{"id":53908,"date":"2024-04-12T08:58:04","date_gmt":"2024-04-12T12:58:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=53908"},"modified":"2024-04-12T08:58:06","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T12:58:06","slug":"what-to-do-flip-circus-brings-its-big-top-to-plymouth-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=53908","title":{"rendered":"What To Do: Flip Circus brings its big top to Plymouth Meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"\"

Flip Circus<\/p><\/div>\n

When the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus closed down a few years ago, it pretty much marked the end of big touring productions which featured an\u00a0array of performing animals.<\/p>\n

It also pretty much evened the playing field for touring circuses \u2013 except for the esoteric Cirque du Soleil touring productions.<\/p>\n

And it opened the door for a number of talent-laden smaller circuses performing in tents around the country.<\/p>\n

One of those new circuses is Flip Circus,\u00a0which is currently making its area debut under a Big Top at Plymouth Meeting Mall (Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, www.flipcircus.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The new circus, which will run in Plymouth Meeting until April 16, has been dazzling audiences since making its first appearance in 2022.<\/p>\n

Billed as one of America’s best new family entertainment events, the new circus showcases an impressive mix of international human performers.<\/p>\n

Flip Circus melds classic with contemporary to bring a complete circus experience for audiences \u2013 complete with a distinctive red and white striped, 800-seat, climate-controlled Big Top tent. As an added attraction, no seat at Flip Circus is more than 50 feet from the ring.<\/p>\n

Ringmaster Arthur Figueroa returns as host and is joined by Brazil\u2019s favorite clown, Gleyston \u201cBubi\u201d Guiner, who is making his American debut on this tour.<\/p>\n

Hasan Ansari, one of India\u2019s premier circus talents, entertains audiences on the rarely seen Pole Mallakhamb performing body-bending maneuvers on a wooden pole.<\/p>\n

Representing Ukraine are Anastasia & Misha, who perform a synchronized and poetic presentation of dance and acrobatics, and Bingo Troupe with its signature electrifying mix of dance and acrobatics.<\/p>\n

Another Eastern European member of the cast is Pavel Valla Bertini, a fifth-generation performer from the Czech Republic. He performs an awesome act with his one, three and even fifteen-wheeled unicycle skills.<\/p>\n

The Reyes Brothers from Chile demonstrate the incredible, fast paced juggling skills with which they have amazed audiences all over the world.<\/p>\n

And, of course, no circus would be complete without aerial acts, gymnasts and motorcyclists in a \u201cglobe of death.\u201d<\/p>\n

The acts are accompanied by live music performed by the Flip Circus Band.<\/p>\n

Video link for Flip Circus — https:\/\/youtu.be\/euDlW_FPJKo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Show times are 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and 1, 4 and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Ticket prices start at $30.<\/p>\n

\"\"

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

It is now tulip season in the Netherlands. The huge annual Tulip Festival in Amsterdam started last month and will run through May 12. It\u2019s an amazing event to see.<\/p>\n

But if you can\u2019t make the trip to the Dutch capitol, you can still enjoy the spectacle of thousands of colorful tulips at \u201cSpring Blooms\u201d at Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n

One of Longwood\u2019s most popular annual special events, \u201cSpring Blooms\u201d is running now through May 12.<\/p>\n

Right now, the \u201cstar\u201d bloom is the tulip.<\/p>\n

Longwood Gardens celebrates spring with thousands of tulips beautifully displayed along its Flower Garden Walk. Tulips are organized into 15 divisions based on flower shape and origin. \u201cBig Love\u201d is a Darwin hybrid tulip. This division has cup-shaped flowers on tall, strong stems and is one of the most popular tulip types.<\/p>\n

Some of the other showcase blooms this week are Magnolia, Tower-of-Jewels, Double Daffodil, Fritillary, Japanese Flowering Cherry, Virginia Bluebells and Compact Korean Spice Viburnum.<\/p>\n

A new attraction this year is Longwood Gardens\u2019 \u201cScience Saturdays\u201d series.<\/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

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware, 800-448-3883, www.winterthur.org<\/a>) is forging ahead into its 2024 season.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Daffodils at Winterthur<\/p><\/div>\n

On April 13, Winterthur will host its annual \u201cDaffodil\u00a0Day\u201d from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.<\/p>\n

With his collector\u2019s eye, Henry Francis du Pont arranged hundreds of heirloom daffodil bulbs in cloudlike drifts throughout the garden. The day\u2019s events include walking tours of the daffodil\u00a0collection (departing hourly from the Visitor Center Patio from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.) and guided Garden Tram tours.<\/p>\n

