Cinema
Center City isn't a movie a minute, but it's getting better by the year. Old City has three nice Ritz Cinemas, and all of them tend toward Miramax-style, small (but not that small) films, both domestic and foreign. The Ritzes share a phone number (tel. 215/925-7900) and website (www.ritztheaters.com). There's the five-screen Ritz 5 Movies, 214 Walnut St., the five-screen Ritz at the Bourse, 4th and Ranstead streets just off Chestnut Street behind the Omni Hotel, and the Ritz East, on 2nd Street between Chestnut and Walnut streets, with two screens. The Rittenhouse area's petite, slightly spartan, two-screen Roxy Theatre (tel. 215/923-6699) shows first-run movies and occasional old-timers.
South Philly's United Artist Riverview, 1400 S. Columbus Blvd. (tel. 215/722-2219), shows blockbusters to an often talkative crowd. The Franklin Institute's Tuttleman IMAX Theater, 222 N. 20th St. (tel. 215/448-1111; www.fi.edu), shows adventure and nature movies (Deep Sea, Roving Mars, Ant Bully) on its four-story, domed screen.
In University City, there are first-run blockbusters at the Bridge Cinema de Lux, 230 S. 40th St. (tel. 215/386-3300; www.thebridgecinema.com). Foreign film series, political documentaries, and other indie movies show at Penn's International House, 3701 Chestnut St. (tel. 215/387-5125).
Readings
Borders, 1 S. Broad St. (tel. 215/568-7400), runs one of the country's top series of author readings in an elegant setting across the Avenue of the Arts from The Ritz-Carlton. Readings are usually at 7:30pm weekdays and 2pm weekends. Barnes & Noble in Rittenhouse Square, 1805 Walnut St. (tel. 215/665-0716), offers semi-regular 7pm readings. The main branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, a beautiful limestone temple at 1901 Vine St. (tel. 215/686-5415; www.library.phila.gov), has regular author readings with writers like Carl Hiassen and Walter Mosley.
Salons
Several spots around town have started catering to the large pool of intellectually curious. Judy Wicks at the White Dog Café, 3420 Sansom St. (tel. 215/386-9224; www.whitedogcafe.com), has instituted "table talk" dinners with local academics, artists, and activists. While tucking into locally farmed and raised fare, diners learn about issues such as domestic and foreign policy, the arts, and social movements. The salon talks include a three-course dinner for $30 per person, and reservations are recommended.
Spectacles
The Benjamin Franklin Bridge has been outfitted with special lighting effects by the noted architectural firm Venturi, Rauch, and Scott Brown. The lights are triggered into mesmerizing patterns by the auto and train traffic along the span. Lighting plays on most of the major monuments and bridges leading in and out of Center City and on City Hall as well.
May through October, from dusk until 11:15pm, Independence National Historical Park becomes the backdrop for the mesmerizing "Lights of Liberty" show. Wearing special headsets, you hear stereophonic sound and see 50-foot projections and surprising special effects that illustrate the struggle toward America's independence.
