20 Things To Do This Weekend
Squonk at the PIFA Street Fair. Photo provided
Twilight in the Gardens @ Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens | Friday, April 22
The Magic Gardens kicks off its seasonal BYOB series with music from Son Step, plus artist Alex Eckman-Lawn leading a game known as an “exquisite corpse” — which is not at all what I pictured.
XPN’s Key Fest @ MilkBoy | April 22-24
Check out what’s hot in the local music scene with The Key’s curated music festival. You can get a three-day pass or pick a night: Friday is hip-hop and electronic pop, Saturday brings punk and indie rock, and Sunday embraces Americana. Kate Faust is in Friday’s line-up:
French Connection @ Philadelphia Museum of Art | Friday, April 22
For this week’s Art After 5, pianist and composer Cedric Hanriot plays an homage to sci-fi writer Dan Simmons. Buy a glass of wine and settle on the steps of the Great Stair Hall to enjoy the show.
Big Book Sale @ Book Corner | April 22-23
Kick-start your perpetual promise to yourself to read more at the Friends of the Free Library’s annual Big Book Sale. Thousands of books are being sold on the cheap, starting with mass market jawns at five for a dollar.
The Great Philadelphia Comic Con. Photo provided
The Great Philadelphia Comic Con @ The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center | April 22-24
Comic book creators and the people who love them mingle at the Philly Comic Con. Expect meet and greets with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, photo ops and, of course, plenty of cosplay.
Tasting and bottle signing with 50 Cent @ Fine Wine and Good Spirits at 180 W. Girard Ave. | Saturday, April 23
Rapper 50 Cent is taking a break from filing for bankruptcy while posting photos of himself with stacks of cash to sign bottles of Effen Vodka. Effen. I like everything about this.
Sita Sings the Blues @ International House | Saturday, April 23
Bring the kids to this free screening of animated tale Sita Sings the Blues. It’s a retelling of an ancient Sanskit epic, with kings, gods, kidnapping and a jazz soundtrack.
Undercover Cops II: Anonymous Cops @ PhilaMOCA | Saturday, April 23
At age 11, PhilaMOCA’s neighbor “Lil Sean” wrote, directed and starred in Undercover Cops. Two years later, he’s back with the sequel. See both in a row as part of the Cinedelphia Film Festival, with the cast and crew on hand. Before the feature films, watch the absurdist short Ice Cream in Space from Little Baby’s Ice Cream.
PIFA Street Fair @ Broad Street from Chestnut to South Streets | Saturday, April 23
The Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts closes out with a giant block party, complete with a Ferris wheel, a zip line, stilt walkers, acrobats, tons of food vendors, and a waterfall in the middle of Broad. This will be packed.
Arrastão do Dendê @ Rittenhouse Soundworks | Saturday, April 23
If this performance from the Afro-Brazilian percussion and dance troupe doesn’t get you tapping your feet, your feet have been glued to the floor and you should look into that.
Murder By Death @ Union Transfer | Saturday, April 23
Don’t let the band name fool you: Murder By Death is an indie rock/Americana band from Indiana. Kevin Devine and The Goddamn Band open.
The Legwarmers @ The Trocadero | Saturday, April 23
The Ultimate ’80s Tribute Band plays the Troc, complete with scrunchies, spandex and shoulder pads.
Sierra Hull @ World Café Live | Saturday, April 23
Bluegrass singer-songwriter Sierra Hull played the Grand Ole Opry when she was 11 and signed her first record deal at 13. Now 24, she’s on tour for her new album Weighted Mind.
Max Major’s Think Again @ The Franklin Institute | Saturday, April 23
“Mentalist magician” returns to the Franklin Institute after last year’s sold-out show to make the rest of us feel very unperceptive. If you can’t make this one, check the later dates: He’ll be back for four more performances.
RAIR’s Live at the Dump. Photo provided
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome @ 7333 Milnor Street | Sunday, April 24
Recycled Artist in Residency, shortened to RAIR, shows movies in a dump in Northeast Philly, along with games, a photo booth and T-shirt printing. It’s unclear if the games involve trash picking, but that feels like a wasted opportunity if not.
Nigerian Purple Rain @ PhilaMOCA | April 24-26
In honor of the late Prince, PhilaMOCA is re-screening Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai, a Nigerian remake of Purple Rain. The movie was part of the Cinedelphia Film Festival.
Fresh Air Live with Questlove @ Penn Museum | Sunday, April 24
Terry Gross, the host of NPR’s “Fresh Air” since 1975, interviews Questlove, founding member of The Roots. Both are Philadelphians, so I assume they’ll spend most of the show discussing cheesesteaks and Rocky.
Crafty Balboa April Showers @ The Singing Fountain at Passyunk Ave. and Tasker St. | Sunday, April 24
Peruse arts, crafts, collectibles, clothes, jewelry and Philly-centric goods from 45 vendors at Crafty Balboa’s April fair.
The Prince and Michael Jackson Experience @ Coda | Sunday, April 24
It’s tribute time. DJ Dave Paul spins songs from the two music legends at the club formerly known as Denim.
Fishtown Science Crawl @ Fishtown | Sunday, April 24
Museums have finally got it down: To draw a crowd, serve booze. Hit up five Fishtown bars and see how good you are at performing science experiments while tipsy. This one is part of the Franklin Institute’s very cool Philadelphia Science Festival.
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