audio recording ranges between three and eight minutes in length. The estimated time to experience the entire Voices in the Landscape exhibit is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
Inside Longwood’s Conservatory, visitors can check out the towering Clerodendrum schmidtii (chains of glory) as well as nearly 300 blooming orchids on display in the site’s newly renovated Orchid House.
Beyond the boundaries of the formal gardens, Longwood stewards a rich variety of natural habitats. The rolling terrain of the Pennsylvania piedmont and changing ways people have used land over time provide us with diverse conditions for plant and animal life. Dr. Lea Johnson, Associate Director, Land Stewardship and Ecology, will reveal how patterns in the landscape reveal both history and potential futures for biodiversity.
As always, admission by “Timed Ticket” — tickets issued for specific dates and times. Timed ticketing limits the number of people in the Gardens at any given time and allows guests to enjoy minimal lines and a better viewing experience.
You may enter the Gardens up to 30 minutes prior and 30 minutes after your designated time. Make every effort to arrive at your designated reservation time. Earlier or later arrivals may not be accommodated.
Admission to Longwood Gardens is $25 for adults, $22 for seniors (ages 62 and older) and college students, $18 for active military and veterans and $13 for youth (ages 5-18).
If you’re a procrastinator and have been putting off going to see “Banksy Was Here,” your time is running out. This is the last weekend for the exhibit.
“Banksy Was Here” was scheduled to run until January 31 at a location in Fashion District Philadelphia (901 Market Street, Philadelphia, banksyexpo.com/philadelphia/). It was initially extended until April 17 and now has its closing date scheduled for May 7.
“Banksy Was Here” features the work of elusive, anonymous street artist Banksy.
Far from being elusive, the top caliber presentation is an immersive, multisensory exhibit featuring original works, projections, virtual reality and more to plunge you into Banksy’s world.
“Banksy Was Here,” the “unauthorized exhibition” features a plethora of original works and installations, as well as interactivity, in galleries that pay homage to the artist’s themes, works, and sense of chaos, satire and controversy.
Banksy, the British artist whose identity is still unknown, is considered one of the main contemporary street art icons. In Philadelphia, an “unauthorized” Banksy’s exhibition lets visitors dive into the controversial artistic universe of the most influential creator of present time.
The exhibition will include over 80 original works, sculptures, installations, videos and photos including the now classics of the artist (presumed to be British). These pieces come from private collections and – with the collaboration of Lilley Fine Art / Contemporary Art Gallery – will be exhibited in Philadelphia for the first time.
Banksy is a pseudonymous England based street artist, political activist and film director whose real name and identity remain unconfirmed and the subject of speculation.
Active since the 1990s, his satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine dark humor with graffiti executed in a distinctive stenciling technique. His works of political and social commentary have appeared on streets, walls and bridges throughout the world.
Banksy’s work grew out of the Bristol underground scene, which involved collaborations between artists and musicians. Much of his work can be classified as temporary art.
“Banksy Was Here” is running now through May 7 in Fashion District Philadelphia. Timed tickets are $37.90 for adults (ages 13 and up), $28.90 for seniors, students and military and $22.90 for kids (ages 4-12).
There is also another popular destination in the Fashion District.
Wonderspaces at the Fashion District (27 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, philadelphia.wonderspaces.com) is an experiential, interactive arts venue.
Building on the success of annual pop-up shows in San Diego, and its first permanent location in Scottsdale, Arizona, Wonderspaces opened a 24,000 square foot gallery space in Philly a year ago.
Wonderspaces features 14 art installations that all play with the idea of perspective. The artwork ranges from award-winning virtual reality short film about a dinner party-turned-alien abduction, to a room where visitors digitally paint the walls with the movement of their bodies.
New artworks are rotated in every few months, creating an ever-evolving, year-round show.
Tickets are for entry at a specific date and time. Visitors are welcome to stay as long as they please during operating hours. The average time spent experiencing the show is 90 minutes.
A few installations contain flashing lights, images, and patterns that may trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. All visitors must sign a waiver prior to being admitted into the space. Adult supervision is required for visitors under 16.
This Saturday, the Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard (1124 East Seventh Street, Wilmington, Delaware, www.kalmarnyckel.org) is beginning its 2023 season of live sails.
Sailing season returns with river cruises in Wilmington and tall ship sails in Historic New Castle. Tickets for day sails plus private ship rentals are now available.
