Online Ticket Scalpers Selling Pope Visit Train Tickets For Up to 4x Face Value For Philadelphia Visit

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Ticket scalpers are reportedly trying to profit off of the papal visit.

Some people on e-Bay and Craigslist are trying to sell their train tickets during the Pope’s visit for up to $40; four times the ticket’s face value.

But, there is one problem for those sellers, the tickets are not even close to being sold out.

A SEPTA spokesperson is urging those who are interested in a ticket to visit their website and pay the standard rate of $10 a ticket.

Celebrate Religious liberty At The National Museum Of American Jewish History During Papal Visit And World Meeting Of Families In Philadelphia

Family-friendly exhibition and iconic artifacts

celebrating religious liberty will be on view

Museum open late September 26

The National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH) is pleased to announce that it will be offering several experiences to serve those who will be visiting Philadelphia to participate in Pope Francis’s visit and the World Meeting of Families. The Museum will be open until 8 pm on Saturday, September 26 to accommodate those who attend the Pope’s historic address at Independence Hall.

“We are thrilled to be a part of this historic visit,” says Ivy Barsky, CEO and Gwen Goodman Director of NMAJH. “So much of what Pope Francis teaches is echoed in our galleries. We believe that those who are inspired by him will also be inspired by the experiences we offer at the Museum.”  Impossible to miss is the Moses Ezekiel sculpture of Religious Liberty, which stands directly in front of the Museum, reaching a hand out to Independence Mall.  The sculpture, carved from a single block of carrara marble in Rome, was commissioned by B’nai B’rith for the U.S. Centennial and dedicated in Fairmont Park in 1876, rededicated for the Bicentennial in 1976, and in 1986 moved just north of the Museum, where NMAJH used to share its space with historic Congregation Mikveh Israel. The sculpture was finally relocated, through the generous support of Daniel and Joanna Rose, to its current site in front of the Museum on the occasion of its reopening in 2010.

Inside the Museum, visitors will have a unique opportunity to view the original, iconic 1790 letter from George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island. In the letter, to which NMAJH has been proud home for the past three years, and will be for another seven, America’s first president proclaims “the government of the United States … gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance,” underscoring the new nation’s commitment to religious liberty and equality for people of all faiths. Alongside this letter will appear the letter that George Washington wrote to the Roman Catholic community (on loan to the Museum by the Archdiocese of Baltimore) to similarly assure that community of its rights as citizens.  “We believe that the presentation of these documents side by side provides a profound affirmation of the importance of religious liberty in this country, and is a tangible testament to the values Pope Francis will be addressing while speaking in front of Independence Hall, just steps from our Museum,” says Josh Perelman, Chief Curator and Director of Exhibitions and Collections at NMAJH. The documents will be on display side by side from September 22 – October 4.

For all of the families that will be in town during this time, NMAJH will be presenting family-friendly exhibition Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile and Friends. Named for one of the more than three dozen books native Philadelphian Bernard Waber wrote and illustrated, the exhibition features a broad selection of original illustration art and preliminary sketches for his now classic picture books. The whimsical characters in Waber’s books address values that will be celebrated during the World Meeting of Families, including the importance of friendship, sharing, and family. The exhibition opens August 27 and will be on view through November 1. Children 12 and under will, as always, enjoy free admission.

A self-guided tour of the core exhibition highlighting the centrality of family in Jewish American history will be provided to all visitors.

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Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile and Friends: The Art of Bernard Waber is organized by The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, Massachusetts. Support for the organization of this exhibition has been generously provided by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Lyle image: Illustration © 1969 by Bernard Waber

Major support for this exhibition at NMAJH has been provided by Hallee and David Adelman, Jen Mendel and Fred Fox, the Louis and Bessie Stein Foundation Fund #2 Audrey Merves, Trustee, and the Solomon and Sylvia Bronstein Foundation. Additional support by Lee Meyerhoff Hendler, Elaine L. Lindy, and The Rittenhouse Foundation.

                                                                               

The National Museum of American Jewish History, located on historic Independence Mall in Philadelphia, brings to life the 360-year history of Jews in America.  Tracing the stories of how Jewish immigrants became Jewish Americans, the Museum invites visitors of all backgrounds to share their own stories and reflect on how their histories and identities shape and are shaped by the American experience. An open door for all, NMAJH honors the past and contributes to a better future by sharing the power of imagination and ideas, culture and community, leadership and service, in ways that turn inspiration into action.

