89 Things to Do in Philly This Weekend

This weekend: Philly Black Pride, the Penn Relays, VinylCon, the Philadelphia Show, opera, street fairs and so much more.

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Opera Philadelphia’s production of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly is at the Academy of Music April 26th through May 5th. / Photograph by Ray Bailey

MULTIPLE DAYS

OPERA
Madame Butterfly
Opera Philadelphia wraps up its season with Giacomo Puccini’s tragic romance between an American soldier and a Japanese girl. Stars soprano Karen Chia-ling Ho and tenor Anthony Ciaramitaro. Performed in Italian with English supertitles.
$29-$299, April 26th-May 5th, Academy of Music, 240 South Broad Street.

DANCE
BalletX
The acclaimed Philadelphia-based contemporary ballet company presents Festival at the Mann, a celebration of community with live music and, of course, dance. Includes the world premiere of a piece choreographed by Natasha Adorlee with music by Jac Ross, the Philly premiere of Takehiro Ueyama’s Heroes with music by Kato Hideki, and the return of Jamar Roberts’ Eros & Psyche, featuring a Philip Glass score performed by ensemble132.
$15-$55, April 26th & 27th, 7:30 p.m., Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Avenue.

PRIDE/PARTIES
Philly Black Pride
This citywide celebration of queer black culture includes four nights of dance parties, comedy, roller-skating, brunch and more. A good place to start might be Welcome to Pride 25, the free opening reception, which includes live performances and hors d’oeuvres, April 26th, 6-8 p.m., Club Quarters Hotel, 1628 Chestnut Street. Here’s the complete rundown of Philly Black Pride events.
Prices vary by event, April 25th-28th, multiple locations.

DANCE
Koresh Dance Company
The renowned, Philly-based contemporary dance company performs Ronen Koresh’s new work Hollow Apple, “inspired by the endless desire to be liked, and loved by strangers, only to reveal our fears of unworthiness.” Includes original music by Sage DeAgro-Ruopp and poetry by Karl Mullen.
$35-$45, April 25th-28th, Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 South Broad Street.

CULTURE
Mexican Week
Celebrate “the beauty and diversity that is Mexican culture” with this full week of events, starting on April 28th with the Carnaval de Puebla parade (starting at 3 p.m. at 1801 South Chadwick Street) and festival (6 p.m. at Sacks Playground, 400 Washington Avenue). Other Mexican Week events include a candle workshop, Día Del Niño (Children’s Day), a screening of Museo, and more.
Prices vary by event, April 28th-May 4th, multiple locations.

ART
Now Happening @ the Museum for Art in Wood

  • The Poetry Gumball Machine Project — Poet and “multiform artist” LindoYes, the project is more or less what it sounds like, a mechanized sculpture that dispenses poetry stuffed inside little walnut shell capsules. The PGMP will be on display at the Museum for Art in Wood through the rest of the year. (Saturday’s opening celebration includes live performances by LindoYes, Dani & Joe, Matthew Edwards and more, April 27th, 6:30-9 p.m.) The exhibition continues through December 31st.
  • Gina Siepel: To Understand a Tree — A new exhibition by designer/woodworker Gina Siepel. “A multi-disciplinary project that focuses on the dignity of a living tree, its network of eco-systemic relationships, and the ubiquity of the material of wood in design and daily life.” Through July 21st.
  • Experiencing Form: Phil Brown and the Museum’s Residency Artist Alumni, group show. Through September 15th.
    Free admission, Museum for Art in Wood, 141 North 3rd Street.

CULTURE/MUSEUMS
Passover at Eastern State Penitentiary
Fairmount’s gorgeous/dilapidated historic prison hosts “special content focused on the history of Judaism at Eastern State Penitentiary,” including guide-led tours, videos, reading materials and more.
Included in $21 admission, through April 29th, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Avenue.

SPORTS!
This Weekend’s Games, Races & Matches

  • Sixers vs. Knicks — Playoff basketball. $135-$1,100, April 25th at 7:30 p.m. & April 28th at 1 p.m., Wells Fargo Center, 3601 South Broad Street.
  • Penn Relays — High school and college athletes compete in various track and field events, including the long jump, the hammer throw, shot put and more. $26-$250 per day, April 25th-27th, Franklin Field, 235 South 33rd Street.
  • Supercross Championship — Off-road motorcyclists race across a hilly, dirty, bendy track. It’s a sport. $22-$210, April 27th, 2:30 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, 1 Lincoln Financial Field Way.
  • Phillies — They’re in San Diego this weekend.
  • Phantoms vs. Penguins — Hockey is fun, the AHL playoffs are afoot, and Lehigh Valley Phantoms are playing the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Penguins so all the games in this series are just a couple hours’ drive. April 24th, 26th, & 28th (if necessary).
  • Let’s Settle — There’s two ways to interpret that, but yeah: Boxing. Lots of it. Here’s who’s fighting who. $50-$325, April 27th, 6:30 p.m., The Liacouras Center, 1776 North Broad Street.
  • Military Basketball Association Championships — Double-header. Teams to be announced. If you don’t cheer for everybody then you don’t support the troops. May 26th, women at 5 p.m. & men at 7 p.m., The Liacouras Center, 1776 North Broad Street.

