It’s a national holiday for Phillies diehards, with the first pitch of the season being tossed today.
Apart from manifesting a winning streak for our boys, look forward to a bevy of new, season-long menu items, food-ified merch options, and returning fan experiences at Citizens Bank Park. Plus, the Opening Day charades and watch parties fans have quietly called off work for. We don’t judge!
But that’s not all that’s happening this weekend. Enjoy the vibrant floral varieties at Longwood Gardens, the cherry blossoms at West Fairmount Park, and the annual Philly Flag Day march starting at LOVE Park.
Read below to find more events for a grand slam weekend.
— Earl Hopkins (@earlhopkins_, Email me at thingstodo@inquirer.com)
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New and returning favorites at Citizens Bank Park this season
As my colleague Emily Bloch described, a sticky train ride to CBP can take us to the beautiful world of Crabfries, hot dogs, and soft serve this baseball season.
There will be new and returning menu items, theme nights, promotions, and fan experiences this year.
Don’t sleep on the highlights of this season’s offerings: a Flo Rida postgame concert, the return of Hello Kitty night, and a country music night that comes with a “stunning” Phanatic cowboy hat. Emily lists all of this and more in her piece.
There’s also new Phillies merch that showcases 143 years of the team’s logo. Our social video host Ariane Datil stopped by the park, and spotted a hotdog hat, a pretzel-inspired cap, and more.
The best things to do this week
🎭 A GRIT-y production: Through Sunday, the annual Philly GRIT series returns to Theatre Exile with headliners that include the dark-comedy Vacation, the one-act, Chekhovian comedy The Dangers of Tobacco. Plus, a performance of Camp Cookie with Philly drag star Cookie D’iorio.
🥯 PopUp Bagels in Ardmore: The viral, TikTok-favorite PopUp Bagels made its debut in Suburban Square. Grab a bag of some small batch bagels and a schmear of your liking for a doughy good time in Ardmore.
🇺🇸 Raise your flag this holiday: Philly was the first American city to create a flag of its own, so it’s only right we celebrate that historic achievement. Join the march from LOVE Park to City Hall on Friday for the annual Philly Flag Day. The festivities include local band performances, dance troupes, interactive workshops, flag-raising ceremonies, and other happenings.
⚕️ New happenings at the Mütter: Step inside the medical history museum for two new exhibitions on view. "Revolutionary Botany" examines the origins of the American pharmacy and botanical medicine, while "Creative Processing" focuses on the therapeutic use of creative arts in and outside of clinical settings.
🎬 A heartfelt, raunchy dramedy at BMFI: Writer Bonnie Gross grew up in Philly and based on her life’s story, wrote Lady Parts. The 2024 film follows a young woman’s sex life becoming a family affair when she has to undergo a painful medical procedure. The hilarious feminist film, on a national tour, plays this Saturday at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute.
📅 My calendar picks this week: Philadelphia Wings at Xfinity Mobile Arena, Up Late With the Sphinx at Penn Museum, World Oddities Expo at Penn Convention Center.
Extend your nights at Philly bars this summer
Before Philly welcomes FIFA World Cup fans and celebrates the nation’s 250th this summer, the city is having its nightlife party into the wee hours of the morning.
Thanks to a new state bill, which was sponsored by State Sen. Joe Picozzi (R., Philadelphia) and supported by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration, many Philly bars will be able to stay open until 4 a.m. during the World Cup and Semiquincentennial celebrations, from from June 11 to July 20.
The bill has been passed by the Senate and House, and is slated for final approval by Gov. Josh Shapiro. Read more of my colleagues Henry Savage and Sean Collins Walsh’s story here. Cheers!
Spring fun this week and beyond
🌸 Cherry blossoms on view: Experience the beauty of cherry blossoms at peak bloom at the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center this week. The annual Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia will feature fresh festival activities, plus a view of an additional 250 cherry trees.
🏖️ Bringing the best of the beach indoors: On Saturday, Adventure Aquarium is opening a new immersive experience that highlights the beauty of the beach. Guests can take part in boardwalk-inspired activities, such as face painting and meet-and-greets with horseshoe crabs.
💐 Spring has bloomed at Longwood Gardens: Philly’s largest horticultural display garden is ready to be experienced for the annual Spring Blooms event, featuring tulips, wisteria, flowering trees, and other vibrant varieties.
Staffer picks
Pop music critic Dan DeLuca lists the top concerts this weekend.
🎸 Thursday: Following last year’s The Black Dog & the Wandering Boy, James McMurty is at the top of his game. The Texas tunesmith, alongside Austin songwriter BettySoo, is dropping into the Ardmore Music Hall on Thursday.
🎤 Friday: To all the young Millennials in the city, prepare to witness your teenage crushes perform at the Liacouras Center this Friday. This R&B-pop package is co-headlined by Bow Wow and vocal group B2K. The bill includes performances by Waka Flocka, Young Joc, B5, Crime Mob, Franchise Boyz, Pretty Ricky, and Amerie.
🎤 Saturday: Motown legend Smokey Robinson, still active at age 86, will bring his silky-smooth classics to the Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino in Atlantic City this Saturday.
🎤 Monday: Fresh off her party-packed album, Midnight Sun, Swedish pop star Zara Larsson is bringing the perky pop tunes to Fillmore Philadelphia.
All right, that’s my list for this week. Take some time to experience the city’s cherry blossoms, PopUp Bagels, or a Phillies game or two. Let’s make this weekend a home run.