214 Things to Do in Philly This Week and Weekend

Japanese Breakfast plays the Met May 15th and 16th. / Photograph by Pak Bae

FESTIVALS, FOOD, OTHER FUN STUFF

POP CULTURE
Fan Expo Philadelphia
This multi-day, multi-pronged convention — formerly known as Wizard World — is aimed at enthusiasts of comic books, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming, cosplay, pop culture, TV, movies, ice cream and Earth. And in addition to all the vending and such, it’s got some serious star power coming in to do some talking, signing and posing: William Shatner, Danny Glover, John Carpenter, Giancarlo Esposito, Andy Serkis, Helen Hunt, Christopher Lloyd, Heather Graham, Parker Posey, John Rhys-Davies, Steve Guttenberg, Walton Goggins, John Boyega, Anthony Daniels, Kate Mulgrew … the list is huge.
$46-$99, May 16th-18th, Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street.

FESTIVAL
The South 9th Street Italian Market Festival
The popular two-day multi-block block party offers food, DJs, shopping and more food along South Philly’s most beloved non-Passyunk thoroughfare. Events include the half-ball tournament, the Procession of the Saints and the always photogenic Climbing of the Greased Pole (non-sports edition).
Free to enter, May 17th & 18th, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Italian Market, 9th Street and Washington Avenue, and the surrounding area.

FLOWERS/WATER
Festival of Fountains
Flowers and greenery are usually the focus of a trip to Longwood Gardens, but this annual summer show is all about the waterworks. And the lights. And there’s some mood music, too.
Included in admission of $32,  through May October 28th, Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square.

AMUSEMENTS
Tons of Fun Thrill Park
A pop-up amusement park near the Expo Center in Oaks, featuring “30 exciting things to do, over 20 thrilling rides and attractions,” plus food and “honest” carnival games. Slightly more info here.
$5 admission, then pay as you go (except certain days with $40 passes), through May 18th, Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Avenue, Oaks.

SHOPPING
Made in Philadelphia Marketplace
Area makers, crafters and vendors sell their wares in Dilworth Park every weekend.
Free to enter, Fridays and Saturdays, noon-6 p.m., through October 4th, Dilworth Park, West side of City Hall.

OUTDOORS
Love Your Park Week
This annual event encourages Philadelphians to celebrate (and clean up) the many grassy knolls of our “greene country towne.” Put on your least formal sweatpants and pick up rubbish with your friends and neighbors. Gloves and bags are provided. Pick a project here. Love Your Park Week also includes hikes, tours, movies and more.
Free, through May 18th, multiple locations.

BEER/OUTDOORS
Parks on Tap: Matthias Baldwin Park
This week, Parks & Rec’s traveling beer garden hauls its taps, tables and grills into the supple earth of Matthias Baldwin Park in ye olde Franklin Town, on the site of the old Baldwin Locomotive Works. Some say on a quiet night you can still hear the chugga-chugga of ghost trains haunting the park, looking for souls to burn like coal.
Free till you spend money, May 14th-18th., Matthias Baldwin Park, 423 North 19th Street.

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

FOOD/SHOPPING
The Southeast Asian Market
Enjoy stuffed chicken wings, skewers, frosty drinks and more at this popular outdoor shopping op in FDR Park. Here’s the list of vendors from area Lao, Khmer, Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian communities. In addition to the many cuisine options, you can pick up produce, clothing, jewelry, etc.
Pay as you go, continues Saturdays & Sundays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., through October, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park, 1500 Pattison Avenue.

SHOPPING
West Philly Bizarre x Meantime
West Philly Bizarre, a.k.a. “the people’s market,” is a nonprofit vendor market usually found on Saturday in Clark Park. For the month of May, however, they’ll have their own indoor pop-up retail space at storefront thanks to the good people at Meantime.
Pay as you go, Thursdays-Sunday, through June 1st, 22 South 40th Street.

OUTDOORS
Rothman Orthopaedics Roller Rink
Lace up your skates or blades on the west side of City Hall and enjoy this “colorful, retro-inspired” outdoor roller rink. Reservations recommended.
$8-$10 (plus $6 for skate rental), continues through June 29th, Dilworth Park, 1 South 15th Street.

NATURE/ART
ZOOtopiaries Living Art Exhibit
The Zoo teams up with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to improve their various gardens and natural features. This includes several “towering, three-dimensional mosaic topiaries” scattered throughout the Zoo in the shape of giraffes, a peacock, and more. (P.S. YouTube has several pointless AI videos about this exhibit for some reasons.)
Included in Zoo admission of $19-$29, through October, Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 West Girard Avenue.

DRINKS/NOSTALGIA
Back 2 The Video Store
Enjoy movie-themed cocktails in this “’90s Speakeasy” that looks like a bonkers version of a video rental store. I mean, lava lamps? Come on. Not for nothing, but Blockbuster was still alive and kicking till like 2010 or something, but whatever. Streaming more or less sucks now, so it makes sense to long for the good old days of reading the backs of boxes and “be kind, please rewind” sticker.
$19.54-$41.17, May 15th-June 29th, 699 North Broad Street.

HISTORY
History Hang-Out
Hang out by the Liberty Bell and engage in casual conversation and hands-on activities with park rangers.
Free, through May 31st, Liberty Bell Center, 526 Market Street.

TOUR
The Stand Up and Drink Trolley Tours
Standup comics lead tours of the city while you drink and laugh on “country’s only roving comedy show.”
$45, Fridays and Saturdays, through May 17th, Punch Line Philly, 33 East Laurel Street.

BEER/FLOWERS
PHS Pop-Up Gardens
Is it beer garden season already? Yes! Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s pretty, hardy Pop-Up Gardens are back 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.

TOUR/SHOPPING
A Deeply Rooted Trolley Tour
StarFire hosts this “highly curated, deeply immersive tour of Philadelphia’s food, art, music and culture scene” sponsored by Harriett’s Bookshop. The twice-on-Saturdays tour visits highlights local women and women-owned businesses, and pays tribute to legendary poet Sonia Sanchez.
$50, Saturdays through May 31st, 11 a.m. & 3 p.m., starting and ending at Harriett’s Bookshop, 258 East Girard Avenue.

SCIENCE
Body Worlds: Vital
Body Worlds returns to the Franklin Institute with its grisly/fascinating menagerie of human remains displayed in interesting poses in the name of science. What makes “Vital” different? “It will also showcase the remarkable capability and vitality of the human body and the influence of the emotional phenomenon of happiness on our minds and entire bodies.” More info in our preview.
$20, through September 1st, Franklin Institute, 222 North 20th Street.

See Also: Inside the Franklin Institute’s Stunning New “Body Worlds” Exhibit

ON STAGE

MUSIC
Mikhail Voskresensky
The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia presents this concert by famous Russian pianist Mikhail Voskresensky titled “Mozart’s Favorite Piano Concertos.” And I guess Mozart was the Michael Jordan of classical music, because the program includes two of his own works — Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat major, K. 271 “Jeunehomme” and Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466. Also on the program: Jennifer Higdon’s Soliloquy, which I guess they’re saying he would have loved had he lived to be 300 years old.
$29-$104, May 16th at 7:30 p.m. and May 18th at 2:30 p.m., Kimmel Center, 300 South Broad Street.

ANIME/MUSIC
Naruto: The Symphonic Experience
Watch “iconic” scenes from the beloved animated TV show while a live orchestra performs Toshio Masuda’s memorable, score. What orchestra? Which musicians? They don’t even say, which is pretty funny. Way funnier than all the people doing their special little run to their seats.
$45-$55, May 13th-14th, 7 p.m., Miller Theater, 250 South Broad Street.

THEATER
The 39 Steps
Lantern Theater Company presents the spy comedy adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan and the movie by Alfred Hitchcock. Directed by Charles McMahon. Stars Dave Johnson, Eli Lynn, Jered McLenigan and Lee Minora.
$30-$47, May 15th-June 15th, Lantern Theater Company at St. Stephen’s Theater, 923 Ludlow Street.

