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  • The ‘AMOR’ sculpture has been removed temporarily from Sister Cities Park

    The ‘AMOR’ sculpture has been removed temporarily from Sister Cities Park

    Those around Logan Circle might notice something missing today: Robert Indiana’s bright red AMOR sculpture.

    On Wednesday morning, Philadelphia officials removed the artwork — a companion piece to Indiana’s iconic LOVE sculpture at nearby John F. Kennedy Plaza — from its perch at Sister Cities Park on 18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway for conservation and restoration.

    Creative Philadelphia, the city’s arts office, said AMOR is scheduled to return on May 1.

    “Over the years, the paint on AMOR has naturally faded due to exposure to UV rays and weather,” said Marguerite Anglin, Creative Philadelphia’s public art director. “We are excited to give the sculpture a full restoration treatment, and look forward to its return back to Sister Cities Park in time for the city’s largest celebrations of America’s 250th.”

    The removal was overseen by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and Heritage Conservation Collective. The sculpture was transported to Fine Finishes Painting Studio in Peekskill, N.Y., where conservators approved by the Robert Indiana Foundation will strip and repaint it.

    Indiana created AMOR in 1998 “in response to the changing demographics of the U.S. and his desire to speak to his fellow citizens,” according to the Association for Public Art.

    AMOR, meaning love in Spanish and Latin, came to Philadelphia in 2015 to mark Pope Francis’ visit, thanks to the aPA and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. On loan from the New York-based Morgan Art Foundation, it was displayed at the top of the museum steps, where it overlooked the papal Mass held on the Parkway.

    In 2016, it was permanently installed at Sister Cities Park with funding and support from the city, PMA, aPA, the Morgan Art Foundation, and Edith R. Dixon.

  • In Philly music this week, Mariah the Scientist plays the Met. Plus, Jason Isbell, Miguel, Margo Price, Say She She, and more

    In Philly music this week, Mariah the Scientist plays the Met. Plus, Jason Isbell, Miguel, Margo Price, Say She She, and more

    This week in Philly music features a busy week at the Met with Jason Isbell, Miguel, and Mariah the Scientist. Plus, R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck’s new supergroup, two dates with Alejandro Escovedo, and ‘Hard Headed Woman’ Margo Price and her country band playing on South Street.

    Wednesday, Feb. 18

    Say She She

    Say She She is the nomadic vocal trio Piya Malik, Sabrina Mileo Cunningham, and Nya Gazelle Brown — who have connections to New York, London, and Los Angeles. The band name is a play on the “Le Freak? C’est chic!” lyric from Chic’s 1978 disco hit “Le Freak.” On Say She She’s third album, Cut & Rewind, tracks like “She Who Dares” and “Disco Life” qualify as subtle protest music as the band members stand up for diversity and express feminist prerogatives while deftly moving listeners to the dance floor. With Katzù Oso. 8 p.m., Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, ardmoremusichall.com

    Say She She plays Ardmore Music Hall on Wednesday. The disco group’s new album is “Cut & Rewind.”

    Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit

    Jason Isbell never made it to town on his 2025 tour behind his stark, solo acoustic album Foxes in the Snow. So this full band show will be the first Philly opportunity to hear those break-up songs written after Isbell’s split from then-wife Amanda Shires, played live. They will be mixed in with the impressive body of work that Isbell — a terrific guitarist, singer, and bandleader as well as a masterful storytelling songwriter — has amassed going back to the 2000s with the Drive-By Truckers. 8 p.m., Met Philly, 858 N. Broad St., themetphilly.com.

    Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit headline the Met Philadelphia on Wednesday.

    The Rural Alberta Advantage / The Barr Brothers

    Fans of Canadian indie bands are facing a Wednesday night dilemma. Toronto’s Rural Alberta Advantage, which tends to rock out, headlines Johnny Brenda’s. The band’s most recent album is 2023’s The Rise & The Fall. Meanwhile at Underground Arts, there’s a show by Toronto’s Barr Bothers, which leans more toward the folk, with singer-guitarist Bad Barr and his drummer brother Andrew. Their new album is Let It Hiss. 8 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., johnnybrendas.com; and 8 p.m., Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St., undergroundarts.org.

    Alejandro Escovedo and James Mastro, who will play separately and together in Sellersville and Wilmington.

    Thursday, Feb. 19

    Drink the Sea

    Peter Buck of R.E.M. is a serial collaborator. The long list of the uber-influential guitarist’s side projects have included Tuatara, the Minus 5, the Baseball Project, Filthy Friends, and others. Add to the list Drink the Sea, which is the second supergroup Buck has formed with Barrett Martin of the Screaming Trees. The band, which is influenced by global rhythms that reach beyond rock, makes its Main Line debut this week. 8 p.m., Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, ardmoremusichall.com.

    Alejandro Escovedo

    The great Austin, Texas, songwriter Alejandro Escovedo played Philly last year on a solo tour, while working up a theater show that chronicles his 50-plus year music career. Now he’s back, plugged in, and ready to rock with his band Electric Saints. Further good news is that his opening act is North Jersey veteran rocker and Health and Happiness Show leader James Mastro. He will be joining Escovedo for a few songs on stage , just as he did with Patti Smith’s band at the Met last November. 8 p.m. Thursday, Sellersville Theater, st94.com, and 8 p.m. Friday, Arden Gild Hall, 2126 The Highway, Wilmington, ardenconcerts.com.

    Friday, Feb. 20

    Ben Arnold & the 48 Hour Orchestra

    Philly songwriter Ben Arnold, just back from a European tour with his band U.S. Rails, is home promoting his excellent new solo album XL, which he showcased with an impressive show in Wayne back in October. Noon, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., xpn.org.

    Margo Price

    Margo Price was positioned as a country — or at least alt-country — artist when she debuted with Midwest Farmer’s Daughter in 2016. She then expanded her sound in a rock direction, even adding psychedelic touches in three subsequent albums. Now she’s again focused on country on Hard Headed Woman, the Grammy-nominated collection that will bring her to the TLA on her “Wild At Heart Tour.” Hot tip: Last time she played Philly, Kurt Vile showed up to jam. Pearl Charles opens. 8 p.m., Theater of Living Arts, 332 South St., tlaphilly.com.

