{"id":47712,"date":"2021-02-05T09:28:26","date_gmt":"2021-02-05T14:28:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=47712"},"modified":"2021-02-05T09:28:50","modified_gmt":"2021-02-05T14:28:50","slug":"what-to-do-football-love-is-in-the-air-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=47712","title":{"rendered":"What To do: Football? Love is in the air, too"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, Entertainment Editor, The Times\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Valentine\u2019s Day is just around the corner. Next weekend, there will be a wide array of holiday events \u2013 many dealing with chocolate and wine.<\/p>\n

The Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, http:\/\/www.chaddsford.com<\/a>) is getting a jump on the rest with an event starting this weekend.<\/p>\n

Every Saturday and Sunday through February 28, the Chaddsford Winery will present \u201cWine & Chocolate Pairings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Participants can visit the winery for an intimate and educational 90-minute experience in the newly renovated Barrel Room and treat themselves to a guided tasting of\u00a0five Pennsylvania-made artisan pairings.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The winery will be p<\/strong>artnering with three local businesses including\u00a0\u00c9<\/strong><\/a>clat Chocolate,\u00a0Birchrun Hills\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Herman’s Coffee<\/strong>\u00a0to provide an unparalleled experience highlighting some of the area’s best sweet and savory selections.<\/p>\n

To provide a safe and comfortable event, only three sessions with a limited number of guests will be offered throughout the day at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. The winery\u2019s masked staff will implement an enhanced cleaning schedule between sessions to ensure a sanitized facility and to provide seating that is spaced at least 6 feet apart from other customers.<\/p>\n

The \u201cPairing Line Up\u201d features <\/strong>2018 Sparkling White, \u00c9clat Lavender Truffle with\u00a02019 Dry Ros\u00e9: Redux<\/a>, \u00c9clat Pear Caramel with\u00a02019 Traminette<\/a>, Birchrun Hills Blue Cheese and \u00c9clat Dutch Pretzel Bar with\u00a02017 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/a>, and Hermans Coffee YAAIMH Blend<\/a>\u00a0and Chocolate Beignet.<\/p>\n

Tastings are $35 per person and offered only on Saturdays and Sundays.\u00a0Advanced reservations are required<\/strong>\u00a0and are non-refundable. Children and guests under 21 years old are\u00a0not permitted\u00a0to attend this program. Pairings are subject to change.<\/p>\n

A trip to the winery could easily be paired with a visit to Longwood Gardens.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Longwood Gardens<\/p><\/div>\n

A visit to Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org<\/a>) always offers welcome respite to the grey brutality of the winter season. This year\u2019s special event is called \u201cWinter Wonder.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWinter Wonder,\u201d which is running now through March 21, celebrates the beauty of winter. It\u2019s all about outdoor spacious, indoor oasis, and the power of story.<\/p>\n

Outside, visitors can find a sense of peace and tranquility as they walk past textural grasses, seed heads and the dramatic silhouettes of trees that stretch up into the sky.<\/p>\n

Inside, they can bask in a world of warmth that features an overhead garden of hanging baskets adorned with such vibrant beauties as jasmine, cape-primrose, and lipstick-plant.<\/p>\n

Visitors will be able to enjoy a paradise of flowers and foliage, bursting with color — all in a beautiful indoor winter wonderland with a tropical twist.<\/p>\n

\u201cWinter Wonder\u201d exists on two levels.<\/p>\n

Both outdoors and in, they can embark on a poignant journey with\u00a0\u201cVoices in the Landscape,\u201d a series of 10 stops throughout the Gardens which can also be accessed virtually from home. In this sensory experience, 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Voices in the Landscape is an Accessible Experience.<\/p>\n

The exhibition features a total of 10 audio experiences associated with specific locations throughout the Gardens, including seven outdoor stops and three stops in the Conservatory. The entire route is accessible without stairs and the length of the route, including the stops in the Conservatory, is about 1.5 miles.<\/p>\n

\u201cVoices in the Landscape\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

As always, admission by \u201cTimed Ticket\u201d — 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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).<\/p>\n

Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116,www.linvilla.com<\/a>) always throws its hat in the ring when it\u2019s time to battle against winter.<\/p>\n

Right now, Linvilla has restocked the shelves of its popular farm market, re-opened its miniature golf course \u201cFore! the Planet\u201d and is welcoming adults to enjoy its Ship Bottom Brewery Beer Garden.<\/p>\n