ART
The Historic Crafts & Trades Fair
The Carpenters’ Company of the City and County of Philadelphia hosts this “showcase of historic crafts and trades” that were important in colonial city life, including demonstrations of blacksmithing, carpentry, masonry, basket-weaving and more, depending on when you go.
Pay as you go, Saturdays through May 18th, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Carpenters’ Court, in front of Carpenters’ Hall, 320 Chestnut Street.

MUSIC
Philadelphia Orchestra
Nathalie Stutzmann leads the Orchestra in performing Mozart’s Requiem and Schumann’s Symphony No. 4. Features soprano Erin Morley, contralto Sara Mingardo, tenor Kenneth Tarver and bass Harold Wilson, with the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir directed by Joe Miller.
$156-$199, April 26th-28th, Kimmel Center, 300 South Broad Street.

ART
Now Happening @ PAFA

  • Spring Festival — This free family-friendly outdoor fest includes live music, food, raffles, an art-making station and more. Free, April 28th, 1-3 p.m.
  • Artists as Cultivators — Includes drawings, paintings, prints, sculpture and more from PAFA’s permanent collection, that “reveal how American artists have cultivated discourse, care, critique, and change by way of engagement with nature.” Through July 7th.
  • Determined To Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden — “The first comprehensive retrospective of African American sculptor John Rhoden,” a prolific and award-winning artist who worked in bronze, wood, and stone. Through April 7th.

$18 museum admission, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 128 North Broad Street.

THEATER
Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story
Curio Theatre Company presents the Philadelphia premiere of Hannah Moscovitch’s “hilarious and edgy love story interwoven with a high-energy Klezmer concert.” Featuring songs by Ben Caplan & Christian Barry. Directed by Rachel Gluck. Musical direction and sound design by Damien Figueras.
$27, through May 11th, Curio Theatre Company, 4740 Baltimore Avenue.

ART
The Philadelphia Show
The annual fine art and antiques show is held in a tent on the Art Museum’s spacious East Terrace (at the top of the stairs) and benefits the museum’s Division of Learning and Engagement. Here’s the full list of exhibitors. (Note: There’s a fancy preview party Thursday, April 25th, 6-9 p.m. Tickets for that are $200-$650.)
$35, April 25th-28th, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

TOURS
Crafted in Philly Brewery Tours
Billed as a two-month brewery tour, Crafted in Philly includes visits to 11 breweries and a free pour at each. Seems like participants can go at their own pace and according to their own schedule. These include Mainstay, Barrel Splitters, Our Town, Love City, Evil Genius and more.
$35, April 26th-June 30th, multiple locations.

THEATER
Sweat
Chestnut Hill’s Stagecrafters Theater presents Lynn Nottage’s play about people whose friendships are endangered during labor disputes at the factory where they work. Directed by Suki.
$27.50, April 25th-27th, the Stagecrafters Theater, 8130-34 Germantown Avenue.

MOVIES
West Chester International Short Film Festival
This four-day film fest in West Chester will screen an impressive number of short films, bookended by opening and closing soirees. You can click through the many screening blocks and see what piques your interest, or just buy some tickets and wing it. If you don’t like what you’re seeing, something else will come on soon.
$15 per two-hour block of films, $10 per pop up block, $30 opening night party, $60 closing night party, April 26th-28th, Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center, 226 North High Street, West Chester.

THEATER
Beginners
Hedgerow Theatre presents the US Premiere of this “playful thriller” about “three families trapped in a waterlogged cottage on their summer vacation.” Written by Tim Crouch, directed by Marcie Bramucci.
$20-$35, through May 5th, Hedgerow Theatre Company, 64 Rose Valley Road, Rose Valley.

OUTDOORS
Rothman Orthopaedics Roller Rink
Lace up your skates and/or blades on the west side of City Hall and for the return of this “colorful, retro-inspired” outdoor roller rink. Reservations recommended.
$8-$10 (plus $6 for skate rental), continues through June 30th, Dilworth Park, 1 South 15th Street.

