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Category: Things To Do

  • 🔍 A weekend of mysteries awaits | Things to do

    🔍 A weekend of mysteries awaits | Things to do

    You’re in for a mystery this weekend.

    I’m talking three days of movies, history, and adventure in honor of National Treasure, the 2004 blockbuster that has Nicholas Cage stealing one of the nations’ most prized founding documents.

    I won’t tell you what, when, or where just yet. You will have to scroll down and find out about the details.

    Your search may open up other interesting attractions — like Pirate Day at Fort Mifflin, for example.

    That’s enough hints. Read below to find a treasure trove of events and attractions happening this week:

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

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    ‘National Treasure’ Weekend at Independence Mall

    “Movies on the Mall” event where National Treasure was screened outdoors in front of Independence Hall, September 22, 2025, in Philadelphia,Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    No, it doesn’t involve stealing the Declaration of Independence. But this weekend, the Independence Visitor Center is dedicating an entire weekend to National Treasure, the 2004 blockbuster starring Nicholas Cage.

    The three-day celebration kicks off with Heist Night on Thursday. Guests will team up at Carpenters’ Hall to solve clues, crack ciphers, and locate missing pieces of history.

    On Friday, fans can sit in on a live taping of the National Treasure Hunt podcast. Producer and director Jon Turteltaub will tell behind-the-scenes stories from the making of the high-action adventure.

    There will also be walking tours of the filming site, self-guided photo hunts, historic district activations, and outdoor screenings of the original movie on Friday and Saturday night.

    Click here to uncover everything happening at National Treasure Weekend.

    Members of the Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble perform during the Ukrainian Folk Festival 2023 at the Tryzub Ukrainian American Sport Center in Horsham, Pa., on Sunday, August 27, 2023.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    The best things to do this week

    📚 Grab a tote: Hey fellow book nerds — the annual Philly Bookstore Crawl is back. The celebration of the city’s vibrant bookstore scene will offer discounted titles, author signings, and giveaways.

    🕺🏽 Rave at Love City Gardens: On Saturday, break out into genre-fluid dance, techno, house, and global club fun at Love City Gardens. This nomadic party series, presented by Hospitality Haus, will feature artists such as Ariel Zatina, HVNLEE, and Sweater.

    🇺🇦 A taste of Ukrainian culture: The Ukrainian Independence Folk Festival returns for a celebration of traditional Ukrainian music, food, and crafts from noon to 8 p.m. Children 15 and under enter for free, and every $2 from admission supports humanitarian relief in Ukraine.

    🦐 Grab a bib: Who says crayfish (aka crawfish) parties only happened in the Louisiana bayou? Far from it. The Nordic tradition started back in the 1500s, and the American Swedish Historical Museum is putting on a full-on crawfish party this Friday.

    📅 My calendar picks this week: Wine and Gems, Lucky Girl Market, Hike at Lloyd Hall. Here’s our full list for the week.

    Rush takes over Xfinity Mobile Arena this weekend

    Rush performing at the LA Forum in California in June. The band plays Xfinity Mobile Arena on their Fifty Something Tour on Friday and Sunday.Richard Sibbald

    Canadian rock band Rush is on tour for the first time in 11 years, and the first without legendary drummer Neil Peart, who died in 2020.

    While there was cynicism about the prog-rock band’s return without Peart’s technical proficiency on the sticks, it has since evaporated, writes pop music critic Dan Deluca.

    That’s because the band found Anika Nilles, the woman who now sits atop the Rush drum throne.

    Nilles has received praise from Rush’s male-dominated audience on the band’s “Fifty Something Tour,” which kicked off at Inglewood’s Kia Forum on June 7.

    She and her band mates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson will play two shows at Xfinity Mobile Arena. One on Friday and another on Sunday before jetting to Detroit on Aug. 26.

    Grab your tickets to see the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band in action.

    Summer fun this week and beyond

    Avast, there be a “Pirate Day” at Fort Mifflin on Aug. 19.courtesy of the artists

    🏴‍☠️ Ayo, matey!: Apparently, English pirate Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, wrecked port cities along the Delaware River some 300 years ago. Fort Mifflin was built to safeguard 18th-century Philly, and now it’s the site of Pirate Day. Fans of centuries-old piracy can enjoy weapon demos, a treasure hunt, and historical re-enactments.

    🎭 A celebration and call to reflection: Stop by Malcolm X Park for a free staging of the play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs (BYOC) and soak up the pre-show block-party energy for the Theatre in the X show, running through Sunday.

    🥁 Thursdays aren’t so bad after all: It’s Third Thursday at the Navy Yard. The monthly series will once again take place at Chapel Plaza, a 35,000-square-foot outdoor space. This week’s lineup will feature floating food trucks, live music, drink vendors, and more. If you can’t make it on Thursday, don’t fret. The series runs through October.

    🎾 Rack up the competition: It may have taken on a new name, but the same top-end competition remains. Professional women’s tennis returns to Philadelphia for the inaugural Ennoble Care Philly Open. The weeklong tournament, formerly known as the Philadelphia Tennis Classic, will see competitors Liudmila Samsonova, Ashlyn Krueger, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, and others duke it out on the court.

    Staffer picks

    Here’s pop music critic Dan DeLuca’s list of the best concerts this weekend.

