Street cred: City of Philadelphia officials paid tribute to its hometown “Fresh Prince,” Will Smith, by renaming a street after him in West Philly, where he was “born and raised,” on March 26th. The new red-and-white sign is on the 2000 block of N. 59th St., if you want to check it out.
Photo by Scott Weiner (http://www.scottweinerphotographer.com/)
“Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.” — Oprah Winfrey
April has been described as the angel of our months and also as “the time of plans and projects.” From jazz and planting of trees to poetry and Passover events, take on the spring with these cool entertaining activities. And don’t forget: When event-going, consider taking precautions, especially when among groups and while indoors, with the risk of COVID-19 variants and other still-existing infectious health concerns.
Workshop Will Make Taxes Less Taxing
Thursday, April 3, 2025. As the April 15th tax deadline approaches, does the word tax make you cringe? Take the stress out of your tax prep. It’s not too late. Check out a virtual conversation with award-winning real estate associate and event host Ama Addo and Dr. Nikia Owens, President & CEO of Campaign for Working Families. Learn how to get your taxes done for free, and earn potential Earned Income Tax Credits. That’s money back in your pocket in these inflationary times. Dr. Owens says that each year, more than $100 million in tax credits is unclaimed by eligible residents. So, get what you deserve! Free, 7 p.m. Instagram Live, 215-454-6483 or www.cwfphilly.org
Get into The ‘Rare Grooves’ With Jazz & Poetry
Friday & Saturday, April 4-5, 2205. Enjoy a weekend of jazz and poetry celebrating April’s Jazz Appreciation Month and National Poetry Month at Spotlight on Jazz & Poetry Radio’s Rare Grooves. Over two days, vibe to open mic, poetry, and performances by Toni “Momma T” Curtis, James C. Ellerbee, Tonya Lynette, Deborah Smith, Mervin Toussaint, Gregory Moore, Paul Giess, Timothy Ragsdale, Marcell Bellinger, and Kimpedro. The fundraiser will kick off Friday with performances by Momma T Curtis and James C. Ellerbee, open mic and poetry presentations, d’oeuvres, cash bar, followed by a dance party with DJ Special K. Individual tickets: $45. 7 p.m. EST to 11 p.m. EST. Hilton Philadelphia, 4200 City Ave. 215-346-6778 or sojpradio.com/raregrooves or https://www.jamescellerbe.com/tour/rare-grooves-national-poetry-month
Born For The Horn
Saturday, April 5, 2025. Grammy-winning trumpeter Nabaté Isles will headline the Jazz Cultural Voices Concert Series 2025. Isles, also a producer-composer, will shine with his musicianship; he has performed and recorded with accomplished jazzers Christian McBride, Nate Smith, Elzhi, Eric Harland, Ben Williams, Jonathan Blake, Brad Jones, David Filmore, and Sam Barsh. Isles’ critically acclaimed debut album, “Eclectic Excursions,” made the Top 50 on the JazzWeek charts in 2023. Isles will be joined by Jimmy Owens in this highly-anticipated concert hosted by MC K-Mack and Richard Hill, Jr. Owens, a veteran trumpeter and flugelhorn player, has been a studio musician, soloist, bandleader, and composer of orchestral compositions, movie scores, and ballets. His musical legacy links to the greats; he has played with Lionel Hampton, Hank Crawford, Charles Mingus, Max Roach, Duke Ellington, Billy Taylor, and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Band. Individual tickets: $35; 7:30 p.m. EST to 10 p.m. EST. Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts, 736 S. Broad St. Email: info@clefclubofjazz.org, 215-893-9912 or https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/nabate-isles-jazz-cultural-voices-concert-series–2025
The Last Supper by Rod Borghese, a Contemporary Indigenous Ojibway Canadian Artist.
An Event Of Art & Faith
Sunday, April 6, 2025. Explore the connection of art and spirituality at the virtual event, Passover and Holy Week Illustrated in Art, hosted by the nonprofit Interfaith Philadelphia. Passover and Holy Week are observed simultaneously this year, both with closely related religious traditions. The overlap will offer an opportunity to explore their themes, rituals, similarities, and differences through art. Passover and Holy Week will demonstrate how “Christians and Jews are cousins in faith.” The discussion will be facilitated by the Rev. John B. Hougen, PhD., Coordinator of the Art of Interfaith Understanding Series. Pre-register; pay on a sliding scale: $5 to $45. 2 p.m. EST to 3:30 p.m. EST. Interfaith Philadelphia, 215-222-1012 or https://www.interfaithphiladelphia.org/events/passover-and-holy-week-illustrated-in-art/
Photo courtesy of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Plan To Plant Trees
Monday, April 7, 2025, to Monday, April 14, 2025. Spring must be here: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) will host the planting of more than 900 trees; they will be distributed and planted in the Greater Philadelphia area. You can be part of this community endeavor by volunteering. The project reflects PHS’s mission to promote healthier, greener communities, particularly in neighborhoods with few trees. Philadelphia only has 20 percent tree coverage, according to PHS. Help unload, sort, and distribute bare root trees. You can help assist in sorting and giving out trees, on April 7-11, or plant trees on April 11-14. Bring hand sanitizer, gloves, closed-toed shoes, water bottle, and dress appropriately. Tools, brooms, garbage bags, and other items will be supplied. PHSOnline.org/programs/tree-programs/get-involved
Escape Artist Mixtape: Homeworld/Otherworlds.
Podcast Looks At Afrofuture & Alternate Realities
Get real and surreal, and check out Escape Artist Mixtape, Vol. 5: Homeworld/Otherworlds, a bold new podcast and zine that is “unapologetically curious about the alternate realms and outer limits of reality through the lens of art, pop culture, and Afrofuturism.” The science fiction-like series digs into the known and unknown. It includes “escape artists” who explore “the art of survival and world-building through diverse disciplines and modes of being human.” One episode features Rashid Zakat, artist-filmmaker DJ, who examines the role of humor and absurdity in processing the human experience on earth and beyond. Another episode spotlights artists Andrea “Philly” Walls, urban archivist and founder of the Museum of Black Joy, and Malkia Okech, memory worker and community archaeologist. With a mixtape-free-style format, the podcast leans on music through a co-curated playlist crammed with more than 40 songs, ranging from afrobeat to glam rock. The various guests contribute three tracks to the playlist that spark the conversations. Listen to the Homeworld: Otherworlds playlist on Spotify. Philly producer-DJ-writer John Morrison created the podcast’s theme music. The interactive zine companion features original collage art from Tomarra Sankara-Kilombo and Li Sumpter. E-mail: lisumpter88@gmail.com, 347-415-0223 or mythmediastudios.art, paintedbride.org, Amazon Music, or Spotify.