The National Museum of American Jewish History is located at 101 South Independence Mall East at the corner of Fifth and Market Streets in Philadelphia. Museum hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am - 5:30 pm. NMAJH is closed most Mondays, including federal holidays and some Jewish holidays. Museum admission is $12.00 for adults, $11.00 for senior citizens and youth, free for children 12 and under, Museum Members, and active military with ID. For more information, visit NMAJH.org or call 215.923.3811.

The Barnes Foundation Announces Extended Hours And Special Tours for World Meeting Of Families

To accommodate more visitors during the World Meeting of Families, the Barnes Foundation will extend hours and provide special tours between September 21^st and September 25, 2015. The Barnes Collection and special exhibitions Strength and Splendor: Wrought Iron from the Musée Le Secq des Tournelles, Rouen, and Ellen Harvey: Metal Painting will be open from 10am – 8pm, Monday, September 21 through Friday, September 25, including Tuesday, September 22, a day the Foundation is usually closed to the public. The Foundation will be open from 10am – 5pm the following week, including Tuesday, September 29.

“With the world’s most important collection of post-impressionist and early modern art and an exciting line-up of tours and programs, it is important for the Barnes Foundation to be as accessible as possible for visitors from around the world who are coming to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families and the Papal Visit,” said Thom Collins, Executive Director and President of the Barnes Foundation. “We have developed award-winning programs and tours that we know will be entertaining and educational for families visiting Philadelphia in September.”

The extended hours of the Barnes Foundation (2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia) are:

Monday, September 21, 2015: 10am – 8pm

Tuesday, September 22, 2015: 10am – 8pm

Wednesday, September, 23, 2015: 10am – 8pm

Thursday, September, 24, 2015: 10am – 8pm

Friday, September 25, 2015: 10am – 8pm

Saturday, September 26, 2015: CLOSED

Sunday, September 27, 2015: CLOSED

Monday, September 28, 2015: 10am – 5pm (regular hours)

Tuesday, September 29, 2015: 10am – 5pm

TOUR SCHEDULE

MASTERWORKS TOUR:
Daily, Monday, September 21 – Friday, September 25, 10:30am, NOON, 1:30pm, 3pm, and 6pm, and Tuesday, September 29, 10:30am, NOON, 1:30pm, and 3pm.

The best way to experience the Barnes Collection is through a tour. On the Masterworks Tour, Barnes docents will lead visitors on an exciting voyage of discovery that features highlights of the collection, historical information on the Foundation’s educational mission, and the thinking behind the extraordinary presentation of these masterpieces. This tour is not only invaluable for first-time visitors, but also inspires new ways of seeing the collection for those who have visited before and want to learn more. Approximately one hour; includes post-tour collection and special exhibition access. $45; members $22. Check the ticketing calendar for available times.

THEMED TOUR: Famously Unorthodox: Barnes's Wall Ensembles tour

Thursday, September 24, 2pm

What makes the Barnes unlike any other art institution in the world? While most collections are grouped by chronology, style, or genre, art at the Barnes is arranged according to light, line, color, and space—principles that defy curatorial norms but follow the "universal language of art" according to Dr. Barnes. Dive into the mind of a self-made entrepreneur turned eccentric collector and deconstruct his "experiments in education" that posited art as a powerful tool for educational and social reform. Approximately one hour; includes post-tour collection and special exhibition access. $45; members $22.

PRIVATE TOURS:
Daily, Monday, September 21 – Friday, September 25, and Tuesday, September 29, 11 am or 2 pm (subject to availability).

The Barnes Foundation offers private tours of the Barnes Collection for small groups of up to six people. A Barnes docent will be provided for each tour, and will shape the tour to meet your interests. Private tours are one hour in length and are all conducted in English. Requests for tours must be made at least two weeks in advance. Private tours are $60 per person, which includes museum admission. Payment will be collected one week in advance of scheduled tour dates. All private tour fees are non-refundable. To request a private tour, please contact reserve@barnesfoundation.org or 215-278-7200.

