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Just Do It
For Catholics the world over, Annunciation Day marks the moment when an angel told the Virgin Mary she was immaculately preggers, boosting her popularity and household-name status for years to come. The holiday is celebrated in a variety of ways around the world, but the Swedes do it up in a way we can all enjoy: wolfing down waffles. Legend has it that the tradition came to be because the Swedish phrase “var fru dagen” (“day of our lady”) sounds a lot like "Vaffeldagen," or “Waffle Day.” Despite the tradition's religious insignificance, it's a lucky linguistic flub for waffle-lovers everywhere. Standing in solidarity with our sweet-toothed Swedes, the American Swedish Historical Museum offers locals a day of religious waffle-eating. One ticket gets you waffles, toppings and a Swedish cup o' joe.
March 25, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., $10, American Swedish Historical Museum, 1900 Pattison Ave., 215-389-1776, americanswedish.org.
The anti-fracking group Protecting Our Waters (POW) has seen some major developments recently in the fight against fracking in PA. So to mark their achievements and regroup, they’re joining with Weaver’s Way Co-Op to throw a shindig.
Frackdown Smackdown will be a family-friendly (that means no drinking) benefit featuring folk music, dancing and discussion about the anti-fracking movement’s next moves. Entertainment will be provided by local folk signer/songwriter Tom Gala, fiddler Hollis Payer and the funky Humbleman Band.
There’s going to be food for sale, but supporters are asked to bring their own eating and drinking utensils, and snacks and beverages to share.
Sat., March 10, 7 p.m., $10 suggested donation, Summit Presbyterian Church, 6757 Greene St., 215-768-2698, protectingourwaters.wordpress.com.
SoapBox: Independent Publishing Center and Homeskooled Gallery will celebrate the “comfort and thrills” provided by the written and spoken word at Booked!, a one-night-only interactive exhibit that allows visitors get their creative on in three separate sections.
In the story-writing center, guests can piece together tales by utilizing magazines, books, photocopies, and the center’s in-house typewriter and illustration center. The results will be published as a book that will live forever in The Soapbox’s Zine Library.
A “listening tent” re-creates the warmth of storytelling blanket-fort style. It doesn’t matter how old you are, it’s always lovely to close your eyes and let someone read to you ...
The young at heart should steer clear of Naughty Reads section, however. Here horny toads can recreate the excitement of discovering new, forbidden ideas. Expect political manifestos, sex stuff, bad words and all kinds of reading material to make your momma blush.
There will be word-themed cupcakes and soup, hot toddies and wine. They also encourage visitors to bring zines for Soapbox’s the library, and books to donate to Books Through Bars. The event is free, but please consider giving these kind people a donation. Times are tough for book lovers these days.
Sat., Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m., free, The SoapBox, 741 S. 51 St., phillysoapbox.org, homeskooledgallery.com.
For 14 years, Philadelphia’s Art Sanctuary (628 S. 16th St., 215-232-4485) has been providing a much-needed outlet for African-American creativity. The gallery space functions as classroom, studio and community center while striving to unite communities in an artist’s sanctuary. For the month of February, the Center is getting creative with music and literature, offering new insights into black history.
If you’re pissed at the current state of affairs, get off that sad high horse and create your own reality. According to the hedonist masterminds at Swellco & Swellco, it's really that simple. Through performance, video, music and commentary, the Swellco crew has carved out a unique space between fiction and reality. Their psychodelic spin on subversion has often led viewers to ask the question, “What is this?”
Get in on the crazy this Saturday for their highly anticipated Anti-Inhalant Educational Outreach Event, featuring performances from drag queen Needles Jones (pictured), Louise LaTease and her fabulous Huffing Glue Dancers, and an extra-extraordinary Drug Jawn Live Disco Dance Party from Philly's own Jawn Band. As Swellco exec. R.E. Brown says, “Swellco is the voice of the people, because sometimes the people are high and don't know what they're saying.”
