13 Things To Do In Philly This Week: Volunteer at the Philadelphia Marathon, Get Drinks With The Sphinx, See BalletX Fall Series and More
Get our weekly picks of what to do this weekend and the latest on Philly's arts and entertainment scene.
Take a New Exercise Class
From Be Well Philly: Try Cross-training // If you haven’t yet tried a Unite Fitness workout, make this the week. Wake up bright and early for a 75-minute workout featuring 30 minutes of cardio intervals, 30 minutes of strength training and 15 minutes of yoga. It might be the best decision you make all week. Check out classes for every day of the week here.
Unedited North Philadelphia: Girard to Lehigh
The Wagner Free Institute of Science will host a special event this week worth checking out: a screening of important Philadelphia news footage from the Urban Archives, followed by a community discussion. Unedited North Philadelphia: Girard to Lehigh features rare news footage of the events that shaped North Philadelphia's history, like Progress Plaza, Yorktown, Martin Luther King Jr.'s visit to Temple University, and the 1964 Columbia Avenue Riots. Admission is free, though a suggested donation ($10 for adults and $5 for students/seniors) is encouraged. Tuesday, November 18th, 6:00-8:00 p.m., The Wagner Free Institute of Science, 1700 West Montgomery Avenue.
Leading Voices: Eric Dezenhall
Fan of HBO's Newsroom or ABC's Scandal? You should check out Eric Dezenhall, who will speak at the Central Library this Wednesday. Crisis management expert and author of two non-fiction books and six novels, Dezenhall has helped manage some of America's most intense–and talked about–scandals. Dezenhall's latest book, Glass Jaw: A Manifesto for Defending Fragile Reputations in an Age of Instant Scandal, will be included with admission price. Tickets are available for purchase online. Wednesday, November 19th, 8:00 a.m., $35 or $15 for students and Raven Society members, Central Library, 1901 Vine Street.
Drinks with the Sphinx
Get your drink–and belly-dance–on this Wednesday at P.M. at Penn Museum: Drinks with the Sphinx. This week's after-hours series will begin in the Egypt Gallery, alongside the 15-ton sphinx and the museum's impressive collection of architecture, art, and artifacts. Guests can explore the galleries like never before with an exclusive flashlight tour, engage in trivia games, get face-time with a real mummy at an interactive mummy station, and participate in a belly-dancing workshop. Plus, beer, wine, and cocktails from the cash bar will have you walking like an Egyptian in no time. Tickets are available for purchase online. Wednesday, November 19th, 6:30-9:30 p.m., $20 or $15 for members, Penn Museum, 3260 South Street.
Tell Me A Story: 'Tis The Season
Feel the "bah humbug" spirit creeping in a little early this season? Join a group of storytellers and comedians, who hail from Philly and elsewhere, in an intimate setting for an evening of true and hilarious tales, memories, and confessions based around this special time of year. Tell Me A Story is hosted by the entertaining Hillary Rea, and this week's installment will include the storytelling talents of several regulars as well as newcomers. For more information, click here. Wednesday, November 19th, 7 p.m., $5, Shot Tower Coffee, 542 Christian Street.
Art Official Presents the Jive Turkey Benefit
Join Art Official in benefiting the Broad Street Ministry at the Jive Turkey Benefit. 60% of the proceeds will go to BSM, which provides sustained solutions to hunger, homelessness, and poverty in Philly. Your $20 ticket gives you access to live music, art, complimentary beverages, and food, plus an entry into a Jim Beam gift basket raffle. Wednesday, November 19th, 5:00-8:00 p.m., $20, Time, 1315 Sansom Street.
BalletX Fall Series
Take in new, cutting-edge pieces by Matthew Neenan, Jorma Elo and Olivier Wever that explore such far-reaching themes as film noir classics to gun violence. November 19th through November 23rd, various times, starting at $22, The Wilma Theater, 265 South Broad Street.
Camp Out at Thomas Paine Plaza For LGBT Homeless Youth
From G Philly: Change Philly Today is partnering with LGBT groups from Temple University and Community College of Philadelphia to shine an LGBT spotlight on National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. And they’re not merely going to be standing around waving signs or pinning on a button—these folks are spending an entire night in Thomas Paine Plaza to, as organizer Rusty Doll puts it, “show solidarity and bring awareness by experiencing for one night what it is like to be homeless.” More details here.
Another Time Premiere
Another Time, a short film shot right here in Philly, will premiere this Thursday evening at the brand-new Venice Island Performing Arts & Recreation Center in Manayunk. Written and directed by Amy Frear, the film is about "hard decisions, big commitments, and possibly being a victim of botched time travel." The premiere will also feature sneak peeks of work from other talented local filmmakers and singer/songwriters. Don't miss this perfect opportunity to check out the new space and indulge in the projects of fellow Philadelphians. For more information, click here. Thursday, November 20th, 7:30 p.m., $5, Venice Island Performing Arts & Recreation Center, 1 Vector Street, Manayunk, PA.
Movie Movie Live!
This Thursday, the Philadelphia Mausoleum of Contemporary Art (PhilaMOCA), will host Movie Movie Live! (based on the podcast I Like to Movie Movie), a movie-themed, trivia and comedy game show. This month's theme is—and I swear I am serious—Nicholas Cage, which will cover everything from the well known basics to the "did that go straight to DVD?" The fun and games features a panel of comedians, prizes, and cheap alcoholic beverages, naturally. For more information, click here. Thursday, November 20th, 8:00 p.m., $5, PhilaMOCA, 531 North 12th Street.
Volunteer for the Philadelphia Marathon
From Be Well Philly: The Philadelphia Marathon is looking for volunteers who are willing to pitch in on race weekend, November 21st through 23rd. There are all kinds of opportunities available, from registration and t-shirt pick-up at the Expo to food distribution at the Rothman 8K to water hander-outer (that’s what they should be called, anyway) at the marathon. Volunteers will get free race swag for their efforts, of course, and the satisfaction that comes with pitching in. More details here.
Get Half-Priced Lobster at Doc Magrogan's
From Foobooz: Until November 30th, Doc Magrogan’s is offering half-price whole steamed lobsters, as well as new lobster entrees and appetizers on the menu. For those of you out there who just can't get enough lobster, check out the main deal: An entire pound of lobster steamed in Old Bay (with side potatoes and corn on the cob) will cost you just $16. It's not every day you can fill up on this stuff by whipping out a single twenty dollar bill. More details here.
See a Show
There are plenty of shows to see this week in Philadelphia. Don't miss Ryan Adams at the Tower Theater, B.o.B. at The Troc, or new-comer Lewis Watson at World Cafe Live. More details here.