The ship is a beautiful recreation of the original Kalmar Nyckel, which was built in Holland in the 1620s. Her mainmast is taller than a 10-story building, and she carries 7,600 square feet of sail area and six miles of rigging.
The original Kalmar Nyckel was a Swedish-owned, three-masted armed pinnace that sailed from Goteborg, Sweden in November of 1637 and brought the first permanent European settlers to the Delaware Valley.
In 1986 a group of citizens established the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation to design, build and launch a replica of the Kalmar Nyckel at a shipyard adjacent to the original landing site.
The new Kalmar Nyckel was constructed there and was launched on September 28, 1997. She was commissioned on May 9, 1998, and now serves as Delaware’s sea-going Ambassador of Good Will. She is a fully functional sail training vessel and has represented Delaware all over the country.
“Louis Comfort Tiffany: Treasures from the Driehaus Collection” will be on exhibition at the Delaware Art Museum (2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware, delart.org) now through June 5.
A celebration of beauty, “Louis Comfort Tiffany: Treasures from the Driehaus Collection” features more than 60 objects, spanning over 30 years of Tiffany’s prolific career. The exhibition showcases Tiffany’s innovative work in leaded and blown glass, including stellar examples of his famous windows, lamps, and vases.
His work was enthusiastically collected by art museums and private collectors throughout his lifetime and continues to be highly sought after today. This exhibition revels in the artistry and craftsmanship of the Tiffany artworks from Chicago’s distinguished Richard H. Driehaus Collection, highlighting masterworks in a comprehensive exhibition.
One of America’s most renowned artists, Louis Comfort Tiffany worked in nearly all of the media available to artists and designers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries — glass, ceramic, metalwork, jewelry, and painting. His love of the natural world inspired floral-themed vases and lamps, delicate vegetal candlesticks, and dramatic landscape windows.
Tiffany earned international acclaim, receiving prestigious awards in exhibitions across Europe and the United States, and his busy studios produced a range of objects, from common household items to one-of-a-kind masterpieces. His work was enthusiastically collected by art museums and private collectors throughout his lifetime and continues to be highly sought after today.
Another venue where you can enjoy flowers up close is Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, 610-566-9134, www.tylerarboretum.org).
This is a special weekend at Tyler – the weekend for the Arboretum’s “2023 Plant Sale.”
This special fundraiser, which will be open to the public on May 6 and 7, helps care for the precious natural lands, trails, and gardens at Tyler Arboretum.
It features wide plant choices in an outdoor venue, knowledgeable staff and volunteers, and ample parking.
Event hours are from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. both days.
The arboretum’s schedule for this weekend also features the “Saturday Wildflower Walk,” on May 6 at 1 p.m.
At the “Saturday Wildflower Walk,” wildflower expert Joanne Landau will lead an informative two-hour hike that will take visitors through meadows, woods, and occasionally streamside.
These walks are for those who have a love of plants, their role in ecology, or for those who want to learn more. The guide will be Dick Cloud.
Admission to Tyler Arboretum is $18 for adults (ages 18-64), $15 for Seniors (65+) and $10 for children (ages 3-17) and Military with valid ID.
If you’re in the mood for a fun, family-oriented carnival, you can find two of them just south of the Pennsylvania-Delaware state line.
Now through May 7, the Concord Mall (4737 Concord Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, www.theleadfest.com) is the site of the L.E.A.D. Fest.
L.E.A.D. Fest, which will start at 5 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, is the official event of L.E.A.D.
In addition to providing fun for kids, L.E.A.D. provides protection.
L.E.A.D. stands for Law Enforcement Against Drugs. It is a non-profit supported by dedicated police officers committed to protecting our youth and communities from the proliferation of drugs, drug-related crimes, peer-to-peer cyberbullying and violence.
The carnival will feature amusement games, food vendors and rides. The Midway is provided by Reithoffer Shows.
Saint Helena’s Carnival (602 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, www.sainthelenas.org) is scheduled for May 5 and 6 on the grounds of the church which is just south of Claymont.
The fun-filled, family-friendly Carnival is free for children (12 and under) and seniors (60 and older). Nightly admission for ages 13-59 is $5.
A food court opens at 6 p.m. each night in Masci Hall. St. Helena’s Bier Garden is located behind Dougherty Hall.
The event will feature amusement rides, carnival games and live music each night with Chorduroy scheduled for Friday night and Sonic Twiste slated to play Saturday evening.