    Miguel at the opening night his CAOS Tour in Atlanta on Feb. 10. He plays the Met Philly on Saturday.

    Saturday Feb. 21

    Miguel

    Miguel Jontel Pimentel has been a frequent visitor to Philly, between multiple visits to the Made in America festival in addition to regular tour stops. Now the R&B love man with vocal chops beyond reproach and a frisky, subversive sensibility is headlining the Met on tour for his 2025 album CAOS. 8 p.m., Met Philly, 858 N. Broad St., themetphilly.com

    Roger Harvey / Roberta Faceplant / Maxwell Stern

    This is another quality multiband bill upstairs at the Khyber Pass pub. Nashville songwriter Roger Harvey is the headliner, with rising Philly acts Roberta Faceplant and Maxwell Stern also playing the Old City venue. 8 p.m., Upstairs at the Khyber, 56 S. 2nd St., khyberpasspub.com

    Mariah the Scientist plays the Met Philly on Tuesday.

    Tuesday Feb. 24

    Mariah the Scientist

    Mariah Amani Buckles was studying to be a pediatric anesthesiologist at St. John’s University before she dropped out to concentrate on her music full time. Thus, she became Mariah the Scientist! The R&B-hip-hop singer — who is engaged to rapper Young Thug — sings about conflicted love affairs, sometimes to chilling effect, on her fourth album, Hearts Sold Separately, which features a sultry duet with Kali Uchis on the hit “Is It A Crime.” 8 p.m., Met Philly, 858 N. Broad St., themetphilly.com.

  • CBS kills Stephen Colbert’s interview with a Democratic candidate. So why was Josh Shapiro allowed on the show?

    CBS kills Stephen Colbert’s interview with a Democratic candidate. So why was Josh Shapiro allowed on the show?

    A defiant Stephen Colbert blasted CBS on Monday for killing an interview with a Texas Democrat, blaming arcane rules being enforced by the Trump administration.

    “He was supposed to be here, but we were told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast,” Colbert said of State Rep. James Talarico, who is running in the Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas.

    CBS issued a statement claiming they didn’t prohibit him from running an interview.

    “The Late Show was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico,” the statement read. “The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled. The Late Show decided to present the interview through its YouTube channel with on-air promotion on the broadcast rather than potentially providing the equal-time options.”

    The decision comes down to something known as the equal-time rule, a federal requirement put into law in 1934 that requires broadcast stations like CBS to provide comparable airtime to political opponents during an election. Cable networks like Fox News and Comedy Central, home to The Daily Show, are not bound to those rules, allowing them to be as partisan as they choose.

    News programs on broadcast TV (such as Meet the Press and Face the Nation) are exempt from the rule, and the Federal Communications Commission has not enforced it on late-night shows since 2006, when it ruled then-California gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger’s appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno qualified as a “bona fide news interview.”

    But that is changing under the Trump administration. FCC chairman Brendan Carr, who pressured affiliates to take ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel off the air in September, issued a notice to broadcasters last month stating that late-night and daytime TV talk shows may no longer be exempt from the rule, claiming some were “motivated by partisan purposes.”

    The move was criticized by FCC commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat appointed by former President Joe Biden, who called it “an escalation in this FCC’s ongoing campaign to censor and control speech.”

    Colbert said CBS prohibited the interview with Talarico from airing Monday night. Instead, it was posted in its entirety on Colbert’s YouTube channel.

    “At this point, [Carr has] just released a letter that says he’s thinking about doing away with the exemption for broadcast for late night. He hasn’t done away with it yet,” Colbert said. “But my network is unilaterally enforcing it as if he had.”

    Talarico told Colbert that Trump and Republicans ran against cancel culture during the last election, but now the current administration is “trying to control what we watch, what we say, what we read.”

    “And this is the most dangerous kind of cancel culture, the kind that comes from the top,” Talarico said. “Corporate media executives are selling out the First Amendment to curry favor with corrupt politicians.”

    Bill Carter, who covered late-night television for decades at the New York Times and currently writes for the website LateNighter, called CBS’s capitulation “shameful,” especially since the FCC has not moved yet to enforce the rule.

    “Trump’s intention is to mute free speech of his critics, and he’s found the rule in the FCC and decided he can do this,” Carter said. “And he’s got the broadcasters cowed a bit.”

    “Let’s just call this what it is: Donald Trump’s administration wants to silence anyone who says anything bad about Trump on TV, because all Trump does is watch TV,” Colbert added.

    How was Josh Shapiro able to appear on Colbert’s show?

    Governor Josh Shapiro announced his re-election campaign weeks before appearing on Colbert’s show last month.

    Despite the FCC’s threat to crack down on networks, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was able to appear on The Late Show last month, using his time to bash Trump’ immigration crackdown in Minneapolis as “pure evil” and Vice President JD Vance as a “sycophant” and a “suck-up.”

    So why didn’t CBS ban Colbert from airing Shapiro’s interview?

    The FCC’s equal-time rule applies strictly to a “legally qualified candidate for any public office.” Despite announcing his reelection campaign in Philadelphia on Jan. 8, Shapiro did not become an official candidate until Tuesday, when the state’s official filing period opened. It runs through March 10.

    Shapiro was able to appear not only on Colbert’s show, but also on ABC’s daytime talk show The View, which has also found itself a target of the FCC under Carr.

    “I think it’s worthwhile to have the FCC look into whether The View, and some of these other programs that you have, still qualify as bona fide news programs and therefore are exempt from the equal opportunity regime that Congress has put in place,” Carr said in a September interview with conservative CNN commentator Scott Jennings.

    It’s also why U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff’s forthcoming interview with Colbert is still slated to air on the network Wednesday. While Ossoff (D., Ga.) has announced he is running for reelection in Georgia, the window for candidates to officially file paperwork for their primaries does not open until March 2.

    Neither CBS nor Ossoff’s campaign has commented on the interview.

    The equal-time rule also applies to radio broadcasts, where conservative talk shows are among the most dominant formats and regularly feature Republican candidates for office during election years. Then-candidate Trump did multiple interviews on 1210 WPHT in Philadelphia during the 2024 election.

    Carr has said he does not plan to enforce a stricter equal-time rule on radio stations the way he has for television networks, claiming in a news conference last month there wasn’t a similar bona fide news exemption “being misconstrued on the radio side.”

