Events

AT THE PA CONVENTION CENTER - Nov. 2-5, Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. This premier show and sale of contemporary crafts will include 195 of the finest and most dynamic craft artists in the United States - and for the first time - Finland. Information: (215) 418-4700. Avoid traffic and parking hassles by taking PATCO to 8th and Market. Walk west to 11th street, turn right and it’s one block to the center. Information: (215) 418-4700 or www.paconvention.com.

WACHOVIA FUN - Sept. 9, the Hero Scholarship Thrill Show roars into the Wachovia Spectrum. The annual fundraising event for the children of fallen police officers and fire fighters returns with exciting action-packed stunts. Information: (215) 629-3600. October 18-22, the creepy crew from Monsters, Inc. take to the ice at the Wachovia Center. Information: (215) 336-2000 or www.comcast-spectacor.com.

FREEDOM FERRY - Everyone on deck! The RiverLink Ferry carries 500 passengers, offers refreshments, restrooms and covered decks - as well as extended service for Tweeter concerts. For travel information call 215-925-LINK or www.riverlinkferry.org.

LIGHTS OF LIBERTY SHOW - Take a moonlit journey back in time that lets you experience the American Revolution as it happened and where it happened. This amazing show (through October) begins just past the Liberty Bell and ends with a patriotic finale at Independence Hall. Reservations required. Information: 877-GO-2-1776 or www.lightsofliberty.org.

Shopping

PHILADELPHIA - From exclusive boutiques at Liberty Place and Rittenhouse Row to Old City’s galleries and antique shops, the city offers all a shopper could ask for - all just a short stroll from a PATCO station. For a listing of stores visit www.centercityphila.org.

Sports

Zip to the stadiums on PATCO and SEPTA. Loads of free parking at Speed Line stations. Discount roundtrip SEPTA transfers are only $2.10 from red transfer machines located inside the fare gates at all PATCO NJ stations. Exit PATCO at 12th & 13th and Locust St. station and follow signs in the concourse to the Broad St. Line South. Go teams! Go PATCO!

EAGLES - Donovan and crew take the field for a new season at the Lincoln Financial Field: Sept. 17, New York Giants (1:00); Oct. 2, Green Bay (8:30); Oct. 8, Dallas - and the T.O. Show (4:15 p.m.); Oct. 29, Jacksonville (1:00); Nov. 12. Washington (1:00 pm); Nov. 19, Tennessee (1:00). Information: (215) 463-5000 or www.philadelphiaeagles.com.

FLYERS - Home games at the Wachovia Center. Preseason games: Sept. 21, NJ Devils; Sept. 23, Ottawa; Sept. 26, Washington. Regular season games: Oct. 7, NY Rangers; Oct. 11, Montreal; Oct. 26, Atlanta; Oct. 28, Pittsburgh; Oct. 30, Chicago; Nov. 2, Tampa; Nov. 4, Washington; Nov. 9, NY Islanders; Nov. 11, Buffalo; Nov. 20, Pittsburgh; Nov. 22, Ottawa; Nov. 24, Columbus; Nov. 29, Nashville. All games start at 7:00 p.m. Information: (215) 755-9700 or www.philadelphiaflyers.com.

PHILLIES - Take yourself out to a ball game at Citizens Bank Park. Information: (215) 463-1000 or www.phillies.mlb.com.

PHILADELPHIA DISTANCE RUN - Sept. 17. The 29th annual 13.1 mile half marathon will also include a children’s run and a fitness and merchandise expo. Information: (858) 450-6510 or www.philadistancerun.org.

Theatres

ARDEN THEATRE - 40 North 2nd Street. Sept. 14-Oct. 15, A Prayer for Owen Meany. A small child accidentally kills his friend’s mother in 1950s New Hampshire. Oct. 12-Dec. 3, Crime and Punishment, perhaps the greatest and most insightful crime story of all time. Information: (215) 922-1122 or www.ardentheatre.org.

OPERA COMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA - at the Academy of Music. Oct. 27, 29, Nov. 1, 3, 5, La Boheme. Puccini’s mega-romantic masterpiece is set against the backdrop of Left Bank Paris, where artists mingle and find love and heartbreak. Information: (215) 928-2110 or www.operaphilly.com.