Sat., Feb. 11, 9 p.m., free, PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., swellco2000.com.
In neighborhoods like Feltonville, Hunting Park and Kensington, there aren’t many places for kids to escape the bad influence and danger of the street. But nestled on the corner of West Annsbury and Sixth streets is the Feltonville Dream Center (FDC), where volunteers create a safe environment for inner-city kids to receive the tools and guidance they need to achieve their utmost potential.
The Center (enrolling 30 children aged 5 to 14) offers classes in dance, music, art, creative writing, drama and fashion that are guided by local, arts-educated teachers. Pastor Christian Winters, C.E.O. and founder of FDC, says that, while the workshops are incredibly involved, the goal of the program is to not only keep children out of trouble and help them discover their inner artist; it’s about building the confidence they need to become thriving members of society. “I've found that the children are incredibly gifted in [the arts] and a host of other talents, just with no organized place to develop those gifts,” says Pastor Winters. After spending time at the Center, the teachers “begin to see a cycle of hope returning, and that's the best part of working so close with a community.”
To raise funds for FDC, photographer Marvin Burwell is hosting the Photographer’s Ball, a “creative black tie event” featuring celebrity photog Nigel Barker (America’s Next Top Model), live music performances and a ballroom-dance demonstration.
Sat., Feb. 11, 6 p.m., $125, Cescaphe Ballroom, 923 N. Second St., 215-238-5750, thebridgeteam.net.
InLiquid Art & Design is a huge asset to our art community, providing exposure and opportunities for local artists, as well as serving as a free hub of information and resources. This week, the group's hosting its annual benefit at the Crane Arts Building. The evening will feature work by some of the region’s top visual artists, which can be had if you play your cards right in the silent auction. Drop your bid for a chance to score one of a plethora of awesomely artistic goodies, including original artwork (like Miriam Singer's North Route, pictured above), pottery, jewelry and design trinkets.
Feb. 10, 6 p.m., $40, Crane Arts Building, 1400 N. American St., 215-235-3405, inliquid.org.
Last year, under the direction of Rev. Dr. Curtis A. Jones, Overbrook’s Calvin Presbyterian Church began taking steps to re-direct the lives of former convicts. They created a program, From Incarceration to Re-Entry (FIRE), that helps ex-offenders find fulfilling employment opportunities. The group also works to encourage healthy, positive alternatives to gang life by working with teens and young adults who have grown up around violence and gang-related activities.
To raise funds for their efforts, the church is hosting Master Street Theater Company’s performance of Once Upon A Hood, a tragic but inspiring story about a young gang leader and drug dealer’s spiritual transformation. Written and directed by locals Marilyn Brewington and Wallace Little, the show stars actor John Canada Terrel, who co-starred in Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It and Mo Better Blues & Boomerang.
Feb. 4, 2 p.m., and 7 p.m., $20, Calvin Presbyterian Church, 5931 Master St., 215-772-9325.
City Paper's fabulous A&E interns (and a couple seasoned contributors) share a month's worth of Black History Month picks.
With based-on-a-book Big Miracle and The Woman in Black hitting silver screen this weekend — and 
board-game blockbuster Battleship lurking ominously on the horizon — it seems clear Hollywood has run out of fresh ideas. Odds are you find that disconcerting, so here’s a comforting thought from the folks at the International House: Hollywood never had any originality to begin with. In a discussion titled “Pleasures and Pitfalls of Film Adaptation,” Penn and NYU professors will gather to explore cinema’s illustrious history of profiting off the creativity of others. At a time when adapted screenplays abound, these scholars hope to show that transferring material between media can be more of an art form than a simple copy-paste job. And if you can’t make it, rest assured; a movie version will likely be in theaters this December.
Wed., Feb. 1, 5 p.m., free, International House, 3701 Chestnut St., 215-387-5125, ihousephilly.org.
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