Now open

After more than 20 years of dishing out culinary delights at some of Philly’s top Asian restaurants (Sampan, Buddakan), chef Sam Chen has launched his own eatery right in the middle of buzzy Reading Terminal Market. The Asian street food concept Bao & Bun Studio lives up to its name with a rotating menu of 10 different plump and fluffy bao buns — aka Taiwanese sandwiches — with sumptuous fillings like pulled pork, Mongolian beef, soy garlic chicken and curry cauliflower. Also on offer: Asian nachos piled high with beef, beans, spicy aioli, pickled onions, jalapenos, sour cream and cheese over wonton chips. Don’t miss the eatery’s celebratory ribbon cutting this Thursday at 11 a.m.

Now open

Casual cafe by day, lively cocktail bar by night, the new Curtain Call cafe and lounge at the Kimmel Center brings an assortment of tasty eats to the Avenue of the Arts. Offering the perfect pre-show pick-me-up — or post-show nightcap —  the menu is heavy on the small plates, featuring elevated bites like aged prosciutto with poached figs; crispy chickpea fritters with a fresh herb dip; and confit yellowfin tuna with tomato jam and capers on seeded toast. Also on offer: happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, with $5 beer, $7 wine and $7 specialty cocktails.

Now open

Rising from the ashes after a 2022 fire took it out of commission, Sonny’s Cocktail Joint has returned to South Street looking better than ever. The no-frills, no-reservations restaurant/bar features a diverse set of wines and draft beer, along with a packed menu of shareables, comfort foods and crowd-pleasers, ranging from bang bang shrimp and buffalo chicken & artichoke dip to mushroom banh mis and barbecue brisket sandwiches. But the real showstoppers are the cocktails, with full menu sections dedicated to specialty negronis, spritzes, stirred drinks and more. Sonny’s is open late, with the kitchen open till midnight.

It’s cozy vibes only at this international reading party. The viral event series makes its debut in Northern Liberties’ Indy Hall Clubhouse with a solid hour of ambient music and reading alongside fellow bookworms, followed by a chat about all things literary. Bring whatever you’re reading, beat the winter chill and maybe make a friend or two. Tickets are required.

Ahead of Black History Month, the Hyatt Centric Center City is kicking off its second annual Black History Month Showcase with a Meet the Makers opening reception this Thursday. The multimedia showcase features works by five Philly-based Black artists, and works range from photography and sculptures to paintings and illustrations. At the opening reception, look forward to complimentary light bites, pay-as-you-go craft cocktails and, of course, the chance to mingle with the artists themselves. The Hyatt’s Black History Month Showcase runs from Thursday through mid-March 2025.

E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles! Put on your Eagles best and stop by Xfinity Live! to celebrate the Birds’ exciting playoff run with NBC’s Erin Coleman and Keith Jones, plenty of special guests, and the greatest fans in the world. Need some early morning motivation? Today Show pep rallies are being held in all four cities participating in the NFL championship games this weekend — and you know Philly can throw a better party than Kansas City.

Fancy a walk into Mordor? Vying for power in Westeros? Fighting a wyrm in Prythian? Whatever your flavor of fantasy, the brand-new exhibition at Moore College of Art & Design — the country’s only visual art school exclusively for women and nonbinary students — is for you. Fantasy’s Spell: The Art of Enchantment features original physical, digital and motion-based works by local contemporary artists, with pieces including paintings, drawings, maps, weapons and more. The free opening reception gives you the chance to meet the artists themselves, and the exhibition remains on display from January 25 through March 15, 2025.

Imagine yourself in the middle of the stage, completely immersed in a show as performers move all around you. Agora de la danse theater company’s Koros VR Experience is a whole new way to experience contemporary dance, made possible through the magic of virtual reality. Don your VR headset as dancers tell Koros’ kinetic tale across three works adapted specifically for this production: The Complex Simplicity of Love, Allegro Barbaro and 6.58 manifesto. Join fellow attendees for drinks and discussion afterward at Penn Live Arts’ Annenberg Center Lobby Bar.

