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Brittany Sims



Arts & Culture  / Things To Do
Wawa Welcome America Is Back In Philly This Year!
Brittany Sims Posted On June 8, 2021

Wawa Welcome America Is Back In Philly This Year!

Fourth of July will be here before you know it and that means the Wawa Welcome America concert is finally back!

After a year of having live entertainment be shut down, it is now coming back to Philly ferociously and quickly.

The Wawa Welcome America concert is a live music celebration that takes place on Independence Day every year and what better place to have it than in the birthplace of America- right here in Philly!

Bebe Rexha and Flo Rida will headline the festival this year. However, you won’t be going to watch it at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway because it is being moved to The Mann Center.

Of course, the live fireworks display above the Philadelphia Museum of Art will be back again this year.

This announcement comes after the capacity restrictions have been lifted in Pennsylvania and Philly is about to follow through starting on June 11th. Philly will also be hosting the Made in America concert again on Labor Day weekend. The line-up has yet to be announced.

The festival will run for 16 days, from June 19 to July 4- from Juneteenth to The Fourth of July, focusing on Black History and multicultural education.

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Throughout the 16 days, other museums and attractions will offer free admission on certain days. And Wawa Hoagie Day will be celebrated on July 1st at Independence Mall.

Last year’s events were held virtually with headliners Jason Derulo and Cynthia Erivo, who performed from The Met Philadelphia. No live fireworks were held.

To keep everyone safe, free tickets will be required. Attendance will be chosen via a drawing and attendance at the Mann will be limited. Pre-Registration will begin later this month.


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Arts & Culture  / Food  / Things To Do
Events In Philly For Pride Month You Should Check Out
Brittany Sims Posted On June 7, 2021

Events In Philly For Pride Month You Should Check Out

June is Pride Month and Philadelphia proudly celebrates Philly Gay Pride Month. With the pandemic taking away events last year, this year’s events are back and stronger than ever. With many different events and celebrations, there is something for everyone. So grab your friends- gay or not- and have some fun celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.

Here are some Pride events and celebrations you can attend in Philly.

Gay Pride Drag Tea by Sofitel Philadelphia

Events In Philly For Pride Month You Should Check Out - Gay Pride Drag Tea
Events In Philly For Pride Month You Should Check Out – Gay Pride Drag Tea

You can sip or spill some tea with some fabulous drag queens in Rittenhosue Square. This takes place on Saturday June 5, 12, and 19 from 2 to 4 PM. Find out more here.

Women’s Party: Sip City Mixer on the River

Happy hour/social mixer for woman-identified LGBTQIA Philly community. It takes place Friday, June 11 from 6 to 9 PM at the Cavanaugh’s River Deck.

qFest presents PrideFLIX; The Virtual Pride Film Festival

Starting June 1, come watch a bunch of LGBTQ+ documentaries, feature films, short films, and web series. Tickets range from $7 to $10.

Pride Night at Philadelphia Zoo

On June 18, come to the Philadelphia Zoo during Friday Night Dinos and Bites between 5 and 8 PM. General Admission is $24.

LGBTQIA Teen Circus Workshop at Philadelphia School of Circus Arts

Events In Philly For Pride Month You Should Check Out - Philadelphia School of Circus Arts
Events In Philly For Pride Month You Should Check Out – Philadelphia School of Circus Arts

 On June 12 from 12 to 1:30 PM, Philadelphia School of Circus Arts will introduce LGBTQIA teens to the Circus arts. The event is free, but registration is required.

Love is Love Beer Release benefiting The Trevor Project

Come try a new Strawberry Blonde Ale at Evil Genius Beer Company, 1727 N. Front St. all month long.

Four Charity Happy Hour from Evil Genius Beer Company

Evil Genius Beer Company brings back their weekly charity happy hour just in time for pride. On Thursday, June 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 6 to 8PM, kick off Philadelphia Beer Week.

Pride in the Park Pride Day at Parks on Tap

On Saturday, June 12 from 12PM to 6PM, come to South S. and S. 27th Street and enjoy food, drinks, river views, and comfortable seating. Admission is free.

Gay Pride Run for William Way LGBT Community Center

Every year in June, Sofitel Philadelphia announces a year-round benefit for a local LGBTQ charity. During the entire month of June, and through the rest of 2021, Sofitel Philadelphia will donate one dollar per each banquet menu item designated with the WWCC’s logo on the menu at Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square.  

