Party the night away at this year’s Red Ball at the Please Touch Museum thanks to AroundMainLine.com!

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated.

The 2012 Red Ball presented by ModSpace will take place Saturday, March 10^th at the Please Touch Museum at Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park from 8 p.m. to midnight. The Red Ball is a “red-tie” gala featuring food tasting from 40 of Philadelphia’s premiere restaurants as well as dancing and luxury auction items. The event raises money for Red Cross House, a one-of-a-kind short-term housing facility in West Philadelphia.

The Red Ball attracts more than 1,100 guests from the Greater Philadelphia area’s business and social communities!

Sound like a great night?  Interested in attending?  It just may be your lucky day!

One very lucky AML fan will win two tickets to the 13^th annual Red Ball by commenting below between now and noon Tuesday, February 7^th, 2012.  The two tickets to the Ball are valued at $370.

How to Enter

Leave us a comment below by noon Tuesday, February 7^th, 2012. One winner will be drawn randomly after the close of the giveaway with the help of random.org!

GOOD LUCK AML FANS!

Please note this prize is non-transferable, meaning it cannot be used for any promotional, charity or marketing purposes by the winning party.

1. PROMOTION PERIOD. Promotion begins on announced time EST (“Promotion Period”). All entries must be received by the announced time (EST) to be eligible for that day’s drawing.
2. ELIGIBILITY. This giveaway is only open to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia who are at least 18 years old as of the date of entry, except officers, directors, members, and employees of the Sponsor, the judging organization (if applicable), or any other party associated with the development or administration of this Promotion, and the immediate family (i.e., parents, children, siblings, spouse), and persons residing in the same household, as such individuals. This Promotion is void outside the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and where prohibited.
3. WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION. The sole winner will be drawn from all entries received during the announced Promotional Period using a randomized computer numerical system, random.org.
4. TAXES. All federal, state and/or local income and other taxes, if any, are the winner’s sole responsibility.
5. ODDS OF WINNING. The odds of winning this Promotion depend on the number of eligible entries received.
6. Winner(s) will be announced on aroundmainline.com, Facebook (www.facebook.com/aroundmainline) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/aroundmainline).

AroundMainLine.com is a very proud sponsor once again of this premier charity event. Look for members of the AML team dancing the night away at this year’s 13th annual Red Ball at the Please Touch Museum!

The American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania will host its 13th annual Red Ball presented by ModSpace on Saturday, March 10, 2012 from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Please Touch Museum at Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park.

Red Ball tickets are on sale at the early bird rate until December 31, 2011! Main event tickets are currently $135 and VIP tickets are $285.

ModSpace, a leading provider of temporary and permanent building solutions based in Berwyn, PA, is this year’s title sponsor for the second year.

Guests at this red-tie event will sample culinary delights prepared by Philadelphia’s top chefs, vote on which restaurant is best, dance the night away with entertainment provided by CTO Band, enjoy access to the museum’s exhibits, mingle with Philadelphia’s social and business leaders, test their luck in the raffle and learn more about the mission of the Red Cross and the everyday work of its volunteers.

VIP ticket holders will enjoy an all-access evening, beginning at 8 p.m. in the exclusive VIP Lounge sponsored by Exelon. Amenities include VIP express entry, private top-shelf open bar, cigar bar, separate coat check and a special VIP gift bag.

All proceeds from The Red Ball benefit Red Cross House – The Center for Disaster Recovery, a one-of-a-kind short-term housing facility in West Philadelphia where hundreds of local families every year begin their recovery from fires, floods, and other disasters.

For more information about The Red Ball or to purchase tickets, visit www.theredball.org or call 215-299-5491. Sponsorships, restaurants and auction items are also still being accepted. If interested, please email redball@redcross-philly.org.

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About the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania

The American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. The Red Cross is not a government agency. All Red Cross assistance is free of charge and made possible thanks to the generosity of people in our region who donate their time, money and blood. Financial contributions are always welcomed and needed and can be made by going to RedCrossPhilly.org.

‘Giant Mysterious Dinosaurs’ will be in The Franklin Institute’s Mandell Center with special extended holiday hours December 26th through January 1, 2012. Giant Mysterious Dinosaurs runs through April 15th, 2012.