OPERA
OperaDelaware
OperaDelaware presents the world premiere of Derrick Wang’s Fearless about “Hazel Ying Lee, trailblazing World War II aviator and member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots.” Stars Ariana Maubach. Conductor Ben Makino, director Malena Dayen.
$29-$109, May 16th at 7:30 p.m. & May 18th at 2 p.m., The Grand Opera House, 818 North King Street, Wilmington.

THEATER
Endlings
Hedgerow Theatre Company presents the regional premiere of Endlings, written by Celine Song and directed by Kalina Ko. “The play follows two generations of Korean women grappling with the weight of their pasts, the loss of their cultural heritage, and the complexities of identity, all while confronting the haunting question of what it means to be remembered. Stars Scott Berkowitz, Gray Choi, Ethan Goonewardene, Paul Harrold, John Harvey, Kevin McCann, Tuyết Thị Phạm, Sarah Shin, and Shigeko Sara Suga.
$40, May 13th-June 1st, Hedgerow Theatre Company, 64 Rose Valley Road, Rose Valley.

MUSIC
Exit Zero Jazz Festival
This multi-day music fest features live music on four stages in Cape May. Performers include Terence Blanchard Flow, Orrin Evans’ Captain Black Big Band featuring Ms. Lisa Fischer, Brandee Younger Trio, Gina Roche, Blocofunk and lots more.
$200 for a three-day pass, $85-$100 for one-day passes, May 16th-18th, multiple locations in Cape May.

COMEDY
Steven Ho
The ER tech-turned-comedian plays shows at Helium. Here, watch some clips on his Instagram.
$39-$49, May 15th-17th, Helium, 2031 Sansom Street.

MUSIC/DANCE
Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus
The PGMC presents “Dancing Divas Through the Decades,” featuring “some of the most dance inducing jams from the 1940s till today.” Dancing shoes and costumes encouraged.
$40-$70, May 16th at 8 p.m. and May 17th at 2 & 8 p.m., Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 South Broad Street.

THEATER
Rent
Old City’s Arden Theatre presents Jonathan Larson’s award-winning musical about “love, loss, and gentrification amidst the AIDS crisis” in the East Village. Directed by Terrence J. Nolen and Steve Pacek. Stars Matthew Edward Kemp, Matteo Scammell, Leigha Kato, Rajeer Alford, Gilbert D. Sanchez, Katherine Fried and more.
$38-$55, May 15th-June 22nd, Arden Theatre, 40 North 2nd Street.

MUSIC
Japanese Breakfast
Like the Pope, indie rocker turned author/rocker/Big Deal Michelle Zauner put some time in on the streets of Philadelphia before being called to bless the world at large. And, like the Pope, MZ felt the pressure of sudden recognition; hers coming as the result of a simultaneous best-selling memoir and rock-star fame after years in the indie scene. That uncomfortable winning streak is apparently what informed the new For Melancholy Brunettes (and Sad Women). Mood-wise, you could say this fourth Japanese Breakfast record is as-advertised, but it’s lovely as all hell, too. A lush, dark forest to get lost in.
$42-$176, May 15th & 16th, 8 p.m., with Ginger Root, the Met, 858 North Broad Street.

COMEDY
Ian Fidance
This guy. The algorithm loves to show me Ian Fidance and Jordan Jensen cracking each other up and pretending it would be craziest, grossest thing if they hooked up. Looks like these are clips from the Bein’ Ian podcast, and I’m struggling to find a clip that’s not super NSFW for perv/mustache/“I love NYC” reasons.
$32-$46, May 16th & 17th, 7 & 9:15 p.m., Punch Line Philly, 33 East Laurel Street.

THEATER
Penelope A Musical Love-Letter to Those Who Wait
Theatre Horizon and the PA Shakespeare Festival present this new one-woman musical about Penelope drinking and singing and waiting for her husband Odysseus come home from war. Music and lyrics by Alex Bechtel, book by Alex Bechtel, Grace McLean and Eva Steinmetz, based on Homer’s Odyssey. Stars Rachel Camp. Directed by Eva Steinmetz.
$30-$90, through May 18th, Theatre Horizon, 401 DeKalb Street, Norristown.

THEATER/KIDS
Alice in Wonderland Jr.
Media Theatre’s Youth Ensemble performs the fan favorite juicebox musical, adapted from both Lewis Carroll’s writing and the Disney animated film.
$19-$25, through May 25th, Media Theatre, 104 East State Street, Media.

THEATER
Primary Trust
Princeton’s McCarter Theatre presents this “absorbing and open-hearted comedy about new beginnings” by Eboni Booth, directed by Timothy Douglas.
$48-$68, through May 25th, McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, Princeton.

THEATER
Grease
Media Theatre presents the beloved musical comedy about love and summertime and prom, and dudes who like chicks and cars.
$25-$45, through May 25th, Media Theatre, 104 East State Street, Media.

THEATER
How The Light Gets In
South Camden Theatre Company stage’s the regional premiere of E. M. Lewis’s hunting drama about “Four lonely people, their stories written on paper, earth and skin, who find each other when one of them falls apart.” Directed by Damien J Wallace.
$25, through May 18th, Waterfront South Theatre, 400 Jasper Street, Camden.

THEATER
The Apple Boys
Bucks County Playhouse stages this new musical underdog comedy set at Coney Island during the Gilded Age. Stars Deshawn Bowens, Jelani Remy and Tony/Grammy nominee Emily Skeggs.
$32-$72, through May 25th, Bucks County Playhouse, 70 South Main Street, New Hope.

THEATER/KIDS
The Hobbit
The Arden’s Children’s Theatre presents J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic adventure, adapted for the stage by Greg Banks. Directed by Rebecca Wright. Stars Eliana Fabiy, Ciera Gardner, Nathan Alford-Tate, Kelly McCaughan and Sean Lally.
$25-$46, through June 1, Arden Theatre, 40 North 2nd Street.

THEATER
The Return of Benjamin Lay
Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company and Quintessence Theatre Group present a David/Goliath story about “the British empire’s first revolutionary abolitionist.” Starring Mark Povinelli. Directed by Ron Daniels.
$50, through May 18th, Sedgwick Theatre, 7137 Germantown Avenue.

MOVIES

This Weekend @ Mahoning Drive-In
It’s game on at the Mahoning, the Lehighton drive-in theater beloved for its themed, community oriented programming. Here’s what’s up this weekend:

• Thursday Thread-Up: Heavy Metal (directed by Gerald Potterton, John Bruno and John Halas, 1981) The wild, animated and R-rated sci-fi adventure featuring the voices of John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy and more. $8, May 15th, 6-10:30 p.m.
• Remake Double-Take: The Mummy (1932 & 1999) Starring Boris Karloff and Brendan Fraser, respectively. $12, May 16th, 6 p.m.
• Severin Saturday: Castle Of Blood, Psychomania, Drive-In Massacre (1963, 1973, and 1976). Three horror favorites from the Severin video library. $12, May 17th, 6 p.m.

The Mahoning Drive-In Theater, 635 Seneca Road, Lehighton.

Bad Moms
This May and June, the Film Society’s After Hours series saves screen space for some of cinema’s baddest mothers.

• Lady in a Cage (Walter Grauman, 1964). $15.50, May 12th, & 25th, Film Society East, 125 South 2nd Street.
• Mommie Dearest (Frank Perry, 1981). $15.50, May 22nd, Film Society East, 125 South 2nd Street.
• The Brood (David Cronenberg, 1979). $15.50, May 17th, Film Society East, 125 South 2nd Street.
• Bride of Chucky (Ronny Yu, 1998). $15.50, June 6th and 20th, Film Society East, 125 South 2nd Street.
• The Warriors (Walter Hill, 1979). $15.50, June 13th and 28th, Film Society East, 125 South 2nd Street.
• Crimes of Passion (Ken Russell, 1984) $15.50, June 21st and 27th, Film Society East, 125 South 2nd Street.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Nobuhiko Ôbayashi’s 1983 anime about a time-traveling high-school kid. Tagline: “There is a future that we can’t wait for.”
15.50, May 14th at 4 & 7 p.m. and May 17th at noon, Film Society East, 125 South 2nd Street.