Learn more about Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tibetan and other Asian cultural traditions — and grab some holiday treasures — at the 44th annual Lunar New Year edition of the Penn Museum’s signature CultureFest! series. The Year of the Snake celebration includes live music, dance and family-friendly activities like storytelling and make-and-take art, plus the grand finale: a performance of the traditional Lion Dance. The event, held in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania’s American Center for Asian Students and Center for East Asian Studies, is included with timed tickets for regular museum admission.

Name a more iconic trio. (We’ll wait.) Three of the greatest things ever created come together during the Philly Chocolate, Wine & Whiskey Festival. From the chocolate side, expect candy bars, bon-bons, truffles, cookies, macarons and a chocolate fondue bar (plus artisan cheeses and charcuterie). For beverages, indulge in international and domestic selections, champagne, sparkling wine and prosecco, as well as bourbon, rye, gin, tequila and Scotch and Irish whiskies (and craft beer and cider). Pair your faves — or grab a boozy milkshake, candy cocktail or lushy slushie — while perusing fashion, arts and craft vendors.

The Main Line Art Center in Haverford presents a free Lunar New Year Celebration ushering in the Year of the Snake with hands-on art activities for all ages, a martial arts demonstration and an outdoor performance of the iconic Lion Dance by the Philadelphia Suns.

Philly’s ALT 104.5 gives you another reason to brave the cold with Winter Jawn. The event features stage performances by Gigi Perez, Judah & The Lion, Badflower, and Dexter and The Moonrocks, with DJ sets throughout the day. Warm up between shows inside Xfinity Live!, with over a half-dozen eateries like Victory Beer Hall and Chickie’s & Pete’s. Winter Jawn is free, but tickets are required. ALTernatively, you can upgrade your experience with $65 VIP tickets that net you a three-hour open bar, a barbecue food buffet and prime views of the concert.

Enjoy hot beats on the ice when Dilworth Park’s Rhythm on Ice night returns. The evening features a happy hour with $7 Jim Beam Black cocktails, $6 wine and $5 Broad Street Bully beer, and kicks off with an ice skating performance by the Colonial Skating Club. Stick around for all-ages skate sessions on Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink and thematic live DJ music throughout the evening. The theme this time around? Ice princesses. Tickets are required to skate, and for more on Winter at Dilworth Park, read on below.

More than 20 artists and makers offer deep discounts on their “seconds” during Art Star’s cheeky, charitable sale. The no-frills event — best described as a rummage sale — features imperfect artwork, overstock items and discontinued merchandise priced at 50% off or more from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. A portion of the sales from the two-day event benefits two nonprofits: World Central Kitchen and The Sunday LOVE Project.

All your favorite royal highnesses converge on Franklin Square during Ice Princess Weekend, expanded to two full days for 2025. Join Anna and Elsa from Frozen, Isabella from Encanto, Tiana from The Princess and the Frog and more for meet-and-greets with kids (and kids at heart) at the free event which also includes games, face painting, giant bubbles, sing-alongs, fitness fun and ice sculpting under the lights — with ticketed brunch with the princesses available on Saturday. Check out other awesome attractions at Winter in Franklin Square as well (see below).

After a snowy victory against the Rams, the Philadelphia Eagles are just one game away from the Super Bowl — with this week’s NFC championship match against the tough-as-nails Washington Commanders standing in the way. Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and the rest of the Eagles set their eyes on the prize and leave it all on the field this Sunday. For more on where to watch the game in Philly — including where to find promos, pop ups and limited-time snacks — check out our Eagles playoff guide. Go Birds!

Dates vary by event

Soak up these live performances at venues across Greater Philadelphia this week and weekend. Looking for an encore? Some of the biggest names in music are hitting Philly stages this year. Read all about it in our 2025 concert guide.