On May 6, one of Montgomery County’s most popular historic sites will celebrate the arrival of May.
Pottsgrove Manor (100 West King Street, Pottstown, 610- 326-4014, www.historicsites.montcopa.org) is hosting a Colonial May Fair on Saturday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
The event will feature 18th-century entertainment, including May Pole Dancing Milkmaids’ Garland Dances. The list of hands-on activities includes trap-ball (a predecessor of baseball), colonial toys and games, fortune-telling, a kid-sized Maypole, beanbag toss games, churning butter and free spring-themed make-and-take crafts.
Visitors will also be able to tour the manor house which features the early Georgian architecture that was popular with wealthy English gentry during the mid-18th century. It was built in 1752 for John Potts (ironmaster and founder of Pottstown) on a 1,000-acre plantation.
Admission to the event is free but there is a $2 suggested donation.
South Street is kicking off Philadelphia’s festival season on Saturday, May 6.
The grand block party known as South Street Fest (http://southstreet.com) will have live music and performances, international foods and drinks, craft and vendors, and more.
The annual South Street Fest will close down South Street from 2nd Street to Eighth Street on May 6 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. The free festival will feature food, music and a variety of family activities.
Live Music and performances will be provided all day with a line-up of approximately 20 music acts.
“Elmwood Park Zoo” (1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) is hosting several of its ultra-popular “Dog Days” over the next week.
The Zoo’s “Dog Days” event will be held on May 5, 7, 10, 12 and 14 from noon-4 p.m. each day.
All guests visiting the zoo with a furry friend must complete an online waiver and submit required documents before visiting the zoo. You must upload a copy of your most recent veterinary visit, including proof of vaccine and heartworm test here. All items will be required for you to attend “Dog Days.”
Pricing is $10.95 per dog with each additional dog at $9.95. Regular zoo admission is required for all humans.
The “FRIENDS™ Experience: The One Near Philadelphia” is running now through May 29 at the King of Prussia Mall, 640 West Dekalb Pike, King of Prussia,
Visitors can step into the iconic TV show like never before in this interactive experience.
They will be able to explore set recreations including Joey and Chandler’s apartment, Monica and Rachel’s kitchen, and Central Perk!
Visitors to the attraction can dance in front of the fountain and pose on the iconic orange couch.
Participants will be able to see a wide array of props and costumes from the show which will bring them one step closer to their favorite characters.
And they can shop exclusive items at The FRIENDS™ Experience Retail Store which features an array of clothes, accessories, collectibles and more.
The interactive exhibit is open from noon-7 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays.
The exact location is at The Pavilion, which is on the third floor above Cheesecake Factory and Urban Outfitters and across from Ethan Allen)
All ages are welcome. Children 3 and younger don’t need a ticket when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Adult ticket prices start at $32.
Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com) is presenting its traditional spring activities this weekend.
There will be fishing, pony rides, playland playground, spring hayrides and barnyard animals.
Other attractions are the rose garden class, the Farm Market and Garden Center, Linvilla Grill and Ship Bottom Beer Garden.
Gilbert & Sullivan and the Ardensingers go together like bacon and eggs — and they have the history to prove it.
The Ardensingers have been presenting the works of Gilbert & Sullivan continuously since 1948 at their historic Gild Hall (2126 The Highway, Arden, Delaware, 484-319-2350, www.ardensingers.com).
On May 5 and 6, Ardensingers are performing Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Princess Ida.”
“Princess Ida” tells the hilarious tale of a princess and prince whose marriage was arranged when they were infants. Prince Hilarion has been waiting 20 years to meet his bride but learns instead that Princess Ida will not honor the commitment and has gone off to start a women’s college.
In an attempt to woo her, Hilarion and two companions dress up as maidens and sneak into the school. Violence between the two families looks certain, but true love prevails.
Ticket prices are $20 Adult, $17 Senior and $7 Child.
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, ansp.org) is celebrating the remarkable diversity of birds, their important role in ecosystems, and people’s relationships with our avian friends with a special exhibition, “Conversations with Birds.”
The exhibition, which runs through May 21, spotlights familiar local birds, such as house sparrows and cardinals, and goes beyond by introducing the variety of migrators that pass through on astounding epic journeys across the globe.