Linvilla Orchards has partnered with\u00a0Ship Bottom Brewery\u00a0to bring beers in the barn for patrons to enjoy on chilly winter evenings.<\/p>\n

At Ship Bottom Brewery, every batch of beer is handcrafted. The brewery uses only the freshest ingredients — all of which are hand selected by the head brewer.<\/p>\n

Ship Bottom Brewery\u2019s handcrafted ale and lager recipes were created to maximize the complex flavors of malts and hops. Some of the ales will even be crafted with Linvilla\u2019s own farm grown products.<\/p>\n

Daytime fun includes Corn Hole and Giant Jenga along with other favorite annual Linvilla activities.\u00a0In the evening, patrons can enjoy a pint under the stars and, weather permitting, sit around a toasty bonfire.<\/p>\n

The Beer Garden is open Saturdays and Sundays from noon-5 p.m. each day. There will be fire pits and patio heaters. As an added attraction, a food truck will be onsite each day.<\/p>\n

Linvilla Orchard\u2019s\u00a0\u201cFore! The Planet,\u201d\u00a0which opened for the year on January 16, is a highly interactive and playful museum exhibit created by the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. This exhibition pairs important environmental issues with the fun of miniature golf.<\/p>\n

It features 18 unique educational holes on a variety of topics \u2014 butterfly metamorphosis, a tropical rainforest, evolution, dinosaur extinction, food chains and more. Kids of all ages can enjoy playing miniature golf while learning about our environment on every hole.<\/p>\n

The mini-course is open daily from 9 a.m. -5 p.m. Tickets are $9 (ages 11 and over) and $10 (ages 10 and under).<\/p>\n

January 16 also marked the opening of Linvilla Orchards Farm Market. It features fresh produce (with 50 per cent off all vegetables), baked goods and gourmet specialties — including seasonally homegrown and locally sourced fruits and vegetables.<\/p>\n

The bakery opened in the 1960s with the farm market\u2019s famous freshly baked pies. Over the years, the menu has been expanded to include breads, cakes, hors d\u2019oeuvres, apple cider doughnuts and more.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to believe that the first month of 2021 is already in the books \u2013 and that the second First Friday of the year is today.<\/p>\n

Lancaster\u2019s popular First Friday (http:\/\/www.visitlancastercity.com\/first-friday\/<\/a>) is an arts extravaganza that runs from 5-9 p.m. on February 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.<\/p>\n

Unique boutiques and excellent restaurants complement the art galleries, artisan studios, museums, performing groups, professional theater, symphony orchestra and art college that form Lancaster\u2019s arts community.<\/p>\n

In addition to the many galleries, shops, and pop-up musicians that regularly participate in First Friday, the following venues are hosting special events and showcases — Megan Zettlemoyer: Living Ink, Red Raven\u2019s February Exhibit Featuring Stefanie Lieberman and Rachel Beltz,\u00a0First Friday Shopping at Freiman Stoltzfus Gallery,\u00a0First Friday with the Lancaster Chapter of PA Guild of Craftsmen,\u00a0First Friday @ the Lancaster Science Factory,\u00a0Valentine First Friday at Gallery on Market,\u00a0and Protection \u2013 Mural honoring Black Women.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Old City Philadelphia<\/p><\/div>\n

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<\/a>).<\/p>\n

On the first Friday of each month — year-round — Old City\u2019s galleries, studios, shops and restaurants open their doors for First Friday, in an epic exhibition of the neighborhood\u2019s vibrant arts scene.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s top\u00a0ArtPlaces by the ArtPlace Foundation.
\nOn the first Friday evening of every month, the streets of Old City fill with art lovers of all kinds who wander among the neighborhood\u2019s 40-plus galleries, most of which are open from 5-9 p.m.<\/p>\n

Another attraction in the \u201cHistoric Philadelphia\u201d area is welcoming visitors.<\/p>\n

The Betsy Ross House (239 Arch Street, Philadelphia,\u00a0<\/strong>http:\/\/historicphiladelphia.org\/betsy-ross-house\/what-to-see\/<\/a>) has\u00a0reopened to the public.<\/strong>
\nThe well-known and loved story of Betsy Ross sewing the first \u201cStars & Stripes\u201d is tightly woven into the colorful fabric of America\u2019s rich history. The Betsy Ross House, the birthplace of the American flag, is alive with the sights and sounds of the 18th century.<\/p>\n