\u201cDaffodil\u00a0Day\u201d is included with site admission \u2013 adults, $22; seniors (62 and over) and students (12 and over), $20; children (ages 2-11), $8.<\/p>\n

If you want to see hundreds of lovely trees showing off their pink blossoms, you can find what you want at the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival (http:\/\/subarucherryblossom.org<\/a>), which is known in Japanese as Sakura Matsuri. The event is running on April 13 and 14 in Philadelphia\u2019s Fairmount Park.<\/p>\n

For centuries, Japan has been celebrating the beauty of the elegant pink cherry blossom with picnics under the trees and traditional music and dance performances.<\/p>\n

The Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival offers visitors the opportunity to explore the best of Japanese culture including delicious cuisine, delicate craft displays, intriguing performances and demonstrations of traditional customs.<\/p>\n

The celebration takes place in historic Fairmount Park in the Sakura forest featuring flowering Japanese cherry trees. Most of the cherry trees here were planted in 1926 as a gift from the people of Japan to mark 150 years of American independence.<\/p>\n

The family-friendly festival features taiko drumming, multicultural musical performances and more.<\/p>\n

This weekend\u2019s event will feature a Japanese marketplace, a beer garden and a Japanese cultural activity center. The festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday\u00a0outside of the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. each day.<\/p>\n

A popular venue where you can enjoy flowers up close is Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, 610-566-9134, www.tylerarboretum.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The arboretum\u2019s schedule for this weekend features the \u201cSaturday Wildflower Walk: Spring Edition\u201d on April 13 at 1 p.m.<\/p>\n

At the \u201cSaturday Wildflower Walk,\u201d wildflower expert\u00a0Dick Cloud\u00a0will lead an informative two-hour hike that will take visitors through meadows, woods, and occasionally streamside. These walks are for those who have a love of plants, their role in ecology, or for those who want to learn more.<\/p>\n

Admission to Tyler Arboretum is $18 for adults and $10 for children (ages 3-17) and Military with valid ID.<\/p>\n

This weekend, more than 25 artists from around the Mid-Atlantic region, will participate in the Artists Circle\u2019s \u201cAnnual Art Show and Sale\u201d at Saint Luke Lutheran Church (203 North Valley Forge Road, Devon, 610-688-0122, www.theartistscircle.net<\/a>). The event opens at 1 p.m. on April 12 and runs through 4 p.m. on April 14.<\/p>\n

The popular annual show, which is free and open to the public, will showcase hundreds of original works by members. The artwork will be displayed in the church\u2019s Schlack Hall and will include ongoing demonstrations of painting styles and media.<\/p>\n

The event will feature originals and prints for sale.<\/p>\n

Show hours are from 1-8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and noon-4 p.m. on Sunday.<\/p>\n

The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (Station Avenue, Oaks, www.phillyexpocenter.com<\/a>) is hosting \u201cSuper Billiards Expo\u201d now through April 14.<\/p>\n

The Allen Hopkins Super Billiards Expo is the largest consumer-oriented billiards trade show in the world!<\/p>\n

Introduced in 1993, this show has grown every year and thousands of pool players from around the world reunite every year to enjoy this extravaganza.<\/p>\n

The SBX brings the industry to the people. It\u2019s open to the public so that everyone can meet and mingle with the world\u2019s top players and billiards industry movers and shakers.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re up to the challenge, take your best shot in one of the\u00a0Amateur Players Championship\u00a0events. All contests are battled out playing 9-Ball on barbox-size Diamond Smart Tables.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $20 with free admission for children (13 and under).<\/p>\n

On April 13, 20 and 27, the Kalmar\u00a0Nyckel Shipyard (1124 East Seventh Street, Wilmington, Delaware, www.<\/a>kalmar<\/a>rnyckel.org<\/a>) is hosting \u201cApril Ship Tours\u201d of the Kalmar\u00a0Nyckel.<\/p>\n

Kalmar\u00a0Nyckel\u00a0deck tours are open during the winter \u201cmaintenance season\u201d on\u00a0these Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.<\/p>\n

The $10 admission includes a self-guided tour of the Copeland Maritime Center.<\/p>\n

Ship tours will cancel for inclement weather and safety issues due to heavy maintenance work.<\/p>\n

The ship is a beautiful recreation of the original Kalmar\u00a0Nyckel, which was built in Holland in the 1620s. Her mainmast is taller than a 10-story building, and she carries 7,600 square feet of sail area and six miles of rigging.<\/p>\n