Take A Bow: Luchino Visconti
This Film Society series celebrates influential Italian filmmaker Luchino Visconti di Modrone, Count of Lonate Pozzolo.

• The Damned (1969). $15.50, May 15th, 18th & 19th, Film Society East, 125 South 2nd Street.
• Ludwig (1973). $15.50, May 17th, Film Society East, 125 South 2nd Street.
• Death In Venice (1971). $15.50, May 21st, Film Society Center, 1412 Chestnut Street.
• Rocco and his Brothers (1960). $15.50, May 20th, Film Society East, 125 South 2nd Street.
• Le Notti Bianche (1957). $15.50, May 24th, 25th & 27th, Film Society East, 125 South 2nd Street.

Pros and Cons: The After Life
The Film Society sets aside screen time for this series about ex-cons getting a second chance at life.

• Down By Law (Jim Jarmusch, 1986). $15.50, May 13th & 18th, Film Society East, 125 South 2nd Street.
• Carlito’s Way (Brian De Palma, 1979). $15.50, May 16th & 28th, Film Society East, 125 South 2nd Street.
• Angst (Gerald Kargl, 1979). $15.50, May 17th & 30th, Film Society East, 125 South 2nd Street.
• The Defiant Ones (Stanley Kramer, 1958). $15.50, May 18th, Film Society East, 125 South 2nd Street.
• Straight Time (Ulu Grosbard, 1978). $15.50, May 21st. Film Society Center, 1412 Chestnut Street.

Keeping the Score
This film series at Ambler Theater focuses on some of the most iconic scores in movie history.

• Run Lola Run (Tom Tykwer, 1998) — May 14th, 7 p.m.
• The Adventures of Robin Hood (Michael Curtiz, 1938) — May 15th, 7 p.m.

$13.50, Ambler Theater, 108 East Butler Avenue, Ambler.

ART & MUSEUMS

William Villalongo: Myths and Migrations
Figural and narrative paintings, works on paper, and sculpture by the NY artist. “His practice is informed by research in the natural and social sciences, mythologies and folklore, popular culture imagery, and the history of art — particularly African objects and their appropriation in Euro-American art movements — exploring invisibility and revelation of Black presence against the backdrop of race.”
$7.50 admission, May 15th-August 31st, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 128 North Broad Street.

Now Showing @ African American Museum in Philadelphia

• Demond Melancon: As Any Means Are Necessary — The New Orleans artists sews glass beads on to campus via Black Masking Culture, creating elaborate and intricate works by inspired by Caribbean and African folk art. Through June 27th.
• Shaheed Rucker: (re)Covering the Iconic — Designer/artist Rucker creates Jet magazine covers “ adorning them with prominent figures throughout Pennsylvania’s history” including Cecil B. Moore, August Wilson, Patti LaBelle DJ Jazzy Jeff and more. Through June 27th.
• The Pearl Bailey Showcase — This online exhibition includes scrapbooks, archival photographs, and letters related to the famous Broadway and nightclub singer. Through September 13th.

$14 admission, African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street.

Scattered Earth, Sounded Depth
Artists Eissa Attar and Alvin Luong use installation, moving image, and printmaking to “offer poetic reflections on landscapes and cultural histories.”
Free, through May 30th, Arthur Ross Gallery, Fisher Fine Arts Library, 220 South 34th Street.

Philly Photo Day
TILT Institute For The Contemporary Image presents an exhibition of pics taken by your fellow Philadelphians for Philly Photo Day. Continues through May 30th.
TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image, 1400 North American Street.

Forensic Beauty
Exhibition of works by British fine art X-ray Photographer Nick Veasey. “His work transforms the raw, scientific precision of X-ray images into graceful works of beauty, while revealing the intricate details of bones and everyday objects within different narrative contexts.”
Free, through May 30th, Morton Contemporary Gallery, 115 South 13th Street.

The Doan Gang: Outlaws of the Revolution
This major exhibition at the Mercer Museum explores the history of the Doan Gang, a group of Revolutionary War British loyalists who “plotted, schemed, and plundered their way through a divided world in the earliest days of a budding American nation.”
$20 admission, through December 31st, Mercer Museum, 84 South Pine Street, Doylestown.

Philadelphia, The Revolutionary City
Old City’s important and mysterious Philosophical Society hosts this long-running exhibition uses historic documents, diaries, newspapers, political cartoons and more to “illuminate the lived experiences of Philadelphians leading up to, during, and after the fight for independence.”
Free, through December 28th, American Philosophical Society Library & Museum, 104 South 5th Street.

Banners of Liberty: An Exhibition of Original Revolutionary War Flags
This summer exhibition marks the 250th anniversary of the start of the War for Independence and the creation of the U.S. Armed forces, and features “the largest gathering of rare and significant Revolutionary War flags in more than two centuries.”
$23, through August 10th, Museum of the American Revolution, 101 South 3rd Street.

In Tune
This group exhibition at James Oliver Gallery includes paintings and prints by Jim Houser, Martin Mazorra, Timothy Prettyman, and Josh Stover. “Viewers step into each artist’s shoes, finding personalized artifacts of daily rituals and mantras, home settings, memories of the past, and everyday encounters.”
Free, through May 24th, James Oliver Gallery, 723 Chestnut Street.

The Philadelphians
A new large-scale work of art “celebrating the city’s vibrant immigrant communities, past and present,” will be projected around Love Park’s Visitor Center. The Philadelphians is created by Philadelphia-based artist duo Nadia Hironaka and Matthew Suib. Projected daily. Presented by Forman Arts Initiative, Mural Arts, and the Office of Immigrant Affairs. Related events May 16th and June 6th.
Free, through June 8th, 5 p.m.-midnight, LOVE Park, 16th and Arch streets.

Travel Buddy
This “companion show” to the Jawn 8 exhibition at the Philadelphia International Airport features works by comics artists Amze Emmons, Lale Westwind, Steve Teare, Anuj Shrestha and Olivia Frericks. On view through May 25th.
Free, Partners and Son, 618 South 6th Street.

Two’s a Crowd
Artists team up for this group show at Tiger Strikes Asteroid. Participating artists include Nicolo Gentile, Melissa Simpson, Sunny Hsu, Duwenavue Santé Johnson, Cecilia McKinnon and more.
Through May 24th, Tiger Strikes Asteroid, 1400 North American Street.

Small Favors
This annual group show at the Clay Studio features some 400 small artworks, each displayed in four-inch cubes. In addition to clay, Small Favors 2025 includes works in wood, metal, glass, fiber, paper, and paint.
Free, through June 29th, the Clay Studio, 1425 North American Street.

Now Showing @ Woodmere Art Museum

• In the Eye of the Beholder — an exhibition of works recently donated by a pair of collectors (painter Bill Scott and activist Bob Schoenberg) which “reveal aspects of goodness and/or beauty that the artists have found in the human body, the city, the natural world, and in abstract forms.” Through May 28th.
• Geographies of Freedom: The Art of Jim Bloom — The Philadelphia artist creates “fictional geographies… where reality shifts and familiar boundaries fade, capturing experiences that are as hopeful as they are unsettling.” Through July 13th.

$10, Woodmere Art Museum, 9201 Germantown Avenue.

Of Black Wombhood
This exhibition by curator/cultural producer, Tanya Latortue includes of “auditory and visual renderings of 10 personal narratives” exploring “interiority of Black womb-bearing people through stories about culture, health, sexuality, identity, and the politicization of the Black body from the past to the present.” Featuring works by Kara Mshinda and JL Simonson.
Through May 31st, TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image, 1400 North American Street.

Crescendo: How Art Makes Movements (1981-1999)
The Asian Arts Initiative’s Spring exhibition uses audio and visual components to explore the intersection of music and Asian American social movements.
Free, through June 28th, Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine Street.

Into the Blue: The Pursuit of a Color
This long-running exhibition curated by UPenn undergrads explores the color blue uses 20 objects from across the Penn Museum’s collections, “including select artifacts from the Middle East, China, Africa, ancient Egypt, and Central America.” Continues through Spring 2026.
$18 museum admission, Penn Museum, 3260 South Street.

