13 Things To Do In Philly This Weekend: Free Museum Day, Pearl Street Block Party, Hard Cider Festival at the Navy Yard and More

Here are your weekend plans, Philly:

By Marquesa Rotuski· 9/26/2014, 3:49 p.m.

Shadows in the Vineyard

Local native and Philadelphia magazine alum Maximillian Potter will celebrate his new book, Shadows in the Vineyard: The True Story of the Plot to Poison the World's Greatest Wine. , this evening. Hear the award-winning journalist read from the work, which "uncovers a fascinating plot to destroy the vines of La Romanée-Conti, Burgundy's finest and most expensive wine." The perfect prelude to a glass of red. More information is available here. Friday, September 26th, 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble, 1805 Walnut Street.

Shoppist at Club Monaco

From Shoppist: Shoppist is hosting a shopping event at Club Monaco on Walnut Street this Friday, from 6pm to 8pm. The (amazing) team there has pulled out all the stops. We’ll have champagne, catering from Starr, and the cutest candy bar you’ve ever seen. But there’s more! RSVP to courtney.denton@clubmonaco.com, and our name will be put on a list to get 20 percent off anything you buy. More here.

SausageFest at Standard Tap

From Foobooz: Now through Thursday, October 2nd, Standard Tap is celebrating its annual Sausage Fest. The fine folk at the Tap promise this will be their biggest celebration of cylindrical meat yet. There will be everything from Bratwurst to Chorizo and it will all be accompanied by local fest beers and German-style drafts. More here.

Museum Day Live

Hey, art enthusiasts: take advantage of free admission to 16 Philadelphia-area museums (!!) this Saturday with Smithsonian magazine's Museum Day Live. Free tickets will grant two people admission to an array of galleries–including Penn Museum (pictured) and the Academy of Natural Sciences. A full list of participating museums can be found here. You can register for your free ticket online. Happy gallery hopping! Saturday, September 27th, various locations.

Paper Source Wedding and Special Event Workshop

From Philadelphia Wedding: On Saturday, September 27, from 11 am until 1 pm, Paper Source will hold their wedding and special event workshop—a jam-packed seminar with invitation tutorials, decor ideas, and DIY demonstrations. The team will guide you through all the options for sprucing up your invitations (like embossing and envelope lining), and they'll even whip out the store's event inspiration boards for you to steal ideas from. More here.

Art-Reach Fall Festival

Local non-profit Art-Reach will honor the organizations that make their work possible this weekend with a special fall festival, complete with food trucks (Vernalicious, Hot Diggity, Lil’ Pop Shop, and more), live music (Birdie Busch & the Greatest Night, Commonwealth Choir, and other acts) and activities for all ages. Tickets can be purchased online, and include food truck vouchers and unlimited beverages. Plus, all of the proceeds will support Art-Reach programs. For more information, click here. Saturday, September 27th, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., $35 for adults or $15 for kids, Ridgeland Mansion, 4100 Chamounix Drive.

Hard Cider Festival at the Navy Yard

From Foobooz: This Saturday at the Navy Yard will be the 2nd annual Pour the Core Festival, the hard cider festival of Philly’s fall. The Festival runs from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.–hours filled with locally-produced and internationally-sourced ciders, more than 75 in total. The event will feature local favorites like the artfully crafted Frecon’s Cidery Crabby Granny, best-selling US brands like event sponsor Woodchuck Hard Cider, and a variety of imported ciders from Spain, England and elsewhere. The event will also feature Philadelphia food trucks, seminars on the making of cider, and live music by musician Kyle Herring. More here.

Pearl Street Block Party

The Asian Arts Initiative will host its second annual neighborhood arts festival this weekend. Pearl Street Block Party is a free, all-day party that celebrates the cultural diversity of the artistic community with activities including live music and performances, plus displays and interactive artwork from a variety of local artists. A community meal, beginning at 5 p.m., will follow the festivities. A list of programming, and more information, can be found here. Saturday, September 27th, 1 p.m.-5 p.m., 1200 block of Pearl Street in Chinatown North.

AC's Boardwalk Wine Promedade

From Foobooz: DO AC’s Boardwalk Wine Promenade is back for the 2nd year this weekend. This year’s Promenade is from 12-5 p.m. on Saturday, September 27th and Sunday the 28th. Enjoy the beach breeze for the weekend (highs in the mid 70s) as well as over 125 different wines, wine seminars, bourbon tastings, chocolate pairings and more down the beloved boardwalk in Atlantic City. Food samplings from Hard Rock Cafe Atlantic City, Harry’s Oyster Bar, Fin Restaurant, Robert’s Steakhouse, Guy Fieri’s Chophouse, The Iron Room and more will also be available to keep your stomach happy. More here.

Opera on the Mall

Head to Independence Hall for Opera on the Mall: a free, alfresco performance perfect for an autumn evening. The Barber of Seville will be broadcast on the big screen, and there will be plenty of pre-show activities as well. Picnic baskets, blankets, and the whole family are welcome–even the furry members. Quite the crowd is expected, so you must register in advance here. Arrive early to secure a good spot! For more information, click here. Saturday, September 27th, Doors at 5:30 p.m., broadcast at 7 p.m., Independence National Historic Park, 6th & Market Streets.

StrEAT Festival

Manayunk's favorite foodie fest returns for a fall edition this weekend. StrEAT Festival brings over 40 Philly food trucks to Main street, serving up everything from BBQ to cupcakes, with an emphasis on a special seasonal ingredient: apples! Manayunk merchants will offer sidewalk sales and promotions, plus fresh fruits, veggies, and homemade spices, oils, and jams will be available to purchase from the farm stand and gourmet vendors. Kids will be entertained at Recess, a littles-only zone held at Canal View Park, complete with everything from a moon bounce to face painting. Plus, a pop-up beer garden will be the highlight of Cotton Street, offering samples of craft brews to compliment the food truck fare. Come hungry. Sunday, September 28th, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Main Street, Manayunk.

Oktoberfest Street Festival

Alla Spina is getting in the German spirit and inviting you to nosh on traditional fare, sip Victory beer, and dance to live polka music this weekend. Sunday Funday, Oktoberfest style. More information can be found here. Sunday, September 28th, 12 p.m.-6 p.m., Alla Spina, 1410 Mt. Vernon Street.