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Author: Earl Hopkins

  • 🎄It’s time to soak up the holiday spirit | Things to do

    🎄It’s time to soak up the holiday spirit | Things to do

    If you didn’t already know from the Christmas lights or weather temps, the fall season has passed, and winter has arrived.

    While the concerts, comedy shows, and other events may slow down toward the end of the year, there’s still plenty to do. Between holiday shopping and your hunt for a Christmas tree, stop by a holiday pop-up concert, a glimmering light show, or enjoy some Philly-style comedy at nearby venues.

    I would be remiss not to mention some holiday-themed happenings, especially the City Hall Christmas lighting ceremony. But just like my Christmas shopping to-do list, there’s plenty of variety. Consider this the beginning of your late-year guide to what’s happening both in and outside your typical holiday ritual.

    — Earl Hopkins (@earlhopkins_, Email me at thingstodo@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Philadelphia’s Holiday Tree as see through the northern archway at City Hall on Dec. 12, 2024

    Philadelphia’s Christmas tree lighting at City Hall

    Tonight’s Center City tree lighting ceremony will be a spectacle.

    A 50-foot-tall tree, gleaming with thousands of colorful lights, will illuminate the north side of City Hall, at North Broad Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard, for the first time of the season on Thursday night.

    The tree lighting will feature a performance by Lalah Hathaway and Grammy-winning singer Ashanti. On offer will be free hot chocolate and warm apple cider, plus gift giveaways. If you can’t make it to tonight’s lighting, you can enjoy 6ABC’s live broadcast online, or on the mobile app.

    The best things to do this week

    🎄Lights in Delco: Starting Thursday, 300,000 lights will adorn over 125 trees at the center of Media’s Rose Tree County Park for the 50th annual Festival of Lights.

    🎭 A transformative musical leaves soon: Catch the acclaimed, eight-Tony Award-winning musical Hadestown at the Forrest Theatre before the show’s final show on Sunday.

    😂 Laughs and brews: Stop by the Next In Line Comedy Club in Spring Garden to see headliners Chris Aileo and Josh Martier work their comedic magic on Thursday night. Drinks by Love City Brewing are available in the venue’s showroom bar.

    🪕 Country Christmas carols: Among the list of exciting holiday pop-up concerts this month, veteran country singer LeAnn Rimes will hit the Keswick Theatre stage for her Greatest Hits Christmas Tour. Before you go, make sure to clear your throat. You will probably sing Christmas songs from her holiday albums in no time.

    🎵 Tindley Temple’s organ recital: Tindley Temple’s presentation of Handel’s The Messiah is accompanied by organ and includes just music from Part I (plus the “Hallelujah Chorus”), but there’s no warmer, more joyous appearance of the piece than the one at Tindley, on South Broad Street. The Sunday concert features conductor Jay Fluellen, organist Luke Staisiunas, and vocal soloists Tessica McClendon, Kaitlyn Tierney, Perry Brisbon, and Shango Lewis.

    📅 My calendar picks this week: Art & Eats Chestnut Hill, Holiday Lights on Boathouse Row, and the Santa Stroll block party on East Market.

    Ross Varanyak helps prepare Christmas trees for customers at Yeager’s Farm in Phoenixville, Pa. on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.

    The thing of the week: Time to get your Christmas tree

    In the words of my colleagues Michelle Myers, Henry Savage, and Rosa Cartagena, the debate this Christmas isn’t whether Santa Claus exists. It’s whether to display a real or fake Christmas tree.

    While many households have switched to artificial ones, holiday purists are sticking to the real thing. Lucky for them, Philadelphia is home to several Christmas tree farms and lots, offering a wide selection of pre-cut varieties and even delivery options.

    From Montgomery County to South Jersey, there are options for all kinds of holiday Christmas tree shoppers. Read the list of tree farms and lots around the region.

    Winter fun this week and beyond

    🎁 From Center City’s Christmas Village and Dilworth Park’s Made in Philadelphia market to Bucks County’s Peddler’s Village and Bethlehem’s iconic Christkindlmarkt, these holiday markets are worth a look.

    🩰 The ‘Nutcracker’ to grace the stage: The classic George Balanchine Nutcracker, featuring a cast of talented children and some of the best professional dancers in the city, kicks off at the Academy of Music on Friday. The ballet will run through Dec. 31.

    🎅 Hop on Manayunk’s Jolly Trolley: As part of Manayunk’s Get Lit weekends, the neighborhood is offering free Jolly Trolley rides through Dec. 20. The trek will include live music, performances, and plenty of holiday season characters on board for the ride down Main Street.

    🎵 Holiday organs will blare: Live organists play Longwood Gardens every day of the holiday season (including Christmas and New Year’s days) — among them, Luke Staisiunas, Thomas Gaynor, Andrew Paulson, and Dylan Shaw.

    🙆🏽 Pirouettes and orchestral tunes: The most popular ballet in the world would be nothing without Tchaikovsky’s evocative score, and the city is fortunate to have the Philadelphia Ballet Orchestra in the Academy of Music pit live for all 34 performances of The Nutcracker from Friday through noon on New Year’s Eve.

    Staffer picks

    Pop music critic Dan DeLuca lists the top concerts this weekend and a few holiday pop-up jams happening this month.

    🎤 Friday: After making a cameo at the Playboi Carti concert last month, Meek Mill will headline a show of his own at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday. The Philly native and Grammy-nominated rapper will be joined by special guests for the one-night-only bash.

    🎸 Saturday: Philly songwriter Don McCloskey, known for the 2008 Phillies fight song, “Unstoppable,” and his link to the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia crew, will perform with his eight-piece band for the annual “Holiday Office Party” at Brooklyn Bowl.

    🎤 Sunday: In line with the city’s string of holiday pop-up performances, Philly jazz vocalist V. Shayne Frederick will play two “A Very V. Shayne Frederick Holiday” at South Jazz Kitchen on Saturday and Sunday.

