Here’s a sampling of topics you can learn about:

1. How Old is Your Deer? Quality Deer Management Association
2. Trout Streams. Delaware River Club
3. Spring Tactics for Delaware River Smallies. Backwoods Angler

And just when you thought your brain was going to burst from information overload, along comes special musical entertainment in the form of Rodney Atkins , breakout country star from 2006 and voice of the certified gold album “If You’re Going Through Hell.”

Show hours this year are as follows:

Thursday January 15, 2009 – noon to 9 PM
Friday, January 16, 2009 – noon to 9 PM
Saturday, January 17, 2009 – 10 AM to 8 PM
Sunday, January 18, 2009 – 10 AM to 6 PM

Did I mention vendors? They’ve got plenty. Too numerous to mention now but you can go to the official website here and get the whole list of who’s who in the booth community at the show.

The Valley Forge Convention Center is located at 1160 First Avenue, King of Prussia, PA 19406, which is way convenient to everyone in the Philadelphia area.

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This one time I pinned a grizzly: Philadelphia Sportsmen’s Show

All films presented in this series are either G or PG rated. Enjoy animated hits like 2008’s Horton Hears A Who! or live action classics like National Velvet from 1944. The complete schedule is available by clicking here.

The movie Flicka is based on a pretty good novel called “My Friend Flicka” and though, while not breaking any sort of new cinematic ground, will likely entertain young moviegoers with lots of picturesque scenery and shots of horses doing what they do.

Alison Lohman, 28 years of age and looking it, plays 16 year old Katy Laughlin, which is a little disconcerting to a jaded film critic. Country music superstar, Tim McGraw, plays her father and the second half of the father-daughter conflict set up in the movie. Mama’s don’t let your country singers grow up to be actors. I don’t want to be too harsh here. McGraw’s stilted delivery actually works in this movie, though calling what he does actual acting is a stretch.

The rest of the cast is great, as is the main character, a horse named Flicka. Young horse-crazy girls will love the movie and parents too if they can forget they’ve seen this thing done to death.

Bryn Mawr is located at 824 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010. Admission is $4.50 for adults and $3.50 for kids.

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Acting coach! Where’s my acting coach? Kid’s Matinee

The game played out just like most people expected. The Eagles’ defense dominated the Vikings’ offense and Tavaris Jackson. They only sacked him once and only picked-off one pass, but they were in complete control. The interception was taken back for a TD by Assante Samuel and they shut the Vikings out in the second half. They even held Adrian Peterson to only 83-yards. He did have two TDs, including a 40-yard score, but they did a nice job against the NFL’s best runningback. They were holding Peterson to 10-yards on his first six carries before he rambled for the 40-yard score.

The Special Teams also came through as expected. They didn’t score a TD, but DeSean Jackson’s 62-yard return in the first quarter set up the first points of the game - a David Akers field -goal. Akers sure looked like the Pro-Bowler from a few years ago, knocking all four of his attempts through the uprights from long distance. The man was scoring like a rock star in a room full of drunken groupies. Hell, even the punter, Sav Rocca, had a nice game. All four punts were downed inside the Vikings 20 yard line and his punt average was 44-yards.

Donovan McNabb had a good game, too. Not a great game, but he was uncharacteristically accurate (23 for 34, 67%) and that was good enough on this day. He threw for 300-yards with 71 on the screen pass that Brian Westbrook took to the house. He even wore a jaunty hat during his post game news conference. The only thing he did wrong all day was throwing that bad interception with 1:30 left in the 1st-half when he could have run for the first down on the play. Can somebody please tell me why he refuses to run anymore? It works, so why not do it when the occasion presents itself.

The Eagles didn’t exactly have much success at running the ball against the #1 run-defense in the NFL, but bless his heart, Andy Reid actually tried. A run/pass ratio of 23/34 is just about the best that could have been expected against the Vikings. The Eagles only averaged 2.9 yards per carry, so maybe 23 runs was more than I expected. I told you before this game that the only way the Eagles could lose this game is if Andy Reid gave into his insatiable desire to throw the ball on every down. Thankfully, Andy kept his demons in check at least for this game.

With a balanced offensive attack, the Eagles did just enough to win the game. But there were some problems. Namely, our old friend 3rd and short bit the Eagle’s offense on the ass again. The first 3rd-and-1 play was an incomplete screen pass. At this point I’m worried, but I’m willing to see where Andy goes. The second 3rd-and-short was another incomplete pass. Oh God - no! Not again!  The next 3rd-and-short was that McNabb interception. At this point I’m thinking that Andy is lucky that his defense is kicking ass, because the offense is falling into some bad habits. His saving grace was that Vikings safety Darren Sharper got hurt and that left the middle of the field wide open for McNabb to complete nice, safe little passes. Hell, I’ll even give the coaches credit for noticing this fact since they usually don’t deviate from their game plan, even if it isn’t working.

