Prognosticator Phil
Punxsutawney Phil’s official residence is in the Groundhog Zoo at Gobbler’s Knob, 1548 Woodland Avenue Extension, Punxatawney. Groundhog Day festivities begin Friday and continue through Monday, with some going all night Sunday into Feb. 2. Phil’s official winter/spring prognostication will happen at about 7:25 a.m. Feb. 2, but you’ll want to get there much earlier. Check the complete schedule at www.groundhog.org.



On stage

- Media Theater for the Performing Arts, 104 State St., Media, presents “Altar Boyz,” a musical comedy about a religious boy band, with performances through Feb. 15. Show times vary. Call (610) 891-0100 for tickets.

- Looking over the President’s Shoulder, a show based on the diaries of White House butler Alonzo Fields, is at the Hedgerow Theater, 64 Rose Valley Road, near Media. Show times through Feb. 8 are 8 p.m. Fridays, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays and 1 p.m. Feb. 4. Tickets range from $20-$30, $12 for children. A $3 discount applies for seniors, students and groups. Call (610) 565-4211.

- People’s Light and Theater Company, 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, presents “The Day of the Picnic” through Feb. 15. For show times and ticket information, call (610) 644-3500.

Still talking King

Through March 29, the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum, 432 W. Walnut St., Allentown, offers a Martin Luther King Jr. exhibit, which features a signed first edition of King’s 1958 book “Stride Toward Freedom.” At 1 p.m. Saturday, there will be a panel discussion on King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $6, $3 for children. Call (610) 435-1074.

Ready to jam?

Snowboard Friday Night Jams happen Friday nights through Feb. 27 in the Plaza at Big Boulder Ski Area, 1 S. Lake Drive, Lake Harmony. There’s no entry fee and it’s open to all ages. Registration and open practice is from 5 to 6 p.m. The Jam itself is 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. followed by awards. Call (570) 443-8425.

Signature sounds

- Kenny Rogers performs at 8 p.m. Feb. 5 at the State Theatre, 453 Northampton St., Easton. Tickets are $57 and $60. Call (800) 999-STATE or visit www.statetheater.org.

- “The Pink Floyd Experience” comes to the Grand Opera House, 818 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del. Show time is 8 p.m. Saturday and includes songs from “Dark Side of the Moon,” “Wish You Were Here” and “The Wall.” Tickets range from $31-$37. Call (800) 374-7263.

Waiting for the thaw

The 30th Atlantic City International Power Boat Show runs 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 4, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 5-6, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 7 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 8 at The Atlantic City Convention Center, 1 Miss America Way, Atlantic City, N.J. See 600 of the newest, biggest and even greenest, in luxury motor yachts, sport fishers, performance boats, personal watercraft, inflatables, engines, marine accessories, electronics, fishing gear and more.


Also catch free boating and fishing seminars, the Discover Boating Center and Miss Geico. Tickets are $15 $8 for youth 13-15, free to children 12 and under, $25 for a two-day ticket. Call (212) 984-7000 or visit www.acboatshow.com.

Before digital

Sixty Victorian era paintings from a Royal Holloway endowment to the University of London make a stop Sunday through April 12 with “Paintings from the Reign of Victoria” at the Delaware Art Museum, 2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, Del. Artists include Sir Edwin Landseer, William Powell Frith and Sir John Everett Millais. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $12, $10 for seniors, $6 for students, free to children 6 and under and to all on Sundays, $25 for families. Call (866) 232-3714.

Weekend travel ideas:

Can you luge?

Blue Mountain Ski Area, 1660 Blue Mountain Drive, Palmerton, hosts the 2009 Luge Challenge for ages 10 and up Saturday and Sunday. The race starts at 1 p.m., with a training session preceding the race. There will a DJ spinning music, announcing times and explaining the event. For more information, call (610)-826-7700 or visit www.skibluemt.com.

Penguins play

It’s a Big Splash Weekend from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Lehigh Valley Zoo, 5150 Game Preserve Road, Schnecksville. It’s all about pen in January at theguin presentations, feedings, activities, crafts and treats. Admission is $9, $7.25 for seniors, $6.50 for children 2-11. Call (610) 799-4171 or visit www.lvzoo.org.
Concerts of note

- Chubby Checker, and Otis Day & The Knights (the band from the movie “Animal House”) appear at 8 p.m. Saturday at the American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster. Tickets are $55. Call (800) 648-4102 or visit www.amtshows.com.

- The Elvis Birthday Bash concert, featuring Mike Albert and Scot Bruce, starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the State Theatre, 453 Northampton St., Easton. Tickets are $35 and $40. Call (800) 999-STATE.