    Plus:

    🪕 Virtuoso banjoist Bela Fleck and band mates Howard Levy, Roy “Future Man” Wooten, and Victor Wooten will perform at Miller Theater on Dec. 12, alongside saxophonist Jeff Coffin and throat singing ensemble Alash.

    🎤 Jingle Ball, the annual holiday season pop star cavalcade, includes pop-rock sibling band AJR, jazz singer Laufey, Alex Warren, and Texas country rapper BigXthaPlug, and others at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Dec. 15.

    Here’s the full list of December holiday concerts.

    I hope this guide is helpful as you plan your month. Consider it an early Christmas gift for you and a treat for me. Now, go out and enjoy.

    – Earl

    Courtesy of Giphy.com
  • Yo, Adrian, 2026 will be a very ‘Rocky’ year for Philadelphia. In a good way.

    Yo, Adrian, 2026 will be a very ‘Rocky’ year for Philadelphia. In a good way.

    2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the release of the first Rocky film. To coincide, the Philadelphia Art Museum announced on Wednesday there will be an exhibition exploring how the Rocky statue, at the foot of the museum, brings people together..

    “Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments” will open in April in the museum’s Dorrance Galleries.

    The exhibition, curated by Monument Lab cofounder Paul Farber, will showcase over 150 works from more than 50 artists including Reading native Keith Haring, Rashid Johnson, Andy Warhol, Carrie Mae Weems, and Hank Willis Thomas, the artist behind the All Power to All People sculpture that stood on Thomas Paine Plaza in 2017. They will be joined by artists from Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Restorative Justice Program.

    “Rising Up” will examine the changing role of monuments in creating spaces of recreation across time, with the Rocky statue by sculptor A. Thomas Schomberg at the heart of the exhibition.

    Signage at the east entrance to the Philadelphia Museum of Art Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, now called the Philadelphia Art Museum, or PhAM. The rebranding is part of changes in both style and substance as the museum aims to be more accessible to regular folks and revive attendance, which is still far below pre-pandemic levels.

    Farber hopes the display will broaden conversations about identity, power, memory, and community, themes central to public art and Philadelphia’s cultural history.

    “We have a statue that 4 million people visit a year. That’s extraordinary. It’s a statue of the most famous Philadelphian that never lived, in a city full of boxers who were legendary champs. How do we reconcile both of those thoughts? Well, we have to dive into it and understand it,” Farber said.

    The Rocky statue and Philadelphia Art Museum steps are visited by about 4 million people every year, the Philadelphia Visitor Center reported last year. The Art Museum averages about 800,000 yearly visitors, per the museum.

    Researched for over five years and in development for two, “Rising Up” will include sculptures, paintings, video performances, film, photographs, prints, drawings, participatory experiences, new commissions, and other works.

    “This show is a testament to the vitality and passion of Philadelphia’s arts, culture, and sports communities,” Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said in a statement. “It is more than timely as we approach our monumental Semiquincentennial year.”

    A publication, edited by Farber to accompany the exhibit, will include essays by Philadelphia artist Alex Da Corte, former Inquirer film critic Carrie Rickey, and newly-enshrined Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Famer Malcolm Jenkins, among others.

    “Rising Up” will be on view through Aug. 2, 2026.

    The Art Museum announcement comes at a not-so-celebratory moment for fans of RockyFest, the celebration instituted last year by the Philadelphia Visitor Center.

    Sylvester Stallone poses with Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney in front of the “Rocky” statue at the Philadelphia Art Museum for a “Creed II” photo op, on Friday, April 6, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

    A year after the festival’s first run, organizers have canceled 2025’s festival and will pivot to a yearlong celebration in 2026, rather than offering a week of bus tours and fan experiences.

    “Throughout 2026, we will highlight a series of major milestones and activations commemorating this iconic moment in Philadelphia and film history,” Kathryn Ott Lovell, president & CEO of the Visitor Center, said in a statement.

    Lovell said next year’s “Rocky 50″ will include events currently in development, some of which will accompany the May release of Sylvester Stallone’s upcoming memoir, The Steps.

    A full 2026 calendar of events will be released at a later date, Lovell said.

  • Philadelphia athletes, social media influencers, and ‘Shark Tank’ winners among those on the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 list

    Philadelphia athletes, social media influencers, and ‘Shark Tank’ winners among those on the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 list

    The 15th class of Forbes 30 Under 30 has some major Philadelphia connections, from Shark Tank winners to social media influencers, and Super Bowl champions.

    A total of 18 people with ties to the Philadelphia area were recognized on the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 list in categories such as sports, social media, education, aerospace, and venture capital, among others.

    Awardees who attended Philadelphia universities or based their businesses in the city appeared in all 20 categories.

    Among the 600 honorees chosen for this year’s class, the local representatives include Philadelphia Eagles Saquon Barkley, 28, and Jalen Hurts, 27. Along with carrying the Eagles to a Super Bowl LIX win earlier this year, Hurts and Barkley have landed major brand partnerships and endorsement deals, which have elevated their profiles beyond the gridiron.

    Social media influencer Brandon Edelman (aka Bran Flakezz), 29, popular for his humorous TikTok videos about Philly culture and insights into influencer marketing, has also landed on the coveted list.

    University of Pennsylvania alums Alexandre Imbot, 27, and Eli Moraru, 25, who founded Philadelphia’s the Community Grocer, are on the list. With partnerships with M&T Bank and FMC Corp, the leaders of the food-justice nonprofit have provided nutritious food to more than 10,000 Philadelphians, including recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

    Another honoree is fellow Penn alum Kausi Raman, 28, cofounder of ChompSaw, a kid-safe power tool for cardboard cutting. Raman’s company has produced nearly 76,000 ChompSaws since 2022. In 2024, Raman joined cofounder Max Liechty on Shark Tank, where they secured $250,000 in a deal with Lori Greiner and Mark Cuban.