One of the world’s largest collections highlighting the biggest dinosaurs ever stampeded into The Franklin Institute Saturday, December 10th for the world premiere exhibition Giant Mysterious Dinosaurs. This exclusive exhibition gets visitors up-close-and-personal with gigantic dinosaurs, as long as 70 feet, excavated from such remote regions as Argentina and the Gobi Desert of Inner Mongolia. Giant Mysterious Dinosaurs will be in The Franklin Institute’s Mandell Center with special extended holiday hours December 26-January 1, 2012. Plus, The Franklin Institute will offer free parking on New Year’s Day to all special exhibition ticket-buyers (Giant Mysterious Dinosaurs, CSI: The Exhibition) and Franklin Institute members.

Highlights include the world premiere of a cast skeleton of the never-before-displayed Mapusaurus, 65 million year-old dinosaur eggs, and the latest scientific evidence of how dinosaurs grew so large. Dozens of exotic giant skeletons and intricate robotics reveal new discoveries of dinosaur origins and behavior, while casting light on the unfamiliar international ancestors of familiar North American dinosaurs. The exhibit gathers two dozen humongous skeletons, dinosaur recreations and full-sized robotics. Visitors can also get hands-on by going on a dino dig and examining fossils and bone replicas in the interactive Dinosaur Cart, which will be staffed by museum science interpreters during daytime exhibit hours.

The spectacular collection belongs to the world’s leading dinosaur collector and popularizer, Don Lessem. “Dino” Don, a Philadelphia area resident, has excavated and re-created dinosaurs from Argentina to Mongolia, including the world’s largest meat-eater and plant-eater. He was an advisor to the movie Jurassic Park, a host and writer of NOVA and Discovery Channel documentaries, and has written more than 50 books for children.

The spectacular collection belongs to the world's leading dinosaur collector and popularizer, Don Lessem. "Dino" Don, a Philadelphia area resident, has excavated and re-created dinosaurs from Argentina to Mongolia, including the world's largest meat-eater and plant-eater. Lessem was an advisor to the movie Jurassic Park.

The exhibition highlights recent cutting-edge research that answers one of the bigger mysteries about large dinosaurs – how on earth did they get so big? Turns out, the big plant-eaters required thousands of kilograms of food daily to survive – so they sped up the process by swallowing their meals whole. If you thought you knew dinosaurs, Giant Mysterious Dinosaurs will open your eyes. Nearly half of all dinosaurs known have been found in the last two decades – many from the farthest reaches of the globe. And along with these recent findings come new insights into how dinosaurs grew, behaved, communicated, and, after 163 million years of domination, came to a crashing end.

Many of these enormous dinosaurs have rarely been displayed in North America. The exhibit runs through April 15, 2012, and was created by Don Lessem and ExhibitsRex and produced by Imagine Exhibitions, Inc.

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TICKET INFORMATION

Individual daytime tickets for Giant Mysterious Dinosaurs (which include general admission to the museum) are $25.00 for adults and $18.50 for children, with free admission for Franklin Institute Members. Tickets are timed and dated, and admission is 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday (last entry at 3:30 p.m.); and 9:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday (last entry at 7 p.m.). The evening ticket price ($10 adult; $6 children) does not include museum admission, and begins with the 5:00 p.m. exhibition admission. Advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended. Information, holiday hours, and tickets (including discounted combination tickets with CSI: The Experience) are available at 1-877-TFI-TIXS, www.fi.edu. Groups of 15 or more save up to 20 percent on tickets with advanced reservations by calling 1-800-285-0684.

“Buy a Bar, Give a Bar”
For every bar purchased, Hand in Hand will donate a bar to save a child's life. Hand washing alone can reduce water-related deaths by as much as 45%.

For Philadelphia couple and AML friends Courtney and Bill, deciding to develop a business based on sustainable giving started with a very simple concept-a bar of soap.

Understanding the difficulty that most non-profits face trying to obtain funding, Hand in Hand Soap launched earlier this year. By directly tying charitable donations to the sale of an everyday product, Hand in Hand is able to give soap to those in needs and save lives without depending on a single donation. For every bar purchased, Hand in Hand will donate the same bar to a child to help prevent water related illnesses and death.