PHILADELPHIA THEATRE COMPANY - at the Plays and Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Street. Oct. 6-Nov. 5, Murderers. Gerald, Lucy, and Minka are cold-blooded murderers, living and working in a retirement community in Florida. Information: (215) 568-1920 or www.phillytheatreco.com.

WALNUT STREET THEATRE - 825 Walnut Street. Sept. 6-Oct. 23, Finian’s Rainbow, a musical comedy about a poor rogue who escapes from Ireland in search of a better life. Nov. 8-Jan. 8, Beauty and the Beast. Disney’s classic is filled with music and adventure. (215) 925-6885 or www.wstonline.org.

WILMA THEATER - Broad and Spruce Streets. Oct. 4-Nov. 5, The Pillowman, a humorous, suspenseful, and spellbinding play about a writer who is being questioned on a series of murders echoing his unpublished stories. Information: (215) 546-7824 or www.wilmatheater.org.

Music & Dance

THE KIMMEL CENTER - Broad & Spruce Streets. The Avenue of the Arts’ spectacular showplace offers exciting shows at two venues: Verizon Hall (VH) and the Academy of Music (AM). A sample of events includes: Through Sept. 10, Broadway at the Academy presents Disney’s Lion King (AM). Sept. 15, Nancy Wilson (VH). Sept. 16, Lyle Lovett (VH). Sept. 26-Oct. 1, I Can't Stop Loving You - The Music of Ray Charles (AM). Oct. 15, Emmylou Harris (VH). November 16-19, PHILADANCO (VH). Nov. 24-26, Disney Live (AM). Information and a complete listing of events: (215) 893-1999 or www.kimmelcenter.org.

PENNSYLVANIA BALLET - at the Academy of Music. October 11-15, Romance and Revelry: An Evening of Dance by Jerome Robbins, a tribute to the master choreographer of ballets, theater and film. Information: (215) 551-7000 or www.paballet.org.

PETER NERO AND THE PHILLY POPS - at the Kimmel Center. Oct. 25, 27, 29, the season opens with Broadway Showstoppers. Information: (215) 546-6400 or www.phillypops.com.

THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA - at the Kimmel Center. These talented musicians, under the guidance of Maestro Eschenbach, have distinguished themselves as one of the leading orchestras in the world. Information: (215) 893-1555 or www.philorch.org.

Exhibitions

The PHLASH is the quick, inexpensive and easy way to get around the city - just $1 per ride. Hop on and off daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. , through Nov. 30.

ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCE - 19th Street and the Parkway. The museum features dinosaurs, gems, mummies and wildlife specimens. Information: (215) 299-1000 or www.acnatsci.org.

ATWATER KENT MUSEUM - 15 South 7th Street. The Atwater Kent Museum is the gateway to Philadelphia history. Information: (215) 685-4830 or www.philadelphiahistory.org.

"FIRST FRIDAY" IN OLD CITY - More than 40 art galleries and shops stay open late the first Friday of the month. Information: (215) 592-7752.

FRANKLIN INSTITUTE SCIENCE MUSEUM - 20th Street and the Parkway. The Omnimax Theater presents: Roving Mars, Galapagos and Happy Feet. Information: (215) 448-1200 or www.fi.edu.

PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMY OF THE FINE ARTS - Broad & Cherry Streets. Sept. 23-Dec. 31, Villa America: American Moderns 1900-1950, more than 80 paintings and sculptures that explore America’s foremost 20th century artists. Information: (215) 972-7600 or www.pafa.org.

PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART - Parkway at 26th Street. Sept. 20-Dec. 31, Tesoros/Treasures/Tesouros: The Arts in Latin America, 1492-1820, a pan national exhibition featuring some 260 works of art created in New Spain. Oct. 21-Jan. 14, Mexico and Modern Printmaking: A Revolution in the Graphic Arts, 1920-50. Information: (215) 763-8100 or www.philamuseum.org.

PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM - 210 North 21st Street. Come visit one of the country’s best children’s museums, specifically designed for kids seven years and younger. Information: 215-963-0667 or www.pleasetouchmuseum.org.

Information and events listed in JOYRIDES are subject to change and/ or cancellation.