Social Events
The 2011 International Conference on Collaboration Technologies and Systems
(CTS 2011)
May 23-27, 2011
The Sheraton University City Hotel
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
(Subject to Change)
CTS 2011 Social Events
Excursion One: University City: Dinner, Local Entertainment options
Monday, May 23, 2011 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Sign up on the conference website …
No need to go far on our first night, as there are plenty of options within walking distance of the hotel. The University City District is home to world class universities (University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University) as well as an eclectic offering of nightlife, dining, shops and culture.
DINNER: join us at New Deck Tavern, which is a short walk from the conference hotel. A fun and lively gathering place. This venue is known for great burgers, cheese steaks, salads, and vast array of draft beers. If you are looking for something more upscale, the nearby White Dog Café or POD restaurants would also be good options. http://www.newdecktavern.com/
After dinner, we can take a stroll on Locust Walk on the University of Pennsylvania campus. This ivy-covered walkway is lined with trees and stately architecture. There are many statues, including some of Ben Franklin. It is considered the most pleasant route across the campus and is a hub of social gatherings. http://www.pps.org/great_public_spaces/one?public_place_id=631&type_id=3
There are many other options in the University City District for those who would like to venture out on their own. A good source of information for things to do and see in this area can be found here: http://www.universitycity.org/
Pricing and Transportation: Transportation is not needed as all locations are adjacent or a short walk from the conference hotel. This event will be pay as you go based on your chosen options.
Excursion Two: Spirits of ’76 Ghost Tour
Thursday, May 26, 2011 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM
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This excursion is a wonderful prelude to the Friday city tour as it gives you a chance to preview many of Philadelphia’s historic locations on a guided evening walking tour. Visit more than 20 "scary" sites to hear Philadelphia's haunted facts and folklore. Experience Philadelphia's monuments by moonlight. Travel the cobblestone streets of Old City to hear chilling stories about the Spirits of '76, featuring:
Haunted Facts - Hear stories about the Master of the Macabre, Edgar Allan Poe, who used to reside in Philadelphia and learn about Leo Callahan, the only prisoner to escape from Eastern State Penitentiary and never be captured!
Haunted Folklore - Learn about the legendary ghosts that inhabit Independence Hall, the spirits of Carpenters' Hall from a first person encounter, the dancing statue of Benjamin Franklin at Library Hall and paranormal Pine Street happenings.
Haunted Movie Sets - See famous film locations from big screen thrillers such as The Sixth Sense, Shooter, National Treasure and more!
Time permitting, we will travel to Old City and grab a quick meal at Cosi prior to the tour, which starts at 7:30 PM.
Pricing and Transportation: $25.00 per person, which includes the tour and transportation to and from the conference hotel. Cost of dinner is not included, but Cosi has many soup, salad and sandwich options which cost less than $10.00. Advanced ticket purchasing is recommended to guarantee we can obtain tickets for this tour, so we will require that you sign up by the deadline of May 2, 2011. Sign up for this trip on the conference registration page.
Excursion Three: Philadelphia All Day City Trolley Tour (Multiple Sites Included)
Friday, May 27, 2011 8:30 AM – TBD (varies)
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Join us as we experience a wonderful full-day hop on hop-off trolley tour that includes admission to many of Philadelphia’s major attractions! You can’t possibly visit every stop on this tour in one day, so your entrance to the included attractions is good for 9 days (although the trolley pass is only valid for one 24 hour period). The attraction visits that may be lengthy are listed as possible alternate day attractions. You may want to visit these on Saturday or Sunday to fully take advantage of the included admission). We will develop an itinerary for those who prefer to stay with the group on Friday. The trolley tour stops run from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Map and List of trolley stops below).
Proposed Itinerary (** Indicates free attraction or admission included in excursion price):
** Independence National Historical Park (Independence Hall tour and Liberty Bell Center) Born to preserve the story of the birth of American democracy and stands, even today, as an icon of freedom for people around the world. Spanning over 55 acres on 20 city blocks within the City of Philadelphia, the park preserves and interprets resources associated with the establishment of the United States of America, including the site of the meetings of the first and second Continental Congresses and the site at which the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States of America were debated and signed. In Independence Square – now a world heritage site – the Declaration of Independence was read publicly for the first time on July 8, 1776. The park also encompasses the home of Benjamin Franklin and the First and Second Banks of the United States. Additionally, Independence is the steward of four discrete park units: the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial, the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and the Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church National Historic Site. Most notably, the park manages and displays one of the country's best-known and most enduring symbols of freedom and liberty: the Liberty Bell. http://www.nps.gov/inde/index.htm
Betsy Ross House (Suggested Donation: $3.00) No visit to Historic Philadelphia would be complete without a stop at the home of America's most famous flagmaker. http://www.betsyrosshouse.org/
**National Constitution Center in Historic Philadelphia is America's most interactive history museum. Located just two blocks from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, it is the only museum devoted to the U.S. Constitution and the story of We, the People. http://constitutioncenter.org/ncc_home_Landing.aspx
**The Franklin Institute Science Museum (includes Fels Planetarium show) Check out all of the interactive exhibits including Space Command, The Train Factory, Sports Challenge and KidScience along with classics like the giant walk-through Heart. Ranked among the "50 Top-Rated Attractions" in the USA, by Zagat Survey's U.S. Family Travel Guide, The Franklin Institute is one of the nation's most visited science museums. http://www2.fi.edu/ .
Trolley Stops 6, 7, 13 and 20 will be included in Friday tour as they present excellent photo opportunities.