The luxurious shea butter soap environmentally friendly, made in Vermont, shipped using eco-friendly packaging, comes with a free carbon offset, and a portion of all proceeds is used to save 50 square feet of rainforest for every bar sold. Hand in Hand Soap is certified by both the Natural Products Association and Fair Trade USA.

Hand in Hand Soap - Sustainable, Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade

“The response we are getting from people already is that there is no other soap out there like this. Its eco friendly, luxurious, beautifully packaged and serves a very important purpose,” said Courtney.

Their debut scent is Orange Blossom and the duo is in the works for two additional scents. You can learn more about Hand in Hand by visiting their website, handinhandsoap.com.

How did the concept of Hand in Hand come about?

Billy: For years, Courtney and I have been trying to figure out a way of starting a business based on sustainable giving. We wanted to build our business around something everyone needs, but at the same time has the ability to save lives. And as simple as that sounds, soap has that power.

Courtney: The entire goal was to start something that would make a huge difference, without depending on a single donation.

Explain how this works.

Billy: For every bar purchased, Hand in Hand will donate the same bar of soap to a child in need. We work directly with non-profits who specialize in soap distribution to children worldwide. Hand in Hand is able to utilize the existing infrastructure of these non-profits for our soap drops, so we can get the soap directly to the children who need it.

Many people are not aware of the difference a single bar of soap can make to a child in a third world country.

Courtney: Over five million children a year around the world are dying from easily preventable diseases. 50% of these deaths can be prevented by basic hygienic practices-like hand washing. For many of these people, soap is simply unattainable. By donating a bar of soap for every bar purchased, we are essentially saving the lives children who may have otherwise died of a water related illness.

Can local boutiques and businesses carry Hand in Hand?

Courtney: We are open to anyone who may want to carry our soap, and support our cause. We have gotten great interest from local boutiques and a few larger retail stores alike.

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To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Terror Behind the Walls, there will be a special encore performance on Saturday, November 12th. On this night only, visitors will have the opportunity to mix and mingle with hundreds of haunted house owners and operators from around the country. Also on hand will be paranormal celebrities talking about some of the firsthand experiences they’ve had with real ghosts inside the penitentiary complex.

It’s the perfect weekend to check out the return of Terror Behind the Walls, America’s largest haunted house, which is celebrating its 20th year with the launch of two brand new, state-of-the-art attractions and the return of the Eastern State After Dark VIP Tour. The event evolves every year, and the designers continue to create the most intriguing and scariest haunted house yet.

Located inside the walls of Eastern State Penitentiary, a real massive abandoned prison at 22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue in Philadelphia, PA, Terror Behind the Walls attracts over 100,000 visitors from around the world and is consistently ranked among the top 10 haunted attractions in the country. In 2011, Terror Behind the Walls runs on select evenings from September 23 through November 12.

Two New Attractions

For the first time ever, the event designers are launching two brand new attractions in a single year, creating the largest and longest show in the event’s history. The Gauntlet is a new, high energy opening attraction for the show, featuring overhead catwalks and custom props above a massive outdoor maze. The second new attraction, Break Out!, is a new finale to the show and consists of an outdoor scare zone in the final courtyard before visitors leave the event.

20 Year Encore Night

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Terror Behind the Walls, there will be a special encore performance on Saturday, November 12, 2011. On this night only, visitors will have the opportunity to mix and mingle with hundreds of haunted house owners and operators from around the country who will be converging on Eastern State Penitentiary for a first ever postseason performance of Terror Behind the Walls. Also on hand will be paranormal celebrities talking about some of the firsthand experiences they’ve had with real ghosts inside the penitentiary complex.

Eastern State Penitentiary's "After Dark VIP Tour," the ultimate Halloween experience, begins with an hour-long, guided flashlight walking tour of this National Historic Landmark. Highlights include the cellblocks, Death Row, Al Capone's cell (pictured here), and the underground punishment cells below Cellblock 14.

Admission to the event includes entry into all six haunted attractions of Terror Behind the Walls. Tickets for this special event are limited and must be purchased in advance online. No tickets will be available at the door.

