What To Do This Weekend
E. Passyunk Avenue’s 7th Annual Car Show & Street Festival
Personally, this is at the top of my weekend “To Do” list. In addition to 140+ super awesome antique/show/custom cars, the avenue will be lined with circus performers, a moon bounce, all the food and drinks you can imagine and DJs at each corner. To top it all off, over at the Singing Fountain, nice things handmade will be hosting the Bang! Boom! CRAFT! Show, featuring a plethora of handmade items from 30 crafters and artists. Note: this is in addition to the street vendors who you’ll find scattered about selling jewelry, sunglasses, Italian clothing and other products. Oh, and did I mention that Ms. Goody Cupcakes will be handing out free samples? Sunday, 12-8pm. Free. @ E. Passyunk Ave. between Broad & Dickinson Sts.
Kembrel’s Philly Designer Trunk Show Vol. 4
Haven’t been to the last three trunk shows? What the fuck are you waiting for?? As always, shoppers will be treated to appetizers and wine while perusing the one-of-a-kind goods of four local indie designers—from the geometric, 80s-fab creations of Abigrl, Couture Vulture and the high-concept nail art service Nail Tite to the clever, Philly-centric fashions of Phreedom and Philly Phaithful. Sunday, 4-8pm. Free. @ Kembrel (1822 Chestnut St.)
Retrograde Presents: Swingin’ Sirens
Wanna feel super glamorous for a night? Of course you do. I mean, who doesn’t? So get all dolled up in your finest vintage/vintage-inspired attire and check out this 1940s themed event celebrating the era’s biggest sirens—from the Hollywood starlets to the femme fatales and even Rosie The Riveter. There will be live swing music and performances throughout the evening. Should you want to spruce up your outfit, Itzy Bitzy’s Hats will also be selling their retro-inspired tiny hats and embellished stunners. Saturday, 9pm. $10. @ HeadHouse (122 Lombard St.)
If, like me, you can’t walk down the street at night without trying to sneak a peak inside every house with their blinds open, then this might be the sightseeing tour of your dreams. Here’s how it works: for $25 you’ll have access to six of the coolest modern homes in the Philly area (two of which are in the city) and because this is a self-guided driving tour, you are welcome to tour the homes in any order at your own pace. In other words: a mini road trip! And if the exterior shots of these houses are any indication, the interiors are going to blow you away. Check the site for more deets. Saturday, 11am-5pm. $25. @ Various locations
Fourth Friday on Fourth Street
After checking out the opening receptions apart of Arts on South, be sure to meander over to Fabric Row. As we mentioned earlier this week, BUS STOP (727 S. 4th St.) is celebrating the start of the London Summer Olympics with an all-day “GOLD FOR THE GOLD Sale.” Customers who come appropriately adorned in some gold bling (no, silver isn’t good enough) will be awarded 15 percent off all shoe purchases. The boutique will also be serving ice-cold lemonade and setting up a podium where you can proudly showcase your footwear. Just a few doors down, Urban Princess Boutique (750 S. 4th St.) will be offering 15 percent off all summer clothing, accessories, soaps and other gifts from noon-8 p.m.
Ballet, hip-hop, belly dancing, tango, Zumba, pole dancing…you can do it all this Saturday. Even better: you can do it entire for free. Several studios across the city will be hosting back-to-back dance workshops, mostly catering to beginners–even those very unfortunate individuals born with two left feet. To wrap up the event, a huge dance party will be held at the Ethical Society at Rittenhouse Square where every is welcome to come and cut a rug however they so choose. Check the site for a complete schedule of events. Saturday, 10am-11:30pm. $0-$5. @ Various locations
Photo: Monica Manlang
Just in case you’re unfamiliar with this annual street fair, basically it’s an explosion of creativity that consumes an entire city block. In a nutshell: live music, fire arts, dance, food and drink vendors, hands-on activities and more than 20 arts vendors showcasing/selling everything from jewelry, clothing and furniture to stationary, books and paintings. There will also be roughly 14 different organizations in attendance offering their products/services and hosting activities including, The Clay Studio, InLiquid and Neighborhood Bike Works. Judging by the entire line-up of festivities contained in their three page press release, I can say with confidence it’s gonna be a pretty dang good time. Saturday, 12-10pm. Free. @ Philly Magic Gardens (1000 block of South St.)
What To Do This Weekend
If you typically spend your Friday nights out and about, pounding drinks and shakin yo’ ass, why not take in a fashion show while you’re at it? This showcae is essentially a clusterfuck of stimuli. In addition to live bands, DJs, breakdancers and Brazilian martial arts, there will be fashion shows featuring several up-and-coming designers including Ashley Davis’s “Cut & Sew” Spring/Summer 2012 collection and the new clothing line Death to Dubstep. There will also be a live recording of “The Kitchen Sink,” a half-hour variety show based here in Philly. Friday, 8pm-2am. $12. @ The Level Room (2102 Market St.)
For those looking for something a little more low-key, how about a taking in some art and culture? As part of Arts on South’s “Fourth Friday” Receptions, Community Cultural Exchange is hosting a mini healing arts expo that will feature free massages, Tai Chi and yoga demos and a Reiki session from a local health practitioner as well as local music and poetry to help you unwind. There will also be handmade soaps, lotions and other textiles for your personal health for sale. Friday, 3-10pm. Free. Community Cultural Exchange (706 South St.)
12th Annual Women of Substance & Style
In honor of Black History Month, Joan Shepp is 40 outstanding women with a fashionable affair complete with hors d’oeuvres, drinks, music, live art and shopping. A portion of the event’s proceeds will be donated to Nebinger Elementary School. And just in case that wasn’t enough, there’s going to be a slew of complimentary desserts provided by several local bakers including, Brown Betty, Miel Patisserie, Amy the Baker and Swiss Haus Bakery. Just make sure to wipe your hands before touching all the amazing designer fashions. Friday, 5:30-8:30pm. Free. @ Joan Shepp (1616 Walnut St.)
With spring lurking just around the corner, it wouldn’t hurt to get a head start on your spring cleaning. Saturday afternoon, free your closet of all the garments you know will never see the light of day again then trade them in for entirely new collection of looks on Sunday at this one-day pop-up shop in Germantown. To ensure there’s a decent selection of apparel to choose from, they’re inviting anyone and everyone to come with at least an entire bag’s worth of items to swap (including shoes and accessories). They also ask that whatever you bring be in good condition (no one wants a shirt that already has sweat stains). To enhance the swapping experience, music and light refreshments will be provided. Sunday, 1-4pm. $5. @ Torchlight Arts and Cultural Center (45 E. Church Ln.)
While I was planning to lock myself in my room for the Oscar’s on Sunday, getting dressed up in my best cocktail attire and watching it live inside the Ritz Carlton while enjoying complimentary champagne and food from new chef de cuisine Natahan Volz certainly sounds like a much better option. Oh, and its FREE. They’ll even be awarding prizes to the best-dressed attendees, including a free overnight stay in the exclusive Presidential Suite. Sunday, 6pm. Free. @Ritz Carlton Hotel, 10 Arts Bistro (Broad & Chestnut sts.)