Your next binge is…the I-95 livestream? | Things to Do
The Chinese Lantern Festival, delicious food at Knoebels amusement park, summer music fests, and more fun around town.
Hello,
Brrrr….even though the summer solstice arrived this week, Philly hasn’t been acting accordingly. Chilly weather, cloudy skies, and stormy forecasts have me convinced it’s a different season. I rang in the official start of summer by catching up with some of my favorite cousins who now live on the West Coast and came eastside for a few days. Are you planning any big family reunions? Let me know!
This weekend, watch everyone’s favorite new show, the I-95 livestream, try the best amusement park food at Knoebels, see wondrous displays at the Chinese Lantern Festival, and find a delicious boozy milkshake.
— Rosa Cartagena (@_RosaCartagena, Email me at thingstodo@inquirer.com)
The I-95 live cam is the sleeper hit of the season
Are you watching the action? Night and day, the I-95 reconstruction cam has captured the progress play by play — it’s quickly become a must-watch, racking up thousands of viewers. Bars are showing the livestream next to Phillies games and watch parties are popping up around the city. Someone even put it on Twitch as “Fix that jawn,” where the rebuilding action is backed up by LoFi beats and folks can join the chatroom banter. My colleague Rita Giordano wrote about our obsessive highway repair progress-watching.
Your weekly social calendar
🖌️ New mural alert: On Monday, Germantown ArtHaus unveiled Keisha Whatley’s mural, Philly’s first dedicated to Juneteenth.
🎶 Fest time: Sad Summer, Outlaw, Peach, and so many music festivals are happening in and around Philly. Grab a lawn chair and explore the summer fest scene.
🎸 Philly’s own rock star: 1950s singer and guitarist Charlie Gracie died last December. The Media Theatre will host a “Forever Fabulous” celebration of his life on Friday.
🎢 More than fun rides: If you’re heading to an amusement park, you’ll want to know if there’s decent food. Knoebels dominates the park food game.
🎊 Dragons in the city: From now until August 13, the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival takes over Franklin Square, with colorful lantern displays and a dragon the length of three school buses. Here’s everything you need to know.
🎭 Season of love: Tick, Tick … Boom!, the musical loosely based on Jonathan Larson’s life, comes to Bucks County Playhouse this weekend, executive produced by Robyn Goodman who was one of Larson’s mentors.
📅 My calendar picks this week: Bring kids to the Youth Queer Lit Fest, hang out at Manayunk Arts Festival, and sip brews at the Philadelphia Zoo’s Summer Ale Festival.
The thing of the week
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society opened the doors for two pop up garden bars in Manayunk and on South Street where it will host tons of events throughout the summer. Catch a free concert, bring your own greenery for plant swaps, or try flower crafting and terrarium workshops. Plus, don’t miss the male burlesque and drag show in the Manayunk location on July 6. Scope out the full schedule here.
Your hot Philly summer
🥤 Not for kids: Boozy milkshakes and adult slushies can be a hit or miss, but we’ve rounded up the best ones in Philly, from spiked s’mores shakes to watermelon frosés.
🎟️ Inflation nation: The Philadelphia Museum of Art is upping its general admissions ticket price from $25 to $30. Here’s what you should know before you go.
🚨 Remember for September: The electronic music festival Making Time ∞ comes to Fort Mifflin later this year. Preview the weekend that will feature more than 100 acts.
🍪 TIL: You probably knew this already, but I recently learned that Insomnia Cookies began in Philly. Yummm. Now the cookie chain is expanding its ice cream line.
🎤 For fans of Sex Lives: Singer Reneé Rapp — who also plays Leighton in HBO’s The Sex Lives of College Girls — will be touring her debut album Snow Angel. She’s stopping at the Fillmore in October.
🔥 Try something new: Apparently the drink of the summer is…an espresso tonic? My colleague Hira Qureshi swears by them, and rounded up 12 Philly spots where you can order one yourself.
❓Pop quiz❓
Which Philadelphia landmark has been temporarily closed due to a fire and plans to reopen in time for Fourth of July?
A) Independence Hall
B) The President’s House
C) Carpenters’ Hall
D) Betsy Ross House
📮 To let me know which of the above is correct, write me back.
This week, I finished the cute Korea-set XO Kitty and turned to the problematic hot mess that is The Ultimatum: Queer Love, both very on brand for Pride Month. What queer TV or movie are you watching this month?