    Another Philly-area honoree is John Huddleston, 27, the cofounder of Albacore Inc. The defense and space manufacturing company develops underwater vehicles to deter maritime invasions. Albacore has raised $6.5 million from backers including Z-Fellows, Outlander VC, Liquid 2, and Brave Capital.

    Other Forbes 30 Under 30 honorees with Philadelphia ties

    David Waltcher, 29, Penn alum and principal at New York-based venture capital firm FirstMark.

    Salaar Kohair, 29, Penn grad and cofounder of L.A.-based gaming studio CAGE Studios.

    Yejin Yeoum, 29, a Penn alum and principal at New York-based alternative investment manager BC Partners.

    Tristan Fogt, 28, cofounder of Cincinnati-based Sensory Robotics and a Penn alum.

    Jason Kaufmann, 26, Penn grad and cofounder of San Francisco-based Maritime Fusion.

    Farah Otero-Amad, 29, Penn grad who’s a video producer and host at the Wall Street Journal.

    Crystal Yang, 18, Penn student and founder of Audemy, a nonprofit assisting blind video gamers.

    Katherine Sizov, 29, Penn alum and founder of the life science company Strella, which designs technology to reduce food waste and improve quality.

    Cindy Ji Won Lim, 29, Penn grad and director of brand marketing at Dallas’ Match Group. She’s also the cofounder of Korean American streetwear company Sundae School.

    Andre Hamra, 28, Penn grad and founder of the recruiting platform Refer.

    Kara Rosenblum, 28, Penn grad and co-owner of Bar Next Door in West Hollywood.

    Maggie Tang, 25, Penn graduate and founder of Magic Technologies, an AI company specializing in hospitality services.

    For the full list of honorees, visit forbes.com.

    The article has been updated with the correct name for Kara Rosenblum’s organization.

  • Want a Christmas tree without the holiday crowd? Here’s how to get one delivered.

    Want a Christmas tree without the holiday crowd? Here’s how to get one delivered.

    If you need a Christmas tree to brighten your living room with the smell of freshly-cut pines and a medley of lit ornaments without the typical holiday crowd, you’re in luck.

    These decadent evergreens can arrive without you ever setting foot outside of your house, thanks to an array of local delivery services.

    Place an order, and the following business will transport a tree straight to your doorstep. Many will even set it up for you, or you can opt for a contactless delivery. There are even some offering recycling services once the holiday season comes to an end.

    Here’s where to order a tree for delivery in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs.

    Ross Varanyak helps prepare Christmas trees for customers at Yeager’s Farm in Phoenixville, Pa. on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.

    Philadelphia

    The Christmas Tree Stand

    Choose between a Living Emerald green (3 to 4 inches tall) and Fraser or Douglas firs (3 to 16 feet tall) at the Christmas Tree Stand. Both the Fishtown and West Chester locations offer tree delivery services seven days a week between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

    Next-day delivery is available in the city and in select suburbs throughout the region. Visit the website to select the tree type, size, and delivery option. The tree will be transported straight to your doorstep. Upgrade to the premium package to have your tree set up with a stand. Once the holidays pass, you can also schedule a pickup and recycling service in January. Wreaths and garlands are also available for purchase.

    💵 $75 and up, 📞 267-225-7931, 🌐 thechristmastreestand.com

    Walt’s Christmas Trees

    Stop by Walt’s Christmas Trees in Northeast Philly for a variety of Fraser, West Coast Douglas, and Pennsylvania Douglas firs. The 47-year-old family business is kicking off its inaugural Christmas delivery season with the help of a third-party service. Visitors can stop by the main location or one of the other five hubs and choose a tree ranging between 5 and 14 feet tall. Once selected, the tree will be delivered for a $40 fee within a 10-mile radius. Delivery will be available until Christmas Eve.

    💵 $60 and up,📍 8956 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, Pa. 19136 📞 215-913-5762, 🌐 waltschristmastrees.org

    Rob Felker, 34, of South Philadelphia, slams a christmas tree to unveil the size and branches for customers on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. Felker is Rocky Yo-Mo’s nephew. “I love Christmas,” Felker said. “I love going up to Pittsburgh and bringing the trees down here so people can have trees in their house.”

    Rocky Yo-Mo’s Christmas Trees

    Looking for a Christmas tree without sacrificing convenience? Rocky Yo–Mo’s will deliver the tree to your front door for free. Check out the selection (Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday) at the South Philly lot. Decide between a Fraser, concolor, or Douglas fir, and schedule your at-home delivery. Payments are made in cash.

    💵 $90 and up,📍1000 S. Front St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147, 🌐 instagram.com/rockyomos

    Cousin Eddie’s Tree Delivery

    Founded in 2020 with the late Trevor Budny and his brother, Anthony Price, Cousin Eddie’s Tree Delivery is back to dispatch fresh-cut, 6-to-7-foot-tall Douglas firs across the Philadelphia area. Check out their Instagram account @cousin_eddies to view available trees and claim one via direct message.

    The trees are claimed on a first-come, first-served basis and are offered until the supply runs out. All trees and sizes come at a flat rate, which includes contactless delivery. Cousin Eddie’s also offers a tree stand and post-holiday removal for an additional charge,

    💵 Starting at $100, 📷 @cousin_eddies

    People shop for Christmas trees at Yeager’s Farm in Phoenixville, Pa. on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.

    Suburbs

    Yeager’s Farm & Market

    The Yeager family has been farming in northern Chester County for 200 years. Pick your tree at this Phoenixville farm, and they’ll deliver it to you. Cut your own Douglas, Fraser, Canaan, concolor, or Nordmann fir for $15 per foot. Fresh-cut 6-to-10-foot-tall Douglas and Fraser firs are available for $50 to $299. Trees will be delivered and set up on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.

    💵 Cut your own: $15 per foot; fresh cut: $100 to $350,📍1015 Pike Springs Road, Phoenixville, Pa. 19460, 📞 610-935-8244, 🌐 yeagersfarm.com

    Colavita Christmas Tree Farm

    More than two dozen varieties of trees fill this Yardley farm, offering delivery across Lower Bucks County and other nearby areas. A stand and set up are available for an additional charge.

