Cat yoga, a Mutt Strut and 15 other things you can do this weekend, Oct. 21-23
Need something to do this weekend? Don't worry, we've got you covered.
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So many fun Philly traditions this weekend! The Harry Potter Festival takes over Chestnut Hill, and we have a delicious recipe that so you can BYOB(utterbeer). Film buffs also can rejoice: The Philadelphia Film Festival starts Thursday night with La La Land, a musical that our own Steven Rea adored (he also chatted it up with star Emma Stone). If you can't make it Thursday, here are 13 other films that every one will be talking about come Oscar time. And it's not really late October without fishnets and a bustier: Barry Bostwick, the star of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, will be at the Keswick on Friday, and he talks about why he's not sure it's normal to have his face tattooed on your body.
IMPROV
Pfff! Philadelphia Free Form Festival
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday at Icebox Project Space, 1400 N. American St., $15.
The Impermanent Society of Philadelphia presents this "celebration of freely improvised sound and movement performance and practice" featuring local and national artists. Among the highlights are dancers Alexander D'Agostino, Jung Woong Kim, and Karen Nelson; musicians Benjamin Bennett, Connor Przybyszewski, and Jumatatu Poe; singer Shodekeh; and "sound mechanic" and inventor Neil Feather. See it now, before it's gone. - Michael Harrington
KIDS
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Free with admission, 215-299-1000.
Beach days may be far behind us (although not that far, according to this week's weather), but the Academy of Natural Sciences wants to remind us what it's like to have sand between our toes. The Philadelphia Shell Show is the largest of its kind in the Northeast and features all sorts of shells for perusal. Don't forget the all-important shop where shells, jewelry, books, and more will be on hand for purchase. - Molly Eichel
MEOW / RUFF
9 to 10 a.m. Sunday at the PSPCA Fishtown Center, 1546 Frankford Ave., $15 (benefits PSPCA), 215-309-6851.
Our pal Molly Eichel says she might have taken this one in if she didn't already have a cat - and besides, her kitty, Punim, is just a tad too plump and ornery to even consider a pose (downward dog? Ha!). But for those seeking some bliss and a new feline friend, it's perfect: Meredith Magoon will teach the class while adoptable cats roam the room, providing additional stress relief. All levels welcome, but bring your own mat. - M.H.
11 a.m. Saturday, he Navy Yard, 4500 S. Broad St., $25 per person (kids 12 and under are free).
Is there anything cuter than pooch in a costume? Check out some of Philly's adorable dogs walk the Navy Yard's runway at the 10th iteration of this Halloween tradition. Don't have a dog? Donate $100 and you can rent one for the parade. (Advance registration is required to rent a PAWS dog. Sign up here: PAWSMuttStrut.org) - M.E.
CLASSICAL
8 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday, and 3 & 7 p.m. Sunday, Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., $35-$145, 215-875-8004.
The Philly Pops takes on Elvis Presley's catalog along with Dave Bennett (who also performs the work of Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry) and Philly native and Broadway performer Allison Blackwell. Each performance is preceded by a conversation starting an hour and a half before each show. - M.E.
8 p.m. Friday, Kimmel Center's Perelman Theater, Broad and Spruce Streets, $29, 215-569-8080.
The standout string quartet will be joined by composer and virtuoso bassist Meyer for his Quintet, and will play Mozart's mood-shifting Quartet in F Major and Smetana's intimate Quartet in E minor ("From My Life"). - M.H.
3 p.m. Sunday, Harriton High School, 600 N. Ithan Ave., Bryn Mawr. Free, 610-667-1888.
Conductor Mark Gigliotti, also the Philadelphia Orchestra's co-principal bassoon, hosts violinist colleague Amy Oshiro in Sibelius' lush Violin Concerto. Sibelius' songful Second Symphony and Mozart's "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" fill the tasty program. - Tom Di Nardo
WINE
3-4:30 p.m., starts Saturday, ROOT, 1206 Frankford Ave., $50 per guest, 215-515-3452.
Jason Wilson, author of Boozehound, is teaming up with Fishtown's ROOT restaurant to give lessons to budding oenophiles. Classes, each with its own sassy title, run Saturday ("Don't Fear the Umlaut: Wines of Germany and Austria"), Nov. 5 ("Not Just for Cougars: Italian Wines"), Nov. 19 ("The Pilgrims Didn't Drink Cabernet Franc (But You Can): Wines for Thanksgiving, the Great Pairing Conundrum"), Dec. 3 ("Iberian Saturday Siesta: Wines of Spain and Portugal"), Dec. 10 ("Sherry, Baby. And Funky Cold Madeira"), and Dec. 17 ("Pop Fizz: A Holiday Sparkling Wine Primer"). - M.E.
LEAVES
11 a.m. Saturday at Morris Arboretum, 100 E. Northwestern Ave. Free with admission, 215-247-5777.
