Philadelphia doesn't exactly have the best track record with city-wide internet infrastructure - remember WirelessPhiladelphia? But Google recently announced that it will be testing super-fast broadband in one or more American cities and Philadelphia could be one of them. How fast is super-fast? As Google puts it "more than 100 times faster than what most Americas have access to today."

Google is inviting people to submit a form stating why their community should get Google's broadband service. In Philadelphia though efforts are going a step further with Gigabit Philly. Described as "a massive collaboration between city government the grassroots tech and creative communities and hundreds of organizations and individuals" Gigabit Philly is leading the city's efforts to court Google. You can visit the Gigabit Philly site to learn more about Google broadband see what Philadelphia is doing to get Google here and share your ideas about how super-fast internet would change the city.

Help Philadelphia Get Google Broadband originally appeared on About.com Philadelphia on Wednesday March 10th 2010 at 09:45:00.

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 • All's Well That Hauls Well: The Pedal Co-Op
    If you need compost hauled away packages delivered or goods moved but want to do it in an environmentally friendly manner check this out: Yesterday David Fiedler our Guide to Biking posted about a neat Philadelphia business the Pedal Co-Op. Using bikes with trailers attached the Pedal Co-Op hauls goods across Philadelphia fuel-free (well unless you count people as fuel). Learn more on Dave's blog.

All's Well That Hauls Well: The Pedal Co-Op originally appeared on About.com Philadelphia on Tuesday March 9th 2010 at 08:41:30.

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 • Celebrating International Women's Day in Philadelphia
    

Happy International Women's Day! Tonight you can honor ladies at one of these events:

• The iHouse is hosting an International Women's Day celebration featuring performances by female comedians musicians and other artists plus speakers from women's organizations including the Women's Campaign International.
• At the Constitution Center International Women's Day has an unsurprisingly historical flavor: See a screening of the film Dolley Madison: America's First Lady followed by a discussion with members of the film's production staff and historians.
• Last night for the first time ever the Academy Awards gave the best director Oscar to a woman Kathryn Bigelow. Watch her movie The Hurt Locker at Ritz at the Bourse at 9:40 p.m. tonight.

Know of more International Women's Day celebrations in the area today? Leave them in the comments.

Celebrating International Women's Day in Philadelphia originally appeared on About.com Philadelphia on Monday March 8th 2010 at 08:06:20.

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 • Weekend Picks: Maple-Iced
    This weekend enjoy laughter free food and a small-scale USA/Canada hockey rematch:

Thursday: Todd Glass at Helium
Very funny Philadelphia native Todd Glass lives in California now but tonight he's back in Philly performing at Helium. Check out this comic who has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live the Sarah Silverman Program and Comedy Central Presents.

Friday: Your Free Sandwich
Here's one way to get your new lunch menu into Philadelphia's hearts and stomachs: Give it away for free. Between 11:30 am and 5 p.m. on Friday Center City's Sampan will be giving away free pork bánh mì sandwiches.

Saturday: Make Maple Syrup
Forget that fake goop that sits on the table at IHOP. This Saturday learn how the real stuff is made at one of two family friendly maple-sugaring events: one at the Tyler Arboretum and one at the Howell Living History Farm in Lambertville NJ.

Sunday: Flyers vs. the Maple Leafs
If you're still sore from the USA/Canada hockey thing consider Sunday your own tiny rematch at the Wachovia Center.

Weekend Picks: Maple-Iced originally appeared on About.com Philadelphia on Thursday March 4th 2010 at 07:58:14.

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 • Recent Restaurant Reviews
    

Scallops at the JNA Institute of Culinary Arts

Student-made meals! Vegan eats! Cupcakes! Take a look at these recent restaurant reviews:

• JNA Institute of Culinary Arts
• Miss Rachel's Pantry Vegan Catering
• Philly Cupcake

Image: Meg Favreau

Recent Restaurant Reviews originally appeared on About.com Philadelphia on Monday March 1st 2010 at 07:05:30.

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 • Weekend Picks: To Be Snowed In or Not Snowed In
    

Geeze winter! It's been weeks since I've made weekend picks without factoring in the weather. Every time the weekend comes around it's either just snowed or it's about to or the streets are still so slick and gross that the City of Philadelphia launches a cheap transit and parking campaign to stimulate travel into Center City. A campaign that incidentally they've extended for public transportation: You can now enjoy $1 subway rides this weekend as well. Here's how to take advantage of that discounted travel (after the snow stops of course):

Friday: Pair Up Even if the snow wraps up by midday Friday who wants to spend the evening trudging through that stuff? Instead plan ahead today and pick up a bottle of Lost Abbey Angels Share Grand Cru from the Foodery and some Colston Bassett Stilton from DiBruno Brothers. Congratulations: You're now snowed in with Joe Sixpack's new favorite cheese-and-beer pairing.

Saturday: Top Chef: A Soup Opera!
The Penn Glee Club might go a little far in trying to capitalize off the popularity of TV – the "glee" in the promotional image for its new show is in the same font as the show "Glee." But I'm still on board with the idea of an original musical about a down-and-out chef.

