PCCY 2012 SUPER PARTY
The Host: Public Citizens for Children and Youth
The Cause: Improving the life and community awareness of children through advocacy
The Details: Wednesday, May 2, at 5:30 PM, at The Crystal Tea Room in the Wanamaker Building. 100 E. Penn Sq., 215-563-5848

AN EVENING IN FRANKLIN SQUARE
The Host: Historic Philadelphia, Inc.
The Cause: Strengthening Greater Philadelphia's role as the destination to experience American history through interpretation, interaction, and education
The Details: Thursday, May 10, at 5:30 PM, at Franklin Square. Sixth and Race Streets, 215-629-5801, ext. 207

UTLEY ALL-STAR ANIMALS CASINO NIGHT
The Host: Chase and Jennifer Utley
The Cause: Helping the Pennsylvania SPCA in its mission to raise awareness about animal cruelty
The Details: Thursday, May 10, at 6:30 PM, at Electric Factory. 421 N. Seventh St., 215-627-1060

STEP INTO SPRING GALA
The Host: Steppingstone Scholars, Inc.
The Cause: Helping educationally underserved students in the Greater Philadelphia region achieve academic success
The Details: Friday, May 11, at 7 PM, at The Horticulture Center in Fairmount Park. 100 N. Horticultural Dr., 215-508-5150

SUSAN G. KOMEN PHILADELPHIA RACE FOR THE CURE
The Host: Susan G. Komen for the Cure Philadelphia
The Cause: Education, prevention, and treatment of breast cancer
The Details: Sunday, May 13, at 6 AM, at Eakins Oval at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., 215-238-8900

CAMP IN FOR KIDS' CANCER
The Host: Alex's Lemonade Stand and the Philadelphia Eagles
The Cause: Raising funds and awareness for children fighting pediatric cancer
The Details: Saturday, May 19, at 5 PM to Sunday, May 20, at 9 AM, at the Lincoln Financial Field. 1020 Pattison Ave., 610-649-3034

WALL BALL
The Host: The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program
The Cause: Uniting artists and communities transforming public spaces and individual lives
The Details: Thursday, May 31, at 5:30 PM, at Vie. 600 N. Broad St., 215-685-0754

CHILDREN'S CRISIS TREATMENT CENTER'S ROUNDUP
The Host: Children's Crisis Treatment Center
The Cause: Provide high-quality mental and behavioral health services to Philadelphia's children and their families
The Details: Friday, June 1, at 7 PM, at Pêche Sherman Mills. 3502 Scotts Lane, 215-496-0707, ext. 1137

GREATER PHILADELPHIA TOUR DE CURE
The Host: American Diabetes Association
The Cause: Funding research and increasing awareness in the fight against diabetes
The Details: Saturday, June 2, at 6 AM, at Temple University's Ambler Campus. 580 Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, 610-828-5003

A PERFECT FIT: PORTRAITS OF PROGRESS
The Host: The Career Wardrobe
The Cause: Empowering women in transition to achieve self-sufficiency
The Details: Thursday, June 7, at 6 PM, at the Hyatt at the Bellevue. 200 S. Broad St., 215-568-6693

GREAT CHEFS EVENT
The Host: Marc Vetri, Jeff Benjamin, Jeff Michaud, and the Vetri Foundation for Children
The Cause: Raising money and awareness of childhood cancer causes, benefiting Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation and Vetri Foundation for Children
The Details: Tuesday, June 12, at 6 PM, at the Urban Outfitters Headquarters at the Navy Yard. 5000 S. Broad St., 215-732-3478

GARY PAPA RUN
The Host: Prostate Health International
The Cause: Raising awareness of prostate cancer and promoting research and education of prostate cancer
THE DETAILS:Sunday, June 17, at 7 am, at Eakins Oval at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., 215-732-2300

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK VALINOTE (UTLEY FOUNDATION)

American Red Cross
The Cause: Prevention, preparation, and response to a variety of emergencies
Event Planner: Katerina Koperna
How to Help: Show support by attending the Red Ball, on March 10 at 8 pm, at the Please Touch Museum. 4231 Avenue of the Republic, 215-299-5491

City of Hope
The Cause: Research and treatment for life-threatening diseases, including cancer and diabetes
Senior Director of Development: Harry Giordano
How to Help: Taste the offerings at the Let Them Eat Cake wedding cake design competition, on April 2 at 6 pm, at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. 1200 Market St., 800-344-8169

The American Liver Foundation
The Cause: Promoting education, support, and research for the prevention, treatment, and cure of liver disease
Executive Director: Ivory Allison
How to Help: Enjoy a gourmet dinner at the Flavors of Philadelphia, on April 3 at 6 pm, at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. 1200 Market St., 215-425-8080

SPIN
The Cause: Helping children and adults with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities
CEO: Kathy Brown McHale
How to Help: Participate in the Possibilities in the Park 5K Run, Walk, Roll, on April 14 at 8 am, at Industrial Park in Northeast Philadelphia. 10521 Drummond Road, 215-612-7512