ART
Betsy Z. Casañas: Call & Response
The Fairhill-based artist with more that 70 murals around the world to her name presents this two-part exhibition at Taller Puertorriqueño. One part focuses on her murals in the surrounding area, and the second focuses on her current work which “explores themes of familial and personal relationships, trauma, violence, anxiety, isolation, and the stages of healing.”
Through May 25th, Taller Puertorriqueño, 2600 North 5th Street.

HISTORY/TOURS
Battleship New Jersey — Dry Docked
The historic Battleship New Jersey, used in WWII and the Vietnam War, recently made the journey from the Camden Waterfront back to Philly’s Navy Yard where it was built. The ship is 85 years old and needs to have a little work done. It’s a rare treat having the battleship on this side of the river, but also not in the river at all. During this 60-day vacation across state lines, visitors are invited to take guided tours around the exterior hull while learning about the restoration and history of the ship. It’s not cheap, but it’s also not something that will happen again for a long time.
$225 donation per person, Battleship New Jersey, Philadelphia Navy Yard, 5195 South 19th Street.

BEER GARDEN
Parks on Tap
Parks & Rec’s traveling beer garden returns, setting up its taps, tables and grills in a new park each week. Here’s the whole summer at a glance.
Pay as you go, continues through September 29th, multiple locations.

See Also: Philly’s Best Kid-Friendly Beer Gardens

MUSIC/SHOPPING
VinylCon
More than 60 vendors will sell their records (and other music and music memorabilia) at the 23rd Street Armory for two days this weekend. Serious collectors can pay extra for early admission on Saturday. Frugal shoppers can wait till Sunday and get in free.
$8-$22.50 on April 27th, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; free admission on April 28th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; 23rd Street Armory, 22 South 23rd Street.

THEATER
Pinocchio
Rebecca Wright direct Arden Children’s Theatre’s production of the famous story about a marionette who wants to be a real boy. And also his nose grows when he lies, which seems like an entirely different story. Stars Anthony Martinez-Briggs, Izzy Sazak, Nathan Alford-Tate and Reese Castaldi.
$20-$45, through June 2nd, Arden Theatre, 40 North 2nd Street.

COMEDY
Hannibal Buress
The veteran Chicago comedian, actor and rapper headlines four shows at Helium this weekend.
$43.40-$53.75, April 26th & 27th, 7 & 10 p.m., Helium, 2031 Sansom Street.

ART
George R. Anthonisen: Meditations on the Human Condition
The Michener hosts a career-spanning exhibition of works by the accomplished sculptor, including 40 bronze sculptures, maquettes, and frescoes, inside and outside the museum.
$15 museum admission, through October 14th, Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown.

FLOWERS
Spring Blooms
Longwood Gardens cranks its flowers up to maximum splendor for their annual Spring Blooms displays featuring tulips, trees, and geophytes out the wing-wang. While you’re there, check out the redesigned Idea Garden.
$22-$25, through May 5th, Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square.

See Also: 20 Gorgeous Philly-Area Gardens and Arboretums to Visit Now

ART
Imprint: Dox Thrash
Subtitled “Black Life, and American Culture,” this new exhibition at the African American Museum in Philadelphia invites visitors to “explore the life and artistic legacy” of Dox Thrash, who was a Buffalo Soldier and Black Vaudeville performer before he became a trailblazing Philly printmaker.
$10-$14, through August 4th, African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street.

HISTORY
Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum
The 50-acre historic estate along the Delaware River reopens for self-guided tours of its formal gardens and native woodlands. Picnics encouraged.
$15, through November 8th, Andalusia Historic House & Gardens, 1237 State Road, Andalusia.

THEATER
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Walnut Street Theatre presents the crowd-pleasing biographical musical about the rise of rock/pop legend Carole King, who sang “I Feel The Earth Move,” “One Fine Day,” and tons more hits. Stars Sara Sheperd. Directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford.
$25-$97, through May 5th, Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut Street.

COMEDY
Rachel Feinstein
The Last Comic Standing alum plays a slate of shows at Punch Line this weekend. You may know Rachel Feinstein from her appearances on Crashing, Inside Amy Schumer and Life & Beth.
$32-$44, April 25th-27th, Punch Line Philly, 33 East Laurel Street.

ART
Best of the Nest: Birdhouse Competition & Display
Forget the peeps. It’s birdhouse time now. Peddler’s Village is lousy with birdhouses — funny ones, cute ones, weird ones, ones no god-fearing bird would set foot in. Through May 19th.
Free till you buy something, Peddler’s Village, 2400 Street Road, New Hope.