    🎤 Thursday: Isaiah Rashad is fresh off his fourth album, It’s Been Awful, and is back on the touring circuit. The Chattanooga-raised emcee will hit the Fillmore Philly stage on Thursday.

    🎷 Friday: Masego, a global maestro of trap house jazz best known for 2017’s “Tadow,” will perform at the Met Philadelphia in support of his newest album, Fix Your Face.

    🎶 Friday and Saturday: Motown queen Diana Ross, whose hits have endeared generations of music fans, is on her “Diana In Motion” tour. She will perform at Atlantic City’s Ocean Casino Resort on Friday, then hit the stage at the Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem on Saturday.

    🎸 Saturday: There will be a triple bill of melodic power pop bands, headlined by San Francisco’s Chime School. The group will be joined by Philly’s Hurry and South Jersey’s Te Vista. The show takes place at a South Philly typewriter shop. Yes, that’s right (or write?).

    🎼 Tuesday: Esperanza Spalding, the Grammy-winning jazz bassist and composer who bested Justin Bieber for best new artist at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, will perform back-to-back shows at City Winery starting Tuesday.

    Check out Dan’s full concert list here.

    ❓Pop quiz

    The 2004 blockbuster ‘Natural Treasure’ was filmed inside Independence Hall. But the film also filmed inside a replica of the landmark building — where?

    A) New York City

    B) Atlanta

    C) Los Angeles

    D) Washington DC

    Here’s the answer to last week’s question: The Philadelphia Folk Festival is one of the nation’s longest-running folk music festivals. What year did it start? Answer: 1962

    Ask Earl anything

    Many of you have questions about each week’s listings, and others about Philly’s arts, culture, and entertainment scene.

    I have you covered. Have a question? Email me for a chance to have it answered in an upcoming newsletter.

    As most fans of mystery and piracy know, “X marks the spot.” Now that you’re here, I hope you found all you need for another incredible summer weekend in Philly. I know I have.

    — Earl Hopkins

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    Courtesy of Giphy.comCourtesy of Giphy.com

  • 🚲 Cycling down the Shore | Outdoorsy Newsletter

    🤩 How about those Perseid meteor showers? I think I caught four or five in the late night sky.

    Here’s what we’re doing today:

    ☀️ Your weekend weather outlook: Mostly sunny skies. Sunday may bring showers.

    — Paola Pérez (outdoorsy@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Hop on

    Last week, we scoped out some of the Jersey Shore’s best farmers markets. This time, we’re exploring the area on two wheels.

    🗺️ From Cape May to Long Beach Island, there are plenty of scenic routes to ride along, including breezy boardwalk paths, lighthouse rides, and wildlife trails.

    🚲 No bike? No problem. Our guide also shows you where to rent one nearby.

    💡 Important tips: Check local bike rules, bring a lock if you plan to stop for food or shopping, always wear a helmet (even on short trips), and don’t forget sunscreen and water, especially on longer routes.

    Find the full guide here.

    News worth knowing

    🌳 Your outdoorsy experience

    A partial solar eclipse is seen above the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)Kin Cheung

    Did you capture any cool visuals of the Perseid meteor showers or the solar eclipse this week? What else are you doing or seeing out there?

    This is your moment to shine, dear reader. I’m on the hunt for new stories and would love to hear from you. Email me with your recent or distant memories in nature (pictures, if you have them, are welcome). You may see it featured right here.

    One free lawn cut at a time

    🎤 Now we’re passing the microphone to New Jersey education reporter Melanie Burney.

    With the afternoon sun beating down, Keith Benson and his childhood friend Brian Turner meticulously tended to a lawn in Camden’s Parkside neighborhood on a recent Friday.

    They took turns pushing a red lawn mower that left neat lines in the lush grass. They edged up the perimeter and pulled weeds from the sidewalk in front of the property on Bradley Street.

    A short time later, the pair completed the job, packed up their equipment and sped off to their next assignment in Benson’s burgundy Ford-150 pickup.

    They didn’t get paid and they didn’t want any payment, except possibly a cold bottle of water.

    Benson, a Camden High history teacher, and Turner, a litigator and personal injury lawyer at a Cherry Hill law firm, are spending the summer working for free. They want to give back to the city where they have lived and worked.

    “I’m grateful to be able to do it,” said Benson, 46. “We have to pass that on.” — Melanie Burney

    Discover how and why the duo started to give back to their community through lawn care.

    Paola’s picks

    🎶 An oddity: A Villanova scientist translated data from black holes into sound. Take a listen.

    📸 A view: This week’s total solar eclipse as seen from Valencia, Spain.

    🦅 A tribute: Jackie, a famous bald eagle from Big Bear, California, died this week from illness.

    🌅 A song: “Golden Hour” by Luna Li.

    🥾 An activity: The Friends of the Wissahickon’s guided hike series kicks off this Sunday. The first hike is sold out, but you can register for future ones here (free).

    🦎 A friendly view

    Hi, little buddy.Paola Pérez

    I made a friend in New Orleans this summer.

    👋🏽 Take care out there!

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • 🪕 Tune into Philly Folk Fest | Things to do

    🪕 Tune into Philly Folk Fest | Things to do

    This weekend is serving up some of the best of late summer in our beloved city.

    Settle into a laid-back evening at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, sample regional flavors at the Ice Cream Festival on Filbert, or embrace the brine with pickle-flavored cocktails at Pickle Palooza.

    And that’s only a taste of what’s in store this weekend.