    Call the farm to arrange delivery within your area, or swing by any day of the week (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) to cut or choose your own tree, which range from 4 to 12 feet tall. The farm makes fresh wreaths daily, too.

    💵 $80 to $600,📍1761 Dolington Road, Yardley, Pa. 19067, 📞 215-493-3563, 🌐 colavitachristmastreefarm.com

    McArdle’s Holiday Farm

    For its 62nd season, this Buckingham farm offers a wide variety of 3-to 17-foot trees. Call to set up delivery in the Doylestown area, or show up at the farm to pick up a precut Fraser, Douglas, and concolor fir. All trees come with a free holiday mug, while supplies last. Farm hours are Monday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    💵 $49 to $599,📍 4316 Mechanicsville Road, Doylestown, Pa. 18902, 📞 215-794-7655, 🌐 facebook.com/mcardlesholidayfarm

    Wiggins Christmas Tree Farm

    This family-owned business delivers trees throughout the region, with fees starting at $50 for areas near West Chester. Any delivery beyond 30 minutes starts at $75. Call ahead for exact pricing to your home, or visit one of the Wiggins’ three farms.

    The West Chester location offers Douglas firs ranging from 7 to 8 feet tall, and the Cochranville location has trees from 2 to 10 feet tall. The precut lot at 1301 Westchester Pike in West Chester offers trees between 5 to 11 feet tall for $59 to $229. Purchase with cash, Monday to Friday 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

    💵 $59 to $229,📍2176 Gap Newport Pike, Cochranville, Pa. 19330, or 1257 Westtown Thornton Road, West Chester, Pa. 19382, 📞 610-344-7822, 🌐 wigginschristmastrees.com

    Tom Barrett, 43, of Queen Village, carries a new Christmas tree from Rocky Yo-Mo’s Christmas Trees with his kids Chloe Barrett, 9, and Callum Barrett, 6, to their home on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019.
  • 🦃 Your Philly Thanksgiving weekend guide|Things to do

    🦃 Your Philly Thanksgiving weekend guide|Things to do

    Whether you’re staying put in Philly for the holiday or recovering from the drive or flight back home, chances are your mind is already on candied yams, mac and cheese, cranberry sauce, and turkey. And sure, Thanksgiving brings days of glorious leftovers — but don’t let the long weekend begin and end at the dining room table.

    There’s plenty happening in the city to make time with your family actually feel like time well spent. And just like your plate of holiday favorites, I’ve got the ingredients to make your weekend even better.

    — Earl Hopkins (@earlhopkins_, Email me at thingstodo@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    The carousel on the North Broad Street side of City Hall, where an illuminated carousel sits during Center City’s annual Christmas Village celebrations, from Thanksgiving Day to Christmas Eve.

    The best Philly-area holiday markets and Christmas villages to visit this season

    Once the turkey’s carved and the leftovers are officially in rotation, the holiday season kicks into high gear — and Philly does not ease into it. Christmas arrives practically overnight, bringing twinkling lights, hot cocoa, and an entire region’s worth of festive markets ready to help you shop, sip, and stroll your way into December.

    From Center City’s Christmas Village and Dilworth Park’s Made in Philadelphia market to Bucks County’s storybook Peddler’s Village and Bethlehem’s iconic Christkindlmarkt, these holiday markets are some of the quickest ways to flip your internal switch from Thanksgiving mode to full-on winter cheer.

    Here’s your guide to the best Philly-area holiday markets and Christmas villages to visit this season.

    The best things to do this week

    ⛄ Winterfest is back: RiverRink Winterfest at Penn’s Landing returns with an array of amusement rides, games, cozy drinks, and thousands of holiday lights for a festive day or night along the waterfront.

    ♦️ Everyone loves diamonds and pearls: The Wine Garden Christmas pop-up returns for a second year at Suburban Station. This elegant party offers a menu of holiday cocktails, savory bites, and extravagant photo ops. Before you go, consider adding diamonds and pearls to your outfit.

    🎄 Enjoy the light show: Before the Wanamaker Light Show and Dickens Village undergo a two-year hiatus due to renovations, experience the magic of this Center City attraction starting Friday.

    🏀 The Sixers take on the Atlanta Hawks: The Sixers are coming off a loss to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, but hopefully the hometown crowd for Sunday’s matchup against the Trae Young-led Hawks will spark momentum for the hometown team.

    📅 My calendar picks this week: Black Powder Friday at Fort Mifflin, holiday cocktails and the Eagles on Friday.

    Christmas is back at Craftsman Row Saloon, which is slinging decadent milkshakes like the Mint to Be Merry through mid-January, 2026.

    The thing of the week: The city’s buzziest holiday pop-up bars

    Before a slice of Thanksgiving turkey has been served, Philadelphia-area bars have decked the halls with holiday decor and rolled out their novelty cocktails.

    From minigolf courses with greased North Poles to private cabins and a Christmas tree cocktail towers, the season of holiday pop-up bars is in full swing.

    Regardless of the holiday bar you choose from the dozens sprawled throughout the region, plan ahead and snag a reservation.

    Read our holiday pop-up bar roundup.

    Fall fun this week and beyond

    🎸 “Not Just” Rock: Start your Black Friday shopping with something for you and your fellow music fans. The 39th Annual “Not Just” Rock Record and CD Show will be here from Friday to Saturday at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center.

    🎁 Winter Makers Market is here: Shop local at Linvilla Orchards all holiday season. The weekend pop-up will feature 20 vendors of seasonal treats, handmade crafts, and gifts for you and your family to enjoy on Christmas Day.

    🍸 A new Tinsel pop-up: One of the city’s most popular holiday pop-ups is back for another go. Experience holiday magic at Tinsel’s Christmas-themed shindig, which is glimmering with holiday lights and decor in all corners.

    🎅 Carnival of Lights: Through the rest of the year, Pottstown has a treat for lovers of holiday lights, food, games, and visits from Santa. The Carnival of Lights in Pottstown will display over half a million lights for an explorative walk through the Montgomery County town.

