Every one has heard of John Hancock. After all, he was the first to pen his name on the Declaration of Independence. But in case you forgot, the document contains 55 other signers. Tomorrow, meet the authors behind Signing Their Lives Away, The Fame and Misfortune of the Men who signed the Declaration of Independence. From ending up in debtors prison to being lost at sea, here lies the story of the most famous men in American History that we know absolutely nothing about.

We know that on July 4, 1776, we declared our freedom from England. Here is the rest of the story.

Meet the Authors/ Book Signing
Sat Nov 28
11am- 4pm
Independence Visitor Center Gift Shop

Don’t forget, we have free gift wrapping every weekend in December. Hint Hint.

For more info click here

So you might be wondering, what is actually open on Thanksgiving? After all, the big feast isn’t until later that evening and you may need to work up an appetite before sitting down to some turkey and stuffing!

Here is what you can look forward to on Thanksgiving Day!

Thanksgiving Day Parade Did you know Philadelphia has the oldest Thanksgiving Parade in the Country? Well, now you do! Dating back to 1920, this parade begins at 8:15 AM from 20th Market Streets and marches down the Ben Franklin Parkway to Eakin’s Oval. They’ll have floats, balloons, marching bands, special celebrity guests and maybe even a jolly man in a red suit. The Parade runs from 8:15 am to 12 noon.

Comcast Holiday Spectacular the Comcast Center is certainly hard to miss. Not only does it tower as the tallest building in Philadelphia, but it also boasts the largest LED screen in the world (2,000 Square Foot!) Beginning every hour from 10 am to 8 pm, you’ll be treated to holiday show unlike any other because its going to be presented in 3-D! What better way to welcome in the holidays than being able to taste the snowflakes.

Big Bus Tours Why walk when you can ride around Philadelphia on the top of an authentic London Double Decker Bus? See our city on a 90-minute guided tour that includes over 20 stops; taking you from our historical waterfront all the way to the first zoo in the country! Tours will depart every hour from 10:00am-3:00pm

Chinatown Designated as Stop 4 on the Bus tour, Philly’s Chinatown is hailed as the 3rd largest Chinatown in the country. The restaurants and eateries are always open and nothing feeds the hunger like the Chinese-version of the American Brunch, dim sum!

Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell - In a holiday where we give thanks, we cannot forget to give thanks for our freedom. Take a tour of Independence Hall, the birthplace of America and relive the history where our Declaration was signed and our Constitution ratified. Just a few steps away is our cradle of liberty, our iconic symbol of freedom, the Liberty Bell. Both are open until 4 pm. ( No tickets are required to view Independence Hall on Thanksgiving)

And now it’s time to enjoy some turkey! The Visitor Center is closed on Thanksgiving but we’ll see you on Black Friday! Real Philadelphia. Real Easy.

Let’s talk turkey… After all, Thanksgiving is only three days away . But if you’re not visiting family or no one wants to cook, here is a list of restaurants eager to serve you on this wonderful holiday.

City Tavern- Enjoy a traditional family style Thanksgiving Meal in what John Adams called “the most genteel tavern in America.” City Tavern will serve dinner from 1:00pm- 7:30pm.

Moshulu- Why settle on land when you can be at sea? Celebrate turkey day on a boat! Enjoy holiday favorites or sample from their fabulous a la carte menu as you enjoy spectacular views of the Delaware. The Moshulu will be seating from 1:00pm- 8:00pm

XIX- Gobble on holidays treats from the nineteen floor of the Park Hyatt Hotel as they serve up a sumptuous buffet of turkey, stuffing and sides. Can’t beat the view! Seating is 1:00pm – 6:00pm

London Grill- No Basting, Just Tasting! Savor local flavors at this neighborhood gem. A Thanksgiving buffet complete with baked country ham and sweet potato casserole! Yummy! Seating is from 2:00pm- 7:00pm

And now for something completely different…
If turkey isn’t your kind of “stuffing� here are some choice restaurants to fit the bill!

Cafe Spice- to get that Curry Fix- 11:30am- 10:30pm
Chima - All you can eat Brazilian Steakhouse. Mmm… Steak 2:00pm-9:00pm
Charles Plaza- How about some Tofu turkey, Chinese-style? 11:30am to 10:00pm
Gnocchi- Feast on handmade gnocchi with your own choice bottle of wine
Sang Kee Duck House- Who doesn’t love some succulent duck? No, they will not be serving the Turducken 10:30 am- 5:00pm

And just a quick announcement, NO CHEESESTEAKS will be served on Turkey Day. You’ll just have to wait till Friday!!!

