🐾 Pet Expo, F1 opener, and new East Market eatery | Things to do

The forecast may show signs of showers this weekend, but don’t let the skies rain down on your weekend parade.

This week, there will be a treasure trove of events to kick off Women’s History Month. That includes the opening of a reimagined Shakespearean classic, a watch party for F1 fanatics, a competition for the pun-obsessed, and an expo for pet lovers across the region.

Read below to make your weekend plans purrfect.

— Earl Hopkins (@earlhopkins_, Email me at thingstodo@inquirer.com)

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As the nation prepares to celebrate its Semiquincentennial, my colleague Ellen Dunkel writes that the Philadelphia Ballet will be bringing the fireworks in its 2026-27 season opener.

For the upcoming season, the company is leaning into American classics and other favorites, while also establishing a home for itself on North Broad Street.

The season opens Oct. 8 with a celebratory, all-Americana program called, “Stars and Stripes Forever.” The following programs will feature Christopher Wheeldon’s DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse, Wayne McGregor’s Chroma, and Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room.

Read more about their upcoming season here.

🐕 Animal lovers, rejoice: The Greater Philadelphia Expo will be filled with pets in all shapes and sizes. This year’s Greater Philadelphia Pet Expo will feature pet product and service vendors, animal training demos, pet agility courses, dog acrobats, and more family-friendly attractions.

🏎️ F1 season opener celebration: For the 2026 Autralian Grand Prix opener, Center City’s F1 Arcade is kicking off the start of racing season with a late-night watch party, complete with small bites, live DJs, and prizes for F1 fanatics.

🎭 Is something, punny?: Stop by Helium Comedy Club this Saturday for some afternoon pun. The region’s best punners will go head-to-head on stage at Philly’s first and only pun comedy competition.

📅 My calendar picks this week: Passyunk Restaurant Week, the Philadelphia Flower Show, and First Friday at Cherry St. Pier.

Inquirer restaurant reporter Michael Klein writes about the opening of Mi Vida, a new Mexican restaurant located at East Market.

The original Washington D.C.-based eatery comes from restaurateur Jason Berry, who runs Knead Hospitality & Design, with his husband, Michael Reginbogin.

In 2022, Berry came up to Philadelphia for a Wharton reunion. He was approached by a real estate broker, who mentioned an available space at the $400 million East Market project.

Four years later, Berry and Reginbogin have opened Mi Vida, a “splashy Mexican restaurant with moody lighting and rich pops of color,” Klein writes.

Read more about the new restaurant opening here.

👭🏽 All things women’s history: For the next few weeks, there will be Women’s History Month celebrations taking place across the region. The Museum of the American Revolution has also revealed an exhibition that honors revolutionary women. There’s also a monthlong program series at Eastern State Penitentiary, and an additional slate of programs at the National Constitution Center for those looking to dig deeper into the history of women change makers.

🖊️ Remembering Elie Wiesel: Eliezer “Elie” Wiesel was born in Romania and then came to the US where he became a writer, professor, and political activist. In 1986, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. A documentary honoring the Holocaust survivor’s life, Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire, plays on March 9, 7 p.m. at Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church.

💫 Walk among the stars: An outdoor celestial light show, featuring lights, projections, sound effects, and music, will guide visitors through an illuminated forest at Astra Lumina Philadelphia as part of the Lumina Enchanted Night Walk series.

🎭 What would you do for love?: Award-winning director Amina Robinson reimagines the classic Shakespearean classic, Romeo and Juliet. The production will play at Arden Theatre Company through April 5.

🇺🇸 The forgotten freedom: The new exhibit, "The Forgotten Freedom: American Assembly at 250," explores the freedom of assembly’s history, artistic expression, and future at the National Liberty Museum. The exhibit, officially opening on Friday, will feature artifacts of the nation’s founding to iconic moments like Woodstock and Live Aid. For a sneak peak, here are tickets to the VIP preview party happening on Thursday.

Pop music critic Dan DeLuca lists the top concerts this weekend.

🎸 Thursday: Top-notch shoegaze-slash punk rock will be served at Nikki Lopez on this double bill. The Brooklyn band Mx Lonely, fronted by singer Rae Haas, will headline the show with Philly punk quartet Wax Jaw as the opening act.

🎤 Friday: Robert Glasper, the pianist, producer, and bandleader, has music that spans R&B, hip-hop, jazz, and beyond. The five-time Grammy winner will bring his musical magic to Union Transfer Friday night.

🎸 Saturday: The four-time Grammy winning Mexican pop-rock band MANÁ cranks up the volume in Philly on their Vivir Sin Aire tour stop at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

🎤 Sunday: Cat Power, the remarkable song interpreter Chan Marshall, will lead a six-piece band featuring Philly guitarist and former Delta 72 leader Gregg Foreman, at Union Transfer for her “The Greatest Tour” stop.

There’s a mixed bag of pet-friendly, pun-filled, and racing die-hards this weekend. Don’t miss out before the weekend-finish.

— Earl Hopkins