Issa Rae comes to Philly
New York Times bestselling author and award-winning actress, producer, writer, and entrepreneur Issa Rae is hitting the road to promote her new book I Should Be Smarter By Now, available through Amazon Publishing, for an evening of conversation, laughter, and inspiration. Each stop on the tour will feature intimate discussions with Issa, giving audiences a rare behind-the-scenes look at how she built her creative empire while staying true to her roots. This highly anticipated follow-up to her bestselling debut takes readers on a comically insightful journey through the milestones, missteps, and triumphs that shaped her from an awkward creative outsider into one of Hollywood’s most prolific voices. Part confession, part reflection, and part “here’s what I wish I’d known,” Issa’s essays balance humor with hard-won wisdom, offering candid life lessons about ambition, authenticity, and creative perseverance.
When: Monday, Sept. 8 at 8 p.m.
Where: The Met Philadelphia, 858 N. Broad St.
Manayunk Restaurant Week
After a five year break, one of the biggest restaurant weeks in the Greater Philadelphia region is back and tastier than ever! Manayunk Restaurant Week is back and with a line-up packed with a who’s who of the Main Street dining scene — including long-time favorites and new eateries. Twenty restaurants will fire up special fixed priced two and three course menus for $15, $25, $35 and $45 — with some doing lunch, dinner and both. Look for indoor and outdoor dining, including the PHS Pop-up Garden! Look for casual to fine dining, and American to global cuisine — and everything in between. The growing list of restaurants include Bar Jawn, Blondie, PHS Pop Up Garden, Tubby Robot Ice Cream Factory, Manayunk Brew Pub, Bayou, Zestys, Somo Manayunk, Taqueria Amor and more. Reservations are open now!
Where: various locations on Main Street Manayunk
”Word Powered: Exploring Free Speech Through Art” at NLM
“Word Powered: Exploring Free Speech Through Art” is a juried exhibition that examines the dynamic relationship between censorship, freedom of expression, and diverse perspectives. Bringing together a range of artistic voices, mediums, and subject matter, the exhibition challenges visitors to reflect on their role in safeguarding the right to free speech and better understand how language can be manipulated, suppressed, or celebrated. The works on display invite audiences across the political and cultural divide to engage with the potency of words, demonstrating how art can spark vital conversations and illuminate our collective voice.
When: ends Monday, Sept. 8
Where: National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.
”A Journey of Hardship & Suffering” (work-in-progress showing) — Philadelphia Fringe Festival
A clowny comedy of errors inspired by a true 19th-century wilderness expedition into the interior of Alaska — impertinent mules, relentless mosquitoes, sabotage, and mutiny! This new ensemble show in early development from Philadelphia-based director Alexis Howland is a work-in-progress performance of phase one ideas. Development of this project is supported through Cannonball 2025’s Philadelphia Theatre Company Text and Dramaturgy Cohort.
When: Tuesday, Sept. 9 and Friday, Sept. 12
Where: The Louis Bluver Theatre at the Drake, 302 S Hicks St.
Go Mt. Airy Supper Sessions
At Supper Sessions, blocks of Germantown Avenue are closed to cars, trucks and buses, and Mt. Airy’s historic commercial corridor is opened to the people. Patrons can order from their favorite eateries and sit down to enjoy their food at communal tables arranged across the Belgian blocks and trolley tracks of historic Germantown Avenue in the heart of the business district. In addition to brick-and-mortar restaurants, an expanded roster of some of the city’s most popular food trucks will add rotating variety. Not only that, the festival will feature live music, with local musicians showcasing their talents at one end of the festival, and a DJ spinning popular dance tunes at the other. Local shops stay open late along the block with fun shopping opportunities and giveaways. Kids’ activities including a moon bounce, face painting, and balloon art ensure that Supper Sessions is fun for the whole family.
When: Wednesday, Aug. 13 from 5-9 p.m.
Where: 7100 and 7200 blocks of Germantown Avenue
”White Room” — Philadelphia Fringe Festival
An interdisciplinary performance-installation by Iranian-born composer, conductor and artist Sepehr Pirasteh, in which the audience’s presence actively shapes the experience. As the audience moves through the arranged objects, they become a dynamic part of the installation, directly confronting the central themes of power and control. This journey invites a personal reflection on the nature of individual influence, or lack thereof, within societal systems. Sepehr pursued his Ph.D. in Music Composition at Temple University. His research interests focus on political music in Iran and the Iranian diaspora, the dynamics of hegemony in performance arts, the intersection of art and activism, and the role of music under totalitarian regimes.
