9 things to do in Philadelphia this Memorial Day weekend

9 things to do in Philadelphia this Memorial Day weekend
Stan Sadowski

MOVIES

Mega-Bad Movie Night: ‘The Fly’

Thursday, 5:30 p.m.

Academy of Natural Sciences

1900 Ben Franklin Pkwy.

$15-$20, 18+, 215-299-1060

www.ansp.org

The Academy of Natural Sciences continues Mega-Bad Movie Night, a live version of the “Mystery Science Theater 3000” format, with snarky comedians mocking their way through a cheesy movie. This round, it’s the 1986 film “The Fly,” directed by David Cronenberg. As usual, science gone wrong (and
inaccurately portrayed) equals comedy gold. The evening features an all-female panel for the first time.

‘Beyond the Lights’

Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

Roxy Theater

2023 Sansom St.

$9-$10, 267-239-2941

www.filmadelphia.org

This 2014 drama tells the story of popstar Noni Jean, whose success has troubled her to the point of attempting suicide, only to end up falling in love with the cop who rescues her from the brink. Their hard-and-fast romance challenges the priority of Noni Jean’s career — but it also may be the one thing that can save it.

‘Stations of the Elevated’

Friday, 7 p.m.

International House

3701 Chestnut St.

$7-$9, 215-387-5125

www.ihousephilly.org

This 1980 documentary by Manfred Kirchheimer was the first to focus on graffiti as an art form, and he picked a good place for it: New York City. Not convinced a talking head analysis would enhance things, it simply shows the art and its context, backed only by the music of Charles Mingus and the sounds of the street.

DANCE

Anne-Marie Mulgrew andDancers Company: From the Vault

Thursday through Sunday

Christ Church Neighborhood House

20 North American St.

$20, 800-838-3006

www.brownpapertickets.com

The dance troupe performs its home season concert, featuring three premiering works by director Anne-Marie Mulgrew: “The Next Chapter,” “The Red Riding Hood Project” and “From the Vault.” The themes for each provide a well-rounded mix of philosophical, whimsical and mythological elements. The show also includes solo performances by Ashley Searles.

THEATER

‘I Promised Myself to Live Faster’

Friday through May 31

FringeArts

140 N. Columbus Blvd.

$15-$36, 215-413-1318

www.fringearts.com

Pig Iron Theater Company brings us this eccentric sci-fi allegory for the state of contemporary LGBT life. Our hero, Tim, falls into a wormhole, arriving in a solar system with one all-gay planet, where everyone is born virginally from nuns, and one all-straight planet. Tim is enlisted to protect the Flame, which, if it goes out, spells the end of all homosexuals.

MAGIC

Matt Cadabra: Magic and Dreams

Through June 14

Society Hill Playhouse

507 S. Eighth St.

$25-$40, 215-923-0210

matt-cadabra.ticketleap.com

This 27-year-old magician from New Jersey has a degree in architecture from Drexel, but by night he’s an illusionist, and a very classicist one. He performs close-up magic as well as large- scale illusions, ventriloquism and other arcane skills, and he’s done everything from Houdini-esque publicity stunts to birthday parties.

MUSIC

Spectral

Saturday, 8 p.m.

Philadelphia Art Alliance

251 S. 18th St.

$15, www.ticketfly.com

This avant-garde jazz group is
Chicago alto sax player Dave Rempis, San Francisco trumpeter Darren Johnston and tenor/soprano saxophonist Larry Ochs of the Rova Saxophone Quartet — just three horns, no other instruments, and it’s all improvised, but with such lightning-fast forethought that it seems composed. Three distinct voices diverge and converge, creating the sonic equivalent of an abstract painting.

FOOD

Guac Off 2015

Thursday, 6 to 9 p.m.

Morgan’s Pier

221 N. Columbus Blvd.

$30, 215-496-2662

www.mannapa.org/guacoff2015

People seem to put avocado on everything nowadays, but it used to be experienced by most Americans only in guacamole form. If you’re nostalgic for those days you’ll love this event, where you can sample guacamoles from local restaurants and vote on your favorite. And there’ll be margaritas, of course. Proceeds benefit MANNA, an organization providing meals to the sick.

ART

Astrologer’s Garden

Through June 27

Locks Gallery, 600 Washington Square South, 215-629-1000

Free, www.locksgallery.com

Locks Gallery presents work by this late painter, often associated with Op Art, which took advantage of the optical illusions to tickle the eyes and brain. Andrade was also influenced profoundly by the architecturally minded Bauhaus school, and she went deeper than performing mere mind tricks, exploring and exploiting the almost mystical human fascination with space, geometry and patterns.