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Category: Things To Do

  • 🏖️ Know before you Shore | Outdoorsy Newsletter

    It’s officially summer, folks. ☀️

    Before we jump into what you can expect from the season, here’s what we’re getting up to today:

    ☂️ Your weekend weather outlook: There’s rain in the forecast, but Sunday should be clear.

    — Paola Pérez (outdoorsy@inquirer.com)

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

    It’s badge season

    Planning a beach trip? I’m sure you considered the cost of fuel and snacks already, but be sure you’re aware of required beach badges, too. These are prepaid entrance fees for visitors.

    Most beaches charge weekday and weekend rates, or offer seasonal tags, but a few of them are free. For instance, no beach tags are required at Atlantic City, Corsons Inlet State Park, North Wildwood, Sandy Hook, Strathmere, Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest.

    Here’s a breakdown of the price tags for the rest of the Shore.

    🌊 P.S. Be sure to check out my colleague Amy Rosenberg’s Down the Shore newsletter. From town happenings to debates about playing loud music on the sand, she’s got it all covered. Sign up here.

    News worth knowing

    🌳 Your outdoorsy experience

    Last time, I asked you to tell me where you go for a moment of calm. Bonnie Zetick wrote in with her pick, the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library:

    Winterthur! Calm, something different blooming every time you go, trails or tram to get around.

    When I was working, if I had half a day off, let alone a whole day, I would head to Winterthur on Route 52 near Wilmington, Del. Winterthur now has a self-guided museum of the American Decorative Arts, permanent as well as temporary exhibits so always something to see that I’ve never seen before. Then you have the gardens! Lovingly developed and planned by Henry Francis du Pont, you will see spectacular colors, birds you may never have seen before, seasonal displays of azaleas (think Mother’s Day), mums, the house of 175 rooms (not all accessible to the public) dressed up for Yuletide, trees, some of which are very old — all lovingly cared for by knowledgeable, courteous, and committed staff. Winterthur also plays a leadership role in conservation, the latest techniques for care of these gardens, and research in their stewardship of this beautiful place. I love Winterthur!

    Thanks for sharing, Bonnie. I love that they also publish seasonal playlists on Spotify.

    📧 What are you enjoying out there? This is your spot to shine. Send your special stories and moments in an email — with a picture, if you have one. You may see it featured here.

    Predicting the unpredictable

    🎤 Now we’re passing the microphone to Tony Wood, our resident expert on all things about the atmosphere.

    Never in the history of meteorology have so many been so warned so often about severe weather.

    Yet so many of those cardiac-challenging smartphone alerts and fireball images on laptops and TV screens appear to evaporate without incident.

    In other cases, flooding downpours and damaging winds show up hours later than forecasts had suggested.

    And atmospheric mayhem has been known to occur with little or no notice.

    The short answer is, the science has limits, and so do the humans. — Tony Wood

    It’s all in Wood’s report. Discover the challenges and intricacies of weather forecasting in our area.

    Paola’s picks

    ☀️ A song: “Weather Instrument” by Starcleaner Reunion.

    ❤️ An appreciation post: “The beautiful and mighty Wissahickon.”

    🐦 A good read: Unlikely birds with Tom Pluck.

    🍿 An activity: Watch Hoppers at Thomas Stokley Playground (Friday, free), and stop by City Tavern’s reopened garden.

    🦟 A lifehack: How mosquito experts protect themselves in the summer.

    A sparkling view

    Breathe in … and breathe out. I filmed this by the Schuylkill River along Kelly Drive.

    👋🏽 This newsletter is taking a break in observance of the Fourth of July. Rest assured, we will be back July 10. Until then, have fun and be safe out there.

    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.

  • ☀️ It’s officially summer | Things to do

    ☀️ It’s officially summer | Things to do

    Summer officially arrived this week, and Philly is wasting no time. World Cup matches return to Lincoln Financial Field, festivals are filling parks across the city, and outdoor concerts are kicking into high gear. If you’ve been waiting for the season to feel like summer, this is the weekend.

    Also in this week’s edition:

    • Fiesta at LOVE Park: Stop by one of the largest Latino arts and culture celebrations in Philadelphia.
    • Hershey’s Soccerland at Dilworth Park: Chocolate, soccer, and family activities at City Hall. What more can you ask for?
    • Noah Kahan at CBP: The folk-pop, singer-songwriter takes over Citizens Bank Park for “The Great Divide” tour.

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

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

    FIFA World Cup 26: Curaçao vs. Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana vs. Croatia

    Jimmy Coilliot of Lille, France cheers after France took a 1-0 lead in the first half of the France vs. Iraq 2026 FIFA World Cup Group 1 soccer match at Philadelphia Stadium on Monday, June 22, 2026.

    The Curaçao national team, among the most inspiring underdogs at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is taking on Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday at Lincoln Financial Field.

    It will be a hotly contested matchup between the two Group E teams. After a loss to Germany last week, Côte d’Ivoire is looking to bounce back in hopes of landing the No. 1 spot in their group.

    Curaçao, nicknamed The Blue Wave, is looking to secure the team’s first win not only in this year’s tournament, but in World Cup history.

    On Saturday, the fierce competitions continue. Croatia and Ghana will go head to head in what could be an upset matchup.

    More about the matches.

    The best things to do this week

    🕺🏽Shake your tambourine: Philly-born rapper, TV host, author, and actor Eve is coming home for a one-night concert at the at the Dell Music Center. The performance, part of WaWa Welcome America events, is also a celebration of Black Music Month. The event will conclude with a firework display.