  • Philly bars open past 2 a.m.? A new push for late-night bars amid FIFA World Cup

    Philly bars open past 2 a.m.? A new push for late-night bars amid FIFA World Cup

    A new push to let Philadelphia bars stay open past 2 a.m. is being mounted by local trade groups and bars as the largest global sporting event arrives in the city in June.

    The Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, which represents restaurants, bars, and other hospitality businesses, wants state lawmakers to create a temporary permit that allows Philadelphia bars to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will come to Philadelphia and 15 other cities in North America from June 11 to July 19.

    “When we’re trying to attract tourists from all over the world to a destination in the United States to enjoy the World Cup, we want to make sure that Philadelphia is offering at least the same amenities as the other host cities,” said Ben Fileccia, senior vice president for strategy for the restaurant and lodging association.

    Many of the most popular U.S. host cities allow bars to serve alcohol past 2 a.m., including New York, Miami, and Kansas City. Other popular international destinations, such as Mexico City and Toronto, also allow it.

    Philadelphia officials did not immediately return a request for comment.

    Any changes to bar closing times would have to come from new legislation, as the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board does not have the authority to change the liquor code to allow bars to sell alcohol after 2 a.m., said PLCB spokesperson Shawn Kelly.

    The crowd cheers and celebrates USA’s first goal against the Netherlands in the World Cup at Brauhaus Schmitz bar in Philadelphia, Pa., on Saturday Dec. 3, 2022.

    Philly’s chance to prove 4 a.m. closing times work

    Fileccia said this permit would allow bars to take advantage of the estimated 500,000 soccer fans expected to stay in Philadelphia for the six matches being played at Lincoln Financial Field.

    Zek Leeper, co-owner of Founding Fathers sports bar in Southwest Center City, does not see this just as a way to earn more revenue with a surge of tourists coming to Philadelphia.

    “This is our chance to prove that 4 a.m. nightlife can work in Philadelphia. Setting up a temporary license also allows the city and state to pull it back, depending on how it goes,” Leeper said. “With the amount of tourists this year, when is this opportunity going to come up again to justify giving this a try?”

    It doesn’t hurt that an estimated 1.5 million people, including the half million soccer fans, are expected to stay overnight in Philadelphia this summer as the city also hosts America’s 250th celebration and the MLB All-Star Game.

    Leeper and other local bar owners feel confident that the crowds will show up for late-night matches. “We host soccer games from leagues around the world, and those fans are committed. They have consistently shown up whenever the game is on,” Leeper said.

    Steve Maehl (left) of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin laughs as Philly Seagulls President John Fitzpatrick and Dan Peck of Brighton, England (right) look on during the supporter meetup, to kickoff the summer series weekend, at Fadó Irish Pub in Phila., Pa. on Thursday, July 20, 2023.

    Philadelphia soccer fans are already known to work deals with local bars to open as early as 7 a.m. Leeper said upward of 50 people will pack into the bar at sunrise to watch games. While there are no games being played in Philadelphia past 9 p.m. during the World Cup, at least eight of the group stage matches in June will be broadcast on the East Coast starting at midnight or 11 p.m.

    With a 90-minute match, plus halftime and added time, there could be a handful of cases where bartenders have to face down a packed crowd of fans and ask them to leave before the final whistle, Leeper said.

    There’s also the element of international tourists coming from cities that do not have a 2 a.m. cutoff, such as London and Tokyo, leading some visitors to find ways to late-night party outside of licensed establishments, Fileccia said.

    Philly bars were allowed to close later during the 2016 DNC

    Lawmakers allowed bars to stay open until 4 a.m. during the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Bars and restaurants with contracts or association with the convention could apply for $5,000 special-event permits to serve alcohol past 2 a.m.

    Fileccia said the details for a similar permit in 2026 are not available yet, as the effort is just underway. But he and others at PRLA want to bring the Philadelphia Police Department, the Philadelphia Department of Commerce, and other stakeholders to the table to find out the best resolution, he said.

    Fans react to the Eagles play the Chiefs in the NFL Super Bowl LIX, in a bar near Frankford and Cottman Aves., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Philadelphia.

    Will there be enough interest in late-night partying?

    With millions of tourists in Philadelphia this year for the international and national events, there will be increased foot traffic throughout the city, but will there be a late-night crowd to meet the moment?

    That is the question Chuck Moran, executive director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverages and Taverns Association, is asking despite his support for temporarily keeping bars open later.

    “The one thing that I’ve been hearing across the state is that ever since COVID, the late-night crowds have left,” Moran said. “There could also be issues with finding staff who want to work till 4 a.m. in a bar.”

    Moran said he would rally behind the cause but would look to other measures to maximize revenue for local restaurants and bars, such as allowing liquor-license holders to operate a “satellite location,” letting them serve liquor at a second establishment under their original license. That would open the door to partnerships with restaurants without liquor licenses, Moran said. State Rep. Pat Gallagher, a Philadelphia Democrat, introduced a bill to do just that last June.

    No legislation on keeping Philly bars open later has been introduced yet, but Fileccia hopes to get the ball rolling with lawmakers in the coming months before the first match in Philly on June 14. Even with the window closing on getting new rules passed, Kelly said the PLCB turned around special-event permits in less than two weeks before the start of the 2016 DNC.

  • Stephen Colbert says CBS blocked interview with Texas Democrat over FCC concerns

    Stephen Colbert says CBS blocked interview with Texas Democrat over FCC concerns

    CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert rebuked his own network Monday night, claiming that lawyers for parent company Paramount Skydance prohibited him from airing an interview with Texas State Rep. James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, over concerns it would violate the Federal Communications Commission’s equal time rule.

    “You know who is not one of my guests tonight?” Colbert asked his audience. “That’s Texas state representative James Talarico. He was supposed to be here, but we were told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast.”

    In response, the studio audience booed.

    “Then I was told, in some uncertain terms, that not only could I not have him on, I could not mention me not having him on,” Colbert continued. “And because my network clearly does not want us to talk about this, let’s talk about this.” A representative for Paramount Skydance did not respond to a request for comment.

