Comcast Unveils ‘Eternally Rome’ Video At Center City Headquarters

(Comcast’s current headquarters building, at 17th and JFK Boulevard, in center city Philadelphia. Photo by William Thomas Cain/ Getty Images)

By Mark Abrams

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — In recognition of the visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia next weekend, Comcast debuted a new video on Thursday which will play on its “Comcast Experience” wall inside the lobby of its Center City Headquarters.

The 13-minute presentation is titled “Eternally Rome” and was shot throughout the historic city with high-resolution cameras and drones.

It captures St. Peter’s Square and Vatican City as well as the Roman Forum, Colosseum and Pantheon.

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput, no stranger to Rome because of his management role in the Catholic Church was impressed.

“It gives you a different kind of appreciation for the beauty of the buildings there and the way theyconnected modern reality with drawings from the past I think was very, very clever. It makes me want to go back to Rome and spend a little more time at those individual sites.”

Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts says the video is aimed at enhancing the community experience of the Francis effect.

“The chance to build on the enthusiasm for the visit for what it means to Philadelphia, the pride we have in our city. We thought, ‘Well, why not take a look at Rome, something that not many of us could ever get a vista like what that wall just showed us.”

The video will be shown hourly daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Sept. 27.

Bless Your Stomach With These Pope-Themed Food And Drink Specials In Philadelphia

The Basilica burger at Village Whiskey (courtesy photo)




The pope craze has been all over Philadelphia for months now, and you knew at some point restaurants and bars would get involved.

From pope-themed courses to religious brews, take advantage of these holy specials.

Le Virtù(1927 E. Passyunk Ave.)
Throughout September, the Italian restaurant features a $45 prix fixe menu entitled cucina povera, or “cuisine of the poor,” honoring the pope’s loyalty to those in need of help. The meatless menu also honors St. Francis of Assisi and his devotion to animals. The restaurant hours are Monday through Thursday 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday through Saturday 5 to 10:30 p.m.; Sunday 4 to 9:30 p.m.
Brigantessa(1520 Passyunk Ave.)
The restaurant will offer a “bar-side confessional” special that includes discounted prices on Peroni and Italian craft brews. Additionally, the kitchen will serve “pope’s hat pasta” – a dish including sheep’s milk ricotta and beets. The deal is offered on Friday, Sept. 25, through Sunday, Sept. 27. The restaurant opens at 5 p.m.
Village Whiskey(118 S. 20th St.)
Throughout September, Jose Garces’s gourmet pub will offer the “Basicila” as its featured burger of the month. The sandwich includes Berkshire porchetta, tomato jam, broccoli rabe, herb pork jus aioli, sharp provolone, and egg. The restaurant is open Monday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday 11:30 a.m. to midnight; Friday 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. 

Pope Crawl 2015(Multiple locations)
If you can’t beat the crowds, join them, with beer! Beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26 thousands of people will celebrate the pope’s visit by drinking. This crawl isn’t just to party; it’s for a good cause. Proceeds from the event go toward Philabundance. Click here for more info.

Pizzeria Vetri(1939 Callowhill St.) (1615 Chancellor St.)
Throughout September, Marc Vetri’s pizza shop will serve the “Il Papa” or “pope” pie that includes black mission fig, lardo, pecorino romano, mozzarella, parmigiano, basil, and oregano. The restaurant is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Amada(217-219 Chestnut St.)
For taste of Sapin while the pope is in town, Amada will offer a “World of Families” prix fixe lunch tasting, as well as a dinner menu. Some highlights on the menu include Spanish tortilla, crab-stuffed peppers, slow roasted pork, lamb meatballs, and hanger steak. A children’s menu is offered here, too. The deal is offered Friday, Sept. 25, through Sunday, Sept. 27. Hours are Thursday to Friday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and 5 to 10 p.m.

Potbelly Sandwich Shop(1635 Market St.)
For a taste of the official pope milkshake during his visit, Potbelly will offer a shake featuring vanilla ice cream and shortbread butter cookies. Fifty cents of the proceeds goes toward planning efforts for the World Meeting of Families. The shops hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Monk’s Cafe(264 S. 16th St.)
The waves of people on Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27, can be stressful, so drink up! Monk’s Café will serve a menu list of 24 religious-themed beers. The earlier you make it to the restaurant, the better; they only have one keg of each brew. Breweries being featured include: Lost Abbey, Evil Twin, Firestone Walker, Russian River, and Avery. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. 

Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop(1 Girard Ave.)
From Sunday, Sept. 20, through Sunday Sept. 27, chow down on Joe’s signature steaks made with chimichurri, a sauce that originates from Pope Francis’ home country, Argentina. For dessert, wash it down with a Dulce de Leche milkshake, and Argentinean treat. Joe's hours are Sunday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Thursday 11 a.m. to midnight; Friday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Distrito(3945 Chestnut St.)
If you want to stay far away from the pope crowd but still want to indulge in a special, here’s your spot! This newly designed West Philly Mexican restaurant will offer a “World of Families” three-course tasting option from Friday, Sept. 25, through Sunday, Sept. 27. On the tasting menu, expect offerings such as guacamole, corn flatbread, carnitas, and dessert. Hours of operation are Friday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

Jet Wine Bar(1525 South St.)
In recognition of the pope’s visit, Jet Wine Bar’s Global Passport Tasting Series will feature wines from Argentina. The tasting will include five samples and light snacks. The deal is offered on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 6:30 p.m.

Pub on Passyunk East (P.O.P.E)
(1501 E. Passyunk Ave.)
Of course this bar would run a special. On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the gastropub gets together all the local pope-themed beers to serve on tap. Guests of the event can either purchase one flight (Our Father), or both flights (Hail Mary). Breweries who brewed papal-themed beers are: Manyunk Brewing, Philadelphia Brewing, Crime and Punishment, Cape May Brewing, 2nd Story, Iron Hill, Vault, Flying Fish, and Saucony Creek. Tickets can be purchased here.

Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse(111 S. 17th St.)
For visitors to Philadelphia: From Monday, Sept. 21, through Saturday, Sept. 27, the Italian restaurant will offer the “Turista”, a menu that will include three courses featuring harvest vegetables, surf & turf, and dessert. The dinner is offered from 5 to 10 p.m.

City Food Tours
MANNA Building (2323 Ranstead St.)
Grab your friends and join City Food Tours as they host “Divine Dining: A Meal fit for a Pope.” Offered at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24, this hands-on cooking event will have you whipping up miracles in the kitchen as well as teaching about the pope’s favorite food items. This limited event is offered to a small group of people, register here (if interested).

Di Bruno Bros.(1701 JFK Blvd.), (834 Chestnut St.), (1730 Chestnut St.)
At the selected locations, the meat and cheese shop will serve “The Epihany,” tenderloin beef with house-made mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, grilled romaine, and Argentinean chimichurri sauce on focaccia bread. Click here for each locations hours. 

By 

Tim Reardon

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/things_to_do/Bless-your-stomach-with-these-pope-themed-food-and-drink-specials.html#BzxetemjmLsj3piC.99

Pennsylvania's Governor Announces Launch Of Papal Visit travelers' Website

HARRISBURG, PA - Governor Tom Wolf announces that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike launched a detailed travelers' website to assist people headed for the historic visit by Pope Francis to Philadelphia Sept. 26 and 27.

The site at www.papal511.com is linked both to PennDOT's 511PA site and the Turnpike's travelers' information site.

"With enthusiastic crowds expected to converge on Philadelphia, this site will offer up-to-the-minute information to assist visitors and make their experience as enjoyable as possible," said Governor Tom Wolf. "This site reflects the hard work my administration has put in supporting and preparing for the Pope's visit. We hope this site will be a useful tool for both residents and visitors to be informed and prepared to travel during this important visit."

The site's home page offers options to see information about real-time traffic conditions on highways in the Philadelphia region and details on how to reach the papal venues or take diversion routes for those who are merely traveling through or around the region. The site is accessible from both desktop and mobile interfaces.

Inside pages have health tips for visitors and information on which highways and streets are closed, the latest information releases pertaining to the visit and color coded maps showing how traffic is flowing.

"I urge visitors and through travelers to avail themselves of this resource to keep abreast of changing conditions during the visit," said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards. "Knowing what is going on will help visitors and travelers make good decisions so their experience during this special time will be top-notch."

Turnpike Chief Executive Officer Mark Compton said that the site will be helpful for anyone traveling in southeastern counties and surrounding areas, including those not bound for Papal events.

