Another thing you should check out is my buddy Paul’s tumblr. This summer, Paul went on a tour of Europe, and posted his pictures here. It’s sort of like the spotlights I’ve been doing on American cities and neighborhoods, but on some of the largest, most beautiful and important cities in history. Take a look.

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The mother of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old college student who was tortured and murdered in Wyoming in 1998 because he was gay, was the keynote speaker today at a conference on hate crimes at the National Constitution Center.

Shepard’s murder helped create federal hate crime legislation, but his mother notes that more works needs to be done, especially here in Pennsylvania.

“Matt is no longer with us because two men learned — they learned — that it was okay to hate,” Judy Shepard said today.

For 14 years, Shepard has been on a crusade to transform the day her son was pistol-whipped, chained to a fence, and left to die into one of positive change.

And in 2009, she breathed a sigh of relief when President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard Act, which expanded federal hate-crime protections to include gender, sexual orientation, and disability.

But 33 states, including Pennsylvania, do not provide such protections.  Shepard says a big part of the problem is that hate crimes, especially in the LGBT community, are underreported.

“If there are no numbers, there is no problem.  I was laughing to myself earlier this morning when I saw that Pennsylvania had only 57 reported hate crimes — 57!  There are more in places where 600,000 people live,” she said.

Shepard says communities must make it safe for victims to come forward by promoting understanding, allowing anonymity, and providing protection from retaliation.

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Mitt Romney campaigning

It is the first time since February that the website says Romney has more likely electoral votes than Obama.

On Friday, Romney has a projected total of 206 votes, compared with 201 for Obama. The change came when Real Clear Politics (RCP) removed North Carolina from its toss-up category and put it among states likely voting for the GOP contender.

The move isn’t entirely unexpected, since theRomney campaign is also reportedly moving resources from North Carolina to other battleground states.

That leaves 10 swing states and 131 electoral votes up for grabs, at least by Real Clear Politics’ count.

Recent Constitution Daily Stories

Google Trends shows growing Romney interest among swing state voters
Romney’s ace could come from a mystery Swing State
Presidential, Senate races could be decided in Vegas

Based on its method of pulling together disparate polls, RCP projects a 294-244 win for Obama, if the voting was held today nationally and if it reflected recent consensus poll results. The victory would come from the Democrats taking Ohio, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Virginia.

Virginia and its 13 electoral votes seem more promising for the Romney camp as three recent polls have the Republican candidate ahead in the state. Combined with Virginia, another 13 votes from among the toss-up states would most likely give Romney a win in November with 270 votes.

The vote in Colorado, New Hampshire, and Virginia seems extremely close, with a consensus polling gap under 1 percent in the three battleground states.

The X factor could be separate electoral votes that are accounted to congressional districts in Omaha and in rural Maine. A swing of one vote from Omaha to President Obama, in that scenario, would leave the election tied after Election Day, and in the hand of state electors around the country.

In event of a tie, the constitutional system under the 12th Amendment provides for each state, once it settles any recounts or contested votes, to send its electoral votes to the president of the U.S. Senate, which is always the current vice president, to be counted. If that election is a tie, the contest goes to Congress to be settled.

On Friday, President Obama was in northern Virginia trying to get out the vote for the Democrats. Romney had appeared in Virginia on Wednesday.

The Washington, D.C., television market, which broadcasts into northern Virginia, has been saturated with attack ads from both candidates and their surrogates.

Scott Bomboy in editor-in-chief of the National Constitution Center.

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The Washington post

Political analysts (including The Fix) spend a good bit of time these days talking about important voter groups — Latino voters and female voters, in particular.

But all of the focus on these groups has obfuscated one fact: Mitt Romney is performing very, very well among white voters. And in fact, most recent polls show him winning the white vote by more than any GOP presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan.

Some recent national polls have shown Romney losing the Latino vote by upwards of 40 or 50 points  – a result that, if it came to pass, would significantly hurt the GOP’s chances of winning the White House, given the rapid growth in the Latino population.

But even if Romney sustains a huge loss on the Latino vote, he could very well offset that (and much more) by out-performing his Republican predecessors when it comes to white voters, which are still about seven times as much of the electorate as Latinos. Indeed, it’s not unreasonable to think that Romney could win 60 percent or more of white voters this year.

The most recent national polls from four pollsters — Gallup, Monmouth University, Fox News and the Pew Research Center — all show Romney winning the white vote by more than 20 points. That’s something no GOP presidential candidate has done since Reagan’s landslide 1984 reelection win.

