To do this week: Indulge in some beauty (and chocolate)
This week: It’s already April (wait, what?) which means two things we love: cherry blossoms and Easter chocolate (even if you don’t celebrate). So we say: Do both.
On the to-do list this week: Indulge in some beauty. It’s already April (wait, what?) which means two things we love: cherry blossoms and Easter chocolate (even if you don’t celebrate). So we say: Do both. We have intel on when and where to spot the best blooms, and a tour of good chocolate and pound cake (and chocolate pound cake, oh my) through the region. Enjoy.
And remember: We’ve collected our best Philly tips all in one place here.
Stay healthy, stay safe, and, as much as possible, it’s still a good idea to stay home.
Know this
💰 Tax Q&A: Didn’t get $1,400 stimulus checks? Took money from retirement accounts? by Erin Arvedlund
🧑⚖️ What happens if I get called for jury duty right now? by Nick Vadala
🚴♀️ Where can I buy a bike in Philly? by Elizabeth Wellington
» Ask us a question through Curious Philly: Inquirer.com/askus
Do this
Here is one highlight from our weekly events calendar:
🎶 Dionne Warwick: At Home With You (Music / virtual) Warwick’s career has been on an improbable upswing since she became a Twitter sensation late last year. And what a career it’s been: The octogenarian singer scored 56 hits on the Billboard charts between 1962 and 1998, including definitive takes on such Burt Bacharach-Hal David classics like “I Say A Little Prayer” and “Do You Know The Way To San Jose?” She’s doing two Easter Sunday livestreams. ($20, April 4, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., mandolin.com, add to calendar)
🔎 Find more of this week’s events, and we even have a kid-friendly events calendar, too.
How to enjoy ohanami in Philly
Cherry trees throughout Philadelphia are already beginning to bloom, blanketing grassy fields and city cars with petals in all shades of pink and white. It’s the perfect time to partake in the Japanese tradition of ohanami (literally “flower viewing”), which not only lets you enjoy spring and gets you out of the house, but also is just a calming little bit of flowery self-care and reflection.
Many of Philly’s cherry trees were a gift from the Japanese government; others have been supplemented by the Japan American Society of Greater Philadelphia.
The trick, of course, is hitting the park when the trees are at their peak. Once a tree begins to bloom, it holds its blossoms for about a week or two at most. It’s a fleeting marker of spring that brings joy every year. Luckily, we have a map of the best spots, and expert predictions of when they will be at the height of their glory.
» READ MORE: The best spots to see cherry blossoms in Philly and when they’ll be in peak bloom
This is the weekend for treats
Happy Easter, if you’re a person who celebrates it. But either way, there are some very fine treats to be had. It’s been a long week. Listen to the bunny. Treat yourself.
Pound cake. The original pound cake weighed not one, but four pounds — a pound for each of its ingredients, made of equal parts flour, eggs, butter, and sugar. It’s a simple recipe that dates back to the 1700s, believed to have originated in northern Europe, and eventually becoming a staple of America’s very first cookbook, American Cookery, published in 1795. Of course, now you can get it in lots of flavors, and the Easter classic can be found in many bakeries across the region. Grace Dickinson found some great spots to score the satisfying, buttery, moist, rich treat.
Chocolate. It really needs no introduction. And you really don’t need an excuse. There’s lots of delectable chocolate in Philly, the suburbs, and New Jersey, including old-school and modern, single-origin chocolate bars, intricate buttercreams, hand-painted truffles, and more. Here’s where to find some of the city’s best.
Egg hunts. If you have wee ones, it’s a spring tradition, one that got thwarted last year for obvious reasons. But this year, there are some options — with lots of safety measures in place of course — where there are treats to find and a giant rabbit hanging around. Find them in our kids calendar here.