AUDIO TOURS:
Download our adult and family tours app, Audio Tours at The Barnes Foundation (Masterworks, Family Tour, Cézanne at the Barnes, and William Glackens) for free on your Apple or Android device (iTunes store or Google Play). Or, pick up an audio guide on-site; it's included with collection admission. Available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. Funding for the Cézanne at the Barnes audio tour generously provided by John H. McFadden and Lisa D. Kabnick.

COLLECTION AND EXHIBITIONS

In addition to the legendary collection of impressionist, post-impressionist and modern masterpieces, the Barnes Foundation also includes many important ecclesiastical objects and religious works, Old Master paintings, metalwork, African sculpture and antiquities from Greece Egypt, and Rome. Dr. Barnes hung his collection in an unconventional way – in symmetrical wall arrangements calledensembles – in order to reveal connections between artists and artworks from various cultures across time. In addition, two new exhibitions will be on view: Strength and Splendor: Wrought Iron from the Musée Le Secq des Tournelles, Rouen featuring masterworks from the world’s most important collection of wrought iron, and Ellen Harvey: Metal Painting, a site-specific installation by artist Ellen Harvey (b. 1967) commissioned by the Barnes Foundation that engages with Dr. Albert C. Barnes’s iconoclastic placement of his extensive wrought iron holdings alongside his collection of paintings by old and modern masters. Both exhibitions will be on view in the Barnes Foundation’s Aileen and Brian Roberts Gallery from September 19, 2015 through January 4, 2016.

THE BARNES ARBORETUM

The Barnes Arboretum in Merion, Pennsylvania (300 N. Latch’s Lane), will be open during its regular hours of Friday – Sunday, 10am – 4pm, with hour-long guided tours taking place Friday – Sunday, 1pm. General admission: $5; members free. Guided tours: $10; members $8. Tickets available on-site.

About the Barnes Foundation

The Barnes Foundation (barnesfoundation.org) was established by Albert C. Barnes in 1922 to “promote the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts and horticulture.” The Barnes holds one of the finest collections of post-impressionist and early modern paintings, with extensive works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Henri Rousseau, Amedeo Modigliani, Chaim Soutine, and Giorgio de Chirico; American masters Charles Demuth, William Glackens, Horace Pippin and Maurice Prendergast; old master paintings; important examples of African sculpture; Native American ceramics, jewelry and textiles; American paintings and decorative arts; and antiquities from the Mediterranean region and Asia. While most collections are grouped by chronology, style, or genre, art at the Barnes is arranged in ensembles structured according to light, line, color, and space - principles that founder Albert C. Barnes called "the universal language of art.” The Barnes Foundation’s programs, including First Fridays, Young Professionals Nights, tours, tastings, and family programs, as well as the Barnes-de Mazia Education Program courses and workshops, engage diverse audiences. These programs, held at the Philadelphia campus, online, and in Philadelphia communities, advance the Foundation’s mission through progressive, experimental, and interdisciplinary teaching and learning. The Barnes Foundation is open Wednesday – Monday, 10am – 5pm, and also 6pm – 9pm every First Friday and select Friday evenings. Tickets can easily be purchased on-site, online, or by calling 215-278-7200. For tips and assistance planning your visit, please visit our website.

The Barnes Arboretum, at the Merion campus, contains more than 2,000 varieties of trees and woody plants, many of them rare. Founded in the 1880s by Joseph Lapsley Wilson and expanded under the direction of Mrs. Laura L. Barnes, the collection includes 40 state champion trees, a Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus), a dove tree (Davidia involucrata), a monkey-puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana), and a coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). Other important plant collections include lilacs, peonies, Stewartias, ferns, medicinal plants, hosta and magnolias. The Horticulture school at the Barnes Foundation in Merion has offered a comprehensive three-year certificate course in the botanical sciences, horticulture, garden aesthetics, and design since its establishment in 1940 by Mrs. Barnes. Horticulture workshops and lectures are also offered regularly. The Arboretum is open Friday – Sunday, 10am – 4pm, from May 1 – November 1. Tickets can easily be purchased on-site, online, or by calling 215-278-7200.