(The most recent Washington Post-ABC News poll, we should note, shows him winning whites by just 11 percent.)

In 2008, white voters made up nearly three-fourths of the vote, while Latinos comprised 9 percent. Let’s say that, in the election on Nov. 6, there is a surge in the Latino vote (up to 11 percent of the electorate) and a coinciding drop in the white vote (down to 72 percent).

Given how small the Latino vote remains, the difference between losing it by 36 points — as John McCain did in 2008 — and losing it by 45 points — a worst-case scenario for Romney — amounts to about a 1 percent overall shift in the national race.

Meanwhile, if Romney won the white vote by 22 percent — a 10-point improvement over McCain — that would gain him 7 percent of the national vote over McCain and essentially even out the national popular vote.

None of this is to say, of course, that the Latino vote isn’t important. It’s a fast-growing part of the electorate and one that Republicans are going to have to start competing better for in the very near future — and preferably, for them, this year.

And as the Latino vote grows, the white vote becomes less and less of the electorate.

But as far as the 2012 election goes, Romney’s strength among white voters could very well offset his and the Republican Party’s continued struggles among minorities, and be good enough to win Romney the presidency.

GOP closes early vote deficit in Iowa: Early vote numbers continue to trickle in in Iowa — the only major swing state that currently has in-person early voting and party registration numbers — and they’re looking better for Republicans.

While Iowa Democrats were voting almost three times as often as Republicans early this month, the GOP has steadily closed the gap. At present, 50 percent of ballots cast are from Democrats and 30 percent are from Republicans.

The GOP lost early voting 47 percent to 29 percent in Iowa in 2008 and lost the state by nine points. So they’ll want to continue closing that gap. But they’re headed in the right direction right now.

Meanwhile, the GOP is also gaining on absentee ballots in Florida (in-person early voting hasn’t begun there), though its current five-point edge is still shy of its 16 percentage point win on absentees in 2008.

Fixbits:

Vice President Biden says Romney was “sketchy” at Tuesday’s debate.

Tagg Romney says Obama calling his father a liar made him want to “take a swing at him.”

A Chicago Tribune report says Obama will hold his election night party at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Nearly two in five women say abortion is their No. 1 issue in this election.

A top aide to Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) says he will run for his fourth full term in 2014.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) endorses his former Democratic colleague, ex-senator Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.).

Must-reads:

“The Four Ls and Four States: What’s Next in the Obama-Romney Duel” — Major Garrett, National Journal

“George Allen shows a more cautious, humbler side” — Marc Fisher, Washington Post

“As Governor, Romney’s Eagerness to Hire Women Faded” — Michael Wines, New York Times

“Romney’s first step into political arena, vs. Ted Kennedy in 1994, was a cautious one” — Jason Horowitz, Washington Post

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The National Constitution Center has unveiled a new, temporary exhibit on America’s Prohibition era.

Curator Daniel Okrent (photo), author of a book about Prohibition, says there’s a lot to learn about the US Constitution by examining this period in American history.

“Prohibition… of course, the 18th Amendment which creates it, the 21st Amendment which puts it to an end.  But various other amendments come up in it.   The income tax amendment, the 16th Amendment.   Without the income tax amendment there wouldn’t have been Prohibition, because the federal government had been reliant on taxes on alcohol until then, so they needed a replacement.

“The 4th Amendment comes up — illegal search and seizure.  Freedom of religion, where Jews and Catholics and others who use wine in their sacramental services.  Would they be able to continue to do it?  So, it pops up with constitutional connections in many, many ways,” Okrent notes.

[audio_link url="http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/nyc.podcast.play.it/media/d0/d0/d1/d1/dH/dR/dJ/11HRJ_3.MP3" name="Prohibition" artist="Hadas Kuznits"]

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American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, runs October 19th through April 28th, 2013.

And tonight, the Constitution Center is hosting a preview of the exhibit with a “Bootleggers’ Ball,” 5:30 – 8:30pm.  Tickets, $40 each, will be available at the door.

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It was great seeing how different industries had to work together in order to make the exhibition. There were researchers, a curator, graphic designers, industrial designers, an architect, construction workers, a project manager, a financial team, the list goes on.

This particular exhibition took four years! I could not imagine working on the same project for that long. I am sure the designers have gotten tired of looking at the same thing over and over. But I am also sure they are proud to see their work in the bigger scheme of things.