When: Wednesday, Sept. 10-12 and Sunday, Sept. 14
Where: Asian Arts Initiative, 1219 Vine St.
”Traffic Cam” — Philadelphia Fringe Festival
Equal parts comedic and incisive, Traffic Cam invites its audience to examine their complicity in processes of self-automation and asks the question: how do we discover our truest selves? In the 68th annual Most Perfect Person competition, finalist Jack McManus will make their case to earn this title through displays of perfection across multiple metrics. Join your fellow judges in witnessing Jack attempt to illustrate their perfection through a series of demonstrations, lectures, and challenges.
When: Wednesday, Sept. 10 and Sunday, Sept. 14
Where: Icebox Project Space, 1400 N. American St.
”You Are Welcome Here; I Saved a Chair for You” at William Way LGBT Center
Running through October, the exhibition will feature an inspiring collection of weavings and drawings by fiber artist Kathryn Pannepacker, whose practice centers on themes of community, connection, and inclusivity. In this new body of work, Pannepacker explores the recurring motif of chairs, symbols of gathering, connection, and community. What begins as intimate drawings evolves into expansive woven works, created on a loom through a meticulous, time-intensive process. Pannepacker’s practice also extends to the traditional craft of chair caning and the intricate weaving of rattan cane across chair seats and backs. The exhibition seeks to foster a spirit of radical inclusivity, offering a welcoming space where community can be built and sustained through free resources, art workshops, and community gatherings.
When: Thursday, Sept. 11-Oct. 23
Where: William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.
”sis.tem | gateways to safehouses” — Philadelphia Fringe Festival
A duet of dance from Philadelphia-based dancer, choreographer, and DJ Cierra Woods, confronting the public scrutiny that black femmes face now and in our not-so-distant past. Dancers expose the weight of societal objectification on the spiritual body and carefully landscape the uneasy terrain. The lifting and enlivening of movement and melodic rituals call into question, how can we ignite century-long spells cast upon us as protection in eras of refinement and reformation? What systems can invigorate strength in these times of peril and guide us back to the safehouses our ancestors inhabited?
When: Thursday, Sept. 11 and Sunday, Sept. 14
Where: Icebox Project Space Gallery, 1400 N. American St.
An evening with Brian McKnight
September is packed with excitement at Rivers Casino Philadelphia. Brian McKnight, a true legend of R&B, takes The Event Center. With 30 million copies of 19 albums sold worldwide, numerous chart-topping hits and 16 Grammy Award nominations, McKnight is one of the most iconic names in contemporary music. Over the past 25 years, he has also earned multiple honors, including Billboard Songwriter of the Year and several Soul Train and American Music awards. In addition to being a singer, songwriter and producer, McKnight found success beyond his music career. He starred in the Broadway production of “Chicago” and served as a red carpet host for Extra. With more than two decades in the industry, McKnight remains a pioneer of contemporary R&B and continues to perform his classic hits.
Where: Rivers Casino Philadelphia, 1001 N. Delaware Ave.
”El idioma de lo silenciado | The letters that were never sent” — Philadelphia Fringe Festival
An experimental devised piece unfolding through bodies, voices, objects, and poetry. Among unsent letters, unspoken words, and suppressed emotions, performers Lucia Bedoya and Faysal Can Dakni play to remember, and to complete what was left unfinished. The two actors met in 2016 at the Shanghai Theatre Academy Summer School, and they never lost touch. Faysal learned Spanish; Lucia learned Turkish. Faysal taught Lucia how to sing Turkish songs, and Lucia taught him the art of Colombian culture. In 2018, they dreamed of creating a show. The passion was there, but the story was missing. Now, in their 30s, they’ve found each other again. This time with songs, letters, characters, and memories, a story shared from different countries and languages, but with the same universal feelings.
When: Friday, Sept. 12 and Sunday, Sept. 14
Where: The Proscenium at the Drake, 302 S. Hicks St.
