Honor Juneteenth | Things to Do

It’s Father’s Day weekend and Juneteenth on Monday, which means there’s plenty to do around town. Anyone having trouble selecting a Father’s Day card? I tried the Hallmark aisle, but it was disappointing — most of them are corny, cringe, or both. There’s too many focused on alcohol, sports, or dad jokes, and the other options are like essays that are far too serious. It doesn’t help, either, that there are very few that reflect those of us who call our fathers “Papi,” not “Dad.”

Should I just stick to blank ones, or are there card makers you really love in Philly? Let me know!

This weekend, commemorate Juneteenth, check out Father’s Day brunches, find a public pool near you, and see one of two (or both?) productions of Twelfth Night now showing at Philly theaters.

— Rosa Cartagena (@_RosaCartagena, Email me at thingstodo@inquirer.com)

If you see this 🔑 in today’s newsletter, that means we’re highlighting our exclusive journalism. You need to be a subscriber to read these stories.

Monday is Juneteenth, the holiday that commemorates the end of slavery, and Philadelphians will be celebrating throughout the weekend. There’s a Juneteenth Freedom Market in Kensington, a festival of Black-owned wineries at Cherry Street Pier, and a new mural unveiling at the Juneteenth Festival in Germantown. On Monday, the African American Museum will host a block party and free admission. Find more Juneteenth events here.

🎨 What you don’t see: Philly artist Carolyn Lazard’s immersive exhibit at the Institute of Contemporary Art creates a dance experience with no dancer. 🔑

🍳 Take him out: Looking for Father’s Day fun? We have a roundup of brunches and restaurant specials where you can toast (or roast?) dad.

📖 Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City: A Springsteen lyric and also the title of a new memoir by poet Jane Wong who writes about Asian communities’ experiences in the casino town. Wong will be reading and signing books at Mighty Writers this weekend.

🥾 Go au naturale: Falling on summer solstice next week is Naked Hiking Day which is exactly what it sounds like. Our suggestion? Wear boots.

👙 Ready for the heat: Public swimming pools are opening all around Philly. Find one near you.

🍹 Time for a drink: Fishtown is kicking off a summer happy hour series at 18 bars in the neighborhood.

🎭 The one play all over town: It’s Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. I asked three Philly directors why they’re all staging the gender-bending show this season. As an Amanda Bynes fan, I obviously also had to ask about She’s the Man. 🔑

📅 My calendar picks this week: Check out the Philly Pride Bar Crawl, explore the African American style at Fashioning Freedom, and party at Block Bash 2023.

The mysterious movie The Man of the Monkey traces the life of Philly artist Osvald Romberg back to the remote Brazilian island where he raised his son. The Argentine Jewish exile told his kid the terrifying tale of a German man living with a monkey who captured children wandering in the jungle. That haunting story lured his son, Philly filmmaker David Romberg, back to the island as an adult, where he found that the truth was even stranger. The Man of the Monkey will have its local premiere — part of the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival — at the Caplan Center for the Performing Arts on June 17.

🍔 What’s for dinner: Cookouts and dinner parties are the best parts of this season, but if you’re in desperate need of stovetop inspiration, we rounded up the best cookbooks for the summer.

🍦 You scream, I scream: We’re all screaming about The Inquirer’s ultimate ice cream guide.

🤣 Meet the comic: Tan Hoang hosts the monthly showcase, “Tattooed Momedy” on South Street. My colleague Nate File asked her about how she jumped into stand-up and learned to be funny after coming out as trans.

🥔 Pop the bag: Herr’s released special chips inspired by Philly restaurants, with flavors roast pork sandwich, Korean BBQ wings, and tomato pie.

🍻 Making it work: Separatist Beer Project is closed due to licensing issues, but West Philly’s brewery-winery Carbon Copy will be taking over the space for a summertime pop-up in East Passyunk. 🔑

🎤 In case nobody told you: Lizzo and SZA are headlining Made in America. Guess Philly’s special!

Not a Philly locale per se, but this year’s Tony Awards was actually a huge deal for our city’s local theater scene. James Ijames’ Fat Ham — which premiered at the Wilma — was nominated for five Tonys, including best play. Though Fat Ham was shut out, it still made Philly history, and some local theaters even hosted a watch party to cheer them on. I tagged along with the Wilma’s Morgan Green, co-artistic director; Leigh Goldenberg, managing director; and Katherine Kelton, board chair, as they went through the ups and downs of the star-studded evening. (My personal highlight was meeting the incomparable Suzan-Lori Parks, who won for her revival of Topdog/Underdog.) From the glamor prep to the afterparties, the Wilma’s journey was so fun to follow.

What year did Juneteenth become a federally recognized holiday?

A) 2008

B) 1995

C) 2016

D) 2021

📮 To let me know which of the above is false, write me back.

This week, I started the new season of Never Have I Ever and I hear it’s going to make me cry (surprise, surprise). What your latest binge-watch? Let me know!