I was thoroughly impressed with how the exhibition was curated and designed. It made me want to be a part of the team behind it. My friends and I plan on going back to see it once it is completed.

The exhibition made learning about Prohibition fun. A person could just read a textbook and retain some facts about this time in history. But the exhibition throws you in there. It is interactive. You can see artifacts up close.

I may be a nerd when it comes to history, so I may be overly excited about it, but I think the exhibition is going to be amazing. I especially loved the design choices in the posters and images used.

After this tour, I am considering exhibition design as a future career path. I could use knowledge from Graphic Design, Product Design, and Digital Media in exhibition design. I am really glad I went on that tour to see first hand something that I never thought twice about.

Hendrick’s Gin Brings “Voyages Into the Unusual” to Philadelphia

World’s Most Unusual Gin Promises Journey Filled with Awe-Inspiring Scenes and People of Peculiar Passions

Philadelphia, PA (October 4, 2012)—The delightfully peculiar Hendrick’s Gin invites Philadelphians to open their minds, unfasten their senses and join “Voyages Into the Unusual” for two nights of extraordinary experiences from Wednesday, Oct. 17 – Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012.  Hendrick’s Gin and fellow journeyers will bid farewell to the humdrum and venture beyond what is known at the events to take place at Trust, 249 Arch St. (corner of 3^rd and Arch St.) The curious and cavalier can RSVP for the event at:hendricksgin.com/unusual.

This awe-inspiring consumer experience allows guests the opportunity to interact with the world as it is seen by Hendrick’s Gin, featuring creative cocktail libations and a scintillating cast of Hendrick’s Gin characters all in a setting complete with a grand Explorer’s Lounge, a frenzied Botanist’s Den and a full scale Apothecary Shop.

The voyage takes place the evenings of Wednesday, Oct. 16 and Thursday, Oct. 17, when Hendrick’s Gin Brand Ambassador Jim Ryan, and the entire cast of Hendrick’s Gin characters welcomes droves of fellow travelers to sample peculiar libations and entertainment that’s sure to err on the side of the unusual.

Libations to be sampled will include the Hendrick’s Voyages Into the Unusual Traveling Punch, modified ever so slightly to include the best local and seasonal ingredients that Philadelphia has to offer. Other tipples to be enjoyed will include a range of creations, from the signature Hendrick’s Gin & Tonicto the more complex Carawayfarer with Hendrick’s Gin, lemon juice, fennel juice, raspberries and framboise lambic, in addition to nearly ten other peculiar concoctions.

Guests will be entertained all night as they voyage into the unusual with a cast of characters to include: a botanist that will demystify the eleven botanicals that are within the Hendrick’s bottle, a chemist that will take you into the apothecary shop and music interspersed throughout by the eclectic band, White Ghost Shivers, among other circus acts, stations and unusual surprises.

“Hendrick’s ‘Voyages into the Unusual’ provides a haven from the mundane while introducing people to the wonders of Hendrick’s Gin,” said Joanne Birkitt, Hendrick’s Gin Senior Brand Manager. “Travelers will get a peek inside our unusual world by learning about the history of our peculiar spirit, tasting specially created libations and meeting entertaining and talented people who think about the world just a little bit differently. We can’t wait to see who we’ll get to know during our stay in Philadelphia.”

Philadelphia is the fourth stop in the year-long “Voyages Into The Unusual” series which previously docked in Houston, TX, San Francisco, CA and Chicago, IL and will conclude in New York, NY (Nov. 6 – Nov. 8).

For more information and to receive an invitation*, RSVP for the event at hendricksgin.com/unusual.

*Invitations subject to availability.

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Hollywood On Tap at Paramount Studios

Please join The Blank Theatre (a non-profit arts organization, Noah Wyle, Chairman) as we present our fundraiser Hollywood On Tap at Paramount Studios (Streets of New York) on Saturday October 20th. We have 40 breweries (and growing) and 10 food trucks, plus 2 stages of entertainment.

Here are just a few of the breweries that will be in attendance:

Abita, Belmont Brewing Company, Firestone Walker, Hangar 24, Lagunitas, Rogue Ales, Sierra Nevada, Stone Brewing Company, Full Sail, Session, and many many more!

If you’d like more information about this event, visit their website, follow them on Twitter, or Like them on Facebook.

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Kick Up Your Heels at the National Constitution Center’s Bootleggers Ball!