"This website will be an indispensable tool for those who may just be passing through during the pope's visit," Compton said. "In addition to the latest traffic conditions, it details the alternate routes for anyone who may need to travel to other destinations during this historic visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia."

Queen Of Soul To Serenade The Pope In Philadelphia At The Festival Of Families

Aretha Franklin is slated to join the lineup of artists performing for Pope Francis at the Festival of Families Saturday, Sept. 26.
The Queen of Soul will join tenor Andrea Bocelli, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Latin pop star Juanes, who was announced in June, according to sources with knowledge of the event planning.

The festival will be broadcast on TV and shown on 40 Jumbotron screens throughout the city. Free tickets nearest the stage were all reserved last week but the portion of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 20th Street east is unticketed and open to all.
Pope Francis is expected to attend and speak at the Festival of Families. Between performances, he will meet with six families from different continents. A smaller stage will feature cultural acts and spiritual organizations from around the region.

Sources said Franklin, 73, was confirmed for the event, though an official announcement from the World Meeting of Families wasn't expected until Monday.

Comedian Jim Gaffigan may be joining the revelry as well. Gaffigan said in a Wall Street Journal interview he would do a 20-minute set at the festival, and sources confirmed he was in talks with event producers.

Gaffigan, who is Catholic, stars in The Jim Gaffigan Show, modeled after his life as a popular stand-up comic juggling the entertainment business, five children, and a devoutly Catholic wife while living in an apartment in Lower Manhattan.

Eighteen-time Grammy Award winner Franklin was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was named one of Rolling Stone magazine's 100 best singers of all time.

The daughter of a preacher and a gospel singer, Franklin started singing in her father's Baptist church in Detroit and has remained a devout Christian.

---

jterruso@phillynews.com

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pope/20150914_Queen_of_Soul_to_serenade_the_pope_in_Philly.html#YcUE0E58E3olkLCE.99

Tickets For Papal Mass And The Festival Of Families During Pope Francis' Visit To Philadelphia Available Wednesday September 9th

PHILADELPHIA --

Tickets for the papal mass and the Festival of Families during Pope Francis' visit to Philadelphia will be available Wednesday.

10,000 tickets will be made available for the Festival of Families beginning Wednesday, September 9, at 4:00 p.m.

10,000 tickets will be made available for the papal mass beginning Wednesday, September 9, at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis and individuals are limited to four tickets per person.

The Festival of Families will be held at approximately 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 26th and the papal Mass will be held on Sunday, September 27th at 4 p.m.

A link will be available at WorldMeeting2015.org/Tickets

10,000 tickets were made available on Tuesday for the pope's speech at Independence Hall starting at 12 p.m. They were claimed within two minutes.

Tickets from the giveaway were being sold on eBay within the hour, with some sellers asking upwards of $1,000. However, an eBay spokesperson told Action News that the listings were being removed because the listings violated their ticket policy.

Still, a number of listings could still be found on sites such as Craigslist.

Tickets were on a first-come, first-serve basis and individuals were limited to four tickets. The pope will speak at Independence Hall on Saturday, September 26th.

A separate set of tickets were being distributed to the 219 parishes in the Philadelphia Archdiocese, as well as surrounding parishes in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Some church social service programs will also get tickets, as will other faith communities, church officials said.

It was not known how many tickets, in total, would be issued.

A map released by the United States Secret Service showed a red zone, for ticket holders, surrounding the Philadelphia Museum of Art and extending to 20th Street.

From 20th Street and extending to City Hall is a purple zone, where no ticket will be needed.

The ticketing announcement came just a week after a new marketing campaign, "I'll Be There," was unveiled to encourage attendance at the papal events, driven in part by fears that months of discussions about tight security restrictions had scared many people away from attending.million people will attend the papal Mass.

Tickets For Pope Francis' Speech On Independence Mall Available Starting Tuesday September 8th At Noon

PHILADELPHIA --

The Philadelphia Archdiocese says tickets will be available starting today for Pope Francis' speech on Independence Mall later this month.

Beginning at 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, 10,000 tickets will be available to the public for the September 26th event.

You can claim tickets online by visiting www.worldmeeting2015.org/tickets

Tickets are on a first-come, first-serve basis and individuals are limited to four tickets.

