Theater/performance
Arden Theatre Company
The Arden contains a 360-seat mainstage theatre and a 175-seat studio theater. The company produces five or six plays each season, with an additional two plays for children. The Arden has received 44 Barrymore awards and was named Philadelphia Magazine's pick for children's theatre in 2007.
Painted Bride Art Center
"The Bride," as it is known, was founded in 1969 and is dedicated to producing and showing works generated by points of view that are "outside the mainstream," according to the center's website. The center contains a gallery and a 250-seat theater, where shows such as "Jazz on Vine," Philadelphia's oldest continuously running Jazz series, are performed. The Bride also hosts innovative dance and world music performances. A Philadelphia treasure.
The Khyber
A storied home of many Philadelphia indie acts, The Khyber is an Old City attraction that can't be missed by music enthusiasts. NOTE: At this time 2010 The Khyber Pass does not host music events under the new ownership.
first friday
If you happen to be in Philadelphia on the first Friday of the month, you must attend First Friday (http://www.visitphilly.co...). From 5PM-9PM, art and design galleries along with boutiques housed in historic industrial spaces of Old City like Rodger LaPelle (http://www.rodgerlapelleg...) most of which can be found in the area between Front and 3rd Streets, and Vine and Market Streets open their doors to celebrate new monthly exhibitions. But the art, design and fashion is only half the story. First Friday is an ideal time to watch the different communities living in Philadelphia mingle, and watch the sun go down over the city. It's Philadelphia at its best.