Labor Day weekend is here \u2014 Philly\u2019s unofficial goodbye to summer. Whether you\u2019re staying in the city, escaping to the Shore, or just trying to make the most of one last long weekend, we\u2019ve got you covered. From beer gardens and street festivals to free museum days and kid-friendly fireworks, here\u2019s what to check out:<\/p>\n
This week\u2019s lineup:<\/b><\/p>\n
\u2014 Sam Ruland (Email me at thingstodo@inquirer.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here<\/a>.<\/p>\n A South Jersey woman turned a breast cancer scare into a dream project: Austen\u2019s Shelf, a 98-square-foot Jane Austen-themed mobile bookstore. Inspired by the author\u2019s sitting room, the shop debuts Sept. 5 at Cherry Hill Mall with 380 curated books, cozy Regency-inspired d\u00e9cor, and a mission to make every reader feel seen. Charity Herndon hopes the tiny trailer offers the same sense of comfort and escape that carried her through her own \u201cscariest moment.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n The best things to do this week<\/p>\n \ud83c\udf78 Grab a cocktail:<\/b> Philly\u2019s cocktail game has never been stronger, with bartenders shaking up inventive seasonal creations, reviving obscure classics, and pushing boundaries on flavor. Here\u2019s where to sip the best drinks right now.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf1e Family fun for Labor Day weekend<\/b>: From lantern-lit nights at Franklin Square and Elmo fireworks at Sesame Place to free museum days and sunflower fields in full bloom, here are 11 kid-friendly ways to spend the long weekend.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf7b Volksfest<\/b>: Cannstatter\u2019s German heritage fest returns with liters of lager, folk music, dance, and its famous three-story fruit-and-veggie tower. Bier, brats, and a family fun zone \u2014 what else do you need?<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfa1 \u2018Wheel of Fortune\u2019 spins into Philly<\/b>: For the first time in a decade, the iconic game show is holding live auditions in the city. Head to Rivers Casino on Sept. 18\u201319 for your shot at spinning the wheel \u2014 and maybe solving a puzzle or two.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf5c Dream Asia Festival<\/b>: More than 90 Asian food vendors, a cultural bazaar, and live performances make this Phoenixville fest a late-summer foodie must. Bring an appetite and maybe stretchy pants.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf3f Frankie\u2019s Summer Club:<\/b> From the creators of Bok Bar, this hidden beer garden near 15th and Pine is quietly becoming one of Center City\u2019s best-kept secrets. Visit it during the holiday weekend.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfb6 Patty Jackson\u2019s Party in the Park<\/b>: Philly radio legend Patty Jackson throws a summer bash at The Dell with Jeffrey Osborne, After 7, and Heatwave. Grab a ticket and get ready to sing your heart.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcc5 My calendar picks this week<\/b><\/a>: Volksfest for liters of lager and German fare, sipping a cocktail to soak up the long weekend, and a Labor Day hike to savor the last stretch of summer.<\/p>\n The thing of the week<\/p>\n Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce\u2019s engagement is all anyone can talk about \u2014 including us in the newsroom. We spent an embarrassing amount of time dreaming up the most chaotic, Philly-as-it-gets wedding scenarios: Gritty officiating at the Linc, Jason Kelce in full Mummers regalia, a Broad Street parade-slash-reception, and Wawa hoagie trays for the masses. What are your thoughts?<\/a><\/p>\n Summer fun this week and beyond<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfac Step inside Netflix House.<\/b> The world\u2019s first Netflix House opens Nov. 12 at King of Prussia Mall, with photo ops, VR games, screenings, and themed activations from Stranger Things, Wednesday, and more. Tickets for paid experiences drop Oct. 17.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfca Last call for a splash.<\/b> Philly\u2019s public pools are closing on a rolling schedule through Sept. 1, with just a few days left to squeeze in one final swim. Spraygrounds and splash pads stay open through Labor Day weekend.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf7d\ufe0f Philly\u2019s buzziest new supper club<\/b> \u2014 Drexel senior RJ Smith is turning his apartment into Ocho Supper Club, an Afro-Caribbean fine dining experience that\u2019s drawing influencers, foodies, and critics alike.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf1f Philly\u2019s big Michelin moment. <\/b>The 2025 Michelin Guide drops Nov. 18 at the Kimmel Center, and for the first time ever, Philly restaurants are in the mix. Stars, Bib Gourmands, snubs \u2014 we\u2019ll finally find out who makes the cut.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf67 John\u2019s Water Ice goes crunchy<\/b>. South Philly\u2019s iconic John\u2019s Water Ice has teamed up with Sugar Crunch Candy to launch freeze-dried water ice. The bite-sized treats come in cherry and lemon.<\/a><\/p>\n \u26bd World Cup tickets, finally.<\/b> The first public sale for 2026 FIFA World Cup tickets opens Sept. 10 \u2014 but only for Visa cardholders. <\/a><\/p>\n Our critic\u2019s picks<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfa4 Saturday:<\/b> Patty Jackson\u2019s Party in the Park brings Jeffrey Osborne, After 7, and Heatwave to the Dell Music Center for a WDAS-fueled Labor Day tradition.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfa7 Saturday:<\/b> Latin trap star Eladio Carri\u00f3n headlines the Met Philly, performing tracks off his latest album Sol Mar\u00eda.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfb6 Sunday & Monday:<\/b> Oasis fans, rejoice: The Gallagher brothers reunite for two nights at MetLife Stadium, the closest stop on their U.S. tour.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfa4 Beyond:<\/b> Benson Boone hits Xfinity Mobile Arena next Wednesday, and Sabrina Carpenter\u2019s new album Man\u2019s Best Friend drops Friday \u2014 no Philly date announced (yet).<\/p>\n Read more music picks<\/a>.<\/p>\n The take<\/p>\n So \u2026 Belly Conklin is supposed to be from a Philly suburb in \u201cThe Summer I Turned Pretty\u201d \u2014 but local fans aren\u2019t buying it. Sure, the Chesterbrook High School reference screams Main Line energy, but TikTok says Belly\u2019s behavior would have her Philly card revoked. From the accent (missing) to the brother drama (endless), we had thoughts \u2014 and yes, we investigated whether Belly\u2019s actually one of us.<\/a><\/p>\n