    Staff picks

    There aren’t many concerts on Thanksgiving weekend. you know, because of the holiday and all. But here are a few shows worth carving out time for.

    🎸 Friday: Long-standing rock band Blue October will take the stage at the Fillmore for back-to-back shows at the Fishtown music venue from Friday to Saturday.

    🎸 Saturday: Patti Smith and her band will celebrate the 50th anniversary of her punk-rock classic, Horses, at The Met Philadelphia on Saturday

    🎤 Sunday: Nikki Lopez will be rocking with a matinee lineup featuring Monkeyfellow, C4, Fightback, Dead on Your Feet, and Down To The Wire.

    🎤 Sunday: Skrilla, arguably Philly’s hottest new artist and the creator of the “6,7″ social media craze, is taking the stage at the Fillmore on Sunday.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    Now that you have a list of holiday events, I’ll leave you to enjoy a weekend of festivities with your family. Before you go, I want you to know I’m incredibly grateful for your readership and support.

    — Earl

    Courtesy of Giphy.com
  • Mechanicsburg’s Shane Gillis will perform one of the biggest shows of his career at the Linc

    Mechanicsburg’s Shane Gillis will perform one of the biggest shows of his career at the Linc

    Comedian and Eagles die-hard fan Shane Gillis will take center stage at Lincoln Financial Field for a one-night-only show next summer.

    Gillis will headline one of the biggest shows of his career in South Philly on July 17, 2026. More than 60,000 fans will be in attendance to see the Mechanicsburg, Pa., native crack his edgy and often controversial jokes.

    He will be joined by a lineup of special guests, who will be announced at a later date. Who knows: Maybe Gillis’ good friend and country star Zach Bryan will make a surprise appearance.

    Host Shane Gillis speaks at the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on July 16.

    “God has blessed philly baby,” Bryan wrote under Gillis’ Instagram post announcing the show.

    Tickets to the show will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Black Friday. Presale tickets went on sale Wednesday.

    “Lincoln Financial Field is thrilled to set the stage this summer for one of the world’s biggest entertainers in Shane Gillis,” Brian Napoli, the Eagles’ senior vice president of corporate partnerships, said in a statement.

    The 37-year-old stand-up has risen to stardom thanks to his brash comedic style, his long-running podcast with fellow comic Matt McCuster called Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast, and his viral impersonations of President Donald Trump.

    Comedian Shane Gillis reacts after throwing out a pitch before a baseball game between the Phillies and the Texas Rangers on May 22, 2024, at Citizens Bank Park.

    Along with donning Eagles gear at shows and interviews, the central Pennsylvania native has plenty of ties to the Philadelphia region.

    Gillis graduated from West Chester University and cut his teeth in the local comedy scene by performing shows at Helium Comedy Club and other Philly venues. He was announced as a Saturday Night Live crew member in 2019 but was quickly fired for making homophobic and racist jokes on his podcast with McCuster.

    His hit Netflix series, Tires, which is a collaboration with Philly comic and show director John McKeever, is being renewed for a third season.

    His latest stand-up, Beautiful Dogs, was a massive success for Netflix. It ranked in the streaming service’s Top 10 in five countries and remained in the U.S. Top 10 for two weeks. His second Netflix special is currently in the works.

    For tickets to his show at the Linc, visit ticketmaster.com.

  • Penn Museum unveils a new gallery that examines the struggles and resilience of Indigenous nations

    Penn Museum unveils a new gallery that examines the struggles and resilience of Indigenous nations

    For more than a decade, the Penn Museum has offered visitors an encyclopedic history and perspective on Native American history, with artifacts spanning from Alaska tribes to communities in the southernmost part of the continental United States.

    On Saturday, the museum unveiled a new gallery showcasing the artistic, linguistic, spiritual, and revolutionary traditions of Native Americans across the country.

    The Penn Museum’s “Native North America Gallery: Rooted in Resilience. Resisting Erasure” exhibit features more than 250 cultural items and art pieces.

    A gallery of Native American art is displayed at the Penn Museum on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Philadelphia. As celebrations of Native American culture and precolonial Philadelphia plants grow, museums across the city prepare for America’s 250th birthday.

    Christopher Woods, Williams director of Penn Museum, said the new gallery builds on the institution’s expansive Native American collection while offering insights into the lives of Indigenous Americans today. It builds on a former gallery, which similarly focused on first-person narratives and consulted with Indigenous curators.

    “We’re an archaeology museum, but this is really about Native American people today, and drawing on the connection between the past and the contemporary world. It’s important to show people that these are vibrant communities,” Woods said during a press preview. “Showing how strong they are, the nature of their resilience, the historical and cultural erasure, and having them speak in their own words is important.”

    These works, which build on the previous exhibition, “Native American Voices: The People – Here and Now,” that closed in July, offer a reframing of Native American history from four regions of the United States, including the Lenape Natives of the Delaware.

    A gallery of Native American art is displayed at the Penn Museum on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Philadelphia. As celebrations of Native American culture and precolonial Philadelphia plants grow, museums across the city prepare for America’s 250th birthday.

    The immersive, multisensory exhibit includes a floral beadwork collar from the Northeast Lenape, a single-weave square basket from the Eastern Band Cherokee in the Southeast, a centuries-old clay ancestral mug from the Pueblo people of the Southwest, and a fringed ceremonial robe, known as a Chilkat blanket, from the Tlingit people of the Northwest.

    Among the oldest items on view are chipped stone tools historically used by Native Americans, which were pulled from the Penn Museum’s collections. The newest items include a woven piece that was commissioned from Cherokee mixed media sculptor Brenda Mallory.

    The gallery also includes images of regions the tribal nations have inhabited, interactive displays offering insight into the formation of their cultural items, tools, and regalia, and varying stories about their traditions, challenges, and resilience before and after European contact.

