Category: Things To Do

Last week was for the lovers. This week, well, it’s for the culture. The region will be booming with celebrations all weekend.

Fashion lovers can catch the latest from local and international designers at Philly Fashion Week runways. Home improvement-obsessives and amateur DIYers can stop by the annual Philly Home + Garden Show for gardening and landscaping tips.

Then there’s Lunar New Year, which marks the arrival of spring, and another year of good fortune. Dozens of parades, tai chi demonstrations, dance performances, and other celebrations will continue throughout the region.

And I can’t forget about the Barnes Foundation’s new exhibition, celebrating the work of famed post-Impressionist painter Henri Rousseau, running through Sunday.

Read on to find more exciting celebrations happening this weekend.

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

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Beach concerts are finally coming back to Atlantic City

Once again, there will be music on the beach in Atlantic City this summer, thanks to a new collaboration between Visit Atlantic City and Live Nation.

Electronic dance music trio Rüfüs Du Sol will kick-off a wave of ocean-side shows after their Aug. 29 concert at the A.C. boardwalk this summer.

Their performance will mark a return to the tradition of A.C. beach shows, which have included ocean-side concerts that have included Pink in 2017, the Vans Warped Tour in 2019, the pop-punk Adjacent Music Festival in 2023, and others.

For the last two years, there’s been an absence of large-scale A.C. beach shows, though Philly impresario Dave P.’s Making Waves festival drew a crowd last year.

The collaboration between Visit Atlantic City and Live Natioon means more shows at the shore, and not just in the summer.

Read more of my colleague Dan Deluca’s story here. And don’t miss out on some of his concert picks for this weekend below.

The best things to do this week

🖼️ Make-it-POP!: Join InLiquid from Thursday to Saturday at Crane Arts for an inside look at Make-it-POP!, a vibrant group exhibition showcasing InLiquid members’ bold portfolios, cultural commentary, and playful imagery.

🎨 Meet me at the Barnes: Explore the work of artist Henri Rousseau, which will fill the Barnes Foundation as part of a collaboration between the Benjamin Franklin Parkway museum and the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris.

🎶 Musical down the Shore: Compassion Cafe in Beach haven is a nonprofit that employs neurodivergent adults. It is launching its sixth season with Be Our Guest, performed by its employees and inspired by the evergreen Disney classic, Beauty and the Beast.

🧵 Step into your best: Join thousands of fashion lovers for Philly Fashion Week, now in its 20th year. From now through Saturday, there will be runway shows, design competitions, pop-up shops and more throughout the city.

📅 My calendar picks this week: Black History Month Family Fun Night at the Constitution Center and Punk Rock Flea Market at 23rd Street Armory.

Lunar New Year at Dilworth Park

The Year of the Horse is charging its way into Center City this weekend.

Head to Dilworth Park to celebrate the first new moon of the lunisolar calendar, signifying the start of spring and the ushering of good fortune.

The celebration includes a red envelope giveaway to the first 100 guests, a Kun-Yang Lin/Dancer performance, Chinese opera by Jiaye Xu of Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance.

The celebration closes out with the Philadelphia Suns performance at 6:30 p.m.

Check out some more Lunar Year celebrations happening this weekend.

Winter fun this week and beyond

🏡 A little home improvement: Nearly 300 exhibitors will be at Montgomery County’s Greater Philadelphia Expo Center for the annual Philly Home + Garden Show. Specialists will offer tips on everything from gardening to landscaping, architecture, construction, electronics, interior design, and more.

⛸️ The Winter at Dilworth wrap-up: The Winter at Dilworth Park will wrap up select attractions starting this Sunday. The Rothman Orthopedics ice Rink and Cabin will pack things up this week, so bundle up and put on your best ice skates for a final lap this weekend.

🐉 Lunar New Year festivities: Among the most popular Lunar Year celebrations is at Rail Park. Head there to see live lion dances, tai chi performances, K-pop workshop, and an appearance from the Fletcher Urban Riding Club on Saturday from 1-4 p.m.