The original Kalmar\u00a0Nyckel was a Swedish-owned, three-masted armed pinnace that sailed from Goteborg, Sweden in November of 1637 and brought the first permanent European settlers to the Delaware Valley.<\/p>\n

In 1986 a group of citizens established the Kalmar\u00a0Nyckel Foundation to design, build and launch a replica of the Kalmar\u00a0Nyckel at a shipyard adjacent to the original landing site.<\/p>\n

The new Kalmar\u00a0Nyckel was constructed there and was launched on September 28, 1997. She was commissioned on May 9, 1998, and now serves as Delaware\u2019s sea-going Ambassador of Good Will. She is a fully functional sail training vessel and has represented Delaware all over the country.<\/p>\n

Every Saturday and Sunday in April, the Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, http:\/\/www.chaddsford.com<\/a>) is presenting \u201cReserve Tastings \u2013 Wine & Cheese.\u201d<\/p>\n

Guests will join the CFW Crew for an intimate and educational 60-minute experience in the Barrel Room.\u00a0The trained staff will guide them through a pre-selected tasting of five widely diverse and award-winning wines from across our portfolio. The selections will be paired alongside seasonal local cheeses and other accoutrements to enhance your tasting experience.<\/p>\n

The staff will also discuss topics such as grape growing conditions at our partner vineyards and the onsite winemaking process from production to aging and bottling.<\/p>\n

The 2024 Pairing Line Up is ’22 Sparkling White\u00a0paired with\u00a0\u00c9clat Blood Orange P\u00e2te de Fruits, ’22 Dry Ros\u00e9: Redux\u00a0paired with\u00a0Fresh Ch\u00e8vre with Local Spring Honey, ’21 Harbinger\u00a0paired with\u00a0Sea Salt Kettle-Cooked Potato Chips with Wild Mushroom Confit, Good Vibes Only\u00a0paired with\u00a0Noble Brie and Small Batch Sour Cherry Spread, and Revolution (the winery\u2019s very first port-style fortified wine).<\/p>\n

Reserved seatings are $35 per person.<\/p>\n

The newest exhibition at the Brandywine Museum of Art (1 Hoffman Mill Road, Chadds Ford, brandywine.org<\/a>), \u201cJamie Wyeth: Unsettled,\u201d opened last month and will run through June 9.<\/p>\n

\u201cJamie Wyeth: Unsettled\u201d\u00a0will trace a persistent vein of intriguing, often disconcerting imagery over the career of renowned artist Jamie Wyeth (b. 1946).<\/p>\n

This major exhibition — organized by the Brandywine and five years in the making — features more than 50 works drawn from museum and private collections across the country that focus on the artist\u2019s arresting, visceral imagery, revealing fascinating insight into Wyeth and the art of visual storytelling. Following its debut at the Brandywine, the exhibition will travel to four additional art museums around the United States.<\/p>\n

As the title suggests,\u00a0\u201cJamie Wyeth: Unsettled\u201d\u00a0focuses on a single through line in Wyeth’s work — one in which ominous stillness, postapocalyptic skies, frightening shifts in scale, and strange vantage points seem to highlight the vulnerability of the human condition. With his startling compositions and a masterful use of media, color and texture, Wyeth creates an immersive, synesthetic experience that both engages and upsets visual and emotional equilibrium.<\/p>\n

While frequently countered and even hidden by the artist\u2019s fuller body of work — particularly his well-known coastal views, farmscapes, and portraits — a consistent thread of darker, more troubling imagery has been a constant in the artist\u2019s work over the past 60 years. His work has evolved from the ultra-realistic visions and virtuoso brushwork of his youth into a mature expressionism in which intense color and dramatic use of paint electrify his canvases.<\/p>\n

As this exhibition demonstrates, Wyeth is at home with uneasy subjects and a master of the unsettled mood in each of these stages of his career.<\/p>\n

The exhibition immerses viewers into natural and supernatural worlds, from works inspired by the artist\u2019s time spent in Maine\u2014which frequently acknowledge the power of the sea and its fearsome ability to render humans helpless\u2014to forest-based works from Pennsylvania that delve into the supernatural side of nature.<\/p>\n

\u201cJamie Wyeth: Unsettled\u201d\u00a0is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue co-published by Rizzoli Electa and Brandywine.<\/p>\n

Following its presentation at the Brandywine, the exhibition will travel to the Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland, ME), Greenville County Museum of Art (Greenville, SC), Dayton Art Institute (Dayton, OH), and the Frye Art Museum (Seattle, WA).<\/p>\n