    🍫 A sweet time kicking it at City Hall: Hershey’s Soccerland at Dilworth Park is a three-day pop-up where soccer, family, and chocolate collide. Visitors can enjoy fun activities, mini activations, and interactive games. Plus, they can get their hands on a limited edition Christian Pulisic Hershey milk chocolate bar.

    🧙🏽‍♂️ The Wizard is here: The Philadelphia Orchestra will bring the iconic film The Wizard of Oz to life. While the film plays on screen, the orchestra will perform the movie’s score, giving long-time fans of the film a viewing experience unlike anything they’ve had before.

    💃🏽 Kid-friendly cabaret: Kidchella, a free outdoor music event at Smith Memorial Playground, is delivering performances spanning Mexican son jarocho fusion, Brazilian percussion, Afrocentric R&B and dance, and family-style cabaret. The night will be capped off with fireworks.

    📅 My calendar picks this week: North Broad Music & Morsels, Philly Fairy Festival, Culture Fest at Liberty Point, Harrowgate Summerfest, Germantown Art & Sound

    Concilio’s Annual Hispanic Fiesta at LOVE Park

    FILE: A skateboarder “jumps the LOVE Gap” in LOVE Park November 8, 2015.

    Concilio’s Hispanic Fiesta, one of Philly’s largest celebrations of Latino arts, culture, community, and tradition is back at LOVE Park this Saturday.

    The annual festival is headlined by Latin Grammy Award-winning singer Olga Taùón, known for hits like “Es Mentiroso” and “Muchacho Malo.”

    Her performance will cap off a full day of live music, dance performances, food vendors offering authentic Hispanic cuisine, cultural exhibits, and interactive games and family-friendly activities.

    For more information, read here.

    Summer fun this week and beyond

    Noah Kahan performs during the Pre-Grammy Gala on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

    🎸 The Great Divide at CBP: Noah Kahan is up at bat at Citizens Bank Park. The pop-folk superstar, known for hits like “Stick Season,” is heading to CBP for his “The Great Divide” tour. Openers include Gigi Perez and Annabelle Dinda.

    🎉 Celebrations at the Navy Yard: Who says the Navy Yard is just all industrial boats and cargo? Head to the Navy Yard for an afternoon of live music, delicious food, local art and craft vendors, and other fun activities for visitors of all ages.

    🎡 Go back in time: The Lits Building will be the host of Revisit 1876, a six-month exhibition that showcases the stories, sights, and extravagance of the first World’s Fair in North America. The country’s first typewriter, telephone, popcorn, and seltzer will be among the items displayed at the event, which celebrates the nation’s centennial.

    🎨 Restorative justice at the Barnes: The Barnes Foundation’s new exhibition, Just Us, features original artwork crafted by artists at State Correctional Institution — Phoenix, and members of Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Rec Crew — a 24-week job readiness and life skills program for young adults. The exhibition kicks off this Friday and runs through Aug. 24.

    Staffer picks

    Here’s a list of the best concerts happening this week.

    D.C. rapper Wale performs a homecoming show Nov. 15 at the Theater at MGM National Harbor in Maryland. MUST CREDIT: Shaughn Cooper

    🎤 Thursday: Buffalo rapper Conway the Machine, fresh off his 2025 album You Can’t Kill God With Bullets, is bringing the heat to the Foundry on Thursday night.

    🎸 Friday: The Strokes, Thundercat, and Hamilton Leithauser join hands for a star-studded performance at the TD Pavilion at the Mann Center.

    🎤 Saturday: Wale, who quietly dropped one of rap’s best and most underappreciated bodies of work, is headlining at The Fillmore Philly with fellow emcee and St. Louis native Smino.

    🎺 Sunday: For a Harlem-themed jazz party at South Restaurant & Jazz Club, Brooklyn-born, Harlem-based vocalist and songwriter Allan Harris will be headlining the night on Sunday.

    ❓Pop quiz

    When did the Lit Brothers building first open?

    a) 1871

    b) 1891

    c) 1903

    d) 1769

    Ask Earl anything

    I’m starting something new for the newsletter, and I want your participation.

    Many of you have questions about each week’s listings, and others about Philly’s arts, culture, and entertainment scene.

    I have you covered. Have a question? Email me for a chance to have it answered in an upcoming newsletter.

    That’s it for this week’s edition. At the start of the summer, there’s always plenty to do. But with the FIFA World Cup in full swing, and other events centered on the semiquincentennial celebration, there’s far more to explore than usual. Make sure to work these into your weekend plans.

    – Earl Hopkins

    Courtesy of Giphy.com
  • The biggest America 250 events from now through July 4

    The biggest America 250 events from now through July 4

    There’s a reason the Wall Street Journal (and Travel + Leisure, CNN, the New York Times, National Geographic, the BBC, and others) tapped Philadelphia as a top place to visit in 2026.

    The city has already been a hive of activity this summer — and it’s about to get even busier as the city gears up for America’s 250th birthday.

    There’s a packed calendar of events between now and Independence Day, and countless ways to get in on the celebration.

    From soccer to ballet, art to history, the region’s upcoming events calendar has something for everyone.

    ArtPhilly’s What Now

    This inaugural citywide arts festival has been running strong since late-May, but the coming weeks offer a deep slate of programming ahead of the July 4 weekend.

    Launched to “foreground our city’s artists as interpreters of this complex moment in American history,” the multidisciplinary festival includes puppetry, dance, music, books, film, and more through July 2.

    The lead-up to Independence Day features multiple exhibitions and events, many of them free, making it an affordable way to celebrate the nation’s milestone birthday.

    For a full schedule, check out ArtPhilly.org.

    🕒 Various dates and times, 💵 Prices vary, 📍 Various locations, 🌐 artphilly.org

    A view of the new conservatory (background) in October 2024 at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pa.

