What To Do This Weekend
Happy 4th, Philly! It’s First Friday and firework season– so who really needs to battle traffic to the shore this weekend? Well, actually at some point I will be– but only because my family lives there! There’s a ton going on, so here are some events happening around town on the holiday weekend.
FRIDAY:
//catFlowers at Sweet Jane It’s First Friday (seriously, how is it not raining yet?) and you may remember our friends catFlowers… well, they are showing at Sweet Jane in a collective showing this Friday… and catFlowers will be selling pillows from their new “summer collection”… aka hand-painted, vintage lace filled, andy warhol-inspired pillows… and alledgedly there is some sort of surprise pillow they will be showing? (hey, I don’t know either! I just get press releases…) Sweet Jane is located at 1742 E. Passyunk! More deets may be tweeted here.
//The 3rd Annual IndepenDANCE at the Tritone and Bob & Barbaba’s (15th and South)
“Independence Day Extravaganza - $10 includes BBQ by Lucky and admission to both bars. Many bands starting at 2pm. At Tritone: Stinking Lizaveta, Wally, Big Attack, The Spades, Unlocked, Slo & Shakey, Kermit Hell Lyman III, Crowds & Power, Joe Jordan Experiment, Chang Chang; At Bob & Barbaras: Wes Mattheu and the New Way Down, Jukebox Zeros, Toothless George, Hooker Mae, Commancheros, Beretta 76!”
SATURDAY:
//Fireworks Okay guys, so I know we all have plans for fireworks, but in case you are late to the party, here and here are some listings. And, a great resource as always, there’s a great article on Uwishunu.com about the fireworks here.
SUNDAY:
“a fun way to wind down a holiday weekend: make a spoke card for your bike ….or a bike you like.”
//Arts & Crafts at Tmom’s PWstyle love Tmom’s. Actually, most of Philadelphia loves Tmom’s. How can we not? They supply us with great drafts, 50cent pierogies and were there for we ladies of Shmitten Kitten when we were FUNemployed. Tattooed Mom’s is located on 530 South Street.
Little red string
Photo by Jeff Reeder
I’ve wandered by this beautiful installation in north Chinatown a bunch of times, wondering who did it and swearing I’ll remember to bring my camera next time, then promptly forgetting. The only time I ever think to go is in the daytime, which is a bit less effective.
Thankfully, I was nudged to go see it again by a post over at all things girls can tell, who makes neat screen-printed things and who apparently works out of a studio space right across the street from the installation.
Stop by and revel in an evening of music, food, and community with the Asian Arts Initiative to celebrate the final evening of “the little red string” installation by artists Jonathan and Kimberly Stemler:
WHEN: Monday, July 6, 7-9 p.m.
WHERE: Carlton Street between 11th & 12th Streets, Chinatown (north of Vine, south of Callowhill)
WHAT: Visually suggesting stars and constellations, “the little red string” lanterns beneath a dark viaduct light the way for the community’s expansion in Chinatown North. Each of the lanterns are inscribed with personal stories from community members describing their connection with the night sky in their respective homelands and traditions.
Before the artists remove the lanterns the following day, this is the last chance to enjoy the beauty that they have brought to the neighborhood!
Hmmm, interesting. It’s sponsored by the Asian Arts Initiative, which says of its site-specific installation program:
Chinatown In/flux: Future Landscape will be a public exhibition project that affirms the rights of neighborhood residents and community members to define, control land, and make decisions about Philadelphia’s Chinatown. Through site-specific installations in neighborhood locations, the exhibition hopes to expand the physical and social boundaries of Chinatown, and catalyze community-wide imagination and present a positive vision for Chinatown’s future.
Well, it seems to be producing some interesting art, if not halting the tank-like progress of the casino at Market East. Here’s artblog’s post on another installation, which Libby says is good enough to make you slow down your car.
What To Do This Weekend
What am I doing this weekend? Oh, good– I’m so glad you asked, Philadelphia.
FRIDAY:
Tonight, in this incredibly cool weather of 87 degrees, I will be suiting up in a black cardboard nuclear warhead costume that is taller than me. Here’s the first of many webisodes I’m shooting with/for The Project for Nuclear Awareness as their mascot, “Nukette” to promote the Bombs Away Summer Film Series.