• Live Band Karaoke at Vinyl: It’s your time to shine. Nighttime hotspot Vinyl reignites your Thursday nights with Live Band Karaoke, a series of anything-goes karaoke nights where singers are backed up by — you guessed it — a live band. The free weekly event is designed for both karaoke veterans or full-on newbies (Thursdays).
• AfroRican State of Soul: Lucas Rivera at Esperanza Arts Center: This fusion of Afro-Puerto Rican music and poetry features original poetry by renowned poet Lucas Rivera, set to a live Latin music ensemble. The performance fuses salsa, bomba and plena music, with stories focusing on Afro-Puerto Rican culture and identity (Friday).
• Soccer Mommy at Union Transfer: Beloved indie rocker Soccer Mommy lands at Union Transfer on the heels of her fourth album, Evergreen. Known for blending bedroom pop and folk influences, Mommy singer Sophie Allison leans into tunes that are raw, dreamy and sure to feature her purple-haired Stardew Valley wife (Saturday).
• David Gray at The Met Philadelphia: U.K.-born singer-songwriter David Gray — the soulful voice behind White Ladder, one of the bestselling British albums of the 21st century — is back. In support of his 13th studio album Dear Life, the musician brings his deeply personal musings on crisis and resolution, mortality and faith, and love and heartbreak to The Met (Saturday).
• Jubilate! A Concert of Sacred Music: A centerpiece of the Academy of Vocal Arts’ milestone 90th season, the school’s 25th annual Jubilate! Concert shines the spotlight on its current resident artists for two nights of uplifting orchestral performances, inspiring hymns and sacred compositions (Saturday & Sunday).
• Dancing with the Stars: Live! at The Met Philadelphia: Witness the athleticism and artistry of Dancing with the Stars up close when the glitzy and glamorous dance show hits Philly. Sunday’s show features performances by pommel horse olympian Stephen Nedoroscik and The Bachelor’s Joey Graziadei (Sunday).

Dates vary by event

Treat yourself at one of these food-related happenings in Greater Philadelphia. Hungry for more? Dig into our guide to Philly’s best new restaurants this winter.

• Bold Red Wines to Keep You Warm at Tria Cafe Washington West: Warm up with big, bold flavors as wine director Lauren Harris breaks out six velvety red wines to sip. The lineup (wineup?) includes cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, shiraz and more, along with snacks from the cafe (Tuesday).
• High + Dry at High Street Restaurant & Bar: Celebrate Dry January with a lively non-alcoholic soiree. Ardmore’s Wallace Dry Goods collabs with High Street to offer a curated list of zero-proof cocktails, paired with High Street’s rustic menu and live music in the glamorous Art Deco-inspired Back Bar (Wednesday).
• New Weekly Happy Hour and Zero-Proof Cocktails at 48 Record Bar: Debuting this Dry January, 48 Record Bar — the snazzy Old City listening room — launches a slate of non-alcoholic sips, plus happy hour service on select days. Zero-proof offerings include a vibrant ube pina colada-inspired cocktail, a pomegranate-cherry tea-inspired drink and more, and the happy hour crowd can enjoy seasonal cocktail deals and complimentary small bites (Wednesdays, Thursdays & Sundays).
• Scottish Burns Supper and Whisky Tasting at the Brandywine Museum of Art: This hearty Scottish meal celebrates the life of Scottish poet Robert Burns with a traditional four-course dinner and whisky pairing. On the menu: scotch eggs, haggis, sticky toffee pudding and more — each with its own curated whisky. Evening museum access is included with tickets (Friday).
• Pea Soup Dinner at the American Swedish Historical Museum: The American Swedish Historical Museum beats the January frost with a warming dinner of authentic Swedish yellow pea soup. The soup comes with sharp cheese, dippably crisp bread, dessert and a shot of Arrak punsch — a sweet, spicy, fruity libation with a Svedka vodka base and notes of caramel. Good soup (Saturday).
• Lunar New Year Dumpling Workshop at Dumpling Academy: The Dumpling Academy’s popular Chinese Lunar New Year Handmade Dumpling Making party is led by expert instructor Yin, who guides participants in preparing savory dumpling fillings before wrapping, cooking and enjoying them together. Attendees also learn how to make Lunar New Year tangyuan desserts and enjoy complimentary dim sum. The exact event venue is disclosed after registration (Saturday).

