May 9-11: Natural Causes Art Dissection | Canstruction | Hidden geology tour | National Train Day | Brewerytown Spring Festival | Bainbridge Green Festival | Mother’s Day at Franklin Square

Happy spring weekend, Eyes on the Street. In addition to the events listed below, don’t forget that LOVE Your Park Week kicks off on Saturday with a day of service and activities. 

LEARN: Natural Causes Art Dissection

Friday, May 9. 6pm. Hawthorne Hall, 3849 Lancaster Ave. This free lecture and networking mixer is an experimental exploration of the partnerships between spaces, artists and communities. The event will center around a sculpture installation in the 100 year-old social club Hawthorne Hall and will include discussions on activating vacant spaces through the arts, the role of festivals in catalyzing collaboration and the creative advantage of community partnerships. 

CHAMPION: CANstruction Build Night

Friday, May 9. 8pm – 11:30pm. Shops at Liberty Place, 1625 Chestnut Street. Friday kicks off the 8th annual Canstruction Philadlephia event. Each year AIA Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Center for Architecture invites leading architects, engineers, contractors, design firms and design schools to build structures using only canned foods. Canstruction raises food and funds for Philabundance – the largest hunger relief organization in the Delaware Valley. Teams will build Friday, and their creations will be on display May 10 – May 18.

DISCOVER: Hidden Geology Tour

Saturday, May 10. 1pm – 5pm. Meet at southeast corner of 5th and Chestnut streets. Hidden City Philadelphia is leading this leisurely, bicycle-based field trip to explore Philadelphia’s rarely seen geologic history. The tour will start in Old City, ride the banks of the Schuylkill River, visit RittenhouseTown on Wissahickon Creek and make several stops along the way. The route is approximately 18 miles, with opportunities to shorten the trip if desired. Cost: Members $15, Nonmembers $20. 

CELEBRATE: National Train Day

Saturday, May 10. 10am – 3pm. 30th Street Station, 30th and Market streets. Amtrak is celebrating the seventh annual National Train Day at 30th Street Station with a rare look at historic train equipment presented by Amtrak Vacations, free train-themed kids’ activities from hit preschool television series Chuggington, free downloads of Dovetail Games’ “Train Simulator 2014,” safety lessons from Operation Lifesaver and more. ASL Interpreted Tours for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing will be available at 12pm and 2pm. Free. 

FEST: Brewerytown Spring Festival

Saturday, May 10. 12pm – 5pm. 2600 – 2800 W. Girard Avenue. This three block sidewalk festival will bring food, entertainment, drinks, crafts and shopping to W. Girard Ave in Brewerytown Saturday. Area shops like Shifty’s Tacos, Butter’s Soul Food To Go, High Point Cafe and Rybrew will open for alfresco eating and drinking. Free. 

CELEBRATE: Baingbridge Green Festival

Saturday, May 10. 12pm – 4pm. Bainbridge Green, 3rd and Bainbridge Streets. The second annual Bainbridge Green Festival invites neighbors and visitors to the park to help clean the space, learn more about the plans for 4th Street and Bainbridge Green, brighten things up with colored chalk and mingle. Free. 

DINE: Mother’s Day Brunch at Franklin Square

Sunday, May 8. 11am. Franklin Square Park, 200 N. 6th Street. Franklin Square Park is hosting a Mother’s Day brunch buffet complete with a flower craft, tickets to the on-site carousel and access to the park’s mini golf course. Cost: $25