    While I’m away at the 2026 National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Atlanta, you’ll attend some of the summer’s best music, food, and cultural festivals.

    Here are some of the best things you could be doing this week:

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

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Tune in to the return of the Philly Folk Festival

    Sam Gellerstein of Philly band Snacktime backstage at the Newport Folk Festival in 2025 with Glen Hansard.Danny Clinch

    The 63rd iteration of the Philadelphia Folk Festival returns this weekend at the Old Pool Farm.

    This year’s lineup kicks off with three Philly bands with roots in the rock and roll spirit: Ben Arnold & the 48 Hour Orchestra, Roberta Faceplant, and Lazy Villains will be the campers-only openers on Thursday night.

    On Friday, the Folk Fest will be an all-day event, with highlights that include bluesy guitarist Eddie 9V, bluegrass trio Damn Tall Buildings, country-folk duo Kieran Kane and Reyna Gellart, and more.

    Saturday standouts include festival regular Tom Rush, Celtic roots group Runa, Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience, and John Flynn, who will also serve as main stage emcee throughout the fest.

    To close out the fest, Sacred Steel with the Campbell Brothers will open in the morning. The Campbells will be on the Martin Stage later in the day, as well as York, Pa.-native Robbie Fulks and Gauthier. The final stage act is Kentucky mandolin and fiddler player Sam Bush.

    Check out the full lineup and purchase tickets here.

    The best things to do this week

    FILE – Charlie Woods hits onto the 17th green during the first round of stroke play of the U.S. Junior Amateur Golf Championship, in Bloomfield Township, Mich., July 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)Carlos Osorio

    ⛳ Big swings in Ardmore: The 126th United States Amateur Championship is back at Merion Golf Club for the first time since 2005. The weeklong event features top-end male amateur golfers, including locals such as Nicholas Gross, Hunter Stetson, and Hank Kancher. Grab your tickets to see the competition take its course.

    🎨 Celebrate Dominican arts and culture: Check out From Page To Screen at Esperanza Arts Center. The event is part of a three-part series that celebrates authors and filmmakers from the Dominican Republic. The evening will feature film screenings, artist conversations, local vendors, Merengue music, and dance lessons.

    🍨 A scoop of local sweets: The annual Ice Cream Festival on Filbert is back at Reading Terminal Market. Participating ice creameries include regional favorites such as Milk Jawn, The Franklin Fountain, Scoop DeVille, Siddiq’s Water Ice, and others.

    🥒 Relish in pickle heaven: Pull up to the Pickle Palooza at Neshaminy Creek Brewing. It’s kind of a big dill. (I couldn’t resist). Local vendors will be on-site selling pickles, and bartenders will be mixing dill-flavored cocktails.

    📅 My calendar picks this week: Deviled Eggs & Rosé, Festival of India, and Philadelphia Taco Festival. Here’s our full list for the week.

    Oddities & Curiosities Expo is coming to Montgomery County

    There’s no room for “normal” at the Oddities & Curiosities Expo.

    Starting Saturday, one of the world’s largest showcases of oddities is coming to Montgomery County.

    The touring expo will set up shop at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center. There will be a selection of artists and vendors selling clothes, taxidermy, and other items that lean into the bizarre.

    There will also be sideshow performers outside of the venue throughout the two-day event.

    Grab your tickets and embrace all things weird.

    Summer fun this week and beyond

    🎷 Funk and jazz in North Philly: The Jazz on the Ave Music Fest, hosted by radio legends Patty Jackson, Dyana Williams, and Mina Say What, returns for an evening of soothing performances by headliners Vertical Current, Kyng Musik, and Jessie Renee.

    🥩 Luck up at Live! Casino: Restaurant Week returns to Live! Casino & Hotel through Aug. 20. Stop in for sizzling, seven-ounce steaks at The Prim Rib, Jet Tila’s pad thai at Luk Fu, and special dine-and-drink deals at the casino’s bars and lounges.

    🍿 Grab your popcorn: Free Street Movies, presented by Scribe Video Center, is back with a touring outdoor theater experience for movie lovers throughout Philadelphia. The 29th edition of the film series is offering free, family-friendly screenings through Aug. 30.

    🎨 The creatives behind Philly street art: Dig deep into the stories of legendary graffiti writers and street artists such as Darryl “Cornbread” McCray at Platform X in Suburban Station. The new art exhibit, “Evolution of the Revolution,” opens on Friday and runs through September.

    Staffer picks

    Foo Fighters play Lincoln Financial Field on Aug. 13.Courtesy of the Artist

    Here’s pop music critic Dan DeLuca’s list of the best concerts this weekend.

    Thursday: The Foo Fighters, smack in the middle of their yearlong “Take Cover” tour, is dropping into South Philly on Thursday. The Dave Grohl-led band will step onto Lincoln Financial Field with Queens of the Stone Age and Philadelphia’s own Mannequin Pussy.

    Friday: Jazz trio Trash Gadget, comprised of Philly pianist and bandleader Orrin Evans, bassist Matthew Parrish, and drummer Byron Landham, are celebrating their new album and 30 years of collaboration with two shows at Chris’ Jazz Cafe.

    Saturday: Louisville rapper Jack Harlow, who shifted from straight-up hip-hop to neo-soul on his latest album, Monica, will hit the Fillmore Philly stage on Saturday.