Hall of LGBTQ Flags Exhibit

Sofitel Philadelphia invites the community to celebrate Philadelphia’s Pride rainbow flag on the outside of the building in June. An oversize rainbow flag, with Philly’s addition of the brown and black stripes to honor diversity in the community, greets visitors as they enter to the left of the front doors. Inside look for the lobby to be renamed Philadelphia’s LGBTQ Hall of Flags. This takes place all month long at Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square- 120 S. 17th S.

Without a Cue Pride Discounts

Without a Cue Productions celebrates Philly Gay Pride Month with $5 off the new mystery walking tours in Historic Philadelphia. The Bucks County female-owned theatrical company celebrates the launch in Philly with a five-dollar savings for any walking tour in the entire month of June using promo code PRIDE5 at the above website.

Artists at Work in Northern Liberties

On Saturday, June 12 from 5 to 7PM, head to various businesses in Northern Liberties for a celebration that features local artists showcasing and making their wares, including several featured LGBTQ artists. This event is free and open to the public.

BOS Philly Dance Party and Pride Night at Concourse Dance Club

Events In Philly For Pride Month You Should Check Out - BOS Philly Dance Party
Events In Philly For Pride Month You Should Check Out – BOS Philly Dance Party

On Friday, June 11, head to 1635 S. Market Street for an epic dance party. Tickets are $25 each. Save $5 with promo code BOS2021. 

Free Walk-in COVID 19 Vaccinations

Philadelphia FIGHT presents free walk-in vaccinations in the heart of the gayborhood at their location at 1233 Locust Street on the 2nd Floor. For more info or to make an appointment: www.fight.org or 267-436-3126.

So now matter what you like to do there is something for everyone. The pandemic put a lot of LGBTQ+ businesses out of business so make sure you support them. 


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Things To Do
IDEA Works At The Franklin Institute Is More Than Just Crayons
Brittany Sims Posted On May 25, 2021

IDEA Works At The Franklin Institute Is More Than Just Crayons

The Franklin Institute holds special exhibits every year such as The Titanic, Marvel, Art Of the Brink, Star Wars, and more. Currently, they are hosting Crayola IDEA Works: The Creativity Exhibition.

However, even though Crayola is hosting it, the exhibit is not all coloring and crayons. They partnered with the science museum to break down the creative process and also took them under the sea and into space.

When you first enter the exhibit, you grab a rainbow bracelet and then go to a kiosk, select a color and symbol. Then you walk into another room where you watch a video on a large screen explaining the creative process.

After the video is over, you walk into another room to start the exhibit. There are big hubs set up with the letters I-D-E and A. You have to answer two questions, which give you two options, then there are two activities that go with each activity. There are either drawing, building something, or problem solving.

IDEA Works At The Franklin Institute - Crayola Crayons
IDEA Works At The Franklin Institute – Crayola Crayons

Then when you enter the next room, in which you walk through a rainbow tunnel and up a ramp, you are taken under the sea and into space, in which you answer more questions and then do activities, such as coloring in a shirt that stands for an important cause, like getting plastic out of the oceans. As for the space part, you can do a newscast about the weather in space and hit an animated ball at a target.

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After you go through the whole journey you walk through another rainbow arch, where you scan your band once again and you figure out what color you are and what your creative style is. Then you enter the gift shop at the end.

IDEA Works At The Franklin Institute - Interactive Fun
IDEA Works At The Franklin Institute – Interactive Fun

The exhibit is fun for all ages, not just children, even though it is depicted like it because it is advertised by Crayola.

The exhibit closes July 18th, so make sure you get your tickets if you want to check it out and stay updated on what the Institute will bring in next.




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Philly Pride Will Not Take Place In June This Year
Brittany Sims Posted On May 18, 2021

Philly Pride Will Not Take Place In June This Year

Pride month is June and even though you can’t move Pride Month, sadly the Pride events can be moved. Because of COVID-19, the annual pride celebration will be held on Labor Day weekend, Saturday, September 4th, this year.

The summertime event was not held at all last year, so at least it is happening in 2021. Philly Pride, which is the largest in the region, and welcomes around 25,000 attendees, is going to look different this year. They are calling it Pride Lite.

No public parade will take place, just the ticket festival at Penn’s Landing. However, due to the changing limitations there could be a cap on tickets, which means attendees would have to buy tickets in advance, which usually cost $15. There will be no headliner and the organizers are not even sure about food and drinks.

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OutFest, which takes place in the Gayborhood, is the city’s National Coming Out Day block party. However, that is completely cancelled this year with no tentative reschedule day.

With COVID restrictions being eased and mask mandates no longer in effect, the pride celebration may be able to go on as planned. Updates will be posted on their Facebook page.

Pride Month is next month. Make sure you tell those in the LGBTQ+ community that they are loved and accepted.