    ‘Masterworks 3: Made in America‘

    The Brandywine Valley Symphony will perform “Masterworks 3: Made in America” in the open-air venue at Longwood Gardens. Before the concert, organizers for Dare to Declare will attempt the region’s largest public reading of the Declaration of Independence.

    🕒 June 25, 7 p.m., 💵 $20-$65, 📍 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, 🌐 bvsymphony.org

    Independence Week Events at the National Constitution Center

    Play trivia, test your knowledge against a historian, and attend a town hall on the “shared principles at the heart of the American idea.” It’s all free and part of the weeklong lead-up to July 4, when the National Constitution Center celebrates America’s 250th birthday.

    🕒 June 29-July 4, times vary, 💵 Free, 📍 525 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19106, 🌐 constitutioncenter.org

    Gospel on Independence

    Headlined by 20-time Grammy winner Kirk Franklin, this two-hour gospel music celebration features a choir of more than 250 voices against the backdrop of Independence Hall. Seating is first-come, first-served.

    🕒 June 28, 7 p.m., 💵 Free, 📍 599 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19106, 🌐 july4thphilly.com.

    A worker prepares to raise the head of a fire-breathing dragon lantern in preparation for the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival at Franklin Square this year.

    Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square

    The festival is back with a special nod to the global events arriving in Philadelphia this summer. Handmade sculptures take over Franklin Square, with nightly performances held on three stages: face-changing, table foot-juggling, and head-balancing.

    🕒 Open daily between now and Aug. 2, 💵 Adults $28-$32, with discounts for children and seniors, 📍 200 N. Sixth St., Philadelphia, PA 19106, 🌐 phillychineselanternfestival.com

    Cam Gorman, 23, of Gilbertsville, Pa., cheering with Philly Sports Guy at the FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill, as USA beats Australia on June 19.

    FIFA World Cup ’26 and FIFA Fan Festival

    With the U.S. team still battling for a title, what better way to celebrate the lead-up to 250th birthday than by cheering on the team in the World Cup?

    The tournament, with several matches hosted in Philadelphia, has transformed the city into a summer-long party. Much of the action centers on the Fan Festival at Lemon Hill, where visitors can enjoy music, food, drinks, and watch parties. Admission is free, though preregistration is required.

    Two Round of 16 matches are scheduled for July 4, at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., though the participating teams have yet to be determined. The 5 p.m. game will be played at Lincoln Financial Field.

    🕒 Various dates and times, 💵 Free (registration required), 📍 Lemon Hill Park, 1 Lemon Hill Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19130, 🌐 phillyfwc26.com.

    Welcome America, including the Red, White & Blue To-Do

    Philadelphia’s Historic District goes all out with a full day of events welcoming visitors to America’s “most historic square mile.” Highlights include a giant human Liberty Bell, plus a block party and street music festival featuring more than two dozen acts. At 7 p.m., Queen Latifah performs with the Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus on Independence Mall. A 13-minute drone show follows later that evening.

    🕒 July 2, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., 💵 Free, 📍 Philadelphia’s Historic District, 🌐 july4thphilly.com

    Dan St. Mary poses for a portrait with his bubble dispenser during the Salute to Independence Parade on July 4, 2025, in Center City.

    Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade

    This year’s parade features an extended route, along with 50 marching bands, 19 floats, and tributes to all 50 states and U.S. territories. The event begins at 5th and Chestnut Streets and winds through Center City before ending near Broad and Chestnut Streets. Feel like skipping the crowds? Catch it live on NBC 10.

    🕒 July 3, noon to 4 p.m., 💵 Free, 📍 Independence Hall to Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 🌐 july4thphilly.com

    Pops on Independence

    The Philly Pops are joined by Broadway legend Idina Menzel for a two-hour concert on the eve of Independence Day. A pre-show block party featuring food trucks and giveaways begins at 5 p.m. Seating is first-come, first-served.

    🕒 July 3, 7 p.m., 💵 Free, 📍 599 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19106, 🌐 july4thphilly.com

    Musket firing will be a part of the Independence Day Celebration at Valley Forge National Historical Park.

    Valley Forge National Historical Park’s 50th Birthday

    Valley Forge marks 50 years as a national historical park with three days of commemorative programming, including Revolutionary War reenactors, musket firings, and artillery demonstrations.

    SEPTA Bus 125 will get you to the park, and a park shuttle runs throughout the celebration from July 3-5. Plus, there are bike rentals on-site. All events are free to attend, and you can find a complete schedule of the weekend’s events at the National Park Service website.

    🕒 July 3-5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, 💵 Free, 📍 North Outer Line Drive in Valley Forge National Historical Park, 🌐 nps.gov.

    Independence Weekend at the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center

    A three-day slate of activities begins July 3 with extended First Friday hours at the Heritage Center and an evening car show at the East Greenville Fire Co. The next day features a parade, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, performances by the Brandywine Colonials Fife and Drum Corps and the Red Hill Band, followed by fireworks. On July 5, the Heritage Center hosts a free family-friendly event from noon to 4 p.m. with exhibits and refreshments.

    🕒 July 3-5, times vary, 💵 Free, 📍 Various locations, 🌐 schwenkfelder.org.

    Celebration of Freedom Ceremony

    In addition to musical performances from Yolanda Adams and DJ Diamond Kuts, a collection of speakers — including Philly Mayor Cherelle L. Parker — are slated to reflect on the nation’s history on the morning of its 250th birthday.

