It’s slowly, slowly getting colder, Philly. How ’bout them Sixers, eh? Aside from watching our basketball team finally own the game, there are tons of cool things to do as fall rolls on.
It has been a difficult couple of weeks for Star Trek fans with the loss of both Walter Koenig and Patrick Stewart, so this year’s 60th Anniversary convention is going to be a tough one. I’m going to take this opportunity to share one of my favorite quotes of all time from Captain Jean-Luc Picard himself:
It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life.
Also, if you’re heading to see Khan!!! The Musical! on Friday night, I’ll see you there! Also, if you’re going to see The Roddenberries Saturday night, I’ll see you there!
This is a great week for film lovers, as The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival continues, plus we have the opening of the Philadelphia Jewish Film and Media Festival.
Get outside for Love Your Park Fall Weekend, celebrate the opening of Winter in Dilworth Park, and/or celebrate…pickles, in general, at The Big Dill. Oh, and the Rocky Run is Saturday, so get out there and cheer those runners.
If practicing good citizenship is what you’re after, A Night for the HEADstrong Foundation to raise funds for cancer care. The unconference CityCamp Philly invites everyone to share their good ideas, and author Rashad Robinson will be discussing his new book From Presence to Power: How to Take On the Fights That Matter—and Win.
The Free Library is hosting an Author Series event with Anthony Tommasini and a closing celebration for the Teaching Freedom exhibit.
Quintessential stoner band Sleep, music artist Bedouine, and jazz heroes The Bad Plus are all live on our stages this week. Also live are Anderson Cooper Andy Cohen.
And Science on Tap comes back to National Mechanics with a prohibition policy exploration.
Is that not enough? Thinking of things to do further ahead? Check out our year-round calendar about how to be a good citizen.
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK IN PHILLY
Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, Science on Tap, From Presence to Power conversation, Teaching Freedom closing celebration, Philadelphia Jewish Film and Media Festival, Free Library Author Series, Bedouine live
GO TO THE MOVIES. The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival is open through November 15 with 75 films across nine venues plus panels, parties, and more. The Philadelphia Citizen is a proud media sponsor of PAAFF. 18-300. Various locations.
MIX SCIENCE AND DRINKING. Trust me, it’s safe here. Come to National Mechanics November 9 from 6 to 7pm for Science on Tap’s Prohibition Then and Now, featuring anthropologist Kelsey Leon on the impact of prohibition, drug policy, and alternatives. Free admission, pay as you eat/drink. 22 S. 3rd Street
COME TO A CONVERSATION ABOUT SUCCESSFULLY FIGHTING FOR CHANGE. On November 10 at 6pm, The Hive hosts Rashad Robinson in conversation with Cherri Gregg, Esq. and Dr. James Peterson to discuss his book From Presence to Power: How to Take On the Fights That Matter—and Win, a practical, informed roadmap for understanding how power actually works and how to gain it and use it for good. There will be refreshments, an opportunity to purchase the book, and a signing after the conversation. Free. 30 S. 15th Street 4th Floor
LEARN THE LEGACY OF LIBERATORY EDUCATION. Commemorate the closing of the Teaching Freedom exhibit at the Parkway Central Library November 12 from 5:30 to 8pm. A celebration features a panel discussion and networking opportunities. The exhibit is still on view until November 22, so you still have time to learn how Black teachers built a 200-year legacy of liberatory education in Philadelphia through historical artifacts. Free. 1901 Vine Street, West Gallery One
COME TO AN AUTHOR SERIES EVENT. On November 12 from 7 to 8pm, the Author Events Series presents Anthony Tommasini | Voice of a Century, in conversation with Anthony McGill. Tommasini’s portrait of Marian Anderson touches on the soprano’s legacy, artistry, and of course her voice. The Philadelphia Citizen is a proud media sponsor of the Free Library Foundation Author Series. $5. 1901 Vine Street
CELEBRATE JEWISH FILM AND MEDIA. The 46th annual Philadelphia Jewish Film and Media Festival runs from November 12 through November 21 with innovative and moving films screening at four locations citywide. Single showings and festival passes are available. 10-375. Various locations
DO ONE RIGHT THING AND SEE THIS SHOW. Syrian-American genre-crossing musician Azniv Korkejian appears under her stage name Bedouine live at Johnny Brenda’s November 13 at 8pm. $37.75. 1201 Frankford Ave
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN PHILLY
Love Your Park Fall Weekend, Winter in Dilworth Park, Khan!!! The Musical!, A Night for the HEADstrong Foundation, The Bad Plus farewell tour, Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen live, CityCamp Philly, Star Trek convention, Sleep live, The Big Dill, Rocky Run
LOVE YOUR PARK. BECAUSE WHY SHOULDN’T YOU? Love Your Park Fall Weekend is November 13 to 15. Find your park friends and volunteer to clean, green, and celebrate our public green spaces. Free. Parks citywide.
