The Weekender: Mother's Day Madness :: Best Block Party Ever! :: Britney Spears Tickets :: and 32 Other Fun Ways to Spend Your Weekend

Problems viewing this newsletter? Click here to open in your web browser. SUBSCRIBE TO PHILLY MAG TODAY — SAVE 83%!
WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2011
Hello, Weekenders!
First, so that I don't get in trouble, let me remember to say Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there. Now, to more serious business. You are undoubtedly aware that the Philadelphia Orchestra has declared bankruptcy. And a lot of our other precious artistic commodities aren't far behind thanks to massive cuts in arts funding. Fortunately, you have the power to change this and have fun doing it at the same time. Just look through the Weekender each week, find something that appeals, and get out there and do it. This week brings great shows from both the opera and orchestra, and I bet I know someone who would love to go. Hint. Hint.    — Victor Fiorillo, A&E Editor
	Because What RitHo Needs Is More Wine!: In case you didn't hear, the Wine School of Philadelphia has moved from its old home in Fairmount to a cool new mansion in Rittenhouse, and this weekend marks its official grand opening. You can look real fine and try to crash the big VIP party on Friday, though it's probably a safer bet to stop by another day for a tour or sign up for a class. Details And Yet More Wine: Wine Fest! Great Combinations I: Pig + Beer Great Combinations II: Oysters et Sancerre Trending: Beer Gardens are taking over Announcing the Return Of ... : The Philly Beer Week Night Market Now That's What I Call a Block Party: 24 IPAs, live bands, and BBQ at Hawthornes
	Cave of Forgotten Dreams: Weirdo director Werner Herzog, who most recently brought us Encounters at the End of the World and Grizzly Man, returns to the big screen with this documentary about the famous and mysterious paintings in the Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc cave in France. I love this line from the New Yorker's review: "Among the archeologists interviewed by Herzog are an erstwhile circus performer, a 'master perfumer' who we see sniffing like a limestone pervert, and an 'experimental archeologist' who is interviewed wearing reindeer skins." Yep, sounds like good old Werner is back at it. Opens Friday at Ritz East. Details Yet Another Movie Featuring Natalie Portman: Marvel at her in Thor The Stinker of the Week: Something Borrowed (and no, not just because it's based on some chick lit novel) Siskel & Ebert Boycotted It: 1980 slasher "classic" Maniac 20th Anniversary Screening: Todd Haynes' Poison
	Stevie Nicks: Though far from the Edge of Seventeen (she's actually pushing 63), Ms. Nicks is still writing and playing music. In fact, some people (like the ones at Rolling Stone, for instance) are saying that her new album is her best in decades. Decide for yourself this Friday when she and her hat play the Borgata, though you might want to double-check before you make the drive, because she just canceled a string of New York shows. Tickets are $75 to $125. Details Apparently, Weiland Is Once Again Sober: Stone Temple Pilots in town Check StubHub, Because ... : Jon Anderson (formerly of Yes) at the TLA is totally and utterly sold out Son of Led Zep's John: Jason Bonham brings his band to A.C. Fresh From SXSW: Philly band Creepoid at KFN
	Ah, the Opera: Either you love it or hate it. And even if you hate it, sometimes you find yourself dragged to it anyway, in which case just be glad there's a bar. But the Opera Company of Philadelphia brings us a best bet with Puccini's pleasing and not all that hard to follow Tosca. Plus, guys, you can always stare at the Romanian star (pictured). Your lady will be eyeing up Brazilian-Italian tenor Thiago Arancam anyway. Closes May 8. Tickets are $10 to $210 at the Academy of Music. Details Because You Can Never Have Too Much Opera, Right?!: AVA does Mozart's Don Giovanni Broke But Still Beautiful: Support your orchestra now by buying tickets!
	Wilson Goode Sr.: Of course, former mayor Wilson Goode will always be best known for his handling of the MOVE situation in 1985. But a lot of time has passed since the helicopter dropped that bomb, and Goode has gone on to do good things, most notably the work he's done with prisoners' children via his Amachi Mentoring Program. He's at the Free Library to talk incarceration's effect on families this Monday. No admission required. Details Sauces and Subterfuge: Jennet Conant, author of A Covert Affair: Julia Child and Paul Child in the OSS Me, I Catch Up On Law & Order SVU When He's On: Tavis Smiley at UArts Fine, You Can Revert to the Yellow Pages: The Googlization of Everything (And Why We Should Worry)