    Sunday: Miami’s own Flo Rida, who scored several party anthems in the late 2000s, is bringing the South Florida heat to Citizens Bank Park. He performs after the Phillies play the Miami Marlins.

    Check out Dan’s full concert list here.

    ❓Pop quiz

    The Philadelphia Folk Festival is one of the nation’s longest-running folk music festivals in the country. What year did it start?

    A) 1962

    B) 1964

    C) 1967

    D) 1961

    Here’s the answer to last week’s question: Before filmmaker Maori Karmael Holmes founded BlackStar Film Festival, what other festival did she help develop in Philly? Answer: Black Lily Film & Music Festival

    Ask Earl anything

    Many of you have questions about each week’s listings, and others about Philly’s arts, culture, and entertainment scene.

    I have you covered. Have a question? Email me for a chance to have it answered in an upcoming newsletter.

    That’s a wrap for this week’s edition of Things To Do. I may be signing out from Atlanta, but you know my heart and mind are forever home in Philly, baby. Enjoy the weekend ahead, and I’ll be back soon to hear about it. Peace!

    — Earl Hopkins

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    Heading to the Jersey Shore.GIPHY

  • 🍑 Shore farmers’ markets | Outdoorsy Newsletter

    The dog days of summer are here.

    In today’s edition:

    🥵 Your weekend weather outlook: It’s muggy, steamy, and shower-y. A heat advisory is in effect through Saturday night.

    — Paola Pérez (outdoorsy@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Grab a tote

    With the nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak on the mind, more folks are flocking to farmers markets for fresh goods.

    But if you’re true to this, you already know they are the best places to get delicious fruits, veggies, and other tasty treats directly from your local farmers, bakers, and artisans.

    There are a bunch in the Philly-area, but if you happen to be soaking up the sun down the Shore, be sure to check these out:

    🍑 Try the Ocean City Farmers Market for cherries, peaches, cucumbers, corn, and tomato pies.

    💐 Stop by the Ventnor City Farmers Market to stock up on fresh-cut flowers and free-range meat products.

    🎶 Explore the West Cape May Farmers Market, rain or shine, for a plethora of produce and some live music to boot. It runs late afternoon-to-evening.

    Use our map to see the Jersey Shore’s top farmers markets.

    News worth knowing

    🌳 Your outdoorsy experience

    Last week, I asked if you’d noticed any spotted lanternflies in your area this season. John S. in Manayunk shared what he’s seen:

    The lantern fly population is stable here although I do not tolerate their presence.

    The little ones as big as specks appear in mid April. Through July 4th there are the bigger stage red and black ones. Finally the adults appear second week in July. Their presence dwindles by mid October.

    I suspect there are folks that are unaware of lantern flies. The presence of lantern flies in the house, car, and on people are a problem.

    Definitely. It’s a shame they’re rather strangely beautiful (mostly when their bright red-and-black underwing is visible inflight.) Thanks for the dispatch, John!

    📥 I want to hear from you, too. What are you seeing or doing outside these days? Tell me about your recent adventures or favorite places in nature. Pictures are always welcome. You may see it featured here.

    BLT season frenzy

    🎤 Now we’re passing the microphone to food writer Kiki Aranita.

    Philadelphians know it’s officially peak summer thanks to a recent announcement: the beginning of BLT season at Middle Child, where the seasonal sandwiches draw lines down the block.

    “We become Pat’s and Geno’s but instead of making cheesesteaks all day, we’re making BLTs,” said Matt Cahn, the owner of the Center City sandwich shop Middle Child and Fishtown’s Middle Child Clubhouse. You won’t see fresh tomatoes on the menu at any other time of the year, but come mid-July: “It’s just BLT, BLT, BLT,” said Cahn.

    You could say tomato season is Middle Child’s Super Bowl. It is intense but short. BLTs are only made for about four weeks, when tomatoes are at their best. It started on July 22 and each location makes roughly 200 to 250 sandwiches per day.

    While there are other top-tier tomato sandwiches in town — don’t miss the River Twice entry, adorned with gamtae and a quenelle of caviar, for example, or Loretta’s in Headhouse, with herbed aioli and the same vaunted produce as Middle Child’s — none stir up quite as much fervor. — Kiki Aranita

    Read on about the star heirloom tomatoes that drive the BLT craze.

    Paola’s picks

    🐸 An art series: Sci-fi frog appreciation.

    🦩 A read: The only zoo in my native Dominican Republic provides a safe haven for exotic animals that were confiscated.

    ⚓ A wild discovery: Water is dropping so low in the Danube that World War II ships are emerging.

    🥍 A shoutout: The Women’s Lacrosse League is preparing to make history in the Philly area.

    🌅 A tune: “Warm Nights” by Royel Otis.

    A lush view

    Check out this New Hope-area estate and its magical gardens. It used to be open to the public as Paxson Hill Farm Nursery and Gardens until 2024. The property just hit the market this week.

    👋🏽 See you out there.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • The best antique and thrift stores to explore down the Shore

    The best antique and thrift stores to explore down the Shore

  • 📽️ Happy 15th birthday, BlackStar | Things to do

    📽️ Happy 15th birthday, BlackStar | Things to do

    Good news! I have somehow avoided being eaten by the polka-dotted lanternflies that have swarmed our city to deliver this week’s Things To Do Newsletter.