    Colbert launched into a segment about the FCC’s equal time rule, which requires broadcasters to provide equal opportunity to political candidates. News and talk show interviews have traditionally been exempt from the mandate. But in January, the FCC, issued a public notice saying that daytime and nighttime talk shows would have to apply for a exemptions to the equal time rule for each of their programs.

    “Importantly, the FCC has not been presented with any evidence that the interview portion of any late night or daytime television talk show program on air presently would qualify for the bona fide news exemption,” the FCC’s notice read.

    At the time, Anna M. Gomez, the FCC’s lone Democrat, called the notice “misleading” and said nothing has changed about the FCC’s requirements.

    In a statement Tuesday, Gomez wrote that CBS’s decision is an example of “corporate capitulation in the face of this Administration’s broader campaign to censor and control speech” and said that the FCC has “no lawful authority to pressure broadcasters for political purposes.”

    “CBS is fully protected under the First Amendment to determine what interviews it airs, which makes its decision to yield to political pressure all the more disappointing,” she said.

    In a statement Tuesday afternoon, CBS defended itself and pushed back against Colbert’s account.

    “THE LATE SHOW was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico,” a spokesperson for the network said in a statement. “The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled. THE LATE SHOW decided to present the interview through its YouTube channel with on-air promotion on the broadcast rather than potentially providing the equal-time options.”

    Colbert is already on his way out of CBS, set to depart the network in May when his show goes off the air. CBS announced over the summer that it is canceling The Late Show, the long-running talk show once hosted by David Letterman, which it claimed is “purely a financial decision.”

    Led by Chairman Brendan Carr, the FCC in President Donald Trump’s second term has remade itself as a speech enforcer tackling perceived liberal bias in the media industry. Carr’s speech agenda has been marked by investigations of media companies and threats to take action against broadcasters that do not follow rarely enforced FCC rules. He has frequently invoked a little-used “news distortion” policy as justification, a practice condemned by a bipartisan group of former FCC chairs and commissioners in a November letter.

    Following on-air comments in September by ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killing, Carr suggested on a podcast that the agency could take action against the network and its parent company Disney, which owns broadcast licenses across the country.

    “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr told conservative podcast host Benny Johnson about Kimmel. “These companies can find ways to change conduct and take actions on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.” Carr drew bipartisan criticism for his role in the episode, with Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) likening him to a cinema mafioso. ABC suspended Kimmel for several days in September.

    Last summer the FCC approved an $8 billion deal for David Ellison’s Skydance to buy CBS parent company Paramount after a series of concessions. Skydance pledged to conduct a review of CBS’s programming and agreed to refrain from diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. It also appointed an ombudsman with Republican Party ties to handle claims of bias.

    In July, CBS also settled a lawsuit from Trump, who claimed that a 60 Minutes interview with political rival Kamala Harris was “deceitful” in its editing. Colbert claimed the $16 million settlement was a “big, fat bribe.” The network canceled The Late Show three days later.

    Colbert’s criticism also comes amid another corporate pursuit for Paramount Skydance.

    The company is trying to persuade Warner Bros. Discovery to accept its hostile bid to buy the company rather than sell to Netflix. It’s unclear whether the FCC would have a role in such a deal, even if Paramount is involved, because no broadcast spectrum licenses would be changing hands. Still, any deal of this size would need government approval, probably from Trump’s Justice Department, where antitrust chief Gail Slater just resigned.

    In December, Trump has said he would be “involved” in vetting the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal, which has massive implications for Hollywood, movie theaters and streaming. More recently, Trump backtracked, saying he is “not involved” in the deal.

    Talarico, 36, has been a member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2018 and more recently has been a rising star in the Democratic Party. He is running for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas, which is holding its primary contests on March 3.

    Though Colbert’s interview with Talarico didn’t broadcast over the airwaves, it was made available on YouTube.

    “This is the party that ran against cancel culture,” Talarico told Colbert. “Now they’re trying to control what we watch, what we say, what we read. And this is the most dangerous kind of cancel culture — the kind that comes from the top.”

  • Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Land of Hope and Dreams’ tour is coming to Philly

    Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Land of Hope and Dreams’ tour is coming to Philly

    The Boss is coming back.

    Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band is headed out on the road this spring on its first U.S. tour dates in two years. These will be the band’s first performances since Springsteen made news last month with his anti-ICE protest song, “Streets of Minneapolis.”

    Appropriately enough, the “Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour” begins in Minneapolis on March 31 before making its way to the Xfinity Mobile Arena in South Philly on May 8.

    The itinerary includes east coast dates in Newark, N.J.; Long Island; Manhattan; and Brooklyn. There are 19 indoor arena shows in all, plus a closing night baseball stadium show in Washington on May 27.

    In a statement accompanying the tour announcement, Springsteen said: “We are living through dark, disturbing and dangerous times, but do not despair — the cavalry is coming! Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will be taking the stage this spring from Minneapolis to California to Texas to Washington, D.C., for the Land of Hope And Dreams American Tour.”

    Springsteen and the E Street Band last played Philadelphia with two shows at Citizens Bank Park in August 2024, and in October of that year he performed solo at the Liacouras Center in at Temple University in support of Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.

    Tickets for the Philadelphia show go on sale Saturday, Feb. 21, at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.

    Bruce Springsteen releases ICE protest song, ‘Streets of Minneapolis’

    “We will be rocking your town in celebration and in defense of America — American democracy, American freedom, our American Constitution and our sacred American dream — all of which are under attack by our wannabe king and his rogue government in Washington, D.C.,” Springsteen said in the statement.

    Last year, the Boss made headlines while on tour in Europe for his pointed comments about the Trump administration, which he called “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous” before performing his patriotic song “Land of Hope and Dreams.”

    Trump responded on Truth Social by calling Springsteen “highly overrated” as well as a “dried out prune of a rocker” and “not a talented guy — Just a pushy, obnoxious JERK.”

    Last month, Springsteen wrote “Street of Minneapolis” on the day that Alex Pretti was fatally shot by federal immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis and released it three days later.

    Calling out “King Trump’s private army from the DHS,” Springsteen memorializes “two dead, left to die on snow-filled streets, Alex Pretti and Renee Good.”

    Springsteen performed the song as a guest of former E Street Band member Tom Morello at a benefit in Minneapolis in January. This month, he granted permission to filmmaker Robert Greenwald to use his often-misunderstood 1984 song “Born in the U.S.A.” in a short film of that name. The film tells stories of American citizens that have been targeted by ICE.

