Philadelphia International Airport

Beer bottle clock at Philadelphia Airport

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Beer Bottle Clock

Need to know what time it is?

If you’re at Philadelphia International Airport’s Terminal A-West between now and August, you can consult this 20 foot long clock made of 300 recycled intermeshing beer bottles.The clock is made by Rick Stanley and his son, Vince, who create one-of-a-kind timepieces at Stanley Clockworks near Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.

“There are three separate dials for hours, minutes, and seconds..The largest gear is five foot in diameter and is largest and only clock to incorporate bottles in its movement…The clock sports only Yuengling Lager bottles. The brewery is the oldest in America and has a strong local following making the bottles simple to obtain. The beer bottles came from three sources: the local recycling center, the local bar, and whatever the clockmaker could contribute.”

Here’s a video of the clock in action:

In addition to this beer-bottle clock, Stanley Clockworks has also built a 24-foot long “Walking Clock” made with a dozen shoes that keep time by marching back and forth over 2,700 miles each year.

Fresh art at Philadelphia and Miami airports

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Next time you’re going to or through Philadelphia International Airport, take a moment to look around at some of the new art on display in the terminals.

Noted American glassblower Michael Schunke has some of his work in Terminal D:

PHL Michael Schunke

James Dupree’s Evolving Elements is in Terminal E:

PHL James Dupree

And Shannon Donovan’s Rest Awhile, a life-size diorama of an old-fashioned sitting room, is in Terminal C.

PHL Shannon Donovan

“There is the appearance that little has changed over the generations,” notes Leah Douglas, PHL’s Director of Exhibitions, “However, Donovan has purposefully infused her interior with odd curiosities such as three-dimensional branches and blossoms that emerge from the floral patterned wallpaper, ceramic cakes and flowering clay hubcap forms that adorn the wall and floor.”

When you’re in Miami International Airport’s North Terminal, take a moment to look at the faces in 100 Latinos Miami.

MIA art exhibit 100 Latinos Miam

The exhibit, by Gate D26, features portraits of Hispanic immigrants living in Miami-Dade County. There are artists, activists, entrepreneurs, athletes, journalists, doctors and professors; all people Verónica Durán chose to include here because “by virtue of their talent and success [they] contribute to the economic, social and cultural development of the region.”

Giant spider webs at Philadelphia Airport

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Philadelphia International Airport presents a marvelous and diverse program of both permanent and changing art exhibitions throughout the terminals.

In keeping with the season, one installation to seek out right now is The Repairer – eight large-scale glass spider webs created by artist Sharyn O’Mara in memory of the artist Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010).

PHL Spiderweb Sharyn O'Mara

Photo credit: Richard McMullin, Philadelphia International Airport

Here’s some background on the installation from the airport website:

Described as a “Grande Dame of American and European art,” Bourgeois is best known for her series of monumental metal spiders – the largest stands more than 30 feet tall. Although primarily a sculptor, Bourgeois also liked to draw. It was another medium to express her fascination with spiders and, in particular, their webs. Bourgeois had said that drawing was similar to a spider’s web: “it’s like the thread…it is a knitting, a spiral.“

Like Bourgeois’ gigantic spiders, O’Mara has fabricated similarly sized glass webs influenced by the late artist’s web drawings. O’Mara’s installation was inspired by Bourgeois, whose parents restored tapestries. Bourgeois once said, “The spider is a repairer. I came from a family of repairers. If you bash into the web of a spider, she doesn’t get mad. She weaves and repairs it.”

Look for Sharyn O’Mara’s The Repairer post-security in Terminal A-West through February 2011.

To see what else there is to do at Philadelphia International Airport, see my guide to Philadelphia International Airport on USAToday.com.

And, in the spirit of Halloween, here are two great cartoons my buddy Bob Rini found and posted on his highly entertaining blog, The Nine Pound Hammer.

This one is a Betty Boop cartoon that was banned in the 1930’s.

And this one is a very early Mickey Mouse cartoon.