Museum admission is $20 adults, $18 seniors (65+), $8\u00a0children (ages 6-18) and students with ID\u00a0and free for children (ages five and under).<\/p>\n

On April 6 and 7, Rockwood Park & Museum (4671 Washington Street Ext, Wilmington, <\/a>\u00a0Delaware, 4671 Washington Street Ext, Wilmington, www.newcastlede.gov\/431\/Rockwood-Park-Museum<\/a>) is presenting \u201cGuided Museum Tours.\u201d<\/p>\n

Explore the grandeur, history and beauty of Rockwood Mansion, home of the Shipley, Bringhurst and Hargraves families for 120 years. This tour emphasizes the magnificent mansion interiors and stories of the families that lived there. Reservations are suggested. Tour involves stairs. All ages.<\/p>\n

Tickets for the 90-minute guided tour are $10.<\/p>\n

On April 13 from 7-9 p.m., there will be a \u201cRockwood\u00a0Paranormal\u00a0Reveal\u201d at\u00a0Rockwood\u00a0Museum. This is\u00a0Rockwood\u2019s classic\u00a0Paranormal\u00a0Program to investigate the mansion from the unfinished attic to the decayed basement through the highly polished living spaces in between.<\/p>\n

Guests will be instructed how to use sophisticated\u00a0paranormal\u00a0equipment to be central to the investigation. Visiting investigators will learn how instrument results relate to those who may have once lived or worked at\u00a0Rockwood.<\/p>\n

Attendees must be able to traverse many stairs throughout the museum.<\/p>\n

The event is for ages 14 and older. \u00a0Tickets are $40.<\/p>\n

Hagley\u00a0Museum and Library (Buck Road East entrance via Route 100, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.<\/a>hagley<\/a>.org<\/a>), a 230-acre historical village on the site of the original du Pont Company gunpowder mills in northern Delaware, has a popular ongoing attraction \u2013 \u201cNation of Inventors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Additionally, there will be two special events over the next few days — \u201cScience\u00a0Saturdays\u201d at 11 a.m. on April 13 and \u201cWalking Tour\u201d on April 15 at 11 a.m.<\/p>\n

Science Sparks is a drop-in family program encouraging innovation and creativity as visitors are given a hands-on engineering challenge to complete. Visitors may build, test, and redesign their creation as they take on the role of engineer.<\/p>\n

With the \u201cWalking Tour,\u201d participants can walk through history during an in-depth, 90-minute guided tour each Monday morning from March through December. This week\u2019s topic is \u201cGreat Trees of Hagley.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNation of Inventors\u201d\u00a0celebrates the American spirit of ingenuity by taking visitors on a journey from the early years of the patent system, in the 1790s, through the \u201cgolden age\u201d of American invention, in the late 1800s. The exhibit features more than 120 patent models from Hagley\u2019s unique collection highlighting the diverse stories of inventors from all walks of life.<\/p>\n

Patent models are scaled representations of inventions and were part of the patent application process for nearly 100 years.\u00a0\u201cNation of Inventors\u201d\u00a0showcases patent models representing innovations in a variety of industries from transportation and manufacturing to food preservation and medical devices.<\/p>\n

In the exhibition, visitors will enjoy engaging experiences around every corner, testing their knowledge of innovation and hearing personal accounts from inventors.<\/p>\n

The patent models in\u00a0\u201cNation of Inventors\u201d\u00a0were created between 1833 and 1886. \u201cNation of Inventors\u201d not only features patent models submitted by inventors from the United States, but also models from inventors in England, France, Ireland, Russia, and Spain, demonstrating an international interest in America\u2019s intellectual property system.<\/p>\n

\u201cNation of Inventors\u201d includes patent models from well-known inventors and companies like Ball (Mason Jars), Jim Beam, Bissell, Corliss, Steinway, and Westinghouse. The exhibit presents important topics and timely themes including women inventors, Black inventors, immigrant inventors, improvements in urban living, and the ways Americans learn about and understand progress and change.<\/p>\n

\u201cNation of Inventors\u201d is located on the first two floors of Hagley\u2019s Visitor Center. Visitors can plan to spend about 30 minutes on their self-guided tour of the exhibition.<\/p>\n

Admission to Hagley\u00a0is $20 for adults, $16 for students and seniors (62+) and $10 for children (6-14).<\/p>\n

April 2 was \u201cOpening Day 2024\u201d for Nemours Estate (1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, Delaware, nemoursestate.org<\/a>). The entrance is located on the campus of Nemours Children’s Health, follow signs for Nemours Estate.<\/p>\n