🎡 A festival of multiple traditions: Stop by the Mummers Museum for the Festival of Many Colors. The new multiweek event series highlights the Mummers Parade, Philly Caribbean Carnival and Carnaval de Puebla. There will be hands-on workshops to design garments, forge tools, and learn traditional dance that run through May 17.

Staffer picks

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

🎸 Thursday: After playing in Philly for his solo tour last year, songwriter Alejandro Escovedo is back, plugged in, and ready to rock with his band Electric Saints at Sellersville Theater on Thursday.

🎸 Friday: Philly songwriter Ben Arnold is home to promote his new solo album, XL. He will perform at WXPN’s Free At Noon with the 48 Hour Orchestra on Friday.

🎤 Saturday: R&B superstar Miguel, who’s played multiple times at the Made in America festival, returns to Philly for a headlining show at the Met Philly for his 2025 album, CAOS.

🎤 Tuesday: Mariah the Scientist, who’s enraptured fans with her sultry vocals and chilling love songs since her major label debut Master in 2019, will headline the Met Philly on Tuesday.

— Earl Hopkins

Enjoy everything the region has to offer this weekend. And per Lunar New Year tradition, avoid wearing black and white if you can. Trust me, nobody likes a killjoy.

Love is in the air, so this week’s newsletter is for the region’s friends and lovers.

If you’re still scrambling to lock down your Valentine’s Day plans, or looking for Galentine’s Day excursions for you and your friends, I have a gift for you to unwrap this weekend.

I’m talking Galentine’s Day parties, romantic train rides through Bucks County’s foothills, and a dinner date at a new double-decker restaurant in Midtown Village.

These aren’t only events for the love-obsessed. There’s a theme park-inspired exhibition opening at the Franklin Institute, as well as a century-old celebration of the international surrealist movement and Presidents Day activities.

Read below to finish carving out your weekend plans.

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

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Forget the dating apps, people. Find love at this 166-year-old bar.

McGillin’s Olde Ale House, the 166-year-old pub in Center City long owned by the same family, has mastered the art of match making.

Along with serving draft beer, wings, cheesesteaks, and an especially good french onion soup, McGillin’s is the place for future couples to meet.

This month, the bar held a reunion for couples who struck romance at the long-beloved ale house.

They came together, like alumni of the same beloved college club, wearing red and white name tags with the year their McGillin’s romantic meeting took place. They drank from frosted glasses and sat under tinsel hearts, clapping especially hard for the long married couples seated among them.

Read my colleague Zoe Greenberg’s piece about this bar’s mating magic.

The best things to do this week

🚂 All aboard the love train: Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a luxurious and romantic train ride through Bucks County’s picturesque foothills. The hourlong trip comes with savory crudités and charcuterie, plus a glass of bubbly champagne to wash it all down.

🖼️ In a Dreamworld: It’s the last weekend to catch “Dreamworld: Surrealism at 100” at the Phialdelphia Museum of Art. It’s a traveling exhibition that features 200 works that celebrate a century of the international surrealist movement.

🇺🇸 Presidents Day Weekend fun: At the Museum of the American Revolution, the extended weekend will be layered with special programing. There will be sea chest unpacking, Revolution Place playtime, and a deep dive into how Abraham Lincoln interpreted the founding document.

💞 A night for the girlies: Among all the Valentine’s Day events happening this weekend, there’s a little something for the girls, too. This Friday, Fishtown’s Evil Genius is hosting a Galentine’s Party featuring DJ Louie P, who will spin pop anthems as patrons enjoy pints of craft brew and V-Day themed cocktails.

📅 My calendar picks this week: Valentine’s Day at the Museum of Illusions, Valen-Tide’s at Adventure Aquarium, and Make Love Market at LOVE Park.

Universal Theme Parks makes world premiere at Franklin Institute

The Franklin Institute hosts a world premiere exhibit this weekend that turns movie magic into hands-on discovery.

The new theme park-inspired exhibit gives visitors a behind-the-scenes look at Universal’s biggest franchises. There will be immersive sets and interactive displays inspired by franchises such as Minions, The Secret Life of Pets and Sing, Super Nintendo World, Jurassic World, and more.