Eastern State After Dark VIP Tour

After an extremely popular first year, Eastern State Penitentiary’s “After Dark VIP Tour” returns for 2011. This ultimate Halloween experience begins with an hour-long, guided flashlight walking tour of this National Historic Landmark. Highlights include the cellblocks, Death Row, Al Capone’s cell, and the underground punishment cells below Cellblock 14. Following the tour, guests will be escorted to the front of the Terror Behind the Walls’ lines. Visitors can remember their evening with a souvenir photo, taken inside the penitentiary, and a special Terror Behind the Walls LED flashlight (included in admission).

The “Eastern State After Dark VIP Tour” is $79 per person Sundays through Thursdays and $99 per person on Fridays and Saturdays. Available dates and times are listed on the Terror Behind the Walls website at www.easternstate.org/viptour. Each tour is limited to 20 people. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Private “After Dark VIP Tours” are available for groups of 20 people. Please call the group sales department at (215) 236-5111 x16 for availability and pricing.

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Terror Behind the Walls

Terror Behind the Walls is located inside Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site at 22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue in Philadelphia, PA. Advanced ticket sales for Terror Behind the Walls begin on September 20 at the penitentiary box office or online at www.EasternState.org/tickets. Tickets range in price from $10-$15 for kids on family nights, to $20 on weeknights, $25 on Sunday nights, and $30 on Friday and Saturday nights. Group rates are available by calling (215) 236-5111 x16 or emailing boxoffice@easternstate.org. For more information, the public can visit the penitentiary’s website at www.TerrorBehindtheWalls.com or call (888) 763-NITE

Click here to view the AML Facebook photo gallery of Mummies of the World.

The largest-ever exhibition of real mummies from around the world debuted at The Franklin Institute Saturday, June 18th.

The highly-anticipated Mummies of the World exhibition debuted at The Franklin Institute on Saturday, June 18th. This astonishing collection of mummies and related artifacts includes a 6,420-year-old child mummy from Peru, one of the oldest child mummies ever discovered (the Detmold Child, which is 3,000 years older than King Tut). Mummies of the World is the first exhibition of its kind to be showcased at The Franklin Institute, portraying both naturally and intentionally preserved mummies from around the world.

James Delay, Director of Exhibitions for American Exhibitions, emphasized the diversity of the mummies in the exhibit. “The exhibit aims to tell the world that not all mummies come from Egypt and not all mummies are wrapped. I think the South American collection is unbelievable; the Vac family from Hungary is fascinating. The Baron and Baroness on display here come from a crypt from a castle in Germany where the living descendents still reside. They gave us permission to have the mummies as part of the exhibit and study them. The Baron and Baroness were originally found by Napoleon’s soldiers so they have quite a history and story-as does each and every artifact we have assembled here,” said Delay.

Mummies of the World is the largest exhibition of real mummies and related artifacts ever assembled, featuring an astounding collection of 150 artifacts and real human and animal specimens from South America, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Egypt. Through modern science and engaging interactive and multi-media exhibits, the exhibition reveals how the scientific study of mummies provides a window into the lives of ancient people from every region of the world, offering unprecedented insights into past cultures and civilizations. It also demonstrates that mummification—both through natural processes and intentional practices – has taken place all over the globe, from the hot desert sands of South America to remote European moors and bogs.

The concept for the exhibition began with the German Mummy Project’s re-discovery of 20 specimens within the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums of Mannheim, Germany in 2004.

In addition to the Detmold Child, the treasures presented in Mummies of the World include the Vac Mummies, a mummified family from Hungary; the Baron and Baroness, discovered in a 14th century castle in Sommersdorf; and Egyptian animal mummies, intentionally preserved to accompany royals for eternity.

The exhibition will be supported with programming throughout the run, including:

Meet a Mummyologist! – Research scientists involved in the study of mummies will be available on opening day (Saturday, June 18) within the exhibition and in the museum to discuss their specialties (for example, one specializes in peat bog mummies), and to kick off The Franklin Institute’s ongoing educational activities around mummies, including:

• Mummification Station: How does a body become a mummy? Visitors will get to look at and touch a variety of mummified frogs to explore how man-made and natural mummies are produced.
• Mummy Mystery (launches after opening weekend): Think like an archaeologist! Visitors will piece together the “story” of some newly discovered mummies using clues like location, climate, burial artifacts and MRI/CT scans.

