Thursday, January Tuesday, July 23 16 TA LK
The Drunken Botanist
Without plants, there’d be no booze. Two outfits that know that fact well: local spiritmakers Art in the Age, and the environmentalists of the Schuylkill Center, whose director, Mike Weilbacher, will read from the bestselling book The Drunken Botanist while listeners sample Art in the Age’s potent brews. 7:30pm. Free. The Schuylkill Center, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Rd. schuylkillcenter.org
S TAG E
RuPaul’s Drag Race Battle of the Seasons Live
Logo TV’s highly rated reality competition is hitting the road, and it’s bringing along a handful of its most notable stars. Sharon Needles, Pandora Boxx and Alaska Thunderfuck are just a few slated to make an appearance at the live show tonight. 10pm. $29.50-75. The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St. 215.922.6888. thetroc.com
DAN CE
AUTHOR
Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal
Nathaniel Popkin
It’s called the “feel-good company” for a reason. Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal has a seemingly perfect track record for showcasing the extraordinarily complex works of world-class choreographers. Tonight’s show features the Philadelphia premieres of three new performances. 7:30pm. Various prices. Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut St. 215.898.6702. annenbergcenter.org
More than a decade after releasing his first nonfiction book, Nathaniel Popkin is branching out into novel territory with the release of Lion and Leopard, set in a Philadelphia of years past. Tonight, Popkin will sign copies of the book and partake in a Q&A session following a short reading. 6pm. Free. Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American St. neighborhood-house.com
Friday, January 17 DAN CE
Perceiving the ‘Just This’-Ness
New York choreographer Susan Rethorst opens Philadelphia Dance Projects’ 2014 season with her new production, which recruits the talents of the Group Motion Dance Company and Artistic Director Manfred Fischbeck. 8pm. $25. Arts Bank, 601 S. Broad St. 215.545.1664. groupmotion.org M U SIC
Trefoil
M USIC
The Illadelph Experiment
From 2006 to 2011, Robert Gates served as the country’s secretary of defense, and with his new memoir hitting shelves this week, he gives shockingly honest accounts of handling the wars abroad, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” controversy and the killing of Osama bin Laden. 6:30pm. Free-$30. National Constitution Center. 525 Arch St. 215.409.6600. constitutioncenter.org DR IN K
Tippler’s Tour with Ben Franklin
Can old Ben hold his liquor? Celebrate Benjamin Franklin’s 308th birthday with the man himself as he embarks on
This new one-woman show from Kate McGrath—this year’s Philadelphia Dramatist Center playwright in residence—re-examines the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911 by thrusting the audience into the mindsets of the establishment’s workers and considering the evolution of the American Dream. 8pm. $20. Off-Broad St. Theater, 1636 Sansom St. offbroadstreet.org ART
Group Show and Red Filter 2014
This annual art show at Twenty-Two Gallery features more than 20 local artists across mediums including sculpture, painting, print work and photography. This year includes a group selection from Lambertville, N.J.’s Red Filter Gallery, a fine art photography gallery dedicated to promoting contemporary monochromatic work. Noon. Free. Twenty-Two Gallery, 236 S. 22nd St. 215.772.1911. twenty-twogallery.com STAGE
Cherokee
Lisa D’Amour’s new stage comedy follows two couples into the woods— with some unintended consequences. 2013 Obie Award winner D’Amour weaves her unique comedic chops into this story of campers gone astray. 7:30pm. $66. Through Feb. 8. The Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St. 215.546.7824. wilmatheater.org
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10pm. $10-$20. Trilogy, 601 Spring Garden St. 215.454.9038. phillytrilogy.com
Robert M. Gates: Memoirs of a Secretary at War
Up From the Ashes
January 15 -
Picture this night out: Eleven DJs, three floors of dancing, five artists exhibiting live work, a B-boy/ B-girl contest, a slow-jam set and lit hookahs—and it goes on ‘til 3:30 a.m.? Uh, that pretty much knocks any other Friday-night parties on their sorry asses. Even without tips on who’s spinning or promoting, The Illadelph Experiment just sounds like a badass, labyrinthine sweatfest, something you and your friends could wholeheartedly tear into alongside hordes of other grown, goodtime-seeking Philadelphians, right? Luckily, its DJs include the legendary Cash Money (above), Kenny Meez, Ultraviolet, AfroDJiak, Mike Nyce, Aktive, Mr. Sonny James, Lee Jones, Lil Dave, PHSH and DJ Foxx Boogie. (Hoo boy, that’s a list!) And it’s being presented by Stacey “Flygirrl” Wilson, a fixture of Philly 360, Tastytreats, et cetera, who’s so in tune with the spirits of creativity and musicianship, she always seems to be planning successful ways to wrap this city up in absolute freshness. Wilson’s also among the the artists who’ll be on the scene too, joining Serena Saunders, Ameerah K. Art, Chuck Styles, Tone Casso and Nebulous Flair. Nice. Philly’s DJs kill it; live art is the shit, and who doesn’t love a good hip-hop battle? With a promise to get the walls throbbing and the windows rattling, let’s hope for throwdowns of all kinds at The Illadelph Experiment—sonic, on the canvas and pop and lock-like. Show up before 11pm, and you’ll get a 50-percent admission reduction. / B.C.
TAL K
STAGE
p h i l a d e l p h i a w e e k l y. c o m I
“Classical” isn’t an apt enough term to describe the musical stylings of Trefoil. With a focus on the melodious sounds heard at medieval European festivals, the three-piece band evokes vivid imagery with its craft despite its minimalist outward appearance. Trefoil’s new CD, Fleur de Valeur: A Medieval Bouquet, covers the likes of Guillaume Dufray and Gilles Binchois. 8pm. Free. The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St. therotunda.org
a tavern tour of colonial Philadelphia. He’ll be sure to delight his followers with stories and old-fashioned drinking traditions along the way. 5:30pm. $40-$45. Historic Philadelphia Center, Sixth and Chestnut sts. 215.629.4026. historicphiladelphia.org