    A gallery of Native American art is displayed at the Penn Museum on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Philadelphia. As celebrations of Native American culture and precolonial Philadelphia plants grow, museums across the city prepare for America’s 250th birthday.

    Alongside co-curators Lucy Fowler Williams and Megan Kassabaum, this comprehensive gallery was developed by cultural educators, archaeologists, and historians who are direct descendants and members of the tribal nations featured in the exhibit.

    Among the eight Indigenous consultant curators, who served as narrative guides, were Jeremy Johnson, cultural education director of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, RaeLynn Butler, secretary of culture and humanities of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and Christopher Lewis, cultural specialist of the Zuni Pueblo.

    The consulting curators assisted in creating the narrative flow of the gallery and worked with the Penn Museum to recover lost history and study their ancestors’ practices. They also contributed their own art and cultural items to the gallery.

    Upon seeing the exhibition for the first time on Thursday, Johnson said it was an “emotional moment.”

    “It was overwhelming,” he said. “It’s not just a room with a bunch of paintings or drawings. These are actual people I lived with, know, and are related to. I can tell you about every person here. Being able to give our tribal citizens, considering everyone is a relative, a voice was really emotional. We’ve always been seen as relics of the past.”

    A gallery of Native American art is displayed at the Penn Museum on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Philadelphia. As celebrations of Native American culture and precolonial Philadelphia plants grow, museums across the city prepare for America’s 250th birthday.

    Kassabaum said the concept of the exhibit began four years ago, but many of the gallery’s elements were shaped by the consulting curators, who willingly shared their stories and welcomed Kassabaum and others into their communities.

    Kassabaum and other Penn Museum consultants traveled to Oklahoma to spend a week with members of the Delaware Tribe. They brought back four items, including the floral beaded collar, and let their protectors relay how they were made.

    Those kinds of connections can’t be made without the help of the consulting curators, Kassabaum said.

    “These aren’t my stories and they’re not my experiences,” he said. “I have not experienced any of the trauma of these communities. I have not experienced the joy of these communities, and everything people have been willing to share with us has been incredible. … No matter how giddy or passionate I am about anthropology and archaeology, I can’t bring the same thing to the gallery. It was totally essential.”

    Unlike other exhibitions sprawled throughout the country, Johnson said Penn’s inclusion of him and his Native “relatives” was based in good faith rather than historical or cultural exploitation.

    “We know certain art museums have been problematic in the past, and are still doing that work,” Johnson said. “But I feel this is the first time we were asked in the right way. It was in the spirit of an actual collaboration, instead of asking for items to display, and that’s it. This was a good process, and we hope it stands as a model for future exhibits.”

    A gallery of Native American art is displayed at the Penn Museum on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Philadelphia. As celebrations of Native American culture and precolonial Philadelphia plants grow, museums across the city prepare for America’s 250th birthday.

    The opening ceremony of the Native North America Gallery kicked off with remarks from Johnson and the other Indigenous consulting curators.

    Their remarks were followed by traditional dance, songs, and storytelling by New Mexico’s Tewa Dancers. There was also an artist talk by Holly Wilson of the Delaware Nation, curatorial presentations led by Johnson and Joseph Aguilar of the San Ildefonso Pueblo, and a series of family workshops.

    The gallery, which is now on display, is available for online and in-person viewing.

    Visitors can reserve guided, in-person tours on select days. Tickets are priced at $26 for members and $30 for general admission. For more information, visit penn.museum.

    A gallery of Native American art is displayed at the Penn Museum on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Philadelphia. As celebrations of Native American culture and precolonial Philadelphia plants grow, museums across the city prepare for America’s 250th birthday.
  • 🏃‍♂️‍➡️ Marathon weekend is here | Things to do

    🏃‍♂️‍➡️ Marathon weekend is here | Things to do

    Whether you’re gearing up to tackle 26.2 miles, crafting the perfect sign for your favorite runner, or mapping out kid-friendly plans outside the race zone, the 2025 Philadelphia Marathon has something for everyone.

    Marathon weekend is controlled chaos. About 30,000 athletes will wind through some of the city’s most scenic and historic neighborhoods, while spectators line the streets to cheer them on. Others will look for their escapes beyond the race, too — from on-site activations to kid-friendly restaurants and even a short fun run for non-marathoners who want their own adrenaline rush.

    The weekend also brings the unveiling of a new Rocky statue, the start of Christmas attractions, the opening of Back to the Future: The Musical, and plenty more happening around the city.

    — Earl Hopkins (@earlhopkins_, Email me at thingstodo@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Runners on Walnut Street in Center City during the 2024 Philadelphia Marathon Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024.

    The Philadelphia Marathon is here

    The city’s largest marathon is back, with 15,000 runners set to take on the 26.2-mile course through Center City, Chinatown, Old City, Queen Village, Rittenhouse, and other iconic spots.

    Marathon weekend runs Friday through Sunday and also includes a half marathon and an 8K. Organizers expect about 30,000 athletes across all events.

    Even if you’re not lacing up, there’s plenty to check out — from hands-on experiences and family-friendly activities to a full health and fitness expo.

    And of course, we have you covered. Here’s more on the Philadelphia Marathon:

    The best things to do this week

    ❄️ The Snow Queen at the Wilma: The timeless and enchanting tale of love and friendship will be on display at the Wilma Theatre for a final run of shows, concluding on Sunday.

    📽️ Cinephiles rejoice: The Philly Jewish Film and Media Festival will conclude on Sunday, with a string of Jewish international films and digital media from across the world.

    🥊 Yep, another Rocky Statue: After months of planning, a third Rocky Statue will be unveiled at the Philadelphia International Airport’s Terminal A-West on Friday. A Rocky look-alike contest will be held immediately following the celebration.

    🦖 A night for Dinos: Dinos After Dark is back at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Guests can view the exhibit Neighborhood Naturalists, enjoy drinks from the Dino Drafts Beer Garden, and chat with scientists while dancing in Dinosaur Hall.