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The National Constitution Center is tightening its budget and taking to the road to promote the institution.

The budget for fiscal 2013 is slightly smaller than last year’s, according to the NCC chief operating officer Vince Stango, “and as a result we are realigning our resources.”

He says there will be the elimination of fewer than ten jobs.

“I view it as a tactical realignment, not a structural upheaval — no mass layoffs,” he told KYW Newsradio today.

Stango says the National Constitution Center will be traveling with exhibits to promote the institution and to boost ticket sales.

He added that, contrary to published reports, there is no correlation between less-than-hoped-for attendance at a recent Bruce Springsteen exhibit and the current budget tightening.

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A unique event at National Constitution Center in Philadelphia today was showing local African-American and Latino teens “What It Takes” to succeed.

Officials from the What It Takes Foundation have gathered the area’s most successful professionals to help put 200 students on the same path to success.

“They are going to see people who have worked hard, who have been in their shoes, and they going to be able to identify with those folks and see how far they went with hard work,” says Dr. Brod Boxley, with the foundation (far right in photo below).

And advice they will receive: from Phillies’ first baseman Ryan Howard, from Smith-Barney senior vice president Ted Reid, from Grammy-winning music producer the Rev. Carvin Haggins, and so many more.

“I think it’s a good thing for us because we can get into higher goals in life,” says Brendan Colteste (far left in photo below), who attends Boys’ Latin, a charter school in Philadelphia.

(“What It Takes” attendees Brendan Colteste, Ben Coulibaly, and Shaka Toney pose with foundation official and educator Dr. Broderick Boxley. Credit: Michelle Durham)

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Ben Coulibaly (second from left), a senior at Boys’ Latin, says he was excited to hear the speakers.  But he is already a self-starter whose hard work in the classroom and on the football field has been recognized by several colleges trying to recruit him.

“It’s your life,” advises Coulibaly. “You need that ambition, you need that drive, and nobody is going to give you anything in this world.  You need the drive, you need the ambition, and don’t let anybody tell you you can’t.  Because I’ve had people my whole life tell me I can’t, and here I am proving that I can.”

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Laphroaig Live 2012!

“There’s no smoke without Laphroaig”

Join us in Germany for this year’s Laphroaig Live, as we explore the impact that smoking has on Laphroaig; be it beer, Islay peat or German sausage meat…

Show date: Thursday 27th September

Show time: 21:00 CET (GMT +1)

Laphroaig Live 2012 will be broadcast live from Germany, during this year’s Oktoberfest – the World’s largest fair! This celebration of Bavarian beer dates back to 1810, making it just 5 years older than Laphroaig itself.

Despite the very different end results, those familiar with the whisky making process will know that prior to distillation, whisky is essentially beer. We’ll be exploring the similarities between them, and sampling some local beer that has been matured in a Laphroaig Quarter Cask.

A traditional accompaniment of German sausages will act as the perfect companion for our Laphroaig beer. These lucky sausages will also be given a Laphroaig infusion as we’ll be smoking them over wood chips taken from one of our barrels.

Known as the most richly flavoured of all scotch whiskies, Laphroaig’s smoky profile comes from the peat that we use to smoke our malt. We’ll be examining the influence that this special smoky peat has on some of our most popular expressions, the Laphroaig 10 year old, the beloved Laphroaig Quarter Cask and this year’s Cáirdeas.

In comparison with our Islay peated malts, we’ll also be tasting a Highland peated malt from our sister distillery, Ardmore, and an Irish peated malt, Connemara, from our sister distillery in Ireland. These three peated malts all have their own very different but distinct qualities and we’ll be exploring those with our whisky experts during the show.

As always, we will be joined by Laphroaig Distillery Manager, John Campbell. He will be accompanied by master blender Robert Hicks, the revered Bernhard Schäfer, whisky writer and Master of the Quaich and Pierre Thiebaut, founder of whisky fan site Connosr.com. A studio audience of Friends of Laphroaig will join the tens of thousands of Laphroaig fans Worldwide that tune in to our live show every year.

John Campbell, Robert Hicks, Bernhard Schäfer and Pierre Thiebaut join us live online at www.laphroaig.com/live to take part in this live tasting session on Thursday 27th September 2012 at 21:00 CET (UK – 9pm)

To find out more about Laphroaig, visit their website, worldwide Facebook page, USA Facebook page, or follow them on Twitter.

