SIGNS OF SPRING
Play-A-Palooza Fairmount Park’s beloved and massive Smith Memorial Playground officially opens for the season this weekend, marking one of the first signs of spring in Philadelphia. Little ones are free to run wild around the 6 ½-acre playground and in the 16,000-square-foot Playhouse, taking an occasional break for special activities like a nature exploration, carnival games, and arts and crafts workshops. Fishtown Chili Cook Off Bowl-of-chili season may be in our rearview mirror, but Fishtown Neighbors Association gears up for one more celebration of that spicy, soul-warming goodness at their seventh annual Chili Cook Off. Working chefs and everyday residents alike face off in the competition that seeks to find the best bowl of chili in the Riverwards. Your ticket lets you try unlimited recipes, and enjoy some extra delights, like live music from You Do You and Rock the Future, and free Weckerly’s Ice Cream. MUSIC
Philly Made The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus have been crooning in this city for 35 years. This weekend, they mark the milestone with three shows that celebrate all things Philadelphia music. The concert features 1950s-era American Bandstand songs and more-modern hits from local-bred songsters like Boyz II Men, Taylor Swift, Hall & Oates and Pink. Driftwood Soldier On their latest EP, “Blessings & Blasphemy,” West Philly folk duo Driftwood Soldier explore the spiritual power of music and the sometimes oppressive nature of organized religion. They do this through a mixture of reinterpreted traditional gospel hymns and tunes that are decidedly anti-religious. They debut the work this weekend during a night of song and storytelling at L’Etage with a host of other Philly musicians, like Katy Otto, Natalie Butts, Liana Moskowitz and Chenda Cope. Flat Mary Road Influenced by late-1980s indie rock and Appalachian folk, Philadelphia five-piece Flat Mary Road effectively create songs that recall both the urban experience and country living. They stop by Ortlieb’s Saturday night to share songs from their latest full-length “Driving with the Numen,” which is, among other things, informed by road trips across the States. TEENS
“Screenagers” Screening Catch a screening of the new documentary “Screenagers,” courtesy of local nonprofit Girls on the Run Philadelphia. The movie analyzes the impact internet addiction can have on young minds, and offers some tips on how parents can help their screen-glued teens find balance in the digital age. A discussion panel following the film features feedback and insight from parents, teens and academics. Sleep Out: Young Professionals Edition It’s perhaps the ultimate show of support: Friday night more than 100 Philadelphians will grab a cardboard box and sleep in a parking lot in Germantown to raise money for local homeless youth shelter Covenant House PA. The event seeks to raise $125,000 to buy more beds for the shelter—ensuring that no youth in need of a place to stay is turned away. There’s still time to sign up. All attendees are asked to raise a minimum of $1,000. Teen Comic-Con Youth aged 12 to 19 are invited to the Free Library Saturday for the third annual Teen Comic-Con. The free event promises lots of fun, nerdy to-dos, like teen-led discussion panels on superheroes and manga, a gallery of original comic- and video game-inspired graphic art and a cosplay fashion show. AUTHORS
Chris Hayes The Emmy-winning host of MSNBC’s “All in With Chris Hayes” comes to the Free Library this week to discuss his latest book, “A Colony in the Nation.” The searing work takes the stance that, despite some claims that we’re living in a postracial country, America hasn’t made strides to improve racial inequality since the Nixon administration. Auditorium seating to the event is sold out, but you can nab in-house simulcast tickets for a measly $6. Rick Steves Rick Steves, host of countless travel-centric videos, guides and podcast episodes, comes to the Keswick this week for a wanderlust-inspiring discussion about how vacationing can broaden your perspective on the world. His concept revolves around exploring like a local and avoiding tourist hot spots so you can get an authentic feel for what it’s like to live in an unfamiliar place.
March 25, noon-4 p.m.
Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse
3500 Reservoir Drive
$10-$100
smithplayground.org
March 26, 12:30-3 p.m.
The Fillmore Philadelphia
29 E. Allen St.
$10-$20
fishtown.org
March 24-25
Prince Theater
1412 Chestnut St.
$27.50-$62
pgmc.org
March 24, 7-9 p.m.
L’Etage
624 S. Sixth St.
$11
driftwoodsoldier.com
March 25, 8-11 p.m.
Ortlieb’s
847 N. Third St.
$10
ortliebslounge.com
March 23, 6:30 p.m.
Community College of Philadelphia
1700 Spring Garden St.
$5-$10
gotrphiladelphia.org
March 24, 7 p.m.-7 a.m.
The Friends Center
1501 Cherry St.
Donation-based
covenanthousepa.org
March 25, 10 a.m.
Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine St.
Free
freelibrary.org
March 23, 6 p.m.
Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine St.
$6
freelibrary.org
March 26, 7:30 p.m.
Keswick Theatre
291 N. Keswick Ave.
$20-$35
keswicktheatre.com
Driftwood Soldier, Chris Hayes and more to do this weekend in Philly
Kyle Cassidy