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Pennsylvania To Ease COVID Restrictions By June
Brittany Sims Posted On May 11, 2021

Pennsylvania To Ease COVID Restrictions By June

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. With more residents in Pennsylvania getting vaccinated, the Governor has decided to ease some restrictions in the state, starting on May 31st, Memorial Day.

“We continue to make significant progress in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19 and as more Pennsylvania adults get vaccinated and guidance from the CDC evolves, we can continue to move forward with our reopening efforts,” Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam said in a news statement.

This means that capacity restrictions on bars, restaurants and indoor and outdoor gatherings will stop being enforced. The mask mandate will still be in place, until 70% of the population is vaccinated. And social distancing is still required.

However, according to The Health Department, if you are fully vaccinated you do not need to wear a mask outside. But if you feel comfortable doing that, certainly do it.

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The Health Department also stated that school districts and municipalities are allowed to continue their own restrictions. And many colleges are requiring their students to get vaccinated.

However, Philadelphia is still reviewing this plan and so far, does not have any plans to change their restrictions.

This is great for businesses and residents and many people will be able to get jobs.

Life is slowly getting back to normal, but with just a few restrictions.


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President Joe Biden Visited 30th Street Station
Brittany Sims Posted On May 4, 2021

President Joe Biden Visits 30th Street Station

Celebrating 100 days in office, President Joe Biden visited Philadelphia on Friday, April 30th and stopped at 30th Street Station. He came to mark Amtrak’s 50th anniversary and also to push his $3.3 trillion jobs and infrastructure plan.

The president has a long relationship with Amtrak and wanted an employee, Blake Weaver, who he would always see when he rode from Wilmington, DE, to Washington, D.C. to be present. The president would take these rides when he was a senator, and the Senate was in session and even rode it sometimes as Vice President. He was referred to as “Amtrak Joe.” The conductor told CBS Philly that he treated everyone like family.

He came to know some of the riders so well that he threw annual Christmas parties for them and even attended funerals of some employees who passed away.

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While there, President Biden talked about his American Jobs Plan, which includes an $80 million budget for upgrading American railways including Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.

President Joe Biden Visits 30th Street Station - 8200 trips and counting
President Joe Biden Visits 30th Street Station – 8200 trips and counting

However, for security reasons, he flew from D.C. to Philly, this time around. When he returned to Delaware after his time as VP ended, Biden told CNN that he had taken more than 8,200 round trips and traveled more than 2 million miles on Amtrak.

This is the third time he has visited the City of Brotherly Love during his time in office. We hope to see him back real soon.


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You May Get Free Wawa For Getting Your COVID Vaccine
Brittany Sims Posted On May 4, 2021

You May Get Free Wawa for Getting Your COVID Vaccine

Sometimes people like to be rewarded for doing things. The Pennsylvania Convention Center knows that and is offering free Wawa Coffee.

The FEMA run vaccination center offered free coffee on May 1st to the first 5,000 people who showed up to receive their vaccine. The center had Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer vaccines.

The Convention Center, like many other places, is taking appointments but also offering walk-ins because of the extra vaccines they have daily.

Other places are also offering incentives after you get vaccinated, like coupons for stores (CVS, ACME), rubber bracelets, stickers and more.

According to city data, as of the end of April, 28.5% of Philadelphia residents are fully vaccinated and 43.7% are partially vaccinated. 49% of Pennsylvanians are half vaccinated, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

So, make sure to schedule your appointment or walk-in to a clinic so we can get this city to herd immunity. Plus, you could enjoy a free cup of coffee.


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Food  / Sports
Wells Fargo Center Got Rid of Popular Food Stands
Brittany Sims Posted On May 3, 2021

Wells Fargo Center Got Rid of Popular Food Stands

Just as the Wells Fargo Center is letting fans back into the stadium for sports, three food brands will no longer be served.

Lorenzo’s & Sons pizza, Campo’s Deli, and Rita’s Water Ice are the three food brands that fans can no longer enjoy if they go to see a game or concert at the WFC. These three businesses did not renew their partnership with the arena after a year-long shut down, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Because of the capacity being limited, the amount of food being served has been cut down. The arena’s vendors pay them for the rights to sell. The stands are staffed by Aramark, which they have been since it opened in 1996.

Lorenzo’s, which was known for their 28-inch pizza on South Street, opened at the center in 2013. The sign is now covered up and Aramark now serves big slices of pizza apart from Lorenzo’s since the reopening.

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Three Rita’s stands that opened at Wells Fargo in 2016 are now empty. Denise Campo, an owner of Campo’s, confirmed that the business will no longer be at the center, but you can still get their delicious cheesesteaks at Citizens Bank Park. 