    🕹️ Game on, Philly: The ultimate celebration for gaming, anime, comics, and other nerdy hobbies is back. PAX Unplugged 2025 will take over the Pennsylvania Convention Center from Friday to Sunday.

    📅 My calendar picks this week: Holiday Light Parade in Kennett Square, A Christmas Story: The Musical at Walnut Street Theatre, Tavern Night at the Museum of the American Revolution.

    This image released by Polk & Co. shows Casey Likes during a performance of “Back to the Future: The Musical.” (Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman via AP)

    The thing of the week: The ‘Back to the Future’ musical is here

    Great Scott! The musical adaptation of the classic Back to the Future film arrived at the Academy of Music this week.

    The Broadway hit will transport audiences to 1955 with Marty McFly and the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, played by actors Lucas Hallauer and Don Stephenson, as they race against time on the theater stage — DeLorean style.

    For more information, visit ensembleartsphilly.org

    Fall fun this week and beyond

    🎄 Did someone say cookies and ornaments?: The second annual I Saw Santa at the Bakery event will boast Christmas cookies, ornament making, gifts, and professional photos with Santa Claus.

    🖼️ Exploring indigenous history: Penn Museum unveils its new Native North American gallery, showcasing more than 250 items from the institution’s North American collections alongside contemporary Native art pieces.

    🎅 Another classic holiday story: If you’re not already in the Christmas spirit, Walnut Street Theatre is offering a seasonal classic now set to the musical stage. A Christmas Story: The Musical will run through Jan. 4, 2026.

    🏮 Nature-inspired lights: LumiNature returns for another dazzling display at the Philadelphia Zoo, just in time for the whimsical holiday season. The experience will feature holiday fare, roaming animal characters, and more.

    🌊 Christmas underwater: Surf the Yule-tide for an explorative winter waterland, featuring indoor snow flurries, an underwater Christmas tree, and Scuba Santa in view starting Friday.

    Staffer picks

    Pop music critic Dan DeLuca lists the top concerts this weekend.

    🎸 Thursday: Hannah Cohen, alongside guests Sufjan Stevens and Clairo, and opener Salami Rose Joe Louis, will perform cuts from her dreamy and pastoral album, Earthstar Mountain, at Johnny Brenda’s.

    🎸 Friday: Ron Gallo will stir the Ardmore Music Hall crowd with subtly evocative folk, jazzy, and garage rock jams on Friday.

    🎤 Saturday: The iconic R&B duo Brandy and Monica are bringing their “The Boy Is Mine Tour” to Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on Saturday.

    🎤 Sunday: Off the heels of his latest album, Baby!, Grammy-nominated singer and producer Dijon will play the Met Philly on Sunday.

    Read more music picks.

    While the talk of the town will be this year’s Philadelphia Marathon, there are other events and paths to venture toward this weekend. Whichever journey you choose, let ‘em know Earl sent you. That is all 🙂

    — Earl

    Courtesy of Giphy.com
  • An artist started befriending strangers in Pa. prisons. Now she is turning them into artwork.

    An artist started befriending strangers in Pa. prisons. Now she is turning them into artwork.

    Over the course of three years, Carolyn Harper and Donna Martorano became fast friends.

    The two women, on different sides of Pennsylvania, lived very different lives and shared few similarities. But they bonded over emails, handwritten letters, and virtual visits.

    Martorano shared tales of her family, her health issues, her hopes of reconnecting with her two sons, and her growing sense of detachment from the outside world.

    They spoke daily, but before they could meet, Martorano died in July 2024 at age 74 at the State Correctional Institution in Cambridge Springs. She was serving a life sentence without parole for first-degree murder for contracting two men to kill her husband in 1992.

    The official cause of her death was a heart attack.

    Artist Carolyn Harper’s portrait series, “Prison Portrait Project: Faces of Despair, Hope and Transformation,” is on display at Old City’s Muse Gallery.

    Harper said Martorano’s past and conviction weren’t the end of her story. In the 32 years she was incarcerated, Harper said, Martorano became a certified braille transcriber and took violence prevention and mentoring programs.

    But in her later years, she grew increasingly “bitter,” Harper said. Martorano was confined to her bed and wheelchair and was often bullied as her health worsened.

    “Her spirits were crushed,” Harper said. “I really feel she died of a broken heart because she was not given institutional support. A lot of prison administrators just don’t care. She told me she had nothing left to live for.”

    Artist Carolyn Harper’s portrait of her friend, Donna Martorano, who was incarcerated for decades before her death at age 74.

    For the past five years, Harper, 60, has connected with dozens of other incarcerated people, some with stories similar to Martorano’s and others with far different lives.

    These stories, Harper said, opened her eyes to the emptiness, detachment, and inhumanity people experience in prisons.

    Their names, faces, and stories are now at the center of her latest portrait series, “Prison Portrait Project: Faces of Despair, Hope and Transformation,” on display at Old City’s Muse Gallery.

    Harper has placed their portraits on hand-sewn quilts and vibrant batiks, transforming the faces of those suffering from the country’s carceral system into artwork.

    For artist Carolyn Harper’s new exhibition, she highlighted the stories of incarcerated people in the state prison system. Among them is Harper’s friend, Lori, who has been incarcerated since 1988.

    Like Martorano, several of Harper’s subjects are serving death sentences, with little to no path for early release or commutation. Harper has never asked specific questions about their pasts, and everything she knows about them is what she has been told voluntarily. But she’s certain about one thing: None of the people she has befriended is the same person they were when they were first incarcerated.

    Pennsylvania, she found out, is one of two states in the country that has a mandatory life without parole sentence, known as “death by incarceration,” for both first-degree and second-degree felony murder.

    “I have come to see that guilt or innocence, while important, is not the critical thing here,” Harper said. ”It’s the idea of redemption and rehabilitation. This, to me, is the real story — the story of transformation.”

    For decades, people suffering from abuse, discrimination, and disenfranchisement have made their way onto Harper’s quilts.

