7 Things To Do In Philly This Week: Free Concert at Spruce Street Harbor Park, A Popera, Classics and Crackerjacks, And More
Get our weekly picks of what to do this weekend and the latest on Philly's arts and entertainment scene.

The Awesome Fest Presents: Velvet Goldmine, Boyhood, and Jingle Bell Rocks!
As per usual, The Awesome Fest is hosting the coolest movies in the city this week. There's Velvet Goldmine at The Trocadero on Monday night, plus an advance screening of Richard Linklater's latest–Boyhood–at The Ritz Five on Tuesday. Come Thursday, it's Christmas in July with the Philadelphia premiere of Jingle Bell Rocks!, a trippy look into the curious universe of alternative and underground Christmas music, featuring Run DMC, The Flaming Lips, Miles Davis and Bob Dorough, and many more. The free screening will take place outdoors at Clark Park at 9 p.m. More details about each event can be found here. Monday, July 21st, Tuesday, July 22nd, and Thursday, July 24th, various locations.


Activities at The Oval
There's plenty of fun to be had at The Oval this week, starting on Wednesday. Fan-favorite food trucks will be parked around the premises on Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and again from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., to help satisfy mid-week munchies. Learn to swing dance at a free class on Wednesday evening, or catch a live erhu performance on Thursday night. Plus the beer garden will be open, featuring lawn games like Cornhole and plenty of refreshing summer brews on tap. A full schedule of happenings at The Oval is available here. Wednesday, July 23rd-Thursday, July 24th, The Oval, 2601 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.


ANDY: A Popera at The Wilma Theater
The Bearded Ladies cabaret and Opera Philadelphia celebrate the life and legacy of Andy Warhol with a pop-art inspired opera, or "popera." ANDY: A Popera is the second stage of a year-long collaboration between the cabaret troupe and opera company, an exploration of the legendary artist. Audiences are invited inside the creative process as they polish the cabaret with each performance, in preparation of the popera's final stage: the world premiere in spring 2015. The show, which features original music from Heath Allen, will run through Sunday, July 27th. A full list of showtimes can be found here. Tickets are available for purchase online. Wednesday, July 23rd - Friday, July 25th, & Sunday, July 27th at 7:30 p.m & Saturday July 26th at 10:30 p.m., $10-25, The Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad Street.


Quizzo in the Beer Garden at Memphis Taproom
Geek out in the garden at Memphis Taproom this Thursday night. Gather your brainiest crew for Quizzo in the Beer Garden: a night of cold beers and some moonlight trivia. Get competitive–the winning team gets Beer Garden Bucks! Thursday, July 24th, 6 p.m., Memphis Taproom, 2331 E. Cumberland Street.


Classics and Crackerjacks: Summer Cinema
Baseball enthusiasts take note: In conjunction with its pay-what-you-wish Wednesday night series, The National Museum of American Jewish History is screening baseball-themed classics for only $5. This week you can catch A League of Their Own, with opening remarks from longtime Philadelphia Inquirer film critic Carrie Rickey. Attendees can also check out their latest special exhibition–Chasing Dreams: Baseball and Becoming American—along with all other permanent exhibitions and galleries, from 5 to 8 p.m. For more on films and to purchase tickets, click here. Wednesday, July 23rd, 7 p.m., $5, National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall East.


Free Concert at Spruce Street Harbor Park
Our current favorite spot in the city right now–Spruce Street Harbor Park–will host a free concert on Thursday night. Two Philly-based bands will play sets: Purling Hiss and Chris Forsyth and the Solar Motel Band. They'll take a stage built right in the middle of the park, adding live music to your evening of hammock-lounging, beer-sipping, and waterfront-gazing. The concert is also a benefit for Vox Populi Gallery, and will feature sculpture and synched-video productions by gallery artists. The show is one of only two concerts scheduled at the pop-up park this summer, so don't miss out. Thursday, July 24th, 7:30 p.m., Spruce Street Harbor Park, S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.


Zoolander at Schuylkill Banks
Al fresco movies are so hot right now. Catch a free screening of Zoolander at the Schuylkill Banks this Thursday evening. As always, movie-goers are encouraged to bring blankets or picnics, and a free raffle, as well as free snacks, beverages, and Shake Shack custard will be offered prior to the movie on a first-come-first-serve basis. Thursday, July 24th, 8:15 p.m., Schuylkill Banks by the Walnut Street Bridge.


Live Music
Check out our roundup of 7 Shows to See This Week to find our picks for the week's best live-music events. There are some biggies this week, like Beck, James Taylor, Neutral Milk Hotel and more. For the full list, go here.