Originally constructed in 1910, Nemours\u00a0Estate is one of Delaware\u2019s grandest buildings and includes the largest formal French garden in North America.<\/p>\n

Nemours\u00a0Estate comprises an exquisite, 77-room mansion, the largest formal French gardens in North America, a Chauffeur’s Garage housing a collection of vintage automobiles, and 200 acres of scenic woodlands, meadows and lawns.<\/p>\n

Nemours\u00a0was the estate of Alfred I. duPont.<\/p>\n

Alfred named the estate\u00a0Nemours, after the French town that his great-great-grandfather represented in the French Estates General. While looking to the past and his ancestors for inspiration, Alfred also ensured that his new home was thoroughly modern by incorporating the latest technology and many of his own inventions.<\/p>\n

The Gardens are one of the estate\u2019s prime attractions.<\/p>\n

The two elk at the top of the Vista are the work of French sculptor Prosper Lecourtier (1855\u20131924), a specialist in animal figures. Lined with Japanese\u00a0cryptomeria, pink flowering horse chestnuts and pin oaks, the Long Walk extends from the Mansion to the Reflecting Pool.<\/p>\n

The 157 jets at the center of the one-acre pool shoot water 12 feet into the air; when they are turned off, the entire “Long Walk” is reflected in the pool. The pool, five and a half feet deep in its deepest section, holds 800,000 gallons of water and takes three days to fill. The Art Nouveau-style, classical mythology-based \u201cFour Seasons\u201d around the pool are by French-born American sculptor Henri Crenier (1873\u20131948).<\/p>\n

Admission to\u00a0Nemours\u00a0is $23 for adults, $21 for seniors and $10 for children.<\/p>\n

Historic Odessa (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, www.historicodessa.org<\/a>) is both a scenic and an historic site in Delaware.<\/p>\n

At the beginning of March, Historic Odessa reopened for spring tours and celebrated the beginning of its 2024 season.<\/p>\n

Known in the 18th-century as Cantwell\u2019s Bridge, Odessa played a vital role in commercial life along the Delaware River as a busy grain shipping port.<\/p>\n

Today, visitors can stroll along tree-lined streets and admire examples of 18th- and 19th-century architecture in one of the best-preserved towns in Delaware. They can also tour a remarkable collection of antiques and Americana preserved in period room settings and quaint exhibits.<\/p>\n

Historic Odessa is open to the public from March through December, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1-4 p.m.\u00a0 The site is also open Monday by reservation.<\/p>\n

On April 13, \u00a0Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822\u00a0Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org<\/a>) will present \u201cHot Spots and Storied\u00a0Plots\u201d walking tour at 10 a.m.<\/p>\n

In life and in death, we all have stories to tell, and what better place to hear tales of wonder than Philadelphia\u2019s most famous home of the dead?<\/p>\n

This tour provides an informative overview of Laurel Hill\u2019s long history, which includes many of the marble masterpieces, stunning views, and legendary stories about Laurel Hill.<\/p>\n

\u201cHot Spots and Storied\u00a0Plots\u201d is the perfect introduction for anyone who enjoys beautiful art, scenic nature, and fascinating history. An experienced graveyard guide will offer a unique perspective. No two \u201cHot Spots and Storied\u00a0Plots\u201d are alike.<\/p>\n

The Tour Guide will be\u00a0Rich Boardman.<\/p>\n

March 27 was the opening date for Chanticleer (786 Church Street, Wayne, www.chanticleergarden.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The Chanticleer estate dates from the early 20th-century, when land along the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad was developed for summer homes to escape the heat of Philadelphia. Adolph Rosengarten, Sr., and his wife Christine chose the Wayne-St. Davids area to build their country retreat. The family’s pharmaceutical firm would become part of Merck & Company in the 1920s.<\/p>\n

The Rosengartens hired architect and former classmate Charles L. Borie to design the house, which was completed in 1913. Landscape architect Thomas Sears designed the terraces as extensions of the house. A 1924 addition converted the summer home into a year-round residence and the family moved here permanently.<\/p>\n

Rosengarten\u2019s humor is evident in naming his home after the estate \u201cChanticlere\u201d in Thackeray’s 1855 novel \u201cThe Newcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adolph and Christine gave their two children homes as wedding presents. They purchased a neighboring property for son Adolph, Jr. and his bride Janet Newlin in 1933. It is now the site of the Ruin. Daughter Emily\u2019s house, located at today\u2019s visitor entrance, was built for her in 1935. It is presently used for offices and classrooms.<\/p>\n