Tickets are now available for the world premiere on Saturday. The exhibition will be on display through Sept. 7.

Winter fun this week and beyond

🎪 The Greatest Show on Earth: The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey traveling circus will bring high-flying acrobatics and extreme cycling to Xfinity Mobile Arena starting Friday. The non-stop party in South Philly continues through Monday.

🍲 A Midtown Village eatery: The team behind Philly’s cheesesteak bar, Taste, opened a chic NYC and Miami-inspired eatery, Savú. The seasonal menu features items like Maryland crab-stuff egg rolls, jumbo crab cakes, caviar bumps, and other New American bites.

🎭 A Disney fairytale opening: The musical adaption of the Disney classic, Beauty and the Beast, brings this magical fairytale to the Academy of Music. The beloved story runs through Feb. 22.

Staffer picks

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

🎸 Thursday: Local songwriter Josh Owens’ dreamy indie pop band Lazyacres is playing at the South Street nightclub Nikki Lopez with Attic Posture, Bowling Alley Oop, and Dante Robinson.

🎸 Friday: The Knee-Hi’s, self-described as a “female fronted garage glam rock band existing as a living love letter to rock and roll,” will takeover Ortlieb’s alongside Ione, Star Moles, and Thank You Thank You on Friday.

🎤 Saturday: A year after releasing his latest album, The Co-Star and a holiday collection, R&B heartthrob Eric Benet will grace the City Winery stage on Saturday.

🎤 Also on Saturday: Philly cumbia klezmer punk band Mariposas Galacticas join forces with Baltimore-based cumbia ska outfit Soroche and DJ Pdrto Criolla to celebrate “radical love in all its forms” at Johnny Brenda’s.

🎸 Sunday: Closing out Valentine’s Day weekend is folk-goth guitarist Marissa Nadler, who will bring her noir-ish soundscapes that have won over folkies and metal heads to Milkboy Philly on Sunday.

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Alright, lovers and Galentine’s Day diners, I hope this week’s newsletters was a proper gift to you.

— Earl Hopkins

After a week of moderate winter temps, we’re back to single digit chills and snow-packed streets this weekend.

At this point, we’re used to the bone-numbing winds, so nothing will stop us from enjoying fun, brutally-entertaining, and dog-friendly events happening this weekend. Am I right?

While our beloved Birds didn’t make it to the Super Bowl this year, there’s plenty of watch parties for disheartened fans in need of support, and others looking forward to Bad Bunny’s electrifying half-time show.

Plus, a brutal bare knuckle brawl will take place in South Philly. Craftsman Row’s annual Mardi Gras pop-up experience will transport patrons to New Orleans’ French Quarter. And a reimagined Shakespearean classic will open at the Philadelphia Contemporary Theatre.

Whatever you choose, just please avoid ice fishing on the frozen Schuylkill. There’s enough events to go around before you need to risk your warmth (and life) on the river’s ice-solid surface.

Just look below, and you’ll find plenty of events worth reeling into your weekend plans.

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

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The Schuylkill is frozen, so that means you can ice fish on it. Right? No!

With the surface of the Schuylkill frozen solid, a reader asked through Curious Philly if ice fishing is allowed on the grand tributary.

Short answer: no.

While fishing along the Schuylkill is accepted and celebrated in warmer temperatures, those dreaming of an Arctic lifestyle should be reconsider their plans.

Read more of my colleague Nate File’s story here.

The best things to do this week

⚜️ A taste of NOLA: Stop by Craftsman Row Saloon for a taste of New Orleans. The bar’s annual Fat Tuesday pop-up experience will feature Mardi Gras-inspired dishes and southern favorites like jambalaya, crawfish mac and cheese, and po boys.

🍷 The formula of love: Learn the science of romance at the Science History Institute’s event on Friday. Wine chemist André Isaacs, master chocolatier Jim St. John, essential oil specialist Kim Bleimann, and others will dive into the history of your favorite Valentine’s Day staples for “Wine, Roses, and Chocolate: How Romance and Science Work Together.”

