Father’s Day, Eid al-Fitr, and Philly hip-hop — Your Week June 14 – 21, 2018

This weekend, we’re talking about the origins of Philly hip-hop, affordable art, and ways to celebrate Father’s Day.

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A father and son fish at Meadow Lake in Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park, Monday, March 16, 2015, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

A father and son fish at Meadow Lake in Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park, Monday, March 16, 2015, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

This weekend, we’re talking about the origins of Philly hip-hop, affordable art, and ways to celebrate Father’s Day. Those and other picks for the week:

June 15: New York may be the undisputed birthplace of hip-hop, but Philadelphia played a definitive role in shaping the genre. Friday, the African American Museum in Philadelphia is screening two never-before-seen short documentaries about the roots of Philly hip-hop, including one about legendary MC Lady B, one of the first women to release a rap record. While you’re there, check out the group show “Collective Conscious: The Art of Social Change.”

June 15: Could there be a more “dad” movie than “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”? It’s got history lessons, Harrison Ford rescuing his on-screen father from Nazis, and it’s playing at South Street Cinemas Friday night. In the spirit of the holiday, we also had film critic Piers Marchant round up 18 films that’ll have you laughing, crying, and cursing your genes this Father’s Day.

June 16: This weekend marks the end of Ramadan, and the start of Eid al-Fitr celebrations. Saturday, the Islamic Heritage Festival returns to Penn’s Landing with games for families, a shopping bazaar, and even a fashion show, all free for entry. It kicks off with a parade themed “Unity in Diversity,” starting at noon at Fourth and Chestnut. The Please Touch Museum is also celebrating the end of Ramadan with a festival featuring activities for kids of all ages, including mosaic-making and lessons on how to read the phases of the moon, which dictate the beginning and end of the Muslim holiday.

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June 16: If you love art but your paycheck doesn’t, fear not. Art for the Cash Poor returns this weekend for a street fair where local artists sell everything from paintings and jewelry to books and birdhouses for under $199.

June 17: It’s Father’s Day! Forgot to plan? Don’t worry, there’s plenty of cheap and free activities you can do together. The Philadelphia Father’s Day Rally Committee has organized a series of events, including a Daddy-Daughter Dance at the Sugar House Event Center on Saturday 6/16, and a picnic at Belmont Grove on Sunday.

Entry is free for fathers at the Academy of Natural Sciences on Sunday, and dads can go on any ride at Morey’s Piers in Wildwood free of charge. Dads also fish for free at Linvilla Orchards in Media, and there’s a totally free fishing derby on the Delaware River in Frankford too. You can take dad to a vintage racing car museum in Southwest Philadelphia. And, if you’re planning to barbecue in a Philly park, remember some require reservations and permits.

June 19: On Tuesday, catch a unique music and visual collaboration between Falsa and Erik Ruin’s Ominous Cloud Ensemble. Falsa, led by Umer Piracha, makes music inspired by 14th-century Sufi music, and they’ve amassed a bit of a cult following around Philadelphia for their distinctively soothing, transporting sound. Ruin is a visual and theater artist known for his puppetry and paper cuts. He’ll be using projectors to improvise visuals while a group of musicians performs, each influencing the other. Falsa and the Ensemble will also improvise a crossover set.

June 20: Mark the end of Ramadan by learning about the history of Muslims in Pennsylvania. A panel at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania Wednesday will feature community members speaking on Muslim life in our state dating back to the 17th century, plus a musical performance.


This article is part of a new effort recommending things to do in the Philly region. Tell us what you think.

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