Kurt Vonnegut Jr. as a Visual Artist
Rarely seen marker drawings (and large-scale reproductions) by the great satirical author of Slaughterhouse Five, Cat’s Crade, Breakfast of Champions, etc. Through July 19th.
Free, Drexel University Paul Peck Center Gallery, 3142 Market Street, and on the second floor at Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine Street.

Now Showing at the Michener

• Judith Schaechter: Super/Natural
  An exhibition of the “newest, monumental work” by renowned glass artist Judith Schaechter, “an immersive stained glass dome, also titled Super/Natural, that explores the idea of biophilia, the human tendency to connect with nature. Through September 14th.
• Yesterday’s Dreams Are Real: Collecting Black Art and the Legacy of Lewis Tanner Moore This long-running exhibition “celebrates the legacy of Lewis Tanner Moore (1953-2024), who championed the work of Black artists throughout his life, challenging institutions like the Michener Art Museum to prioritize diversity in their collecting and exhibition practices.” Includes works by Selma Burke, Louis B. Sloan, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Ellen Powell Tiberino and more. Through July 27th.

$15 museum admission, Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown.

Trusted Messengers: Community, Confidence, and COVID-19
The Mütter Museum — whose Spit Spreads Death exhibition about the 1918 influenza pandemic rang eerily prescient in 2019 — now examines the way information is spread in the modern era. “Marking five years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors can expect to learn about the importance of trusted messengers and community-specific public health initiatives in making messages more accessible, acceptable, and memorable, particularly for historically underserved communities.” Includes photos by Kyle Cassidy, materials used in the development of the mRNA technology at UPenn, and more.
$20, through February 2nd, Mütter Museum, 19 South 22nd Street.

In the Soft Light
Photographers T.W. Moore, German Ayala Vazquez and Robert Carter, and sculptor Michael Biello examine the “physical and emotional closeness between men, finding softness and lightness while challenging traditional conceptions of masculinity” in this group show at InLiquid.
Through May 31st, InLiquid Gallery, Crane Arts Building, 1400 North American Street.

Mary Corse
Since 1968, California-based artist Mary Corse has been creating White Light paintings, which are “made of glass microspheres, an industrial material which refracts light and shifts in appearance according to the viewer’s position and environment.” The effect is ethereal, geometric and quietly enthralling. This new exhibition collects recent works in the series.
Free, through May 17th, Locks Gallery, 600 Washington Square South.

Greet the Light
The James Turrell’s serene Skyspace installation at Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting House invites visitors to sit in its dreamy, open air space as the “slow pace of the light sequence inspires meditative reflection.”
$10, Reserve your spot ahead of time, Sundays in fair weather, Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting House, 20 East Mermaid Lane.

The Intermission: Part 2
The Colored Girls Museum in Germantown celebrates its 10th anniversary with this group exhibition featuring “new and inaugural” artists.
$10-$20, Saturdays and Sundays through May 29th, the Colored Girls Museum, 4613 Newhall Street.

Cardboard Genius: The Architectural Marvels of Kambel Smith
This exhibition collects 11 works by Germantown-based artist Kambel Smith, who calls autism his superpower and uses found materials to recreate of architectural landmarks.
Free, noon-4 p.m., Thursdays-Saturdays through June 29th, Historic Germantown, 5501 Germantown Avenue.

I Belonged to the Blank Generation
This new exhibition the Space Art Gallery collects “the evocative and raw silver gelatin photography of Jay Schwartz, chronicling the electric punk and new wave scene in Philadelphia from 1977 to 1980.”
Free, through May 31st, the Space Art Gallery, 749 South 8th Street.

Talking Heads at Plastic Fantastic record shop, Bryn Mawr, 1977. / Silver Gelatin Print by Jay Schwartz

Shifting Realities: 12 Artists Finding Place in Uncertain Times
Inspired by Gabriel García Márquez’s belief that “reality exists at the intersection of the external world and our perception of it,” 12 Philadelphia-based artists — including Kukuli Velarde, Henry Bermudez, Silvana Cardel, Hagudeza Rullán-Fantauzzi and more — explore “what defines shared reality in an era of shifting historical narratives, eroding facts, and silenced identities.”
Free, through May 17th, Taller Puertorriqueño, 2600 North 5th Street.

Now Showing @ the Art Museum

• Christina Ramberg: A Retrospective, “Typically associated with the Chicago Imagists, Ramberg is best known for her stylized paintings of fragmented and fetishized female body parts and their erotic trappings–hands, hair, torsos, stockings, and shoes–drawing on pop culture influences from comic books to store-front displays.” Runs through June 1st.
• Boom: Art and Design in the 1940s, Includes prints, drawing, photography, painting, and sculpture from the Museum’s permanent collection. Through September 1st.
• Framed! European Picture Frames from the Johnson Collection. Through Spring 2025.
• Mythical, Divine, Demonic: Animal Imagery in South Asian Art. Ongoing.
• Wanda Gág: Art for Life’s Sake, works by the illustrator of socialist magazines and children’s books. Ongoing.
• Staged: Studio Photographs from the Collection, a group show of studio portraits from the 19th century to the present. Includes works by Mickalene Thomas, Samuel Fosso, Berenice Abbott, Rachel Stern, Irving Penn, Cindy Sherman and more. Runs through June 29th.
• Firing the Imagination: Japanese Influence on French Ceramics, 1860-1910. Through May 26.
• Zoe Leonard: Strange Fruit, “empty fruit skins that have been sutured together and sprawled across the gallery floor by the artist.” Ongoing.
• Expanded Painting in the 1960s and 1970s — radical innovations in painting by Alma Thomas, Sam Gilliam and more. Ongoing.
• Collecting Japanese Art in Philadelphia — Drawn from the works highlighted in the new publication Art of Japan: Highlights from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Ongoing.
• Mythical Creatures: China and the World, explores diversity by comparing mythical creatures in different cultures. Through June 1st.

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

Cecily Brown: Themes and Variations
This exhibition celebrates three decades of work by the contemporary (living) British painter “that showcase Brown’s subversion of gendered tropes in art history and popular culture.” There are several events related to the show, including tours and talks.
Included in $30 museum admission, through May 25th, Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

MONDAY, MAY 12th

MUSIC
Creed
You know Creed, the famously Christian-presenting not Christian “post-grunge” rock band that scored hits with in the early 2000s with songs like “Higher,” “One Last Breath,” etc. But what else do you know? It’s time for Two Truths And Then A Third Truth Because Lying Is A Sin!

• Creed singer Scott Stapp is the brother in law of Mike Waltz, who was reassigned by the Trump administration following the Signal group chat scandal.
• Creed singer Scott Stapp is also the brother in law of Janette Nesheiwat, a former contributor to Fox News and Trump’s nominee for Surgeon General until she withdrew her name.
• Here’s a shirt titled “Creed ’24 Take Me Higher US Donald Trump President Election Raglan Baseball Tee” you can buy on Amazon.

$57-$418, 7 p.m., Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, 1 Harbour Boulevard, Camden.

MOVIES
All The Girls Love Blood: Kiss Of The Devil
The fine folks at Blood Sick Underground Cinema present this screening of this new independently made vampire horror comedy. Director and star Elliot Passantino will be in the house. Screening preceded by two local shorts and a music video.
$12, 7 p.m., PhilaMOCA, 531 North 12th Street.

ARTS/THEATER
Scratch Nights
Artists of multiple disciplines perform works in progress at this ongoing series at Fringe Arts. This edition features Funeral Parlor for a Species by Yannick Trapman-O’Brien, Labyrinth of the Other by Severin Blake, A Developmental Excerpt of “Model Minorities” by Lex Thammavong and Satchel William, and more.
Pay what you can, 7 p.m., FringeArts, 140 North Columbus Boulevard.

