Philadelphia Weekly

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CIVICS 


Crafting Corridors: 
Reinventing the Urban Street
 • Next City hosts 15 urban innovators from across the United States to discuss how American cities can recover after decades of economic decline. Noon. Free. Philadelphia Center for Architecture, 1218 Arch St. 267.239.0762. nextcity.org


MUSIC 


Israel Dance Marathon • Three words: Midnight Bagel Spread. Need we say more? It’ll be mayim (folk dance) and grapevine until the clock strikes 12, and then a beeline to the lox and cream cheese. 7:30pm. $18. The Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St. 201.545.4400. gershmany.org


FAMILY 


President’s Day Weekend Celebration • Catch a glimpse of what it’s like to be President Obama in 2013 by walking in the commander-in-chief’s shoes for a couple hours. And be sure to brush up on presidential trivia—your knowledge of the executive branch will be tested, yo. 9:30am. National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St. 215.409.6600. constitutioncenter.org


MUSIC 


Alo Brasil Carnaval 2013 • You may confuse the incessant-pounding of Alo Brasil’s drums with the beating of your own heart today. Drawing from the rhythms of Africa, their sound has been perfected by 12 musicians spanning three generations. 10:30pm. $20. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. 215.221.1400. worldcafelive.com


SCIENCE 


Palepalooza • Lose yourself in the Triassic, Jarassic or Cretaceous periods as you stroll through Dinosaur Hall and hunt for fossils at Palepalooza. Unlike the poor dinosaurs, the fun will never go extinct today. 10am. The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. 215.299.1000. ansp.org

Sunday, Feb. 17

MUSIC 


Far-Out Fangtooth

Dubbing themselves “pure evil from Philadelphia,” the foursome Far-Out Fangtooth tends to create as much of an atmosphere as a sound with their blurry blend of slow, head-beating shoe gaze and thorny reverb, making music that resembles the soft side of the Cramps and Iggy Pop. They’re headlining Johnny Brenda’s tonight alongside similarly ambivalent bands, the New York-based K-Holes plus Call of the Wild and local trio Hound, who play an old school style of fuzzy ‘70s rock ‘n’ roll—and whose demo shows a ton of promise. R.L.


8pm. $10. With K-Holes, Call of the Wild + Hound. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave. 215.739.9684. johnnybrendas.com

MUSIC 


Lacy James Album Release 
and Video Premiere • Celebrating the release of her new album, Circles of Swallows, singer/songwriter/choreographer Lacy James will perform her set with a full band. The event also marks the premiere of her new music video for the song “Old Languages.” 7:30pm. $10-$12. L’Etage, 624 S. Sixth St. 215.592.0656. lacyjames.com/tickets


THEATER 


Bad Dates • A comedy starring Sarah Sanford as a transplanted Texan in New York balancing all the regular stuff that life can throw at you; a career as a fashionable Restaurateur, raising a teenage daughter, a 
relationship with the Romanian mob, finding a man and finding shoes, of course. 3pm. $20. Through March 3. Montgomery Theater, 124 N. Main St. 215.723.9984. montgomerytheater.org


FAMILY 


The Kids Corner Music Festival
 • Going strong since 2011, the Kids Corner Music Festival is hosted by Kathy O’Connell and contains performances from the Not-Its! and Big Bang Boom! Jack the Balloon Man will again be in attendance, working his magic and using a multitude of balloons to create detailed works of art. 11am. $8-$12. Union Transfer, 1024 Spring Garden St. 215.232.2100. utphilly.com

Monday, Feb. 18

TALK 


A Salute to the Pioneering Journalists of the 1960’s
 • Dick Polman hosts a lunch talk presented by the Povich Journalism Program, featuring journalist and author Mark Bowden (also featured in a recent PW cover story). Noon. Free. Kelly Writers House Arts Cafe, 3805 Locust Walk. 215.746.7636. writing.upenn.edu/wh