Adolph, Jr., bought his sister\u2019s portion of the estate following her death in the 1980s. He didn\u2019t move into the main house but used it for entertaining and kept it as it was when the family lived there. The house is open for tours by reservation.<\/p>\n

Adolph, Jr., left the entire property for the enjoyment and education of the public following his death in 1990. A nine-member Board of Directors, six of whom are Rosengarten relatives, oversees The Chanticleer Foundation. The garden opened to the public in 1993. There are 20 full-time staff, of whom two manage facilities and 14 are gardeners and groundskeepers.<\/p>\n

The garden has evolved greatly since the death of the owner in 1990. As the home of the Rosengartens, Chanticleer was beautiful and green with impressive trees and lawns. Most of the floral and garden development you see today has occurred since 1990 — designed by Chanticleer staff and consultants.<\/p>\n

There are seven horticulturists, each responsible for the design, planting, and maintenance of an area. The areas are continually evolving, each with its own feel, yet joined together as one complete unit. The Teacup Garden and Chanticleer Terraces feature seasonal plants and bold-textured tropical and subtropical plants. These areas change greatly from year to year. Non-hardy plants overwinter in greenhouses and basements.<\/p>\n

The Tennis Court, Ruin, Gravel Garden, and Pond Garden focus on hardy perennials, both woody and herbaceous. The Tennis Court builds on the idea of foliar display introduced in the Teacup. The Ruin is a folly, built on the foundation of Adolph Rosengarten, Jr.\u2019s home. It is meant to look as if the house fell into disrepair. The Gravel Garden is hot and dry, a touch of the Mediterranean in Pennsylvania. The Pond area is exuberantly floriferous.
\nAsian Woods and Bell\u2019s Woodland are shady areas. The former features natives of China, Korea, and Japan; the latter, plants of eastern North America. The Serpentine celebrates the beauty of agricultural crops. The cut flower and vegetable gardens produce flowers for arrangements and food for the table.<\/p>\n

Admission to Chanticleer is $12 for adults and free for pre-teen children (12 years and under).<\/p>\n

Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum (1237 State Road, Andalusia, www.andalusiapa.org<\/a>) had its \u201cSeason Opening\u201d on April 1.<\/p>\n

Located on a wooded promontory overlooking the Delaware River, Andalusia has been a stately presence on this stretch of water, just north of Philadelphia, for more than 200 years. The ancestral home of the Biddle family, Andalusia\u00a0is\u00a0also a natural paradise of native woodlands and spectacular gardens that have evolved over time.<\/p>\n

Placed on the National Register\u00a0of Historic Landmarks\u00a0in 1966, the Big House\u00a0— one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United States — provides an unparalleled look into our nation’s past, while also offering a glimpse into the life\u00a0of\u00a0a family\u00a0that helped to shape its future.<\/p>\n

Its surrounding gardens delight the senses all through the year, from the tumbling, brightly colored leaves of fall to the floral extravaganza of spring and the abundance and scent of summer.<\/p>\n

Self-Guided Garden Tours will be available Mondays through Wednesdays through November 4 (excluding holidays) at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.<\/p>\n

Visitors can stroll the spectacular formal gardens and native woodlands during a self-guided garden tour at their leisure and enjoy sweeping views from the banks of the Delaware River. Picnics are allowed on the grounds (with a “carry-in, carry-out” policy).<\/p>\n

\u201cUnder the Canopy: Animals of the Rainforest,\u201d which will run now through\u00a0September 2 at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, ansp.org<\/a>),\u00a0is an immersive exhibition introducing visitors to the fascinating world of rainforests and the animals that inhabit them.<\/p>\n

You can learn about unique plants and rainforest ecology as you encounter a live sloth, boa constrictor and other animals that call these habitats home. You will see the importance of rainforests to the planet as you explore interactive discovery stations, dynamic displays and engaging programming.<\/p>\n

Presented in English and Spanish,\u00a0\u201cUnder the Canopy\u201d\u00a0will engage students of all ages, with accompanying curriculums on rainforests, water cycles, the science of diversity, deforestation and soil, how kids can save the planet and so much more. Hands-on interactives are complemented by life-size, climbable animal sculptures, including a gorilla, tortoise, crocodile, red-eye tree frog and Banyan tree.<\/p>\n

All exhibits are included with the purchase of a general admission ticket.<\/p>\n

Admission prices are — Adults (Age 13 and above), $22; Children (Age 2 – 12), $18.<\/p>\n

