Philadelphia: Eight: Events, Exhibitions and Attractions in Center City

There is never a shortage of entertainment in the City of Brotherly Love. Here are eight suggestions for the holidays, for the near future, or for any time.

1. Butterflies! at the Academy of Natural Sciences. The Academy's newest permanent exhibit is an interactive experience that melds computer technology with the colorful marvels of nature. For two dollars, plus the normal admission price to the museum, visitors can wander through a miniature rain forest and observe the closest thing to butterflies in their natural habitat. Hundreds of winged wonders from North and South America, Africa, and Asia gracefully flutter through lush, diverse foliage. The Academy receives weekly shipments of fresh chrysalises (butterflies) and cocoons (moths). A caretaker is on hand to answer questions. The Academy of Natural Sciences is located at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, just south of Logan Circle. Hours are weekdays from 10:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., and weekends 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Call 215-299-1000 for more information.

2. Amarna: Ancient Egypt's Place in the Sun, at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 3260 South Street. As a sort of precursor to the Franklin's Institute's Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of Pharoahs, slated for February through November of 2007, comes an exhibit that explores and attempts to recreate the birthplace of the boy king. Though the objects on display until next November can hardly compete with the lavishness and splendor of the contents of Tut's burial chamber, they nonetheless give archaeologists significant insight into a culture that flourished over 3,000 years ago, during the reign of Tut's father, Akhenaten. Statues depicting the royal family, jewelry, dining implements and mundane household items share space in this comprehensive collection of antiquity. Hours are 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. Sundays. Standard museum admission of $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for children apply. Contact the museum at 215-898-4000.