Mummies Movie Night – The Franklin Institute will be hosting its first-ever free outdoor movie screening in August. Be there, or be mummified!

Mummies After Dark – On Friday, September 23, The Franklin Institute will host its third “TFI After Dark” event — which is an adults-only exploration of the museum. Specially programmed activities, quizzo, guests and even specialty drinks will abound in this “Mummies of the World” themed evening.

Mummies & Forensics – two great sciences that go great together! In honor of the CSI exhibit overlapping with Mummies, in October, we’re planning a fascinating glimpse into the forensics of mummy research using local forensics experts.

‘Mummies of the World’ features an astounding collection of 150 artifacts and real human and animal specimens from South America, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Egypt. “The exhibit aims to tell the world that not all mummies come from Egypt and not all mummies are wrapped,” explained James Delay of American Exhibitions.

The concept for the exhibition began with the German Mummy Project’s re-discovery of 20 specimens within the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums of Mannheim, Germany in 2004. A consortium of mummy researchers used DNA analysis, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT), radiocarbon dating and mass spectrometry to learn more, and engaged the cooperation of 21 world-renowned museums, organizations and collections in seven countries to make this innovative exhibition possible. “I want people to walk away from Mummies of the World saying ‘Wow, I didn’t know.’ I want people to understand that mummification happens in a combination of two ways-either intentionally like the Egyptians-or through the environment which has played a key role in mummification throughout the ages,” enthused Delay.

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual daytime tickets for “Mummies of the World” (which include general admission to the museum) range from $19.50 to $26.50, with substantial discounts available for Franklin Institute Members. Tickets are timed and dated, and admission is 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday (last entry at 3:30 p.m.); and 9:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday (last entry at 7 p.m.). The evening ticket price ($19.50 adult; $14.50 youth) does not include museum admission, and begins with the 5:00 p.m. exhibition admission. Advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended. Information and tickets are available at 1-877-TFI-TIXS, www.fi.edu. Groups of 15 or more save up to 20 percent on tickets with advanced reservations by calling 1-800-285-0684. Members can call 215.448.1231 to receive exclusively discounted tickets.

More information about the exhibition is available online: www.fi.edu/mummies.

“It’s quite possible that Kate had two or three duplicates made to switch out throughout the day if hers became wilted. At a retail price of $1,250 each though, we commoners thought one bouquet would be enough,” enthused Beautiful Blooms Events’ Donna O’Brien.

In May of 1972, my mother walked down the aisle at St. Patrick’s Church in Malvern, PA with her full, fragrant bouquet of Lilies of the Valley. A young couple, only both 21 years of age, money was tight. My mother’s beautiful arrangement was a collection of a clusters of Lilies gathered from her parents and neighbors gardens. A local florist assembled it for $5.

Fast forward to 2011 and the most watched wedding to date. I had a feeling Duchess Catherine Middleton would choose the traditional Lilies for her bouquet. Once I saw the look of her floral design, I was on speed dial with Donna O’Brien of the prestigious floral design and event firm Beautiful Blooms, located in Northern Liberties.

Donna agreed to import the exciting array of flowers—via Europe—to give Philly and Main Line brides the full effect. O’Brien’s interpretation retails for $1,250. Middleton’s arrangement was a stark contrast to that of the late Princess Diana. In 1981, Diana chose a cascading arrangement of three orchid varieties for her wedding to Prince Charles.

Donna O’Brien of Beautiful Blooms:

It should be no surprise that here at Beautiful Blooms Events we are major wedding junkies! Being that, we felt absolutely compelled to devour every single last bit of Royal Wedding coverage from the weeks prior to the day itself. And to be truthful, once it was over and we changed out of our pajamas and went to work, we felt a little sad that it was all over. We then got the bright idea to recreate Kate’s stunningly intricate cascade bouquet! We wanted to know what was in it, how it was made and how much one of our brides might have to pony up to hold it on her wedding day. We put our very own, amazingly talented studio director Bill Schaffer to work on the project and here is what we came up with.

