{"id":18276,"date":"2016-01-22T09:30:17","date_gmt":"2016-01-22T14:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=18276"},"modified":"2016-01-22T09:21:40","modified_gmt":"2016-01-22T14:21:40","slug":"what-to-do-besides-dig-out-from-the-blizzard-that-is","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=18276","title":{"rendered":"What To Do: Besides dig out from the blizzard, that is"},"content":{"rendered":"

Before and the after the snowstorm, fun things to do when shoveling gets old<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By Denny Dyroff<\/span>,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Staff Writer, The Times<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"motorsports<\/a>

NASCAR Spint Cup driver kyle Larson is featured at the 30th Annual Motorsports Race Car & Trade Show in Oaks this weekend.<\/p><\/div>\n

If you\u2019re trying to figure out what to do this weekend — assuming the weather forecasts are correct — all you need do is open your door anytime on Saturday. The answer to the \u201cwhat to do\u201d question will be \u201cdealing with a blizzard.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Fortunately, some of the special activities scheduled to take place this weekend will start before the snow arrives and continue after the bothersome white stuff has stopped falling.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re into hot cars, then cold days probably won\u2019t slow you down — and snowy roads won\u2019t keep you from your date with all things motorsports this weekend.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 30th Annual Motorsports Race Car & Trade Show will run from January 22-24 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Road, Oaks, 609-888-3618, www.aarn.com<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

The huge annual event will feature close to 300,000 square feet of exhibition space devoted to auto racing, street rods and everything else related to motorsports. There will be hundreds of exhibits, a full schedule of informative seminars and personal appearances by a wide array of racing legends.<\/span><\/p>\n

There will be more than 200 motorsports vehicles of all types on exhibit. A number of area speedways will have displays at the show and offer a great opportunity for fans to meet some of their standout performers and pick up a schedule of events for the 2016 season.<\/span><\/p>\n

More than 600 exhibit booths featuring 400-plus racing dealers, hardcore manufacturers of racing equipment and more will be part of the huge show, which is billed as the biggest and best of its type in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the featured seminar topics will be \u201cThe Basics of Racing,\u201d \u201cSprint Car Help and Q-and-A,\u201d \u201cWhat You Need To Know About Racing Shocks,\u201d \u201cTaking Photos at the Track\u201d and \u201cFast To The Finish In An Asphalt Modified.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Show attendees will have the opportunity to meet and collect autographs from well known figures in motorsports, including NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kyle Larson, retired NASCAR Sprint Cup driver John Andretti and his son Sprint Car driver Jarrett Andretti.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another annual fan favorite at the annual show is the Ms. Motorsports Pageant, which is scheduled for Saturday evening. As an added attraction, there will be autograph sessions with Ms. Motorsports 2015 <\/b>Shelby Harper and a number of the 2016 contestants.<\/span><\/p>\n

Show hours are 2-9 p.m. on January 22, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on January 23 and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on January 24. Tickets for adults are $14 daily or $30 for three-day pass. Tickets for children (ages 6-12) are $5 daily or $10 for three-day pass.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"winterfest<\/a>

Just in case you haven’t had enough of winter, the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest continues in Philadelphia through Feb. 14.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, which is running now through February 14 at RiverRink (Delaware Avenue at Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-925-RINK, www.riverrink.com<\/span><\/a>), is featuring a special event this weekend — the site\u2019s popular annual \u201cBrewfest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBrewfest,\u201d which is scheduled for January 23 and 24, features a variety of free events, including beer talks, instruction on home brewing and screenings of films and television shows that are considered \u201cbeer-centric.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Unquestionably, the biggest draw will be generated by a number of regional\u00a0breweries that will be giving out samples of some of their best beers — Evil Genius, Forgotten Boardwalk and Dock Street Brewing on Saturday from 1-4 p.m.; Weyerbacher, Cape May Brewing Company and Evil Genius\u00a0on Saturday from 5-8 p.m.; and Sly Fox, Heavy Seas and Jacks Cider on Sunday from 1-4 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

The event will also mark the introduction of a new Winterfest collaboration beer — Lodge Cabin Lager. The German-style festbier has been brewed by Sly Fox Brewing Company just for the winter riverside destination.<\/span><\/p>\n

Open seven days a week, the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest is an immersive winter-themed experience with a popular bar and restaurant called The Lodge, winter beer garden-style landscaping, a brand-new light show, and a retail shopping experience from Art Star Gallery & Boutique.<\/span><\/p>\n