MOVIES
Youth Rebellion in Japanese Cinema
This weekend, Lightbox Film Center and the Cherry Blossom Festival wrap up their series of screenings focused on “how Youth Rebellion has been explored across six decades of Japanese Cinema ranging from the immediate postwar Japan to early 2000s Cool Japan era.”

  • Kamikaze Girls (2004), directed by Tetsuya Nakashima. April 26th, 7 p.m.
  • Box! (2010), directed by Toshio Lee. April 27th, 2 p.m.

$10, through April 27th, Lightbox Film Center, 401 South Broad Street.

BEER GARDENS
PHS Pop-Up Gardens
Is it beer garden season, people. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society hosts two Pop-Up Gardens: on South Street and in Manayunk.
Pay as you go, ongoing through late fall; PHS Pop-Up Garden at Manayunk, 106 Jamestown Avenue; PHS Pop-Up Garden at South Street, 1438 South Street.

ART
Risa Puno: Group Hug
This interactive installation by Brooklyn sculptor and installation artist uses the “language of games” to explore “the complex social relationships inherent in receiving and providing care.” More info here. Through July 21st.
Free (suggested donation $5), Fabric Workshop and Museum, 1214 Arch Street.

SCIENCE
The Art of the Brick
The Franklin Institute presents this new long-running exhibition featuring a collection of “inspiring artwork” — bricked-up versions of Starry Night, Mona Lisa, etc. — made by LEGO master Nathan Sawaya. Plus a 9,000-square-foot brick play space. Through September 2nd.
Included in museum admission of $21-$25. Franklin Institute, 222 North 20th Street.

ART
Now Happening @ the Barnes

Museum admission is $23-$30, Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

TOUR/SHOPPING
Sisterhood Sit-In Trolley Tour
The Sisterhood Sit-In Trolley, guided by StarFire, pulls into the garage after this weekend. Participating businesses include Trunc, Amazulu Collections, Modest Transitions, Yowie Hotel & Shop and more. Get on board while you still can.
$50, Sundays through April 27th, starting and ending at Harriett’s Bookshop, 258 East Girard Avenue.

SCIENCE/MUSEUMS
Now Happening @ the Academy of Natural Sciences

  • Under the Canopy: Animals of the Rainforest — This new special exhibit includes “interactive discovery stations, dynamic displays and engaging programming” surrounding the importance of rainforests and the plants and animals that live there. Through September 2nd.
  • Life Onto Land: The Devonian — An exhibition on the life and ecosystems of the Devonian period, the geological era during which creatures wriggled up on dry land, which everybody agrees was a solid move with a lot of potential. Through September 29th.

Included with museum admission of $21-$25, Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

THEATER
Macbeth
Quintessence Theater presents the Bard’s famous story of blood, witches and wickedness. Stars Daniel Miller, Scott Parkinson, Lee Thomas Cortopassi and more. Directed by Alex Burns.
$15-$60, extended through April 28th, Sedgwick Theatre, 7137 Germantown Avenue.

MOVIES
The Other Tarkovskys
The Film Society continues its series celebrating Andrei Tarkovsky, “the greatest purveyor of pure cinema.”

  • Solaris (1972) Kelvin, Sartorius and Dr. Snaut orbit a mysterious planet in this acclaimed sci-fi classic. April 27th, 2:45 p.m.
  • Nostalghia (1983) A Russian poet in Italy “becomes obsessed with the Botticelli-like beauty of his translator, as well as with the apocalyptic ramblings of a self-destructive wanderer.” Tagline: “Unspoken feelings are never forgotten.” April 25th at 7 p.m. & April 28th at 3 p.m.

$10, Lightbox Film Center, 401 South Broad Street.

ART
Now Showing @ the Brandywine Museum

  • Every Leaf & Twig: Andrew Wyeth’s Botanical Imagination — The Brandywine Museum hosts this Andrew Wyeth exhibition focusing on “the fragile rhythms and intimate dramas of plant life,” and includes 40 watercolors and drawings, many of which have never been exhibited before. Through September 15th.
  • Jamie Wyeth: Unsettled — And now for a completely different Wyeth. This exhibition focuses on Jamie Wyeth’s “darker and more troubling imagery,” a departure from his better-known paintings of people and landscapes. Through June 9th.

$18-$20, Brandywine Museum of Art, 1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds Ford.

ART
Henry Bermudez in Philadelphia
Woodmere Art Museum presents this exhibition of works by Philadelphia-based, Venezuela-born multimedia artist Henry Bermudez, who “incorporates painting with cut paper in large-scale works that display a density of intertwined, three-dimensional forms, rainbow-like color, patterning, and sparkling textures.”
$10 museum admission, through May 19th, Woodmere Art Museum, 9201 Germantown Avenue.