Visitors can tour the house and then stay a while longer to learn more about Betsy and her exciting life and times through the site\u2019s interactive, historical programming.<\/p>\n

The Betsy Ross House is located in Philadelphia\u2019s Old City neighborhood in the heart of the Historic District and steps away from Independence National Park.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The nearly 300-year-old narrow, winding stairs of the Betsy Ross House are not accessible to strollers, wheelchairs, walkers, or motorized scooters. For guests with mobility issues, the Museum offers a \u201cfirst-floor tour\u201d, which includes some walking and two steps up\/down. The courtyard, including Betsy Ross\u2019s grave and a seasonal medicinal herb garden, the museum store, and exhibition gallery are all accessible.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Admission for the self-guided tours is $5 for adults and $4 for children, seniors, military and students.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show at Franklin Square (Sixth and Race streets, Philadelphia,\u00a0http:\/\/www.historicphiladelphia.org\/<\/a>) has concluded for the 2020-2021 season. Fortunately, the show\u2019s 100,000 lights will remain lit through the end of February during the extended\u00a0\u201cWinter in Franklin Square.\u201d<\/p>\n

Franklin Square\u2019s 180-year-old, historic centerpiece has been renovated and updated into a dynamic state-of-the-art Fountain Show featuring spectacular dancing water effects and colored lights choreographed to music. Visitors can enjoy free Fountain Show performances every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour from noon-9 p.m.<\/p>\n

Additionally, playing outdoor mini-golf on the Chilly Philly Mini Golf course and taking rides on the Parx Liberty Carousel will also be available through February 28.<\/p>\n

Admission to the light show is free. The cost to play Mini-golf is $10 for adults and $8 for children (ages 3-12) while carousel rides are $3 for children 3 and older and free for children 2 and under.<\/p>\n

Grim\u00a0Philly\u2019s \u201cDark Philly History Tour\u201d (www.grimphilly.com<\/a>) will be held every Friday and Saturday night in February and March at 8 p.m. each evening. Beginning in April, the tour will be presented every evening.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Grim Philly will also be presenting \u201cSerial Killers & Cemetery Tour\u201d every Saturday at 2 p.m.<\/p>\n

Participants will have the opportunity to experience unconventional sightseeing off the beaten path. They can enjoy Betsy Ross House, Christ Church, Elfreth\u2019s Alley, and Benjamin Franklin\u2019s Grave, together with tales of serial slayings and psychopathic killers like the Corpse Collector, Frankfort Slasher, and H.H. Holmes.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Ghost\u00a0Tour\u00a0of Philadelphia<\/p><\/div>\n

Ghost\u00a0Tour\u00a0of Philadelphia (215-413-1997,\u00a0www.ghosttour.com<\/a>),\u00a0Ghost\u00a0Tour\u00a0of Lancaster (717-687-6687,\u00a0www.ghosttour.com<\/a>) and\u00a0Ghost\u00a0Tour\u00a0of Strasburg (717-687-6687,\u00a0www.ghosttour.com<\/a>) operate throughout the winter and offer an eerily entertaining evening of true\u00a0ghost\u00a0stories and real haunted houses.<\/p>\n

The Ghost Tour of Philadelphia, which is based on the book, \u201cGhost Stories of Philadelphia, PA.,\u201d is a candlelight walking\u00a0tour\u00a0along the back streets and secret gardens of Independence Park, Society Hill, and Old City, where\u00a0ghostly spirits, haunted houses, and eerie graveyards abound.<\/p>\n

Participants can discover the ghost lore of America\u2019s most historic and most haunted city with stories from the founding of William Penn\u2019s colony to present-day hauntings.<\/p>\n

The activity is open year-round \u2013 weekends, December-February; every night, March-November. Tickets are $24.<\/p>\n

The Ghost Tour of Lancaster and the Ghost Tour of Strasburg are based on the book, \u201cGhost Stories of Lancaster, PA.\u201d<\/p>\n