“Conversations With Birds” features amazing avian photography and video by local birders and wildlife photographers, including Anwar Abdul-Qawi, an Academy educator, and Tom Johnson of Cape May, N.J., a Field Guides birding tour leader; nest cam video footage of a peregrine falcon nest from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and of a bald eagle nest courtesy of HDOnTap.com and the Pennsylvania Game Commission; hands-on activities that explain the body architecture that enables birds to do what they do; gorgeous taxidermy mounts of familiar local birds and also migrators that visit the area; and BirdCast animations from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology showing live bird migration forecasts
Also featured will be bird-tracking products by Cellular Tracking Technologies that use cell towers, GPS, big birds, small birds, and what’s being used in research projects; an interactive media exhibit that shows five migratory birds that pass through the Philadelphia region on their seasonal passage between North and South America; live or video demonstrations (depending on the day) of Academy ornithologists and volunteers preparing specimens from the Bird Safe Philly project for research and storage in the Academy’s world-renowned Ornithology Collection; and informal presentations by a diverse range of regional birding groups and participatory poetry workshops by Drexel’s Writer’s Room on select Saturday afternoons.
“Conversations With Birds” opens just ahead of spring migration when millions of birds will wing through the Atlantic Flyway north to their breeding grounds. During this period, April 1–May 31, the partnership of Bird Safe Philly asks communities to participate in “Lights Out Philly” to minimize unnecessary lights by turning off, blocking or dimming artificial lights from midnight-6 a.m. to help keep birds from becoming confused by the lights and colliding with buildings.
The exhibition shows that there are engineering solutions that can go a long way to helping prevent window strikes. Visitors also will learn about local birding groups such as In Color Birding and Bird Philly, as well as birding app options for the adventurous birder and the backyard kitchen-table pigeon watcher alike.
“Conversations With Birds,” which is on view through May 21, is free with general museum admission – adults, $25; seniors, military, and students, $22; and children, $21.
The newest exhibition at the Brandywine Museum of Art (1 Hoffman Mill Road, Chadds Ford, brandywine.org), “Andrew Wyeth: Home Places,” opened a few weeks ago and will run through July 13.
This exhibition is a presentation of nearly 50 paintings and drawings of local buildings that inspired Wyeth time and again over seven decades of his career.
The artworks in this exhibition are drawn exclusively from the nearly 7,000-object Andrew and Betsy Wyeth Collection of the Wyeth Foundation for American Art, now managed by the Brandywine. Many of these pieces have never before been exhibited, offering a first glimpse at a significant treasure trove that will shed new light on the collaborative creative process of Andrew and Betsy Wyeth.
“Andrew Wyeth: Home Places” shares the story of a remarkable immersive and intensive artistic practice that ranged across the full array of media Andrew Wyeth practiced. Over the course of a long and diverse career of many chapters, Wyeth repeatedly depicted a small group of historic houses in the vicinity of his hometown of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.
In these weathered buildings others might have overlooked or even scorned in the face of gentrification and commercial development of the region, Wyeth found layers of emotion and association. These structures—both venerable and vulnerable in a changing Brandywine Valley—served as a means of pursuing his abiding attention to that which lies beneath the surface of things.
Through living in this landscape his whole life, he engaged in an artistic practice of uncommon focus over an extended timescale, coming to know deeply the evocative buildings in a radius of just a few square miles and rendering them in an astonishing variety of compositions, handlings and approaches. As Wyeth said, “You can be in a place for years and years and not see something, and then when it dawns, all sorts of nuggets of richness start popping all over the place. You’ve gotten below the obvious.”
Among the previously unexhibited works on view are the charming early oil “The Miller’s Son,” painted when Wyeth was just 17 years old, and the stunning watercolor “Noah’s Ark Study” made at age 87—both depicting the same property, Brinton’s Mill.
That the Wyeths came to own and restore this property for use as their primary residence is among the many contributions of Betsy James Wyeth, whose distinct role in stewarding historic properties in Pennsylvania and Maine, which informed her husband’s painting practice, is a key context of this exhibition.
Museum admission is $18 adults, $15 seniors (65+), $6 children (ages 6-18) and students with ID and free for children (ages five and under).
Hagley Museum and Library (Route 141, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.hagley.org), a 230-acre historical village on the site of the original du Pont Company gunpowder mills in northern Delaware, has opened a new attraction – “Nation of Inventors.”
“Nation of Inventors” celebrates the American spirit of ingenuity by taking visitors on a journey from the early years of the patent system, in the 1790s, through the “golden age” of American invention, in the late 1800s. The exhibit features more than 120 patent models from Hagley’s unique collection highlighting the diverse stories of inventors from all walks of life.