”After Worlds” — Philadelphia Fringe Festival
This is a story about you, an immersive excavation of who you’ve always been. After Worlds is an experimental narrative told through second person soundscapes and projected data clouds, bringing audiences into an archival rabbit hole growing ever deeper. Written by Taj Rauch and produced by Wherehouse.
Where: Icebox Project Space Gallery, 1400 N. American St.
End-of-Summer Philadelphia Marketplace
The Philadelphia Marketplace will once again return to Dilworth Park! The organizers of Christmas Village in Philadelphia, in partnership with Center City District, present this annual end-of-summer and early fall outdoor pop-up showcase of local artists, makers, entrepreneurs and small businesses. Look for a rotating list of vendors each weekend with something for everyone — including kids and adults, and men and women. Each weekend offers a unique opportunity to explore a diverse array of distinctive arts and crafts with everything from handmade stuffed pals, modern artwork, candles and soaps, fragrances, clothing, coffee, handmade jewelry, body butters, exfoliants, hand sanitizers, lifestyle essentials, home goods, watches and more. Vendors will rotate throughout the month, with some being there every weekend, and others making a special appearance on select weekends.
When: Friday, Sept. 12 and Saturday, Sept. 13 from 12-6 p.m.
Where: Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th St.
Family Fun Day at Andalusia
At Family Fun Day, we’re offering an outdoor yoga class, storytimes and crafts for kids, and special tours! Plus, we’ll have craft beer for sale from Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company all day long. In honor of Andalusia’s beautiful Greek Revival mansion and picturesque landscape, kids will enjoy tales inspired by Greek mythology, followed by a fall-themed craft in the garden. Experience a one-hour outdoor Vinyasa Flow style yoga session led by Trina Shumsonk of Atlas Yoga & Movement. Exercise amidst nature on a cozy mulch wood path—remember to bring a blanket for extra comfort on the ground. This ticket also grants you admission to our gardens. Feel free to explore the beautiful Andalusia grounds before your class, afterwards, or both! Admission to Andalusia is free for children 12 and under.
When: Saturday, Sept. 13 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum, 1237 State Rd., Andalusia, PA 19020
Franklin Square Play Day
Enjoy free crafts and games, giant bubbles, music, fitness fun, and play for children with YoYo. Historic Philadelphia, Inc. is the non-profit that renovated, funds, manages, and operates Franklin Square. First created as an open space by William Penn in 1682, the seven-and-a-half acre Franklin Square offers family fun in one of the city’s most charming historic parks filled with expansive lawns and shady trees.
When: Saturday, Sept. 13 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th St.
Philadelphia Fall Arts Fest
Ensemble Arts Philly, the region’s leader for diverse performing arts and cultural events, is kicking off its 2025–2026 season with the fifth annual Philadelphia Fall Arts Fest. Featuring a diverse sampling of festival-style performances on multiple stages inside the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, this event brings together 50+ arts organizations from around the region to shine a spotlight on the rich arts and culture community of the Philadelphia area.
When: Saturday, Sept. 13 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 S. Broad St.
Philly AIDS Thrift celebrates with 20th Anniversary Block Party
Philadelphia’s quirkiest and most community-driven thrift store is hitting a major milestone — and the party is going to be just as big as the achievement. Philly AIDS Thrift has officially crossed the $5 million mark in donations to 50+ local HIV/AIDS service organizations, and they’re celebrating their 20th anniversary with an all-day block party. Philly AIDS Thrift invites the community to share in the two decades of joy, giving, and turning secondhand treasures into life-saving funding. Come out and enjoy live music, a sword swallowing and fire-breathing clown, food trucks, craft beers, a celebrity dunk tank, games, craft/vintage vendors, a pie-eating contest and dancing in the streets! Special guest appearances and entertainment will include Peabody Award-winning radio host and producer DJ Robert Drake, sword‑swallowing, fire‑breathing “clownbabe” Rev. MacKenzie Moltov, Philadelphia-born vocalist Marcus G, and rhinestone-studded glam-rock troupe Tony & The Kiki. This all ages, all day event is no charge and open to the public.
When: Saturday, Sept. 13 from 12-6 p.m.