The Elmwood\u00a0Park Zoo (Elmwood\u00a0Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org<\/a>)<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Elmwood\u00a0Park Zoo (1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org<\/a>) has a variety of special activities coming up.<\/p>\n

The Zoo\u2019s \u201cDog Days\u201d event will be held on April 14, 17, 21 and 24.<\/p>\n

All guests visiting the zoo with a furry friend must complete an\u00a0online waiver\u00a0and submit required documents before visiting the zoo. You must upload a copy of your most recent veterinary visit, including proof of vaccine and heartworm test here. All items will be required for you to attend\u00a0\u201cDog Days.\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u201cDog Days\u201d event is slated to run from 1-5 p.m.<\/p>\n

Pricing is $10.95 per dog with each additional dog at $9.95. Regular zoo admission is required for all humans.<\/p>\n

This is your final weekend to see one of this spring\u2019s top attractions.<\/p>\n

Now through April 15, the Philadelphia Zoo (3400 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia) is hosting the East Coast debut of Thomas Dambo\u2019s \u201cTROLLS: Save the Humans,\u201d produced by Imagine Exhibitions. This represents the first-ever winter feature experience at Philadelphia Zoo.<\/p>\n

The world\u2019s leading \u201crecycle\u201d artist has created these six, folklore-inspired Trolls using repurposed wood. The Trolls are on a mission to inspire humans to take better care of nature. The Trolls, ranging up to 15 feet tall, will be located throughout the Zoo\u2019s 42-acre campus.<\/p>\n

\u201cTROLLS\u201d were created by artist Thomas Dambo, who currently lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark.\u00a0 Born in Odense, Denmark in 1979, Dambo\u2019s mission is to create art that inspires people to explore, have adventures in nature, and show that recycled goods can be turned into something beautiful.<\/p>\n

Dambo\u2019s colossal troll sculptures range in height from 16-50 feet and \u2018live\u2019 as permanent or semi-permanent installations in parks, greenspaces, industrial parks, and in other site-specific locations around the world. Each folklore-inspired sculpture is imbued with expression and character and is built entirely from reclaimed materials.<\/p>\n

Each Troll has a unique name and story. There are six Trolls who will be taking up residence at the Philadelphia Zoo through April 15.<\/p>\n

They all believe rethinking how we live our daily lives will help save the planet for all animals, including humans, and they want to share their ideas. They want all humans to reduce trash, reuse everything, and recycle when they can. The Trolls believe that these actions and others to protect wildlife and wild places are important steps to help save the planet for all animals, including humans.
\nThe exhibition is included in admission to the Zoo.<\/p>\n

At Philadelphia Zoo, the Zoo moves around you.<\/p>\n

Pioneering Zoo360, a first-in-the-world system of animal exploration trails, Philadelphia Zoo has inspired more than 70 zoos around the globe to design new ways to invite animals to travel and roam through their own campuses.<\/p>\n

Passing through treetops, crossing over pathways and connecting habitats, Zoo360 provides Philadelphia Zoo\u2019s beautiful big cats, playful lemurs, and lively monkeys. Visitors can check out the Zoo\u2019s sloth bear cubs in Bear Country, the new Ankole cattle hillside, Amur tigers at Big Cat Falls, western lowland gorillas in PECO Primate Reserve, Victorian crown pigeons at McNeil Avian Center, and hippos, zebras and white rhino throughout African Plains.<\/p>\n

They can also share a space with critically endangered lemurs as they wander through our new Lemur Island, look up as they feed the world\u2019s tallest animal at Giraffe Experience, or get up-close as they hand-serve colorful birds their meals at Wings of Asia.<\/p>\n

Philadelphia Zoo is one of the region\u2019s foremost conservation and education organizations and home to endangered, and in some cases extinct, animals in the wild. By connecting people with wildlife, Philadelphia Zoo creates joyful discovery and inspires action for animals and habitats.<\/p>\n

Admission prices start at $19 for adults and children. Tickets are now available on philadelphiazoo.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ghost\u00a0Tour\u00a0of Philadelphia (215-413-1997, www.ghosttour.com<\/a>),\u00a0Ghost\u00a0Tour\u00a0of Lancaster (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com<\/a>) and\u00a0Ghost\u00a0Tour\u00a0of Strasburg (717-687-6687, www.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 $20.<\/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 $20.<\/p>\n

Grim\u00a0Philly\u2019s \u201cDark Philly History Tour\u201d (www.grimphilly.com<\/a>) will be held every evening throughout the winter.<\/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

