Check out the world premiere of Shadow Cities featuring the street and club dance choreography of Ephrat Asherie and original Latin jazz composed and performed live by Grammy® award-winning jazz pianist Arturo O’Farrill at Zellarbach Theatre/ Penn Live Arts on Friday and Saturday November 14-15, 2025: https://pennlivearts.org/event/EphratAsherie
With Veterans Day on the horizon on Thursday, Nov. 6, go out and explore opportunities to salute the military. The federal holiday marks the signing of the armistice that ended World War I at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. In addition to honoring our vets, check out other activities, from Grammy-winning jazz to mosaic art with the theme of “freedom.”
‘Voices Of The Diaspora’ Looks At Holiday Traditions & Cuisine
Thursday, November 6, 2025. Spend your lunch with your friends at FunTimes on Thursdays twice a month. Join multimedia hosts Diamond Jones, Kyrah Page, and Aaliyah ”Li-Li” Edwards for Voices Of The Diaspora, a lively virtual series that brings a cool fresh perspective on matters that affect and inform your daily lives. Be part of this engaging informal community conversation. The next can’t-miss session is “a holiday check-in” focusing on winter holiday traditions and favorite comfort foods during the joys and stress of the season. Let your appetite run crazy-wild. Silky whipped cream on homemade potato pie, anyone? Join the dynamic trio of “Voices Of The Diaspora” live; send DMs and comment on the posts. Noon, IG Live. Email: info@funtimesmagazine.com or 215-954-6300
Flying The Flag For Veterans
Friday, November 7 to Tuesday, November 11, 2025. It will be a busy weekend dedicated to military veterans at the Eastern State Penitentiary, America’s first penitentiary. Check out a screening of the documentary, “Veterans, Prisons, and Courts Today,” exploring the impact of the criminal justice system on current military veterans. Learn about Veteran Treatment Courts created in 2008, and how this alternative to the mainstream legal system provides treatment and accountability plans for veterans in the justice system. Get a closer look at some of the growing number of dedicated veteran cellblocks in prisons and jails in the United States. Engage in a brief pop-up history talk with an Eastern State educator about the Second World War when Robert McKenty, then-Eastern State’s warden, lobbied state and federal officials to allow prisoners to serve in the military. This resulted in more than 120 Eastern State inmates serving in the military, while many others contributed to war efforts at home. Free for kids ages 6 & under; individual tickets: $21 (adults), $19 (seniors), $17 (students). See and tour the whole site with admission to the documentary screening; 10 a.m. EST to 5 p.m. EST. Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site /Central Rotunda, 2027 Fairmount Ave. 215-236-3300 or EasternState.org or https://easternstate.org/events/series/veterans-day-25/video-screening-veterans-prisons-and-courts-today
A Military Salute To The First Veterans
Saturday, November 8 to Tuesday, November 11, 2025. The Museum of the American Revolution is rolling out the red-white-and-blue carpet in the historic district for Veterans Day weekend. Salute America’s first veterans, from the American Revolution up until today’s military personnel. Explore interesting exhibits like Black Soldiers in the Revolutionary War Discovery Cart. A museum educator will help you discover the stories of people of African descent through replica artifacts on display. $27 per ticket (Includes access to core galleries, films (Washington’s War Tent, People of the Standing Stone, and Revolution), and special exhibitions. Free admission for current military, veterans, and Blue Star Families courtesy of Comcast NBCUniversal. 11 a.m. EST to 2 p.m. EST. Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S 3rd St. 877-740-1776 or https://www.amrevmuseum.org/events/veterans-day-weekend-2025-at-the-museum
Robyn Miller, Magic Flute, ceramic tile and glass, Judy Holland, Breaking the Glass, upcycled porcelain, ceramic, acrylic; Carol Hemsley, A Peaceful Moment, smalti, filati, fused glass, paint, and poured cement. Images courtesy of Creative Philadelphia.