October is the big stage for the trees, but why should the towering oaks and maples get all the glory? This tour at Morris Arboretum focuses on midsize models ranging in height from 15 to 30 feet, such as Parrotia persica (Persian ironwood), which offers some spectacular autumn foliage. - M.H.
PHILADELPHIA FILM FESTIVAL
O.J.: Made in America
Noon Sunday, Ritz Five, 214 Walnut St. Free.
Documentarian Ezra Edelman has been the toast of several fests for his searing doc about crime, race, and the media in America, which has a staggering running time of 467 minutes. The doc got great ratings when it was telecast earlier this year on ESPN, and you can still stream it on Hulu, but the Philadelphia Film Festival gives you the unique opportunity to see all of the doc's five parts in one sitting. Best of all, it's free. There will be at 30-minute intermission between Parts 2 and 3 and a 60-minute intermission between Parts 4 and 5. - Tirdad Derakhshani
Read more: Philadelphia Film Festival: 13 movies you have to see (and how to get in if they're sold out)
STAGE
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday at the Arden's Studio Theatre at the Hamilton Family Arts Center, 62 N. Second St. $19 to $34, 267-987-9865.
Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis' musical parody, about an evil corporation that profits by charging admission for bathroom relief in a dystopian future where private facilities are banned, is a classic. The show gets a concert performance from the 11th Hour Theatre Company at the Arden. - M.H.
MUSIC
7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., all-ages. Sold out, 215-821-7575.
The members of the Dorrance, Calif., pop-punk band have slowed down and eased up on Cody, the longest of their four albums, which has only 10 songs and lasts for a full 24 minutes. "I feel so old today," singer Barry Johnson sings on "Eighteen," with the burden of adulthood barreling down on him. This weekend, the four-piece outfit with a knack for catchy songs that cut to the quick - sample: "This Song Is a Mess But So Am I" - top a top-shelf punk triple bill with Hotelier and Crying. - Dan DeLuca
8 p.m. Friday, Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore. $20 and $26, 610-649-8389.
Fans of the male-harmony-singing rock tradition are sure to take a shine to the Massachusetts four-man string band that blends classical and Americana influences into its barbershop vocals, along with lyrics that tend toward the silly ("Harrison Ford"). Bass player Dave Senft, guitarist and banjo player Don Mitchell, violinist and mandolin player Auyon Mukharji, and cellist Harris Paseltiner twine their voices together on this year's Birds Say in a way that will make them mainstays for years to come at gatherings like the Philadelphia Folk Festival, where they played this summer. - D.D.
8 p.m. Friday, Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St. $35-$149.50, 215-336-3600.
The pop extravaganza of the weekend is the Nostalgia for the Present Tour. Australian songwriter Sia - last name Furler - who's prone to hiding her face behind oversize wigs, scored big with her 2014 megahit "Chandelier" and has written for Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Carly Rae Jepsen, among many others. Of greater interest is special guest Miguel - last name Pimentel - the genre-blending R&B/funk/rock sensualist and Prince disciple most recently heard from with 2015's wildly ambitious Wildheart. It's worth getting there early for AlunaGeorge, the British duo of dance diva Aluna Francis and producer George Reid. - D.D.
La Sera / Springtime Carnivore
7:30 p.m. Friday, Goldilocks Gallery, 723 Chestnut St. $12, 215-432-8564.
Katy Goodman has been busy this year. In the spring, La Sera, her post-Vivian Girls project with her husband, Todd Wisenbaker, released Music for Listening to Music to, an album of charming, Smithslike guitar pop produced by Ryan Adams. Now, they have a new EP, Queens, that includes a surprisingly faithful cover of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love." Surprising especially given Take It, It's Yours, Goodman's recent collaboration with Springtime Carnivore's Greta Morgan, on which they give masculine punk classics wistful, acoustic makeovers. Wistful is also a good word for the new Springtime Carnivore album, the lovely Midnight Room. - Steve Klinge
8 and 10 p.m. Saturday at Chris' Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St. $20, 215-568-3131.
The New York-via-Italy pianist and singer pays tribute to the great composer Jimmy Van Heusen, who turned out an enduring chapter of the Great American Songbook with hits for Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, including "Come Fly With Me," "All the Way," and "Swinging on a Star." She's also a songwriter of note in her own right, so expect some fine original tunes. - M.H.
8:30 p.m. Thursday, Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St. $25-$27.
He pretty much invented trip-hop, first with the group Massive Attack, then with his 1995 debut solo album, Maxinquaye. Since his start, he has been a ragga-punk overlord, with a thick Cockney-meets-Kingston patois, and the face of London's underground. Now, Britain's laudably pugnacious rapper/producer takes yet another shot at U.S. stardom with a smashing new album, Skilled Mechanics. Plus, this show is advertised to end at 2 a.m. Tricky must be making up for lost time. - A.D. Amorosi