17 Things To Do In Philly This Weekend
Extravaganzas
Philadelphia Auto Show
More than 700 cars and 250,000 auto lovers will be at Convention Center throughout the week. Headliners include the Fiats that drove the pope around during his visit, a viper simulator, a ride-and-drive Jeep experience and of course the crowd pleasing the exotics. Saturday, January 30 through Sunday, February 4, weekends: 9 a.m., weekdays: 12 p.m., $14 , Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street.
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SnowBall 2016 at Union Transfer
The sixth annual Snowball is a chic winter wonderland gala — think The Great Gatsby meets Cirque du Soleil. The evening will feature performances by Brian Sander’s JUNK, a performance group that blends traditional dance and physical theater, plus food, dancing, raffles and awards for Best Creative White Attire and Best Creative Jewels. All proceeds will benefit JUNK and its mission. Saturday, January 30, 8 p.m., $25-$250, Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden Street.
Chinese New Year At Penn Museum
Ring in the Year of the Monkey with The Penn Museum’s day-long, family-friendly festival. The agenda includes Tai chi and tangram workshops, Kung Fu demonstrations, gallery tours, storytelling stations and the Grand Finale Lion Dance Parade. Saturday, January 30, 11 a.m., $15, Penn Museum, 3260 South Street.
Out On The Town
Young Professionals Night: Into The Blue at The Barnes Foundation
Hundreds of area art lovers and industry leaders will come together to schmooze among the Picassos. Blue will be the themes and the main backdrop of the evening, so dress to match. Matt Cappy and his quintet will perform songs from the Miles Davis album, Kind of Blue. Friday, January 29, 7 p.m., $30, The Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Clover Market Winter Edition
Looking for some fun tchotchkes to go with your antique home decor? Clover Market promises than 60 vendors, selling everything from fine jewelry to high-end antiques, handmade crafts, art, clothing, soap, and vintage goods. Saturday, January 30 through Sunday, January 31, 10 a.m., $5, 23rd Street Armory, 22 S. 23rd Street.
Last Day Of Restaurant Week
You have one more night. Hurry out to enjoy a decadent feast at a reasonable price. Take a look at the participating restaurants and their selections, here. Through Friday, January 29.
Concerts
Muse at Wells Fargo Center
Muse’s Drones World Tour should be spectacular. The British power-rock band plays “in the round” with a fleet of 16 large and intimidating drones orbiting them, among other visual effects. Taking a few cues from Pink Floyd’s “The Wall,” Muse’s album and tour concept address societal oppression, military aggression and other soul-destroying stuff. Hard prog-rocking, soaring anthems, lasers, walls of guitar feedback — even some Gregorian style chanting — and glorious bombast are all on view here. Listen before you go: “Uprising.” Sunday, January 31, 7:30 p.m. – Sarah Jordan
Ryan Bingham at TLA
Here’s some cowboy music to love. Hailing from Texas, Ryan Bingham got people’s attention back in 2009 with his bittersweet song “The Weary Kind,” co-written with T Bone Burnett. That was for the soundtrack to the Jeff Bridges movie Crazy Heart and it won the gravely-voiced Bingham an Oscar, Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice Award and Grammy. Bingham’s cowboy-cred as a former ranch-hand and rodeo star paired with his laid-back charm gives him a stage persona so big he might have walked off a Hollywood set. His most recent album, Fear and Saturday Night, is filled with stories of struggle, hard work and scraping by. He wrote it alone in the mountains of California, staying in an Airstream trailer from the 1950s. Just what we’d expect from this cool cowboy. Listen before you go: “Crazy Heart.” Sunday, January 31, 8 p.m. —Sarah Jordan
John Flynn at World Café Live
Local folk singer John Flynn has been referred to as a “wordsmith of rare facility and intention.” Listen before you go: “Einstein’s Idea.” Saturday, January 30, 8 p.m.
The Figgs at Boot and Saddle
This a trio of high school sweethearts has been rocking together for the past 25 years, drawing inspiration from The Beatles, The Band and NRBQ. The Figgs are now touring in support of their new Anthology. Listen before you go: “Wealthy Woman.” Friday, January 29, 8:30 p.m.
Audra McLaughlin at Milkboy
After wowing the judges on NBC’s The Voice with her powerful voice, Audra McLaughlin wants to do the same to you. Listen before you go: “Burning House.” Friday, January 29, 8:30 p.m.
Family Fun
Photo courtesy of DRWC
Daddy Daughter Skate
Fathers and daughters can spend quality time on the ice. WMMR’s Preston and Casey hit up the RiverRink this weekend, offering fun tunes and entertaining banter while little girls skate circles around their shaky dads. DRWC also offers arts and crafts stations, face painting and giveaways to families who need a break from the blades. Saturday, January 30, 12:30 p.m., $10, 121 N. Columbus Boulevard.
Opening of Tarantulas: Alive and Up Close
Arachnophobes stay home! The Academy of Natural Sciences is giving those brave enough a chance get up close and personal with over 20 different species of spiders. Fear not: All the arachnids are safely secured in their tanks. Or are they? Yes they are. Videos, graphics and fun activities will teach visitors about the mysterious world of tarantulas. Begins Saturday, January 30, 11 a.m., $ 5, The Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Morris Arboretum Tu B’Shevat Celebration
The Morris Arboretum is dedicated to making our world greener. You can help move the process along a little faster. Stop by the site on Sunday and plant a few trees. In celebration of the Jewish New Year of Trees (Tu B’Shevat), the staff of the arboretum will host a tree education program. This kid-friendly event will help to engage the little ones with the tree root system though interactive games and a mini tour of the estate. Through Sunday, January 31, $16, 10 a.m., Morris Arboretum, 100 E. Northwestern Avenue.
Comedy Shows
Tim Miller’s Comedy Stage Hypnosis at Act II Playhouse
At this event, you may feel yourself getting very sleepy. Snap out of it! Venture out to Ambler, PA and you could be a star in a comedy/hypnosis show. If you dare, you can choose to get hypnotized or you can play it safe and just sit back to watch other people act dumb. Sunday, January 31, 7 p.m., $20, Act II Playhouse, 56 E. Butler Avenue, Ambler PA.
Rory Albanese at Helium
A comedian and writer for The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore — and nine-time Emmy-winner for his work on the Daily Show — Rory Albanese offers witty commentary on the current political climate in the United States. Friday, January 29 through Saturday, January 3o, 7:30 p.m., $21, Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom Street.