Specific ticketing information has yet to be released for two other events, the Festival of Families and Pope Francis' Mass on the Ben Franklin Parkway. We do know those tickets will be made available on Wednesday, September 9th.

A total of 30,000 tickets will be made available for the public events.

The tickets will be divided up as follows:

For Pope Francis' speech at 12 p.m. Saturday, September 26th on Independence Mall, the total number of tickets available to the public has been increased from 5,000 to 10,000. The tickets will be available to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis on Tuesday, September 8th.

For the Festival of Families on Saturday, September 26th, 10,000 tickets will be made available on a first-come, first-serve basis on Wednesday, September 9th. The Festival of Families event begins at approximately 12:00 p.m.

For the papal Mass at 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 27th, an additional 10,000 tickets are being made available. The tickets will also be available to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis on Wednesday, September 9th.

The announcement about the need for tickets came as something of a surprise on Wednesday. When we asked on Thursday what changed, the executive director of the World Meeting of Families, Donna Crilley Farrell said:

"We had always predicated some limited ticketing, and as we worked through security arrangements and plans were being made final, we knew how the Parkway was going to be laid out. For security reasons and crowd management, we have ticketed areas."

When asked how tickets make the event safer, Farrell said "You'd have to talk to a crowd management expert about that, but in certain areas you don't want huge crowds. You have to be able to limit the number of people in crowds."

Tickets are also being distributed to the 219 parishes in the Philadelphia Archdiocese, as well as surrounding parishes in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Some church social service programs will also get tickets, as will other faith communities, church officials said.

It was not known how many tickets, in total, would be issued.

"We're not going to release the specific numbers for ticketing," Farrell said.

A map released on Wednesday by the United States Secret Service showed a red zone, for ticket holders, surrounding the Philadelphia Museum of Art and extending to 20th Street.

From 20th Street and extending to City Hall is a purple zone, where no ticket will be needed.

The ticketing announcement comes just a week after a new marketing campaign, "I'll Be There," was unveiled to encourage attendance at the papal events, driven in part by fears that months of discussions about tight security restrictions had scared many people away from attending.

Sales of hotel rooms remain slower that expected. There have been price cuts showing up, but still about a one-third of the rooms in Center City remain unsold.

"There is a sense of urgency but there's not panic yet for the weekend. There's still plenty of time to book those rooms," said Ed Grose of the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association.

Rail pass sales remain flat and organizers confirmed charter bus registrations were at least 70 percent below expectations.

However, Farrell said she does not believe there will be fewer than the 1.5 million visitors who are expected, saying "I really don't think so, again, based on the calls we get."

Church officials have estimated that as many as 1.5 million people will attend the papal Mass.

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.

Pennsylvania Convention Center To Host Exhibit Showcasing Dead Sea Scroll Fragments And 1st Edition King James Bible

Originally exhibited at the Vatican, Verbum Domini II: God’s Word Goes Out to the Nations will be on display at the Pennsylvania Convention Center Monday, September 21 – September 26. (Image courtesy World Meeting of Families 2015)

As preparations continue in anticipation of Pope Francis’ visit for the World Meeting of Families, the Pennsylvania Convention Center readies itself for Verbum Domini II: God’s Word Goes Out to the Nations, an exhibition formerly on display at the Vatican in Rome.

Verbum Domini (which translates to “the word of the Lord”), refers to a communication from Pope XVI as to how the Catholic church approaches its scripture, the Bible.

For six days, September 21-26, visitors have the opportunity to see breathtaking biblical artifacts collected from around the globe from the Museum of the Bible, a center currently under construction in Washington D.C.

Of the 40,000 objects in the private collection, 80 pieces will be on display in Philadelphia, all of which carry great religious and historical significance.

Visitors will find the free exhibit in Hall G, transformed into eight galleries with 24 display cases housing the artifacts.

The heart of the exhibition features small sections from the Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered between 1946 and 1956 in a series of caves close to Jerusalem. The scrolls consist of 981 texts with major religious importance, of which more than 220 are Biblical texts.

Additionally, the display includes five pages of the Bodmer Psalms Codex, a near complete copy of the book of Psalms in Greek dating back between third and fourth century CE as well as the manuscripts known as the Codex Climaci Rescriptus, which multispectral imaging has revealed to contain parts of more than nine manuscripts.