Where: 700 block of S. 5th Street
3rd annual Philly Black Wine & Spirits Fest returns
The third annual Philly Black Wine & Spirits Fest is set to return, inviting guests to sip, savor, and celebrate the artistry and flavor behind diverse contributions to the wine and spirits industry. This year’s theme, Rosé Renaissance, transforms the festival into an immersive cultural celebration featuring select wine and spirits sampling from local and national brands, live DJs and performances, art and interactive photo installations, curated local food vendors, marketplace pop-ups with local entrepreneurs, VIP SIPS Lounge with exclusive tastings and performances, and private guided tasting sessions with sommeliers and wine educators. Must be 21 and older.
When: Saturday, Sept. 13 from 1-4 p.m. and 7-10 p.m.
Where: BILLY PENN Studios, 1516 N. 5th St.
Mural Arts Fest 2025
Mural Arts hosts Mural Arts Fest, a free day of art, music, and activities with a sneak peek at October’s Mural Arts Month 2025, sponsored by TD Bank. Festivities include live DJ sets and performances from Interna$hional Bounce, Plantain Party, Tameartz, ThursdayNightGroove; food and beer garden by Libertee Grounds; airbrushing and printmaking for all ages; kids’ fun with button-making, coloring, and bounce basketball; live painting and outdoor gallery; artist market with local talent; movement activity with Lululemon; community pop-ups with partners across Philly and more.
When: Saturday, Sept. 13 from 2-7 p.m.
Where: The Oval, 2451 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.
“The Pearl Bailey Showcase” at AAMP
Pearl Bailey was an award-winning actor, singer, songwriter, and author. Whether she was performing on Broadway, opening for Duke Ellington, captivating audiences in Philadelphia nightclubs, or starring in her own daytime television show, Pearl Bailey’s passion and talent made her a beloved entertainer worldwide. Objects from the Bailey-Bellson Collection, including scrapbooks, archival photographs, and letters from friends and admirers worldwide, will be on display.
When: ends Sunday, Sept. 13
Where: Where: African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch St.
Uncle Charlie’s R&B Cookout comes to Philly
R&B icon Charlie Wilson is bringing the ultimate soul-infused celebration to fans this summer with his Uncle Charlie’s R&B Cookout Tour, produced by Live Nation Urban and P Music Group featuring an all-star lineup of legendary acts including Babyface, K-Ci Hailey and El DeBarge. With decades of chart-topping success between them, Wilson, Babyface, Hailey and DeBarge will take fans on a journey through some of R&B’s most cherished classics. Uncle Charlie’s R&B Cookout Tour promises to deliver a must-see cultural experience that celebrates legacy, love, and the timeless spirit of Black music. More than just a concert, this tour brings the feeling of a family reunion to the stage, where generations come together, classics get a second wind, and soul meets celebration. With a lineup of legendary voices and chart-topping anthems, the tour is set to be a vibrant reminder of the power R&B holds in shaping culture, healing hearts, and bringing people together.
When: Sunday, Sept. 14 at 6:15 p.m.
Where: The Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave.
”Voices of the Community: Local Black Preservation” at HSP
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) proudly announces the opening of its summer exhibit, “Voices of the Community: Local Black Preservation.” Support for this exhibit comes from The Haverford Trust Company and the Pennsylvania Abolition Society Endowment Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation. The exhibit explores the history, migration, and preservation of African American communities in Philadelphia, and Lawnside, New Jersey. Through personal archives, flyers, photographs, and ephemera, the exhibit highlights how Black individuals and communities have preserved their own stories across generations through the built environment, music, memory, and collective action.
When: through Friday, Sept. 26
Where: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust St.
Water Orchestra at Dilworth Park
Center City District and The Philadelphia Orchestra have partnered to bring you Water Orchestra, which reimagines Dilworth Park’s fountain as a playful, responsive musical instrument, activated in real-time by the gestures of anyone who steps onto the conductor’s podium. To celebrate its upcoming 125th anniversary, The Philadelphia Orchestra recorded a specially curated soundtrack for the installation.
When: through Friday, Oct. 3. from 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Where: Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th St.
