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Starbucks Celebrates Ben Franklin's 300th Birthday

Jan 16, 2006 (Philadelphia Daily News - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News via COMTEX) --

After years of preparation and anticipation, the day has finally arrived. Our most famous citizen, Mr. Benjamin Franklin, turns 300 tomorrow . The city has gone Ben crazy to celebrate the tercentenary, spending millions of dollars to promote the big day and to draw thousands of revelers to shops, museums, restaurants and theaters. Although one of the most talked-about birthday events, a 400-person bash tomorrow morning at the National Constitution Center, is completely sold out, there are still plenty of ways you can party this week - and in the months to come. Read on for some of the best of Ben events.

Be on the lookout. Ben and a crew of revelers will appear in random places all over the city to throw impromptu birthday parties. On the street, in restaurants and in hotels, various acting troupes will sing happy birthday to Ben, then hand out prizes. To make sure you catch one of these "roving parties," head to Starbucks at the Park Hyatt Bellevue Hotel, Broad and Walnut streets, at 9 a.m., or to the lobby of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard, between 2 and 4 p.m., where there will be a party every half hour.

Although the National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St., is closed for a sold-out birthday bash tomorrow morning, its 8,000-square-foot, interactive and archival exhibit "Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World," reopens to the public at 2 p.m. Author Walter Isaacson will sign his book "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life" in the Center's lobby from 4:30 to 5 p.m. The signing is free. Tickets to the exhibit, which runs now through April 30, are $14 for adults, $12 for children. Call 215-409-6600 or go to www.constitutioncenter.org.

The Free Library, 1901 Vine St., will throw a party for Franklin at 10 a.m. Franklin will appear in the main lobby, along with fife and drum players and other special historical guests. Ben will also take time to read the kids book "Ben and Me" to children. The event is free. Call 215-567-7710 for more information.

At the Please Touch Museum, 210 N. 21st St., visitors will get to write with quill pens and wear a Franklin powdered wig during their visit. Children will hear a story about Franklin, then sing happy birthday to the big guy. Admission is $9.95 per person. Call 215-963-0667 or go to www.pleasetouchmuseum.org.

Franklin scholar Blaine McCormick will sign copies of his book "Ben Franklin: America's Original Entrepreneur," at Borders Books & Music, 1 South Broad St., at 7 p.m. For more information, call 215-568-7400 or 610-642-4896.

On Thursday, from 6 to 8 p.m., Daily News brew expert Joe Sixpack will host a Ben Franklin evening at McGillin's Old Ale House, 1310 Drury St. For $25 per person, guests can sample Yards Brewing Company's new beer, Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce, a beer brewed with a whole Alberta spruce tree in the vat, according to Franklin's historic recipe. For more information, call 215-735-5562.

From now through Jan. 21, the Philadelphia Theater Company, 1714 Delancey St., will perform "Ben Franklin Unplugged," which explores Franklin's relationship with his son, William. Tickets range from $30 to $40, and performance times vary. Call 215-985-0420 or go to www.phillytheatreco.com for more information.

Families can all go to Ben's Birthday Salons, parties held the first Friday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Free Quaker Meeting House, 500 Arch St. The evening of entertainment replicates one Franklin would have enjoyed, with colonial games, story reading and minuet dancing. The salons will continue on First Fridays through the end of April. For information, call 215-629-5801 or go to www.onceuponanation.org.

More than 65 city restaurants are keeping Ben Franklin-inspired dishes and drinks on their menus from now through April 30. For a full listing of restaurants, special foods and prices, go to www.gophila.com.

You can chat with Franklin's ghost at the Peco Energy Liberty Center, 6th and Chestnut streets., through the end of the year. The free event features a technology called a "synthetic interview" that makes it appear as if Franklin is speaking with guests through a video screen. The Energy Center is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. For information call 215-LIBERTY or go to www.lightsofliberty.org.

By April Lisante

Source: Comtex Wall Street News