Middleton’s bouquet was designed by Shane Connolly, the florist who decked out the royal couple’s Westminster Abbey venue with eight maple trees. It was composed of blooms native to the U.K. selected for their significance according to the Language of Flowers. The main component, Lily of the Valley, indicates a return to happiness and Sweet William, a nod to her beloved means Gallantry. There were also hand-wired Hyacinth blooms (consistency of love), Ivy leaves (fidelity), and Myrtle (the emblem of marriage; love.) The Myrtle used were stems from a myrtle planted by Queen Victoria in 1845—a royal wedding tradition.

The other amazing thing about Miss Middleton’s bouquet was that it was completely hand-wired. For those of you that aren’t florists that means the designer took each individual stem or flower, taped it to a piece of wire and then wrapped all the wires together. Certainly well over 200 wires!

For our recreation, we decided to use the very same blooms but to work in a bridal bouquet holder instead of hand-wiring all the blooms. The main difference there is that the holder, topped with wet floral foam, allows the flowers to draw water throughout the day’s events. By using a bouquet holder we dramatically lengthen the life expectancy of the bouquet. It’s quite possible that Kate could have had two or three duplicates made to switch out throughout the day if hers became wilted. At a retail price of $1,250 each though, we commoners thought one bouquet would be enough!

The Beautiful Blooms Boutique is located at Liberties Walk, 1021 N. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, Pa (215) 925-3111 . You can join them on their facebook fan page by clicking here.

In anticipation of Mother’s Day, the Flower School is hosting a Mother’s Day Class on Saturday, May 7th from 1pm to 4pm.

In anticipation of Mother’s Day, the Philadelphia Flower School is hosting a Mother’s Day Class on Saturday, May 7th from 1pm to 4pm. Take this class with your Mom and you each save 15% off the class fee. Class is limited to ten students so early registration is highly recommended.

This class will feature the best blooms of spring. Have fun using tulips, narcissus, lily, hyacinth, viburnum, garden roses, and flowering vines! The instructors will demonstrate the proper care for these delicate flowers and a variety of techniques to combine these blooms into a fresh from the garden composition fit for any Mother’s Day celebration.

Philadelphia Flower School, at the Sullivan Owen studio, launched bi-monthly creative classes this March. Philadelphia Flower School uses the world’s finest flowers and practices the latest floral techniques using only the freshest materials of the season in abundance. Classes are taught by floral designer Sullivan Owen and a few special guests throughout the year. Classes are for all skill levels.

The three hour classes, $150 per person, are always followed by seasonal snacks and a photo shoot of your lovely arrangement. Professional clippers and an apron are provided and sent home with you to hopefully inspire more works of fabulous floral art! And, all floral materials, supplies and a container are included in every class. A wide array of flowers is provided and every arrangement is as unique as the designer who made it.

To register or for more information visit their website at philadelphiaflowerschool.com or email: hello@philadelphiaflowerschool.com.

The Philadelphia Science Festival is a citywide collaboration April 15-28 showcasing the impact of science and technology past, present and future.

The Philadelphia Science Festival, the city’s first foray into a comprehensive celebration and collaboration that reaches the scientist in all of us, kicked off Friday, April 15th and runs through Thursday, April 28th. There will be dozens of a broad range, and mostly free, events spread out across the city.

In answer to President Obama’s call for action to “out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world,” the Festival brings together more than 100 organizations of varying sizes and missions for an unprecedented collaboration – resulting in a truly Philadelphia-wide event fueled by the best scientific and educational resources the region has to offer.

For two weeks, the Festival will showcase how vital science and technology are to everyday life with an ambitious range of programs designed to engage and intrigue. Presented by The Dow Chemical Company and organized by The Franklin Institute with a grant from The National Science Foundation, the Festival is part of a national movement to make science hands-on and accessible. It builds on the city’s rich history of originality and invention with dozens of free events at museums, schools, libraries and even street corners and concert halls.

Be sure to follow the Philadelphia Science Festival on Facebook and Twitter

The complete calendar of events is now available on the Festival website, philasciencefestival.org.

Become a fan of the Philadelphia Science Festival on Facebook.