Dates vary by event

Can we get a “whoop whoop”? Can we get an “oh yeah”? Philly nightlife is looking cooler than cool with these dance parties this week:

• San Junipero: 80’s Pop & New Wave Dance Party at Rosy’s Taco Bar East: Enter a world of surf, sun and vaporwave vibes at this LGBTQ+-oriented dance party. The party features ’80s hits and New Wave jams until the wee hours, and advance tickets get you $3 off admission (Friday).
• Taking Back Indie at Kung Fu Necktie: Sugar, we’re goin’ down swinging. This indie/emo night spins the best of The Killers, All Time Low, Arctic Monkeys, Fall Out Boy and more right in the heart of Fishtown (Saturday).
• Long Live Eras: A Swiftie Dance Party at Brooklyn Bowl: Taylor is love. Taylor is life. Break out the friendship bracelets and relive the iconic Eras Tour at this 21-plus dance party featuring all of T-Swift’s greatest hits (Saturday).

Ongoing (dates vary by tour)

Philly this week. Looking for more? Go at your own pace and head out on one of these self-guided tours this week.

• Twilight Adult Guided Tour aboard the Battleship New Jersey: This 21-plus tour of the 45,000-ton Battleship New Jersey guides guests through rarely seen parts of the majestic titan to showcase NSFW sailor art and adult-oriented tales from the ship. Tickets include a frosty beer, a glass of wine or a soft drink on the main deck (Friday).
• Goat Hiking in Wissahickon Valley Park: Goat hikes? Goat hikes. This series of adorable strolls through Wissahickon Valley Park’s Andorra Nature Area features 45-minute hikes alongside local nature volunteers and baby goat companions. The adventure wraps up with, of course, plenty of goat cuddles (select Saturdays & Sundays through March 2025).

Dates vary by event

Root, root, root for the home teams at these sporting events in Greater Philadelphia. New to the Philly fandom? Get caught up on the city’s incredible sports history with our comprehensive guide to Philly sports.

• Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center: The Broad Street Bullies continue their rally and hit the ice this week for a red-hot faceoff against the Detroit Red Wings (Tuesday).
• Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center: Maxey, Oubre and the rest of the Sixers gear up for a tough home game this week as the Eastern Conference leader Cleveland Cavaliers make an appearance at the Wells Fargo Center (Friday).
• Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship: Alvarez vs. Stephens at the Wells Fargo Center: Philly-born MMA fighter Eddie Alvarez takes on Iowa’s Jeremy Stephens during this year’s main event at Knuckle Mania V, a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship slugfest hosted right in Philly (Saturday).

Ongoing

Give the City of Brotherly Love a standing ovation: The internationally renowned TKTS ticket booth service has arrived in Philly. Joining the ranks of New York City, Tokyo, and London, TKTS Philadelphia offers an unbeatable deal: 30% to 50% off tickets to select Philly theater and performing arts shows within 72 hours of the performance. Tickets must be purchased in person at the Independence Visitor Center and include shows by Ensemble Arts, the Philadelphia Orchestra, The Wilma Theater and many more. Want the full scoop? Read on in our guide.

Ongoing

The world just got a little bit smaller. Most recently seen in New York City, the hit art installation comes to Philly’s LOVE Park. Created by Lithuanian artist Benediktas Gylys, the Portal links the City of Brotherly Love to faraway countries around the world via a massive 24/7 video livestream. Note: Find The Portal near the LOVE Park Visitor Center, right on the corner of 16th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard.