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Counting The Days Till Philly Beer Week 2013? Bridge The Gap With The Bathtub Beer Fest, A Fundraiser And Prohibition-Era Beer-Drinking Party

PHILADELPHIA, PA – On Thursday, November 15 from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m., top craft brewers will come together at the National Constitution Center (5^th and Arch Streets) for Bathtub Beer Fest, a Prohibition-era beer-drinking party and fundraiser for Philly Beer Week (PBW) 2013. Tickets are available online (click to purchase) for $40 per person ($45 per person after October 12), and include samples of both old-fashioned beers and modern favorites from 20 top craft breweries, plus free admission to the Center’s new exhibit, “American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition”(normally $17).

“Waiting for Philly Beer Week to roll around every year is exciting – but sometimes, we need a great beer event to tide us over,” says Executive Director Don Russell. “The Bathtub Beer Fest is it: a suds-filled celebration of beer and beer drinking with some of the best in the business bringing special and unusual brews that we’ll serve out of sixtels chilled in bathtubs full of ice, in a fun homage to Prohibition-era home brewing.”

The event will include beers from PBW brewery participants including: Boston Beer; Dock Street; Dogfish Head; Evil Genius; Fegley’s Brew Works; Fifth & Blake, featuring its pre-Prohibition-style Batch 19 Lager; Flying Fish; Free Will; Great Lakes, featuring their era-appropriate Eliot Ness amber lager; Harpoon; Neshaminy Creek; Nodding Head; Prism; Saranac; Shawnee Craft; Sly Fox; Victory; Weyerbacher; and Yards. Guests are encouraged to don Prohibition-era duds, including fedoras and flapper attire.

While sampling beers from top breweries, attendees will be able to observe an on-site “bathtub brew” that will utilize an open fermentation style of brewing, an homage to the way beer was made (illegally) during Prohibition. The beer will be available exclusively during PBW 2013.

Also on hand for the event: author Daniel Okrent, whose Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition (Scribner, May 2012) is the inspiration for the exhibit and was featured in Ken Burns’ comprehensive PBS documentary.

Philly Beer Week 2013 will be held from Friday, May 31 until Sunday, June 9. PBW is a 10-day celebration of “America’s Best Beer-Drinking City,” and kicks off on the first Friday in June annually. Established in 2008, it’s the largest beer celebration of its kind in the United States, featuring hundreds of festivals, dinners, tours, pub crawls, tastings and meet-the-brewer nights throughout greater Philadelphia. PBW highlights the region’s diverse beer scene – its world-class breweries, neighborhood taverns, trend-setting restaurants and rich beer culture and history.

For more information about Philly Beer Week, including the ever-expanding schedule of events both during PBW and throughout the year, a list of participants and other details, please visit www.phillybeerweek.org and follow them on Twitter (@PhillyBeerWeek). PBW tweets should include the hashtag #PBW. You can also like them on Facebook.

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — As Pennsylvania’s highest court considers arguments over the state’s voter ID law, a panel discussion on Monday at the National Constitution Center featured arguments for and against.

What does the Constitution have to say about voter ID?

“The United States Supreme Court has already upheld a voter ID law from the state of Indiana,” says Rutgers-Camden law professor Robert Williams. “So what the heck is the Pennsylvania Supreme Court doing reconsidering the matter?”

Williams says the decision leaves it up to all 50 states. For the justices here: “They want to see what’s unique in the Pennsylvania constitution,” he says.

Former Governor Ed Rendell says there’s no documented voter fraud, so what’s the rush for the new law?

“It’s within six weeks of the election,” says Rendell. “Why not stay this, let’s get it right, and then put it in place going forward?”

National Review columnist John Fund says every voter has the right not to have his or her pick canceled out by someone who shouldn’t be at the ballot box.

“It is in the interest of the government in a very close race, especially for president, to have a system that people have confidence in and believe has integrity,” he says.

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Terrence Howard spoke in front of hundreds at the National Constitution last week, to honor boxing legend Muhammad Ali as he received the prestigious National Constitution Center’s 2012 Liberty Medal. During the ceremony, Terrence Howard took a few minutes to talk about freedom, democracy, and what makes America the best country on earth. Check out the video as Howard even gets emotional when he starts discussing the importance of freedom.

Also Check Out: Muhammad Ali Honored With National Constitution Center’s Liberty Medal [Photos]

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Help RNBPHILLY Get To 50,000 Likes!