🐶 The return of Bark Bowl: The fifth annual Bark Bowl returns to Craft Hall on Saturday. While their furry, four-legged friends are enjoying the indoor turf and doggie toys, pet-parents can enjoy a special menu of drinks, crafty-style pizza, BBQ platters, and other offerings.

🏈 Super Bowl Watch Parties: While our beloved Eagles didn’t make it to the biggest night in sports, it doesn’t mean you can’t stop by watch parties at Fringe Bar, Taller Puertorriqueño, Stateside Live!, and other venues and dive bars.

📅 My calendar picks this week: Step Afrika! at Miller Theater, First Friday in Chestnut Hill, Restaurant Week in Center City

Opera Philadelphia’s ‘strange little roller coaster ride’ is rolling into town

Created to commemorate the Opera Philadelphia’s 50th anniversary, Complications in Sue opened on Wednesday with 10 composers commissioned to write eight-minute scenes. (Here’s our review!)

The scenes encompass the century-long life of a mythical everywoman named Sue, who does everything from saving Santa Clause from an existential crisis in a nonbelieving world, to fending off aggressive shopping algorithms. Impressive, right?

Complications in Sue plays through Sunday at the Academy of Music. All tickets are Pick Your Price, starting at $11.

Read more in writer David Patrick Stearns’ story here.

Winter fun this week and beyond

🏎️ One final lap: Stop by the Philadelphia Auto Show, and take a spin around the Pennsylvania Convention Center before the annual ends on Sunday. Hundreds of vehicles will be displayed throughout the exhibition, including some you can test drive in and outside the building.

🤜🏽 Put your dukes up: The biggest night in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship returns to Philly for KnuckleMania VI at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Show-stoppers like heavyweight champion Ben Rothwell will defend his title against former UFC champ Andrei Arlovski in a main event clash.

🎭 A reimagined theater classic: A modern, fast-paced, and thrilling reimagining of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar will take center stage at the Philadelphia Theatre Company on Froday. The show runs through Feb. 22.

🧗🏼‍♂️ Come Baa-aaa-ack to Please Touch Museum: Shaun the Sheep, Bitzer, and your kid’s other farmyard friends will guide them through a series of fun problem-solving activities at the Please Touch Museum. Kids can scale small climbing walls, form their own stop-motion animations, and test their agility on balance boards. The exhibit runs from Saturday to May 10.

Staffer picks

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

🎸 Thursday: Off the heels of the Oklahoma band’s seventh album, the Turnpike Troubadours bring their brand of Red Dirt country at the Met Philly. The band will be joined by wry Texas songwriter Robert Earl Keen.

🎤 Friday: Soulful Alabama singer Kashus Culpepper, whose new album, Act I, features guest appearances from Sierra Ferrell and Marcus King, will play World Cafe Live’s Free at Noon. Then, he’s headed to the Foundry at the Fillmore for a second gig that night.

🎤 Saturday: As part of the Fallser Club’s Black History Month Celebration of Black Excellence, spoken word poet Ursula Rocker will be joined on stage by DJ Sylo, dance music diva Lady Alma, and singer Carla Gamble.

🎤 Tuesday: Two days after singing “America the Beautiful” at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Brandi Carlile will kick off her “Human Tour” at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Tuesday.

Assuming the roads are clear, and the snow isn’t too brutal this weekend, make your way to these stellar events.

Besides, I’m sure it helps to keep Eagles fans’ minds off Sunday’s game. And I’ll say it again — avoid any ice fishing, please.

— Earl Hopkins

After a foot of snow hit the region last weekend, there hasn’t been much movement in Philadelphia (or so it seems).

The snow and slush has been as stubborn as Ben Simmons’ fans during his Sixers days. No matter how much sun has peeked out from under the winter clouds, the roads are still covered with mounds of snow, and cars are still boxed in from the plowed piles.

But that hasn’t stopped Philadelphians from their weekly commute, and certainly won’t stop them from enjoying the many events happening this weekend.

That includes the Philadelphia Auto Show, the celebration of Asian cultures for CultureFest!, and a clam chowder crawl in Manayunk. The best WNBA players in the world are also going head-to-head at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday for Philly is Unrivaled.