    🕒 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., July 4, 💵 Free, 📍 599 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19106, 🌐 visitphilly.com

    Betsy Ross House Patriotic Pet Parade

    The courtyard of the Betsy Ross House will be filled with animals on the morning of July 4, during the annual patriotic pet parade and costume contest. Pets will be judged in five categories — Most Patriotic, Best Betsy Ross Influence, Best Duo with Owner, Best Non-Canine, and Best in Show — so make sure they arrive dressed to impress.

    🕒 10:30 a.m., July 4, 💵 Free (pet registration required), 📍 239 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19106, 🌐 historicphiladelphia.org

    Christina Aguilera, pictured here in 2016 in Morocco, is one of several musicians performing at this year’s One Philly: Unity Concert for America on July 4.

    One Philly: Unity Concert for America

    This July 4 star-studded concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway features Christina Aguilera, The Roots, Jill Scott, Meek Mill, Will Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Seal, and others.. Comedian Wanda Sykes serves as host. Doors open at 3 p.m., and performances begin at 5 p.m.

    🕒 5 p.m. to midnight, July 4, 💵 Free, 📍 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 🌐 visitphilly.com.

  • Where to watch Fourth of July fireworks in Philly, the suburbs, South Jersey, and the Shore

    Where to watch Fourth of July fireworks in Philly, the suburbs, South Jersey, and the Shore

    This Fourth of July will be unlike any in recent memory. As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, Philadelphia and the surrounding region are packed with celebrations — and fireworks displays. From the city and suburbs to South Jersey and the Shore, there are dozens of opportunities to catch a show.

    Whether you’re staying in Philadelphia, heading to the suburbs, or spending the holiday down the Shore, here’s where to find Fourth of July fireworks across the region.

    Fireworks in Philadelphia

    Fireworks after the San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park on July 2, 2025.

    Fireworks in Bucks County

    Fireworks in Chester County

    Fireworks in Delaware County

    Fireworks in Montgomery County

    Fireworks in Allentown

    Fireworks in South Jersey

    A view of Atlantic City’s fireworks from the Marina. (Courtesy of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority)

    Fireworks at the Jersey Shore

  • The man, the myth, the bar crawl: Jenkintown goes all out for Nic Cage-themed night

    The man, the myth, the bar crawl: Jenkintown goes all out for Nic Cage-themed night

    In an unbearably massive oversight, the city of Philadelphia has left National Treasure Nicolas Cage completely out of its Semiquincentennial festivities, despite the fact that he’s the only known person to have stolen the Declaration of Independence and climbed Independence Hall free solo in the last 250 years.

    But fear not, for a group of suburban bars have mustered to pay homage to this chameleon king of cinema, this skin-shedding Snake Eyes of the silver screen with their revolutionary event: “Uncaged in Jenkintown: A Nic Cage cocktail crawl.”

    Nic nugget: Cage has portrayed twice as many people as there were members of the First Continental Congress.

    From 4 to 8 p.m. June 28, four Jenkintown bars within stumbling distance of each other — the Keep Easy, the Drake Tavern, Buckets Bar, and Kings Corner — will be featuring Cage-themed cocktails, showing Cage movies, and hosting “Cage matches.”

    Songs from Cage’s films will be performed live in an alley, the local movie theater is hosting a late-night screening of a Cage film, and, for the Wild at Heart, even a tattoo parlor is getting in on the festivities.

    Nic nugget: Cage has a tattoo of a lizard wearing a top hat.

    In an Adaptation of a typical bar crawl, participants who register for this event will receive a pretty Kick Ass “Uncaged Cocktail Crawl Kit” filled with goodies that would be a Dream Scenario for any Cage fan.

    Mel Hager — an owner of the Keep Easy who described her Cage fandom as “AhaHAhahAA [maniacal Cage laughter] OUTRAGEOUS OOooOO!!” — said the participating bars host a Festivus-themed crawl during the holidays and they wanted to create a summer-themed crawl too (luckily, there’s no chance of getting Snowden at this time of year).

    “Who doesn’t like Nic Cage?” she said. “It’s insane how he puts in the work. Every time I turn around I’m like ‘Is he a robot? How does he do so many movies?’ He’s an enigma but yet he does seem like all of us but also maybe he’s an alien? I don’t know, but it’s fantastic.”

    Nic nugget: Cage has never played an alien, but he was convinced he was one as a kid.

    The event is free to attend, but participants who want to compete for Cage-themed prizes will need to either preregister online for $15 or register in person the day of at the same price to receive their Uncaged kit. Each kit contains one of five random Cage masks to be worn during face-offs against opponents in “Cage matches.”

    Every bar will have its own Cage match competition that will pit two players in a tête-à-tête game based on a different Cage movie to determine who’s the Lord of War. The game at Buckets, for example, is called the “Flying Elvis” and it’s based on the scene in Honeymoon in Vegas where Cage goes skydiving with a group of Elvis impersonators. Contestants will have to throw toy parachute soldiers (hand-painted to look like Elvis) to see who can land them closest to a tiny mock-up of the Vegas strip.

    The games are designed to move quickly, with each Gone in 60 Seconds or so.

    Nic nugget: When Cage is gone he will be buried in a 9-foot-tall white stone pyramid he had built in a New Orleans cemetery.

    For every challenge won, participants will get a stamp in their Cage pub passport, which is included with the kit. At 7:30 p.m., an awards ceremony will be held and those with the most stamps will receive Cage-themed prizes. Hey, It Could Happen to You.

    Cage crawlers are also urged to get stamps in their passport for every Cage-themed beverage they consume. The Keep Easy will be serving “Mandy’s Electric Lemonade,” a reference to the surreal horror film, Mandy, that’s made with blue Curaçao, a libation just as colorful as Cage’s career.

    “We’re trying to bring out his spirit in our spirits,” Hager said.