Patent models are scaled representations of inventions and were part of the patent application process for nearly 100 years. “Nation of Inventors” showcases patent models representing innovations in a variety of industries from transportation and manufacturing to food preservation and medical devices.
In the exhibition, visitors will enjoy engaging experiences around every corner, testing their knowledge of innovation and hearing personal accounts from inventors.
The patent models in “Nation of Inventors” were created between 1833 and 1886. “Nation of Inventors” not only features patent models submitted by inventors from the United States, but also models from inventors in England, France, Ireland, Russia, and Spain, demonstrating an international interest in America’s intellectual property system.
“Nation of Inventors” includes patent models from well-known inventors and companies like Ball (Mason Jars), Jim Beam, Bissell, Corliss, Steinway, and Westinghouse. The exhibit presents important topics and timely themes including women inventors, Black inventors, immigrant inventors, improvements in urban living, and the ways Americans learn about and understand progress and change.
“Nation of Inventors” is located on the first two floors of Hagley’s Visitor Center. Visitors can plan to spend about 30 minutes on their self-guided tour of the exhibition.
Admission to Hagley Museum is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students and $6 for children (ages 6-14). Victorine’s Valentine activities are included with regular admission.
Nemours Estate (1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, Delaware, nemoursestate.org) has come alive with its magnificent gardens.
Originally constructed in 1910, Nemours Mansion is one of Delaware’s grandest buildings and includes the largest formal French garden in North America.
Nemours Estate comprises an exquisite, 77-room Mansion, the largest formal French gardens in North America, a Chauffeur’s Garage housing a collection of vintage automobiles, and 200 acres of scenic woodlands, meadows and lawns.
Nemours was the estate of Alfred I. duPont.
Alfred named the estate Nemours, after the French town that his great-great-grandfather represented in the French Estates General. While looking to the past and his ancestors for inspiration, Alfred also ensured that his new home was thoroughly modern by incorporating the latest technology and many of his own inventions.
The Gardens are one of the estate’s prime attractions.
The two elk at the top of the Vista are the work of French sculptor Prosper Lecourtier (1855–1924), a specialist in animal figures. Lined with Japanese cryptomeria, pink flowering horse chestnuts and pin oaks, the Long Walk extends from the Mansion to the Reflecting Pool.
The 157 jets at the center of the one-acre pool shoot water 12 feet into the air; when they are turned off, the entire “Long Walk” is reflected in the pool. The pool, five and a half feet deep in its deepest section, holds 800,000 gallons of water and takes three days to fill. The Art Nouveau-style, classical mythology-based “Four Seasons” around the pool are by French-born American sculptor Henri Crenier (1873–1948).
The entrance is located on the campus of Nemours Children’s Health, follow signs for Nemours Estate.
Admission to Nemours is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for children.
*Historic Odessa (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, www.historicodessa.org) is both a scenic and an historic site in Delaware.
Known in the 18th-century as Cantwell’s Bridge, Odessa played a vital role in commercial life along the Delaware River as a busy grain shipping port.
Today, visitors can stroll along tree-lined streets and admire examples of 18th- and 19th-century architecture in one of the best-preserved towns in Delaware. They can also tour a remarkable collection of antiques and Americana preserved in period room settings and quaint exhibits.
Historic Odessa is open to the public from March through December, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. The site is also open Monday by reservation.
There are many other sites where nature’s spring glory is on display. Chanticleer (786 Church Street, Wayne, www.chanticleergarden.org), which just opened its 2023 season, is one of them.
The Chanticleer estate dates from the early 20th-century, when land along the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad was developed for summer homes to escape the heat of Philadelphia. Adolph Rosengarten, Sr., and his wife Christine chose the Wayne-St. David’s area to build their country retreat. The family’s pharmaceutical firm eventually became part of Merck & Company in the 1920s.
The garden has evolved greatly since the death of the owner in 1990. As the home of the Rosengartens, Chanticleer was beautiful and green with impressive trees and lawns. Most of the floral and garden development you see today has occurred since 1990 — designed by Chanticleer staff and consultants.
There are seven horticulturists, each responsible for the design, planting, and maintenance of an area. The areas are continually evolving, each with its own feel, yet joined together as one complete unit.
The Teacup Garden and Chanticleer Terraces feature seasonal plants and bold-textured tropical and subtropical plants.
