Afrofuturism, cabaret, MLK, Ben Franklin, and the Lunar New Year highlight a jam-packed weekend

Philadelphia, we love you. We love that you paint such broad strokes of quirkiness and diversity in art. We love that you embrace your history and look forward to the future of America, knowing that you have a major voice in sculpting what we’re going to be in the years to come. We love your young musicians and support their bright futures. You’re beautiful, Philly. Never change.

This weekend is a wonderful sampling of the love we have for each other in the city. With an Afrofuturistic book release, the Lunar New Year, Ben Franklin’s birthday, and more, there’s plenty to explore.

It’s also important to mention that it’s Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. You can check out our roundup of all the MLK events here to make for a truly fulfilling weekend.

The Invisible Hands at the Rotunda

Alan Bishop is an underground American-Lebanese musician who arrives in Cairo shortly after the 2011 uprisings, where he teams up with three young Egyptian musicians to translate his old songs into Arabic. Structured around fly-on-the-wall scenes, archival ghost apparitions, absurd cameos, and poetic diary narrations by Bishop, and unfolding between the two critical elections that marked the post “Arab Spring” period in Egypt, the film juxtaposes the tragic comedy of politics and art-making in a troubled periphery, the summary reads.

Catch The Invisible Hands on Thursday, January 16, at 8pm. A Q&A with codirector and coproducer Georges Salameh follows the screening of the 97-minute film at the Rotunda (4014 Walnut Street). The event is free, with a donation requested.

Flashbang Book Release at Beyond the Seams

Join Beyond the Seams (828 North Broad Street) as they celebrate the release of Flashbang, written by Philadelphia’s own Rorie Still. Flashbang is an Afrofuturistic short-story collection about a trickster goddess dispensing her wayward blessings on an alternate Philadelphia. Meet the author and enjoy a live reading and skit, a live musical performance by video-game violinist Tray-Digga, a poetry presentation by LindoYes, and a dance performance by Inanna.

The party starts on Saturday, January 19, at 7pm.

Get Pegged Cabaret feat. Cynthia Hopkins and Sapphira Cristàl at FringeArts

Musical performance artist Cynthia Hopkins and drag performer Sapphira Cristàl team up for a night of unrestrained intimacy, live music, and performance at FringeArts. The cabaret, hosted by John Jarboe, features the uncensored, sexy, queer, and delightfully stimulating entertainment you’d expect from the Bearded Ladies.

The show kicks off on Friday, January 18, at 10:30pm at FringeArts (140 N Columbus Blvd). Tickets are on sale now.

Annual Celebration Honors Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin turns 313 this weekend, and the 2019 Benjamin Franklin Birthday Celebration examines an important theme: “Liberty and Justice for All? Reforming America’s Criminal Justice System.” The annual event promises to explore our nation’s history of criminal justice, looking at both past and current reform efforts. The event will also honor the contributions of the Marshall Project and its editor-in-chief, Bill Keller. Founded in 2014, the Marshall Project is a nonprofit, online national news organization providing comprehensive coverage of America’s criminal-justice system.

The free seminar begins at 9am on Friday, January 18, and takes place at the Benjamin Franklin Hall at the American Philosophical Society (427 Chestnut Street).

Philadelphia Young Musicians Orchestra

The Philadelphia Young Musicians Orchestra (PYMO) will perform at The Temple Performing Arts Center (1837 North Broad Street) this weekend. PYMO is a full symphonic orchestra that provides students with their introduction to large orchestral playing. Now in its 79th year of training students, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected community music-education programs.

Support the young musicians at this is a free event on Saturday, January 19, at 4pm. For more info, visit PYO online.

CultureFest! Lunar New Year Festival

The Lunar New Year is coming, and CultureFest! is presenting a daytime festival and evening performances this weekend at the Penn Museum (3260 South Street). The Lunar New Year will feature traditional dance and music, contemporary Asian film, tangram workshops, martial arts demonstrations, storytelling, calligraphy, and art-making for all ages. Join in the traditional Lion Dance, then grab a cocktail as the festival kicks into high gear with Korean pop music and performances to ring in the new year. The event is presented in partnership with the Asian Arts Initiative.

Family-friendly activities run from 1pm to 5pm and are free with museum admission. Evening festival activities start at 5pm and are $15 ($10 for museum members).