SUGGESTED ALTERNATE DAY VISITS: ADMISSION INCLUDED WITH FRIDAY TOUR COST:
**Adventure Aquarium (Possible alternate day attraction—admission included) Features nearly 200,000 square feet of sea life and wildlife. Visitors explore the West African River Experience featuring hippopotamuses, porcupines and over 20 species of African birds in a free-flight aviary, surround themselves with dozens of sharks in a suspended 40-foot walk through tunnel, discover the wonders of the deep sea in the Jules Verne Gallery. Introducing Aquarium Adventures! Six new programs designed to get you up-close and personal with some of Adventure Aquarium's most exotic creatures. You'll swim with the sharks, help train seals, scuba dive with schools of fish, and explore the treacherous African river world of our hippo habitat. http://www.adventureaquarium.com/Home.aspx
** Philadelphia Zoo. (Possible alternate day attraction—admission included) Cheetahs, hippos, rhinos and elephants make the Zoo Philadelphia's leading family attraction. Soar nearly 400 feet above the city on the Channel 6 Zooballoon. Visit the PECO Primate Reserve to see gorillas, ruffed lemurs and more. Experience Bank of America Big Cat Falls, home to lions, leopards, jaguars, and the largest of the world's big cats - Amur tigers. http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/
**Eastern State Penitentiary (Possible alternate day attraction—admission included) Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, Eastern State Penitentiary was the world's first true penitentiary, a prison designed to inspire penitence in the hearts of criminals. It stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and a surprising, eerie beauty. Tours include Al Capone's cell, Death Row and our critically-acclaimed artist installations. http://www.easternstate.org/
Trolley Stops 6, 7, 13 and 20 will be included in Friday tour as they present excellent photo opportunities.
OTHER VISIT OPTIONS, TIME PERMITTING OR ALTERNATE DAYS:
Rodin Museum (Suggested Donation: $5.00) Just a few blocks from the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway is the Rodin Museum, home to the largest public collection of works by the celebrated late nineteenth-century French sculptor Auguste Rodin outside of Paris. With extraordinary works of art and spectacular gardens, the Museum offers a calm retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Philadelphia Museum of Art ($16 admission includes Main and Perelman Buildings) As one of the largest museums in the United States, the Philadelphia Museum of Art invites visitors from around the world to explore its renowned collections, acclaimed special exhibitions, and enriching programs, both in person and online.
FULL LIST OF TROLLEY TOUR STOPS.
Stop 1. Independence Visitor's Center
Stop 2. Betsy Ross House
Stop 3. National Constitution Center
Stop 4. Chinatown
Stop 5. Convention Center Marriott
Stop 6. Love Park / City Hall
Stop 7. Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter And Paul
Stop 8. Rodin Museum
Stop 9. Eastern State Penitentiary
Stop 10. Philadelphia Museum of Art
Stop 11. Philadelphia Zoo
Stop 12. Memorial Hall / Please Touch Museum
Stop 13."Rocky Steps"
Stop 14. The Franklin/ Logan Circle
Stop 15. Four Seasons Hotel
Stop 16. Academy of Music/ The Sound of Philadelphia
Stop 17. Antique Row
Stop 18. South Street/Head House Square
Stop 19. Society Hill Sheraton
Stop 20. Penn's Landing/waterfront
Tour Pricing/Transportation:
PHILADELPHIA TROLLEY TOUR WITH INCLUDED ATTRACTIONS
$75.00 adults (includes trolley tour, listed included attractions)
$55.00 children 3-12 (includes trolley tour, listed included attractions)
Day Trip departs conference hotel at 8:00 AM and trolley tour runs through 6:00 PM
OPTIONAL: DINNER AT PENN’S LANDING
Join us for dinner at a Penn’s Landing restaurant overlooking the Delaware River.
Advanced ticket purchasing is recommended to guarantee we can obtain reservations for the morning independence hall tour, so we will require that you sign up by the deadline of May 2, 2011. Sign up for this trip on the conference registration page.
* Sites within easy walking distance of CTS2011 Conference
1. Eniac Museum in Moore School of Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
http://www.seas.upenn.edu/about-seas/eniac/
2. Locust Walk on University of Pennsylvania campus
Ivy-covered walkway lined with trees and stately architecture. Many statues including some of Ben Franklin.
http://www.pps.org/great_public_spaces/one?public_place_id=631&type_id=3
3. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (215) 898-4000
4. 30th Street Railroad Station
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30th_Street_Station
* Some Sights to See in Philadelphia (require subway ride)
1. Old City area - U. S. Historical Sites including Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, National Constitution Center and more.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Philadelphia/Old_City
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_City,_Philadelphia,_Pennsylvania
2. City Hall area - Love Square and City Hall
3. Comcast Center - tallest building in Philadelphia, near fancy stores for shopping
In Comcast Center's lobby is the Comcast Experience, which is a 2,000 square feet (190 m2) [25.4 feet (7.7 m) tall, 83.3 feet (25.4 m)] wide high-definition LED screen situated on a wall on the ground floor. Really cool to see!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comcast_Center_(office_building)
4. Philadelphia Art Museum
5. Schuylkill River Trail - walking and jogging
http://www.schuylkillriver.org/Running.aspx
6. Philadelphia Zoo
http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/
7. South Street area - shopping and night life
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Street_(Philadelphia)
For any questions concerning Social Events, please contact Social Events Co-Chair, Felicia Harlow, at fharlow@ieee.org