MUSIC 


Marsha Ambrosius • The talented singer/songwriter from Liverpool, England, formerly of Floetry, dazzled multitudes with her 2011 solo debut, Late Nights & Early Mornings; head out to World Cafe Live to see what the hubbub’s all about. 8pm. $25. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. 215.222.1400. worldcafelive.com


Tuesday, Feb. 19

THEATER 


Unvarnished

After its successful debut last year, the Philadelphia Theatre Company brings back PTC@Play, a two-week festival featuring free staged readings of new works by emerging and established American playwrights. Tonight, audiences will be treated to an excerpt from Unvarnished, Bill Cain’s new play about the life and times of Philadelphia sculptor, photographer and realist painter Thomas Eakins. In case you’re not up on your art history, Eakins is regarded as one of the nation’s most influential artists, having painted several hundred portraits over the course of his four-decade career—mostly depicting the people and places of Philly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chances are you’ve seen his work at some point or another around town. You may also be familiar with his four-story North Philly row home, given that it’s now a national historic landmark, as well as the headquarters of the Mural Arts Program. Helping to fund the development and research of Unvarnished, last year, Cain was awarded PTC’s inaugural Terrence McNally Award, a $10,000 cash prize recognizing exceptional new plays. As is the case with all of the PTC@Play events, the reading will be immediately followed by a reception, during which the audience will have the opportunity to mingle with the artists and more specifically, partake in a post-show discussion with Cain and Carrie Chapter, PTC literary manager. The festival will conclude on Sun., March 3 with FuturePhilly@Play, an evening of short plays by six of the city’s freshest new playwrights, as well as a closing night bash. NICOLE FINKBINER


7pm. Free. Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St. 215.985.0420. philadelphiatheatrecompany.org


Wednesday, Feb. 20

MUSIC 


Sips ’N’ Songs

Jose Pistola’s has set up an amazing happy-hour benefit for The Philadelphia Singers. Well, technically it’s more like a happy three hours, but you get the idea. Come out for tasty hors d’oeuvres, great drinks and entrancing music to support the region’s first professional chamber chorus, formed over 40 years ago.  Performing live at the restaurant are four of the Singers who’ve recently come together as The Laughing Bird: Leslie Johnson, Jenifer L. Smith, Steven Bradshaw and Colin Dill joined forces in 2010 to focus on high-quality vocal chamber music from time immemorial to 1750. The performances are diverse and showcase their knack for both ensemble and solo singing. After performing at such venues as the Queen in Wilmington, this is your chance to catch them in a much more intimate setting—and help support an important facet of Philly’s musical heritage. Win-win! Tickets are $50 for general admission, and $75 for bar table seats, but capacity is very limited, so RSVP before Feb. 18. A.T.


6pm. $50-$75. Jose Pistola’s, 263 S 15th St. 215.545.4101. josepistolas.com


THEATER 


Vincent in Brixton • A young Vincent Van Gogh arrives in Brixton, England and immediately falls in love with a lovely young lady whose mother just so happens to have a room for rent. As the play progresses, he begins to nurture not only his artistic growth, but also his destructive tendencies. 7:30pm. $30-$40. Through March 10. Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St. 215.574.3550. walnutstreettheatre.org


FILM 


Amanda Trager and 
Erik Moskowitz • Trager and Moskowitz make conceptual videos about collectivities and self-determination, using characters whose voices are replaced by dubbed singing. Their latest feature will premiere at the 2013 Rotterdam International Film Festival. 5:45pm. Free. Temple University Main Campus, 3 Annenberg Hall, 1801 N. Broad St. 215.204.7000. temple.edu


MUSIC 


Snowden • Snowden is the brainchild of Jordan Jeffares, a southern melodist with northern ideals. His tunes evoke the snowy cold and the accompanying mood of a man alone with his thoughts. 9pm. $10. With Buses and Belgrade. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave. 215.739.9684. johnnybrendas.com


THEATER