HISTORY/MUSEUMS
Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington’s Tent
This new exhibition centered around the famous artifact will “bring to life the stories of individuals from all walks of life who saved Washington’s tent from being lost over the generations and who ultimately fashioned this relic into a symbol of the fragile American republic.” Includes art, artifacts, rare documents and the tent itself.
Included in museum admission of $13-$22, through January 5th, Museum of the American Revolution, 101 South 3rd Street.

ART
Now Showing @ the ICA

  • Dominique White and Alberta Whittle: Sargasso Sea — This major exhibition at the ICA “takes its name from the only body of water that is defined solely by oceanic currents rather than shorelines” and includes works by two artists which “invoke futures that upend this world with counter images of shipwreck, salvage, reciprocity and Black feminist led-revolution.” Through June 2nd.
  • Tomashi Jackson: Across the Universe — This solo exhibition collects the artist’s works “moving paintings,” and presents examples of “videos in dialogue with paintings and sculpture, and articulates how Jackson’s approach to color and conceptual layering translates across these mediums.” Through June 2nd.
  • Entryways: Nontsikelelo Mutiti — The Zimbabwean-born visual artist and educator was invited to reimagine the windows on the ICA’s facade. Through December 31st.

Free, Institute of Contemporary Art, 118 South 36th Street.

ART
Ritual of Self: Isaiah Zagar’s Self-Portraits in Paper
The city’s favorite public mosaicist takes center stage at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (again) with this exhibition of previously unseen mixed-media artworks. “Treated as a diary, the pieces incorporate found objects, photography, handwritten text, folk art, stamps, textiles, and painting materials.”
$12-$15 museum admission, through May 12th, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, 1020 South Street.

MUSEUMS
Unhoused: Personal Stories and Public Health
This new long-term exhibition at the Mütter Museum features black and white photos by Toronto-based photographer Leah den Bok, and art by Dallas-based artist Willie Baronet, “whose installation is composed of hundreds of cardboard signs the artist has purchased over the past thirty years from unhoused and unsheltered people in cities around the nation.”
$15-$20, through August 5th, Mütter Museum, 19 South 22nd Street.

SCIENCE/ART
Now Showing @ Science History Institute

  • Superheroes, Science, and the Environment — This ongoing exhibition at Old City’s Science History Institute “highlights the unexpected connections between the pages of comic books and real-life environmental issues.” Through April 27th.
  • BOLD: Color from Test Tube to Textile — This new exhibition at Old City’s Science History Institute explores the complicated history and science of natural and synthetic dye-making “drawing on dye sample books, vivid clothing, and scientific instruments.” Through August.

Free admission, Science History Institute, 315 Chestnut Street.

MOVIES
Now Showing at Philly Film Society
Here’s what’s playing on Film Society screens in addition to the usual first-run fare.

  • Heat (1995) Al Pacino and Robert De Niro go head to head in Michael Mann’s crime thriller. Tagline: “An L.A. Redemption.” April 26th at 7:30 p.m. & April 27th at 6 p.m.
  • Reservoir Dogs (1992) Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Steve Buscemi and other dudes shoot and get shot in Quentin Tarantino’s heist-gone-wrong classic. Tagline: “Let’s get the job done.” April 26th, 9:30 p.m.
  • Harakiri (1962) Masaka Kobayashi’s samurai masterpiece. Stars Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Ishihama, Shima Iwashita and Tetsurô Tanba. Now this is an intense tagline: “The World Has Never Understood Why the Japanese Prefer Death to Dishonor! This Samurai Picture Provides The Answer!!” April 27th, noon.
  • Le Cercle Rouge (1970) Alain Delon, his mustache and his cigarette star in Jean-Pierre Melville’s stylish crime classic. Tagline: “The Red Circle is a powerful in-depth study of the French Underworld.” April 27th, 12:30 p.m.
  • Mandabi (1968) “In the first predominantly Wolof language film from renowned director Ousmane Sembène, the anticipation of a money order disrupts the life of an unemployed man as he struggles to balance the weight of his newfound wealth, societal greed, and familial expectations.” April 27th at 3:15 p.m. & April 28th at 3:30 p.m.
  • Band of Outsiders (1964) “Jean Luc-Godard’s momentous portrait of adolescence, love, and rebellion through an unlikely gang of three take on a thrilling heist and serve up one of the most iconic dance numbers in cinematic history.” Stars: Anna Karina, Claude Brasseur, Sami Frey. Tagline: “A Who-Dunit, Who’s Got-It, Where-Is-It-Now Wild One From That Breathless director Jean-Luc Godard!” April 27th, 5:30 p.m.
  • Good Time (2017) The Safdie bros directed this robbery-gone-wrong/jailbreak semi-improvised thriller. Stars Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Necro. Tagline: “Are you ready for a Good Time?” April 27th, 8:30 p.m.
  • Fast Five (2011) Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson and Michelle Rodriguez Archival Footage star in Justin Lin’s story about an ambitious racing star who becomes stranded in the little town of Radiator Springs. Tagline: “Feel the Speed. Feel the Rush.” April 27th, 9:15 p.m.
  • The Wild Bunch: Director’s Cut (1969) Sam Peckinpah’s “shockingly violent and subversive twist on the American Western” stars William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan and more. Tagline: “The land had changed. They hadn’t. The earth had cooled. They couldn’t.” April 28th, 5:45 p.m.

