A Novel Idea, poetry slams, art by women, and more this weekend

The new year is upon us, and what better way to welcome 2019 than by surrounding yourself with the arts in Philadelphia? Newness, like grand openings or reinvigorating explorations of performative and interactive arts, is sure to help set a positive, inviting tone for the year ahead. Family-friendly museum exhibitions, arts festivals, and books are in the spotlight in this roundup of this weekend’s events.

A Novel Idea on Passyunk grand opening

South Philly has a new community-minded bookstore and event space in East Passyunk. A Novel Idea (1726 E. Passyunk Avenue) has arrived on the scene and is celebrating its first full month with a grand-opening party on Friday, January 4, at 7pm. The event will feature readings from poets and authors curated by Thirty West Publishing House. The roster includes Scott Laudati, Kat Giordano, Ariel Francisco, and Josh Dale, a Temple alum and founder of Thirty West Publishing House.

The new store saw its soft opening in early December, and will be open six days a week following the grand opening.

Women, Trans, and Nonbinary Poetry Slam featuring Ashley August

January brings the Philly Pigeon's annual Women, Trans and Non-Binary Poetry Slam. The Philly Pigeon’s mission is to elevate and popularize the art form of performance poetry, fostering a sense of community across gender, color, religion, sexuality, and class. Catch the event at PhilaMOCA on Friday, January 4. Doors are at 8:30pm and tickets are $15. All ages are welcome at this event, but expect adult content.

Women’s Art Festival hosted by HERspace Arts

The first HERspace Arts Festival sets the tone for 2019 with its debut at Philly Arts Collective. HERspace features women artists of various mediums and seeks to encourage, inspire, and promote artists, vendors, entrepreneurs, scholars, and students. The show ($10) happens on Saturday, January 5, at 6pm at the Philly Art Collective Gallery (253 N. 3rd Street).

Days of Knights

Enjoy a day of revelry in the arms and armor galleries at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with its Days of Knights family festival. Create a shield with medieval stencils and metallic materials, handle real armor with a museum educator, sketch knights with Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School’s costumed models, and have your young visitors knighted by friends from the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire.

Family festivals at PMA are pay-what-you-wish. Days of Knights events run 10am to 3pm on Sunday, January 6.

PECO Free First Sunday Family Day

Kick off the new year at the Barnes Foundation as it continues its monthly Free First Sunday Family Day program. This month, #LetsConnectPhilly artist-in-residence Eric Goldberg will showcase a printing demonstration in the Mural Arts Philadelphia Studio at the Barnes. Additionally, a collection of artists invite attendees to join in creating a “doodle mural” — a visual landscape combining casual doodles and detailed illustrations. Free admission begins at 10am on Sunday, January 6.