For many, though, the highlight of the exhibit could be the first edition of the “He” King James Bible from 1611. This version distinguishes itself from a second printing of the same year, the “She” version, in Ruth 3:15. Reading the two verses, “and he went into the citie” versus “and she went into the citie” marks the distinction between the two, the pronoun used identifying which edition.

With only about 50 known “He” versions existing in the world, this is an unlikely chance to see a very rare and sacred text.

Note, too, that this rare view of ancient texts and artifacts is just one of many papal visit-related exhibitions at museums in Philadelphia.

---

Verbum Domini II: God’s Word Goes Out to the Nations​

When: September 21-26

Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street

Cost: Free

More info: www.worldmeeting2015.org

 By Chris Malo, www.uwishunu.com

Philadelphia Welcomes The Pope And Pilgrims With Home-Inspired Food And Cultural Offerings

Familiar Foods, Dances, Games & Religious Shrines Celebrate South American & Italian Traditions

James Beard Award winner Marc Vetri’s pizzeria serves traditional, Neapolitan-style pizzas from its 8,500-pound wood-burning oven. To wash down their pies, patrons can choose from a variety of beverages on tap, including rotating beers and red and white wine, plus a selection of bottled and canned beers.

 Credit: Photo by M. Edlow for PHILADELPHIA^®

Being far from home can make even a pope yearn for a little bit of the old country. When Pope Francis visits Philadelphia this September, the pontiff can assuage homesick pangs with food, drinks and activities popular in his birth country (Argentina) and current home (Vatican City surrounded by Rome, Italy). The city’s tight-knit Italian-American community and growing Hispanic population has spurred an abundance of delectable treats, traditional family activities and familiar places of worship. And just for the month of September, Pizzeria Vetri will serve a special “Il Papa” pie just for the pope after hearing how much he loves pizza.

Here are a few places where visitors can do as the Romans—and Argentinians—do in Philadelphia:

SOUTH AMERICA

Sips & Eats:

• Touted for its complex flavors and powerhouse antioxidant properties, a cup of yerba mate (infused drink) gets special treatment at Caffeination, where baristas whip up a latte concoction of the Argentinian favorite. 2100 Chestnut Street, (215) 568-8006,caffeination.wix.com
• 
  
• Chima recreatesthe South American churrascaria experience and adds a sophisticated setting. Diners feast on rodízio (meats) served by costumed gauchos in this meat-lovers paradise. 1901 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, (215) 525-3233, chima.cc
• 
  
• Fogo de Chao celebrates the meat-centric
•  culinary tradition of South America. The churrascaria keeps the churrasco (grilled meat) and other victuals coming until diners are sated. While beef takes center stage, the menu offers plenty for seafood lovers too. 1337 Chestnut Street, (215) 636-9700, fogodechao.com
• The traditional desayuno Argentino (Argentinian breakfast) at Gavin’s Café is not only the most important meal of the day, but also one of the tastiest. The hearty meal features authentic medialunas, facturas or bizcocho (pastries). A pope on the run might opt for a quick snack of the signature empanadas or house-made alfajores (traditional confection). 2536 Pine Street, (267) 519-2494, gavinscafe.com
• 
  
• Mixto mixes it up with its “Parillada de Carne” platter, piled with churrasco Argentino,churrasco Colombiano, pork chop, Cuban chorizo, blood sausage and chicken. For a lighter meal, a simple churrasco Argentino featuring a succulent cut of outside skirt steak, vegetables and chimichurri sauce hits the spot. 1141 Pine Street, (215) 592-0363, mixtorestaurante.com
• 
  
• The Random Tea Room & Curiosity Shop serves an organic-certified, roasted Argentinian mate that delights aficionados with its full-bodied chocolate hue and hints of toffee. Available hot or iced and with or without milk and sweetener, this traditional tea-like beverage takes people on a virtual escape to Buenos Aires. 713 N. 4^th Street, 639-2442, therandomtearoom.com

Hit The Dance Floor:

• Dance Philadelphia can get anybody dancing Argentina-style. Lessons cover all skill levels, and dancers show off their moves during practicas and milangas (events with tango dancing). With two locations, fans can tango seven days a week. Buttonwood Studio, 1315 Buttonwood Street, (215) 574-9555; University City Arts League, 4226 Spruce Street, (215) 382-7811, dancephiladelphia.com
• 
  