Participants in the\u00a0Ghost\u00a0Tour\u00a0of Lancaster explore the long-forgotten mysteries of one of America\u2019s oldest cities, with haunting tales of otherworldly vigils, fatal curses, and star-crossed lovers. The\u00a0tour\u00a0provides the opportunity to experience 300 years of haunted history from the Red Rose City\u2019s thorny past. Tickets are $18.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Ghost\u00a0Tour\u00a0of Strasburg is a candlelight walking\u00a0tour\u00a0of the quaint and historic town of Strasburg in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Visitors will experience an entertaining evening with a costumed\u00a0tour\u00a0guide spinning tales of haunted mansions, eerie graveyards, and spirits that roam the night \u2026 in a town lost in time. Tickets are $18.<\/p>\n

One of the best winter activities is a visit to a museum. It is warm, educational and fun.<\/p>\n

A good place to start visiting museums is the Brandywine River Museum (Route 1, Chadds Ford 610-388-2700,\u00a0www.brandywinemuseum.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The \u201cBrandywine Railroad\u201d display at the Brandywine River Museum, an annual event that is fun for the entire family, has been extended through February 28.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrandywine Railroad\u201d features an extensive O-gauge model.\u00a0Five moving trains operate at all times and include a 60-car freight train winding past a village, stone quarry, oil refinery, mountains, Herr Foods plant, running waterfall and animated skating scene.<\/p>\n

In addition to the Brandywine Railroad, the exhibition, \u201cBetsy James Wyeth: A Tribute,\u201d will also be on display through February 28.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Brandywine River Museum of Art<\/p><\/div>\n

The Brandywine River Museum of Art pays tribute to Betsy James Wyeth (1921-2020) with a display of drawings and paintings of and about her in the Andrew Wyeth Gallery, and with a biography of her remarkable life presented in the first-floor lobby of the Museum.<\/p>\n

Betsy Wyeth was her husband Andrew Wyeth\u2019s business manager and curator, with great precision recording the details of every work completed by the artist and encouraging and propelling him to achieve throughout his career. The artist painted his wife many times over the course of their almost seven-decade marriage. The selection of 20 works shown here are both intimate and enigmatic, capturing her elegance while also communicating a sense of elusiveness that the artist was so adept at conveying.<\/p>\n

Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors (65 and older) and $6 for children.<\/p>\n

The Philadelphia Museum of Art (2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia,\u00a0www.philamuseum.org<\/a>) also came back to life in January.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Philadelphia Museum of Art<\/p><\/div>\n

The museum will be open Friday through Monday. Advance reservations are strongly recommended. Tickets are available for each half-hour time slot, up to two weeks in advance of today\u2019s date, with new tickets released every Tuesday.\u201d<\/p>\n

The museum now will be open from 10 a.m.-8:45 p.m. on Fridays and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. It will be closed from Tuesday-Thursday each week.<\/p>\n

Some of the featured exhibits are \u201cExpanded Painting in the 1960s and 1970s,\u201d \u201cArt of Care,\u201d \u201cFault Lines: Contemporary Abstraction by Artists from South Asia,\u201d \u201cHorace Pippin: From War to Peace,\u201d \u201cThe Gross Clinic\u201d\u00a0by Thomas Eakins,\u201d \u201cK\u014dgei: Art Craft Japan,\u201d \u201cBaroque: The Art of Drama\u201d and \u201cGhosts and Fragments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Admission is $25 for adults, $23 for seniors, $14 for students and free for Youths (18 and under).<\/p>\n

The Barnes Museum (2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia,\u00a0www.barnesfoundation.org<\/a>) is another Philly museum that had its resurrection at the start of the new year. It opened with \u201cElijah Pierce\u2019s America\u201d as the featured exhibition.<\/p>\n

\u201cElijah Pierce\u2019s America\u201d\u00a0presents the exceptional work of self-taught woodcarver Elijah Pierce (1892\u20131984), known best for a tour-de-force volume of biblical scenes. His carvings depict remarkable narratives — religious parables, autobiographical scenes, episodes from American politics — and sometimes include figures from popular culture and sports.<\/p>\n

Admission is $25 for adults, $23 for seniors and $5 for youth.<\/p>\n

The Penn Museum (3260 South Street, Philadelphia, www.penn.museum<\/a>) is presenting exhibitions for live visitors and in virtual format for those who prefer to stay home.<\/p>\n

Some of the museum\u2019s featured exhibits are \u201cLiving with the Sea \u2013 Charting the Pacific,\u201d \u201cThe Artifact Lab,\u201d \u201cCommunity Spotlight,\u201d \u201cInvisible Beauty \u2013 The Art of Archaeological Science,\u201d and \u201cAncient Egypt.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are also a variety of specialized galleries devoted to Egypt, Greece, Africa, Mexico & Central America, Sphinx, Native America Voices, Asia, Rome, Canaan & Ancient Israel, Middle East and Etruscan.<\/p>\n