ENJOY WINTER FUN IN DILWORTH PARK. Winter in Dilworth Park returns November 13 through February 27 with activities and attractions taking advantage of the cold and cozy season, including The Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink and Cabin, the Wintergarden, and coming soon, the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market. Free/pay as you go. 1 S. 15th St (West Side of City Hall)
“DON’T GRIEVE. THE NEEDS OF THE MANY OUTWEIGH THE NEEDS OF THE FEW.” Khan!!! The Musical! opens at Sidequest Theater November 13 through December 20 for afternoon and evening performances on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The show-within-a-show is a hilarious 2366 reimagining of The Wrath of Khan through the eyes of Data, with an entirely original score. $52.83. 2030 Sansom Street
SPEND A NIGHT FIGHTING CANCER. A Night for the HEADstrong Foundation Benefiting Nick’s House Philadelphia returns November 13 at from 7 to 11pm at The Switch House to raise funds for families battling cancer and accessible care with an awards presentation, live entertainment, and more. $350+. 1325 Beach Street
SAY GOODBYE TO AN AWESOME JAZZ BAND. If you’ve never heard Anthem for the Earnest by The Bad Plus, turn your speakers up and check it out right now. And then pick up some tickets for The Bad Plus Farewell Tour coming to the Perelman Theater November 14 at 7pm. 53-95.48. 300 S. Broad Street
HANG OUT WITH ANDERSON COOPER AND ANDY COHEN. The journalist and talk show host duo are returning for their final tour stop to the Academy of Music November 14 at 8pm for AC2: An Intimate Evening with Anderson Cooper & Andy Cohen. 102-42. 240 S. Broad Street
BE WILLING TO TAKE THE HIT. Thousands of runners from around the world descending on Philly for the Rocky Run November 14. Starting at 7am, the courses include a 5k and a 10 mile, with runners achieving both earning the Italian Stallion moniker. The races begin and end at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, you can cheer them on along the route but registrations to run are sold out. Free. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
ATTEND THE WORLD’S LARGEST PICKLE PARTY. That would be The Big Dill, happening November 14 from 1 to 9pm at Stateside Live. Your unlimited pickle sampling includes over 100 flavors, 75 vendors, food trucks, mascots, games, a Pickle RAVE, the Brine Chug Challenge, the World Pickle Eating Championship and live entertainment. 18-40. 110 Pattison Avenue
CELEBRATE THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF STAR TREK. This year’s Star Trek 60th Anniversary Convention: Trek to Philadelphia warps into the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel November 14 and 15 with stars from every decade of the franchise, live shows and panels, vendors, and more. Catch The Roddenberries Saturday night even if you don’t have a convention pass, they always have special guests drop in! 50-850. 201 N. 17th Street
NOT AN EXPERT? PERFECT! COME TO AN UNCONFERENCE. The Philadelphia Ethical Society hosts CityCamp Philly, inviting anyone with an idea for social or environmental impact in Philly to pitch a session and help set the agenda. Come ready to listen and collaborate on the theme of How can we make daily life better for the people of Philadelphia? Sessions can explore art, healthcare, democracy, public spaces, emergency planning, or something else. Happening November 15 from 9am to 4pm, followed by a BYO mixer from 4 to 6pm. $25. 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square
EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE STONER ROCK BAND LIVE. Sleep comes to Theatre of the Living Arts November 15 at 8pm for a tour stop in support of their new album Hemispheres with special guests Zombi and The Schizophonics. 30-61. 334 South Street
ONGOING EVENTS
Art exhibitions, live shows, outdoor activities, and more things to do, until you can’t anymore.