For more about dining options throughout Philadelphia, stop by our Visitor Desk where we’ll give you a taste of the town! Real Philly Real easy.

Spending just an hour in Philadelphia can be considered a crime. But coming just to see the history without exploring the arts is just a downright sin! Granted, the bank of time only allows so much in a day but what history may miss, our culture completes.

Here is just a few of the dozens of shows/ performances you can look forward to in Philadelphia this weekend.

Ballet X- Swan Lake, this is not. Combining dazzling choreography with a fresh approach to the classic medium, you have modern dance at its finest. Forget what you think ballet is or was; this is Ballet redefined. To experience Ballet X- click here

The Light in the Piazza- Florence, Italy is the stunning backdrop for this Six Time Tony award wining love story. While on vacation in Tuscany, Margret and her daughter Clara meet a young handsome Florentine eager to capture Clara’s heart. But will love cease to exist if they were to find out Clara’s secret? To see the “Light�, click here

Oliver- Enjoy Charles Dickens classic tale of the boy who asked for more! With a huge cast of 70 including 40 children and 2 dogs, it’s sure to delight audiences both young and old. The rousing score includes “Consider Yourself�, “I’ll do anything� and who can forget, “Food, Glorious Food.� Click here to learn more about Oliver!

To hear more about the Arts in Philadelphia including our own philharmonic , stop by our Visitor Desk to get the Real Philadelphia, Real Easy.

Here at the Visitor Desk, we can’t possibly list everything that happens in Philly every weekend but here is just a sample of what’s in store.

Crash! Bang! Boom! Philadelphia translated in Greek is supposed to mean the City of Brotherly Love. But this weekend, we’ll tweak it just a little and rename it the City of Sisterly Shove to welcome “the Declaration of Derby�, the 2009 Women’s Flat Track National Roller Derby Tournament being held at the Pa Convention Center this weekend! Teams from all across the country including our very own Liberty Belles will be punching, kicking and of course screaming to earn the right to be called National Champs. Click here for tickets and information.

If flying elbows aren’t your forte, simply head down the Convention Hall for the 33rd Annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show . This premier show and sale of contemporary craft brings 195 of the nations’ best craft artists to town for 4 days of demonstrations, sales and sheer bliss for those looking to find that perfect holiday gift!
For more info, click here

And who says public transit and sightseeing can’t be used in the same sentence. Beginning this Saturday, hop on the El train to catch a glimpse of Love Letter, a public art project consisting of 50 murals spread all throughout West Philadelphia. You’ve been on a Duck and a horse and carriage, so why not try a subway car? For more info, click here .

To get a complete list of all the things you can do in Philadelphia, stop by our visitor desk. The Liberty Bell is only the beginning! Real Philly. Real Easy.

Yo Adrian!

Yes, a quote from the world famous “Rocky�. Amidst the fact that he is a fictional boxer, it comes as no surprise that his story is one everyone can relate to. In fact, his famous run ranks in the top 5 topics of conversation overheard at our visitor desk
. It seems that everyone, including myself can’t wait to charge up the steps that he helped to make famous. (Btw- those steps belong to the Philadelphia Museum of Art =)) And to mark the recent release of “Rocky, the Undisputed Collection� featuring all 6 Rocky films together on Blu-Ray will be a parade this Sunday of 1,000 Rockys! No, I kid you not.

Meeting at 8am @ Love Park will be a sea of gray hoodies and black knit caps anxiously awaiting their call to march down the Ben Franklin Parkway to the statue of the gloved one.

And once they’ve arrived, the celebration really begins.
1. Enjoy free soft pretzel, tastykakes, and Snapple from Philly Soft Pretzel.
2. Boxing gloves & Athletic headband giveaways courtesy of Everlast
3. Rocky & Adrian Lookalike contests
4. A Tony Luke's cheesesteak eating contest (with contestants donning boxing gloves) and free samples of Tony Luke’s Pronto

This event is free and open to the public! And…if you were thinking about joining the parade of 1,000 Rockys , there is still room for you to sign up at rockyparade@gmail.com

And be sure to stop by the Visitor Center Desk to get your “Rocky� on! We’ll show you the spots, the stops, and the proper way to say Yo!

Real Philly. Real Easy

Parade of 1,000 Rockys
Sunday Nov 8 beginning at 10am
From Love Park to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art