Andy Reid kept his perfect record in opening playoff games intact. He is now a perfect 7-0 in the Eagles’ first playoff game. There is a lot I don’t like about Andy, but that’s a pretty impressive stat right there.

Ultimately, the Eagles won a game they were supposed to win. There were some of the same old issues, but against an over-matched opponent, it didn’t matter. Well, with the help of a dominating defense it didn’t matter. Let’s just hope we get the same outcome next weekend when the Eagles have to travel up the turnpike to the Meadowlands to meet the defending Super Bowl Champion - New York Giants. Does anybody know if Plaxico’s leg is healed yet?

Post from: Philadelphia Event Calendar

Wildcard Weekend Win - Eagles Defeat Vikings!

I’m talking about the Sleep at the Seaport program hosted by the Independence Seaport Museum on the Delaware River. See? You’re not just dropping the children off to sleep behind a dumpster somewhere. This event includes actual supervision and organized activities geared towards ages 5-12.

What kid that age wouldn’t want to sleep at the Seaport to discover the mysterious world of shipwrecks littering the waterways of our planet and the treasures held within? Scheduled activities include a treasure hunt (of course), themed crafts, an interactive theater performance and even a snack before bedding down in the galleries.

Your youngster(s) will arise to a light breakfast and tours of the Spanish-American war cruiser Olympia and World War II submarine Becuna, as well as take home a Seaport activity patch. The cost for this event is $45, and runs from 6:30 PM Saturday evening to 10 AM Sunday morning throughout the months of January, February, and March in 2009.

You can find out more about Sleep at the Seaport at the website here , including the number to call to make your reservations – 215-413-8630. The Seaport is located at 211 South Columbus Boulevard and Walnut Street.

Admit it. This is a cool thing to do in Philadelphia.

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Don’t give the kids away to random strangers: Sleep At The Seaport

It’s called Dr. Sketchy’s Philadelphia and it takes place in the Sanctuary of the Fleisher Art Memorial. This stately architectural backdrop is the setting for a cabaret show that would make likely make Paul Reubens flinch. And that’s saying something. By the way, don’t get sidetracked too long by the last link, however intoxicatingly humorous you might find it. Stay the course until you see Mr. Reubens (AKA Pee Wee Herman) in his Charles Manson phase then come back here!

Are you an art monkey anxious to transform a mere drawing experience into a no holds barred cabaret extravaganza?

What exactly does the evening hold in store for you? For a mere pittance of $12 (it’s almost an insult to pay so little) artists like your intrepid self are treated to burlesque dancers, fetish divas, sideshow freaks, and roller derby queens modeling elaborate costumes. During breaks you compete for booze and prizes, enjoy fantastic music and suffer the slings and arrows aimed by smart-aleck emcees and morning hangover from a dirt-dishing blog the next day.

What’s not to like? I know I’m always disappointed any time I lay my head down on the pillow and haven’t seen a single sideshow freak all the day long.

The show gets underway at 8 PM sharp. Dr. Sketchy suggests you arrive at 7:30 PM if you actually want a seat. Once they’re full, no one else admitted. Participants must be at least 18 years old to enter, and 21 with I.D. to drink. The Sanctuary at Fleisher Art Memorial is located at 719 Catharine Street in Philadelphia. Read more about it at the Dr. Sketchy Philadelphia blog here.

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Cheap sideshow freaks for everyone: Dr. Sketchy’s Philadelphia

If Andy Reid reverts back to his pass happy ways and ignores the running game we might have a replay of the Eagles’ loss to the Washington Redskins. The Eagles need a balanced attack like they had while winning 4 of their last 5 games. The only loss? That loss to the Redskins, where Andy called 46 passes and only 16 runs. Andy is a certified passaholic. “Hello my name is Andy and I’m a passaholic.”

“Hi Andy!”

Have you ever noticed how much Andy sweats during his news conferences? Look closely at this picture: Andy Reid Press Conference. It’s not because he’s obese. It’s because he hasn’t called a passing play in the last 30-seconds. If the running game isn’t gaining 5-yards per carry, he abandons it. If the passing game isn’t working he “keeps on firing.” Yeah, that makes perfect sense Andy. While the NFL average pass-run ratio was about 55%-45% this year, the Eagles threw the ball over 60% of the time. Not one team has thrown the ball more than the Eagles during Andy Reid’s 10-years running the team.