    Also included in the kit is a photo scavenger hunt with challenges at every establishment, like snapping a picture with Picolas Cage, a life-size cut-out of Cage as a pickle (he’s kind of a big dill).

    “We had Picolas Cage already because we had a pickle crawl one year and I love Nic Cage…so he’s making a comeback,” Hager said, gherkin out.

    Those who preregister will also receive a piece of Cage cash, a very not legal form of tender with Cage’s face on it that will get you a specialty shot at one of the four participating bars, if you want to cash it in.

    Nic nugget: Cage once spent $276,000 on a dinosaur skull he later had to turn over to the Mongolian government.

    A Nic Cage-themed bar crawl? Just take our money now.

    During the crawl, local musician Gerard Regan will Rage in nearby Yorkway Alley, playing songs from Cage movies. Prior to the festivities, Nobleheart Tattoo Gallery will have a special on Cage-themed tats from 1 to 4 p.m. And following the crawl at 9:30 p.m., the Hiway Theater will show Cage’s 1988 film, Vampire’s Kiss, if you have Time to Kill.

    Costumes are encouraged and given that Cage has portrayed every kind of character from an angel to a vampire, the possibilities are endless. So get Primal with it, because you don’t want to be Left Behind.

    “It’s like the whole town is getting involved,” Hager said. “Like Nic Cage would, just come on out and have fun. You deserve it.”

    For more information on Uncaged in Jenkintown, visit the event’s Facebook page. To preregister for the crawl visit: uncagedinjenkintown.bigcartel.com.

  • A perfect summer weekend on Seven Mile Island | Field Trip

    A perfect summer weekend on Seven Mile Island | Field Trip

    Yes, Memorial Day weekend is the official start of summer, but there’s a pleasant lull down the Shore between then and when kids get out of school. These are the final moments to enjoy the excellent weather and relative serenity of the microseason, and Seven Mile Island — home to the bougie siblings of Stone Harbor and Avalon — has rolled out the white-sand carpet.

    These towns contain some of the most expensive real estate at the Jersey Shore, and in the height of the summer, staying anywhere nice is prohibitively expensive for anyone who is not on a Comcast C-suite salary or whose grandparents didn’t buy a house in 1975. This is another benefit of visiting before July 4. Rates are lower, reservations are easier, and the line at Springer’s is only slightly less insane.

    Start the car.

    Stay: ICONA Avalon

    Situated right in the center of Seven Mile, at the southern end of Avalon, beachfront ICONA has the location edge over the island’s other luxury hideout, the Reeds at Shelter Haven, which is convenient to Stone Harbor’s 96th Street shopping district. Both properties are expensive, but you can still find some lingering June rates under $400 a night. ICONA’s beach is beautiful and peaceful, with a breezy bar and lounge between the property and the shoreline, and Avalon Brew Pub is a popular canteen for locals and Shoobies alike.

    📍 7849 Dune Dr., Avalon, N.J. 08202

    Shop: Pete Smith’s Surf Shop

    The origins of Pete Smith’s Surf Shop lie in Virginia Beach, but the boutique has been part of the Jersey Shore for decades. The Stone Harbor location, spread across two storefronts, stocks men’s and women’s swimwear, woolly shackets for chilly nights, and enough Sun Bum for the entire summer. Pick up a branded T-shirt; Pete’s releases a new design every Christmas.

    📍 285 96th St., Stone Harbor, N.J. 08247

    Learn: The Wetlands Institute

    Whether you’re visiting the Shore with kids or simply marine-curious, the Wetlands Institute, located just before crossing the bridge into Stone Harbor, makes a perfect stop. Learn about the local terrapin turtles, pet a sea star in the touch tank, or walk along the marsh trail and elevated boardwalk for views of an integral Jersey ecosystem that most of us rarely see up close.

    📍 1075 Stone Harbor Blvd., Stone Harbor, N.J. 08247

    Surf: Avalon Surf Camp

    Don’t be dissuaded by the multitude of kids on Avalon Surf Camp’s website. Their instructors teach wannabe surfers of all ages and experience levels through group and private lessons on 12th Street beach at the north end of Avalon. The camp provides everything you need: boards, wetsuits, and a working knowledge of the ocean’s mercurial temperament before ever getting in the water. With a little luck and a little wind, you’ll be up on a board by noon.

    📍 12th Street Beach, Avalon, N.J. 08202

    Relax: 7 Mile Island Massage

    Because surfing is a workout, and because you’re a good person who deserves nice things, book a treatment with 7 Mile Island Massage. This isn’t a spa but a mobile studio that comes to you. Owner and therapist Nik Pattantyus, who’s also a registered nurse and avid stand-up paddleboarder, will set up in your hotel suite, on the back porch of your rental house, or wherever else you happen to be staying. In addition to deep-tissue, reflexology, and other massage styles, he’s recently added manual lymphatic drainage to the menu.

    The fire wood grill cooking various meats at La Portena in Stone Harbor, N.J., on Thursday, June 12, 2025.

    Dine: La PorteĂąa

    Lucas Manteca has been cooking down the Shore for two decades, and La Porteña, a few blocks from his Quahog’s seafood tavern, is his most personal project yet. The menu and family-style format draw from the chef’s Argentine heritage. Every table receives a spread of snacks and salads to share, including Manteca’s famous empanadas, followed by each diner’s choice of entrée: New York strip, short ribs, Iberico pork secreto, and more. At the time of this writing, dessert is dulce de leche rice pudding with compressed rhubarb. Make reservations.