Sunday: The Flower Show
Even if the snow reaches the second floor of your house dig out for this one: The country's largest and oldest indoor flower show starts Sunday and there's no better way to take a break from the crush of this crazy winter than being surrounded by 10 acres of gorgeous flowers (like the ones seen above).

Looking for more to do? Check out the February events calendar.

Philadelphia Flower Show photo courtesy of the PHS.

Weekend Picks: To Be Snowed In or Not Snowed In originally appeared on About.com Philadelphia on Thursday February 25th 2010 at 07:29:54.

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 • Greater Philadelphia Olympians: How They're Doing & When to Watch
    

Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto who train in Aston PA competing last Friday.

There are six athletes in the 2010 Olympics who either currently live or have strong roots in the Philadelphia area. Here's how they're currently standing in the games and when to watch them next:

• The ice-dancing duo of Ben Agosto and Tanith Belbin placed fourth on Friday and they're scheduled to compete again later today; you should be able to catch them at 8 p.m. tonight on NBC 10.
• The USA men's hockey team which features Cherry Hill native Bobby Ryan beat Canada last night in a pride-hurting game for the Canadian team. Keep an eye on the Olympic hockey schedule to see when USA will be playing again.
• Speed skater Allison Baver did not do well enough in her semi-final race to compete for a medal in the 1500 meter but she has two more chances to compete this week; check the speed-skating schedule for times.
• Avondale resident Eric Bernotas placed 14th in skeleton.
• Johnny Weir placed sixth in men's figure skating.

To learn more about these local athletes check out my page on Greater Philadelphia Athletes in the 2010 Olympics.

Image: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images

Greater Philadelphia Olympians: How They're Doing & When to Watch originally appeared on About.com Philadelphia on Monday February 22nd 2010 at 08:16:05.

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 • Weekend Picks: Snow Tubes Tigers and Beers – Oh My!
    

This weekend learn how to taste beer celebrate the Year of the Tiger and take advantage of the snow for less than the price of a lift ticket.

Friday: Celebrate Chinese New Year
Usher in the Year of the Tiger at the International House's 8th annual Chinese New Year celebration featuring a variety of live entertainment food and a live-scored screening of Red Heroine a silent Chinese film from 1929.

Saturday: Get Schooled...Beer SchooledOkay that sounds like the tag line for a hack college comedy. The event I'm talking about the Foodery's Beer Academy is much more awesome (and also much less likely to have Tom Green). On Saturday afternoon the beer purveyor is running a class at Local 44 to teach you the differences between 12 different types of beers — with tastings of course. Can't make Saturday? They're also running one tonight at Dos Segundos in Northern Liberties and on the 27th at Nodding Head. Tickets are $15 a person.

Sunday: Go Tubing
The same storms that ground our workweeks to a snowy halt also made for some of the best winter-sport conditions in years. Take advantage of the snow by going tubing at one of the area mountains like Bear Creek or Spring Mountain — it's cheaper than skiing or snowboarding.

Looking for more things to do? Check out the February events calendar.

Weekend Picks: Snow Tubes Tigers and Beers – Oh My! originally appeared on About.com Philadelphia on Thursday February 18th 2010 at 07:17:37.

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 • Leave Your House: Free Parking in Center City & Cheap Trains All Over
    

The City of Philadelphia is running a neat promotion right now offering free or cheap parking in Center City and discounted SEPTA fares through February 21 if you venture beyond your snow-filled street. Exactly what deal you can get depends on the day of the week:

• On February 15 20 and 21 riders can pay just $1 to ride the Market-Frankford or Broad Street subway lines and the PPA is offering four hours of free parking at select downtown parking garages. UPDATE: The $1 subway promotion will be available on February 27 and 28 as well.
• February 16 – 19 those same parking garages are offering a flat rate of $5 to park after 5 p.m.
• Until the 21st inbound regional rail rides after 5 p.m. are discounted.

To learn more about the parking promotion visit the PPA's website or get all the mass transit details from SEPTA. Don't know what to come into the city for? Check out the February events calendar read restaurant reviews or find something fun in the Events and Things to Do section.

Leave Your House: Free Parking in Center City & Cheap Trains All Over originally appeared on About.com Philadelphia on Monday February 15th 2010 at 07:17:13.

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 • Philadelphia: Not One of America's Drunkest Cities
    

We're definitely one of the best beer cities in America (just look at all of Philadelphia's great beer bars) and thousands of us wake up early to drink at the Wing Bowl or Mummers Parade. But according to Men's Health's list of America's Drunkest Cities Philadelphia seems practically sober ranking almost at the bottom of the 100-city list at 89. The list doesn't measure how much we drink (because really we do love our beer) but other factors such as DUI deaths and binge drinking leading Men's Health to give us a rating of B . That means that when we do drink we tend to do it safely. Good job Philadelphia.

Image: Meg Favreau

Philadelphia: Not One of America's Drunkest Cities originally appeared on About.com Philadelphia on Friday February 12th 2010 at 07:02:42.

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