    Here’s the best of what’s happening this week:

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

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    BlackStar Film Festival returns to celebrate filmmakers of color

    Directors Melissa Beatriz & Andrés Cisneros are set to premiere their short documentary, “Philly Rumba,” at the 2026 BlackStar Film Festival.Courtesy of Luiza Barreto

    The BlackStar Film Festival, one of the nation’s premier showcases for filmmakers of color, returns for its 15th annual celebration.

    This year’s lineup includes 91 films from filmmakers from over 30 countries.

    Along with showcasing the work of first-time directors and veteran storytellers, there will be wellness sessions, seminars, panel discussions, and after-hours events starting Thursday.

    My colleague Elizabeth Wellington and I wrote all about it.

    Check out the full schedule and grab your screening passes here.

    The best things to do this week

    Get the perfect colorful summer selfie this weekend during the Sunflower Spectacular at Butler’s Orchard. The farm is open late on Saturday with live music and local craft beer and cider. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)Michael S. Williamson

    🦹🏽‍♂️ Nerd out at Liberty Comic Con: Comic book and anime lovers, rejoice! You will have access to your favorite voice actors, artists, cosplayers, and a wide range of vendors all weekend long at Liberty Comic Con.

    🪲 A bug’s life: Stop by the Academy of Natural Sciences to celebrate insect biodiversity at Bug Fest 2026. Through Sunday, guests can mingle with bug enthusiasts and researchers, and watch a real-life roach race in action.

    🌻 Let your curiosity blossom: At Linvilla Orchards, bask in the beauty of the bright yellow daisy at Sunflower Festival. Guests can pick their own blooms and enjoy delicacies like peach pie, fresh cider, roasted sweet corn, and more summertime treats.

    📅 My calendar picks this week: Wine Safari at Elmwood Park Zoo, Nicetown 24th Annual Giveback Community Festival, America’s 250th celebration in Newtown. Here’s our full list for the week.

    WWE SmackDown stars will rumble in South Philly

    Solo Sikoa, The Bloodline, Roman Reigns – WWE SmackDown 10-18-2024WWE.com

    Top WWE superstars will be throwing elbows, leaping from turnbuckles, and tossing tables, ladders, and chairs this Friday.

    Watch top-end performers Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, Jade Cargill, CM Punk, and Rhea Ripley at the center of the action at Xfinity Mobile Arena. This South Philly rumble might get messy. (And we hope it does).

    Grab your tickets to catch these world-renowned wrestlers in action.

    Summer fun this week and beyond

    A child runs through an octopus display at the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Tassanee Vejpongsa)Tassanee Vejpongsa

    🍻 Need First Friday plans?: Elfreth’s Alley and 48 Record Bar are teaming up for a free garden party this Friday. The 8 Record Bar Garden Party will include a night of delicious cocktails, a pop-up vinyl market, and DJ sets.

    🖼️ A spiritual quest through time: It’s your last chance to witness “A World in the Making: The Shakers,” an exhibition centered on the legacy of Rebecca Cox Jackson, the founder of the only Black-led Shaker community. The exhibition is on view at West Philly’s Institute of Contemporary Art through Sunday.

    🍴 A deal you can’t refuse: Center City District is offering new summertime lunch specials ranging from $10-20. Participating restaurants include Pruenlla, Darling Jack’s Tavern, Dolce Italian, Hard Rock Cafe, and other dining spots.

    🏮 Celebrate the Year of the Horse: There are less than two weeks left to enjoy the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival. Don’t miss your chance to enjoy an illuminated Franklin Square, which wraps for the year on Aug. 16.

    Staffer picks

    Billy Idol on a video set in 1981.Live Nation Studios

    Here’s pop music critic Dan Deluca’s list of the best concerts this weekend.

    🎤 Thursday: The Isley Brothers, led by soul and R&B maestro Ronald Isley, now 85, will take the stage at Dell Music Center. Stephanie Mills and Breakwater open.

    🎸 Friday: Billy Idol, a forthcoming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, I might add, is teaming up with Devo to perform at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain in Scranton on Friday night.

    🕺🏼 Sunday: Former Disney Channel Lizzie McGuire star Hilary Duff is on tour for her first album in 11 years. She’s joined by Jade LeMac and La Roux for her “Lucky Me” tour stop at TD Pavilion at Highmark Mann.

    Check out Dan’s full concert list here.

    ❓Pop quiz

    Before filmmaker Maori Karmael Holmes founded BlackStar Film Festival, what other festival did she help develop in Philly?

    A) Black Orchid Film Festival

    B) Black Lily Film & Music Festival

    C) Black Rose Film & Music Fest

    D) None of the above

    Here’s the answer to last week’s question: With LeBron James’ arrival, NBA Championship hopes are now abound. Most Sixers fans know the last time the team captured a chip, but what year was the first? Answer: 1967

    Ask Earl anything

    Many of you have questions about each week’s listings, and others about Philly’s arts, culture, and entertainment scene.

    I have you covered. Have a question? Email me for a chance to have it answered in an upcoming newsletter.

    Philly, you’re in for a cinematic weekend. Grab a bucket of popcorn and catch a screening at BlackStar. You won’t want to miss the action.

    – Earl Hopkins

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    Courtesy of Giphy.comCourtesy of Giphy.com

  • 😳 Spotted | Outdoorsy Newsletter

    Welcome to the final day of July, and happy Shark Week to all who celebrate.

