Those new to the University of Pennsylvania will find that cultural events and activities are central to the social lives of both students and city residents. From art museums and performing arts centers to cinemas and concert venues, the city provides countless cultural opportunities to suit all individual tastes.
Concert venues abound in both the city and its surrounding neighborhoods. One popular spot is the Electric Factory, an Old City locale frequented by Penn students. Featuring both mainstream and lesser-known bands, the Electric Factory will host such groups as Slayer, Switchfoot and Muse this fall.
The Tweeter Center at the Waterfront, located in Camden, N.J., is a prominent concert venue during all seasons. In the summer, the center takes the form of an amphitheater and can hold as many as 25,000 audience members. During the fall and winter months, the building converts to an indoor arena.
Toby Keith, Fleetwood Mac and the Pixies are all slated to perform at the Tweeter Center this fall. The venue, however, does not limit its events to musical groups; the center also hosts numerous theatrical performances and family productions throughout the year.
The city offers countless venues for the performing arts as well. Among them is the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and The Academy of Music, both staples of Philadelphia culture. The Kimmel Center features the Philadelphia Orchestra and seven other resident companies, all of which hold events constantly throughout the year. The venue also hosts touring performance groups.
Other prominent attractions include the many art galleries and museums throughout the city. Especially popular with students and art enthusiasts is First Friday, a tradition held by over 40 of Old City's neighborhood galleries. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first Friday of every month, exhibits are open for display at each of these locations.
Looming over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway is the Philadelphia Museum of Art, a mainstay of art enthusiasts that houses the Rodin Museum and several others. The PMA holds featured exhibitions every month, during which attendees can browse a diverse collection of pieces, ranging from the Renaissance to the Modern era.
Also prominent are the Institute of Contemporary Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. The ICA, located at 36th and Sansom streets, promotes modern art not only through exhibits but educational programs and publications as well. The renowned Academy of Fine Arts is the nationƒ_s‹¨«"‹¨«'s oldest art museum, set to celebrate its 200th anniversary next year.
Film fanatics can catch the latest flicks at several locations in Philadelphia. The Bridge: Cinema de Lux, located at 40th and Walnut streets, is a premier weekend spot for Penn students. Also popular are the three Ritz theaters in Old City, which offer independent, foreign and alternative films in addition to mainstream movies.
For those staying on campus, the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and Irvine Auditorium serve as the main cultural hot spots. These venues hold a wide variety of shows throughout the year and host audiences dominated by Penn students, employees and other affiliates. Historical buffs can also browse works at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
