The first week of March in Philadelphia is full of fun things to do, whether you want to get out to enjoy the fresh, almost-spring air, or kick back with takeout and some virtual entertainment.
New this week is the return of Philly Film Society’s drive-in movie theater at the Navy Yard, and the Barnes Foundation debuts a world-premiere exhibition exploring the works of Chaïm Soutine and Willem de Kooning.
This week is also your last chance to try a delicious, discounted meal during East Passyunk Restaurant Week, and Blue Cross River Rink Winterfest, with its ferris wheel, ice skating rink and cozy warming cabins, closes for the season on Sunday.
Looking for things to do at home? Check out the Night of 1,000 Kates art and musical extravaganza, or spend an evening watching Simpatco Theatre’s online theater festival featuring new works by Black playwrights. You could also read about some incredible women who lived in Philadelphia in The Citizen’s new list of Women’s History Month All-Stars.
You’ll find details on all those things and more below. We update this list almost daily, so stop by regularly for more ideas about things to do in Philadelphia during Covid-19.
Things to do In-Person
This week
- DRIVE-IN MOVIES: The Philadelphia Film Society is bringing back its drive-in movie setup at the Navy Yard beginning Friday, March 5. During the first weekend, they’ll be screening Disney animated flick Raya and the Lost Dragon, featuring voiceover work by Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina. Tickets go on sale beginning March 3 at noon.
- RESTAURANT WEEK: Start making plans now for East Passyunk Restaurant Week, taking place through March 5. Participants can expect prix-fixe, three-course lunch and dinner meals at one of four price points: $15, $25, $35 and $55. Restaurants include Redcrest Fried Chicken, Bing Bing Dim Sum and Cantina los Caballitos, which offers a atmospheric setting for outdoor dining. Go here for the full list and more details.
- COOKIES: Sorry in advance to any dieters out there: Insomnia Cookies debuts three new cookie flavors this week in honor of the upcoming spring season. First, on March 1, it’s The Irish Potato, a snickerdoodle cookie with coconut flakes and cream cheese chips. Then, on March 8, look out for the Confetti Cookie and the Carrot Cake Cookie.
- LAST CHANCE: Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, situated on the banks of the Delaware River, closes for the season on Sunday, March 7. Make plans on a nice night to swing by to enjoy the seasonal fun, such as a ferris wheel and ice skating rink, cozy warming cabins that you can rent, and booze and food galore.
- OUTDOOR DINING: Indoor dining is back on in Philly, but why not check out the city’s awesome “streatery” scene while we have the chance? Tons of local restaurants offer unique setups for outdoor dining—from igloos and chalet-style booths with chandeliers to heated garden greenhouses.
- WINTERGARDEN: The ice skating rink at Dilworth Park is closed for the season, but you can still enjoy some seasonal fun in the shadow of City Hall at the lush and twinkling light-lit Wintergarden. There’s plenty of seating in the fresh, open-air space
- WONDERSPACES: Massive interactive museum Wonderspaces in the Fashion District invites guests in to explore 15 immersive and photo-worthy exhibits in a 24,000-square-feet exhibition hall. The new stuff includes Akousmaflore, “a hanging garden of living plants that respond to human contact;” and Thank You Bags, an installation featuring two enormous plastic bags filled with air that calls out the overuse and environmental impact of using plastic bags.
This weekend
- ART EXHIBIT: The Barnes Foundation debuts the world premiere—and only U.S. showing—of an exciting new exhibition that explores the commonalities between the works of Russian painter Chaïm Soutine and Dutch-American abstract artist Willem de Kooning. The Inquirer calls “Soutine / de Kooning: Conversations in Paint”—which opens March 7 and runs through August 8—“the season’s major art exhibition.”
Things to do at Home
This week
- NIGHT OF 1,000 KATES: This popular annual event honoring English singer-songwriter Kate Bush goes virtual this year, with online musical, dance and performance art from Kate Bush-loving creatives from around Philadelphia. The event, taking place on Zoom on Thursday, March 4, at 7:30pm, is free, though organizers are requesting donations to area food fridges, such as the Mama-Tee Community Fridge Project, and The People’s Fridge.
- THEATER: Philly’s Simpatco Theatre hosts a pay-what-you-wish online theater festival now through March 25 featuring seven new plays all by Black playwrights. Check out the full schedule here, or wait till the weekend of March 27 and 28 to binge them all in one long marathon showing.
Down the road
- COCKTAIL WORKSHOPS: Old City’s Art in the Age is hosting three virtual cocktail-making classes called “Kitchen Cocktails” now through early spring—on March 26 and April 30. For $120, you get a 750mL hand-selected spirit from Art in the Age, and all the fixings—like bitters and mixers—that you’ll need to create two seasonally crafted cocktails that you’ll learn how to make during the workshop.