Follow the Philadelphia Science Festival on Twitter: PHLScienceFest

In addition, The Festival will include a series of Science Cafés, food-science events with partners like Yards Brewery, Philadelphia City Food Tours and the Kite & Key. A “sampling” of those events includes:

“Flavor Tripping:” The Magical Miracle Berry
Monday, April 18, 6pm | Continental Restaurant
SOLD OUT
One little red berry can change everything. Pop one of these miracle fruits into your mouth and lemons become sweet and chocolate, well, doesn’t taste anything like chocolate. Before you experiment, you’ll learn about how we taste and what is behind these unexpected sensations. Reservation required. ($)
COLLABORATORS: MONELL CENTER, LA SALLE UNIVERSITY, STARR RESTAURANTS

Melting Moments of Delight: The Science of Chocolate
Friday, April 22, 6pm | Artisserie Chocolate Cafe
SOLD OUT
What makes the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree so darn good? Learn how it’s converted into chocolate while you savor free samples with cocoa scientists from Mars, Incorporated and taste experts from the Monell Center.
COLLABORATORS: MONELL CENTER, MARS, INCORPORATED

From Hops to Stein: The Science of Beer
Saturday, April 23, 7pm | Yards Brewery
Discover the magic behind brewing and the ways in which our taste buds and noses (yes, noses!) process these sudsy delights. While you’re here, quaff a pint of the specially-brewed, limited-edition Philadelphia Science Festival Beer. Ticket Required
Tickets are $20. Click here to purchase tickets on tickeleap.com.
COLLABORATORS: THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, YARDS, MONELL CENTER, TWO GUYS ON BEER

There will also be a series of Neighborhood Science events offered at more than 50 community centers, parks, gardens and Free Library branches across the region; and joint programming with the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA), such as the Philadelphia debut of a modern dance piece called “The Perfect Flower” on April 25. The “jumping off” point for the Festival is a stunt called The Big Jump, where students across Philadelphia will simultaneously jump at 11am on Friday, April 15 to see if their combined effort can generate a seismic event. It is followed the next day by a free Science Carnival on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in conjunction with the Philadelphia Book Festival’s Street Fair.

To learn more, visit PhilaScienceFestival.org or call 215-448-1128.

The Storybook Ball promises to be a magical night full of storybook characters, carousel rides, theater shows, carriage rides, hot air balloon rides, and much more!

On Saturday, April 30, 2011 from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., the Please Touch Museum will be transformed into an international land of play for the family-fundraiser, Storybook Ball! Children and their grown-ups are encouraged to dress as their favorite storybook characters for this year’s International theme. Kids will receive a passport to play, which will enable them to travel lands far, far away where they will find family-friendly international cuisine and performances. This promises to be a magical night full of storybook characters, carousel rides, theater shows, carriage rides, hot air balloon rides, and much more!

“Our Storybook Ball fundraiser promises to be a delightful event for the whole family,” says Laura Foster, President and CEO, Please Touch Museum. “We are thrilled to welcome families to travel the world with us on this special night.”

Guests will be able Travel to Japan, India, Italy, and Brazil to sample authentic, family-friendly cuisine and enjoy live cultural performances representing each of these regions. Please Touch once again welcomes GESU School’s Dancing with the Students to kick-off a Dance Party in Hamilton Hall, featuring music from DJ Prince Charming! Children will have the opportunity to meet some of their favorite storybook characters including Little Nut Brown Hare, Curious George, Wild Thing and more.

Additionally, this year the Ball will have two more magical opportunities: horse-drawn carriage rides in Fairmount Park, and hot air balloon rides at Memorial Hall! These experiences will be first-come, first-serve for an affordable fee, and there will be a limited number of rides available.

Please Touch Museum’s Storybook Ball is presented by the Albert M. Greenfield Foundation and Candlewick Press.

The regular ticket price for adults and children is $40. Member tickets are $30. Children 1 and under are free. Family 4-packs are available for a discounted rate of $140 ($100 for members). Sponsorship opportunities are also available. All proceeds benefit Please Touch Museum’s interactive exhibits and programs. For more information, contact Laura Hollot at 215-581-3160 or lhollot@pleasetouchmuseum.org.