Thanks, Bob!
And Happy Halloween.

Ironing things out at Philadelphia International Airport

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Vintage clothes irons on display at Philadelphia Airport

Vintage clothes irons on display at Philadelphia International Airport

A new exhibit at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) might make you a bit self-conscious about your wrinkled travel outfit.

The exhibit features classic, streamlined clothes irons made in the 1930s and 40s, on loan from the collection of Jay Raymond, who has written a book on the subject.

Why irons at the airport?

“Like aircraft, streamlined irons were based on the principles of aerodynamics – they were shaped to enhance the flow of air around them, increasing their ability to move more efficiently. It is their purposeful design and resulting aesthetic that made streamlined irons different from irons that preceded them.”

Look for these cool irons in the Philadelphia International Airport on the C/D walkway, post-security.

vintage irons on display at PHL airport

More cool, classic clothes irons

Fresh airport amenities for summer travel

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In my msnbc.com column this week –Fresh airport amenities make the wait fly by – I offered a run-down of some of the programs and services air travelers can take advantage of this summer.

One amenity that didn’t make it into the story is self-service ice-cream sundae machine at Boston Logan International Airport.

Make-your-own sundae machine at Boston Logan Airport

We all scream for ice-cream at the airport

Using a touchscreen, customers choose a flavor (12 are available) and a mix-in. The machine then prepares and delivers the dessert.  Boston Logan Airport has two  MooBella machines installed: one is at Terminal C at the Back Bay Café (Gates 11-21); the other is at Lean & Green (Gates 40-42).

If you test it out, please send a report – and a photo.

What else is fresh and new at airports this summer?

Philadelphia International Airport offers entertainment this summer

Mimes among the entertainment at PHL this summer

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) now has free wireless and a Passenger Chillin’ Zone with sofas, tables, chairs, ottomans and foliage (Gate D-3). Throughout the summer, PHL is also hosting a Just Plane Fun program with live music, appearances by mascots from local sports teams, contests and other activities.

From now through the end of August, Miami International Airport is throwing weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) parties with a different theme each week. This weekend’s theme is Havana Nights, with domino tables, mojito demonstrations, a DJ, rumba dancing and cigar rolling.  August 20-23 you’ll find a flamenco dance show, Latin food sampling and more.

Observation Deck at Los Angeles International Airport now open

Observation Deck at LAX now open on weekends

At Los Angeles International Airport, the outdoor observation deck on top of the Theme Building in the center of the airport is finally open. Closed since 9/11, and during the building’s $12.3 million renovation and earthquake retrofit, the deck is open weekends, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free telescopes offering great views of arriving and departing aircraft, the airport grounds and the surrounding area. Pink’s, an iconic Hollywood hot dog stand, has also opened a branch in the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

At Outagamie County Regional Airport (ATW) in Appleton, Wisconsin, they’re still lining up to get candy from the giant purple machine with flashing lights.

Candy-dispening machine at Outagamie Airport

Willy Wonka candy machine dispenses mixed candy treats

Located pre-security, the Willy Wonka candy machine is one of 25 such machines in the country (there’s one at the Mall of America) and is currently the only one at an airport.

Passengers had so much fun during the special events held at Vancouver International Airport during the 2010 Winter Olympics games that the airport decided to host Take-off Fridays festivals all summer, complete with face painting, DJs spinning music, prize drawings, meal specials and frees samples from a variety of airport shops.

And San Francisco International Airport is presenting You are Hear concerts again this summer. Performances take place every Friday through August 28th between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at three different stages in the airport. This week the line-up includes Quinteto Latino in the International Terminal, Lavay Smith & The Red Hot Skillet Lickers in the United hub and, in Terminal 1, Threeocracy. See the SFO website for the full season schedule.

Enjoy!

Free Wi-Fi & fresh art at Philadelphia Int’l Airport

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Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has kicked off its summer-long “Just Plane Fun” program and well, it looks like fun.