FUNDRAISER
Philly Opener
They’re not real specific, but I’m guessing this is a party celebrating the city “opening” for the tourism season? And they’re not clear on what this is a fundraiser for, but let’s assume it’s a good cause. “Count on a pep rally atmosphere with festive food, Philly-centric libations, live entertainment, and a preview of the don’t-miss experiences around Philly this season.” Eagles VP Howie Roseman will be honored.
$150, 6-8:30 p.m., Independence Visitor Center, 599 Market Street.

More Monday Stuff

• MUSIC/TALK: Composing for Drumlines at the Symphony: Bringing Philadelphia Music History Together, Musicopia panel discussion with composer Andrea Clearfield, Antoine Mapp of the West Powelton Drummers and Don Liuzzi, of the Main Line Symphony Orchestra. Free (donations welcome), 7 p.m., Stein Auditorium, Nesbitt Hall, Drexel University, 3215 Market Street.
• COMEDY: Dragoș, Romanian-born comic. $38-$50.39, 7 p.m., Helium, 2031 Sansom Street.
• MOVIES/TALK: Sitting Still, filmmaker Gina Angelone introduces her documentary on iconic landscape architect Laurie Olin. $25, 5:30 p.m., The Athenæum of Philadelphia, 219 South 6th Street.
• SPORTS/PODCAST: Rights To Ricky Sanchez. Sold out, 7:30 p.m., Franklin Music Hall, 421 North 7th Street.
• MUSIC: Deafheaven, with Gatecreeper and Trauma Ray. $29, 7 p.m., Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden Street.
• MUSIC: Madeleine Peyroux. $45-$75, 8 p.m., World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut Street.
• MUSIC: Teen Mortgage, with Upchuck. $20, 8 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 North Frankford Avenue.
• CABARET: The Moment: Queer Variety Show, featuring performances by Eye Du Kir, Jiji Jane, Kate Carey, Leila Delicious, Tan Hoang, and Giavacious. Hosted by Nightshade the Glow and Elizabeth New Jersey. $5-$10 suggested donation, 7 p.m., Tattooed Mom, 530 South Street.

TUESDAY, MAY 13th

MUSIC
Ministry
Al Jourgensen, Les Claypool, Maynard James Keenan and Scott Stapp all coming to town in the same week probably sounds like some Book of Revelation stuff, but don’t sweat it: Philadelphia is still expected to survive the apocalypse. So we can just lean back and enjoy Jourgensen and the modern Ministry players recreating favorites from the band’s first two records: 1983’s With Sympathy, and 1986’s Twitch. Those were “The Squirrely Years,” apparently, as evidenced by this new re-recording. Synthpoppy tracks like “Every Day Is Halloween” now have a scarier, more industrial edge, and it just makes sense.
$49.50, 7:30 p.m., with My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult and Die Krupps, Franklin Music Hall, 421 North 7th Street.

MUSIC
Califone
The misfit Chicago rockers just released The Villager’s Companion, a collection of misfit tracks that didn’t make the cut for last year’s Villagers. You might expect some really messed up stuff, but that ain’t it. This track is just plain lovely.
$25-$30, 8:30 p.m., with Dead Gowns, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut Street.

MUSIC
Cultural Journeys 
If the weather’s nice, this free Young People’s Concert sounds like a nice way to spend an evening. Featuring Al Bustan Seeds of Culture, Ballet Folklorico Yaretzi, Kulu Mele African Dance and Drum Ensemble, and Modero and Co, hosted by artist Nikki Powerhouse.
Free, 10:30 a.m., Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Avenue.

COMEDY
Olga Koch
The Russian-British comedian plays a one-off at Helium. She’s funny. This clip is funny and NSFW.
$30.99-$41.99, 7:30 p.m., Helium, 2031 Sansom Street.

More Tuesday Stuff

• MUSIC: The Urban Fifth presents A Roy Hargrove Celebration. $15, 7:30 & 9 p.m., Chris’ Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom Street.
• BOOKS/WRITING: The Write Stuff: Inside New York Review Books, discussion for aspiring authors led by Edwin Franks, editorial director of New York Review Books Classics. Free, 6 p.m., Barnes and Noble, 1708 Chestnut Street.
• MUSIC: Grentperez, with Rocco. $41-$158, 7:30 p.m., Fillmore Philly, 29 East Allen Street.
• MUSIC: Nicotine Dolls, with Lostboycrow. $25, 8 p.m., Underground Arts, 200 Callowhill Street.
• MUSIC: Pet Symmetry (Chicago emo), with Pony and Jimmy Montague. $20. 7 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 North Frankford Avenue.

• TRIVIA: Star Wars Trivia, hosted by Kirsten Michelle Cills and Kaitlin Pagliaro. Pay as you go, 7:30 p.m., City Winery, 990 Filbert Street.
• BOOKS/POETRY: Derek JG Williams celebrates the release of his debut poetry collection Reading Water. $5, 8 p.m., Tattooed Mom, 530 South Street.
• MUSIC: Mereba. $35-$54, 8 p.m., TLA, 334 South Street.
• MUSIC: Béla Fleck, with Edmar Castañeda and Antonio Sánchez Trio. $33-$73, 7:30 p.m., McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, Princeton.
• MUSIC/TALK: Inside Hustle: How To Self-Release A Record, panel discussion led by Augusta Koch of Gladie, hosted by WXPN and Philly Music Fest. Followed by Philly Rising Open Mic, presented by REC Philly, hosted by Rae.Dianz, featuring Hudson River of West Philly. Free, 5:30 p.m., World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut Street.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14th

MUSIC
Living Colour
I have this completely pointless theory that one day we will build a super computer the size of the Moon, and it will be able to answer even the most subjective questions ever devised. And when we ask it to name the most perfect rock song of all time, it will say “Cult of Personality.” That riff, that chorus, those spooky samples, the hellacious vocals, the overwhelming frisson of the thing. The world will reply in unison, “We agree with the computer. We worship computer. We will do whatever computer asks of us.”
$48-$80, 8 p.m., with Dead Fish Handshake, Keswick Theatre, 291 North Keswick Avenue, Glenside.

COMEDY
Tara Cannistraci
Tara Cannistraci was born in the Bronx and is Italian American. Needless to say these things sometimes come up in her act.
$32.99-$42.99, 7 p.m., Helium, 2031 Sansom Street.

BOOKS
Paul Muldoon
The Pulitzer Prize-winning Irish-born poet will read from his new collection Joy in Service on Rue Tagore: Poems, and discuss his work with fellow poet Daisy Fried.
$5, 7 p.m., Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine Street.

MUSIC
William Tyler
Before going solo, this Nashville guitarist was a member of two of the more beloved bands in indie rock: The Silver Jews and Lambchop. Tyler’s latest, Time Indefinite, is truly something special, a shimmering and atmospheric folk record that uplifts the mind and confuses the soul. Pretty weird, and pretty.
$20, 7 p.m., with Time Wharp, Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 North Frankford Avenue.

MUSIC
Klymaxx featuring Cheryl Cooley
Such a strange, over-stylized and slightly scandalous name for a vocal group with such a classy, classic R&B/pop sound and a slew of hits. That’s the ’80s I guess. “Meeting in the Ladies Room” remains an unassailable jam (even if there’s some serious dispute about the songwriting credits). Can’t miss with “I Miss You,” “I’d Still Say Yes” and “Man Size Love,” either.
$40-$85, 7:30 p.m., City Winery, 990 Filbert Street.

MUSIC
The Dandy Warhols
Survivors of the shoegaze wars.
$35, 8 p.m., with Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor, Ardmore Music Hall, 23 East Lancaster Avenue.

MOVIES
Herzog on 45
Lightbox Film Center presents a night of short works by beloved director Werner Herzog “sequenced for maximum emotional impact”: The Great Ecstasy of the Woodcarver Steiner (1974), How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck (1976), La Soufrière (1977), God’s Angry Man (1981) and Dark Glow of the Mountains (1984). The films are all around 45 minutes in length.
$12, 7-11 p.m., Lightbox Film Center at the Living Room at Bok, 800 Mifflin Street.

MUSIC
Durand Bernarr
Three things that are impressive about soul/R&B singer Durand Bernarr.

