Weekly Entertainment Guide – LOVE Your Park Week, World Press Photo, & Fired Up at 40

Get out and love your park, enjoy a festival, take in a concert or theater show, find something to do with Mom, and much more.  WHYY’s Robin Bloom shares her picks for this week.

Fired up at 40!

The Clay Studio celebrates their 40th anniversary with a fun weekend of events called Fired Up at Forty, a marathon 40 hour celebration of the Old City ceramic arts teaching hub, May 9-10. Events include an overnight installation creating continuously from the morning of May 9 through to the evening of May 10 by Iraqi war veterans turned artists. Get “mugged” with a free ceramic coffee mug in the Guerrilla Mug Assault on the morning of May 9 (throughout Center City Philadelphia). Additional activities include demonstrations, film screenings, family friendly activities like an instrument making and jam session for kids, an exhibit showcasing 40 ceramic artists who have been affiliated with the center throughout its history, and more. All activities are free. The Clay Studio is located at 137-139 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia.

National Public Gardens Day

Friday, May 9 is National Public Gardens Day, created by The American Public Gardens Association to celebrate and promote awareness of public gardens in North America, and to encourage visitors to explore their local botanical gardens and arboreta to learn about new plants, get landscaping ideas for their yards, and appreciate the impact that gardens have in their communities and daily lives. Philadelphia has 30 gardens within a 30-mile radius – the largest concentration of gardens in the U.S. Participating gardens in the region include Chanticleer (pictured), Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, Scott Arboretum, Tyler Arboretum, Welkinweir, Delaware Center for Horticulture, and Mt. Cuba Center.

LOVE Your Park Week

LOVE Your Park Week, a week-long, citywide celebration of Philadelphia parks is May 10-17, including service projects, events, educational programs, family activities, tours and more at over 100 parks throughout Philadelphia. Kick-off is Saturday, May 10. Events include:The 76th Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta, Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10 on the Schuylkill River, named for Harry Emerson “Dad” Vail, coach at the University of Wisconsin between 1911 and the late 1920’s. There’s a free shuttle for spectators and the best place to watch is at the Grand Stand. Admission is free.The Fitler Square Spring Fair returns this Friday, May 9, 10am-6pm and Saturday, May 10, 10am-4pm, with live music, a silent auction, flowers, herbs, baked goods, gently used books, children’s activities, vendors, and more, 23rd & Pine, Philadelphia.Rittenhouse Square will be transformed by the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen’s annual Fine Craft Fair, Friday, May 9, 11am-7pm, Saturday, May 10, 11am-5pm, and Sunday, May 11, 11am-5pm. The event brings to town 145 fine craftspeople from across the country and from Canada. Crafts on display range from ceramics to jewelry to handmade clothing to artisan furniture and more, along the sidewalks around Rittenhouse Square Park, 1800 Walnut Street, Philadelphia.

Philly Fests

The Spruce Hill Community Association hosts the annual May Fair in Clark Park, Saturday, May 10, 10am-4pm, with music by local bands, food from some of the favorite vendor trucks in University City, crafts, children’s activities, book sale and more, 43rd & Chester Avenue, Philadelphia.Bring a kite or make your own at the Pie in the Sky Kite & Food Truck Festival, Saturday, May 10, 12pm-5pm, with live music, food and more at Penn Treaty Park, Delaware Avenue and Beach Street, Philadelphia, presented by the Fishtown Neighborhood Association.The annual Brewerytown Spring Festival is Saturday, May 10, 12pm-5pm, as the 2600-2800 blocks of West Girard Avenue are transformed into a street festival celebrating art, food and live music, along with crafts and children’s activities, Philadelphia.

Spirit of the Jerseys Festival

The Spirit of the Jerseys State History Fair is Saturday, May 10, 11am-5pm, rain or shine, celebrating its 10th anniversary and the Garden State’s 350th with activities for the entire family including colonial-era activities, music, performances and more, Washington Crossing State Park, 355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville, NJ.

Music

Tony Trischka at Arden Gild Hall

Tony Trischka returns to Arden Gild Hall with his band “Territory,” Saturday, May 10, 8pm. The avant-garde banjo player, who has served as an inspiration for many progressive bluegrass and acoustic musicians, brings along singer Michael Daves and other special guests on mandolin, fiddle and bass to perform old and new favorites from his latest album Great Big World. Arden favorite Hot Breakfast opens, 2126 The Highway, Arden, DE.

Thievery Corporation at the Tower Theater

Thievery Corporation brings their unique sound to the Tower Theater this Saturday, May 10, 8pm. Doors open at 7pm. With POLICA, Break Science, and Rob Paine. Show is General Admission, 69th & Ludlow, Upper Darby, PA.

Ozomatli at the TLA

The Latin, hip hop, and rock band Ozomatli performs at the TLA Saturday, May 10, 8pm. Doors open at 7pm with PhillyBloco opening at 334 South Street, Philadelphia.

