Philly.com is running an awesome contest: Love of a Lifetime Wedding Giveaway! The contest started with 500 couples, and now it’s down to the final round with only 10 couples left! The prize is a $90,000 wedding at the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia. Once the winning couple is chosen, readers will also choose the bride’s dress style, flowers, invitations, menu, cake, and wedding bands. Sure, you don’t get to plan every detail of your wedding, but hey, it’s FREE so who’s complaining?

It so happens that my friend Faye and her fiance Matthew are finalists in this contest, and they need YOUR HELP!!! Follow this link: http://bit.ly/fayematttowin to get to their page and register by clicking on “registration” above their photo. You’ll get a confirmation sent to your email.  Click on the link in this email – it will take to back to the website to vote. The whole process takes less than 30 seconds (seriously), and you will be helping a fantastic couple win a $90,000 wedding!

Plus, their bulldog is super cute, so how could you possibly resist? Vote now and everyday through February 10th. Go to their page here: http://bit.ly/fayematttowin to read their sweet and funny entry (and then VOTE)! Here’s a taste:

How Did You Meet?
MATTHEW: I never would have thought I’d meet my future wife in a dark, dingy basement! I was just looking to hang out with the guys at my friend’s party, but after spotting Faye, I knew I had to talk to her. As I watched this striking, bubbly girl fail miserably at flip cup, I saw my chance and offered to teach her how to play. FAYE: For the record, yes, my flip cup skills are terrible and Matthew did give me some coaching—but I suspected he wasn’t there to teach me how to play flip cup, he was using it as a pretense to ask me out to dinner! Not that I’m complaining as I was thrilled he was talking to me, so thrilled in fact that after making dinner plans, I completely forgot his name. I was too embarrassed to ask him again, so on our first date, I stealthily stole a glance at his ID and he never knew (until now)! MATTHEW: I admit it might be true about approaching Faye with the intention of securing a date, but after learning she forgot my name, I think we’re even. FAYE: And now I’m going to marry a man whose I name I couldn’t remember—I promise not to forget it at the altar!

1500 donors are expected, so pre-registration is recommended. Sign-up here or call 1-800-448-3543 (1-800-GIVE LIFE).

Usually you get a tasty cookie and apple juice after you donate blood, but Citizens Bank Park is taking it to a whole new level. Not only do you get your picture taken with a World Series Ring, there will also be a bunch of other giveaways, such as a collectible Phillies print, a tour of the ballpark, a ticket discount for a future Phillies game, parking, and opportunities to meet the Phillie Phanatic and the Phillies Ballgirls. Talk about incentives!

If you don’t live in the Philadelphia area, or you are unable to donate blood on Saturday, August 15th, click on this link to find a blood drive near you! Every 2 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, but only 5% of the eligible U.S. population donates each year. Save a life – donate today!

If you are unable to donate for whatever reason, there are many volunteer opportunities through The Red Cross. Do something awesome for someone in need.

Now check out this video of the Phillie Phanatic dancing after the jump! He’s the greatest!

-Italian
-Cheesesteak (or Chicken Cheesesteak)
-Turkey
-Meatball

Needless to say, I’m beside myself with joy.  It’s possible I’ll eat nothing but hoagies (and of course, burgers) for two straight weeks.

The Trophies Three

In Pennsylvania’s Capitol today, the three major championship trophies held by Pennsylvania teams were proudly displayed together for all to see, out in the open on a simple table. From right to left: the most sought after trophy in all of sports, the Stanley Cup won by the Penguins; the Lombardi Trophy, given to the Superbowl winning Steelers; and the World Series trophy (Commissioner’s Trophy), currently held by my dear Phillies.

I briefly considered trying to touch one, but the trophies (especially the Cup) came with body guards–so I snapped a cell phone picture. I can’t think of many occasions where any two of the four major trophies (I’m counting the NBA’s O’Brien trophy, but let’s be honest, it’s the lamest of the three) might have been in the same place at the same time…how often have three been together? Have all four ever been together? (The feat becomes more impressive when you consider they’re the “active trophies” in that none are versions of a trophy from a non-current championship.)

Anyway, I give it three thumbs up.