• At the Philadelphia Argentine Tango School, the staff and internationally renowned guest instructors transform confused beginners into sought-after partners. And with weekly practicas, frequent milongas and special events, people of all levels can mix, mingle and dance. 2030 Frankford Avenue, (617) 291-3798, philadelphiatangoschool.com
• 
  
• Both a professional looking to polish technique and a beginner with two left feet can master the intricacies of the dance during lessons at Sarah Chung Tango. Or they can showcase their skills during the regular practicas and milongas. 1624 South Street, (253) 226-8331, sarahchungtango.com

ITALY

Sips & Eats:

• Creamy house-made cheeses, exotic meats, fresh produce and handmade pastas have kept shoppers returning to the open-air Italian Market for generations. One of the nation’s oldest and largest outdoor markets is more vibrant than ever thanks to new merchants selling Mexican, Vietnamese and other international cuisines. 9^th Street between Wharton and Fitzwater Streets, (215) 278-2903, italianmarketphilly.org
• 
  
• Pope Francis recently said that he misses grabbing a slice of pizza when the craving hits. Naturally, Pizzeria Vetri created a pie just for him—“Il Papa,” with fresh fig, mozzarella, lardo and pecorino—which will be available at both locations for the whole month of September.Although it might have originated in Italy, pizza is a culinary favorite in Philadelphia. Traditionalists and innovators have made the “What’s your favorite pizza shop?” question one that inspires heated debates. Best crust could be old-school Taconelli’s, a casual BYOB with a hint of neighborhood attitude, or Pizzeria Beddia, just named the country’s best pie by Bon Appétit. Tastiest toppings? Maybe Pizza Brain, which doubles as a pizza memorabilia museum,or Bufad, a corner BYOB on Spring GardenStreet. Pizzeria Vetri, 1939 Callowhill Street, (215) 600-2629; 1516 Chancellor Street, (215) 763-3760, pizzeriavetri.com; visitphilly.com/pizza
• 
  
• While South Philadelphia is the home of traditional red-gravy Italian restaurants such as Dante & Luigi’s, Ralph’s Italian Restaurant and Villa di Roma, diners craving a taste of old-world cooking can easily find lush antipasti and fresh-made pasta all over the city. The upscale cuisine at Vetri, the grandma’s-kitchen atmosphere at Little Nonna’s and the opera performances that accompany dinner at the Victor Cafe have earned loyal followings. Dante & Luigi’s, 762 S. 10^th Street, (215) 922-9501, danteandluigis.com; Ralph’s, 760 S. 9^th Street, (215) 627-6011, ralphsrestaurant.com; Villa di Roma, 936 S. 9^th Street, (215) 592-1295; Vetri, 1312 Spruce Street, (215) 732-3478, vetriristorante.com; Little Nonna’s, 1234 Locust Street, (215) 546-2100, littlenonnas.com; Victor Cafe, 1303 Dickinson Street, (215) 468-3040, victorcafe.com
• 
  
• Family-owned bakeries have been satisfying Philadelphians’ cravings for authentic Italian breads and pastries for generations. To add the finishing touches to family dinners, many locals arrive early for small-batch crusty breads from Sarcone’s Bakery; crispy, ricotta-filled cannoli from Isgro’s; pignoli pastries from Termini Bros.; or the signature cannoli-donut hybrid “franolli” at Frangelli’s Bakery. Sarcone’s, 758 S. 9^th Street, (215) 922-0445, sarconesbakery.com; Isgro’s, 1009 Christian Street, (215) 923-3092, bestcannoli.com; Termini, 1523 S. 8^th Street, (215) 334-1816, termini.com; Frangelli’s, 847 W. Ritner Street, (215) 271-7878, frangellis.com

Play (Bocce) Ball:

• Bocce is serious business at Bardascino Park when league teams compete for bragging rights, but both newcomers and casual players find an enthusiastic welcome. 10^th & Carpenter Streets, bardascinopark.org
• 
  