To make matters worse, everything points to Andy throwing the ball on every down against the Minnesota Vikings. The game is in a climate-controlled dome. Brian Westbrook is having a down year. The Vikings can’t defend the pass. Correll Buckhalter is always hiding from Andy on the sidelines, so Andy forgets he’s on the team. Finally, the Vikings are the best defense at stopping the run in the entire NFL. If our boy, Andy, refused to run the ball because the Redskins put “8 in the box,” what kind of game plan do you think he’s dreaming up against these guys? I’m calling it the “Four P Offense.” Pass, Pass, Pass, Punt. I feel sick.

To make me feel better, let’s look at why the Eagles might just be able to overcome Andy’s addiction to the pass. The Vikings and their quarterback, Tarvaris Jackson, don’t handle the blitz well at all. They’re 28th in the NFL at giving up sacks and Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson has been known to dial up a blitz or ten on occasion. The Vikings do have the #1 runningback in the NFL, Adrian Peterson, but he’s fumbled more than any other runningback in the NFL. The Eagles also hold opposing backs to the least amount of rushing yardage on first-down. If the Eagles can force the Vikings into obvious passing situations, the Vikings receivers aren’t going to scare anybody. That means single coverage and lots of blitzes on the inexperienced Jackson.

The Eagles also hold a distinct advantage over the Vikings in the area of Specials Teams play. The Vikings aren’t very good at covering kickoffs and they are the worst in the NFL at covering punts. Wanna bet that DeSean Jackson is excited? Maybe he’ll even hold onto the ball for an entire play this game. While the Eagles may not score on Special Teams, they should definitely enjoy an advantage in the battle for field position.

Let’s assume that Andy Reid gets the shakes and just can’t kick his pass addiction against the Vikings. He convinces himself that they have to throw the ball to win and it screws up the rhythm of the offense. As a result, the Eagles have trouble generating any sort of consistent offensive attack for most of the game. Against the Redskins - this was fatal. In that game, the Eagles never had good field position and the defense couldn’t produce turnovers or points. That’s the difference right there.

As long as Andy doesn’t screw this thing up too bad, the Defense and Special Teams can win this game in spite of his hard-headedness. Jim Johnson’s defense is going to blitz the snot out of Tavaris Jackson and force him into stupid mistakes, which will result in turnovers. Peterson will probably gain about 100-yards, but he’ll also put the ball on the turf. Johnson preaches turnovers and the Vikings have turned the ball over 31-times this year. And who knows, maybe the Special Teams will come up with something, well, “special” and score themselves.

I hope I’m right, but you just never know with Andy. They say addictions are like a monkey on your back. If that’s true then Andy’s passing addition is like King Kong on his back. Anybody got a banana?

Comments are now open!

You can still email me at angrybob@thisweekinphilly.com

Post from: Philadelphia Event Calendar

2008 NFL Playoffs: Eagles vs. Vikings Preview

What does any of this moldy history have to do with things to do in Philadelphia?

It’s in the face of this new information the Penn Museum presents a lecture on the Trojan War delivered by Dr. C. Brian Rose, deputy director of the museum on Wednesday, January 7, 2009, at 6 PM.

Rose will be addressing in particular on the sites of nine settlements in the Troy area excavated during the last 20 years. The time period covered is from the beginning of the Bronze Age (3000 BC) through the end of the Byzantine Period (1400 AD). A collection of gold jewelry from Schliemann’s finds will be on view afterwards. Cost of the lecture is $5. Free to museum members.

You can register to attend this event online at Penn Museum’s website here. The museum is located at 3260 South Street in Philadelphia.

But now we get down to the serious question pondered by archeologists everywhere. Did Achilles really look like Brad Pitt in Wolfgang Peterson’s cinematic approach to the subject in the movie Troy? Movies never lie so let’s assume he did.

Post from: Philadelphia Event Calendar

Will the real city of Troy please stand up? Trojan War

No more fears that you’ll die for lack of nourishment whilst pondering an especially tricky question like “What should you do so your spouse can never cash in on your life insurance policy?” Answer: drink buttermilk.

Huh? Never mind.

Let’s talk more about the food. How about artisanal chocolates, heavenly cheesecakes, fried dumplings, soft pretzels, cappuccino, cupcakes, roast pork, mooncake, and Amish baked delicacies?

What do you need to do to participate? Whether you’re a local or out-of-towner, call Watson Adventures at 877-946-4868 to find out when the next one is or to schedule a private hunt for your group or family. The Market it open 8 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday and 9 AM to 4 PM on Sunday. Watson Adventures recommends you set up your hunt to take place Wednesday through Saturday to take advantage of the Pennsylvania Dutch stands while they are open.