    “Everyone, regardless of where you stand or what you believe in, is welcome — so come on out and join the United Free Republic of E Street Nation for an American spring of Rock ‘n’ Rebellion! I’ll see you there!,” Springsteen said in the statement.

    Tickets for the Philadelphia stop of Bruce Springsteen’s “Land of Hope and Dreams” tour go on sale Feb. 21, 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster. The full tour itinerary is at BruceSpringsteen.net.

  • Frederick Wiseman, documentarian behind the Northeast High-filmed ‘High School,’ dies at 96

    Frederick Wiseman, documentarian behind the Northeast High-filmed ‘High School,’ dies at 96

    Frederick Wiseman, 96, the renowned documentarian who chronicled life at Northeast Philadelphia High School in a 1968 film that caused a yearslong controversy in the city, has died.

    Zipporah Films, a company that has distributed Mr. Wiseman’s films for more than 50 years, confirmed the filmmaker’s death in a statement Monday.

    Known for his direct cinema style, Mr. Wiseman started his career as a law professor at the Boston University Institute of Law and Medicine before turning to film. His lengthy filmography stretches back to 1967 with the release of Titicut Follies, a controversial exposé focused on the treatment of the patient-inmates of Bridgewater State Hospital for the Criminally Insane in Massachusetts.

    That film was banned in Massachusetts for more than two decades.

    His follow-up, 1968’s High School, a foundational cinema verite documentary filmed at Northeast High School in Philly between the assassinations of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, was similarly controversial. In fact, Northeast High leaders found it so incendiary that it did not receive a local premiere until 2001 — 32 years after its initial release — for Mr. Wiseman’s fear of legal action.

    At 75 minutes, High School depicted what viewers at the time saw as a bleak vision of life at Northeast High. Contemporary reviews agreed, with Variety writing that it showed the school taught “little but the dreary values of conformity, [and] blind respect for authority.” Newsweek noted that the film showed “high schools are prisons where the old beat down the young.”

    In one scene, a guidance counselor tells a student they may not be college material. In another, a teacher tells a girl her legs are too fat for a dress she sewed. Another shows a dean shutting down a student who was complaining about unfairly receiving detention.

    As early as mid-1969, Mr. Wiseman refused to make a copy of the film available locally, citing “legal repercussions,” according to Inquirer reports from the time. The Philadelphia Board of Education, meanwhile, declared the documentary “biased” and demanded it be shown to students and faculty.

    High School, however, would not receive its first official local public showing until August 2001, at the Prince Music Theater. About 400 people attended, The Inquirer reported, most of whom were faculty or alumni of Northeast High.

    Five days later, it aired on the PBS series POV Classic.

    “I took him to the annual press tour the year we aired High School and never had a funnier, more incisive companion to compare notes with on the state of cinema,” said Cara Mertes, who was then the executive producer of POV Classic. “He was perpetually young, incredibly smart, and did not suffer fools, and still he was always generous with his time and immense talent as one of America’s greatest chroniclers, in any medium.”

    Ten years before, in 1991, High School was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

    “It is everything you need to know about 1968 middle-class America in microcosm,” Mertes said. “So many scenes and characters have taken on iconic status. It captures the tectonic social shifts happening in the most ordinary of exchanges in the day-to-day of a touchstone of American life: the high school experience.”

    “Wiseman pulled a fast one on Northeast,” said English department head Irene Reiter after seeing the film. “It was a setup to attack the educational system.”

    Former students, however, largely seemed to disagree. Andrea Korman Shapiro, a student featured in a scene in which a vice principal admonishes her for wearing a minidress to prom, called it “accurate.”

    “[It’s] a chronicle of the inner life of people not permitted to speak,” she said.

    Even others who had more positive experiences at the school argued the film’s strengths outweighed its shortcomings. As Marilyn Kleinberg, a 1978 graduate, put it: “It felt real to me, even though I had an excellent experience.”

    Shapiro, meanwhile, said it would be wise to view High School as a “trauma model.”

    “A trauma, if it doesn’t get resolved, gets replayed and reenacted,” she said. “There needs to be some kind of learning to let it go.”

    The year High School debuted in Philadelphia, Mr. Wiseman told Current, a nonprofit news organization associated with American University’s School of Communication, that his concerns about legal action over the film were perhaps overblown.

    “This was soon after the Titicut Follies case, and I didn’t want another lawsuit on my hands,” he said. Possible legal threats, he added, were merely the “vague talk of no one particular individual.”

    In 2016, Mr. Wiseman received an honorary Oscar at the 89th Academy Awards for his “masterful and distinctive documentaries” that “examine the familiar and reveal the unexpected.” Making films, he said in his acceptance speech, presented opportunities to “learn something about a new subject.”

    “The variety and complexity of the human behavior observed in making one of the films, and cumulatively all of the films, is staggering,” Mr. Wiseman said in the speech. “And I think it is as important to document kindness, civility, and generosity of spirit as it is to show cruelty, banality, and indifference.”

    The article has been updated with quotes from Cara Mertes.

  • Jill Scott makes her Tiny Desk Concert debut

    Jilly from Philly is on the Tiny Desk.

    On Friday, Jill Scott released To Whom This May Concern, the North Philly singer and songwriter’s first album in 11 years.

    The 19-track stylistically wide-ranging project touches on jazz, hip-hop, R&B, spoken word, and blues. It features guests including Trombone Shorty, Ab-Soul, JID and Tierra Whack, and is produced by DJ Premier, Adam Blackstone, Andre Harris.

    On Monday, the actress and podcast host celebrated her return to music-making with her first-ever performance on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert series.

    The episode was hyped over the weekend, calling Scott “one of the most requested artists on the Tiny Desk.” And Scott seemed thrilled to finally be at the makeshift performance space in the NPR newsroom in Washington, D.C. The series has had over 1,200 episodes since launching in 2008 and is a key promotional vehicle for artists that attracts over 15 million viewers a month.

    Leading a nine-member ensemble that included three backup singers, a flautist and a trumpet player, Scott said, “I gotta knock the nerves off. I‘m so excited to be here. I thought about you so much. I was like, ‘One day I’m going to be on the Tiny Desk!’”