• After feasting on pizza or pasta at Café Michelangelo, guests burn off a few calories with a lively game of bocce ball in the outdoor court. 11901 Bustleton Avenue, (215) 698-2233, cafemichelangelo.com
• Beer gardeners delight in alfresco craft brews, beautiful landscaping and lawn games, including bocce, shuffleboard and oversized jenga, at Independence Beer Garden. The best part? It’s all on Independence Mall, across the street from the Liberty Bell. 100 S. Independence Mall West, (215) 922-7100, phlbeergarden.com
• 
  
• South Philadelphia’s Marconi Plaza draws longtime residents and new players who want to hone their skills in a fun atmosphere—with a few friendly rivalries. Broad Street & Oregon Avenue
• The bocce courts at Spruce Street Harbor Park on the Delaware River waterfront are just one reason The Huffington Post named it one of the top urban beaches in the world. Spruce Street at Columbus Boulevard, (215) 922-2386, delawareriverwaterfront.com

Religious Roots:

• For more than a century, the Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia has been a spiritual, educational, social and cultural center for the Italian immigrants who settled in South Philadelphia at the turn of the century and the diverse community of the faithful who followed later. Managed by the friars of the Order of Saint Augustine, the shrine offers an active schedule of religious services and other activities to nurture individuals and families. 1166 S. Broad Street, (215) 546-8333, saintritashrine.org
• 
  
• Every Sunday, the priests at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church conduct an early morning mass in Italian, a nod to the community’s rich Italian heritage. 1700 S. 9^th Street, (215) 463-1326,stnicksphila.com
• Modeled after the Lombard Church of St. Charles in Rome, theItalianRenaissance-style Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul serves as the mother church for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Much of the interior was decorated by Constantino Brumidi, who painted the Capitol dome in Washington, DC. 18^th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 561-1313, cathedralphila.org

SEPTA To Hold Lottery For Regional Rail Passes For Pope's Visit To Philadelphia For World Meeting Of Families

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) --

SEPTA says it will hold a lottery for Regional Rail passes for the pope's visit to Philadelphia.




Online registration for the lottery will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, August 3rd.

The lottery will run for 24 hours, ending at 11:59 p.m.

No matter what time you enter your lottery submission, everyone has the same chance for being selected, SEPTA says.

SEPTA offered these instructions on how to enter:

-Any time on Monday, Aug. 3, click the "Enter Lottery" link that will be posted on SEPTA's homepage, www.septa.org. This will take customers directly to the lottery form on Ticketleap's website with an entry form.

-Select travel dates - Saturday and/or Sunday, Sept. 26 and/or Sept. 27;

-Enter up to three preferred outlying Regional Rail Stations

-Pick travel time slot from outlying stations, either 5:30 a.m. -8:30 a.m. or 8:30 a.m.-noon

-Quantity of passes: Customers can request up to 10 each day. Customers with a valid PA Disability Transit ID Card or Medicare Card can request one

-Valid entries will be put in a database and winners selected at random by Ticketleap. Customers with winning entries will receive a "congratulations" email on Thursday. Aug. 6, with a personalized link to a secured page where they can complete their transaction with a debit or credit card. SEPTA will mail the passes to customers.



The first attempt to sell the passes on Monday, July 20th, resulted in the crash of their website.

SEPTA officials told Action News last week that 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 after tickets went on sale.

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.

Everything You Need To Know About The World Meeting of Families 2015 In Philadelphia

Join Pope Francis and tens of thousands of people from around the world for the 8th annual World Meeting of Families right in Philadelphia September 22–27, 2015.

Photo by M. Edlow for Visit Philadelphia

The theme of the 2015 World Meeting of Families is “Love Is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive,” emphasizing the impact of the love and life of families on our society. Not all details have been released at this time, but tradition suggests there will be a Papal Mass on Sunday, Sept. 27, along Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
The 2015 World Meeting of Families will be held at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Held every three years since 1994 and sponsored by the Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family, the World Meeting of Families is the world’s largest Catholic gathering of families. At the conference, families share their thoughts, dialogue and prayers, working together to grow as individuals and family units. Families can participate in discussion groups on the Christian family’s role in the church and society, led by many distinguished speakers.
Registration for the event is now open. Visit the World Meeting of Families' website to learn about the schedule, speakers, exhibitors and more.
Use the resources on the right to find places to stay, things to do and road trips to experience in the area. 

- See more at: http://www.visitpa.com/articles/world-meeting-families-2015-philadelphia#sthash.4go7PMhT.dpuf