Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
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Also this issue: The Hissyfits Celtic Fling Wrestle Dazzle |
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July 5-11, 2002
mixpicks
Fourth to Be Reckoned With
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The Welcome America! people are doing all kinds of interesting and festive crap this holiday (like displaying the Magna Freaking Carta starting July 3 at the Independence Visitor Center, Sixth and Market), but let's just concentrate on the Fourth, shall we? OK. At 9 a.m., Secretary of State Colin L. Powell will receive the famed Liberty Medal at Independence Hall. Past recipients include Abraham Lincoln, Billy the Kid and Genghis Kahn. Following the ceremony, there are a number of fancy luncheons you may be able to sneak into. Later that evening there's a parade called "Pennsylvania -- Memories Last a Lifetime" for some reason. Marching up the Parkway will be rescue personnel from the Sept. 11 crash site in Somerset County, Pa., and NYFD Engine Co. 6, local drill teams and some floats. Then some Air Force jets will fly over the Parkway, and I can't stress this enough: Those are American jets, please hold your fire. South Philly, I'm looking in your direction.
Last year, music stars Jill "I'm going to spit on live TV" Scott and Garth "I suck" Brooks performed and celebrities like Mel Gibson, Ed Norton and Winona Ryder stole (heh) the show with a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence on the Art Museum steps right before the fireworks. This year you better believe all of Hollywood will be hidden away in underground bunkers, so we'll have to settle for the inspiring, powerful pipes of Philly singer-songwriter Lauren Hart and the insipidly tired and redundant Baha Men, who think they're going to perform their stupid "Who Let the Dogs Out" song, but really the plan is to throw them on top of a bomb should one turn up. Then, fireworks!
Check www.americasbirthday.com for a list of all the Welcome America! events.