    📍 9426 Third Ave., Stone Harbor, N.J. 08247

    Indulge: Springer’s Homemade Ice Cream

    The line stretching from the white-sided front porch of Springer’s Homemade Ice Cream down Third Avenue is legendary. You might run into your college lacrosse coach, the kids you babysat who are now disconcertingly grown and lifeguarding on 88th Street, or the local girl you spent that one magical summer with in 10th grade. Springer’s has been scooping since the early 1900s, and the nostalgia it inspires is as much a part of the appeal as flavors like banana fudge, the slightly salty butterscotch brickle, and Cookies in My Coffee, crushed Oreos veined through dark coffee ice cream. Worth the wait, always.

    📍 9420 Third Ave., Stone Harbor, N.J. 08247

  • TSA closes Terminal C checkpoint at PHL Airport due to staffing shortages

    TSA closes Terminal C checkpoint at PHL Airport due to staffing shortages

    The Transportation Security Administration temporarily closed the Terminal C security checkpoint at Philadelphia International Airport on Thursday morning.

    “Due to staffing constraints related to the government shutdown, the TSA, in collaboration with the airport, is temporarily closing the Terminal C checkpoint,” said PHL spokesperson Heather Redfern.

    All other security checkpoints remain open, and TSA PreCheck passengers can use the designated lanes at the Terminal A-East and D/E checkpoints. There is no timeline for when Terminal C will be back up and running.

    “We encourage you to check the MyTSA app or the airport’s website to find current wait times and to arrive early to the airport,” said an American Airlines spokesperson. “We are grateful for our federal partners at TSA who continue to ensure safe travel for our customers.”

    The scene at the TSA checkpoint line in Terminal B at Philadelphia International Airport on Sunday morning, Nov. 9, 2025.

    The TSA is experiencing a lapse in funding, alongside other Department of Homeland Security agencies, because its budget has not been passed by Congress.

    In January, federal lawmakers narrowly avoided another full government shutdown by approving budgets for all federal agencies except the Department of Homeland Security. Republicans and President Donald Trump agreed to carve out the DHS budget for further negotiations as Democrats want to put more guardrails on federal immigration enforcement.

    There have been a couple of attempts at passing the DHS budget, but neither side has budged on its demands. The only Senate Democrat to support funding DHS is Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman.

    At this point, there is no end in sight to the DHS shutdown and, by proxy, the lapse in TSA funding that is leading to staff shortages across the country, including Philadelphia’s airport.

  • Big pizza, skyline views, and waterfront strolls in Jersey City, N.J. | Field Trip

    Big pizza, skyline views, and waterfront strolls in Jersey City, N.J. | Field Trip

    Most Philadelphians’ experience with Jersey City begins and ends at the mouth of the Holland Tunnel on the way into Lower Manhattan. Except for those who know food.

    Jersey City is one of the state’s best towns for eating and drinking, supported by long-standing immigration and cross-river relocation from New York. Between meals, you’ll find a city that’s at turns gritty and lovely, neighborly and human-scale in a way that makes it feel, to Philadelphians, as warm and familiar as a Champion sweatsuit. (It also has a really nice waterfront from which we could learn a thing or two.)

    It’s only 90 miles and about 90 minutes away, depending on traffic. And if you must, you can easily pair it with a visit to New York.

    Start the car.

    Stay: Hyatt House Jersey City

    A hotel with a story to tell — whether it’s luxurious or eccentric or charming — is always ideal for a weekend getaway. But when corporate keys are what’s available, you can do much worse than Hyatt’s Hyatt House sub-brand. Jersey City’s Hyatt House is relatively new and reliably clean, with great beds, a rooftop deck, and a modicum of style. What more could you ask for? How about a skyline view? Upgraded rooms facing Manhattan are bookable in April for under $300.

    📍 1 Exchange Pl., Jersey City, N.J. 07302

    Snack: Bread and Salt

    “Bakery” is a limiting descriptor for what Rick Easton does at Bread and Salt on Palisade Avenue, opposite the Hoboken border. Sugared bomboloni, esoteric Italian cookies and crostadas, suppli, thin-crusted pizzas, cups of stewy beans begging for a heel of crusty bread, curly punatarelle salad, Lent-friendly fish specials on Fridays. It’s an inspiring operation. Get more than you think you need. Then get more to bring home.

    📍 435 Palisade Ave., Jersey City, N.J. 07307

    Stroll: Liberty State Park

    Hemmed in by the NJ Turnpike extension and the Hudson River, Liberty State Park encompasses 1,200 acres of greenspace (about half under ongoing revitalization) and miles of scenic waterfront trails perfect for spring strolling. Pause at the 9/11 Empty Sky Memorial. If you’re traveling with kids (or adult dinosaur fans), check out the immersive T. Rex Experience at Liberty Science Center, whose planetarium dome you’ve probably seen from the Turnpike driving home from New York.

    📍 1 Audrey Zapp Dr., Jersey City, N.J. 07305

    Visit: Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island

    Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are typically associated with New York, not New Jersey, but the sites actually fall under an unusual joint-custody arrangement. It’s also much less of a headache to visit from Jersey City; no downtown traffic to get through, way thinner crowds. The ferry departs right from the Liberty State Park and visits both islands in a single ticketed experience.

    📍 1 Audrey Zapp Dr., Jersey City, N.J. 07305

    Drink: San Patricios

    No one: You know what we really need in Jersey City? An Irish-Mexican cocktail bar. The acclaimed Dead Rabbit crew: Bienvenidos a San Patricios. Open last year, the cantina/pub celebrates the little-known 19th-century brotherhood between Ireland and Mexico. Stop in before dinner for something thematic: a palmona spiked with Irish moonshine, frozen horchata cafĂŠ con leche with Lost Irish Whiskey, or the Countess, a rum-and-Guinness hibiscus mule.