….If you come, I promise I wont hit you with my purse. The deets are below.
//Bombs Away Summer Film Series Hopefully you’ll join me and the Ban All Nukes Generation for the second installment of their summertime film series. Tonight they will be showing the Kubrick classic, “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” at The Magic Gardens on South Street at 6pm tonight.
// Artemisia Jewelry and Children’s Clothes Trunk Show An exclusive jewelry & children’s clothes trunk show @ BUS STOP on Friday, June 26 5:30pm to 8:30pm.
“Marisa Lombardo has kept a very small toolbox and has worked on minimally affecting the environment by discovering the beauty in re-purposed metals, antiques, stones and fabrics. Each piece of jewelry & garment of clothing is one of a kind and each has its’ own story.”
Also: BUS STOP will also have a one night only sale - 15% OFF any summer shoe or handbag purchase!
SATURDAY:
//Vetri Book Signing at Anthropologie To quote E-CookBooks, “Philadelphia enjoys one of the country’s most dynamic food scenes, and Marc Vetri is its top culinary talent”… so come out to Anthropologie in Rittenhouse this weekend to meet Marc and have your copy of his first book, “Il Viaggio Di Vetri”, signed.
// Last Friday opening at Astro Vintage Plaid Pony tipped us off on Twitter that there’s a Last Friday opening at Astro Vintage tonight at 8 pm. Astro Vintage is located on 720 S 5th St (below Bainbridge).
//Sugar Town loves Girls Rock Philly Benefit I’ve been playing the guitar since the ripe age of 13 and everything I was taught, I was taught by men: a male guitar teacher, male band-mates, etc. That wasn’t a bad thing, but when I heard about Girls Rock Philly at Ignite Philly, it made me really wish that there was something like this available for me 10 years ago.
For those of you not familiar with Girls Rock Philly:
“Girls Rock Philly (GRP) is an initiative to bring Philadelphia a girls-only, week-long summer day camp serving junior rockers ages 9-17. Led by a team of all female instructors & band coaches, girls in the program learn how to play musical instruments, write songs, make their own band merchandise, discover other women in rock & finesse their on-stage jump kicks.”
Support them this Saturday at The Tritone! $5, 9pm.
Have a great weekend!
Spool sewing classes
If you just don’t know what to do with yourself this summer, Spool offers sewing classes on occasional Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Schedule here!
Classes are limited to 6 students, so please sign up in advance. Payment is required to reserve your space. Class fees will be refunded if we are notified at least 7 days before the class begins. If the class is canceled by Spool, you will receive a full refund.
Sewing machines are provided for each student. Materials are not included unless otherwise noted.
Call (215: 545 0755) or visit the shop to sign up!
Each class focuses on a different project, from the most basic tote bag up to the more advanced party dress on the right, in which you learn to tailor a pattern to fit your specific measurements, something which I’ve always wanted to be able to do (clothes fit the short weird sometimes) but have been too intimidated by my 50-pound antique sewing machine to learn.
Oh, and speaking of Spool, how neat is this bird mobile?
Found in their blog archives, Spool doesn’t tell you how to balance the little hand-sewn birds so perfectly, but does supply a free birdie pattern for the crafty.
Spool: 1912 South St.
215.545.0755
What To Do This Weekend
Oh Philly– aren’t you just popular enough to be the homecoming queen this week!
I say that because when I went to write my weekly post, it turned from “What To Do This Weekend” into “Geez– what isn’t happening this weekend in Philadelphia?!” Needless to say, there’s quite a few happenings around town.
FRIDAY:
//Bombs Away Summer Film Series kicks off with a double feature! Local non-profit organization Project for Nuclear Awareness is sponsoring the showing of two documentaries (week one of four events); the festival is being hosted at Philly’s Magic Gardens on South Street for just $4! More info here.
I’ve also heard a rumor that the kids over at PNA have an Atomic Catwalk show planned for the Philly Fringe Festival in September. Hmmm– we’ve got our eye on you, Project for Nuclear Awareness!