Regional Rail Passes For Philadelphia's Visit By Pope Francis On September 26th And 27th Suspended Due To Technical Problems

SEPTA is not yet ready to resume sales of Regional Rail passes for the weekend of Pope Francis' visit to Philadelphia.

The transit agency said the sales will not resume this week.

Technical problems forced SEPTA to suspend online sales Monday, just hours after the passes went on sale.

In a statement issued Tuesday, SEPTA officials said "We have been working with IT consultants over the last two days, and are still considering the best option to address the high interest among customers interested in purchasing the pass, and the heavy volume on the e-commerce site."

SEPTA officials told Action News they brought in outside contractors to help with the process, and their site was tested for 1,700 hits per second.

They believe the site was receiving three times that amount of traffic on Monday morning after tickets went on sale at 9 a.m.

SEPTA is selling a total of 350,000 passes for the weekend - 175,000 for both Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27. The passes are $10.

Only 201 tickets were sold on Monday morning. SEPTA confirms that most transactions were not completed.

This glitch adds to the growing confusion in the city about what residents and workers can expect in late September.

Among the unanswered questions: Which streets will be closed to traffic? What about parking? Which bus routes will run? Will there be a security fence and, if so, where will it be?

The answers will have to come from the Secret Service and the federal government, but those answers are not expected until early September.

Jim Giblin, the general manager of the 558 unit Kennedy House says the lack of information is making it very tough to plan.

"The residents are asking how their guests will come in, and how will they be able to get supplies they may need? Will the restaurants and the food markets surrounding our buildings be closed? And if so, for what length of time?" Giblin said.

Rob Calabrese runs the Philly Team Store, where papal visit items now mingle with his sports merchandise. He's not worried about closed streets and big crowds. Instead, his worry is about getting to work via SEPTA. He lived through Monday's ticket sale meltdown.

"Very concerned about it, that I'm not going to be able to get here or how I'm going to get here. It's going to be a struggle," Calabrese said.

Officials at local hospitals and the airport are also working to figure out how to get staffers in during the pope's visit.

Major Events In Philadelphia In Summer 2015 Include Tall Ships, Impressionism Exhibit & Gay Rights & Fourth Of July Celebrations... Lead Up to Pope Francis’ Arrival

  

Two of several major events in Philadelphia this summer: Fireworks light up the sky above the Philadelphia Museum of Art during the city’s Wawa Welcome America! celebration (left), June 27-July 4, 2015, while Tall Ships Philadelphia Camden pulls into port from June 24-28, 2015 (the Gazela is pictured).

Credit: Photos by J. Fusco (left) for VISIT PHILADELPHIA and courtesy of Draw Events (right).

 Philadelphia is well known as the nation’s birthplace, and in summer 2015 the city will make history once again with blockbuster events and exhibits filling the calendar all season long. Festivities sail into Philadelphia in June with the arrival of the Tall Ships Philadelphia Camden and the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s major exhibition of impressionist works. Come July, the 50^thAnniversary of the Gay Rights Movement marks a half-century of activism in the place where it all began, and Wawa Welcome America!throws the country’s biggest birthday party. As summer fades into fall, all eyes will be on Philadelphia when Pope Francis makes his first U.S. visit during the World Meeting of Families and celebrates a public mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Here are more details about this historic summer in Philadelphia:

• The 50^th Anniversary of the Gay Rights Movement kicks off in June with the opening of the exhibition Speaking Out for Justice: Gay Rights, the Supreme Court and the Constitutionat the National Constitution Center. Other exhibitions and activities celebrating LGBT culture and heritage are planned for the William Way LGBT Community Center, the Free Library of Philadelphia, the National Museum of American Jewish History, the Opera Company of Philadelphia and Taller Puertorriqueño, among others. The celebration’s signature events take place over Fourth of July weekend, with a reenactment of the Reminder Day demonstrations in front of Independence Hall, a wreath-laying ceremony at the historic marker that acknowledges the site of the demonstrations, panel discussions, a festival, concerts and more.June-December 2015. Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street, (215) 409-6700, constitutioncenter.org; various locations for other happenings, reminder2015.org, lgbt50.org