Exhibit Pieces Together A Mosaic Of Freedom
Friday, November 7, 2025. Get artsy at an opening reception for the new Creative Philadelphia Art in City Hall program exhibit by the Mosaic Society of Philadelphia. The show dives into the timely theme of freedom through artistic reflections on Philadelphia’s legacy as the birthplace of American independence to “expressions of personal liberation, movement, or unrestricted artistic vision.” More than 30 artists express their visions through mosaic pieces of stained glass, mixed media tiles, sculpture, and more. Organized by members, Lois Giovacchini and Marcy Rosner, the Mosaic Society of Philadelphia represents 100 local artists including 31 featured in the exhibition, which runs through Tuesday, December 2, 2025. Free, Weekdays: 9 a.m. EST to 4:30 p.m. EST. Philadelphia City Hall, Broad and Market streets (northeast corner, second floor). November 7th opening reception: Free, 5 p.m. EST to 7 p.m. EST, City Hall, Conversation Hall, Rm. 201. 215-686-8446 or https://www.creativephl.org/exhibition/mosaic-society-of-philadelphia/ or https://www.mosaicsocietyofphiladelphia.org/
Born For The Horn…
Saturday, November 8, 2025. From Bourbon Street to Broad Street in Philly, Donald Harrison, Jr. takes center stage in the Jazz Cultural Voices Concert Series at the Philadelphia Clef Club. The versatile saxophonist-composer is classically trained and New Orleans-bred. In fact, Harrison’s notes reach across jazz and into funk, classical, and Afro-New Orleans genres. Harrison was raised on the deep traditions of the brass bands of Mardi Gras. He studied at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and later at Berklee College of Music. He was the first to perform “Nouveau Swing,” a tasty gumbo of modern jazz, R&B, hip-hop, rock, and soul. $45 per ticket; 7:30 p.m. EST to 9:30 p.m. EST. Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts, 736 S. Broad St. 215-893-9912 or https://clefclubofjazz.org/event/donald-harrison-clef-performance-residency
Sip a Wissahickon brew.
You’ll Have It ‘Made on American Street’
Saturday, November 8, 2025. Family-owned Wissahickon Brewing Company and Punch Buggy Brewing will host the ultimate fall block party. Check out the Made on American Street festival featuring art, crafts, live music, food, Philly-made beer, a farmer’s market, and a whole lot of community fun. Event activities will showcase and celebrate local makers – artists, crafters, collectors, and creatives – in Olde Kensington, known historically as the world’s specialty workshop. Stop by Wissahickon Brewing Co. in a converted historic coal factory at 1525 N. American St., and have one or two of the award-winning hand-crafted beers served from 40 taps, Kombucha, and pub fare. Free admission; noon to 6 p.m. EST. American Street, between Master and Oxford. Email: 411WBC@gmail.com, 445-223-1163 or wissahickonbrew.com
Spreading Joy
Tuesday, November 11, 2025. Five-time GRAMMY Award winner Samara Joy takes her silky jazz vocals to the Philly stage. She is known to put her trademark spin on classic standards taking up the mantle built by Sarah Vaughan, Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln, and Carmen McRae. The Grammys are not the only folks who love her. She took home a NAACP Image Award for “Best Jazz Album” this year. Individual tickets start at $69; 7 p.m. EST, Miller Theater, 250 S. Broad St. Get tickets in person at the Academy of Music Box Office, 240 S. Broad St., (daily from 10 a.m. EST to 6 p.m. EST). 215-893-1999 or www.ensembleartsphilly.org
Building Equitable Family Care Support
Wednesday, November 12, 2025. Supporting your family shouldn’t jeopardize your job or income security. Strong care networks and community-centered solutions can help create safety, stability, and freedom. With this in mind, WOMEN’S Way will host Closing the Gender Wealth Gap Forum: Family and Community Care, a virtual workshop to educate the public. Learn how families and communities can be supported. The event will be part of the nonprofit’s series to convene community leaders and change-makers to discuss the causes of the gender wealth gap and solutions that can close it. Panelists will share how to build systems that prioritize care and connection: Marquita Bolden, Executive Director, Therapy Center of Philadelphia; Kaiima Griffith, Case Manager/Community Engagement Specialist, Connectedly; Philipa Nwadike-Laster, Supermom and member of Women in Dialogue, and Kristina Valdez, Executive Director, Along The Way. These experts will show you how to build systems with access to high-quality caregiving options. Free but pre-register; 4 p.m. EST to 5:30 p.m. 215-985-3322 or womensway.org or https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mirEMA0wSA6fVFPSiVir9g#/registration
