By Molly Given<\/p>\n
Looking for some fun and unique things to do<\/a> in Philly<\/a> this weekend? We\u2019ve got you covered.<\/p>\n \u2018Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition\u2019 at the Franklin Institute<\/p>\n Locals can step behind the curtain and into the magic with the Franklin Institute\u2019<\/a>s latest showcase, \u2018Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition<\/a>.\u2019 It’s a full walkthrough of the brand\u2019s most notable artifacts, costumes, and props, and a place to peer behind the scenes at the creative process that brings Universal\u2019s most popular experiences to life.<\/p>\n While walking around the 18,000-square-foot showcase, locals will find 20 interactive stops, and 100 artifacts from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, \u2018Jaws\u2019, Illumination\u2019s \u2018Minions\u2019, \u2018The Secret Life of Pets\u2019, \u2018Sing\u2019, \u2018Jurassic World\u2019, DreamWorks Animation\u2019s \u2018How to Train Your Dragon\u2019, \u2018Universal Monsters\u2019 and Super Nintendo World.<\/p>\n \u2018Universal Theme Parks\u2019 is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with evening hours available Thursdays through Saturdays. Tickets (prices vary) should be purchased in advance online or by calling 215-448-1200.<\/p>\n 222 N. 20th Street, fi.edu<\/a><\/p>\n Mermaids at the Camden Adventure Aquarium<\/p>\n Camden Adventure Aquarium<\/a> is making waves once again with the return of its mermaids experience<\/a>. Set to run every Friday through Sunday (through March 15), this annual festival brings visitors into South Jersey’s own “Mer-World” to see \u201creal-life\u201d mermaids diving among its collection of sandbar, sand tiger and nurse sharks. At the newly reimagined Enchanted Grotto, guests can meet a mermaid on land and capture a professional photo. For a more laid-back encounter, the Mermaid Beach Club lets visitors wave to mermaids lounging among the venue\u2019s rays at Stingray Beach.<\/p>\n Every half hour, the Aquarium\u2019s Rotunda also comes alive with a mesmerizing mermaid-themed light show. Plus, young collectors\u2014and the young at heart\u2014can also take home a piece of the festival through this year\u2019s Mermaid Trading Cards (available from each mermaid they meet), with bonus cards sprinkled throughout the venue.<\/p>\n The Festival will run during typical Adventure Aquarium hours and is included with admission.\u00a0<\/p>\n 1 Riverside Drive, Camden, New Jersey, .adventureaquarium.com<\/a><\/p>\n Black History Month at the Museum of the American Revolution<\/p>\n There\u2019s still time to mark Black History Month<\/a> at the Museum of the American Revolution with a lineup of special showcases. At the heart of the month is \u2018The Declaration\u2019s Journey\u2019, a special exhibit tracing how Black leaders in the U.S. and abroad invoked the Declaration of Independence in their fights for freedom and civil rights. Viewers will be able to see rare and resonant documents, including a Haitian Declaration of Independence, Frederick Douglass\u2019s Fourth of July oration, the Emancipation Proclamation, and a 1799 abolitionist petition led by Absalom Jones and Richard Allen.<\/p>\n Visitors can also check out daily gallery conversations and first-person performances that connect the Revolutionary era to the ongoing struggle for justice. All Black History Month programming is included with regular museum admission ($14-$27, free for certain groups).\u00a0<\/p>\n 101 S. 3rd St., amrevmuseum.org<\/a><\/p>\n Ripoff & Duplicate menu at R&D Cocktail Bar<\/p>\n R&D is toasting the nation\u2019s 250th anniversary with a new menu dubbed Ripoff & Duplicate, the 11th themed release from beverage director and partner Aaron Deary. Designed as a glossy, ten-page magazine by Deary himself, the menu doubles as an insider\u2019s guide to the neighborhoods, landmarks, and lore that define Philly. Each cocktail maps a different corner of the city, from where to find standout Puerto Rican fare to the perfect espresso and a team-approved day spent in Fishtown.<\/p>\n The playful name came from a tongue-in-cheek exchange, and the drinks are organized into three sections: Shaken & Citrusy, Stirred & Spirited, and Lighter & Bubbly. Standouts include the electric-blue “Hitchbot”, a Dutch gin sour nodding to the ill-fated robot that met its end in Philly; “Longing for Awnings”, a mezcal-kissed tribute to South Philadelphia row homes; and “Abyssinia”, a wintery whiskey sour inspired by West Philly\u2019s popular Ethiopian restaurant.<\/p>\n