- It’s an evening of blues and soul with James Hunter and Ryan Shaw at 8 p.m. Friday at the Zoellner Arts Center, 420 E. Packer Ave., Bethlehem. Tickets are $21 and $25. Call (610) 758-2787.

- Bob Dorough, who performed the music on almost 50 of the “Schoolhouse Rock” videos, performs with his jazz trio at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Allentown Symphony Hall, 23 N. Sixth St., Allentown. Tickets are $20.

Also at Symphony Hall is a Musical Treasure Chest concert for children 3-5, spotlighting the tuba. The program starts at 9:30 today, 11 a.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday.

Call (610) 432-7961 or visit wwwallentownsymphony.org.

- The Lukens Piano Trio is featured at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 7809 Old York Road, Elkins Park. A dessert reception follows the concert. Tickets are $15, $10 for seniors and students, $5 for children under 12. Call (215) 528-0582 or (215) 745-7899.
Look alert, soldier!

Learn about Hopewell Furnace and the Civil War from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Activities include a military camp, classroom, drills and a walk to a cemetery where some Civil War veterans are buried. Admission is free. Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site is on Route 345, south of Birdsboro. Call (610) 582-8773 or visit www.nps.gov/hofu.
History shows

From Saturday through April 11, see “Family Tree” at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., Cape May, N.J. The exhibit traces the origins, descendants and relationships of Cape May’s oldest and most prominent African-American families. The gallery is open Saturdays and Sundays and President’s Day. Admission is $2, $1 for children 3-12, or free with any tour of the Physick Estate. For hours and more information, call (800) 275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

All things agriculture

The Pennsylvania Farm Show is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday through Jan. 16 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Farm Show Complex at Cameron and Maclay Streets, Harrisburg. Admission is free except during the Thursday, Friday and Saturday PRCA Circuit Finals Rodeo. View the complete show schedule at www.agriculture.state.pa.us/farmshow/site/default.asp.


Goes in cycles

“Born to Be Wild: Adventures in the Art of Motorcycle Design” has been extended at the Reading Public Museum through March 8. Among the 46 motorcycles are the Captain America chopper and Billy Bike featured in the film “Easy Rider,” bikes from the first half of the 20th century, contemporary creations such as the dual-engine Two Bad 2, and British and Italian motorcycles. The museum is at 500 Museum Road, Reading. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $8, $6 for children, seniors and students, free to children under 4. Call (610) 371-5850 or visit www.readingpublicmuseum.org.
Tens are wild

Saturday, which is Jan. 10, admission is $10 at Adventure Aquarium, 1 Aquarium Drive, Camden, N.J., because it’s NBC-10 Day. Members of the NBC-10 news team will be at the aquarium to greet viewers and sign autographs. Call (856) 365-3300 or visit www.adventureaquarium.com.
Fiddle champion

Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul are in concert at the Media Theater, State Street, Media. Show time is 8 p.m. Saturday. For ticket information, call (610) 891-0100 or visit www.mediatheatre.org and click on “Events.”

Tunes take you back

The American Music Theater, 2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, presents “ABBA - The Music” at 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $45.

Then it’s back to the 1960s with Jay & The Americans, The Shangri-Las, and Kenny Vance and the Planotones at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $40.

Call (800) 648-4102 or visit www.amtshows.com.

Balloons or bust

The eccentric “Balloon Freak John Cassidy” is on stage at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville. Tickets are $5 and the show is recommended for ages 4+. Call (610) 917-1228 or visit www.thecolonialtheatre.com.
Visit for free

The Brandywine Museums and Gardens Alliance will waive admission fees on Saturday. The eight participating attractions are the Brandywine River Museum, Route 1, Chadds Ford; Longwood Gardens, Routes 1 and 52, Kennett Township; Delaware Art Museum, 2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, Del.; Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, 200 S. Madison St., Wilmington, Del; Delaware Museum of Natural History, 4840 Kennett Pike, Route 52, Wilmington, Del.; Hagley Museum and Library, Route 141, Wilmington, Del.; Historical Society of Delaware, 504 Market St., Wilmington, Del.; Nemours Mansion and Gardens, 1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, Del.; and Rockwood Park and Mansion, 610 Shipley Road, Wilmington, Del. Visit www.brandywinetreasures.org for links to each of the sites.
Bristol stompin’

Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe St., Bristol, presents Donald Byrd’s Spectrum Dance Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $15, $10 for students. Call (215) 785-0100.