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN GRASSROOTS ARTISTIC EXPERIMENTATION. Through November 15, Philadelphia’s network of artist-run spaces, DIY venues, and community-based initiatives hosts Collective Futures, a collaboratively organized project bringing together more than 40 independent spaces and organizations across the city through exhibitions, performances, workshops, and public programs citywide. Many events are free; locations citywide
CHOOSE BETWEEN BROKEN BONES OR A BROKEN HEART. Theater Exile kicks off this season with the bizarre comedic love story Gruesome Playground Injuries, now extended through November 22 for afternoon and evening performances. 10-45. 1340-48 S. 13th Street
SPEND AN INTIMATE MAGICAL EVENING WITH COCKTAILS. I know, right? The Magicians Table invites the audience into the world of a fictional (and recently deceased) magician for illusions, live music, drinks, and extraordinary theater. Live at the SEI Innovation Studio in the Kimmel Center through November 22 for afternoon and evening performances. You must be 18 years or older to attend. 102-2381. 300 S. Broad Street
BRING THE KIDS TO A PLAY INSPIRED BY AN AFRICAN FABLE. Curio Theatre Company presents Anansi the Spider: A Make/Partake Experience, suitable for those 3 and up, hands-on experience in the world of the Ashanti people’s history and lore. Open through November 22 at for 11am and 1pm performances. 5-20. 4740 Baltimore Avenue
SEE A UNIQUE PHILLY PREMIERE. InterAct Theatre Company opens 39th Season with Jonathan Spector’s THIS MUCH I KNOW through November 22 with performances at 2 and 7pm. Three actors play over a dozen different roles in a time-hopping fever dream, including Stalin’s daughter, Russian school girls and the son of an American white supremacist. 20-49. 302 S. Hicks Street
FIND MAGIC IN OLD CITY. The Great Philadelphia Comedy Magic Walking Tour returns for the 2026 season through the fall tours at 1pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Attendees are treated to fun, mind-bending magic relevant to the historic and off-beat Old City locations on the tour. Philly Magic tours also partners with local charities on passes and group outings for fundraisers and free tours for deserving school classes. $32.40. Tours meet behind the Bourse near 4th and Ranstead streets
SEE A PULITZER-PRIZE WINNING DRAMA. Open at Arden Theatre through December 20 for 2pm and 7pm performances, Topdog/Underdog is a tale of two brothers reckoning with destiny, resentment, and their future. 57-72. 40 N. 2nd Street
CHECK IN AT THE BEARDED LADIES’ HAIRPORT. Priority Hoarding: A Retrospectacle is an immersive exhibition inside a queer transit(ion) center. Open Thursdays and Fridays from 4 to 9pm, and Saturday from 11am to 3pm through December 19. $16-35. 444 N. 3rd Street
EXPLORE THE FIRST 50 YEARS OF OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. The American Philosophical Society’s These Truths: The Declarations of Independence tells the story of America’s founding through early Declaration printings and treasured artifacts. Open through January 3, 2027. Museum hours are Thursday through Sunday 10am to 5pm. Free, donations welcome. 104 S. 5th Street
COME TO THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CLAY STUDIO’S BELOVED EXHIBITION. The Clay Studio celebrates the opening of 20th annual Small Favors, an exhibition of unique art in four-inch cubes, with a reception The exhibit runs through January 3, 2027. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 11am to 5:30pm and 11am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday. Free. 1425 N. American Street
LEARN TAI CHI. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 7:30 to 8:30am, Franklin Square Tai Chi Group meets next to the fountain (or in the Pavilion on chilly or wet days) for the ancient practice during Tai Chi in the Square. Free. 200 N. 6th Street
TAKE A FOOD JOURNEY THROUGH SOUTHWEST PHILLY. Stuff your face with Jamaican, West African, and Southern African American cuisines while walking it off on Woodland Avenue during your Africatown Food Tour, scheduled Wednesdays through Saturdays starting at 10:30am and 1:30pm. $56. 5741 Woodland Avenue
MORE GOOD THINGS TO DO IN PHILLY
Dilly The Pickle