The Tennis Court, Ruin, Gravel Garden, and Pond Garden focus on hardy perennials, both woody and herbaceous.
Asian Woods and Bell’s Woodland are shady areas. The Serpentine celebrates the beauty of agricultural crops.
Admission to Chanticleer is $12 for adults and free for pre-teen children (12 years and under).
Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum (1237 State Road, Andalusia, www.andalusia house.org) opened its gates for the 2023 season at the beginning of April.
Located on a wooded promontory overlooking the Delaware River, Andalusia has been a stately presence on this stretch of water, just north of Philadelphia, for more than 200 years. The ancestral home of the Biddle family, Andalusia is also a natural paradise of native woodlands and spectacular gardens that have evolved over time.
Placed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks in 1966, the Big House is one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United States.
Its surrounding gardens delight the senses all through the year, from the tumbling, brightly colored leaves of fall to the floral extravaganza of spring and the abundance and scent of summer.
Self-Guided Garden Tours will be available Mondays through Wednesdays from April 4-November 2 (excluding holidays) at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Picnics are allowed on the grounds (with have a “carry-in, carry-out” policy).
Access to the Big House is not included with this tour, which is $20 per person. There is no charge for children 12 and under.
Big House Tours with Garden Access will be available Mondays through Wednesdays from April 4-November 2 (excluding holidays) at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person. There is no charge for children 12 and under.
On May 7, Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org) will present “Sacred Spaces and Storied Places” at 10 a.m.
The expansion of Fairmount Park in the 1860s prevented further growth of Laurel Hill, and in 1869 West Laurel Hill was established just across the river in Bala Cynwyd.
“Sacred Spaces & Storied Places” is the perfect introductory tour that provides an overview of Laurel Hill West including its architectural artistry, stunning trees and horticulture, and the stories of residents that encompass diverse and fascinating Philadelphia history.
Experienced tour guides offer visitors a unique perspective as no two tours are the same. The tour guide this Sunday will be Pat Rose.
Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, are: $15/General Admission, $13/Seniors (65 & up) and Students with ID, $7.50/Youth (6-12), and $0/Child (5 & under). Youth and children must be accompanied by an adult.
GoggleWorks Center for the Arts (201 Washington Street, Reading, https://goggleworks.org/), one of the country’s largest interactive art centers, will hold its annual Spring Planter Sale on May 6.
The planter sale will take place on Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in GoggleWorks Gardens at Lauer’s Park. The garden plot is on the corner of Third and Walnut streets conveniently located next to GoggleWorks’ free parking lot.
There will be an impressive array of locally made planters, birdhouses, and garden ornaments for purchase. Purchasers can choose a plant and either have it planted by staff and volunteers or they can pot their own plant.
There will be a kids’ table set up with art supplies to occupy the little ones while the big ones shop. Coffee and pastries will also be available to purchase.
The event features free admission and free parking.
You can enjoy views of nature’s springtime bounty without having to drive or hike. All you need do is take a ride on a tourist rail line train.
The Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running a special train – “The Wine & Cheese Train.”
Passengers can enjoy the luxurious, climate-controlled first-class accommodations and a tasting of select wine, cheese, and crackers as they travel in style down the tracks from Strasburg to Paradise and back. The train departs Strasburg Station on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The total trip time is 45 minutes.
“Wine & Cheese Train” boards 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. Riders must be 21 or older and have their photo ID ready when they board.
Featured wines are carefully selected from Waltz Vineyards, and cheeses are paired accordingly. Beer and select non-alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase upon request. Riders can purchase a souvenir wine glass on board the train if desired. Glasses are $7 each.
In accordance with Pennsylvania law, alcohol is only served during the train ride. The rail line is not permitted to serve alcoholic beverages while the train is berthed in the station.
Departures are scheduled for May 5 and 6 at 4 and 6 p.m. and May 7 at 4 p.m.
Tickets are $70.
The Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.colebrookdalerailroad.com) is hosting a “Cinco de Mayo” celebration on May 6 and “Sundays Sundaes Adventure” on May 7.
The Colebrookdale ride is billed as “your ticket to a verdant land lost in time.”
Passengers board one of the railroad’s meticulously restored century-old rail cars for a two-hour expedition into one of the most scenic and historic regions in the northeast.
Deluxe coach fares are $35 for adults (13-64), $25 for children (2-12),and $32 for seniors (65 and older).
The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is running its “Hanover Junction Flyer” on May 7 at 2 p.m.