//Sutra Sol Friday Yoga Sutra is starting what will hopefully be a summer-long Friday evening event! The studio, located on Broad and Chestnut, will be hosting a casual evening arts and performance series tonight (and I heard a french horn may even be involved… hmmm). There will be poetry, music and wine. 8pm.
//Dark Taxi at Clark Park According to my sources over at Philly IMC, there will be a free showing of Dark Taxi (a 2008 documentary) at Clark Park at 8pm or dusk.
SATURDAY:
//Folklore at Green Line
Local band darlings Folklore will be playing at the Greenline Cafe in West Philly. I’m a fan! Be sure to check them out.
//Philly Pecha Kucha 2
I actually had the pleasure of attending the first Philly Pecha Kucha in March where several friends who did mini-presentations. Pecha Kucha is a simple concept, but explained well by Phillyist.com, here. This month’s topics will be ranging from a local historian discussing world fairs to an illustrated explanation of local artist Jonny Goldstein’s Ophidiophobia (shown above). PPK2 is being hosted again by the lovely folks over at Studio 34, and the official info can be found here. Hope to see you there!
//Art for the Cash Poor
“InLiquid’s Art for the Cash Poor is a fabulous annual party and art sale that allows art lovers the chance to meet artists, see their work first-hand, and begin or add to their art collections without breaking the bank — all in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. A wide range of our region’s best artists will be selling items priced at $199 or less, with much priced well under $100.”
You may remember back in March when PW Style posted about InLiquid’s call for Art For The Cash Poor 10. The event runs for Friday and Saturday over at The Crane Arts Building on 1400 American Street. Deets here!
SUNDAY:
//Pride Day in Midtown Village
I have a super soft spot for the friendly, cute, quirky (and loud!) Gayborhood in Philadelphia– so much so that I live in it. Sunday is going to be Pride/ Flag Day Parade starting at 13th and Locust Street. The parade will continue all the way down to Penn’s Landing and host special guests and over 40 contingents involved. Starts at noon– Deets here!
What To Do This Weekend
Ah, the mysterious gods of getting-a-great-tan seem to be smiling upon us this weekend. The forecast predicts lots o’ sunshine and springtime temps that never dip under 75– so happy campers are we, in PW Styleblog Land.
What To Do This Weekend
Philly, oh Philly– You’ve had a bender the past two weekends with festival after festival around every corner. That’s what we love about you! This weekend appears to be a wee bit more relaxing in the City of Brotherly Love; It seems all the fashionistas in town are kicking it low key. Most of us have off for Memorial day, and for many, the first hamburger off the grill signifies that summer has come. Ahhh.
So what if it might rain– go to a friend’s BBQ or mom and dad’s summer home! If not, here are some things to check out in town:
//Friday
Star Trek: The Exhibition at The Franklin Since the release of the newest movie, the nerds of the world are rejoicing: the people of the world are suddenly very, very cool with Star Trek! The cool new exhibit opened last weekend at The Franklin; if you missed it, there’s no time like the present to check out it out! Tickets can be bought here.
Philadelphia Harp Festival If coronas and hot dogs don’t cut it for you, check out the Philadelphia Harp Festival. It sounds ever-so-slightly bizarre, and the it’s taking place down the street from my house at the Church of St. Luke and The Epiphany so I may just have to check it out.
//Saturday
Bryn Mawyr Farmers Market Here’s your chance to get those veggies for the grill this weekend and to get fresh at the market.
“The farmers’ market season kicks off on Saturday, May 23 from 10am - 2pm with fresh food and community fun. The market will be open every Saturday thereafter, rain or shine, through the fall. A delicious diversity of locally-grown or produced food items will be available – vegetables, fruits, meats, cheeses, breads – come and purchase the ingredients for an entire summer meal!
Our Opening Day celebration will include prize giveaways from local businesses, Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a native plant sale from the Lower Merion Conservancy, and much more . . . bring your kids for a fun day that is not to be missed.”
Yard Sales in the Suburbs According to the internetz, yard saling is where it’s at this weekend! I praised my flea market love, but I don’t think I’ve mentioned the sweet amount of yard sales that happen right outside the city. People seem to be doing some serious spring cleaning, so check out the listing of Philly ‘burb sales here.