• When the Tall Ships Philadelphia Camden pulls into port this summer, visitors can watch the colorful parade of sail led by a giant floating rubber ducky—the world’s largest—and tour L’Hermione, a replica of the ship that brought General Lafayette to the aid of the fledgling United States during the Revolutionary War, along with more than a dozen vessels from around the world. Ships will be docked on both sides of the river at Penn’s Landing and along the Camden Waterfront. Boat lovers and landlubbers can also enjoy live entertainment, hands-on activities and a dazzling fireworks display. June 24-28, 2015. Delaware River Waterfront, (626) 656-3729,tallshipsphiladelphia.com

• Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel and the New Painting celebrates the ambitious and visionary Parisian art dealer who supported and helped elevate a new style of painting. On view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the exhibit, showcasing approximately 
  95 impressionist works, is bigger and more comprehensive than its showings at the Musée du Luxembourg in Paris and the National Gallery in London. Art lovers will view works by Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Sisley, Degas, Manet and others. June 24-September 13, 2015. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100, philamuseum.org

• Philadelphia celebrates America’s birthday like no place else. In the week leading up to Independence Day, Wawa Welcome America!and other celebrations will light up the city’s historic district and Delaware River Waterfront with concerts, fireworks, historic re-enactments, Wawa Hoagie Day and other family-friendly activities. Then on July 4, the granddaddy of all concerts will take over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with chart-topping artists hitting the stage prior to a grand-finale fireworks display. June 27-July 4, 2015. Various locations.welcomeamerica.com

• Tens of thousands of people from around the globe will converge on Philadelphia for the eighth World Meeting of Families. Throughout the week, approximately 100 speakers will lead panel discussions and workshops at the Pennsylvania Convention Center focused on the theme “Love is our Mission: The Family Fully Alive.” Museums and area attractions will also offer special programs and exhibits geared towards families. The highlight of the event will be the arrival of Pope Francis at the end of the congress. He’ll make his first visit to the United States and will celebrate a public mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. September 22-27, 2015. worldmeeting2015.org

VISIT PHILADELPHIA^®, formerly known as Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, makes Philadelphia and The Countryside^® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases the number of visitors, the number of nights they stay and the number of things they do in the five-county area.

On Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website and blog, visitphilly.com and uwishunu.com, visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages. Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the sites effective trip-planning tools. Along with Visit Philly social media channels, the online platforms communicate directly with consumers. Travelers can also call and stop into the Independence Visitor Center for additional information and tickets.

Philadelphia Will Be One Of The Best Destinations For 2015; Tall Ships, World Meeting Of Families, Alice In Wonderland & Other World Class Events

 

Philadelphia will be the scene of several major events in 2015.

Credit: Photo by M. Edlow for Visit Philadelphia™

 With 2015 comes plenty of reasons for visitors to plan a trip to Philadelphia. In fact, only-in-Philly projects, exhibitions, anniversaries and celebrations will give first-time visitors incentives to make that return trip and return visitors reasons to come back yet again.

So what’s on the calendar? The Tall Ships Challenge Philadelphia Camden 2015, showing off a dozen historic ships on the Delaware River Waterfront; Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel and the New Painting, featuring more than 80 works by a who’s who of painters at the Philadelphia Museum of Art; and a special exhibition at The Rosenbach of the Free Library of Philadelphia, celebrating the 150^th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland. Of course, all eyes will be on Philadelphia when thousands of Catholic families from around the globe gather for the eighth World Meeting of Families.

Here are some of the major happenings taking place throughout Philadelphia in 2015:

Anniversaries & Big Events:

• Bravo to Opera Philadelphia, celebrating its 40^th anniversary with a season of premieres and casts that possess an unprecedented roster of operatic firepower. The acclaimed Lawrence Brownlee will star in the world premiere of Charlie Parker’s Yardbird. The East Coast premiere of Oscar will feature David Daniels, hailed by The New York Times as perhaps the greatest countertenor of all time. And Eric Owens will return to his hometown to perform in Don Carlo. Through June 14, 2015. Various locations. (215) 732-8400, operaphila.org
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• In honor of the 50^th anniversary of one of the nation’s first gay rights demonstrations, the William Way LGBT Community Center, in partnership with the National Constitution Center (NCC), will mount In Broad Daylight: Coming Out for Gay Rights in 1960s America.The exhibition, on view at the NCC, will address the Reminder Day demonstrations outside of Independence Hall and the impact the demonstrations had on the gay rights movement. The anniversary event will also include programming at museums and attractions throughout the city and will include a reenactment of the original July 4 demonstrations on Independence Mall. June-October 2015. 525 Arch Street, (215) 409-6600, constitutioncenter.org
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• Odunde, the largest African festival of its kind in the country, celebrates the big 4-0 with a bigger-than-ever event. It begins with a spiritual procession to the Schuylkill River to ring in the Yoruba New Year, followed by a massive street fair that stretches for blocks. As a special anniversary treat, a new book and documentary will celebrate the woman who established the festival and the daughter who continues to build and grow it. June 14, 2015. (215) 732-8510, odundefestival.org
• Billowing sails will waft in the breeze when the Tall Ships Challenge Philadelphia Camden 2015 pulls into port. Visitors can tour the ships, which will dock at Penn’s Landing and the Camden Waterfront. Headlining the dozen-ship fleet will be L’Hermione, a replica of the ship that brought General Lafayette to the aid of the fledgling United States during the Revolutionary War. June 24-28, 2015. Delaware River Waterfront, (856) 757-9154
• 
  
• Tens of thousands of people from around the globe will converge on Philadelphia for the 8^th annual World Meeting of Families.Throughout the week, approximately 100 speakers will lead panel discussions and workshops at the Pennsylvania Convention Center focused on the theme “Love is our Mission: The Family Fully Alive.” There is talk that Pope Francis will make his first visit to the United States to say a public mass during the event. September 22-27, 2015. worldmeeting2015.org
• When Alice fell down the rabbit hole 150 years ago, the world rushed to follow her adventures in wonderland. The Rosenbach of the Free Library of Philadelphia will celebrate the sesquicentennial of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with a host of exhibitions and programs that explore the literary classic. Exhibitions will follow the story of the book itself from inspiration to publication. An interactive gallery will invite visitors of all ages to channel their inner Alice and showcase the author and mathematician’s games and puzzles. October 14, 2015-spring 2016. 2008-2010 Delancey Place, (215) 732-1600, rosenbach.org

Parks, Bikes & Trails:

• Pedal power hits Philadelphia with the launch of the city’s Bike Share program. Cyclists will be able to rent more than 600 bikes located at more than 60 stations throughout Center City and beyond. Day, monthly and annual passes available. April 2015. phila.gov/bikeshare,bikesharephiladelphia.org
• Days offamily fun and evenings oflive performances await at Venice Island in Philadelphia’s Manayunk neighborhood. The new park will feature a children’s spray garden to demonstrate water retention in an urban environment, basketball courts, a dock, outdoor sculpture and a 250-seat performing arts center. Soft opening 2014; official opening spring 2015. Access points from Main Streets at both Lock and Cotton Streets, manayunk.com
• When the new Pier 68 Park opens, it will provide a southern trailhead for the continually growing Delaware River Trail. Built as a place for passive recreation, the $1.7 million park will be an angler’s delight with a dedicated space for casting lines and built in fish-cleaning stations.  Native trees and plants will provide shade in the picnic grove and a cutout in the pier surface will allow visitors to watch the tide rise and fall. Late spring/summer 2015. Pier 68 Boulevard off of Columbus Boulevard, delawareriverwaterfront.com

Extraordinary Art:

• The Barnes Foundation will present the first comprehensive survey of William Glackens in almost 50 years. Focusing on his most distinctive works, the exhibition will feature 45 paintings and almost 25 works on paper, most from public and private collections and some on view for the first time. November 8, 2014-February 2, 2015. 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 
• 
  (215) 278-7000, barnesfoundation.org
• Horace Pippin: The Way I See It is the first major exhibition of the artist’s works in the country in more than two decades. The Brandywine River Museum of Art will feature more than 60 works that capture Pippin’s bold, colorful and candid paintings reflecting life in the African- American community and commenting on race, religion, war and history. April 25-July 19, 2015. U.S. Route 1 by Creek Road (formerly Route 100), (610) 388-2700, brandywine.org
• 
  