• That voice. See below. Bernarr can go crazy deep and ebulliently high and everywhere in between like hardly anybody else in the biz. There are multiple YouTube videos about how amazing his vocal range is. No wonder he’s been backing up Erykah Badu for years.
• That Grammy nom. His 2024 record En Route was up for Best Progressive R&B Album, and Bloom, released in February, has got to be a contender next time around.
• That style. Flashy, dashing, technicolor, supervillain — Bernarr is a man of a thousand looks. But tell me, what’s this outfit? Cheesecloth? Muslin? Pleated silk? It looks so breathable.

$65-$215, 7 p.m., with Gene Noble, GAWD and Nore Davis, Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden Street.

More Wednesday Stuff

• BOOKS: Janice Deal. The author of The Blue Door will discuss her work in conversation with Kate Brandes, author of Stone Creek. $5, 6:30 p.m., Head House Books, 619 South 2nd Street.
• MUSIC: Gamut Bach Ensemble. Sold out, 7:30 p.m., Church of the Holy Trinity, 1904 Walnut Street.
• COMEDY: Next In Line Comedy: Free F#ckin’ Comedy Show, featuring Ebony Moore, Maria Bonanni, London Duran, Shevaun Brannigan and Sean Murphy. Free, 8 p.m., Tattooed Mom, 530 South Street.
• COMEDY: Cat Ce. $32-$44, 7:30 p.m., Punch Line Philly, 33 East Laurel Street.
• MUSIC: Sharada Shashidhar. $30.90, 8 p.m., Solar Myth, 1131 South Broad Street.

• MUSIC: Jazz Jam with Orrin Evans, featuring Madison Rast. Free, 8:30 p.m., World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut Street.
• MUSIC: Tom Odell, with Jade Bird. $53-$161, 8 p.m., TLA, 334 South Street.
• MUSIC: Testament. $37-$63, 8 p.m., The Queen, 500 North Market Street, Wilmington.
• MOVIES: The Big Sleep (Howard Hawks, 1946). Starring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Martha Vickers. Tagline: “The type of man she hated… was the type she wanted!” $13.50, 7 p.m., Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr.
• NATURE/TALK/ART: Valley Talk — Fingerspan Bridge: A Community Story with Jody Pinto. Donations welcome, 6 p.m., Valley Green Inn, Valley Green Road.

THURSDAY, MAY 15th

MUSIC
Rauw Alejandro
The Puerto Rican singer-dancer-multi-hyphenate is touring behind Cosa Nuestra, his fifth record, released last in winter. His concerts are known for their Broadway-style sets and razzle dazzle.
$200-$768, 8 p.m., Wells Fargo Center, 3601 South Broad Street.

MUSIC
Mikaela Davis
With a twang in her voice and a big, classy harp on her shoulder, Catskills singer-songwriter Mikaela Davis defies common categorization. But throw in the slide guitar, the peppy snares and a chorus like “Looking for a home in the country” and you get the picture. When she’s not playing under her own name, the Kill Rock Stars star has been seen jamming with the likes of Bob Weir and Phil Lesh.
$20, 8 p.m., with Lily Seabird, Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 North Frankford Avenue.

GALA/FASHION
Garbage Gala
Drexel Media Arts & Design students unveil garments made from recycled and repurposed materials “showcased against the striking backdrop of the Academy of Natural Sciences’s dinosaurs and wildlife dioramas.” This sounds very selfie/social-media friendly. Also food, drinks and shopping by the Now and Then Marketplace.
$15 entrance, 6 p.m., Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

HISTORY/TALK
Philly History Pop-Ups
PHPU presents its first event of the season, offering a free, fun outdoor lesson on the Philly-based African American abolitionist William Still.
Free, 6-7 p.m., Corinthian Gardens, 2050 Brown Street.

MAGIC/COMEDY
Penn & Teller
The beloved magic duo — featuring Philly-born Teller in a non-speaking role — are celebrating 50 years of surprises, showmanship, skepticism and sleight of hand. Penn & Teller’s blunt, anti-bullshit reputation is well established, meanwhile their show Fool Us, now in its 11th season, is often a joyous and sometimes touching affair.
$39.50-$155.50, 8 p.m., Academy of Music, 240 South Broad Street.

More Thursday Stuff

• BOOKS: Ocean Vuong, the author of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous and the new The Emperor Of Gladness, in conversation with fellow author Emma Copley Eisenberg. Sold out, 7 p.m., First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut Street.
• PARTY: Third Thursdays at Glen Foerd, with music by Rachel Andie, food, drinks, activities, art and more. Free (donations welcome), 6-8:30 p.m., Glen Foerd, 5001 Grant Avenue.
• FOOD/SHOPPING: Mayfair Third Thursday Night Markets. Pay as you go, 6-9:30 p.m., Cottman and Frankford avenues.
• MUSIC: Gusten Rudolph Quintet. $15, 7:30 & 9 p.m., Chris’ Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom Street.
• MOVIES: The Adventures of Robin Hood. $13.50, 4 & 7 p.m., Ambler Theater, 108 East Butler Avenue, Ambler.
• MUSIC: The Noisy, with Bren, Twin Princess and Petal. $12-$15, 7 p.m., PhilaMOCA, 531 North 12th Street.

• ART/DRINKS: Let’s Talk: Confronting What Divides Us, with comedian Collin Chamberlin, music by Jazz 180 and Chris Huff, screening of documentary short Jesters and Fools, and more. $50, 6:30-8:30 p.m., National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut Street.
• MUSIC: Sessanta V 2.0, with Primus, Puscifer and A Perfect Circle. Three of those bands feature Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan. $36-$220, 8 p.m., Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Avenue.
• BOOKS/POLITICS: Senator Ron Wyden, discusses his book It Takes Chutzpah: How to Fight Fearlessly for Progressive Change in conversation with Michael Solomonov. $5, 7 p.m., Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine Street.
• MOVIES: Cinema in the Cemetery: Eraserhead. $20, 7 pm., Laurel Hill East Cemetery, 3822 Ridge Avenue.
• MUSIC: Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass & Other Delights. Sold out, 7:30 p.m., Miller Theater, 250 South Broad Street.
• MUSIC: Hamilton Leithauser (of The Walkmen), with Johanna Samuel. $35, 8 p.m., Ardmore Music Hall, 23 East Lancaster Avenue.

• COMEDY: Justo. $20-$36, 7:30 p.m., Punch Line Philly, 33 East Laurel Street.
• PODCASTS/COMEDY: Matt Bernstein, on his A Bit Fruity spring tour. $50-$80, 7:30 p.m., City Winery, 990 Filbert Street.
• TALK: The Tyranny of the Straight Line: Mapping Modern Paris, Dr. Min Kyung Lee presents an “illustrated talk drawing on her new study of 19th century Paris.” $15, 6 p.m., The Athenæum of Philadelphia, 219 South 6th Street.
• MUSIC: George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic. $53-$262, 8 p.m., Keswick Theatre, 291 North Keswick Avenue, Glenside.
• MUSIC: Samiam, with Iron Chic, Toys That Kill and Big Nothing. $39.14, 8:30 p.m., Underground Arts, 200 Callowhill Street.

FRIDAY, MAY 16th

MUSIC
Amyl and the Sniffers
With her dirty mouth, sing-shout style and devastating hair game, the brash and bratty Amy Taylor may well be the most biblically accurate Australian garage-punk frontwoman. Amyl and the Sniffers released their third record Cartoon Darkness in October, along with a slew of videos. One of them comes with a full-frontal nudity warning, you gotta build up to that; here’s one full of sweat, sides of highways, mucky swimming pools and beloved character actor Steven Ogg running around shirtless.
$103-$250, 8 p.m., with Sheer Mag, Franklin Music Hall, 421 North Seventh Street.

MUSIC
Trisha Yearwood
You know Trisha Yearwood. Country music legend going on four decades. But there’s no way you know everything. Let’s play Two Truths and Lastly A Lie!

• Trisha Yearwood has had five number ones on the country music charts, including “I Would’ve Loved You Anyway,” “Believe Me Baby (I Lied),” and “Perfect Love.”
• Trisha Yearwood has written three best-selling cookbooks.
• Trisha Yearwood is in a longstanding throuple with fellow country music stars Garth Brooks and Chris Gaines.

