MLA Abstract Deadlines

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow (FEBRUARY 28, 2007 11:59 PM CST) is the deadline for updating abstracts for your accepted poster and papers.

Your abstract will be posted on the Online Program Planner/ Itinerary Builder) in early March and published in the MLA '07 Abstract supplement to the Official Program which will be distributed at the meeting. After February 28, 2007, any additional author/presenter changes will most likely not be included in MLA '07 Annual Meeting official publications.

Update your abstracts at: http://www.abstractsonline.com/submit/login.asp?mkey=%7B9443EE70%2DD89B%2D4347%2DBC63%2D467154391C33%7D

Philly With Kids

For those of you planning to travel to Philadephia with children, here are some interesting destinations:

Franklin Institute Science Museum, now exhibiting Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs; also offers many permanent exhibits (a giant heart, Sir Isaac's Loft, Space Command, and many more) as well as an IMAX theater.

Independence National Historic Park - see the Liberty Bell and visit Independence Hall; it's all here.

Philadelphia Zoo, America's First Zoo

Please Touch Museum for the younger ones (8 and under): Please Touch Museum is home to interactive exhibits & programs designed to encourage learning through play. Once inside let your child be your guide! Play croquet with the Queen of Hearts. Sit behind the wheel of a real SEPTA bus. Romp with a Wild Thing or whip up a cake with Mikey and the Bakers. The Barnyard Babies section is designed for the under 3 set. They can "feed" chickens, dress a scarecrow and play in the veggie garden. Great hands-on fun!

Academy of Natural Sciences

The following links provide some ideas as well:

Taking the Kids: Three Days in Philadelphia

Family-Friendly Philadelphia

Independence Visitor Center: Especially for Kids

This is by no means a comprehensive list, but a good place to start for some ideas.

UpToDate for FREE

Up to date on Philadelphia, that is.

Want a hip intro to Philadelphia that will bring you up to speed on shopping, services, recreation, etc. via daily emails? You want Daily Candy, Philadelphia edition! Go to
http://www.dailycandy.com/index.jsp?city=13 to sign up.

Librarians love chocolate, right?

Philadelphia is a mecca for chocolate lovers. You won’t have to venture far from the Marriott to fulfill your cravings, either. Just across the street at the Reading Terminal Market, you will find Chocolate by Mueller where the chocolates are made on site and where chocolate body parts, including an anatomically correct chocolate heart, are big sellers. Also at the Market is the Pennsylvania General Store – a great place to find both Pennsylvania and Philadelphia souvenirs. (Aren’t the best souvenirs the ones you can eat?) PA General specializes in candies such as Asher’s, Neuchatel, Wilbur’s and Zitner’s, that are made in Pennsylvania.
The Naked Chocolate Café, 1317 Walnut St., (www.nakedchocolate.com) merits a visit for many reasons (the name?) and offers yummy baked items as well as candies.
Several blocks further away, Lore’s Chocolates, 34 S. 7th St., (www.loreschocolates.com) has been making and selling fine chocolates for 35 years.
Stroll further down Market St. in the direction of the Delaware River and you will be rewarded by Shane Candies (shanecandies.com). Located at 110 Market St., Shane’s has been delighting customers since 1876. The store and the employees are just as wonderful as the candies! Plus, you can stop for an egg cream or a phosphate at The Franklin Fountain, 116 Market St. (http://www.franklinfountain.com/) to fortify you for the walk back to the hotel.

If you want to head off in the other direction, toward City Hall, for your chocolate excursion, you will not want to miss Maron Chocolates, 1734 Chestnut St.
(http://www.maronchocolates.com/). Maron’s has been in business at several different Center City locations since 1850! It is still a small, family-run operation and produces great chocolates. If you’ve brought along a non-chocoholic friend, no worries! Opt for ice cream instead at Maron’s ScoopDeVille (http://www.maronchocolates.com/cream.html).

[posted for Nancy Calabretta, chocolate lover and medical librarian extraordinaire]

Maps & Directions: getting around Philly

The gophila website is one of the best on everything Philadelphian. Here's a link to the maps section which has both regional maps and detailed downtown maps.

http://www.gophila.com/Go/TravelTools/mapsdirections.aspx

Philadelphia: Home of Ice Cream?

Someone heard that Philadelphia is the "home of ice cream." And asks, what are some of the LAC's favorites for ice cream? Is Capogiro Gelateria really as good as they say? I turned to the collective expertise of the LAC and this is what I found out:

History of ice cream in Philadelphia:
http://www.chillyphilly.com/icehist4.html

Best of list
http://www.gayot.com/restaurants/bestof/icecream/philadelphia.html

Website that talks about "Philadelphia style" ice cream:
http://www.slate.com/id/2121378/

For the true ice cream aficionados, a recipe for Philadelphia-style ice cream
http://www.inmamaskitchen.com/RECIPES/RECIPES/Desserts/ice_desserts/ice_cream_philadelphia.html

Comments on specific ice creams and locations:
Bassetts-- the ice cream most associate with Philly (a long-timer - founded in 1861)
right next door in the Reading Terminal Market
http://www.bassettsicecream.com/news.html
great French Vanilla, great Butterscotch

Capogiro Gelateria, yes it is as good as they say -- 20th and Sansom.

Scoop de Ville at Maron Chocolates, the oldest, independent retail candy
business in America (91 years), has great ice cream. (1724 Chestnut)
http://www.maronchocolates.com/cream.html

Also wonderful is More than Just Ice Cream -- wonderful ice cream and really good food as well. between 11th and 12th on Locust.

Getting Crafty at MLA

Knitting is hot! So, where to go in Philadelphia for the best yarn and needlework supplies? There are three well known yarn shops (in order of distance from the Marriot):
Rosie's Yarn Cellar
2017 Locust Street
215-977-9276
http://www.rosiesyarncellar.com/
Loop
1914 South Street
877.893.9939 215.893.9939
http://www.loopyarn.com/
Sophie's Yarns
713 S. 4th. Street
215-925-KNIT
http://www.sophiesyarns.com/

Unfortunately for other types of needleworkers there are not any shops nearby in Philadelphia. You have to travel to the suburbs or New Jersey.

Nightlife

Rittenhouse Square:
http://www.gophila.com/C/Things_to_Do/211/Dining_and_Nightlife/223/Nightlife/309/Nightlife__Rittenhouse_Square/411.html

Old City:
http://www.gophila.com/C/Things_to_Do/211/Dining_and_Nightlife/223/Nightlife/309/Old_City/410.html

Live Music:
http://www.gophila.com/C/Things_to_Do/211/Dining_and_Nightlife/223/Nightlife/309/Live_Music/408.html

Kimmel Center:
http://www.kimmelcenter.org/

Malls & Outlets

Philadelphia's best shopping:
http://www.philadelphia.com/shopping/index.html

Franklin Mills visitor info and tours:
http://www.franklinmills.com/static/node1868.jsp

King of Prussia:
http://www.kingofprussiamall.com/tourism/transportation.htm

South Street Parking and Directions:
http://www.southstreet.com/content/view/18/44/

Outside Philadelphia Tours

Will there be tours outside the Philadelphia area like in Reading, PA and the Outlet malls located there for those of us not renting a car? What tour buses or agencies do you suggest to get back and forth. Thank you.

Come to Philly and Go Egyptian

The fabulous King Tut exhibit just opened at the Franklin Institute and will be open through September 2007. Certain times are already sold out during our meeting, so buy your tickets now if you want to attend.
http://www.kingtut.org/home

Ask Us About Philadelphia!

If you have a question, ask the Local Assistance Committee at seymoura@mail.med.upenn.edu!