The “Hanover Junction Flyer” will run through the beautiful Heritage Rail Trail County Park and southern York County countryside on this trip to Hanover Junction. The excursion includes a 20-minute stopover at the Hanover Junction Museum.
Tickets are $36.99 for adults and $24.99 for children (ages 2-12).
Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) will be presenting “Elmo’s Springtacular” every weekend now through June 18.
“Elmo’s Springtacular” at Sesame Place is filled with furry fun and exciting events – including an exciting line up of meet & greets, music, magic, pirate adventures, and fireworks.
This weekend will feature “Arthur Meet and Greets.”
Kids are invited to come meet everyone’s favorite aardvark Arthur, along with his little sister, DW, and his best friend, Buster, as they journey from Elwood City to Sesame Place.
Kids can enjoy an action-packed day with their favorites.
Activity will take place at Abby’s Paradise Theater.
Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, peddlersvillage.com) is hosting its “Strawberry Festival” on May 6 and 7 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. each day.
The weekend will include strawberry-themed food, beverages, live music, food trucks, kids’ activities, and shop specials. Peddler’s Village shops will be open until 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Admission and parking are free. The event will be held rain or shine.
Peddler’s Village is also presenting its “Cupcake Decorating Competition” from May 3-20.
On display for the first two weeks of May, this icing-laced display will include professional and amateur culinary creations in four categories: Traditional, Baker’s Choice, Student, and Kids.
Admission is free to the display which is housed in the Visitor & Event Center (Red Barn, located off Street Road and Peddler’s Lane).
Hope Lodge (553 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, 215-343-0965, http://www.ushistory.org/hope/) will be presenting a “Guided Mansion Tour” on May 7.
Hope Lodge was built between 1743 and 1748 by Samuel Morris, a prosperous Quaker entrepreneur. Morris acted as a farmer, shipowner, miller, iron master, shop owner, and owner of the mill now known as Mather Mill. Hope Lodge is an excellent example of early Georgian architecture, and it is possible that Edmund Woolley, architect of Independence Hall, offered advice in building. Samuel Morris owned the estate until his death in 1770.
Visitors can participate by watching a short film and then taking a tour. Guided tours of the mansion will depart at 1 and 2:30 p.m. all three days.
Tour admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (age 65+) and for youth ages 6-17, and free for children under 5. Hope Lodge is a Blue Star Museum which means that active-duty military personnel, including National Guard and Reserve and their families, are admitted free for regular tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Ghost Tour of Philadelphia (215-413-1997, www.ghosttour.com), Ghost Tour of Lancaster (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com) and Ghost Tour of Strasburg (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com) operate throughout the winter and offer an eerily entertaining evening of true ghost stories and real haunted houses.
The Ghost Tour of Philadelphia, which is based on the book, “Ghost Stories of Philadelphia, PA.,” is a candlelight walking tour along the back streets and secret gardens of Independence Park, Society Hill, and Old City, where ghostly spirits, haunted houses, and eerie graveyards abound.
Participants can discover the ghost lore of America’s most historic and most haunted city with stories from the founding of William Penn’s colony to present-day hauntings.
The activity is open year-round – weekends, December-February; every night, March-November. Tickets are $24.
The Ghost Tour of Lancaster and the Ghost Tour of Strasburg are based on the book, “Ghost Stories of Lancaster, PA.”
Participants in the Ghost Tour of Lancaster explore the long-forgotten mysteries of one of America’s oldest cities, with haunting tales of otherworldly vigils, fatal curses, and star-crossed lovers. The tour provides the opportunity to experience 300 years of haunted history from the Red Rose City’s thorny past. Tickets are $20.
The Ghost Tour of Strasburg is a candlelight walking tour of the quaint and historic town of Strasburg in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Visitors will experience an entertaining evening with a costumed tour guide spinning tales of haunted mansions, eerie graveyards, and spirits that roam the night … in a town lost in time. Tickets are $20.
Grim Philly’s “Dark Philly History Tour” (www.grimphilly.com) will be held every evening throughout the winter.
Participants can walk with tour guides from the grounds of America’s first White House, Congress, and Liberty Bell to homes and sites of Hamilton, Washington, Franklin, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and more than 10 other Founding-Fathers. The surprising dirt of espionage, murder, sexual license and blackmail highlight the secrets of 1776 with a ghost story or two along the way. This tour is highly researched. And your guide is a historian.
Tickets are $35.