Cue sinister laughter

The week-long “Horrorfest III” kicks off Friday around the country. See “eight films to die

for” at Cinemark’s Lionshead 16, 711 Evesham Road, Somerdale, N.J. Find out more at www.horrorfestonline.com.
Downhill from here

Bikercross, a downhill bike race on the snow at Blue Mountain Ski Area, starts at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Registration is $20 and starts at 8 a.m. Helmets are required and youth 17 and younger must have a parent sign the race release form. Spectators are welcome. Blue Mountain is at 1660 Blue Mountain Drive, Palmerton. Call Jason at (570) 668-6850 or visit www.skibluemt.com.
Show on the road

“Last Comic Standing” comedians Marcus, Jeff Dye, Louis Ramey, Iliza Shlesinger and Jim Tavare do their thing at 8 p.m. Saturday at the State Theatre, 453 Northampton St., Easton. Tickets are $30 and $35. Call (800) 999-STATE or visit www.statetheatre.org.

Get your Global on

GlobalFEST features world music on three stages at 7 p.m. Sunday at Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St., New York. The lineup includes Calypso Rose, Chicha Libre, Hot 8 Brass Band, Kailash Kher’s Kailasa, L&O, La Troba Kung-fú, Marcio Local, Occidental Brothers Dance Band International, Shanbehzadeh Ensemble, Tanya Tagaq, and Watcha Clan. Tickets are $40. Call Ticketmaster at (212) 307-7171.
Gather round

Enjoy free “Fireside Tales” for children 4-8 and their families at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Wayside Lodge at the Daniel Boone Homestead, 400 Daniel Boone Road, north of Route 422, Birdsboro. This week’s theme will be the boyhood adventures of Daniel Boone. Light refreshments will be available, and although there’ll be a fire, you should dress warm and bring a blanket. Call (610) 582-4900.

Take a hike

The Bucks County Department of Parks and Recreation sponsors a hike in the Tohickon Gorge on Saturday. Departure time is 8:30 a.m. by private car pool from Churchville Nature Center, 501 Churchville Lane, Churchville. Cost is $11. Pre-register by calling (215) 357-4005 or e-mail churchvillenaturecenter@co.bucks.pa.us.
Eye opener

The Goggleworks Center for the Arts, 201 Washington St., Reading, hosts a Second Sunday open house 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Take at look at the day’s schedule of events at www.goggleworks.org/secondsunday.php.

New in the gallery

“Slow Clay: The Ceramic Art of Willi Singleton” is on display Sunday through April 12 in the Payne Hurd Gallery at the Allentown Art Museum, 31 N. Fifth St., Allentown. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $6, $4 for seniors and students, $3 for children 6-12, free to all on Sundays. Call (610) 432-4333 or visit www.allentownartmuseum.org.

In 1935, the Reading Eagle published an article on Laurence Gieringer and his extensive model train setup, which was set up each Christmas for his children.
This was no ordinary train set. Gieringer had been crafting the pieces of this set since he was a teenager, and it had grown in size and popularity.
So Gieringer decided to make the trains a year-round venture, eventually moving in 1941 into a large building near Route 22, which today is I-78 in the Bercks county hamlet of Shartlesville (near Hamburg).
The building, and the train set are both still there, still operated by the Gieringer family, and has entertained generations of visitors ever since.
Visitors enter through a gift shop, stocked with a variety of train-related items, cedar boxes and hex signs. The layout is behind the shop, entered through a door that reminds one of entering an old movie theater. Once inside, the smell of your grandparent's basement washes over you, and the scene in front of you is a pageant of lights and motion.
The layout is about the size of half a football field, and features O-guage trains and 3/8"-foot scale buildings and accessories that have been added through the decades. The dozens of trains than run in the layout range from antique tin trolleys to modern plastic engines; all are are in
excellent condition and working. In addition, many electro-mechanical features dot the layout, from a working merry-go-round and a musical hurdy-gurdy to miniature 'steam engines' and figures dancing in a barn.


Visitors can control many of these features as they circle the layout by pressing the many buttons situated on the edges.


Other features include working fountains, a waterfall and a canal complete with a working mill-wheel.
If you stay long enough, the lights will dim and you will be treated to a 'night pageant' of the layout backed up by a recording of 'God Bless America' and a slide show featuring images of Jesus and various American vistas.
Roadside America captures a time when this country's industrial might made anything seem possible, that any kid's dream could turn into something big. A sign on a model of Henry Ford's first shop advises parents to tell their kids about his story - he was a hobbyist.
And indeed that is Laurence Gieringer's story, a boy who turned his hobby into an attraction that still inspires awe.

Roadside America is open daily September through June 10 am -5 pm, and weekends 10 am until 6pm. In summer the hours are daily 9 am - 6:30 pm, and weekends 9 am - 7 pm. They are closed Christmas Day. Entrance fees are $6 for adults and $3 for children 6-11. 5 and under is free.
They are located off of I-78 at the Shartlesville (exit 23), adjacent to the highway. Shartlesville is near the town of Hamburg, and six miles west of Cabela's Outfitters on I-78. For info: 610-488-6241.