BurgerMap Philly is here! A pet project of mine for a while, I finally got to work on it in earnest. This color-coded-by-rating map of Philadelphia burgers is going to be an ongoing project of mine, and I submit the Beta version to you, readers. Each Philly burger I’ve eaten (and remember well enough to rate) at a place that’s still open is on the map, and I’m always looking to expand my lipid-laced experiences while on my everlasting quest to find Philadelphia’s best burgers. Feel free to submit suggestions for new burgers to try or any feedback about the map, the ratings and the system (keep the comments threat somewhat civil, please, as I know this is a very serious subject about which many feel strongly).

I hope this evolves into a very useful resource (right now I think it is if you’re jonesing for a burger in Center City Philadelphia) and maybe even inspires BurgerMaps of other cities (or OtherMaps by the Awesomeopolis crew…cheesesteaks? BYOBs? Fries?).

For now, I’m proud to introduce BurgerMap Philly!

The Ritz at the Bourse movie theatre in Philadelphia is hosting a Saturday “Midnight Madness” movie series. This past Saturday I went to see the midnight screening of Ghostbusters. I’d seen the movie many times as a kid but never on the big screen. It was incredible! The theatre was packed, the audience was singing, and there was even a guy with a Ghostbusters backpack. You gotta love an 80’s cinematic experience.

According to the Ritz at the Bourse website, the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie is playing on July 25th. I’m so disappointed that I won’t be in town for that because I LOVE TMNT! Go see it and report back! Those of you who are in the Philadelphia area should definitely check out some of the upcoming movies. I recommend buying your tickets in advance because if the following is anything like Ghostbusters, the movie will be sold out! Check out the summer schedule after the jump!

• Jeff Bridges in the Coen Bros’ The Big Lebowski · Jun 13
• Original Japanese version with English subtitles: Hayao Miyazaki’s anime hit Spirited Away · Jun 20
• Gelfling vs. Skeksis in The Dark Crystal · Jun 27
• Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini, Laura Dern and Dennis Hopper in David Lynch’s Blue Velvet · Jul 4
• Musical fantasy Repo! The Genetic Opera · Jul 11
• Bill Murray & Jason Swartzman in Rushmore · Jul 18
• The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles · Jul 25
• Peter Sellers in Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove · Aug 1
• Johnny Depp & Benicio Del Toro in Terry Gilliam’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas · Aug 8
• Goonies never say die! The Goonies · Aug 15

Here are the movies we missed:

• Back to the Future · May 2
• The Shining · May 9
• The City of Lost Children · May 16
• Raiders of the Lost Ark · May 23
• Rear Window · May 30
• Ghostbusters · June 6

While Awesomeopolis does not endorse vigilante justice, we do recognize awesomeness and badassery in all its forms, which includes the emergence of this overwhelming civic pride and communal brotherhood in a place like Kensington.  We also have to stand by the president of Philadelphia’s Fraternal Order of Police, who said: “These guys really stepped up.”

The two mob leaders split reward money for the perpetrator’s capture, which was increased by 15% thanks to a private donation from another connoisseur of badassery.

I can’t think of anything that fits the spirit of Life in Awesomeopolis better than HoagieFest.  It takes something already awesome, Wawa, and layers on top of it some pure unadulterated awesomeness.  HoagieFest comes in two parts, plus the intangible joy that is the HoagieFest season.

The first of the concrete aspects is a series of discounts, where for four consecutive fortnights a different Shorti Hoagie is on sale for $2.99.  From June 1st to July 26th, the lineup is: Italian (current), followed by Cheesesteak (chicken or regular, I believe), Turkey, and Meatball Sub.  Shortis come on whole wheat or regular 6″ rolls.

The second concrete aspect is the actual HoagieFests, held in different states at Wawa locations (Philadelphia’s is on June 24th, 11:30AM at 2600 Grant Avenue).  These festivals will feature eating contests (with charitable donations made on behalf of each participant), give-aways of t-shirts and buttons and food, and a quarter mile hoagie!  (That’s the equivalent of 2,640 shortis, and will be made available to attendees free of charge!)  Finally, there will be Kara-Hoagie contests, which is karaoke revolving around HoagieFest’s 6 songs, Beatles songs rewritten to be about hoagies.  They are quite excellent.

This is a fantastic celebration of a sandwich that has many names (sub, hoagie, grinder, dagwood, etc.), but which was borne in Philadelphia as Hoagie.

For more information, and for the HoagieFest songs, please visit http://hoagiefest.com.