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Terrence Howard spoke in front of hundreds at the National Constitution last week, to honor boxing legend Muhammad Ali as he received the prestigious National Constitution Center’s 2012 Liberty Medal. During the ceremony, Terrence Howard took a few minutes to talk about freedom, democracy, and what makes America the best country on earth. Check out the video as Howard even gets emotional when he starts discussing the importance of freedom.

Also Check Out: Muhammad Ali Honored With National Constitution Center’s Liberty Medal [Photos]

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Help RNBPHILLY Get To 50,000 Likes!

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – It was 225 years ago, today, when the United States Constitution was adopted by the Constitutional Convention here in Philadelphia. And there are all kinds of events in town to mark the occasion.

As the famous story goes, when Ben Franklin, walking these streets in Philadelphia, was asked if the convention formed a monarchy or a republic, he responded, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

Well, here we are 225 years and a few amendments later.

To celebrate the anniversary, The National Constitution Center will offer free admission. And out in front of the center, a massive bouquet, 12-feet wide and 16-feet high is set up.  The floral arrangement is made from materials designed and contributed from artists from 46 states, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.

Across the Mall, where it all took place, special events are also planned at Independence Hall.

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The trip to Philly during the weekend before allowed for more familiarity with the general area of Market Street.  Parking again at the Independence Visitor Center, the first two levels were filled up.  Winding down into the third level, the spaces became plentiful right up to the elevators.

Besides the Springsteen exhibit, I thought of possibly taking a tour of the city via the Philly Phlash and go for lunch wherever.  Maybe at a nearby cafe.  I had seen so many interesting cafes just in passing through Philly, some with sidewalk dining.  There’s something I just love about the idea of having lunch at a table set up along a stretch of sidewalk by a city cafe.

The National Constitution Center was decked out in the spirit of Election 2012, from banners overhead to cardboard likenesses of President Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney.  Decorating the lobby walls on the ground floor were enlarged photos of Springsteen, one of which showed him posing with a classic Corvette.  That photo was the background to the same car with its convertible top down.  It was a prelude to the exhibit, which was through a set of doors off to the right.

Beyond the exhibit doors were numerous pieces telling the story of Springsteen and his life in rock in roll.  An amazing job was done in putting this exhibit together and the wealth of items on display revealed to me things I didn’t know about The Boss.  From recordings with an early band, songwriting notes and scrapbooks to video, awards, his style, a motorcycle and a surfboard, the exhibit relayed a complete background on the classic rocker.

After the exhibit, what to do next was somewhat up in the air.  Philly Phlash?  Grab lunch?  Check out historic sites within walking distance?  I opted for the latter and headed down a curved walkway toward a small old building on the corner across the street from the National Constitution Center.  Instead of crossing to that building, I crossed N. 5th Street and then Arch Street to check out Christ Church Burial Ground where Ben Franklin was buried.

Old cemeteries and those worn-down stones that can no longer be read tend to intrigue me.  There is a lot of history associated with the people of long ago and as their graves become so worn, something in their stories become lost.  Someone along the lines who kept records of old graves may have the names and DOB / DOD.  However, for the average visitor to a landmark historic cemetery, the old, eroded grave stones are a mystery.

It was a fairly hot day in Philly, although record-breaking and it felt great entering cool atmosphere once back inside the Independence Visitor Center.  While having lunch, I decided to come back into the city for a ride on the Philly Phlash when autumn weather arrived.  Before leaving Philly for the day, I grabbed a bunch of brochures and made my way to the visitor center’s gift shop.  A group of Declaration of Independence replicas reminded me of 2004’s “National Treasure,” when Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) buys a souvenir copy to fool his treasure-seeking competition.  I ended up buying a book on Philly’s haunted side and a necklace with an antique key-shaped pendant featuring a color-changing mood indicator.  With my souvenirs and enough brochures for a year’s worth of Philly trip-planning, it was time to head back home until the following night.

On the way home, I rode down S. Columbus Boulevard and got a brief close-up view of the S.S. United States.  If you go down that road, heading away from Philly (to around E. Oregon Ave.) and then turn to head back toward the city, you suddenly have this view of an enormous old ship just a short distance ahead.  Before the road curves off to the left, the ship seems to across your entire view.  It took me by surprise to see it that way, to see such a view of an ocean liner in my path.  The close-up view of its bow revealed even more to me just how much preservation the ship needs.  I love maritime history and the least I can do is to spread word about the S.S. United States.  I wasn’t driving, so I was able to get these photos before heading toward I-95 south.

