Women's Film Festival, book signings, clean-air activism highlight mid-March in Philly

March is a strange month. It's often that final push through the edge of winter, and it's the first month of the calendar year without any major holidays—or at least it seems so. Depending on how you look at it, that's either a good thing or a bad thing. While it might be a relatively quiet weekend in the city, I'm excited about the Women's Film Festival returning, neighborhoods educating themselves ahead of the spring, new books hitting the shelves, and mixed media helping us remember when.

Don't sleep on March. In fact, try making your own tradition this weekend. It's the perfect time to welcome new and interesting things, don't you think?

The Women’s Film Festival

The Women’s Film Festival returns to Philadelphia this year, kicking off Thursday, March 14, and running through March 23. The festival serves as a forum that inspires and cultivates a movement to celebrate and unite the power of women in the film and entertainment industry. Co-founded by Phuong Nguyen and Layne Marie Williams, the festival has grown substantially since its humble beginnings in fall 2014 and has cemented itself as an integral part of the Philadelphia film community and beyond. For a full lineup, times, and tickets, visit the festival online.
Powering Our Neighborhoods

Powering Our Neighborhoods is a day of family-friendly performance and community learning hosted by the Neighborhood Advisory Council of the People’s Emergency Center. Speakers and workshops will provide information and resources on how local neighborhoods are affected by clean-energy practices and how community members can get involved. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and members from Solarize Philly and Ready for 100 will also be in attendance. Philly’s musical duo Ants on a Log will perform their musical Curious: Think Outside the Pipeline!, telling a story of two young siblings who fight for clean air in their community. The event is free on Saturday, March 16, and starts at 10:30am at the Bank (3750 Lancaster Ave). Free food will be provided by EAT Café.

A Computer Called Katherine book signing
Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books (5445 Germantown Avenue) is hosting Illustrator Veronica Miller Jamison as she talks about her new book A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon. The family-friendly event is free, with books available for purchase, on Saturday, March 16, from 11am to 12pm.

Re-Writing Memory at Esther Klein Gallery
Patricia Moss-Vreeland unveils her collaborative staged reading Re-Writing Memory, featuring the work of director Marcia Ferguson, playwright Daniella Vinitski Mooney, and poet Kyle Conner. The performance, centered around the theme of memory, is a multimedia installation designed as a public event in connection with the In Search of Meaning: Memory Becomes Us exhibit at Esther Klein Gallery (3600 Market Street). Catch the reading, along with a talkback with the artists, on Saturday, March 16, from 2pm to 3:30pm.