All you need are comfortable walking shoes and to bring $10 in cash for food purchases. More information about the hunt can be found at their website here. Sorry, advance purchases only. You can’t just show up. They need time to prepare for you!

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It’s about time they let us eat during these things: Munch Around the Market

This article is dedicated to the following teams:  The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears who both managed to choke as absolutely required to help put the Eagles in the playoffs.  Also, to the Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans, who won despite a season’s worth of adversity and losing to each eliminate these playoff bound teams in control of their own post-season destiny.  Think about this - Jeff Garcia and Ryan Moats played roles in helping the Eagles make the playoffs.  Miracles CAN happen!

Okay, once it actually came down to it I couldn’t root for the Dallas Cowboys to beat the Philadelphia Eagles like I said. Maybe it was the booze at the tailgate, but I guess I’m always a fan first. Even though it would have been better for Eagles fans in the long run, I just couldn’t bring myself to root for a loss to those weasels from Dallas. Plus, it was way too much fun to mock TO during the game.

I told you all that Andy needed to ‘Run the Damn Ball’ didn’t I? He runs the ball and we actually win the game. The Eagles ran the ball from the opening kickoff and never stopped. 36 rushes and only 21 passes equals a win. Shocking! Not really.  Who knew that running the ball would lead to a win? Many.  You know, besides all the teams with winning records. So, why did Andy Reid actually run the ball?

My guess is that his fat butt was warm from being on the hot seat. He may not have been in actual danger of being fired by the morons that run the Philadelphia Eagles, but the season was on the line here. Throwing the ball 80% of the time wasn’t working for Andy. You can’t dispute the facts that the keys to winning in the NFL today are a strong running game and good defense. The Eagles had both against the Cowboys.

The Eagles rushed for 137 yards because Andy Reid realized that a balanced offense works. By running the ball consistently the Eagles controlled the line of scrimmage and the game. They even scored a short yardage TD by running a QB sneak. I guess somebody on the coaching staff finally realized that might work. That commitment to the run also might have had something to do with the fact that the Eagles didn’t give up a single sack. The Redskins knew the Eagles weren’t going to run the ball last week and we scored 3 points. That isn’t a coincidence. It can’t hurt to make a defense guess what you’re going to do each play. I’m just shocked that Andy figured that out. I suppose it also didn’t hurt that the defense wasn’t on the field all game either. Running the ball really does help a defense.

The defense absolutely dominated this game. The Eagles defense had four fumble recoveries and one interception against the Cowboys. Plus they scored two touchdowns. A defensive TD is simply demoralizing for an offense. The Cowboys were never able to get anything going all game.

What also helped the Eagles defense against the Cowboys was possibly the most overrated quarterback in the NFL today. Can somebody please tell me what the national media sees in Tony Romo? The man is a complete fraud. His record in December is now 5-8, including 0-3 against the Eagles. He’s also 0 for the playoffs in his career as well. Maybe he should try to win a big game before the national media bow down to him. He threw one interception and lost two fumbles against the Eagles. Not exactly a big game from such a “marquee” QB. Maybe there’s more to being a great QB in the NFL than playing for Dallas and dating a blond bombshell poptart… but I digress.

The Eagles dominated the Cowboys and now they’re going to the playoffs. The reason for this is a commitment to the run and a strong defensive showing. I bet Andy Reid gritted his teeth with ever running play that the Eagles ran even though it was working. I mean, how can he prove what a genius he is if he’s not throwing the ball every play? Maybe Andy is the one who feels dirty now?

Post from: Philadelphia Event Calendar

Eagles vs. Cowboys Post-Game Report: Miracles CAN Happen!

Problem is that there is a strict limit of 250 persons allowed in the building so with upwards of 1,000 souls in attendance in past years, it might be a good idea to get busy right now securing your tickets. Call 800-595-4849 right away and pray they’re not sold out yet.

The date is Wednesday, December 31, 2008 (you guessed it), New Year’s Eve! Who would have thunk that coincidence? Put on your fancy duds, grab some ghostbusting equipment and prepare to ring in 2009 with

If you need a place to lay your aching head after the party, Scythian has struck a deal with Embassy Suites in Center City, Philadelphia. Just mention the ‘mad, mad, masquerade’ and you’ll get a discount rate on a suite. Plus you’ll be perfectly positioned to get up the next day for the Mummer’s Parade just a few blocks away. Assuming you haven’t overdone it, of course.

Much more information about the Masquerade can be found here . The Stotesbury Mansion is located at Rittenhouse Square, 1923 Walnut Street in Philadelphia.

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Even ghosts are invited to this party: Masquerade