    Scott led off with her signature song, “A Long Walk,” from her 2004 debut Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Music Vol. 1 before moving soulfully and effortlessly into the new album’s “Beautiful People.”

    The five-song, 28-minute, set also includes a sensuous sing- and clap-along version of Who Is Jill Scott’s “The Way” and “Cross My Mind” from 2004’s Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds Vol. 2.

    Before To Whom This May Concern’s “Don’t Play,” Scott said she got the idea for the song after going down a TikTok rabbit hole watching videos of women complaining about their male partners’ lovemaking skills and thinking” “Let me be of service.”

    The song then addressed insensitive partners with words of admonition and advice — which she repeated a cappella after the song was finished — such as “Baby, don’t close your eyes, you can see and feel at the same time” and “You ain’t no jackhammer, and I ain’t no city street!”

    This album cover image released by The Orchard shows “To Whom This May Concern” by Jill Scott. (The Orchard/ via AP)
  • The best things to do in Philadelphia this weekend

    The best things to do in Philadelphia this weekend

    Happy Friday! Below are some of our favorite things to do in the Philadelphia area this weekend. We put out new Philly weekend plans for you every week, so you’ll always have something to do on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

    You can always find our favorite activities of the weekend at inquirer.com/things-to-do. Have an event you’d like to feature in the Inquirer? Submit an event to our calendar.

    Gallery Groove

    (Community) The Museum for Art in Wood is transforming its gallery into the ultimate dance floor. Bring a friend and dance the night away to beats by DJ On Mars, and enjoy delicious bites by Burrito Feliz. All proceeds raised support programming and exhibitions at the museum.

    ⌚️Feb. 20, 8-11:30p.m., 📍141 N. 3rd St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19106, 🌐 museumforartinwood.org/, 💵 $50-75

    Philly Home and Garden Show

    (Community) Looking for inspiration for your next home improvement or renovation project? Hundreds of vendors are heading to this show offering DIY workshops, product demos and pop up shops. If you’ve been waiting to start those New Year home projects, this is a must do.

    ⌚️ Feb. 20-22, 📍100 Station Ave., Oaks, Pa, 19456, 🌐 phillyhomeandgarden.com/, $10-12, Children 12 and under FREE

    Philadelphia Yoga and Wellness Conference

    (Community) Breathe in, breathe out. This one-day wellness event at the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia invites you to slow down, connect, and learn. Find inspiration through workshops, guided yoga sessions, special guest speakers, and locally sourced foods. A portion of proceeds benefits the Philadelphia Men’s Basketball League Camps.️

    ⌚️ Feb. 21, 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m., 📍10 Avenue of the Arts, Philadelphia, Pa, 19102, 🌐 philadelphiayogaconference.com, 💵 $300 (two for $550)

    Last Seen Book Launch

    (Community) In honor of Black History Month, Villanova University professor Judith Giesberg is heading to the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion for a discussion of an often overlooked aspect of nineteenth-century Black life. In her book Last Seen, Giesberg describes the stories of formerly enslaved Black Americans who spent years searching for their family members who’d been stolen away during slavery. Copies of the book will be available at the event.

    ⌚️Feb. 21 3p.m., 📍200 W. Tulpehocken St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19144, 🌐 tix.com/, 💵 $9.65-27.75

    Lunar New Year at Dilworth Park

    (Community) The Year of the Horse is charging its way into Philadelphia this week. Head to Dilworth park to celebrate with red envelope giveaways, performances, ice skating and more.

    ⌚️Feb. 21, 5-7p.m., 📍1 S. 15th St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19102, 🌐 centercityphila.org, 💵 Free

    Jewelry Making Workshop

    (Community) Ready to create your new favorite jewelry piece? This workshop will guide you through simple techniques to create 2-3 handmade pieces. All materials and tools are provided, and if you have chains or pendants you love, bring them to include in your project.

    ⌚️ Feb. 21, 12:30-2p.m., 📍 1326 E. Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia, Pa, 19147, 🌐 https://eventbrite.com, 💵 $72

    Presidential Connections

    (Community) While Laurel Hill Cemetery isn’t the final resting place of any U.S. Presidents, there are plenty of presidential connections buried there. From an opera singer who performed for President Roosevelt to a young actor who was due to take the stage for President Lincoln at the Ford Theater, you’ll learn all of the many ties to former leaders that lie in the historic grounds.

    ⌚️Feb. 21, 1-3p.m, 📍3822 Ridge Ave., Philadelphia, Pa 19132, 🌐 laurelhillphl.com, 💵 $2-20

    The best events for kids in Philly

    “It’s About Time”

    (Theater) A wholly student-powered musical takes audiences from a school cafeteria into time travel, complete with an evil lunch lady and a giant talking bird at Venice Island Performing Arts & Recreation Center. Ages 5 and up.

    ⌚February 19-22, times vary, 📍7 Lock St, Philadelphia, Pa., 19127, 🌐yesandcamp.org, 💵 $2-$18

    “Rapunzel! Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairytale”

    (Theater) The Players Club of Swarthmore puts on a zany, hour-long, pop- and rock-infused musical retelling of the fairytale about a trapped princess, angry queen, brave prince, hairstylist, and dragon. Ages 3-10.

    ⌚February 21-22, 28, March 1, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., 📍614 Fairview Rd., Swarthmore, Pa., 19081, 🌐 pcstheater.org, 💵 $13.50-$18.50

    Lunar New Year, Pearl S. Buck House

    (Culture) Pearl S. Buck House in Bucks County hosts live performances, a tea ceremony, paper crafts, games, and tours of the late author’s house. Reservations required. All ages.

    ⌚February 21, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 📍520 Dublin Rd., Perkasie, Pa., 18944, 🌐 pearlsbuck.org, 💵 $9-$15

    Lunar New Year at the Rail Park

    (Culture / free) This community-centered celebration has quickly become on of the city’s most popular, thanks to live lion dances, tai chi performances, K-pop workshop, a flower market, appearance by the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club, and snacks. All ages.

    ⌚February 21, 1-4 p.m., 📍Broad and Noble sts.., Philadelphia, Pa., 19123, 🌐therailpark.org, 💵 Free

    Black History Month Family Fun Night

    (History / free) Pre-registration has officially filled an evening of Black history-inspired crafts, activities, flashlight tours, arts, and workshops, but there’s still some room for day-of walk-up admission at the National Constitution Center. All ages.

