Take your pick of ‘Beautiful’ music, art, photography and restaurants

This week, the arts and culture scene ramps up for the new year with a musical that explores Carole King’s life and music, an exhibit of contemporary art in Delaware, the season’s most anticipated foodie event, and unique offerings for kids.

The Far is Near
The Delaware Contemporary
200 S. Madison St., Wilmington
Through Jan. 31 with opening reception Jan. 11, 7-9 p.m.
Artists Graham Dougherty and Ruth Ansel share their contemporary works in a new exhibit at Delaware’s foremost museum of contemporary art. Both painters use their artwork to convey meaning in the things we see every day, but don’t always pay attention to. Admission to the museum is free, but a donation is suggested.

Lens on Latin America
International House
3701 Chestnut St., Philadelphia
Through March 22, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
Free
David Acosta — writer, poet, LGBT activist, founder of the Philadelphia Latin American Film Festival and co-founder of arts collective Casa de Duende — has curated a group of photographs focused on Latin Americans in the ’60s and ’70s. The photographs vividly showcase the people and culture of Latin America through a time of great upheaval.

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Academy of Music
240 S. Broad St., Philadelphia
Through Jan. 20
$20-$149
Brooklyn native Carol Klein would become one of the most beloved female singer/songwriters of her era as Carole King. Not only did she write iconic hits — “I Feel the Earth Move” and “You’ve Got A Friend” — for herself, she is the co-author of the great Aretha Franklin classic “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” “Beautiful” details King’s rise with husband, Gerry Goffin, and the prolific songwriters at the famed Brill Building. It’s part of the Academy of Music’s Broadway Philadelphia series which brings Broadway to Broad Street. The show’s original production is continuing its successful run at New York’s Stephen Sondheim Theater.

Greater Philadelphia Pet Show
Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks
100 Station Ave., Phoenixville (address when using GPS)
Jan. 11, 4-9 p.m.; Jan. 12, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Jan. 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
$5-$20
Exhibitions, vendors for all things pet-related, hands-on activities and a canine obstacle course are all a part of the annual pet expo. Butterflies, reptiles, rabbits, and even alpacas will make an appearance at the three-day event. A cat competition, a flyball tournament for dogs, the Parade of Breeds are also popular segments of this growing pet show.

Center City Restaurant Week
Various venues throughout Philadelphia
Jan. 13-25
Three-course dinner, $35
Three-course lunch, $20
(Discounts on parking and ride-sharing)
Here’s an opportunity to sample the finest of Philadelphia’s food offerings — at a discount price. It happens again in the summer, but reservations may be easier to come by now. You can find participating restaurants here.

Philadelphia Home Show
Pennsylvania Convention Center
1101 Arch St.
Jan. 11-20
$3-$10; children under 5 admitted free
This year’s show features small space solutions, talks by professional organizers, DIY sessions and an appearance by Clint Harp of “Fixer Upper,” Joanna and Chip Gaines’ favorite Waco, Texas-based carpenter.

Sensory Friendly Mornings
Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Jan. 13, 9 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
Reservations required, AccessProg@philamuseum.org
Specifically geared to children on the autistic and Asperger’s spectrum, this time at the museum is focused on making the visit a tolerable experience for those who cannot process too much stimuli. Lights, sounds and crowds are all are minimized, but you must register in advance.

Bibliococktails at Art in the Age
Art in The Age
116 N. 3rd St., Philadelphia
Jan. 11, 6-8 p.m.
$25
Themed cocktails with a throwback twist are on the menu for this tribute to poet Walt Whitman, who resided in Camden in the last years of his life, but spent much of his time in Philadelphia. A toast to Whitman and drinks that reflect his era and work are included in the ticket price.

Songs from the Tundra
Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill
8855 Germantown Ave.
Jan. 12, 4 p.m.
Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral
23 S. 38th St.
Jan. 13, 3 p.m.
$25
Lyric Fest presents a concert that should appeal to anyone with Norwegian, Swedish, Russian, Finnish, Ukrainian, Polish or Latvian roots — or anyone who can appreciate music from a diversity of countries known for their long winters. Described as songs “of vast, lonesome landscapes … and endless winters,” they represent the music inspired by those places and experiences.
Artists include Variant 6 and Maeve Höglud, Maren Montalbano, Cody Müller, and Laura Ward.

40 Winks At the Penn Museum
3260 South St., Philadelphia
Jan. 11-12, 5:30-9 a.m.
(Other dates are available through May 31)
$55/$45 for museum members
Kids love exploring, and what better place to encourage it than a museum? Penn Museum offers the increasingly popular museum sleepover option that includes a scavenger hunt, a flashlight expedition, games and other activities. The sleepover is limited to children from 6 to 12 who must be accompanied by parent or guardian.

Better Than Bacon
Media Arts Council
609 B W. State St., Media, Pennsylvania
Jan. 11, 7:30 p.m.
$15-$20
An interactive comedy improvisation show, Better Than Bacon Improv allows the audience to a become a critical part of the show. The troupe was once voted Best Comedy Troupe by Main Line Today. What’s more, you can BYOB.

Write the Revolution Workshop and Author Talk
Museum of the American Revolution
101 S. 3rd St., Philadelphia
Jan. 13, 12:30-1:30 p.m. (workshop) and 2 p.m. (author appearance)
$15, $25 with book
This weekend provides two opportunities for young people to learn and express their creativity at the Museum of the American Revolution. Historian Erica Armstrong Dunbar and author Kathleen Van Cleve will be on hand as young writers take part in activities and exercises.
The talk directly afterward focuses on Dunbar’s young readers book “Never Caught,” adapted from her book “Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge.” It tells the true story of Judge, who escaped George Washington’s household. Hunted for the rest of her life, she lived as a free woman.
Note: The workshop is intended for children only; kids can stay after the workshop to hear Dunbar read. Kids also can attend just the book reading.