The outdoor rink\u2019s hours are 1-10:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 1 p.m.-12:30 a.m. on Fridays, 11 a.m.-12:30 a.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. on Sundays. Skating admission prices are $13 and include skate rental.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"97708_Orchid_Extravaganza_Traub_Daniel_0\"<\/a>

Longwood Gardens celebrates the orchid during \u201cOrchid Extravaganza,\u201d which starts Saturday.<\/p><\/div>\n

The largest family of flowering plants is the orchid — a flower that is acclaimed as one of the most beautiful, delicate and graceful flowers in the world. The Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew list over 20,000 accepted species with about 800 new species added each year. Additionally, horticulturists have more than 100,000 hybrids and cultivars.<\/span><\/p>\n

Every year when January arrives, Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org<\/span><\/a>) celebrates the ultra-popular plant during \u201cOrchid Extravaganza\u201d — an annual event that opens this year on January 23 and continues through March 27.<\/span><\/p>\n

The celebration of the orchid species features thousands of orchid blooms along with a variety of displays and special exhibits throughout its four-acre conservatory. \u201cOrchid Extravaganza\u201d will also feature stunning displays of orchids in planting beds, containers and innovative exhibits.<\/span><\/p>\n

As one of the first plant collections at Longwood, orchids have held a place of distinction since 1922. The site\u2019s talented horticulturists celebrate the beauty and variety of orchids with an artful display that includes a towering 12-foot-tall archway, a spectacular orchid curtain, and hundreds of vibrant Vanda orchids adorning the Silver Garden.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Approximately 5,000 colorful orchids hang from baskets, create inspiring arrangements and adorn unique forms throughout\u00a0\u201cOrchid Extravaganza.\u201d Those who visit the floral extravaganza in March will have the opportunity to see Longwood Gardens\u2019 rare sky-blue poppies in bloom in the Conservatory.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another attraction is \u201cOrKid Days,\u201d which are scheduled for February 15 and March 19. Each \u201cOrKid Day\u201d includes a kids\u2019 performance, craft sessions and the \u201cOrchid Sorting Game.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Admission to Longwood Gardens is $20 for adults, $17 for seniors and $10 for students.<\/span><\/p>\n

This weekend, Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com<\/span><\/a>) will welcome3 visitors to the green house where the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>miniature golf course \u201cFore! the Planet\u201d is located.<\/span><\/p>\n

Linvilla Orchard\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cFore! The Planet\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It features 18 unique educational holes on a variety of topics — 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first hole is \u201cButterfly Life Cycle\u201d and players must putt through each stage of the colorful insect\u2019s metamorphosis. The next five holes are titled \u201cSeed Dispersal,\u201d \u201cBat Sonar,\u201d \u201cFood Chain,\u201d \u201cEvolution of a Golfer\u201d and \u201cBackyard Explorer\u201d followed by \u201cNatural Selection\u201d and \u201cPredators and Prey.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

On the \u201cDinosaur Extinction\u201d hole, players get to hit their balls toward the scientific theory of dinosaur extinction they find most plausible. The remainder of the thought-provoking holes are \u201cRecycling,\u201d \u201cWater Pollution,\u201d \u201cLandfills,\u201d \u201cWild Corridors,\u201d \u201cBird Migration,\u201d \u201cSpawning Salmon,\u201d \u00a0\u201cAlien Species,\u201d \u201cPopulation Threats\u201d and \u201cRainforest Threats.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cFore! the Planet\u201d — https:\/\/youtu.be\/cpvV0OVrv5Y?list=UUcFK4FqIn0TGKhXt09cFrvQ<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The mini-course is open daily from 9 a.m. -5 p.m. through April 3. Tickets are $6.95 (ages 11 and over) and $4.95 (ages 10 and under).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"AAQ_LittleBlues_Beach_942x380.ashx\"<\/a>Another fun activity which is nature-related and educational is \u201cLittle Blue Penguins\u201d <\/b>the popular new attraction at the Adventure Aquarium (1 Riverside Drive, Camden, New Jersey, 856-365-3300, www.adventureaquarium.com<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

The blue penguins, who might be the cutest penguins ever, have arrived at Adventure Aquarium. Australia\u2019s little blue penguins are the newest addition to the Aquarium\u2019s family.<\/span><\/p>\n

