The People Who Run Businesses
They already put themselves on the line. Then came a catastrophe. Read the full write up here. phillymag.com/news/2020/07/16/philadelphia-business-owners-coronavirus.
Port Richmond Books
There are days when you just feel like getting lost for a couple of hours in the company of more than 300,000 musty, well-loved books -- plus old magazines, fragments of maps, first editions of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, 1940s sheet music, and other undiscovered gems you'll find in this renovated silent-movie house. Okay, maybe more than a couple of hours. 3037 Richmond Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134, portrichmondbooks.com.
Musical Instrument Collection at the Free Library
Thanks to an innovative new program at the Central branch, you can check out all sorts of musical instruments for three weeks, for free. One of our editors borrowed a ukulele, a bass guitar, and a Fender Stratocaster with a surprisingly loud amp. Our apologies to the neighbors. 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, libfreelibrary.org/locations/parkway-central-library.
<i>A Philly Special Christmas</i>
A Christmas album by members of the Philadelphia Eagles didn’t need to be anywhere near good to make a splash. But A Philly Special Christmas — the passion project of O-linemen Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata, pressed on festive green vinyl and adorned with Peanuts-inspired illos of the lugs — was way better than good; it was transcendent. Guided by vocal coach Eliza Hardy Jones, the center and two tackles sang like angels. Multiple pressings of their burly warblings sold out in minutes, frustrating some Philly audiophiles but raising more than a quarter mil for the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center. phillyspecialchristmas.com.
Drag Queen Story Time at Mister John’s Music
Miss Maria TopCatt at Mister John’s Music. Photograph by Jared Gruenwald It's a dance party and a story time hosted by a drag queen named Miss Maria TopCatt. If that all sounds like a lot to take in, look at it from a toddler’s perspective: All they see is that it's okay to look different and be different and be friends with people who look different. And actually, that’s pretty awesome. Keep reading here. 904 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, misterjohnsmusic.com.
The Fallser Club
This cozy, 200-person club may be a nonprofit, but the production values are what you’d find at some of the bigger for-profit clubs. The music at what was once a silent film theater leans into the acoustic, world, and alt-folk realms, with some open mics, film screenings, and drag shows thrown in. Don’t miss the Philly Music Fest’s night here on October 18th, featuring local acts Catie Turner, the Lunar Year, and Chioke. 3721 Midvale Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19129, thefallserclub.com.
The Fillmore
When we heard that someone was converting a former World War II munitions factory in Fishtown into a 2,500-person music venue, we pictured a drab, soulless cavern (cough, Electric Factory). Thank God we were wrong. The concert hall is sleek, the bars are well staffed (never miss three songs while waiting for a drink again!), and the sight lines are so good, you won't find a bad seat in the house. It's the all-grown-up-yet-totally-cool venue we've been waiting for. 29 East Allen Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, thefillmorephilly.com.
Downstage @ the Mann
This season, the Mann debuted a brand-new seating option: onstage. That’s right. For select shows, the regular seats and lawn are closed off, and the audience sits right up there with the performers. There’s only one Downstage @ the Mann show left this season (sorry; you just missed Nigerian Afrobeat master Femi Kuti), but you can still get tickets for the Resistance Revival Chorus on October 7th. 5201 Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131, manncenter.org/downstage.
Anchor Rock Club
If you like the aesthetic and programming of Johnny Brenda’s and Union Transfer, you’ll love this indie venue within feet of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s the brainchild of South Philly Tap Room and American Sardine Bar owner (and now Atlantic City developer) John Longacre. This month, look for Guided By Voices (August 20th), the Mountain Goats (August 29), and Philly’s own Low Cut Connie (August 27th). 247 South New York Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, anchorrockclub.com.
City Winery
City Winery in the Fashion District. Photograph by Jonathan Pushnik A chain music venue? In the glorified mall that’s the Fashion District, née the Gallery? With a name like City Winery? Yeah, we were skeptical. But the fact is, this place offers an intimate, high-quality experience — with pristine sound and excellent production standards — like no other in the city. Oh, and the wine is great, too. How often can you say that about a music venue? 990 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, citywinery.com/philadelphia.
The Living Room at 35 East
Imagine if a professional sound crew turned your favorite hangout room into a spot where impressive local acts and touring musicians liked to stop by and jam. That’s this place. (And it’s BYO, too!) 35 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003, thelivingroomat35east.com.
Its 25 Bars
Finally, a music venue figured out how to not have us stand in line for 20 minutes to pay $13 for a domestic beer. The answer was quite simple: Have lots of bars. 858 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130, Themetphilly.com.
The Philadelphia Orchestra
The upcoming season is one helluva barn burner, with opera great Placido Domingo kicking things off in September; the new series WomenNOW, featuring female composers, conductors and instrumentalists; and the entirety of Bach’s majestic Mass in B minor. Totally subscription-worthy. philorch.org.
The Borgata’s Event Center
This intimate venue is relatively small–only 2,400 seats–but the acts that perform here are anything but. Last month, headliners included Britney Spears and Barry Manilow. This month: Stevie Wonder and Cher. Good luck getting tickets! 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, theborgata.com/shows/venues/event-center.
"Songs in the Pocket: The Essential Songs of Philadelphia"
Every few months, Hooters drummer and Main Liner David Uosikkinen pairs up with other high-profile Philly musicians to reimagine and record songs from Philadelphia's past, in an awesome collaboration called Songs in the Pocket. A portion of the sales benefit Settlement Music School, and live performances, usually at Ardmore Hall or Phoenixville's Colonial Theatre, rock. songsinthepocket.org.