$3-$614, 8 p.m., with Erin Enderlin and Sunny Sweeney, Keswick Theatre, 291 North Keswick Avenue, Glenside.

MUSIC/CABARET
The Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret
Dito van Reigersberg of Pig Iron Theatre celebrates 20 years of performing funny, freaky rock and roll drag cabaret as Martha Graham Cracker. “Martha will share songs and stories from the last two decades and she’ll answer your most burning questions about life, the universe, and everything in between.”
$25-$99, 8 p.m., Miller Theater, 250 South Broad Street.

More Friday Stuff

• POETRY: Poets at Molly’s, with Ebs Sanders and Mike Bagwell. $5, 7:30 p.m., Molly’s Books & Records, 1010 South 9th Street.
• MUSIC: The Philly Five, featuring Tony Miceli, Chris Farr, John Swana, Madison Rast and Dan Monaghan. $25, 7:30 & 9 p.m., Chris’ Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom Street.
• COMEDY/PODCASTS: Exploration: Live!, with Charlie Bardey and Natalie Rotter-Laitman. $25, 7 & 9:30 p.m., PhilaMOCA, 531 North 12th Street.
• MUSIC: Superheaven, with Glare, SPY and Prize Horse. $25, 7 p.m., Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden Street.
• DANCE PARTY: Renaissance: Beyoncé Night. $15, 10 p.m., Underground Arts, 200 Callowhill Street.
• MUSIC: Tommy Conwell & The Young Ramblers, with The Youngers. $30, 7 p.m., Concerts Under the Stars, Upper Merion Township Building Park, 175 West Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia.
• MUSIC/BENEFIT: Sirens of Spring ’25: A Benefit for Christine Havrilla, with Mama’s Black Sheep, Colleen Clark and Regina Sayles. $25-$31, 7:30 p.m., Steel City Coffeehouse & Brewery, 203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville.

• MUSIC/TRIBUTE: Pink Talking Fish (playing the music of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish), with Nik Greeley & the Operators. $35, 8 p.m., Ardmore Music Hall, 23 East Lancaster Avenue.
• MUSIC: Chill Moody, with Shawn Smith and FaxxOnly, We Got It From Here album release show. $20-$40, 7:30 p.m., City Winery, 990 Filbert Street.
• MUSIC: Sunflower Bean, with Laveda. $20, 8 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 North Frankford Avenue.
• MUSIC: Tokyo Rose, with The Beautiful Mistake, Liam and Me and Dead Wrong. $20, 7 p.m., Kung Fu Necktie, 1248 North Front Street.
• MUSIC: Phoenix & The Illharmonic Orchestra. $28-$35, 7:30 p.m., City Winery, 990 Filbert Street.
• MUSIC: The Wrecks, with Quarters of Change and Benjamin Carter. $43-$67, 7:30 p.m., TLA, 334 South Street.
• MOVIES: Seed of Chucky (Don Mancini, 2004). Tagline: “Time to Raise Some Hell.” $5, 9:45 p.m., Hiway Theater, 212 Old York Road, Jenkintown.
• MOVIES: Can’t Hardly Wait (Harry Elfont & Deborah Kaplan, 1988). Stars: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ethan Embry and Charlie Korsmo. Tagline: “For the class of 1998, the last night of high school is the first night of the rest of their lives.” $12, 7 p.m., Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville.

SATURDAY, MAY 17th

MUSIC
MJ Lenderman & The Wind
You know Asheville country-rocker MJ Lenderman, his fourth solo record Manning Fireworks was a key figure on various Best Records of 2024 lists. But what else do you know? Let’s play One Truth, Two Truth, Three Lie!

• MJ Lenderman recently endorsed NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani during a concert in Brooklyn.
• Interview Magazine has called MJ Lenderman “the poet laureate of indie rock.
• Several schoolchildren have admitted to committing terrible acts of violence because they “wanted to impress Lenderman.”

$40-$158, 8:30 p.m., with This is Lorelei, Franklin Music Hall, 421 North Seventh Street.

MUSIC
The Hooters
Can we just take a moment to appreciate the possibility that Philly rock legends The Hooters (founded in 1980) may actually outlast Hooters (founded in 1983)? The restaurant chain recently filed for bankruptcy and announced plans to reorganize. And we danced.
$41-$230, 8 p.m., with Willie Nile, The Met, 858 North Broad Street.

WINE
Philly Wine Fest
More than two dozen wineries will be pouring a wide selection of wines at the Zoo. The event will take place on the Impala Lawn with live entertainment performing throughout the day — then stick around and enjoy the zoo because your ticket includes admission. Register for one of two timeslots.
$39-$55, 1-6:30 p.m., Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 West Girard Avenue.

MOVIES
Bodies & Territories: Ecofeminist Legacy
Taller Puertorriqueño hosts this film screening and conversation with choreographer Silvana Cardell, filmmaker Raquel Cecilia Mendieta, and art historian Mey-Yen Moriuchi. (Cardell’s TERRA: Bodies & Territories immersive, outdoor performance will debut in June at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education.)
Free, 4-6 p.m., Taller Puertorriqueño, 2600 North 5th Street.

DANCE
Second Chance Dance
The performers at Philadelphia-based Second Chance Dance studio are “adults who may have harbored a lifelong love for dance but never pursued it, or perhaps danced in their youth and are yearning to return.” This show, The Tapestry of Time: Threads of Time Woven in Motion, features dancers age 24-70. “Prepare to be deeply moved as these individuals, doctors, lawyers, mothers and more, lay their hearts bare, weaving their personal stories into a vibrant tapestry of time and emotion.”
$50-$55, 6 p.m., Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut Street.

MUSIC
Ichiko Aoba
The Japanese “cosmic folk” star is known for her dreamy, ambient music that hides its hooks under majestic plinks and swells of guitar, piano, chimes and streaks of light. Her most recent record Luminescent Creatures got an 8.4 from Pitchfork, who called said, “Her crystalline voice and classical guitar are arresting, exuding a quiet patience that seems to lower the volume of everything around it.”
$29-$55, 8 p.m., with Hayden Pedigo, Miller Theater, 250 South Broad Street.

MUSIC
Main Line Outdoor Beer & Wine Fest
Oh yeah, it’s bear fest season. This one in downtown Ardmore includes more than 20 local and national beer and wine vendors, plus food, games, adoptable puppies and live music by ’90s cover band Almost There.
$55,12:30 p.m., Schauffele Plaza, across the street from Ardmore Music Hall, 23 East Lancaster Avenue.

COMICS/POP CULTURE
East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention
ECBACC — the convention celebrating positive Black images in comic books and sci-fi —is back with another free full day of panels, workshops, the AfriCoz Cosplay Contest, and more. Includes appearances by N.D. Jones, Kaloni Davis, N. Steven Harris, Sean Tate, Damian Duffy, Tayo Fatunla and lots more.
Free, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Temple University Student Faculty Center, 3340 North Broad Street

GAMES/LGBTQ+
GayBINGO
AIDS Fund’s popular, campy GayBINGO promises music, prizes and “drag queen antics” while raising emergency funds for people living with HIV in the Greater Philadelphia Region. Hosted by the Bingo Verifying Divas (BVDs). This Saturday: Y2K Prom.
$40, 6 p.m., Rodeph Shalom, 615 North Broad Street.

MOVIES
Don’t Let the Riverbeast Get You
Space Melt Cinema presents a screening of Matt Farley and Charles Roxburgh’s 2012 low-budget creature feature which “blends deadpan humor, campy monster mayhem, and DIY filmmaking.”
$10, 7:30-10:30 p.m., Space 1026, 844 North Broad Street.

ENVIRONMENTAL
Green Philly EcoFair
This free family-friendly fest features “art activations,” storytelling, workshops, a sustainable marketplace and more.
Free, noon-6 p.m., Cherry Street Pier, 121 North Columbus Boulevard.