Visitors can get up close and personal with the ultra-cute penguins as they dart through the water, waddle around and play together beachside in the all new Little Blue Beach exhibit. These playful beach dwellers are even a little bit boisterous and guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to being totally adorable, little blues are the smallest species of penguin in the world — growing an average of 13 inches in height and weighing in at just 3 pounds. They’ve even earned the nickname \u201cfairy penguins\u201d because of their small stature.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Visitors can also watch the \u201cLittle Blue Penguin Feed,\u201d which takes place at Little Blue Beach every day at 10:15 a.m. and again at 4 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other attractions at the Adventure Aquarium include \u201cHippo Haven,\u201d \u201cStingray Beach Club Feeding Experience,\u201d \u201cMeet the Divers,\u201d \u201cHippo Feed and Talk,\u201d \u201cSwim with the Sharks,\u201d \u00a0\u201cPositively Penguins\u201d \u00a0and \u201cSea Turtles Up-Close.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Admission to the Adventure Aquarium is $26.95 for adults and $19.95 for children (ages 2-12). Children under two are admitted free with a paying adult.<\/span><\/p>\n

This weekend marks the start of a new production at the Candlelight Theatre (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware,\u00a0302- 475-2313,\u00a0www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org<\/span><\/a>) — a production that is guaranteed to have people laughing all evening long.<\/span><\/p>\n

From January 23 through February 28, the Candlelight Theatre is featuring a stage production of \u201cMonty Python\u2019s Spamalot.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"spamalot-232x300\"<\/a>The lively comedy was the winner of three Tony Awards in 2005, including Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical, and the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The Broadway success spawned a national tour — a tour that visited Philadelphia in 2007 and returned to Philly in 2008.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSpamalot\u201d is a musical comedy that is billed as being \u201clovingly ripped off from the film classic \u2018Monty Python and The Holy Grail\u2019.\u201d It features a book by former Monty Python member Eric Idle and music and lyrics by the Grammy Award-winning team of Idle and John Du Prez.<\/span><\/p>\n

The outrageous musical farce tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail. Most audience members will know to be on the lookout for flying cows, killer rabbits and taunting Frenchmen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Performances — starting next weekend — are Friday and Saturday evenings (doors 6 p.m.\/show, 8 p.m.) and Sunday afternoons (doors, 1 p.m.\/show, 3 p.m.). Tickets, which include dinner and show, are $59 for adults and $33 for children (ages 4-12).<\/span><\/p>\n

This is the month for birthday celebrations in Philadelphia for two of the city\u2019s most famous historical figures — Benjamin Franklin and Edgar Allen Poe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last weekend, there were several events that celebrated Franklin\u2019s 310th birthday. This weekend, it\u2019s Poe\u2019s turn.<\/span><\/p>\n

Edgar Allan Poe\u2019s Birthday Celebration will take place on January 23 at the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site (532 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia, 215-597-8780, http:\/\/www.nps.gov\/edal\/planyourvisit\/parkevents.htm<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"basement<\/a>

The Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site in Philadelphia celebrates the author’s birth on Saturday.<\/p><\/div>\n

Visitors can join the park rangers at the Edgar Allan Poe National Historical Site as they celebrate Poe\u2019s 207th birthday. At 2 p.m., there will be a special free lecture — \u201cTracking Poe’s Orangutan in 19th-Century Paris.\u201d\u00a0 Dr. Aaron Freundschuh will explore the fascinating origins of Poe\u2019s famous short story, \u201cThe Murders in the Rue Morgue.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When Edgar Allan Poe ushered the modern detective story into Western literature with \u201cThe Murders in the Rue Morgue,\u201d he made several authorial choices that still mystify readers. First, he set his story in Paris, an unfamiliar city. Next, he famously cast an orangutan as the story’s \u201cculprit\u201d — a wild animal captured in Asia and stowed in a small Parisian apartment until his violent escape.<\/span><\/p>\n

As part of a discussion of Poe’s relationship with French culture, this presentation looks at the author\u2019s reading of cutting-edge scientific research published in Paris in his day. It then turns to the bizarre Parisian legacy of Poe\u2019s orangutan that followed the translation of \u201cThe Murders\u201d into French. Poe was idolized by Paris\u2019s great poets, authors, and artists and his orangutan became a shared cultural reference, routinely evoked in the wake of real-life crimes in the French capital.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Before and the after the snowstorm, fun things to do when shoveling gets old By Denny Dyroff,\u00a0Staff Writer, The Times If you\u2019re trying to figure out what to do this weekend — assuming the weather forecasts are correct — all you need do is open your door anytime on Saturday. The answer to the \u201cwhat […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1265372,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,4],"tags":[6223,84,7027,3817],"class_list":["post-18276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-featured","tag-car-show","tag-longwood-gardens","tag-spamalot","tag-winterfest"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18276","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18276"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18276\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18281,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18276\/revisions\/18281"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18276"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18276"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}