Admission is $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $13 for children (ages 6-12).<\/p>\n

The Museum of the American Revolution (101 South Third Street, Philadelphia,\u00a0www.amrevmuseum.org<\/a>) reopened last month after a long closure because of the COVID-19 shutdown in Philly.<\/p>\n

Visitors can take a deeper dive into untold stories of the Revolution\u00a0with the Museum\u2019s\u00a0new\u00a0Finding Freedom\u00a0digital\u00a0interactive<\/a>, which explores\u00a0the stories of enslaved people of African descent who followed different paths to\u00a0freedom during the Revolutionary War.<\/p>\n

Admission to the Museum is Adults, $21; Youth (6-17), $13; Children (5 and under), free; Seniors (65 and up), Students & Teachers, and Military, $18.<\/p>\n

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia,www.ansp.org<\/a>) reopened with a new exhibition and the continuation of a wildlife photography exhibit.<\/p>\n

The Academy\u2019s new exhibit \u2013 \u201cPermian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs\u201d \u2013 shows the species that predated dinosaurs.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Visitors to the museum can step back in time 290 million years to when bizarre-looking creatures dominated life on land and sea, and dinosaurs had not yet evolved. They can also learn about the most devastating mass extinction the world has ever seen when\u00a0\u201cPermian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs\u201d takes up a year-long residence at the Academy.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

The exhibit <\/em>blends vivid artwork, amazing fossils and full-size scientifically accurate models of moving beasts to recreate this relatively unknown period that ended with the most devastating extinction of life. Visitors will explore odd-looking sharks,\u00a0strange reptilelike precursors of mammals, a vicious giant saber-toothed gorgonopsid, and other extinct creatures that ruled the world millions of years before the dinosaurs.<\/p>\n

\u201cPermian Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs\u201d\u00a0<\/em>will be on view through January 17, 2022.\u00a0 \u201cWildlife Photographer of the Year,\u201d which is l<\/em>ocated in the museum\u2019s new natural-light-filled gallery,\u00a0will be on view through February 15.<\/p>\n

Admission is $22 for adults, $19 for seniors and $18 for children (ages 2-12).<\/p>\n

Wonderspaces at the Fashion District (27 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, philadelphia.wonderspaces.com<\/a>) is an experiential, interactive arts venue.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Wonderspaces features 14 art installations that all play with the idea of perspective.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

New artworks rotate in every few months, creating an ever-evolving, year-round show.<\/p>\n

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.<\/em><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com<\/a>) is a festive, family-friendly celebration with everyone\u2019s favorite Sesame Street friends live and in-person at the amusement park in Langhorne.<\/p>\n

Now through February 24, Sesame Place is presenting its all-new 40th Birthday Drive-Thru.<\/p>\n

Visitors will feel like the guest of honor as they make their way through the bright and colorful birthday scenes, listen to energetic tracks from the popular Neighborhood Birthday Party Parade, and wave to Sesame Street friends dressed in their birthday best.<\/p>\n

Anticipation builds as visitors make their way through a maze of whimsical birthday lights and venture through an illuminated cake of frosted fun. As guests make their way into the park, they will be greeted by even more Sesame Street friends in festive attire atop their birthday-themed floats.<\/p>\n

Tickets for Sesame Place\u2019s \u201c40th Birthday Drive-Thru\u201d are $35 per carload.<\/p>\n

Elmo’s Furry Fun Fest will kick off on January 30 and run through March 21.<\/p>\n

This new event series will offer guests brand new, limited capacity special events where they can celebrate everyone\u2019s favorite red monster during\u00a0Elmo\u2019s Rockin\u2019 Birthday Bash, treat little loves to a fun day during the\u00a0My Fuzzy Valentine\u2019s Celebration, let the good times roll during the park\u2019s family-friendly\u00a0Mardi Gras Celebration, grab cozy jammies to celebrate our favorite feathered friend\u2019s birthday at\u00a0Big Bird\u2019s Pajama Party<\/p>\n