	Who Needs Hallmark?: Okay, let's be realistic. You haven't bought a greeting card at the Hallmark store since the 2-cards-for-$1 Dollar Tree opened up in your neighborhood. But this Saturday, send the kids to the Athenaeum of Philadelphia (don't worry, I'm not sure what an athenaeum is, either) for a Mother's Day pop-up card workshop. The class fee is $15 to $20. Details And Because They Need a Gift to Go With the Card: Make decoupage jewelry for mom At the Trolley Car Cafe: Make a chalk art mural Ask Why the Butts Are Orange: It's Monkey Madness at the Philadelphia Zoo
	A Little Advanced Notice: Normally, I tell you about a big opening for the week here. But, well, there's nothing all that big going on and I just found out that tickets are growing scarce for the Walnut Street Theater's upcoming run of Miss Saigon. I've never seen it, but obviously it gets a lot of hype (and I will catch it this time out). If you want in, get your tickets now. Opens May 25th and tickets range from $10 to $100. Details Like Improv?: Try out Philly Improv Theater Like Black Comedies (No Not the Chris Rock Kind)?: Try out Mistaken Charity at Walking Fish Last Chance: 1812 does Neil Simon
	Wear Your Finest Pink Boa: There's still time to register for this Sunday's Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure for breast cancer awareness. And ladies, for your hard work, you'll get free gifts from Macy's and, because they know you have a sweet tooth, an eight-foot long cake in the shape of a running shoe by Classic Cake Company. Now get out there and walk! Details No, Not That Tea Party: The Blue Hydrangea Tea Party at the Union league, benefiting ovarian cancer research Break Out the Zyrtec: The Rittenhouse Square Flower Market for children's charities Of Course, You Could Watch Dr. Hux Reruns For Free: Bill Cosby's Comedy for a Cause
	Philadanco: Guess Who's Coming To Dinner is, of course, the groundbreaking and controversial 1967 film. But it's also the title of choreographer Ray Mercer's work based on the film. This weekend, the city's 41-year-old (!) dance company presents the show's Philadelphia premiere plus three other pieces in the Kimmel's Perelman Theater. Tickets start at $34. Details At Suzanne Roberts: Roni Koresh offers his newest piece, Through the Skin Movement in Photos: MANNA presents five years of Shut Up & Dance
	Take Mom on a Boat: Chances are, that special woman in your life has never been to Bartram's Gardens, which is one of the most undervisited and underappreciated gems that this city has to offer. It's the 46-acre former home and garden of naturalist John Bartram and it remains well preserved as the oldest living botanical garden on the continent. This Sunday, take a boat there for a stroll. Tickets are $20-$30. Boards at the Walnut Street Bridge. Details Discover Classical Philadelphia: Betcha didn't know we were once known as the Athens of America Behind the Scenes: Learn all about historic Memorial Hall, home to the Please Touch Museum
	The Britney Is Coming, The Britney Is Coming!: Not exactly sure where she's been, though the tabloids seem to have stopped telling us that she is drugged up, dying, or getting a sex change. So hopefully this means a comeback for the 29-year old bombshell from Louisiana. We'll see if she (and her touring cohort Nicki Minaj) can sell out the Wells Fargo Center, where they're playing on July 30th. Tickets are $30 to $350 (jeez!) and go on sale this Saturday. Details CCR Minus the Fogertys: Clearance Clearwater Revisited For Those Who Like It Strummed: Country boy Trace Adkins
Celebrate the Civil War sesquicentennial at Army Heritage Days at US Army Heritage & Education Center, including the new PA Civil War Roadshow, living history interpreters and more. Ticket Giveaway: Echo & the Bunnymen Here's a great live concert for you. The English post-punkers are at the Trocadero on Thursday, May 12th. And they're performing their classic albums Crocodiles and Heaven Up Here in their entirety. Tickets are $38 but our good friends at the Troc have some to give away to loyal Weekenders. If you want to take a shot at winning them, just email your name to wintickets@thetroc.com ASAP! Wine Fest Discount You can still get $10 off of tickets to this weekend's big Wine Festival by using the password WEEKENDER. Go here to purchase your discounted tickets now.
Like the Weekender? Try our Foobooz newsletter. Sign up here — it’s free!

This message was sent to usuyuti25.cakzud25@blogger.com from: Philadelphia Magazine | 1818 Market St., 36th Floor | Philadelphia, PA 19103

Manage Your Subscription  |  Forward To a Friend