Through Friday, January 31, 2025 (Fridays only)

Heeeere’s Jason! The Philadelphia Eagles’ legendary lineman is coming to late-night TV, hosting the new one-hour show They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce, airing on ESPN for five consecutive Friday nights between the final NFL regular season weekend and the Pro Bowl. Each episode is shot in front of a live studio audience at Union Transfer in Callowhill on Friday evenings a few hours before it airs live-to-tape, with popular Philly party band SNACKTIME providing musical accompaniment. Free tickets can be requested from 1iota’s website via random drawing, while supplies last.

Through Friday, January 31, 2025 (select dates)

Take a walk among the stars during this international celestial light show in Montgomery County. Part of Moment Factory’s Lumina Enchanted Night Walk series, this illuminated outdoor experience weaves together lighting, projections, sound effects and music to guide visitors through an immersive 27-acre illuminated forest. The stellar light show aims to bring people, nature and the universe a little closer together. Tickets are required, and pay-as-you-go food and drink are available on-site.

Through Saturday, February 1, 2025

Dig in. Delicious deals are on the menu at more than 100 restaurants during the can’t-miss twice-a-year Center City District Restaurant Week. Enjoy a prix-fixe dinner menu for just $40 or $60 a pop at select restaurants, or grab a two-course lunch for just $20 (also at select restaurants). Not sure where to start? Check out our guide for some choice restaurant picks from Visit Philadelphia staffers.

Through Sunday, February 9, 2025

Traveling all the way from the National Portrait Gallery in London, The Time is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure makes its North American debut at the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art. Curated by trailblazing journalist and globally known curator Ekow Eshun, the exhibit takes its name from James Baldwin’s 1963 essay on desegregation and features 28 contemporary artists from across the Black and African diaspora, including Amy Sherald (you may know her mural at 1108 Sansom Street), Michael Armitage and Claudette Johnson. Through painting, drawing and sculpture, the collection celebrates Black contemporary life in all its nuance, richness and beauty.

Through Sunday, February 23, 2025 (dates vary by attraction)

Historic Franklin Square welcomes the season with a bevy of family winter attractions, festive activities and holiday celebrations including:

• Chilly Philly Mini Golf: Grab a club and don a coat: Center City’s only outdoor mini-golf course showcases 18 holes of festive lights, holiday music, winter characters and iconic Philly landmarks (through January 26, 2025).
• Electrical Spectacle Light Show presented by PECO: The centerpiece of the park’s holiday festivities, Franklin Square’s free nightly light show — inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s kite-and-key electricity experiment — illuminates the square every half hour with hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights choreographed to a soundtrack of seasonal tunes (through February 23, 2025).
• Street Curling: Gather a team, channel your inner Olympian and push your stones to glory with Street Curling! Curling rinks must be rented in advance and tickets are required (through February 23, 2025).

Plus, don’t miss the relaxing firepits and warming tent with hand-crafted cocktails and seasonal treats.

Through Sunday, February 23, 2025 (dates vary by attraction)

Winter at Dilworth Park continues a season of fun around City Hall with these wintertime attractions:

• Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink: Strap on your skates and hit the ice at Dilworth Park’s popular outdoor skating rink. Note that tickets are required (through February 23, 2025).
• Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin: Laps around the rink not your thing? Swing by the Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin right next door for a bite and drink indoors or by the toasty fire pit (through February 23, 2025).
• Wintergarden on the Greenfield Lawn: Step into a whimsical winter wonderland and explore this outdoor topiary garden decked in shimmering lights and playful reindeer sculptures (through March 9, 2025).