    Here’s what we’re doing outside today:

    ☀️ Your weekend weather outlook: Overall splendid conditions, with a mix of sun and clouds. Some Sunday showers may dampen things.

    — Paola Pérez (outdoorsy@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Hello, strangely beautiful invader

    Every year, people ask: “Should we still care about the spotted lanternfly?”

    It’s been nearly a decade since it showed up in Pennsylvania and threatened the balance of the ecosystem. Back then, things got so spooky that people started calling 911 (and were respectfully asked to stop doing so).

    Thankfully, their wrath was not as bad as we feared. Lanternfly numbers have declined, but efforts to control them continue. They still pose threats to vulnerable plants, especially grapevines.

    Active from July through December, adult lanternflies remain a pest to be dealt with. Recent seasons have been more or less mild, but lately I’ve noticed more and more of the inch-long plant-hoppers crawling around Philly. I even caught a crafty one hitching a ride on the hood of my car.

    We’re told to kill them on sight, but… I truly hate having to stomp on them, and it’s not just because they are experts at effortlessly escaping certain death. There’s something special about them. Heck, they even make for extraordinary tattoo subjects. They can’t help that they wreak chaos.

    At any rate, it’s important to know how to identify, prevent, and treat spotted lanternfly damage. Use our guide here.

    📬 What are you witnessing out there? Email me to let me know if your neighborhood has seen a rise or decline in spotted lanternfly sightings.

    News worth knowing

    🌳 Your outdoorsy experience

    What are you doing out there? This is your spot to shine, dear reader. I’m looking for new stories and moments to feature. Send your story in an email (pictures, if you have them, are welcome). You may see it in an upcoming edition of this newsletter.

    Mushroom wars

    🎤 Let me pass the mic to business reporter Joseph DiStefano.

    Pennsylvania mushroom growers welcomed this month’s U.S. Department of Commerce preliminary finding that Canadian farms are selling mushrooms to U.S. grocery stores at unfairly low prices.

    The ruling against “dumping” threatens to make mushrooms more expensive to import, easing competitive pressure on family-owned U.S. growers in an industry also under pressure from a shortage of harvesters amid the U.S. immigration crackdown.

    “This ruling supports the long-term health of our industry” in Pennsylvania, said CJ Ciarrochi, CEO and fourth-generation owner of Modern Mushroom Farms in Toughkenamon, Chester County, part of the Fresh Mushrooms Fair Trade Coalition supporting the case against the Canadians.

    But one of the largest area growers called the decision a protectionist move that would enable aging U.S. farms to avoid upgrades and leave consumers with fewer choices. — Joseph DiStefano

    Read on for the full fungi fight report.

    Their haven is a habitat

    Larry Cohen and Marla Hexter foster an eye-catching meadow at their Schwenksville home, and live by the motto: “Think globally act locally.” See their flourishing gardens and the critters that thrive there.

    Paola’s picks

    🍑 An activity: Peach Festival at Peddler’s Village in Bucks (free; all ages).

    🚙 A story: Obeying posted speed limits saves you money, and helps the planet.

    🦟 A reminder: Prevent mosquito breeding — and bites — with these tips.

    🐦 A win: The formerly extirpated piping plover bounces back.

    🌇 A song: “Summer In The City” by Quincy Jones (1973).

    A riverside view

    Breathe in…and breathe out. Take in the Mississippi.Paola Pérez

    I captured this along the Moonwalk Riverfront Park in New Orleans last weekend.

    👋🏽 A hike is calling my name. Where should I go? I’ll catch up with you soon.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • The King decided. Now it’s your turn | Things to do

    The King decided. Now it’s your turn | Things to do

    Two words: LeBron. James.

    I’m sure you’ve heard by now — and if you haven’t, shame on you, my friend.

    The NBA Hall of Fame player has officially signed with the Philadelphia Sixers, which means I’m walking around with 23-times the Ohio pride than I typically carry. (That’s right, all of Ohio claims LBJ as their own).

    No, but seriously. The city is due for a celebration with the King deciding to call Philly his sporting home. Now, it’s your time to decide how to spend your weekend.

    Read below to see what’s happening in the region, and take your pick.

    Also in this week’s edition:

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

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    A Philly street artist installs a LeBron James mirror mosaic

    Adam Hock, 28, of Center City, Pa., saw on Facebook about the LeBron James mosaic on 8th and Market Street in Philadelphia, Pa., on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    Street artist irregular, born Sean Hassett, rarely cries. But when LeBron James announced he was going to end his NBA career with the Sixers, he shed some tears — and then got to work, writes trending sports reporter Gabriela Carroll.

    Within 48 hours, Hassett’s tribute in mirrors was up on the side of an old Burger King in Center City.

    Hassett usually sells art at Rittenhouse Square on Saturdays, but he spent most of last Saturday afternoon walking around Center City to scout potential locations for the piece. He ultimately settled on a building at 8th and Market, and it’s now become a public art attraction.

    Learn more about Hassett’s mirror mosaic here.

    The best things to do this week

    Pinchos by the river at La Placita on Cherry Street Pier by Dionicio Jimenez.Michael Klein / Staff

    🎭 Last chance to swoon in romance theater: Grab your tickets before the final showing of The Notebook, based on the best-selling novel-turned-film. The musical runs through Sunday at the Academy of Music.

    🏞️ Clark Park drama: Enjoy Shakespeare’s Hamlet under the evening sky. A free, open-air telling of the classic drama is happening at Clark Park through Sunday.