    ⌚February 21, 5-8 p.m., 📍525 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19106, 🌐constitutioncenter.org, 💵 Free

    Lunar New Year

    (Culture / free) This annual Dilworth Park celebration has Chinese opera, dancing by Kun Yan Lin and lion dancing by the Philadelphia Suns, plus lucky red envelopes for the first 100 guests. It’s also the last weekend for City Hall’s ice skating rink. All ages.

    ⌚February 21, 5-7 p.m., 📍1 S. 15th St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19102, 🌐centercityphila.org, 💵 Free, $7-$10 to skate

    “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”

    (Musical) Back on tour for the first time in 25 years, this lavish Broadway production lands at the Academy of Music, bringing Belle, the Beast, and a château full of singing furniture back to the stage — complete with soaring ballads and storybook spectacle. Ages 4 and up.

    ⌚ Feb. 11–22, times vary, 📍240 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102, 🌐 ensembleartsphilly.org, 💵 $33–$219

    “Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition”

    (Movie-making) The Franklin Institute hosts a world premiere exhibit that turns movie magic into hands-on discovery, with behind-the-scenes looks at Universal’s biggest franchises — from Minions and Jurassic World to dragons, monsters, Mario, and Luigi — via immersive sets and interactive displays. Ages 5 and up.

    ⌚ Feb. 14–Sept. 7, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. plus extended hours, 📍222 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, 🌐 fi.edu, 💵 $25–$65

    Shaun the Sheep: Flock This Way

    (Kids) The Please Touch Museum welcomes a hands-on exhibit visiting from Minnesota Children’s Museum, inspired by the beloved British cartoon. Kids can climb, balance, animate stop-motion scenes, explore a play truck, and even try on a sheep costume. Ages 3–9.

    ⌚ Feb. 7–May 10, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., 📍4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, Pa. 19131, 🌐 pleasetouchmuseum.org, 💵 $24; $2 ACCESS cardholder

    Winter at Dilworth Park

    (Seasonal / multiday) The season’s early arrival brings the reopening of Dilworth Park’s ice rink, Wintergarden, and holiday market. Sip cocoa in the cozy cabin or skate beneath the lights. All ages.

    ⌚ Through Feb. 22, hours vary, 📍1 S. 15th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102, 🌐 centercityphila.org, 💵 Free to enter; skating $7–$10, rentals $10

    RiverRink Winterfest

    (Seasonal / multiday) Penn’s Landing becomes a full-on winter playground with its outdoor skating rink, a cozy warming lodge, carnival rides, arcade games, fire pits, and plenty of food and drink. Skating is ticketed; entry to the waterfront space is free. Ages 3 and up.

    ⌚ Through Mar. 1, times vary, 📍101 S. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106, 🌐 delawareriverwaterfront.com, 💵 Free entry; $5 to skate, $12 rental

  • The best things to do in Philadelphia this week

    The best things to do in Philadelphia this week

    Explore all of the best things to do in and around Philadelphia: From upcoming events and art installations to the most picturesque date spots, we share all you need to know to make the most out of your week in Philly.

    You can always find our favorite activities of the week at inquirer.com/things-to-do. Have an event you’d like to feature in the Inquirer? Submit an event to our calendar.

    Chinese New Year Midnight Parade

    (Community) Bring in the Year of the Horse at midnight in Chinatown at this explosive parade. Festivities include traditional lion and dragon dances, music and cultural performances, games and prizes, and delicious authentic dishes. Wear something red and festive and come ready to celebrate.

    ⌚️Feb. 16, 10p.m. – Midnight, 📍 Arch St. &, N. 10th St., Philadelphia, Pa 19107, 🌐 centercity.events, 💵 Free

    An Aquarius Wine Tasting

    (Community) Aquarius are known for being independent, unconventional and ahead of their time, but what does that say about their taste in wines? Come find out at this unruly tasting where guests will enjoy give 3-oz pours, selected for their Aquarian qualities. Light snacks will be provided to complement the wine selection.

    ⌚️Feb. 18, 6-8p.m., 📍1525 South St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19146, 🌐 jetwinebar.com, 💵 $79

    Gallery Groove

    (Community) The Museum for Art in Wood is transforming its gallery into the ultimate dance floor. Bring a friend and dance the night away to beats by DJ On Mars, and enjoy delicious bites by Burrito Feliz. All proceeds raised support programming and exhibitions at the museum.

    ⌚️Feb. 20, 8-11:30p.m., 📍141 N. 3rd St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19106, 🌐 museumforartinwood.org/, 💵 $50-75

    Philly Home and Garden Show

    (Community) Looking for inspiration for your next home improvement or renovation project? Hundreds of vendors are heading to this show offering DIY workshops, product demos and pop up shops. If you’ve been waiting to start those New Year home projects, this is a must do.

    ⌚️ Feb. 20-22, 📍100 Station Ave., Oaks, Pa, 19456, 🌐 phillyhomeandgarden.com/, $10-12, Children 12 and under FREE

    Philadelphia Yoga and Wellness Conference

    (Community) Breathe in, breathe out. This one-day wellness event at the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia invites you to slow down, connect, and learn. Find inspiration through workshops, guided yoga sessions, special guest speakers, and locally sourced foods. A portion of proceeds benefits the Philadelphia Men’s Basketball League Camps.️

    ⌚️ Feb. 21, 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m., 📍10 Avenue of the Arts, Philadelphia, Pa, 19102, 🌐 philadelphiayogaconference.com, 💵 $300 (two for $550)

    Last Seen Book Launch

    (Community) In honor of Black History Month, Villanova University professor Judith Giesberg is heading to the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion for a discussion of an often overlooked aspect of nineteenth-century Black life. In her book Last Seen, Giesberg describes the stories of formerly enslaved Black Americans who spent years searching for their family members who’d been stolen away during slavery. Copies of the book will be available at the event.

    ⌚️Feb. 21 3p.m., 📍200 W. Tulpehocken St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19144, 🌐 tix.com/, 💵 $9.65-27.75

    Lunar New Year at Dilworth Park

    (Community) The Year of the Horse is charging its way into Philadelphia this week. Head to Dilworth park to celebrate with red envelope giveaways, performances, ice skating and more.