 

 

Elbow at the Electric Factory

The critically acclaimed English alternative band Elbow continues rockin’ after about 25 years and arrives in Philly for a show on Tuesday, May 13, 8pm at Electric Factory, 421 N. 7th Street, Philadelphia

 

 Fun with Mom

The 11th Annual Spring Art Star Craft Bazaar returns this Mother’s Day weekend with over a hundred local and national artists and crafters offering high quality handmade goods that reflect the unique and quirky pieces found at Art Star Gallery & Boutique’s popular retail shop. With live music from local Philly bands, food, craft demonstrations and more, rain or shine, Saturday and Sunday, May 10-11, 11am-6pm, Penn’s Landing Great Plaza, Columbus Boulevard between Market and Walnut Streets, Philadelphia.Honor mom in a unique way with the 6th annual Mother’s Day Tea at the Betsy Ross House, Saturday, May 10, 4pm-5:30pm, featuring an assortment of fine teas and tea sandwiches, cookies and pastries provided by the City Tavern, served in the courtyard. Learn about 18th century tea etiquette, take a tour and get a curator’s look at rarely seen items from the archives, 239 Arch Street, Old City, Philadelphia. Reservations required.And now for something completely different! The annual Sheep Shearing Day at Hopewell Furnace is Sunday, May 11, as costumed park staff, volunteers, and professional sheep shearers demonstrate the process of shearing sheep and explain the importance of farming. Observe both the modern method of harvesting wool with electric powered clippers and the 19th century method of using hand shears, along with farm related demonstrations, and historic charcoal making, blacksmithing, cloth dyeing, cooking, and historic crafts demonstrations. The program is 12pm-4pm rain or shine and is free and open to the public. Explore the old structures, check out the livestock and visit the village store at one of the most thoroughly preserved examples of a 19th century iron-making community. The national historic site (pictured) is surrounded by the 73,000 acre Hopewell Big Woods, the largest forest in Southeastern Pennsylvania, 5 miles south of Birdsboro, PA on Route 345. The park is open from 9am-5pm.

The return of Night Market

Night Market is back for 2014! Many of the city’s restaurants and street food vendors join together for the Night Market Old City, Thursday, May 15, 6-10pm. Inspired by Asia’s lively outdoor markets, the event spotlights Philly’s best ethnic and regional restaurants and food trucks, along with live music, a mobile art collaboration between the Clay Studio and The Center for Art in Wood, and ice cream and candy from the Franklin Fountain and Shane Confectionery, 3rd & Arch Streets, Philadelphia.

World Press Photo Exhibition at Drexel

The 57th annual World Press Photo Exhibition opened in Amsterdam’s De Nieuwe Kerk in April and is visiting approximately 100 cities in 45 countries. The world’s largest and most prestigious annual international press photo competition has made its United States debut in Philadelphia at Drexel University’s Leonard Pearlstein Gallery with 143 prize-winning, powerful photos on display through May 21. Free and open to the public at 3401 Filbert Street, Philadelphia. World Press Photo supports and advances high standards in photojournalism and documentary storytelling worldwide. Pictured image by Markus Schreiber, Germany, The Associated Press.

Onstage

“Woody Sez: The Life and Music of Woody Guthrie” at People’s Light

People’s Light & Theatre celebrates the life and music of Woody Guthrie through the legendary American folk singer’s own words, writings, and songs with Woody Sez.  The biographical-music review was created by David M. Lutken – who plays Woody onstage – with Darcie Deaville, Helen J. Russell, Andy Teirstein, and Nick Corley, who directs the production. Featuring over 30 of Guthrie’s songs on acoustic instruments ranging from guitar, violin, autoharp, banjo, harmonica, and spoons, through May 25 at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA. Following the 7:30pm Thursday performances on May 8, 15, and 22, bring your own instruments to play along with the Hootenanny! Additional special events include Scoop on Sundays: History, Context, and Gossip, a discussion before every 7pm Sunday performance on May 11, 18, & 25. Mother’s Day package available on Sunday, May 11 for brunch and tickets to the performance.

“Sunset Boulevard” at Media Theatre

Onstage at Media Theatre is the Tony Award winning Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Sunset Boulevard, through May 18. Ann Crumb (who recently appeared in Walnut Street Theatre’s “Other Desert Cities”) stars as Norma Desmond, a faded silent movie star who believes she has a chance to make a comeback on the silver screen. The production, based on the classic 1950 Billy Wilder film, is directed by Jesse Cline and features Nicholas Saverine, Sean Thompson, Elisa Matthews, Patrick Ludt, Kelly Briggs, and Mark Colmer at 104 E. State Street, Media, PA.

“Little Shop of Horrors” at Bristol Riverside Theatre

The popular cult classic “boy-meets-girl, plant-eats-world love story” takes to the stage at Bristol Riverside Theatre. Little Shop of Horrors tells the story of Seymour, the unfortunate florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. The comedy horror rock musical is directed by Susan D. Atkinson and features an ensemble cast including Andrew McMath as Seymour, Laura C. Giknis as Audrey, with Berlando Drake, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Nate Golden, Daniel Marcus, Candace Thomas, Danny Vaccaro, and Lindsey Warren through June 8 at 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, PA. Special events include Friday Festival on May 9, 7pm, Wine Down Wednesday, May 14, 6:30pm, Thirsty Thursday, May 22, 6:30pm, Theatre Theology, Sunday, May 25 with Rabbi Joshua Gruenberg on Jewish themes in the production.

“Glengarry Glen Ross” at Eagle Theatre

Catch Eagle Theatre’s production of David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize winning satirical black comedy Glengarry Glen Ross, onstage through May 17. The controversial, fast-paced play stars Barrymore Award Winner Tom McCarthy and is directed by Ted Wioncek III at 208 Vine Street, Hammonton, NJ.

 

 To submit an event to be considered for the Weekly Entertainment Guide email Robin Bloom at artscalendar@whyy.org.