$14 per screening, Philadelphia Film Center, 1412 Chestnut Street.

MUSEUMS/ART
Now Showing @ the Art Museum

$14-$23 admission, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26th

MUSIC
Belle & Sebastian
OMFG I hate when shows are sold out but the website acts like it’s not sold out but then you go to buy tickets and you’re buying from a reseller so the prices are jacked up. Like congratulations on price gouging from Belle & Sebastian fans. Don’t you know we’re sad and calcium deficient? But yeah: The concert ticket system sucks and is broken and this isn’t even Ticketmaster, it’s everybody on some level. The Weather Station opens the show but who cares. Maybe I’m just sad and I can’t drink milk because of the lactose.
$75-$1,000,000, 8 p.m., Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden Street.

COMEDY
#IMOMSOHARD
A live show by popular web comedians/authors/podcasters/wine sellers Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley. More on #IMOMSOHARD here.
$37.50-$80, Keswick Theatre, 291 North Keswick Avenue, Glenside.

MUSIC
Meatbodies
The L.A. psych rockers released Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom in March, and I have a feeling it’ll turn up on some Best of the Year lists. It’s not just fun and visionary and enthralling —it’s got a harrowing origin story: Main Meatbody Chad Ubovich went through hell while making it, losing his home and suffering an awful health scare. Writhing Squares and Vixen77 opens the show.
$18.66, 8 p.m., PhilaMOCA, 531 North 12th Street.

Snacktime playing at the annual Spring Awakening soiree at Stratus Rooftop Lounge / Photograph by Christopher Devern

PARTY
Spring Awakening: Cirque du Stratus
Stratus Rooftop Lounge hosts this “cirque-themed soirée” with cocktails, “elevated hors d’oeuvres,” music by Snacktime and DJ Hollywood, and performances by aerialists, magicians, a contortionist and more.
$20 admission, 5:30 p.m.-2 a.m., Stratus Rooftop Lounge, 433 Chestnut Street.

MUSIC
Dave Douglas Gifts Trio
New York-based trumpeter Dave Douglas and his Gifts Trio (guitarist Ava Mendoza, drummer Kate Gentile) perform jazz and improvised music. Douglas released an album called Gifts just a couple weeks ago.
$30.90, 8 p.m., Solar Myth, 1131 South Broad Street.

FOOD
National Pretzel Day
Philly Pretzel Factory is giving away pretzels (or twists) on Friday. Go get your free pretzel (or twist).
Free, multiple Philly Pretzel Factory locations.

MUSIC
Aaron Lee Tasjan
The Wilmington-born indie rocker sounds like Tom Petty with just a touch of Jack Black on his fun and groovy 10th or 11th record Stellar Evolution, released last week. P.S.: Stellar evolution is a real science term that means what it sounds like it means. With Molly Martin.
$20, 8 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 North Frankford Avenue.

MUSIC
The Hip Abduction
Breezy, yachty ska. With Vana Liya.
$18-$30, 8 p.m., World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut Street.

MUSIC
No Name Pops
The former (and future?) musicians of The Philly Pops will play a pair of shows at the Art Alliance in Rittenhouse Square, co-presented by University of the Arts.

$50 each, April 26th & May 9th, Philadelphia Art Alliance at University of the Arts, 251 South 18th Street.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27th

MUSIC
Eric Slick
Philly rock mainstay (and drummer to the stars) Eric Slick celebrates the release of his funky, synthy new record New Age Rage. It’s totally ’80s in all the best ways. Watch the video above, you’ll get the idea. Also on the bill is DD Toby Leaman (of the late great Dr. Dog) and Mavis the Dog (a dog with a mere bachelor’s degree).
$15, 9 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 North Frankford Avenue.