And if the city still looks like the inside of a snow globe this weekend, maybe we all head to another impromptu sledding fest at the Rocky Steps.

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

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The best sledding hills in the region

Forecasts indicate another weekend of freezing temps is likely in the cards, giving Philly sledders plenty of terrain to enjoy the city’s winter wonderment.

Along with the Philadelphia Art Museum steps, my colleagues Nick Vadala and Dugan Arnett suggest bundling up and taking a trip to places like Lemon Hill, Water Tower Recreation Center, Clark Park, and other nearby sledding havens.

Read the rest of their suggestions here.

The best things to do this week

🏀 Show Philly how to ball: Philly Is Unrivaled, an offseason professional women’s basketball league, is coming to Xfinity Mobile Arena this Friday. The event will feature 3-on-3 games between four clubs, with the WNBA’s best players duking it out in playoff-style.

🍺 A taste of international brew: On Saturday, craft beers from Japan, Mexico, Spain, and other distant lands will be front and center at Ardmore Passport: World Pours at Ardmore Music Hall. The event will include international menu items, music, and other activities for the one-day event.

🇺🇸 Philly history is back, baby: After four months of closure, due to a government shut down and planned repairs, Independence Hall reopens to the public on Thursday.

❄️ Bundle up for a Freeze-Out: Manayunk’s signature Founders Philly Freeze-Out returns to Main Street, offering some winter fun. The day also includes a three-mile Founders Freeze Out Fun Run and the Manayunk Chowder Crawl.

📅 My calendar picks this week: Jessie J at Theatre of the Living Arts and the Mummers String Band Competition at the Linc.

Unrivaled kicks off its tour in Philly Friday night

Not to be confused with the WNBA, which begins its 30th season in May, Unrivaled is a three-on-three professional women’s basketball league that lands in Philly to kicks off its second season.

Four of the eight teams will head to Xfinity Mobile Arena for a doubleheader on Friday. It will be a homecoming for North Philly native Kahleah Copper, and an ultimate win for fans of women’s hoops.

Read more of my colleague Brooke Ackerman‘s story here.

Winter fun this week and beyond

🪭 Year of the fire horse: Learn more about Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tibetan and other Asian cultural traditions at the 45th annual Lunar New Year celebration for Penn Museum’s signature CultureFest! series.

🍜 NoLibs bites: Two dozen bars and eateries will offer special prix fixe menus for this year’s Northern Liberties Restaurant Week, which runs through Feb. 8.

🏎️ Rev your engines: The Philadelphia Auto Show is a can’t miss annual winter classic. Hundreds of hot rides will be on display at the Pennsylvania Convention Center through Feb. 8, offering guests test drive opportunities in and outside the venue.

📜 An ode to Black history: This Sunday, Black History Month programming kicks off at the National Constitution Center. The monthlong celebration will feature daily crafts, scavenger hunts, trivia, and discussions about some of the most influential figures in American history.

Staffer picks

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

🎸 Thursday: 1990s Seattle emo band Sunny Day Real Estate take the stage at Brooklyn Bowl with a lineup that includes original members Jeremy Enigk, Dan Horne, and William Goldsmith.

🕺🏽 Friday: Former NPR host Ari Shapiro stars in a cabaret show, “Thank You for Listening,” which is adapted from his memoir, The Best Strangers in the World. He will flex his musical muscles at City Winery this Friday.

🎸 Saturday: The Brooklyn indie rock band Wild Pink, still touring from the group’s 2024 album Dulling the Horns, stop by for a back-to-back show at MilkBoy Philly.

🎤 Sunday: West Philly emcee Reef the Lost Cauze kicks of the first of the series, “A Month of Black Excellence at the Fallser Club.” The afternoon event will feature a mix of vendors, food, art, and community-centered activities.

🎤 Monday: While Irish music season doesn’t fully kick off until March, brothers Brian and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn of Ye Vagabonds will bring their hauntingly modern jams to Johnny Brenda’s. Local bluegrass songwriter Daphne Ellen opens.

Put your snow shovel to good use, so you can free yourself out of snow jail, and enjoy what’s in store this weekend. You won’t regret it.

— Earl Hopkins