    📍 8 Erie St. A, Jersey City, N.J. 07302

    Dine: Razza

    At Razza, Dan Richer makes some of the best pizzas in the county, a mix of reliables (the fermented chile-flamed Calabrese; the yellow-and-red tomato pie dusted in 36-month-old Parm-Reg) and hyperseasonal creations like last spring’s mosaic of mozzarella, asparagus, nettles, spinach, and ramp pesto. Bread and butter might seem redundant when you’re having pizza for dinner, but you cannot miss the tawny, crusty sourdough, served with tangy house-cultured butter made from grass-fed Pennsylvania cows.

    📍 275 Grove St., Jersey City, N.J. 07302

    Indulge: Torico Ice Cream

    Family-owned and spanning three generations, Torico Ice Cream is the charming scoop shop every neighborhood wishes it had. Towering atop house-made waffle cones, you’ll find classics like chocolate-marshmallow, mint-chip, and a notably excellent strawberry, but Torico’s secret sauce is the tropical ice creams and sorbet like passionfruit, guava, and soursop that nod to the Berrios clan’s native Puerto Rico.

    📍 20 Erie St., Jersey City, N.J. 07302

  • 🐾 Pet Expo, F1 opener, and new East Market eatery | Things to do

    🐾 Pet Expo, F1 opener, and new East Market eatery | Things to do

    The forecast may show signs of showers this weekend, but don’t let the skies rain down on your weekend parade.

    This week, there will be a treasure trove of events to kick off Women’s History Month. That includes the opening of a reimagined Shakespearean classic, a watch party for F1 fanatics, a competition for the pun-obsessed, and an expo for pet lovers across the region.

    Read below to make your weekend plans purrfect.

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

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

    Philadelphia Ballet dancer Mayara Pineiro in Angel Corella’s “Carmen.”

    Philadelphia Ballet’s 2026-27 season brings the fireworks for America’s 250th birthday

    As the nation prepares to celebrate its Semiquincentennial, my colleague Ellen Dunkel writes that the Philadelphia Ballet will be bringing the fireworks in its 2026-27 season opener.

    For the upcoming season, the company is leaning into American classics and other favorites, while also establishing a home for itself on North Broad Street.

    The season opens Oct. 8 with a celebratory, all-Americana program called, “Stars and Stripes Forever.” The following programs will feature Christopher Wheeldon’s DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse, Wayne McGregor’s Chroma, and Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room.

    Read more about their upcoming season here.

    The best things to do this week

    🐕 Animal lovers, rejoice: The Greater Philadelphia Expo will be filled with pets in all shapes and sizes. This year’s Greater Philadelphia Pet Expo will feature pet product and service vendors, animal training demos, pet agility courses, dog acrobats, and more family-friendly attractions.

    🏎️ F1 season opener celebration: For the 2026 Australian Grand Prix opener, Center City’s F1 Arcade is kicking off the start of racing season with a late-night watch party, complete with small bites, live DJs, and prizes for F1 fanatics.

    🎭 Is something, punny?: Stop by Helium Comedy Club this Saturday for some afternoon pun. The region’s best punners will go head-to-head on stage at Philly’s first and only pun comedy competition.

    📅 My calendar picks this week: Passyunk Restaurant Week, the Philadelphia Flower Show, and First Friday at Cherry St. Pier.

    A platter of taco dorados, huevos rellenos, croquetas, naranjas enchiladas, empanadas de mariscos, and chicarrones at Mi Vida in Philadelphia, Pa., on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.

    The thing of the week: East Market gets a splashy Mexican restaurant from D.C.

    Inquirer restaurant reporter Michael Klein writes about the opening of Mi Vida, a new Mexican restaurant located at East Market.

    The original Washington D.C.-based eatery comes from restaurateur Jason Berry, who runs Knead Hospitality & Design, with his husband, Michael Reginbogin.

    In 2022, Berry came up to Philadelphia for a Wharton reunion. He was approached by a real estate broker, who mentioned an available space at the $400 million East Market project.

    Four years later, Berry and Reginbogin have opened Mi Vida, a “splashy Mexican restaurant with moody lighting and rich pops of color,” Klein writes.

    Read more about the new restaurant opening here.

    Winter fun this week and beyond

    👭🏽 All things women’s history: For the next few weeks, there will be Women’s History Month celebrations taking place across the region. The Museum of the American Revolution has also revealed an exhibition that honors revolutionary women. There’s also a monthlong program series at Eastern State Penitentiary, and an additional slate of programs at the National Constitution Center for those looking to dig deeper into the history of women change makers.

    🖊️ Remembering Elie Wiesel: Eliezer “Elie” Wiesel was born in Romania and then came to the US where he became a writer, professor, and political activist. In 1986, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. A documentary honoring the Holocaust survivor’s life, Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire, plays on March 9, 7 p.m. at Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church.

    💫 Walk among the stars: An outdoor celestial light show, featuring lights, projections, sound effects, and music, will guide visitors through an illuminated forest at Astra Lumina Philadelphia as part of the Lumina Enchanted Night Walk series.

    🎭 What would you do for love?: Award-winning director Amina Robinson reimagines the classic Shakespearean classic, Romeo and Juliet. The production will play at Arden Theatre Company through April 5.

    🇺🇸 The forgotten freedom: The new exhibit, “The Forgotten Freedom: American Assembly at 250,” explores the freedom of assembly’s history, artistic expression, and future at the National Liberty Museum. The exhibit, officially opening on Friday, will feature artifacts of the nation’s founding to iconic moments like Woodstock and Live Aid. For a sneak peak, here are tickets to the VIP preview party happening on Thursday.

