21 Things to Do in Philly This Weekend

Wintergarden opens in Dilworth Park, the Penn Museum casts a spell and the Clef Club honors jazz greats.

The Rothman Ice Rink at Dilworth Park opens Friday. Photo from Facebook

The Rothman Ice Rink at Dilworth Park opens Friday. Photo from Facebook

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11

Wintergarden @ Dilworth Park
It’s opening day for Wintergarden at Dilworth Park. The ice rink and cabin, where you can warm up with hot chocolate or cocktails, are both back for the season, and there’s a new attraction popping up: America’s Garden Capital Maze. For Veterans Day, the Philly Pops Festival Brass Quintet will perform and Technical Sergeant Christina Thompson and a Boy Scout Color Guard will sing the National Anthem.

Nowhere Fast @ FringeArts
The “rock noir cabaret” from Sam Tower and Brat Productions takes place in La Peg at FringeArts and features a live rock ‘n’ roll score and an all-female cast. If you can’t make it tonight, the show returns on November 17th.

Archive Discoveries: Unseen and Forgotten Favorites @ The Maas Building
Secret Cinema is digging into its archives for this hodgepodge of short films spanning several decades and running the gamut from Star Trek Bloopers to Alexander Calder: From the Circus to the Moon, a 1963 doc about the Philly-born artist.

Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show @ Pennsylvania Convention Center
More than 190 crafters from across the country are setting up shop at the 40th annual PMA Craft Show. The juried show, which runs through Sunday, is a fundraiser for the museum.

Iliza: The Confirmed Kills Tour @ Trocadero Theatre
Comedian Iliza Shlesinger’s first show of the night is sold out, but there are still tickets for her second set.

Clef Club Jazz Awards @ The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts
The Clef Club is celebrating its 50th anniversary with two days of festivities, including the fifth annual Jazz Awards. Come out Friday night for a blue carpet reception, dinner and show, or join the roundtable discussion and jam session Saturday afternoon. Saturday night is the awards ceremony.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12

 The wedjat, or Eye of Horus, was a popular protective amulet in Egypt. We derive our symbol for prescription, “Rx,” from it. This object is one of 81 magical objects featured in Magic in the Ancient World, a new exhibition at the Penn Museum. Photo courtesy of the Penn Museum

The wedjat, or Eye of Horus, was a popular protective amulet in Egypt. We derive our symbol for prescription, “Rx,” from it. This object is one of 81 magical objects featured in Magic in the Ancient World, a new exhibition at the Penn Museum. Photo courtesy of the Penn Museum

A Celebration of Magic: Ancient and Modern @ Penn Museum
Skeptics and believers alike can learn about magic throughout history, get their palms and cards read, join a workshop on foretelling the future, make amulets, and take a guided tour of the Penn Museum’s newest exhibit, Magic in the Ancient World.

AAMP and Mural Arts Guided Tours @ African American Museum in Philadelphia
Start the day with a tour through the African American Museum in Philadelphia’s special exhibit i found god in myself: The 40th Anniversary of Ntozake Shange’s for colored girls and then join the Mural Mile Center City walking tour. Your ticket gets you admission to the museum and both tours.

Bad Rap @ International House
The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, running through November 20th, has several screenings at I-House, including this documentary about four Asian-American rappers. Afterwards, film producer Jaeki Cho will do a Q&A, followed by performances from movie subject Lyricks and other hip-hop artists.

Arlo Guthrie @ Keswick Theatre
Folk music icon Arlo Guthrie brings his Running Down the Road tour to the Keswick, with a focus on his hits from the late ’60s and early ’70s.

Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival @ Various Locations
The 36th annual PJFF runs through November 19th. On Saturday, see the centerpiece film The Last Laugh.

Craft NOW Create @ Kimmel Center
Local artists from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Clay Studio, UArts and other arts institutions will be demonstrating their crafts and inviting kids (and grown-ups) to join in at this free, family-friendly event.

Dead End Looped @ Pilot Projects
Saturday is the opening reception for this exhibit of paintings by Emily Davidson and video art by Jibade-Khalil Huffman, along with an archive of public performances from Feel Tank Chicago.

Forced From Home @ Independence Mall
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières is raising awareness about the global refugee crisis with a free interactive exhibition, set inside a 30-foot dome on Independence Mall through Sunday. Experienced MSF aid workers are there to guide you through the exhibit, which is open to anyone but most appropriate for those 12 and up.

A Prairie Home Companion @ Academy of Music
A Prairie Home Companion’s new host, Chris Thile, will be at the Academy of Music for this live national radio broadcast.

The Shakedown with King Britt @ The Barbary
Dance it out to Rob Paine and Willyum, leading up to King Britt.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13

Five Dollar Comedy Week starts Sunday at the new Good Good Comedy Theatre. Photo provided

Five Dollar Comedy Week starts Sunday at the new Good Good Comedy Theatre. Photo provided

Five Dollar Comedy Week @ Good Good Comedy Theatre
This week-long comedy fest features 30 brand new shows, each for only $5, plus workshops like “Anger Encouragement” with Ryan Shaner. It starts Sunday and runs through November 19th.

Young Thug @ Electric Factory
21 Savage supports fellow Atlanta rapper Young Thug, who’s been charting high on the Billboard 200 with his latest mixtape, Jeffrey.

Ladies Axe Throwing Tournament @ Urban Axes
There’s a place in Kensington where you can throw axes. There’s a dating app called Bumble that has a friend-finding component inside it, called Bumble BFF. Bumble BFF is hosting an axe-throwing tournament at the place where you can throw axes, and it’s free to participate. It doesn’t sound particularly competitive — more social than sport.

Fallen Fruit @ Temple University
Adopt a fruit tree as part of Endless Orchard, which is a component of Fallen Fruit, a Los Angeles-based artists’ collective visiting Temple for three days. The produce from your tree has to be shareable, so it can join a “network of publicly accessible fruit trees that spans the entire country.” On Tuesday, the artists will be discussing their work at Temple’s Paley Library.

Friendsgiving Dinner @ Maas Building
The Young Friends of the Pennsylvania SPCA are throwing a fundraising dinner party à la Diner en Blanc. Tables, chairs and beer will be provided, but you’ll be bringing your own food, plates, utensils and table décor for this family-style feast. Tickets are $25, with all proceeds going to support the PSPCA.

Follow @RachelVigoda on twitter.