//Sunday
Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Just because I’m afraid of clowns dosen’t mean you have to be. It’s yet again that time of year– the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey are baaaa-accck. The circus is happening all weekend in South Philly at the Wachovia Spectrum. Get tix here!
sculpture and classical music: totally high art
Picture by Karl Seifert
FYI, if you’re planning on checking out the Kensington Sculpture Derby, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia has a detailed schedule of where the sculptures will be and when. Don’t sleep too late!
9:30-11:30am KKSD Participant Check-in
12:00 Trenton Ave Arts Fest starts12:30 KKSD Parade leaves the Arts Fest (see ROUTE)
1:30-2:00 KKSD parade returns to fest, through the MUDPIT
2:00-3:15 People vote for their favorite sculpture
3:30-4:00 pm- Awards announced at the Arts Fest Stage
5:00 Arts Fest and KKSD are over, see you next year!
Also, the Mann Center is back open, and in an effort to fill the place and maybe get a little profit off food sales, they’re doing a free lawn seat thing for all the Philly Orchestra concerts there this summer. Nice! But get em soon:
Free lawn seats will once again be available for all nine Philadelphia Orchestra concerts at The Mann (see list below). Tickets for free lawn seating will be available here (online) only beginning Friday, May 15th at 10 AM and will remain available through Friday, May 22nd at 5 PM, subject to availability. There is a limit of four tickets per person per concert and, once all free tickets are taken, any additional lawn seats will be sold at $10 per ticket.
The lineup looks pretty popsy, with your standard “HOLLYWOOD CLASSICS UNDER THE STARS: STAR WARS AND MORE” and “TCHAIKOVSKY WITH FIREWORKS” summer cheez, but yeah, you go to the Mann to split a bottle of wine on a picnic blanket and have fun, not to Think Deep Thoughts about Elliott Carter. That’s for the winter, when everything is cold and depressing anyway.
As it’s the summer, I’m gonna pack a picnic basket with sandwiches and beer and watch me some Four Seasons. Awww yeah.
April Fool’s update + someone buy me this
A couple people have asked me about the R.E.Load April Fool’s Ride because I posted about it earlier. Now, I have no connection to R.E.Load aside from owning a pretty embroidered hip pack (OK, it’s kind of a fanny pack) won in one of their races. But I do know where their website is, so here’s an update in the interest of spreading the word around:
We’re working hard as usual…yes, we’re still working on securing a location for the annual April/May/June Fool’s Ride. Right now it looks like its going to have to be in early-mid June. Trust us, you will have ample time for preregistration and such. We plan on having at least 3-4 weeks of prior notice and registration before the event. We actually have the shirts designed already, if that makes you feel better.
In the meantime, check out R.E.Load’s custom stock, which is always both ridiculously awesome and way out of my price range. My heart belongs to the orange/plaid Philly skyline one at the top of the post, but I’ve put a few more of other favorites behind the jump:
Save the bees! Whales! Pandas! Whatever!
No really, one last thing. Apparently May 12 is honeybee-ice-cream awareness day or something like that:
Come in for a FREE scoop of any Bee-Built ice cream flavor at participating Häagen-Dazs® Shops between 4-8 pm. * Please call your nearest shop in advance to check that they are participating in the offer.
We called up the only Häagen-Dazs in Philly proper (at 242 South Street) to check on it, and the answer was an incredibly annoyed sounding “Yes.” It was the the kind of “Yes” that would sound completely natural followed by “Mom, God,” and preceded by that person’s mother asking if the Häagen-Dazs employee had remembered to put in her retainer, because seriously, Häagen-Dazs employee’s parents didn’t spend thousands of dollars on braces because they liked the way Häagen-Dazs employee’s teeth looked before.
But it was a “Yes” nonetheless! Free ice cream for all who don’t mind standing in line half an hour, woo! Sorry, Häagen-Dazs employees, I scooped ice cream when I was 15 and it was a crappy job then, too. You have my sympathies for the next four hours or so.
Wonkette: Save the bees, eat free ice cream