The bird is the word, and it's on fire

From left, last year, this year

When plans to travel up to NYC are hit by a car, it provides motivation to make the best of it in the greater Philadelphia area. This meant taking a bus into the city to see a movie not yet in wide release (Slumdog Millionaire) followed by watching a giant bird going up in flames.

What? That doesn't make sense? Well then you are unfamiliar with the local tradition of setting a 35-foot tall wooden bird on fire to the delight of young and old. It's like the Phoenix of yore, reborn once a year to light up the night sky. And then a bunch of pagans dance around it in a circle, along with ubiquitous hippies and their circular drumbeats.

It is the biggest party ever (in Phoenixville). There ain't no party like a Phoenixville party cause a Phoenixville party don't stop. The point is that when someone says "Hey you want to go see them light the giant wooden bird on fire?" You undoubtedly say yes.