Sakura Sunday, La Giara, and Applied Mechanics' birthday blossom for spring break

The otaku in me is pretty excited about Kaoru Watanabe coming to the International House this weekend, and of course, Sakura Sunday is one of those things I don’t like to miss. I’m excited for Applied Mechanics celebrating ten years and I hope many of you send them good birthday vibes on Saturday. Music abounds with S.R. Frost and La Giara, and the Museum of the American Revolution kicks off spring break with family-friendly events and demos.

Philly is blossoming like a cherry tree.

Kaoru Watanabe at International House

Silk Road's Kaoru Watanabe comes to Philadelphia this weekend, bringing his signature blend of traditional Japanese instruments and contemporary musical landscapes. Melding his Japanese and American heritages, Watanabe's Be/Longing infuses music from his artistic lineage with styles from across the globe. Kaoru will be joined by guest artists Gamin and Fumi Tanakadate on Friday, April 12, at 7:30pm at the International House Philadelphia (3701 Chestnut Street). For additional information and tickets, check out the show info online.

Applied Mechanics turns ten
On Saturday, April 13, Philly’s radical and experimental theater company Applied Mechanics is celebrating its tenth year. In 2009, Applied Mechanics was born from “a love of dioramas and a punk aesthetic.” It's been creating intricate, immersive plays ever since. DIY is their thing, and has been since plays were produced right out of cofounder Rebecca Wright’s West Philly apartment. Ten world premieres later, the company celebrates with a new installation commemorating its tenth birthday and hit shows, including the epic Vainglorious and the Pussy-Riot-inspired We Are Bandits.

The celebration takes place at Exit Design/J2’s new event venue at 4th and Brown, with family-friendly activities beginning at 6pm and running until late with dancing, a photo booth, art installation, dancing, and more alongside DJ Emcee Elroy.

RSVP online for free with a suggested donation.

S.R. Frost debuts at the Pharmacy

The Philly-based singer-songwriter S.R. Frost will share his debut album, Shrine, and his new release, Moving Light, in a performance at the Pharmacy (1300 South 18th Street) on Friday, April 12. Frost's music is a blend of indie-pop and psychedelia, performed entirely on a cherished tape machine. He recently teamed up with Cheerleader’s Josh Pannepacker to produce a follow-up EP, out March 2019.

La Giara at World Café Live
Back for its third time at the downstairs venue and presented every two years receiving, La Giara (The Water Jug) merges Italian folk and opera with Brazilian choro and jazz, telling the story of the composer’s family emigration from Sicily to Philadelphia. Comprised of dramatic and comedic compositions, La Giara expresses themes relevant to gender oppression and cultural losses that immigrant families transcended while adapting to a new world.

The show makes its triumphant return on Saturday, April 13, at 8pm at World Café Live.

Sakura Sunday at Fairmount Park
The Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia concludes the 22nd annual Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival on Sunday, April 14 at 10am. Live music, dance performances, martial arts, a tea ceremony, a cosplay showcase, and more round out a full roster of activities at the Horticulture Center in West Fairmount Park. Tickets are available online, and ACCESS card holders can also purchase tickets the day of the festival for $5.

Spring Break at the Museum of the American Revolution
Each spring during the Revolutionary War, the armies shook the rust off and resupplied. During spring break from April 13 through 28 from 10am to 5pm, visitors to the Museum of the American Revolution (101 South 3rd Street) can participate in family-friendly activities and demonstrations that explore what life was like for the Continental Army and its followers.

On Saturday, April 13, and Sunday, April 14, the Museum will host costumed living historians portraying the “artificers” who served under Philadelphian Benjamin Flower as they repair old equipment and make new goods for the Continental Army. Visitors will learn how shoemakers and hatmakers produced enough footwear and headgear for an army, watch as carpenters prepare blocks for soldiers’ cartridge boxes, help sew uniforms, and meet an interpreter portraying Rebecca Flower Young, Benjamin Flower’s sister, who made flags and drum cases as a contract seamstress.

For more on the museum’s full spring-break roster of events and activities, check them out online or call (215) 253-6731.