DANCE
Mariposas
Choreographer Christina Castro-Tauser presents an evening of dance inspired by “the lives and legacy of the Mirabal sisters of the Dominican Republic under Trujillo’s regime and the strength of women through time.”
$15, 7:30 p.m., Teatro Esperanza, Esperanza Arts Center, 4261 North 5th Street.

TOUR/HISTORY
Let’s Be Friends
Take a guided tour the Merion Friends Meeting House and hear stories from Clara Barton (portrayed by actress Pat Jordan), the Civil War nurse and activist who founded the American Red Cross. Refreshments to follow.
Free (donations accepted), 2 p.m., Merion Friends Activities Building, 615 Montgomery Avenue.

MUSIC
Jim Boggia & Ben Arnold with The 48 Hour Orchestra
Ardmore’s little Living Room hosts its last shows this weekend, the grand finale being a pair of shows by esteemed local singer-songwriters Jim Boggia and Ben Arnold. The two will share the stage and turn out the lights in a fashion befitting the intimate performance space.
$25, 5 & 8:30 p.m., the Living Room & Cricket Cafe, 104 Cricket Avenue, Ardmore.

COMEDY
Anthony Jeselnik
The Pittsburgh-born comedian is known for, to quote Wikipedia, “arrogant demeanor and a stage persona that frequently takes amoral or psychopathic stances.” For this reason, many often assume he’s a for-real monster who can’t turn it off. I have no idea. He makes me laugh every time, but if he ever crowdworks me I believe I would die.
$49-$79, 7 p.m., Miller Theater, 250 South Broad Street.

COMEDY/POLITICS
Stephanie Miller
The comedian/political commentator is on her never ending Sexy Liberal comedy tour, this time with a Save The World subtitle.
$27-$92, 8 p.m., Fillmore Philly, 29 East Allen Street.

MUSIC
A Great Big Pile of Leaves
The Brooklyn indie/emo band (ex-Farewell to Arms) perform their 2010 record Have You See My Prefrontal Cortex? in its entirety. With Young Statues and Dryjacket.
$22, 8:30 p.m., Underground Arts, 200 Callowhill Street.

CIRCUS
The Great DuBois
This two-person circus promises comedy, juggling, hula hoops, aerialism (not a word but it should be), contortion, magic and more.
$48, 1:30 & 7:30 p.m., Bucks County Playhouse, 70 South Main Street, New Hope.

ART/SHOPPING
West Craft Fest
This shopping op in West Philly’s beloved Woodlands park/historic cemetery promises “local wares handmade with care,” along with live music, food, craft activities, and aerialist performances by Tangle Movement Arts.
Free till you buy something, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., the Woodlands, 40th Street & Woodland Avenue.

FOOD
Fall Food Truck Frenzy
A convoy of food trucks arrives at Linvilla Orchards on Saturday, including House of Cupcakes, Munchy Machine, Little Sicilian and more. Now let’s make up a few vendor names, to punish the skimmers: Pizzelle Guest House, Crunchy Contraption, Huge Sicilian, okay that’s enough. The food trucks are in addition to Linvilla’s usual convoy of train rides, hay rides, pony rides, plus barnyard animals, a playground, etc.
Free till you buy something, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Linvilla Orchards, 137 West Knowlton Road, Media.

DANCE/MUSIC
Philadelphia Jazz Tap Ensemble
Fox Chase’s lovely, weird and too-often slept-on Ryerss Museum in Burholme Park hosts an afternoon performance of live jazz and tap on their porch on Saturday.
Free, noon, Ryerss Museum & Library, 7370 Central Avenue.

COMEDY
Chip Chantry
Always in the running for “funniest guy in town,” Chip Chantry plays an afternoon show at Helium on Saturday. Have you heard his podcast? Rec’d.
$22-$30, 4 p.m., Helium, 2031 Sansom Street.

MUSIC
Triumph Music Festival
The winners of Triumph Music Festival’s latest classical music contests perform three shows in the Academy of Music ballroom. The day’s performers include Tatiana Abramova, Oboe Mozart Quartet, Gloria DePasquale, the Mada and Hugh Piano Duo and more.
$41, 10 a.m., 1 p.m. & 6 p.m., Academy of Music Ballroom, 240 South Broad Street.

DRAG
Drag Bingo Brunch
Enjoy four rounds of bingo with shows and stunts by the Philly Drag Mafia, hosted by the queen herself, Miss Brittany Lynn. Your ticket includes bingo cards and dabbers, two drag shows, and a buffet. (Don’t forget to bring ones to tip the queens!)
$49, 11:30 a.m., Thirsty Dice, 1642 Fairmount Avenue.