The center is aiming to have local food stands at the arena.

The Wells Fargo Arena is following all health and safety protocols with limited capacity, masks, and social distancing. They are aiming to bring back full-capacity concerts this fall and beyond.


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Arts & Culture  / Things To Do
Big Time Encounter Is Open at the Philadelphia Zoo
Brittany Sims Posted On April 28, 2021

Big Time Encounter Is Open at the Philadelphia Zoo

Lions and tigers and dinosaurs…. oh my! The Big Time Encounter Exhibit is now open at the Philadelphia Zoo. It opened March 25th and goes until September 30th.

The new exhibit features 24 life-size, animatronic animals. They range from T-Rex to the Woolly Mammoth and take guests from the Age of Dinosaurs to today with a variety of landscapes, sights and sounds.

The three big focuses of the exhibit are 250 million years ago when Alamosaurus and T-Rex roamed the earth, 66 million years ago when an asteroid hit the earth and made dinosaurs extinct, and 70,000 years ago, when humans spread throughout the earth and met saber-tooth tigers, birds bigger than ostriches, and gorilla-sized lemurs.

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What’s even better is all of the dinosaurs were created in Media, PA at DinoDon Inc. They are the most accurate, full-sized robotics yet made.

But the real reason for this exhibit is to bring awareness to the animals that are going extinct or endangered. Guests will also return to present day to see these animals, such as the Sumatran rhino, polar bears, African elephants, and monarch butterflies.

At the end of the experience, Big Time encourages guests to take the pledge to help endangered animals and enact change for the future so humans and animals can live and thrive together. Guests can take a pack of seeds and grow a plant garden to attract animals like the monarch butterfly or take a postcard to sign an electronic petition to advocate for actions aimed at addressing wildlife extinction. One last thing they can do is advocate for 30×30, which is asking national and world leaders to protect 30% of lands and oceans by 2030.

Guests can also grab dinosaur-themed food, along with merchandise and keys that they can use throughout the exhibit.

Tickets are now available online for the seasonal experience. They are the cost of general zoo admission ($24) for those 12 years and older.

Health and safety protocols are still in effect at the zoo including masks and social distancing.

So grab your tickets time and go back in time to see the dinosaurs while also saving the wildlife.


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Tiffany’s Diner Reopens in the Northeast – Review
Brittany Sims Posted On April 21, 2021

Tiffany's Diner Reopens in the Northeast- Review

Tiffany’s Diner, now called Tiffany on the Boulevard, reopened its doors a few weeks ago. The diner closed last March, due to the pandemic and underwent some reconstruction in the meantime.

During that time, Tiffany’s goers were missing their favorite spot and didn’t know if they would reopen, like many other restaurants, but they did!

The outside even looks different. The sign and steps are renovated and look really nice. As soon as you step into the doors, which you can go through either side, there is a beautiful chandelier hanging from the ceiling and really cool, double glass doors that open slowly as you push them.

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When you step inside, the whole place is remodeled. Where the registers and bar once was is now a little bakery section. The register is off to the side and the walls are all wood and the floor looks shiny and new. Multicolored pillars and windows aline the walls. It looks really nice. There is even a big chair against the wall that would be awesome to take pictures in if it wasn’t for COVID.

Tiffany's Diner Reopens in the Northeast - Remodeled Interior
Tiffany’s Diner Reopens in the Northeast – Remodeled Interior

The wait wasn’t that long and everyone was pretty much spaced out. Only 4 people are allowed at a table, for safety. The staff was very nice and right on top of things. However, a diner doesn’t typically have a lot of food, to begin with, but this establishment seemed to have cut down its menu.

Tiffany's Diner Reopens in the Northeast - Menu
Tiffany’s Diner Reopens in the Northeast – Menu

They gave everyone rolls and butter for the table, which were good, and if you ordered what they considered a meal, you got to choose between soup or salad.

I had ordered the meatball parm sandwich and fries. I really like the fries. They were big and had good seasoning on them. The sandwich was just ok. Everyone else at my table ordered steaks and they said they have had better.

Tiffany's Diner Reopens in the Northeast - Meatball Parm Sandwich
Tiffany’s Diner Reopens in the Northeast – Meatball Parm Sandwich

Maybe to the regulars, the food is good or maybe I’m just used to diners for breakfast or late-night french fry and milkshake visits, but the reopening (food-wise) was kind of a letdown.

If you want to check out the new design and eat some food, they are open every day from 10 am to 10 pm.

Rating: 8.0


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