Tickets are $35.<\/p>\n

Wonderspaces\u00a0at 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,\u00a0Wonderspaces\u00a0opened a 24,000 square foot gallery space in Philly two years ago.<\/p>\n

Wonderspaces\u00a0features 14 art installations that all play with the idea of perspective.\u00a0 New artworks are rotated 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.\u00a0The average time spent experiencing the show is 90 minutes.<\/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

Some of the current featured exhibits are SPHERES: Songs of Spacetime, ERUPTURE, Rainbow Rooms and RADIANCE (INFINITY BOX NO. 6).<\/p>\n

Peddler\u2019s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, www.peddlersvillage.com<\/a>) will present the \u201cFifth Annual\u00a0\u201cPEEPS\u00ae\u00a0in the Village\u201d\u00a0now through April 14 (except on Easter Sunday).<\/p>\n

The popular event showcases the creative talents of regional residents\u2013and the longstanding allure of the colorful candies. There will be more than 130 marshmallow masterpieces carefully crafted with bright bunnies and chicks in inspired, inventive settings.<\/p>\n

The event will start at 10 a.m. each day except on Sundays when it opens at 11 a.m.<\/p>\n

Weekday and weekday evening visits are strongly encouraged. Lines and wait times can be long on weekends.<\/p>\n

A comfortable way to sit back and enjoy the colors of spring is to take a ride on a tourist rail line train.<\/p>\n

Wilmington and Western Railroad (Greenbank Station, 2201 Newport-Gap Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, www.wwrr.com<\/a>) is running its \u201cYorktown Limited\u201d on April 13 at 12:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Passengers can take a leisurely 1.5-hour round-trip ride up the Red Clay Valley to our Mt. Cuba Picnic Grove, where they can de-train to enjoy a half-hour layover along the banks of the Red Clay Creek to have a picnic or simply admire the natural surroundings.<\/p>\n

Those who don’t want to get off the train at Mt. Cuba can remain onboard and travel further up the line through the communities of Ashland and Yorklyn.<\/p>\n

The \u201cYorklyn Limited\u201d excursion is a relaxing and fun way to spend an afternoon with family or friends.\u00a0This is the re-branded name of the \u201cMt. Cuba Meteor\u201d excursion.<\/p>\n

This departure is powered by one of the rail line\u2019s historic first-generation diesel locomotives.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $18 for adults, $17 for seniors, and $16 for children (ages 2-12).<\/p>\n

The Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com<\/a>) is running a special train \u2013 \u201cThe Wine & Cheese Train.\u201d<\/p>\n

Passengers can enjoy the luxurious, climate-controlled first-class accommodations and a tasting of select wine, cheese, and crackers as they travel in style down the tracks from Strasburg to Paradise and back. The train departs at 6 p.m. and the total trip time is 45 minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWine & Cheese Train\u201d boards 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. Riders must be 21 or older and have their photo ID ready when they board.<\/p>\n

Featured wines are carefully selected from Waltz Vineyards, and cheeses are paired accordingly. Beer and select non-alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase upon request. Riders can purchase a souvenir wine glass on board the train if desired. Glasses are $7 each.<\/p>\n

In accordance with Pennsylvania law, alcohol is only served during the train ride. The rail line is not permitted to serve alcoholic beverages while the train is berthed in the station.<\/p>\n

Departures are scheduled for April 12 and 13 at 4 and 6 p.m. and April 14 at 4 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $70.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Colebrookdale\u00a0Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown,\u00a0www.colebrookdalerailroad.com<\/a>) is running its \u201cSecret Valley Expedition\u201d on April 13 at 9 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. and 14 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.<\/p>\n

The Colebrookdale ride is billed as \u201cyour ticket to a verdant land lost in time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Passengers board one of the railroad\u2019s meticulously restored century-old rail cars for a two-hour expedition into one of the most scenic and historic regions in the northeast.<\/p>\n

Deluxe coach fares are $40 for adults (13-64), $30 for children (2-12), $35 for seniors (65 and older) and $10 for toddlers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times When the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus closed down a few years ago, it pretty much marked the end of big touring productions which featured an\u00a0array of performing animals. It also pretty much evened the playing field for touring circuses \u2013 except for the esoteric Cirque du […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":53905,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[7426,15571,369,5023],"class_list":["post-53908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-featured","tag-flip-circus","tag-longwood-gardens","tag-winterthur"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53908","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=53908"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53908\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53909,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53908\/revisions\/53909"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/53905"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=53908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=53908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=53908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}