Through Sunday, March 2, 2025

Experience a Penn’s Landing winter wonderland as Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest sets up on the Delaware River waterfront for its 31st season. Glide around the NHL-sized ice skating rink, enjoy games and amusement rides on the boardwalk, or indulge in seasonal treats and hot drinks around firepits, cabins or the rinkside lounge. This year’s edition of the winter attraction also marks the return of fantastic light displays shimmering on the water, along with a slate of weekly programming including markets, bingo nights and theme skate nights. Winterfest admission is free, but food and drink are pay as you go. Wintry amenities, including ice skating, can be reserved in advance.

Through Sunday, March 2, 2025

Curated in collaboration with award-winning actress CCH Pounder–Koné over the course of two years, this new exhibition at the African American Museum in Philadelphia highlights contemporary art spanning the African diaspora. The exhibition — composed of 40 works of art in multiple media — features Black figures and explores identity, presence, beauty, autonomy and power. Featured works include pieces by world-renowned artists like Bisa Butler, Elizabeth Colomba, Samella Lewis and Lezley Saar, along with art from emerging artists like Luke Agada and Alex Peter Idoko.

Through Sunday, March 23, 2025

The horticultural minds at Longwood Gardens prove winter is more than stark, bare trees with their annual Winter Wonder exhibit. Escape the chill and bask in the warmth of the beautiful new West Conservatory (part of Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience) as it begins its peak flowering season where flowering chains of glory, Cape primroses, African violets and more fill up the space in purple and white while hundreds of orchids bloom magnificently. Outdoors, the gardens’ 400 acres pop with yellow and orange witch hazel, while winter grasses provide texture to the landscape.

Through Sunday, May 4, 2025

Brrrawr! The Academy of Natural Sciences enters the Arctic Circle with Ice Dinosaurs, a brand-new exhibition that explores the post-Jurassic period dinos that lived in extreme polar environments. The frosty exhibition challenges everything you know about dinosaurs with groundbreaking discoveries on how these dinos on ice survived, and it features immersive animatronics, interactive maps, real fossil and skeleton displays, and more. All exhibits at the attraction are included with general admission tickets.

It’s true: Philly is an award-winning, headline-grabbing kinda town. Need help keeping up with all the buzz? Get the scoop with this weekly roundup of our favorite Philly stories. Hot off the presses:

• Must-read: This is the book an Eagles superstar was caught reading during the Birds’ playoff run.
• This Temple gymnast’s TikTok-breaking floor routine is the one thing you should watch today.
• Foodie fusion alert: An iconic Philly flavor is now available in empanada form.
• Meet the Philly playwright behind a Pulitzer Prize-nominated play chronicling an iconic Black bookstore.
• SEPTA’s first female train engineer closes her 40-year career with a heartwarming surprise.

The winter chill might be bitter, but this fresh batch of content from visitphilly.com is oh-so sweet:

• Adorned with more than 4,000 vibrant murals, sculptures, installations and public art displays, Philadelphia is known as the “Mural Capital of the World” for a reason. Love the city’s murals as much as we do? Make your voice heard and vote for Philly as the Best City for Street Art during the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards!
• Black culture and history thrive in Philadelphia all year long, but February offers a special opportunity to reflect on the trailblazers, milestones and moments in Black history that have changed our world. Read up on how you can celebrate with our 2025 guide to Black History Month in Philly.
• Black-owned restaurants, cafes, bakeries and breweries are the lifeblood of Philadelphia’s vibrant hospitality scene, adding dynamic flavors and a singular touch to an ever-growing repertoire of culinary hotspots. Want to know some of the top spots to check out? Dig into our freshly updated guide.
• True to its name, University City is known as home to the University of Pennsylvania (aka Penn), Drexel University and other higher education institutions. But it’s also a center of commerce as the city’s up-and-coming “second downtown” — making it a prime spot for your next vacation or staycation. Get the low-down with our brand-new guide to hotels in University City.
• It may be the shortest month of the year, but there’s still a ton jam-packed into February in Philadelphia. Our 2025 guide to things to do this February highlights can’t-miss events, festivals, exhibitions and more.