MUSIC
The Rascals
The Jersey-born Rock & Roll Hall of Famers are known for “People Got to Be Free,” “Good Lovin’,” “How Can I Be Sure?,” “A Girl Like You” and lots more.
$35-$65, 8 p.m., Keswick Theatre, 291 North Keswick Avenue, Glenside.

BOOKS
Tracy Viola
The Philly author reads from and discusses her memoir Pretty Wrecked: Confessions of a Teen Addict and Her Road to Recovery at Unity Java, a coffee shop in the Wissahickon/Manayunk area. More about Tracy Viola and the book here.
Free, 2-4 p.m., Unity Java, 5312 Ridge Avenue.

MUSIC
Jazz Up, Down and Around
Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble and Abstract Truth perform music from Philly’s Concrete Jazz past, including works by Lee Morgan, Hank Mobley and John Coltrane.
Free, 5 p.m., Philadelphia Ethical Society, 1906 Rittenhouse Square.

SUNDAY, APRIL 28th

MUSIC
Ty Segall
Yeah, so that’s just a song and video about how much this guy loves his wiener dogs. Can’t blame him; Fanny and Herman seems like a lot of fun and, you know, Ty Segall writes a lot of songs. With 15 records in 15 years — and that’s just the solo stuff — the indie guitar titan with the high voice and garage aesthetic was bound to get around to the dachshunds. Released in January, Three Bells is another winner. Good boy. Sharpie Smile opens the show.
$28-$30, 8 p.m., Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden Street.

FESTIVAL/FOOD
Flavors On the Avenue
Stroll Passyunk Avenue and partake of street food, drinks, live music, indoor and outdoor shopping, art, kid stuff and more. Performers include veteran singer-songwriter Mia Johson, Alond with Brown Sugar, City Rhythm, Emily Drink and lots more at multiple stages throughout the fest. For all the details on vendors, makers, artists and musical acts, go here.
Free till you buy something, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., East, Passyunk Avenue from Broad to Dickinson Street.

COMEDY
Michelle Collins
The comedian and The View alum is on her The Big Natural Tour in which she tells personal stories, sings and shows slides and somewhere along the line this sentence got hard to say.
$30-$55, 7:30 p.m., City Winery, 990 Filbert Street.

MUSIC
Dead Best
Featuring Adam Goren (of Atom & His Package, Armalite) and Brian Sokel (of Franklin, AM/FM), punk supergroup Dead Best draws on years punk experience to deliver something loud and good and true. The group released its second album Second in January. With headliners Good Luck (from Bloomington, Indiana) and Well Wishers and (from NJ).
$15, 4 p.m., First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut Street.

ART/TOUR
Open Artists’ Studios @ Mill Studios
Visit this creative hive in Manayunk where more than 30 artists working in photography, textiles, jewelry, paint and stained glass will show and discuss their work.
Free, noon to 5 p.m., The Mill Studios, 123 & 128 Leverington Avenue.

MUSIC/WELLNESS
Heavy Metal Meditation
This event hosted by Primordial Nature features music by Monks Pond and asana yoga lead by Deb Cohen. Plus a sound bath. Everybody’s sound bathing these days! Benefits Savage Sisters, a Philly-based org providing support for people dealing with substance abuse issues.
$60, 1-3 p.m., PhilaMOCA, 531 North 12th Street.

MUSIC
Sam Evian
Catskills-based singer-songwriter Sam Evian has always made his attempts at a “classic” vibe feel effortless. Released just a month ago, Plunge is not the sort of record you need to sit with awhile. Its charms are apparent from the start: smooth Beatles style pop melodies, groovy guitars, bare bones beats. Everything’s just simple and chill. Evian is pnce again touring with his music/everything partner Hannah Cohen, so be punctual.
$20, 7 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 North Frankford Avenue.

FESTIVAL/ARTS
Fairmount Arts Crawl
This free, family-friendly indoor/outdoor festival spotlights works by area artists at shops, restaurants and other spots in the Fairmount neighborhood. Includes vendors and kid arts activities.
Pay as you go, noon-4 p.m., on Fairmount Avenue and nearby spots in the neighborhood.

DANCE PARTY
Eras Dance Party at Garage
Come dressed as your favorite Era for an afternoon dance party of Taylor’s greatest hits (including The Tortured Poets Department) courtesy of DJ Carl Michaels.
Free, 2-5 p.m., Garage Passyunk, 1231 East Passyunk Avenue.

COMEDY
Brad Williams
The veteran standup and comedy writer has made memorable appearances Reno 911!: It’s a Wonderful Heist, Little Evil, and Mascots, in addition to several standup specials you can find on YouTube.
$29-$60, 7 p.m., Miller Theater, 250 South Broad Street.

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