Guy at laptop

Last week, just in time for the busy 4th of July holiday travel weekend, PHL announced that the airport-wide Wi-Fi service would now be free.

Now that’s fun!

This week? Well, there’s not much that can match free Wi-Fi for excitement, but on Wednesday there will a CPR/AED (Automatic external defibrillator) workshop.  And on Thursday and Friday – live music.

For times and locations, see the PHL website.

What’s next? Throughout the summer, travelers are promised art demonstrations, pep rallies with local pro sports teams and team mascots and, our favorite, free stuff.

Last week, the airport also unveiled a new art exhibit honoring the Liberty Bell.

PHL Mayor Nutter art exhibit

(Philadelphia Mayor Nutter was at PHL for the exhibit opening)

Picturing Liberty: Philadelphia’s Legendary Bell includes 50 black and white photographs about the history and legacy of this iconic American item. The exhibit is in Terminal A-East, post-security through June 2011.

Freedom for all Wi-Fi users at Philadelphia Int’l Airport

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Well this is a nice way to kick off the July 4th weekend:

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) now offers free Wi-Fi access to all travelers.

This is especially great news because PHL has long had a somewhat wacky Wi-Fi set-up. The service was free for students all the time and free for everyone else only on the weekends.

So free Wi-Fi for everyone traveling through PHL is a great leap forward!

Tidbits for travelers at MIA and PHL

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This would be fun to watch:  American Airlines is donating a 140-passenger MD-80 aircraft to the George T. Baker Aviation School in Miami. To get the plane to the school they going to lift the 39-ton plane from a ramp at Miami International Airport up over a road using a 500-ton crane equipped with a 400-foot telescoping boom.   The “big lift” is going to take place today – Monday, May 17th – and involves closing roadways and runways, removing light poles, trees and fencing and building a temporary gravel road.

Airport officials have promised to send photos; so stay tuned.

And, over the weekend, a branch of Legal Sea Foods opened at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) in the B/C Connector.

On the menu at this full-service, sit-down restaurant: lobster, crab cakes, New England clam chowder, shrimp, salmon and a variety of sandwiches, salads and desserts.

Mother’s Day offers at three airports

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Indiana’s South Bend Regional Airport will be celebrating Mother’s Day all weekend by offering all traveling mothers free coffee or tea and a choice of a free coffee mug or a travel sewing kit. There may even be free carnations as well.

The details: Throughout the weekend, traveling moms can stop at the airport’s Visitor Center and/or the Airport Authority information booth to pick out their free gifts.

And for if you’re shopping for your mom (or yourself) at The Food & Shops at LaGuardia Airport or at Philadelphia International Airport be sure to save your receipts. If you spend $50 at one airport store, or at a combination of stores, you can get a free $10 gift card for the Body Shop.

The details: Get your $10 gift card at Philadelphia Airport by taking your receipts to The Body Shop in the B/C Connector, or to any of the retailers in the D/E Connector.   At LaGuardia Airport, take your receipts to The Body Shop, on the Departures Level between Gates B & C.

I’m tracking down a few more airport-based Mother’s Day events and offers to tell you about tomorrow. If you know of any, please send them along.

Dance at ORD & MDW, drop your pants at PHL

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Ready for St. Patrick’s Day festivities?

The Chicago airports are. Today, Friday, March 12, Irish dancers from the Trinity Academy will perform at both O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and at Midway International Airport (MDW). Performances will be 3 to 5 p.m. at O’Hare (in Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 5) and at Midway in Concourse A near the “Battle of Midway” exhibit.

And if you are traveling through Philadelphia International Airport (PHL ) between now and Sunday, March 14th, the Gap store there would like you drop your pants.

Old blue jeans collected by Gap stores nationwide will be turned into cotton fiber insulation.  And anyone who leaves a pair of pants will get a coupon good for 30% off their next denim purchase.

The project is a partnership with the Cotton. From Blue to Green campaign, which has so far turned 200 tons of recycled jeans into insulation for more than 540 houses built in areas destroyed by natural disasters .