    Staffer picks

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

    🎸 Thursday: Top-notch shoegaze-slash punk rock will be served at Nikki Lopez on this double bill. The Brooklyn band Mx Lonely, fronted by singer Rae Haas, will headline the show with Philly punk quartet Wax Jaw as the opening act.

    🎤 Friday: Robert Glasper, the pianist, producer, and bandleader, has music that spans R&B, hip-hop, jazz, and beyond. The five-time Grammy winner will bring his musical magic to Union Transfer Friday night.

    🎸 Saturday: The four-time Grammy winning Mexican pop-rock band MANÁ cranks up the volume in Philly on their Vivir Sin Aire tour stop at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    🎤 Sunday: Cat Power, the remarkable song interpreter Chan Marshall, will lead a six-piece band featuring Philly guitarist and former Delta 72 leader Gregg Foreman, at Union Transfer for her “The Greatest Tour” stop.

    There’s a mixed bag of pet-friendly, pun-filled, and racing die-hards this weekend. Don’t miss out before the weekend-finish.

    — Earl Hopkins

    Cats
  • Whiskey history, covered bridges, and mountain luxury in Bedford, Pa. | Field Trip

    Whiskey history, covered bridges, and mountain luxury in Bedford, Pa. | Field Trip

    In the 1790s, a coterie of Western Pennsylvanians rose up against a federal tax on whiskey. Unlike the Boston Tea Party, these protesters had representation in our young nation, but they still didn’t appreciate the taxation on the valuable product made from their excess grain. President George Washington rode in and staged a 13,000-strong militia outside Bedford — a settlement that had already played a vital role in the French and Indian War and was in its infancy as a tourism destination thanks to its salubrious mineral springs — and squashed what became known as the Whiskey Rebellion.

    For such a small town (less than 3,000 residents), Bedford casts an outsize historical shadow in Pennsylvania. Add one of America’s oldest luxury resorts still in operation, robust trout fishing, and pristine wilderness, and you’ve got an ideal spring road trip, about three and a half hours west of Philly.

    Start the car.

    Stay: Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa

    Bedford is a one-horse town when it comes to hotels, but that’s no diss on Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa. A bucolic compound of Greek Revival and Victorian buildings, this National Historic Landmark got its start in the late 1700s, when local doctor John Anderson bought the land and began building accommodations around its mineral-rich springs. (Thomas Jefferson was a fan.) Today, it’s a sprawling resort with more than 200 rooms, a botanical-inspired spa, two pools — the indoor one ranks among the oldest in the country — and grand lawns studded with firepits where families gather with s’mores and mountain pies.

    📍 2198 Sweet Root Rd., Bedford, Pa. 15522

    Fish: Yellow Creek

    Dozens of streams and creeks slice through the woods of Bedford County, making it a hugely popular fly-fishing spot in the spring. Yellow Creek, a trout-stocked limestone tributary of the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River, runs 10 miles through Loysburg and Hopewell, just northeast of Bedford. If you’ve got your own gear, you can fish independently, but for more of a guided experience, book a tour with local outfitter Trout Yeah.

    📍Yellow Creek, Bedford County, Pa.

    Cross: Hall’s Mill Covered Bridge

    Historic covered bridges crisscross the waterways of Bedford, and you can visit nine of them in the county’s Covered Bridge Driving Tour. Not officially on the tour but near Yellow Creek, the circa-1884 Hall’s Mill Covered Bridge spans the water in a charming white-and-red Burr Truss design that looks like it could’ve taken out the Maitlands in Beetlejuice.

    📍 196 St. Paul’s Church Rd., Hopewell, Pa. 16650

    Explore: Coral Caverns

    Hundreds of millions of years ago, an inland sea covered this land. When the water receded, it left behind the Coral Caverns, a subterranean limestone labyrinth under the town of Manns Choice, just west of Bedford. The fossil-rich complex includes a little museum on the site’s history and artifacts uncovered in the cave. Tours are private and available by appointment only.

    📞 Call or text 814-977-9570 to book.

    📍 Coral Caverns Private Driveway, Manns Choice, Pa. 15550

    Visit: Fort Bedford Museum

    Opened in 1958 and modernized into an impressive institution between 2015 and 2025, the Fort Bedford Museum presents the history of the titular 1758 fortification (a key site in the French and Indian War), and offers context on the area of Bedford and beyond. A quick walk from the museum takes you to the actual footprints of the original fort, tucked between the historic Anderson House and the river.

    📍 110 Fort Bedford Dr., Bedford, Pa. 15522

    Drink: Whiskey River Pub

    Before dinner, cosplay a thirsty member of the Whiskey Rebellion at the Whiskey River Pub, a low-slung, family-owned tavern that sits right on the water. Locals and tourists sit on swiveling barstools at the long bar, and a mural of whiskey barrels covers one wall. There’s a pool table, live music, and a deep cocktail menu that includes the Whiskey Rebellion Smash, Smoked Old Fashioned, and Bedford Blackberry Whiskey Sour. For a snack, don’t miss the house-made potato chips covered in blue cheese and balsamic.

    📍 537 E. Pitt St., Bedford, Pa. 15522

    Dine: Horn O Plenty

    Horn O Plenty calls itself a “freshtaurant,” which would be incredibly concerning if this old-timey, log-and-stone cabin on the outskirts of downtown were not so dedicated to local sourcing and from-scratch cooking. Many of the menu’s items have a “house” in front of them: house-made sodas (Italian vanilla cream, orange rosemary), house-blended teas, house-fermented kimchi. The beef for the burgers and steaks is pasture-raised. The restaurant uses its own eggs, grows stone fruit, and forages for wild goodies.

    📍 220 Wolfsburg Rd., Bedford, PA 15522