MUSEUMS/HISTORY
Makers of Revolutionary Philadelphia Living History Day
Seamstresses, sailmakers, potters, bakers and other costumed historical tradespeople will demonstrate their 1770s crafts and lead hands-on activities.
$23, all day, Museum of the American Revolution, 101 South 3rd Street.

More Saturday Stuff

• FESTIVAL: HBCU Festival. Free, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Avenue.
• MOVIES: ScapeG.O.A.T. (directed by Erika Lobati) a high school musical comedy; plus Saisha (directed by Bhumi Patel), Q&As to follow. Free, 7:15 p.m., Vox Populi, 319 North 11th Street.
• MUSIC/BENEFIT: Hold on til Dawn Benefit Concert, with Drew Seeley, MKTO, and Johnny, raises money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. $59.16-$312.05, 8 p.m., World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut Street.
• MUSIC: Grand Funk Railroad. $33.97-$66.37, 8 p.m., Rivers Casino, 1001 North Delaware Avenue.
• CONVENTION: GirlzDay: Our World, Our Way, “a fun, empowering event planned by girls, for all girls in grades K–12 with workshops, speakers and exciting activities.” $35, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street.
• MUSIC: Blue Lake, with Ezra Feinberg and Jeff Zeigler. $20, 8 p.m., First Unitarian Church Side Chapel, 2125 Chestnut Street.

• WALKS/TOUR: Trolley Trail Hike, “explore the physical remains of what is now a hidden trolley network.” Free, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Trolley Trail Entrance, 4100 Chamounix Drive (parking lot across from Ridgeland Mansion).
• SHOPPING: Phila Flea. Free till you spend money, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Headhouse Square 400 South 2nd Street.
• SHOPPING: Fishtown Fair / Fishtown Sidewalk Sale. Free till you spend money, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Girard & Frankford streets.
• SHOPPING: Richmond Street Flea Fundraiser, with live music, bingo, raffles and karaoke. Free, noon-6 p.m., Tin Can Bar, 2537 East Somerset Street.
• MUSIC/TRIBUTE: Jagged Little Thrill — The Alanis Experience. $18-$20, 7:30 p.m., City Winery, 990 Filbert Street.
• MUSIC: Dual Pathways featuring lespecial, Consider the Source, Blockhead and more. $28, 7 p.m., Underground Arts, 200 Callowhill Street.
• COMEDY/GAMES: Steve Wrigley — Big D&D Energy. $24.99-$32.99, 4:30 p.m., Helium, 2031 Sansom Street.
• COMEDY: Simple Town, NYC sketch comedy troupe. $15, 8:30 p.m., PhilaMOCA, 531 North 12th Street.
• MUSIC: Knuckle Puck, with Oso Oso and New Age Thief. $35, 7 p.m., Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden Street.
• FOOD/GLUTEN: Wicked Gluten Free Expo. $25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Avenue, Oaks.
• MUSIC: Model/Actriz, with AFK. $20, 9 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 North Frankford Avenue.

• MUSIC: Katie Tupper, with Kennedy Shaw. $15, 7:30 p.m., Kung Fu Necktie, 1248 North Front Street.
• MUSIC: Harry Chapin’s Greatest Stories Live, featuring The Chapin Family. $39-$114, 8 p.m., Keswick Theatre, 291 North Keswick Avenue, Glenside.
• MUSIC/OUTDOORS: Don McCloskey, plus vendors and food. $15, 4-8 p.m., Picnics On Pine, 84 East Oakland Avenue, Doylestown.
• MUSIC: Smoking Popes with Off With Their Heads. $26.18, 7:30 p.m., Ukie Club, 847 North Franklin Street.
• DRAG/BRUNCH: Big Wig Brunch: The Ultimate Drag Experience. $25, noon, Punch Line Philly, 33 East Laurel Street.
• MOVIES: Harry and the Hendersons (William Dear, 1987). Stars John Lithgow and Melinda Dillon. Tagline: “According To Science, Bigfoot Doesn’t Exist.” $5, 10 a.m., Hiway Theater, 212 Old York Road, Jenkintown.
• COMEDY: Super Human Horse, improv comedy hosted by Tom Hannigan. Free, donations accepted, 9 p.m., Sawubona Creativity Project, 1626 East Passyunk Avenue.

SUNDAY, MAY 18th

MOVIES
Ian Curtis Remembrance Day
PhilaMOCA hosts two screenings in remembrance of Joy Division frontman, who died on May 18th, 1980.

• Stroszek — Werner Herzog’s famously bleak and funny 1977 film about a German ex-mental patient who moves to Wisconsin. Here’s how this film is connected to Ian Curtis. 4:30 p.m.
• Control — Sam Riley and Samantha Morton star in Anton Corbijn’s bleak and touching biopic on Ian Curtis, from 2007, based on the book Touching From A Distance by the his wife Deborah Curtis. 7 p.m.

$12 per screening, PhilaMOCA, 531 North 12th Street.

WELLNESS
Be Well Philly Fest
Philly Mag and Be Well Philly present this health and wellness event featuring fitness classes at all levels, talks by experts and motivators, vendors, demonstrations, lunch and more. More info here.
$50, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., BOK, 800 Mifflin Street.

FESTIVAL
Chestnut Hill Home and Garden Festival
Art, flowers, music, furniture and food highlight this annual family-friendly street fair along Germantown Avenue. This year they’re up to 300 vendors, which is a lot of vendors. I just saw my listing from 2023 and it said “200 vendors.” Where are they getting all these vendors from? Also: live music, dance, theater, food and kid stuff.
Free, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., along Germantown Avenue, from Rex Avenue to Willow Grove Avenue.

MUSIC
Teddy Swims
We like say “oh this guy is everywhere these days” and of course it’s hyperbole, but Teddy Swims showing up in your Peleton classes is a type of artist outreach I wasn’t previously familiar with. The sultry, bearded, tatted up pop/R&B singer is also playing the Mann on Sunday, and it sounds like a lovely time.
$102.50, 7:30 p.m., with Diamond Café, Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Avenue.

More Sunday Stuff

• MUSIC: Chloe Moriondo, with Sex Week. $35-$103, 8 p.m., Fillmore Philly, 29 East Allen Street.
• FOOD: Chili Love Project: Chili Cook-Off, all you can eat. $10-$15, 2-5 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 North Frankford Avenue.
• MUSIC: Raveena, with Renao and Lightning Bug. $28, 8 p.m., Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden Street.
• SHOPPING: Sunday Vintage Market. Pay as you go, noon-5 p.m., Now & Then Marketplace, 2418 Martha Street.
• DRAG/BRUNCH: What’s The Buzz Presents: Disney Villains Drag Brunch. $20-$25, noon, City Winery, 990 Filbert Street.
• MUSIC: Lia Kohl, with Carrie DeCunzo, a Fire Museum Presents show. $10, 8-10 p.m., The Perch, 2321 Emerald Street.

• SEWING: Intro to Embroidery: Spring Sewing Sampler. $35, 1-3 p.m., Studio 16, Cherry Street Pier, 121 North Columbus Boulevard.
• MUSIC: Livingston, with Braden Bales. $37-$78, 8 p.m., TLA, 334 South Street.
• MUSIC/TRIBUTE: Ronstadt Revue, featuring Gesenia. $20-$25, noon, City Winery, 990 Filbert Street.
• COMEDY/OPEN MIC: Your Sunday Best, curated by Kalif Troy. Free, 8 p.m., Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place.
• MUSIC: Josh Radnor, with Michaela Anne. $20, 3 p.m., Ardmore Music Hall, 23 East Lancaster Avenue.
• COMEDY: Frank Caliendo, the Mad TV impressionist. $43.99- $54.99, 6 p.m., Helium, 2031 Sansom Street.
• MOVIES: The Apartment (Billy Wilder, 1960). Stars Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine. Tagline: “He lent his flat for love — of his job.” $11.50, 11 a.m., Hiway Theater, 212 Old York Road, Jenkintown.
• DANCE PARTY: Daybreaker, a “sober morning rave.” $34-$49, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Liberty Point, 211 South Christopher Columbus Boulevard.

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