    In the mid-1990s, she created panels for the AIDS Memorial Quilt, a visual project that memorializes the hundreds of thousands of Americans who died from AIDS-related causes at the height of the epidemic.

    She also developed a series of textile portraits championing queer love stories, and another shedding light on the systemic issues faced by those wrestling with dispossession and homelessness.

    “People often come out of prison and don’t have a pathway to find a real job or housing,” Harper said. “I started to see that connection, and I became interested in the issue of incarceration.

    “We pay lip service to this idea that prison is reformative, but really it’s punitive.”

    Among the subjects for Harper’s exhibition is Paul. He’s been incarcerated since 1982 for a crime he doesn’t remember committing.

    Born in Rochester, N.Y., Harper moved to Philadelphia in 1989 to study art at the University of Pennsylvania. Her days volunteering as an art teacher at local homeless shelters from 2013 to 2020 are what first drew her to the links between homelessness, dispossession, and incarceration. She was driven to learn more about the state’s prison system.

    After her best friend was arrested in 2020 for abusing his husband, Harper’s interest became a lived reality. The health of her friend, who struggled with addiction and mental health issues, worsened due to his incarceration. Shortly after his release in 2021, he took his own life.

    That pushed Harper to join organizations such as the Coalition to Abolish Death by Incarceration, We The People Coalition, and others. She wrote postcards, letters, and emails to incarcerated people throughout the state.

    Before this, a self-described “snowflake,” Harper would veer away from conversations about incarceration. She started out fearing that she wouldn’t be able to emotionally cope with the struggles incarcerated people endure and write to her about in their letters. But she grew to become a listening ear, resource, and friend to people seeking human connection.

    Through her hand-sewn and fabric-dyed portraits, she encourages her audience to step outside their worlds and enter the worlds of her subjects. Through her art, she highlights the forgotten humanity of incarcerated people and uses their testimonies to draw attention to Pennsylvania’s “harsh sentencing laws,” and correct the misconceptions people hold of those who are incarcerated.

    The “Prison Portrait Project” started off with Harper writing to the people whose names, faces, and stories make up her art. Would they send her a photograph, she asked, and consent to be a part of her exhibition?

    Harper’s exhibit also features self-portraits from incarcerated artists.

    Most replied with a photo or told Harper where she could find one. Others had family members send photos to her. After she sewed them or transferred them onto quilts, Harper shared images of the final pieces with the subjects of the expressive portraits.

    “I think seeing their self-portrait, and knowing it’s going in an exhibition, helps them see themselves in a different light. And that can be empowering,” Harper said.

    Each quilt and batik-style image features a written statement from the person who inspired the portrait, ensuring their stories (along with their faces) are integral parts of the exhibit.

    A binder containing more stories, statements, and poems written by people Harper connected with through the years, sits at the front of the gallery. Three self-portraits of incarcerated artists are also on display.

    An image of Carolyn Harper’s new portrait series, titled “Prison Portrait Project: Faces of Despair, Hope and Transformation,” which is on view at Muse Gallery through Nov. 30.

    Harper is hopeful the show will inspire audiences to view those who are incarcerated as people, rather than lifeless serial numbers and charge sheets.

    “Most of us don’t think about people in prison. If we do, it’s sort of with the feeling, ‘Well, they probably did something and deserve to be there.’”

    She wants people to recognize the lack of redemptive pathways for people upon release, and the need for advocates to protect, defend, and humanize Pennsylvania’s incarcerated population.

    “Prison Portrait Project: Faces of Despair, Hope and Transformation,” through Nov. 30, Muse Gallery, 52 N. Second St., Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. musegalleryphiladelphia.com

  • REC Philly is closing its Fashion District space due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’

    REC Philly is closing its Fashion District space due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’

    REC Philly, a long-standing space for independent creatives and entrepreneurs to cowork and create in, is closing its Center City headquarters on Dec. 20.

    In an email sent to REC Philly members on Monday, the organization announced the shuttering of its Fashion District 10,000-square-foot space, located at Ninth and Market Streets, due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

    “We know this news may come as a surprise, and we do apologize for any inconvenience it may have caused. We’ll stay in touch with any updates, but until then, stay creative,” the email stated.

    Though the reasons behind the REC Philly closure are unknown, the announcement comes on the heels of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s plans to revitalize East Market Street, which includes the tearing down of buildings on the 1000 block.

    Patrons walk past an advertisement on June 19, 2021 outside the Fashion District.

    All active REC Philly members will have access to the space through the closing date, the email stated. After that, all memberships and app access will end and some refund options will be available.

    “This decision was made due to circumstances beyond our control related to the long-term sustainability of the space,” the email states. “It was not made lightly, and our team explored every possible option before reaching this point.”

    William Toms, left, and David Silver pose for a portrait inside the REC Philly space at Ninth and Market Streets, on July 25, 2019.

    The announcement comes six years after cofounders Will Toms and Dave Silver opened the facility. The venture, originally named the Broad Street Music Lounge, started in Silver’s North Philly basement. That’s where the duo — who met as high schoolers at Warminster’s William Tennent High School — held concerts and community events for friends before launching REC in 2014.

    They opened a 600-square-foot warehouse, located at Ninth and Dauphin Streets, a year later. And in 2019, they cut the ribbon on the Fashion District location, which housed a recording studio, performance stage, and coworking areas.

    REC, an acronym for “resources for every creator,” also offered workshops, educational programs, grants, and networking events.

    In 2022, REC Philly announced a $2 million investment from rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs and the organization’s expansion into Miami. Following delays, that expansion was shelved.

    Guests gather as WNBA player and North Philadelphia native Kahleah Copper participates in a Q-and-A at REC Philly on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024 in Philadelphia.

    While the Center City hub will close its doors at the end of the year, REC Philly will not be completely shutting down operations, just the space.

    “REC is not shutting down completely at this time. The space needs to close in order for the business to properly transition,“ the email to members states. Those transitional plans are yet to be announced.

    Neither Toms nor Silver responded to media inquiries in time for publication.