Donors are Heroes/Gift of Life Donor Program
The Cause: Promoting education and awareness on the importance of life-saving organ donation.
Donors Are Heroes Founders: Don and Renee Freeman
The Event: Attend the Donors Are Heroes ‘The Party’ on April 27, at the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia. 1 Logan Sq., 215-557-8090

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA
The Cause: Supports patient care, research, and education programs at CHOP
Cochairs: Elizabeth Proctor and Suzanne Lentz
The Event: The Holiday Boutique Event, hosted by The Women’s Committee of CHOP, December 1 at 5 PM and December 2 at 9 AM, at the Merion Cricket Club. 325 Montgomery Ave., Haverford, 267-426-6500; giving.chop.edu

ALEX’S LEMONADE STAND FOUNDATION
The Cause: Childhood-cancer research
Cochairs: Liz and Jay Scott and Melanie and Billy King
The Event: The 2012 Lemon Ball, on January 14 at 6:30 PM, at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. 1201 Market St., 610-649-3034; alexslemonade.org

MARCH OF DIMES
The Cause: Working for stronger, healthier babies
Chair: Dan Finnerty
The Event: Comcast SportsNet’s Shining Star Awards, on February 3 at 6 PM, at the Westin Philadelphia. 99 S. 17th St., 215-952-5944; shiningstarawards.com

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
The Cause: Building healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and strokes
CEO: Nancy Brown
The Event: The Heart of Philadelphia Heart Ball, on February 11 at 6 PM, at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. 1201 Market St., 215-575-5215; heart.org

FLYERS WIVES FIGHT FOR LIVES
The Cause: Supporting more than 100 Philadelphia area charities
Cochairs: Lauren Pronger and Nadine Coburn The Event: The Flyers Wives Carnival, on February 19 at noon, at the Wells Fargo Center. 3601 S. Broad St., 800-298-4200; flyerscarnival.com

The Pie In the Sky 2011 bake sale on November 10

Pie In The Sky 2011
The host: Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA)
The cause: Provides meals to individuals coping with life-threatening illnesses
The details: Thursday, November 10, at 11 AM at Marathon Grill. 1818 Market St., 215-496-2662; mannapies.org

3-Day For The Cure
The host: Susan G. Komen for the Cure
The cause: Breast cancer research
The details: Friday, October 14, through Sunday, October 16, at 7 AM, starting at Willow Grove Park Mall.2500 W. Moreland Road, Willow Grove, 800-996-3329; the3day.org

PAFA Bacchanal Wine Gala and Auction
The host: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA)
The cause: PAFA’s student scholarships and education programs
The details: Saturday, November 12, at 6 PM, at PAFA. 118–128 N. Broad St., 215-972- 2037; pafa.org

Little Smiles Stars Ball
The host: Little Smiles
The cause: A black-tie gala to benefit children battling serious illnesses
The details: Saturday, November 12, at 7 PM, at the Please Touch Museum. 4231 Avenue of the Republic, 610-765-1272; littlesmiles.org

Good Dog Gala
The host: Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The cause: Animals in need
The details: Saturday, October 15, at 6:30 PM, at the Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing. 201 S. Columbus Blvd., 215-426-6300; pspca.org

Party With A Purpose Gala
The host: Friends of the American Cancer Society
The cause: Pancreatic cancer research and patient services
The details: Sunday, October 16, at 6 PM, at the Please Touch Museum. 4231 Avenue of  the Republic, 215-985-5350; friendsofacs.org

Scaredy Cats 2: the Shriek-Quel
The host: City of Hope, HopeCuts, Raylon Corporation
The cause: Cancer and HIV/AIDS research and treatment programs via City of Hope
The details: Saturday, October 22, at 8 PM, at Voyeur Nightclub. 1221 St. James St., 800-344-8169; hopecuts.org

As the green thumbs at Longwood Gardens know, Mother Nature paints her most stunning landscapes in the fall. Appropriately, the full palette is on display at the annual Autumn’s Colors exhibit.

“This is the most intensive horticultural effort we engage in,” says Longwood Gardens director Paul Redman.

“Autumn’s Colors is one of the most beautiful times of the year here, and with its displays set against a background of brilliant fall foliage, it provides a perfect escape for the busy Philadelphia urbanite.”

The incredible array of berried shrubs, fruit trees, flowers and even seasonal vegetables are on view September 5 to November 20 (though it moves indoors after the first frost), the peak season for fall florals. We suggest visiting the gardens when the Chrysanthemum Festival, a seasonal display within Autumn’s Colors, opens on October 29. It will feature more than 20,000 mums, the highlight of which is a possibly record-breaking chrysanthemum plant with more than 1,000 perfect blooms. Says Redman, “It is truly a showcase of amazing horticultural feats.” 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA

Back in the late ’90s, Nick Stuccio dreamed of fashioning a festival to showcase Philly’s burgeoning experimental arts scene. Fifteen years later, the dream, which originally started as the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, a singular five-day arts festival in Old City, has morphed into the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe, two of the city’s most beloved— and provocative—events. “Every year the festival gets better,” says Stuccio, a classically trained ballet dancer who cofounded the festival. “Our audience grows every year, and so do we.”