Open Streets: West Walnut
Center City District (CCD) is pleased to announce the return of Open Streets: West Walnut for its fall 2025 season, marking the program’s one-year anniversary. Following a successful inaugural year that transformed sections of Rittenhouse Row into a lively pedestrianized corridor, the series has returned. The pedestrian-only thoroughfares act as an extension of public space for guests to stroll, shop and socialize. This fall, CCD is planning ambient entertainment along the route, including strolling bubble magic, busker-style musicians and pop-up performances. A designated family-friendly zone will feature games and toys for families. Seating pods will be set up along the route. On select Sundays, guests can cheer on the Philadelphia Eagles as games are broadcast live for passersby. Food and beverages will be sold exclusively at restaurants along the route, with many offering expanded outdoor dining. Open containers of alcohol will not be permitted, and takeout food will be at the discretion of the restaurants. The full schedule of entertainment can be found at centercityphila.org/openstreets.
When: Saturdays through Oct. 12 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: along Walnut Street from 15th to 19th and along 18th Street from Locust to Chestnut
”A Plank in a Shipwreck” at Museum for Art in Wood
Museum for Art in Wood presents the opening of “A Plank in a Shipwreck,” the exhibition created by the fellows of the 2025 Windgate Arts Residency Program in Wood (WARP Wood). The exhibition represents the culmination of the highly renowned international residency, which supports artistic exploration, collaboration, and collegial exchange among artists and thinkers in wood. A Plank in a Shipwreck brings sculpture, marquetry, woodworking, and research created during the WARP Wood program to the Museum’s main gallery. “A Plank in a Shipwreck” is a direct translation of the Latin phrase “tabula in naufragio,” which has been used in legal contexts to describe a final hope, a last lifeline. The phrase offers an apt visceral metaphor for the bold leap each of the 2025 WARP Wood Fellows has made, crossing oceans and borders, letting go of safety, and trusting in a collaborative, uncertain process. Each WARP Wood exhibition reflects the fellows’ creative journey, featuring individual and collaborative works, including pieces made before and during their residency.
When: through Sunday, Oct. 19
Where: Museum for Art in Wood, 141 N. 3rd St.
Storytime in the Square
Join Ms. Chen from Independence Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia every other Wednesday for free storytime and crafts in the Pavilion or on the Great Lawn. Stories, rhymes, and dancing explore different themes throughout the season ending with bubbles and fun crafts. All kids and their caregivers are welcome.
When: through October 22 from 10-11 a.m.
Where: Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th St.
”Receipts: We Have Them” at the Painted Bride
Curated by Andrea Walls of the Museum of Black Joy, a group photography exhibition and visual archive offering a powerful meditation on the creative labor, joy, and resistance that shape Black cultural life in Philadelphia. “Receipts” features work by Ursula McCarthy, Ken McFarlane, Terrell Halsey, Tash Billington, Jorden Di’lean, and Koren Martin. Framing the generational wisdom of Black Philadelphia, the exhibition reveals culture not as ornament, but as architecture, foundational, instructive, and enduring. Mirroring the Bride’s “Proof of Life” season theme, the show presents textured images as testimony, evidence of brilliance embedded in everyday Black life. Rather than documenting crisis, “Receipts” honors the beauty, memory, and meaning alive in daily rituals of care, creativity, and survival. The show reaffirms the Painted Bride’s commitment to grounded, expansive, and people-powered visual storytelling.
When: through Sunday, Oct. 25
Where: Painted Bride Art Center, 4029 Cambridge St.
Lansdowne Farmers Market
The 18th season of the Lansdowne Farmers Market features the borough’s first-ever fully themed summer lineup. The new program is designed not only to nourish our bodies but also to strengthen community connections and promote mental well-being. Following a successful winter pilot and the buzz-worthy Egg-nostic Egg Hunt, the market will now feature a unique theme every Saturday including Pride, Juneteenth, Classic Cars, Food Truck Day, International Blues Day, and more. Each week, visitors will find live music, fresh local food, artisan vendors, and interactive nonprofit and community partners offering a welcoming space to connect, decompress, and celebrate together. Themed programming is part of a broader effort by the Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation to create consistent, joyful experiences that support emotional wellness and reduce social isolation—an urgent public health need.
When: Saturdays through Oct. 25 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: Veterans Landing, 30 N. Lansdowne Ave.
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