    🐅 A 1920s mystery at the Zoo: Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned Zoo Done It? Stop by the Philadelphia Zoo for a night of wonder and mystery. Guests will play detectives, tracking down clues in a wild scavenger hunt.

    💃 A fiesta at Liberty Point: The third annual La Placita Fest returns with food, drinks, music, dance, and a live performance by artist Frankie Negrón.

    📅 My calendar picks this week: Dirty Rocks Cocktail Clash at Fringe Bar, ACANA African Festival, and Freedom Now Festival. Here’s our full list for the week.

    Saif Manna’s famed pastries have a home in Kensington

    Assorted baked goods at the new brick and mortar location of Manna Bakery on Thursday, July 23, 2026 in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    After building a following for his Levantine and Palestinian pastries at farmers markets, former Temple University student Saif Manna opened his first brick-and-mortar bakery in Kensington.

    The bakery opened Thursday at 110 W. Berks St., the former home of Essen Bakery.

    During the week, food and restaurant reporter Michael Klein writes that the bakery will feature many of Manna’s signatures — manakeesh, chicken sumac buns, fatayer, cardamom buns, and others. And the weekends will bring an even broader selection.

    For the full rundown, read Klein’s story here.

    Summer fun this week and beyond

    Fresh produce, like these peaches from AlÕs Produce, a local farm, on sale at the Sea Isle City Farmers Market, Tuesday, July 28, 2026.Vernon Ogrodnek / For The Inquirer

    🍑 Keep your weekend peachy: Peddler’s Village celebrates another sweet and peachy treat. The Peach Festival will boast finger painting, lawn games, sand art, a petting zoo, and other family-friendly activities.

    🚂 Take a train through Morris Arboretum: Make your way to this floral oasis, now offering discounted admission to celebrate the Garden Railway. There will be Thomas & Friends trains, the Whimsical Woods, a fairy garden, and other hands-on activities.

    🍽️ Final Pop-Up at RTM: It’s your last chance to enjoy a Tommy Dinic’s roast pork and warm apple dumpling at Reading Terminal Market’s Pop-Up Plaza. Dine outside the market’s doors for the last time this season on Sunday.

    🇺🇸 A world of wonder: The Workshop of the World Exhibition continues through Oct. 18 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The immersive exhibition features 250 objects — from ceramics to furniture and textiles — that tells the story of Philly’s centennial exhibition.

    Staffer picks

    FILE – Ella Langley performs during Amazon Music Country Heat at Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, Tenn., on Feb. 28, 2024. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)Amy Harris

    Here’s pop music critic Dan Deluca’s list of the best concerts this weekend.

    🎹 Thursday: South African pianist, composer, and educator Nduduzo Makhathini kicks off the first of back-to-back shows at Solar Myth on Thursday.

    🎤 Friday: Keyboardist and singer PJ Morton, who released his new album Saturday Night/Sunday Morning last month, is headlining at the Fillmore Philly Friday night.

    🎸 Saturday: Morgan Wallen and Ella Langley, the two biggest country stars and best-selling artists in the country, will headline at Lincoln Financial Field this weekend. The final show is Saturday.

    🎷 Sunday: After a Friday performance in Atlantic City, legendary Chicago bluesman Buddy Guy will stop by the Keswick Theatre in Glenside for his “Buddy Guy 90 tour.”

    Check out the full concert list here.

    ❓Pop quiz

    With LeBron James’ arrival, NBA Championship hopes are now abound. Most Sixers fans know the last time the team captured a chip, but what year was the first?

    A) 1962

    B) 1976

    C) 1967

    D) 1969

    Here’s the answer to last week’s question: North Philly’s Jill Scott says her favorite cheesesteak is at Ishkabibbles. How does she take it? Answer: Fried onions, marinara, mozzarella, mustard, and mayo.

    That’s all for now, folks. Ride the high of this revamped Sixers roster and enjoy everything the weekend has to offer.

    – Earl Hopkins

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    Courtesy of Giphy.comCourtesy of Giphy.com
  • In a reversal, New Jersey now says Pennsylvania residents should register their e-bikes in New Jersey if visiting

    In a reversal, New Jersey now says Pennsylvania residents should register their e-bikes in New Jersey if visiting

    Pennsylvanian e-bikers headed to the Shore, get ready for your appointment with New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission.

    In a reversal, the state agency now says out-of-state residents should register their e-bikes in New Jersey in order to legally ride them in New Jersey.

    Earlier, MVC spokesperson William Connolly said New Jersey would not be registering out-of-state e-bikes and that visitors should follow the law in their home states.

    But now the MVC says that because New Jersey is the only state that requires e-bikes to be registered, out-of-state e-bikers should follow New Jersey’s law.

    That means out-of-state riders need to make an appointment at the MVC when they visit, which starts by filling out a registration form.

    Connolly says as of July 28, New Jersey had issued 9,410 e-bike registrations; of those, 182 were for out-of-state residents.

    “MVC is now offering to register e-bikes for out-of-state residents so that they can lawfully ride their bikes in NJ,” Connolly said in a statement e-mailed to the Inquirer.

    ”Out-of-state visitors who are sixteen or older can also rent a low-speed e-bike from rental companies operating under a contract with a local government, which is an exception to the registration requirement under the e-bike law.”