For about a fortnight (this year, September 2 to 17), the two citywide festivals showcase cuttingedge dance, theater, music and interdisciplinary works from some of the finest international and Philly-based artists. As the producing artistic director of both events, Stuccio has become the city’s unofficial arbiter of arts and culture. “Above all, the Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe is an adventure,” says Stuccio. “It’s fun. It’s innovative. It’s an exploration of new ideas. We are committed to bold thinkers on the local scene, and we are able to bring the best and brightest from all over the world to our city.”

The Live Arts Festival has emerged as the carefully curated (under Stuccio’s watchful eye, of course) half of the festival, the segment that brings in internationally renowned performing arts groups and affords Philadelphians the opportunity to experience refined experimental art in ways many people have not before. Philly Fringe is its wilder sibling, the unfiltered venue where anything goes. It is uncurated, unapologetic and open to any artist with a point of view and something to share.

Despite the differences, both festivals share an overarching theme: The only thing you should expect is the decidedly unexpected. This year’s Live Arts Festival lineup includes 16 performances by leaders of the contemporary art world from Philly and beyond, nine of which are world premieres. This year also features a festival within a festival where acclaimed artists from around the globe come to perform works centered on questions about cultural identity in society. “We are doing all of this because we are inspired by the Barack Obama phenomenon,” says Stuccio. “Our president is this 21st-century man. How many cultures does he represent, and how does his cultural background play a role in his identity? We are fascinated by what he represents.”

Highlights include the Festival’s first visual arts installation, called Zon-Mai, which consists of a giant house of screens showing projections of 21 dancers performing inside their own homes, as well as an experimental contemporary circus called Traces, to be shown at the Merriam Theater. Pig Iron Theatre Company, a Phillybased troupe and one of the festival’s top tickets every year, is premiering one work: a staging of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, or What You Will.

As for Philly Fringe, more than 200 shows will be self-produced by thousands of artists the world over. “The Philly Fringe has zero barriers,” says Stuccio. “Anybody doing anything is welcome to participate. We have no need to create a ceiling on the amount of artists who can present their work. You never know what you are going to see.” livearts-fringe.org

Head of Christ, by Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn

One of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s most groundbreaking exhibitions of the year, “Rembrandt and the Face of Jesus” opens on August 3 and comprises 22 paintings, 17 drawings and 9 prints done by the Dutch Golden Age master. Greatly anticipated works in the exhibition include the newly restored Supper at Emmaus, on loan from the Louvre, and Christ and the Woman Taken Into Adultery, coming to the United States for the first time ever by way of London’s National Gallery of Art. Through October 30.

Each year, the Atlantic City Air Show draws thousands to the shore for a glimpse of airplanes swooping from 15,000 feet to just 50 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Beat the boardwalk crowds and escape the heat while scoring panoramic views of the show along with boardwalk-themed treats and arcade games at this year’s Atlantic City Air Show at the VIP “Under the Thunder” party at One Atlantic in the Pier Shops at Caesars. On August 17, the daring air show graces the sky from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM. “Under the Thunder” will be held at One Atlantic behind floor-to-ceiling glass windows or outside on the 2,000 square foot terrace to feel the roar above. The Atlantic City Air Show is a tribute to America’s Armed Forces and features a salute, live entertainment from military bands and representatives from each branch of the military, veterans’ organizations and police and fire departments. Air pilots include: U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, U.S. Army Golden Knights, Super Hornets, V-22 Osprey, and Geico Skytypers. Tickets are $39 per person and free for children under age 2 and discounted for a family 4-pack at $99. 

POPPED! Music Festival brings two days of music, a comedy tent, beer garden and food bazaar. Performers include The Shins, Girl Talk and The Hold Steady.

Everyone’s Italian during The South 9th Street Italian Market Festival (May 14 to 15), which fills the streets of Philly with the aroma of homemade pasta and the sounds of live music. Look for a surmounting smorgasbord of tasty bites from street vendors and top chefs, who’ll be showcasing their techniques during live cooking demonstrations. Area restaurants will move table service outdoors so diners can enjoy the festival atmosphere and live music will blare from two stages. On Sunday (11 AM), Father Gerald Carey will lead the traditional procession of the saints, starting at Saint Mary Magdalen Church and ending at Saint Paul Catholic Church. What are we most looking forward to? Esposito Meats, who are celebrating their 100th anniversary, will put out a 100-foot-long stuffed sausage made from a 100-year-old recipe.South 9th St., from South St. to Reed St.