    ⌚️Feb. 21, 5-7p.m., 📍1 S. 15th St., Philadelphia, Pa, 19102, 🌐 centercityphila.org, 💵 Free

    Jewelry Making Workshop

    (Community) Ready to create your new favorite jewelry piece? This workshop will guide you through simple techniques to create 2-3 handmade pieces. All materials and tools are provided, and if you have chains or pendants you love, bring them to include in your project.

    ⌚️ Feb. 21, 12:30-2p.m., 📍 1326 E. Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia, Pa, 19147, 🌐 https://eventbrite.com, 💵 $72

    Presidential Connections

    (Community) While Laurel Hill Cemetery isn’t the final resting place of any U.S. Presidents, there are plenty of presidential connections buried there. From an opera singer who performed for President Roosevelt to a young actor who was due to take the stage for President Lincoln at the Ford Theater, you’ll learn all of the many ties to former leaders that lie in the historic grounds.

    ⌚️Feb. 21, 1-3p.m, 📍3822 Ridge Ave., Philadelphia, Pa 19132, 🌐 laurelhillphl.com, 💵 $2-20

    The best events for kids in Philly

    Lunar New Year Parades

    (Culture / free) Chinatown activates with firecrackers, red confetti, and lion dancing in the street to usher in the Year of the Horse on the night of February 16 and a daytime celebration on Sunday. All ages.

    ⌚February 16, 10 p.m.-midnight, February 22, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 📍N. 10th and Spring sts., Philadelphia, Pa., 19107, 🌐chinatown-pcdc.org, 💵 Free

    “It’s About Time”

    (Theater) A wholly student-powered musical takes audiences from a school cafeteria into time travel, complete with an evil lunch lady and a giant talking bird at Venice Island Performing Arts & Recreation Center. Ages 5 and up.

    ⌚February 19-22, times vary, 📍7 Lock St, Philadelphia, Pa., 19127, 🌐yesandcamp.org, 💵 $2-$18

    “Rapunzel! Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairytale”

    (Theater) The Players Club of Swarthmore puts on a zany, hour-long, pop- and rock-infused musical retelling of the fairytale about a trapped princess, angry queen, brave prince, hairstylist, and dragon. Ages 3-10.

    ⌚February 21-22, 28, March 1, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., 📍614 Fairview Rd., Swarthmore, Pa., 19081, 🌐 pcstheater.org, 💵 $13.50-$18.50

    Lunar New Year, Pearl S. Buck House

    (Culture) Pearl S. Buck House in Bucks County hosts live performances, a tea ceremony, paper crafts, games, and tours of the late author’s house. Reservations required. All ages.

    ⌚February 21, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 📍520 Dublin Rd., Perkasie, Pa., 18944, 🌐 pearlsbuck.org, 💵 $9-$15

    Lunar New Year at the Rail Park

    (Culture / free) This community-centered celebration has quickly become on of the city’s most popular, thanks to live lion dances, tai chi performances, K-pop workshop, a flower market, appearance by the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club, and snacks. All ages.

    ⌚February 21, 1-4 p.m., 📍Broad and Noble sts.., Philadelphia, Pa., 19123, 🌐therailpark.org, 💵 Free

    Black History Month Family Fun Night

    (History / free) Pre-registration has officially filled an evening of Black history-inspired crafts, activities, flashlight tours, arts, and workshops, but there’s still some room for day-of walk-up admission at the National Constitution Center. All ages.

    ⌚February 21, 5-8 p.m., 📍525 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19106, 🌐constitutioncenter.org, 💵 Free

    Lunar New Year

    (Culture / free) This annual Dilworth Park celebration has Chinese opera, dancing by Kun Yan Lin and lion dancing by the Philadelphia Suns, plus lucky red envelopes for the first 100 guests. It’s also the last weekend for City Hall’s ice skating rink. All ages.

    ⌚February 21, 5-7 p.m., 📍1 S. 15th St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19102, 🌐centercityphila.org, 💵 Free, $7-$10 to skate

    “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”

    (Musical) Back on tour for the first time in 25 years, this lavish Broadway production lands at the Academy of Music, bringing Belle, the Beast, and a château full of singing furniture back to the stage — complete with soaring ballads and storybook spectacle. Ages 4 and up.

    ⌚ Feb. 11–22, times vary, 📍240 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102, 🌐 ensembleartsphilly.org, 💵 $33–$219

    “Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition”

    (Movie-making) The Franklin Institute hosts a world premiere exhibit that turns movie magic into hands-on discovery, with behind-the-scenes looks at Universal’s biggest franchises — from Minions and Jurassic World to dragons, monsters, Mario, and Luigi — via immersive sets and interactive displays. Ages 5 and up.

    ⌚ Feb. 14–Sept. 7, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. plus extended hours, 📍222 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, 🌐 fi.edu, 💵 $25–$65

    Shaun the Sheep: Flock This Way

    (Kids) The Please Touch Museum welcomes a hands-on exhibit visiting from Minnesota Children’s Museum, inspired by the beloved British cartoon. Kids can climb, balance, animate stop-motion scenes, explore a play truck, and even try on a sheep costume. Ages 3–9.

    ⌚ Feb. 7–May 10, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., 📍4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, Pa. 19131, 🌐 pleasetouchmuseum.org, 💵 $24; $2 ACCESS cardholder

    Winter at Dilworth Park

    (Seasonal / multiday) The season’s early arrival brings the reopening of Dilworth Park’s ice rink, Wintergarden, and holiday market. Sip cocoa in the cozy cabin or skate beneath the lights. All ages.

    ⌚ Through Feb. 22, hours vary, 📍1 S. 15th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102, 🌐 centercityphila.org, 💵 Free to enter; skating $7–$10, rentals $10

    RiverRink Winterfest

    (Seasonal / multiday) Penn’s Landing becomes a full-on winter playground with its outdoor skating rink, a cozy warming lodge, carnival rides, arcade games, fire pits, and plenty of food and drink. Skating is ticketed; entry to the waterfront space is free. Ages 3 and up.

    ⌚ Through Mar. 1, times vary, 📍101 S. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106, 🌐 delawareriverwaterfront.com, 💵 Free entry; $5 to skate, $12 rental