    Properly registered e-bikes will display a sticker issued by the MVC.

    The law has caused confusion among riders, bike-shop owners, and law enforcement since its adoption in January. After a six-month grace period, the state went into enforcement mode July 19.

    The law requires all riders to wear helmets, forbids riders under the age of 15, and requires insurance for higher-speed classified electric bikes. The classification for basic e-bikes is for pedal-assisted electric bicycles with a maximum speed of 20 mph.

    Out-of-state riders without a driver’s license are not permitted to ride an e-bike in New Jersey, according to the Motor Vehicle Commission, which has been embroiled in a national controversy since it was revealed that thousands of non-U.S. citizens were automatically registered to vote while obtaining driver’s licenses in New Jersey.

    For non-New Jersey e-bikers, the process for e-bike registration will be the same as for residents, but out-of-staters can use out-of-state proof of identification and register the e-bike with an out-of-state address.

  • Avalon shut down a live band at Gully’s at 8 p.m. Now the tavern is fighting restrictions on its liquor license.

    Avalon shut down a live band at Gully’s at 8 p.m. Now the tavern is fighting restrictions on its liquor license.

    AVALON, N.J. — For Three and One singer and guitarist Gus Thompson, 25, the music died on Dune Drive shortly after 8 p.m. on Friday, July 17.

    “We noticed the police out front,” the band’s front man said in a phone interview, recalling the night at Avalon’s new bar and restaurant with a patio for live music and other events. “Our set was ending very soon, so we didn’t think much of it. The owner said we’re being shut down. He said no more music.”

    The band was scheduled to play until 10 p.m., and had finished the early set with Thompson’s original song “No Idea,” but Avalon’s restrictions on Gully’s and all other bars in town prohibit any outdoor music after 8 p.m.

    Out in the crowd, Kate Nunan was incensed. At 8:36 p.m., she posted a picture of the band breaking down its setup in the Facebook Group Seven Mile Shenanigans, and wrote, “WTH is wrong with Avalon??? Shutting down a band at 8:30 because of a noise complaint??”

    The outrage has only grown, spilling over into a July 22 council meeting, with residents expressing concern that Avalon, long a place of late nights and live music, but now increasingly a place of private clubs and multimillion-dollar houses, was in danger of losing its small businesses and essential character.

    Has Avalon become too exclusive for the people who live there?

    Gully’s has appealed the special conditions of Avalon’s liquor license to the state’s Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, saying the ban on outdoor music after 8 p.m. is “arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable.”

    At the council meeting, locals like Merri Jones, who said she was a second-generation graduate of Avalon Elementary, stuck up for Gully’s, which replaced the Black Cactus restaurant with a restaurant touting “old school beachy vibes.” (Inquirer restaurant critic Craig LaBan praised its “clothesline of candied bacon.“)

    The hanging candied bacon served over grits and Gully’s blooming potato on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Avalon, N.J.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    “They’re a breath of fresh air,” she told the council, which had been cautioned by Nicole Curio, the municipal solicitor, not to respond to comments about Gully’s since the liquor license restrictions were now a legal action with the state ABC, a division of the Office of the Attorney General.

    “It’s just a couple more hours to let them make their money,” she said. “We support it. A lot of locals do as well.”

    But neighbors on the 100 block of 27th Street, which has Gully’s at one end and Wawa on the other, and regularly idling 18-wheelers making deliveries to both, pleaded their case about the noise from Gully’s, including the amplified music and games like its Monday Minnow Races announced over a loudspeaker.

    Larry Hayes said he lives 450 feet from Gully’s, but the sound is causing an “unreasonable disruptive intrusion into our quiet enjoyment of our home.” The Avalon noise ordinance restricts any amplified sound that’s audible more than 50 feet away, he noted.

    The patio at Gully’s on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Avalon, N.J.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    “We want to be good neighbors,” said neighbor Matt Tumasz. “We love the idea that there’s a family restaurant. But when you have a five-piece band playing and blasting music, and speakers that are 15 feet in the air, it’s just a little bit out of control.”

    Gully’s owner Beth Pearce did not respond to several messages from The Inquirer.

    On Facebook, Pearce posted: “From the beginning, our goal has been simple: to create a place where neighbors, families, visitors, and friends can come together and make memories.

    “We have tremendous respect for the role of our local officials,” she wrote. “We remain committed to working collaboratively, being good neighbors, and contributing positively to our community.”

    At the council meeting, she noted that several council members had patronized Gully’s with their families (and one admitted to being a fan during the council meeting).

    “The hope is we’re going to elevate all businesses,” Pearce said. She pledged to try to “figure out what the appropriate sound level is.”

    The exterior of Gully’s on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Avalon, N.J.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    “I think we can find something where we can thrive together,” she said. “All we’re asking for is the same conditions as similar businesses within the district.”

    In an email, Avalon administrator Scott Wahl noted that the special conditions that permit outdoor music only between noon and 8 p.m. were adopted in June by council and apply to all seven holders of liquor licenses in Avalon, including the Union League, which took over the Whitebrier last year.

    Still, Wahl said, “I believe the Borough Council will attempt to revisit the issue to balance the interests of the business community and the residential community.

    “I think it’s fair to say both sides want to figure this out collaboratively,” he said.

    Three and One will be back at Gully’s this Friday. Thompson said the owners initially assured them the usual 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. gig would be fine but have since asked them to play from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.