Each year, Philadelphia’s LGBT community utilizes the weeks following Equality Forum to gear up for summer. Whether that means putting in some extra time at the office, the gym or the tanning bed, preparations for beach weather and three-day weekends are well underway across the city and suburbs. But with two weeks until Memorial Day, there are a number of marquee exhibits and events at Philly’s most popular spaces to keep you entertained during the seasonal transition.
As many of us are busy preparing for summer, Jimmy Contreras, one of Philadelphia’s most innovative entrepreneurs, is putting the finishing touches on his new style boutique. Located at 1820 E. Passyunk Ave., in South Philly’s most progressive and popular neighborhood, JimmyStyle will carry an eclectic mixture of funky, functional and fashionable products to elevate your wardrobe and your home. As Contreras approaches his opening the week after Memorial Day, check out www.shopjimmystyle.com for more information and updates.
While I can’t wait to see what Jimmy has created in South Philly, I’m equally excited about Sapphire Fund’s “Circus: Casino Night and Silent Auction” tomorrow evening at the Center for Architecture, 1218 Arch St. Though Sapphire Fund is best known for organizing Blue Ball, the group’s leadership has made a strategic effort to diversify fundraising activities and events in recent years. “Circus” will run from 6:30-10 p.m. and feature a number of casino-style games and a silent auction. Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at PHAG, 1225 Walnut St. Attendees will be treated to a complimentary bar, hors d’oeuvres and play chips. If you’ve never been to the Center for Architecture, it’s worth the admission just to experience the space. Visit www.sapphirefund.org for more information.
From Old City to Rittenhouse Square, Center City has an amazing selection of boutique-style art galleries/studios. One of my favorites is the gallery at Always By Design, 265 S. 10th St., which received PGN’s 2008 Pink Penny Award for “Best Place to Appreciate Fringe Art.” With new exhibits every month or two, AxD always keeps it fresh by featuring new artists and a wide range of media. The studio’s current exhibit features winners of the American Institute of Graphic Artists Philadelphia “Show Some Love” Design Awards. The show runs through May 30. To learn more about the gallery and upcoming exhibits, visit www.a-x-d.com.
AxD is the perfect spot to appreciate up-and-coming artists in an intimate setting. To enjoy exhibits on a slightly larger scale, the Philly Phlash Trolley just unveiled a newly expanded route that takes riders to every marquee attraction in the city. With 27 stops between Penn’s Landing and the Centennial District in Fairmount Park, riders can hop on and off at new locations, including the National Constitution Center, Franklin Square, the African-American Museum, the Philadelphia Zoo and the Please Touch Museum. When combined with existing stops on the Ben Franklin Parkway and elsewhere, the new Phlash route makes all of Philly’s cultural institutions easily accessible to everyone. The fare is only $2 each time you board. Individual all-day passes are $5 and all-day family passes for two adults and two children ages 6-17 are $10. Children under 5 and seniors ride for free. Tickets can be purchased at the Independence Visitors Center on Independence Mall or at Capriccio at Café Cret, 16th Street and the Parkway. For details, visit www.phillyphlash.com.
That’s about it for now. Don’t forget to check out “Cezanne and Beyond” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art before it closes on May 31 (www.philamuseum.org), and the groundbreaking Galileo exhibit at the Franklin Institute (www2.fi.edu), which runs throughout the summer. Also, make sure to grab PGN in two weeks for my second annual Summer Fun Guide.
’Til next time, get offline and see what your community has to offer!
If you have comments or information on upcoming events, e-mail [email protected], reference Offline.