18 Things to Do in Philly This Weekend
Grace Kelly is at South Friday and Saturday. Photo by Taso Papdakis Photography
FRIDAY, AUGUST 12
Grace Kelly @ South
Jazz singer and saxophonist Grace Kelly takes a break from playing with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s band to perform at South on Friday and Saturday.
This is Now: Film and Video After Punk @ International House
Friday is the opening night for the U.S. premiere of This is Now, the British Film Institute’s tour of digitally remastered underground films and music videos from the post-punk era in the UK.
Liferide for amfAR @ Kiehl’s
Kiehl’s teamed up with the Foundation for AIDS Research for the seventh annual LifeRide, an 11-day, multi-stop motorcycle ride to raise awareness and money. It ends with a party at the Kiehl’s store in The Shops at Liberty Place with music, discounts (Kiehl’s will donate some of the profits to amfAR), free HIV tests, a banner you can sign that will be added to the AIDS Memorial Quilt, and the riders, including Scott Patterson from Gilmore Girls. It’s at 2 p.m.
Poetry Vs. Hip-Hop @ PhilaMOCA
This “friendly battle” between rappers and spoken word artists is a touring production that originated out of Atlanta. Local emcees and poets can register to participate.
Fifth Anniversary Show @ MilkBoy
Music venue MilkBoy is celebrating five years at 11th and Chestnut with free shows, featuring Fishbone, Nik Greeley & The Operators and Hardwork Movement on Friday and The Weeks, Ceramic Animal and Foxtrot & The Get Down on Saturday.
GayFest @ The Drake and Studio X
LGBT theater festival GayFest kicks off Friday with an opening party at Studio X and continues through August 27th. Preview performances of the shows are pay-what-you-can.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13
Photo by Meredith Dolan/ANS
Bug Fest @ Academy of Natural Sciences
I will be nowhere near the Academy of Natural Sciences’ annual ode to creepy crawlies, but I can concede that it sounds pretty cool for less wimpy souls. It’s on for Sunday, too.
Reeve Carney @ Tin Angel
Dorian Gray from Penny Dreadful is also a singer/songwriter (and the original Peter Parker in Broadway’s Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark). He plays at Tin Angel as part of a short summer solo tour.
Darius Rucker @ BB&T Pavilion
The Hootie & the Blowfish frontman has a successful solo career, with a country bent.
Hidden River Blues Festival @ Venice Island Outdoor Amphitheater
WXPN and Manayunk.com host this second annual blues fest with music all day, food vendors and a beer garden. Your wristband lets you wander in and out of the festival, if you feel like taking a stroll down Main Street between sets.
Punt, Pass, and Purple @ Xfinity Live
Female football fans, help raise money for the Laurel House while playing games, getting free massages, drinking beers and asking Ike Reese your most pressing gridiron questions.
Kensington Gardens Pop-Up @ 2670 Coral Street
This is the second in a series of five summer pop-up beer gardens from Nodding Head and Kensington Community Food Co-op. Come for the local brews and food trucks.
Guitar Masters @ World Café Live
Three top-notch guitarists, Andy McKee, Preston Reed and Craig D’Andrea, play World Café Live.
Second Saturday @ East Passyunk Avenue
If you can handle the heat, bop along East Passyunk Avenue and browse the sales, cocktail in hand.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 14
Photo provided
Peach Festival and Summer Sidewalk Sale @ Peddler’s Village
Peaches don’t just get a day; they get a whole National Peach Month. Eat too many baked goods, shop the sales, listen to live music and watch peach pie–eating contests — or participate in them — at the Peddler’s Village celebration of all things peachy.
Julie Brown Workshop @ University City Arts League
Learn the tricks of dancing to the blues, like struttin’ and lag, from visiting instructor Julie Brown, so you’ll be ready for next year’s Hidden River Blues Festival.
Suzanne Seesman: Patterns and Methods @ Black Oak House
Artist Suzanne Seesman will be in attendance for the opening of her solo exhibit. Instead of the usual wine and cheese, bring food to grill or drinks for a cookout. Black Oak House will be making veggie sushi.
Philly SEED Fest @ Sugarhouse Casino
This one is for the vegans (and vegan-sympathetic): It’s a completely vegan food and beer fest, with a marketplace for vegan non-edibles and live music.
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