Guests can enjoy these fun-filled, safe, and family-friendly events with everyone\u2019s favorite Sesame Street\u00ae friends. Guests can ride the Count’s Fly By, Count’s Cruisers, and the Sunny Day Carousel during the event plus enjoy fun activities including Elmo\u2019s Balloon Scavenger Hunt, a Furry Friends Dance Party, and a different themed character dining experience each weekend (additional charge and reservations are required). Plus, everyone\u2019s favorite Neighborhood Birthday Party Parade will have everyone dancing and singing along with Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Count von Count, Bert, Ernie, Zoe, Rosita and Big Bird!<\/p>\n

The event schedule is Elmo’s Rockin’ Birthday Bash on\u00a0February 6 and 6, My Fuzzy Valentine’s Celebration from February 13-15, Mardi Gras Celebration on\u00a0February 20, 21, 27 and 28, and Big Bird’s Pajama Party on\u00a0March 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21.<\/p>\n

A great way for chocoholics to satisfy their chocolate cravings is to take a trip to Hershey during the month of February. This month, it\u2019s time for \u201cChocolate-Covered February in Hershey\u201d (various locations around Hershey, 800-HERSHEY, www.chocolatecoveredfebruary.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

It is only natural that Hershey, the town that bills itself as \u201cThe Sweetest Place on Earth,\u201d hosts a month-long celebration in honor of all things chocolate. Hershey has decadent chocolate events planned throughout the month of February.<\/p>\n

Devon Seafood and Steak\u00a0and\u00a0Houlihan’s Restaurant Bar\u00a0in downtown Hershey,\u00a0Cocoa Beanery<\/strong>\u00a0on Research Boulevard, and restaurants at\u00a0Hershey Lodge<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0The Hotel Hershey<\/strong>\u00a0will feature chocolate martinis, decadent desserts, sweet treats and cocoa-infused savory dishes.<\/p>\n

Adults are invited to join the experts at\u00a0Hershey Lodge<\/strong>\u00a0for\u00a0Martini Mixology\u00a0events on February 13 and 27. If wine is your preference, sign up for the\u00a0Hershey Lodge<\/strong>\u00a0Chocolate and Wine\u00a0Demo\u00a0on February 20.<\/p>\n

Hershey Lodge<\/strong>\u00a0will host\u00a0two wine dinners in February \u2013 February 5 at\u00a0Fire & Grain<\/strong>:\u00a0Banfi Wines and February 26 at\u00a0Revelry<\/strong>: Prisoner Wine Company.<\/p>\n

The Hotel Hershey<\/strong>\u00a0will host three wine and chocolate dinners at\u00a0Harvest<\/strong>\u00a0in February — February 11: Waltz Vineyards Estate Winery; February 18: 90+ Point-rated Wines; and February 25:\u00a0Michael David Winery.<\/p>\n

ZooAmerica<\/strong>\u00a0North American Wildlife Park\u00a0will offer\u00a050 per cent off\u00a0admission every Friday in February as part of its Fantastic Fridays promotion. As an added attraction, many of the zoo\u2019s animals are\u00a0more active during the winter months.<\/p>\n

Families will love visiting\u00a0Hershey’s Chocolate World<\/strong>\u00a0Attraction\u00a0on weekends in February for\u00a0Hershey<\/strong>\u00a0Character appearances, double sample days and Hershey’s Workshop events.<\/p>\n

The Chocolate Lab at\u00a0The Hershey Story Museum\u00a0will host its popular\u00a0hands-on classes,\u00a0both in the Lab and virtually.<\/p>\n

The Butterfly Atrium at\u00a0Hershey Gardens\u00a0will feature the Chocolate Malachite butterfly, and kids can have fun searching for cocoa clues to identify chocolate-named garden elements in the Children’s Garden and Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times\u00a0 Valentine\u2019s Day is just around the corner. Next weekend, there will be a wide array of holiday events \u2013 many dealing with chocolate and wine. The Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, http:\/\/www.chaddsford.com) is getting a jump on the rest with an event starting this weekend. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":47706,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[5185,3581,7426,967,369,12051,9588,13386],"class_list":["post-47712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-betsy-wyeth","tag-chaddsford-winery","tag-featured","tag-first-friday","tag-longwood-gardens","tag-old-city-philadelphia","tag-philadelphia-museum-of-art","tag-philly-ghost-tour"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47712","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=47712"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47712\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47713,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47712\/revisions\/47713"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/47706"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=47712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=47712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=47712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}