🌸 The insider’s guide to the Flower Show | Things to do

I don’t know about you, but I’m counting the days until spring fully blooms in Philadelphia. I can’t wait to enjoy the cherry blossoms along Kelly Drive, take down some Hatfield Franks on BOGO Nights at the Phillies, and hang on the rooftop at Bok Bar.

For now, I’m offering a list of spring-esque events happening around the region like the Philadelphia Flower Show (more on that below), a new Egyptian exhibition, and the return of our favorite soccer club this weekend.

Kickstart your weekend plans, Philly style.

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

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The annual Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) Philadelphia Flower Show, which is the oldest and largest horticultural event in the world, returns to the Convention Center on Saturday and runs through March 8.

This year’s theme is “Rooted: Origins of American Gardening.”

There will be floral displays, flower competitions, and more than 200 vendors offering a curated selection of live plants, florals, garden tools, decorative wares, and more. We have you covered with everything you need to know about attending, including schedule, tickets, parking, food, exhibits, and more.

🎭 A scene at-random: InterAct Theatre Company’s latest production, Plantation Black, directed by Kimille Howard, is an explorative Civil War era story with a twist. Each night, a cast member spins a drum bearing names of all the production’s scenes, and then the play begins at a different point in the timeline. The play runs through Sunday.

🇲🇽 New eats in Market East: In the latest of Center City restaurant openings, Market East welcomes Mi Vida. The upscale Mexican player out of Washington D.C. opened next to Mon’s Organic Market on 1150 Ludlow St.

🟦 Blue Men in motion: The Blue Man Group returns to Philly with a brand-new show featuring fresh music, immersive visuals, and audience interactions. Experience the Blue Man magic at Miller Theater through Sunday.

📅 My calendar picks this week: Bella Village Restaurant Week, “No Solace in the Shade” at Brandywine Museum of Art, The Harlem Globetrotters at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

The Philadelphia Union returns to Subaru Park for the club’s first two home match-ups of the season.

First, the Union goes head-to-head with Trinidad & Tobago’s Defence Force SC on Thursday to close out the second leg of the team’s first round series in the Concacaf Champions Cup. The winner of the series will play Liga MX’s Club América in the Round of 16.

On Sunday, the Union faces New York City FC in the team’s Major League Soccer season home opener. The club will look to regain momentum after losing 0-1 to D.C. United last week.

For updates on Philly’s premiere soccer club, read here.

🍺 Toast to state brews: The Philly Beer Fest will feature 30 of the state’s top breweries, including Triple Bottom Brewing, Urban Village Brewing Company, and Evil Genius Beer Company, at the 23rd Armory this Saturday.

🎭 Fears, hopes, and secrets: The dark comedy, A Delicate Balance, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Edward Albee, explores how long-time friends wrestle with an unexplained fear on an equally unexpected night. The production will run through March 29 at Walnut Street Theatre.

🏳️‍🌈 A new hub for LGBTQ visitors: The Philly Pride Visitor Center is officially open in Midtown Village. The center, located next to Knock Bar & Restaurant, offers souvenirs, attraction ticketing, and itinerary planning with an emphasis on LGBTQ and ally businesses and destinations.

🎨 Ancient Egypt in color: The new exhibition, "Ancient Egypt in Watercolors at the Penn Museum," opens on Saturday. Visitors can peek inside the limited-time exhibition to see decorated funerary chapels of high-ranking Egyptian officials and priests, 100-year-old watercolors, 3,500-year-old bread loaves, and nearly 60 other rarely-seen artifacts.

We sent two reporters to R&D to find out whether a cocktail menu inspired by Philly lore, from HitchBOT to the Crum Bum, actually works in a glass. The verdict: a lot of these drinks sound weird on paper, but they’re surprisingly balanced, thoughtful, and very Philly.

What makes the menu land isn’t just the inside jokes or the J-A-W-N ingredient challenge. It’s that the bartenders treated the city’s stories like serious prompts and built drinks that taste good first, gimmick second. Go with friends, split a few, and don’t skip the pretzels.

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

🎤 Thursday: Legendary singer and civil rights activist Mavis Staples will take the stage at the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville. The 86-year-old vocalist, who’s latest output Sad and Beautiful World offers a collection of soulful and deeply moving records, will be joined by Massachusetts singer-guitarist Kimaya Diggs as her opener.

🎸 Friday: Singer-songwriter Matt Butler conducts two nights of improvised music from a cast of leading musicians from the jam band world, including Dave Matthews’ associate Tim Reynolds, Aron Magner of the Disco Biscuits, Rob Mercurio of Galactic, Camden trumpeter Arnetta Johnson, and others at Ardmore Music Hall starting Friday.

🎸 Saturday: Sheer Mag, the mighty Philly foursome that recently dropped 2024’s Playing Favoritues, will top a four-band bill at Johnny Brenda’s.

🎸 Tuesday: A double bill headlined by Ratboys, the Chicago quartet fronted by Julia Steiner, will be well-matched with Philly-bred, loose-limbed collective, Florry. The two bands will join forces at First Unitarian Church on Tuesday.

Explore the PHS Flower Show’s lush landscapes, grab some Pennsylvania-made brews, or catch the Union score a win at Subaru Park.

Whatever you do, be sure to take in the early spring air and events happening this weekend. And expect to see more spring-related happenings in future newsletters, especially as the season fully blooms in the region.

— Earl Hopkins