• Open Source, presented by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program and curated by Pedro Alonzo, will culminate in October 2015 with public art projects throughout the city by a dozen local and international artists. Each artist will work in residence within an existing area or social concern of the organization, and their projects will explore the intersection of street art, contemporary art and public art. The program will include numerous public activities, including tours, panel discussions, opening events and more. May-October 2015. Various locations. (215) 685-0750, muralarts.org
• 
  
• Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel and the New Painting celebrates the ambitious and visionary Parisian art dealer who supported and helped elevate a new style of painting. On view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the exhibition will showcase more than 80 works by Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Sisley, Degas, Manet and others to trace Durand-Ruel’s role in the development of impressionism. June 24-September 13, 2015. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100, philamuseum.org

VISIT PHILADELPHIA^™, formerly known as Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, makes Philadelphia and The Countryside^® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases the number of visitors, the number of nights they stay and the number of things they do in the five-county area.

Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website and blog, visitphilly.com and uwishunu.com make up the most-visited website network out of the 10 biggest U.S. cities. Visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages. Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the sites effective trip-planning tools. Along with Visit Philly social media channels, the online platforms communicate directly with consumers. Travelers can also call and stop into the Independence Visitor Center for additional information and tickets.

The New Pope Isn't The Only Reason To Visit Italy: 5 Secret Attractions In Rome

We have a new pope! White smoke billowed out from the Sistine Chapel's chimney as the Catholic church announced its new leader: Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first South American chosen for the spot. In case all the commotion has you fancying a trip to Rome, we've rounded up some of our favorite, less-touristy spots—all away from the hustle of the Vatican. The pope will be visiting our home town Philadelphia in September 2015 for the World Meeting of Families so go to www.visitphilly.com to make your plans while hotel rooms are still available.

Sant’Ignazio

A Baroque church famous for its spectacular ceiling frescoes, Sant'Ignazio is an incredible example of illusion. Due to a trick of the eye, much of the decorations appear 3D—some have architectural elements added to increase the effect. Head toward the dome and see if you can discover for yourself the “fix” they decided upon after the the donors backed out. Via del Caravita, 8A

Santa Maria della Pace

You'll find this church just around the corner from Piazza Navona; head to the Chigi Chapel to see Raphael’s Sibyls. The church's limited opening hours depend on whether the custodian is around, so if the doors are locked check out the nearby Chiostro di Bramante, located just to the left of the church. The cloister is one of the most perfect architectural spaces in the world and an inspiration to a whole generation of Renaissance artists, including Michelangelo. Head to the second-floor lounge, just past the cafe; there is a window that actually looks into the church and frames Raphael’s fresco. Where else can you view a Raphael with a coffee or cocktail in hand? Via della Pace, 5

Giardino degli Aranci

For a quick escape, we head to the Giardino degli Aranci (also known as the Parco Savello), a small park set on the Aventine that has incredible views of the city. What makes the park even more of a draw is a monastery down the street that belongs to the Knights of Malta. We won’t ruin the surprise completely, but if you wander over to the front door and peer through the keyhole, you'll be gazing through three countries at once. Piazza Pietro d’Illiria, Via di S. Sabina, Clivio di Rocca Savella

Gelateria del Teatro

Sometimes a break just means a refreshing cup of gelato. One of our favorites is hidden down a narrow, dead-end side street just beyond Piazza Navona: Gelateria del Teatro. They use only the purest, freshest ingredient, and if you're lucky enough to be there when they finish the newest batch, you might get to taste it straight out of the machine! Cioccolato con Nero d’Avola is consistently one of our favorites. It’s worth the trek to find it (and don’t worry, we still get lost sometimes, too). Look for the ice cream cone-shaped, hand-painted sign. Via di San Simone, 70 

Palazzo Incontro

Rome’s famous museums are well worth the visit, but the lesser-known provide more than just incredible history and art. They are rarely crowded and usually offer more unique, avant-garde exhibitions. We love the Palazzo Incontro, a palace that had been turned into apartments and now is used for event spaces. You can still see the original palazzo underneath the modern renovations as you head up to the second and third floors, and the courtyard has been turned into a bookshop and cafe. Check online for the latest exhibits. Via dei Prefetti, 22 

Contributed by Liz Roller, cntraveller.com

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Photos Courtesy Liz Roller