Photo by Jonathan Portillo
FunTimes Magazine ‘Culture & Entertainment’ column, Week of July 31, 2023
July was fun but fleeting. However, don’t you worry. Hello, August. The world of events is waiting with open arms to get you through the so-called dog days. Here are a few low-cost ways to assist with squeezing the most out of the fruits of August named after Augustus Caesar (Julius Caesar’s grandnephew), who lived way back in 63 B.C. That’s Before Cable…
A party to celebrate the riches of African heritage
August 6, 2023. Celebrate African arts and culture at the 14th edition of ACANA Fest. Enjoy artists from the African diaspora, fantastic food, games and lively traditional music including drum ensembles. ACANA serves African and Caribbean communities through social and legal services, community-development programs, health services and by organizing African arts and culture events like this. Free, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., ACANA/African Cultural Alliance of North America, Penn’s Landing at the Great Plaza, 101 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd., 215-729-8225 or https://acanaus.org/.
Can’t beat this festival
August 6, 2023. The first Sunday of the month brings a real treat: Free admission to the Barnes to experience culture and music. Check out PECO Free First Sunday Family Day: Rhythm and Beat featuring the Steve Weiss Mallet Festival celebrating global rhythms and beats. Enjoy live percussion performances, stories of music and melodies in the Barnes’ galleries, as well as interesting family activities. Get immersed in the museum’s collection galleries and its exhibition, William Edmondson: A Monumental Vision. Free but register. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., The Barnes, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pwky., 215-278-7000 or https://www.barnesfoundation.org.
Image Source: The Mann Center
Jam with Jodeci
August 6, 2023. “The Bad Boys of R&B“ dance into town at the Summer Block Party Presents Jodeci with SWV & Dru Hill presented by The Mann and Live Nation. Groove to heartthrob Jodeci’s sultry 1990s’ classics like “Stay, ”Love U 4 Life,” “Get On Up” and “Forever My Lady.” 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $20. TD Pavilion/The Mann, 5201 Parkside Ave. in Fairmount Park, 215-546-7900 or manncenter.org.
Image Source: The Mann Center
Hip-hop to it!
August 10, 2023. Celebrate hip-hop’s half-century anniversary at ‘PHILLY PILLARS & PIONEERS’ HIP-HOP x DANCE Downstage @ the MannPresented by Cadillac, the Mann and WXPN. It’s a big-time dance party featuring the sick beatz of DJs Aktive, Cash Money and host Chill Moody, with the Project Positive dance crew. Tickets; $37 (in advance), 7 p.m., The Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave., 215-546-7900 or manncenter.org.
Visiting Bartram’s Garden is fruitful
Through November 2023. Buy and enjoy fresh, chemical-free local produce at Sankofa Community Farm. Every Thursday. 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Bartram’s Village apartments, 54th St. and Lindbergh Blvd. While there, check out Bartram’s Garden — free to visitors daily. The garden is a 50-acre public park, an oasis in the city. Explore horticulture, the oldest surviving botanic garden in North America, an ancient riverfront, boating, fishing and “a place of untold histories.” Free, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bartram’s Garden, 5400 Lindbergh Blvd., 215-729-5281 or bartramsgarden.org.
Listen to music or play at ‘Jazz Jam’
August 10, 2023. Sit in and play, or just listen to the cool music at World Cafe Live’s Jazz Jam. It features house band, Emmanuel Ohemeng III & Perpetual Motion, and a rotating lineup of guest players. Instrumentalists and vocalists can sign up to perform on stage in improv sessions. Free but register. 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. The Lounge at World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400 or https://worldcafelive.com.
Image: Students in Mighty Writers North Philadelphia. Source: Mighty Writers
Youths find the Mighty Brotherhood
Every day, Mighty Writers’ youth literacy nonprofit turns growing pains into growing gains. Mighty Writers On the Road workshops feature great empowerment initiatives like Mighty Brotherhood, a youth-development mentoring program, which offers practical instruction and life advice to young Black men, ages 7 to 17. It’s sort of a road map to navigate growing up. Topics range from learning how to fasten a necktie to conflict resolution, leadership and peer pressure. Join instructors Maurice Williams and Jeffrey Jones, who rotate as mentoring moderators. Free. Inquire about hours. E-mail: gbernicker@mightywriters.org or mightywriters.org.