The sunday evening skies overhead were dark with the look of an impending storm; luckily, there were only a few spits of rain at most.  As Springsteen rocked the stadium at Citizens Bank Park, it reminded me of fireworks displays and feeling the vibrations in my chest.  There were a few shout-outs from fans seated somewhere behind me, yelling, “THUNDER ROAD!”  One fan’s request of the classic song title seemed to thunder over a quieted crowd as The Boss told a story.  A little boy was brought up on stage to sing a few lines of “Waitin’ On a Sunny Day” and later, there was “Dancing In the Dark.”  Who doesn’t love when The Boss performs that song and someone in the audience gets to join him on stage?  When the concert drew near an end, a tribute to legendary saxophone player Clarence Clemons was shown on the big screens.  I’ve been to a few concerts of classic rockers and Springsteen is one of my favorite performers.

So that wraps up another weekend of visits to Philly, but more great events are on the way that call for spending for time there.  Check out uwishunu’s list of festivals to take you into fall.  In the past year, I feel as though I’ve been introduced more than ever to city travel and I love all that there is to do in Philly.

It’s just like my recent visits to New York City; I’ve come to learn about more of the city’s activities to enjoy.  Whether in Philly or NYC, there are so many new things I’ve become aware of that I’d love to check out.  I’ll definitely be going back to Philly a great deal in the future, just as I hope to visit NYC more often.

It’s Constitution Day on Monday, September 17, 2012.   The United States Constitution, that most marvelous document that we Americans should always celebrate, stands as a model of cooperative statesmanship and the art of compromise.   It is being highlighted at the National Constitution Center this Monday with programs all day that you can participate in.  Here’s my conversation with Kerry Sautner, Vice president of Visitor Experience and Education at the NCC.  Kerry talks about all that going on at the National Constitution Center at 525 Arch Street in Philadelphia, the most historic block in America.  Celebrate our freedom on Constitution Day!    Happy 225 years! (and just click below..)

Muhammad Ali “The Greatest” Received The Liberty Medal In Philly

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Muhammad Ali Awarded The Liberty Medal In Philly at The National Constitution.

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Boxing legend Muhammad Ali received the prestigious Liberty Medal last night at an outdoor ceremony at the National Constitution Center.

There was a standing ovation and some chanted “Ali” over and over.

(Credit: John McDevitt)

Muhammad Ali, 70, received the Liberty Medal for his fight for human rights, civil rights and religious freedom. Ali has been battling Parkinson’s disease for the past 30 years. On his behalf, his wife Lonnie delivered the acceptance speech.

“Many people admire and respect Muhammad for his principals, even some of those who may not have originally, but I hope that these people also admire and respect the principals of the country that gave him the freedom to do what he did.”

Ali continued, “Muhammad is a beacon of hope, of compassion, of the goodness of humanity. And tonight, he is deeply honored, and humbled, as are we, to be a beacon of liberty.”

Muhammad Ali’s daughter Laila also participated in the ceremony. Other participants included Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, former Philadelphia 76er Dikembe Mutombo, and singer Roberta Flack, who performed “The Impossible Dream.”

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By KATHY MATHESON | Associated Press – 56 mins ago

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FILE – Former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali displays his signature boxing pose after honoring outstanding surgeons and physicians at St. Joseph’s Hospital Barrow Neurological Institute, in this Feb. 22, 2012 file photo taken in Phoenix. Retired boxing champion Muhammad Ali will be awarded the medal on Thursday Sept. 13, 2012 at a ceremony at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The honor is given annually to an individual who displays courage and conviction while striving to secure liberty for people worldwide. It comes with a $100,000 cash prize. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)Enlarge Photo

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Retired boxing great Muhammad Ali has been awarded the Liberty Medal in Philadelphia.

The award was presented in a ceremony at the National Constitution Center on Thursday. It recognizes his longtime role as a fighter outside the ring for humanitarian causes, civil rights and religious freedom.

A frail Ali did not speak, but stood with assistance to receive the medal from his daughter, Laila. His wife Lonnie said Ali was honored and humbled to be a beacon of liberty.

Since hanging up his gloves in 1981, Ali has traveled extensively on international charitable missions and devoted his time to social causes.

Previous medal recipients include rock singer Bono, former South African President Nelson Mandela and former President Jimmy Carter.

via Muhammad Ali receives Liberty Medal in Philly – Yahoo! News.

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