What’s Happening in Philly | The Triangle

What’s Happening in Philly

Final Weekend of Philly Beer Week
Philly Beer Week is a 10-day celebration of the best beer-drinking city in America. Established in 2008, it’s the largest beer celebration of its kind in the U.S., featuring hundreds of festivals, dinners, tours, pub crawls, tastings and meet-the-brewer nights at area bars, restaurants and other locations throughout Greater Philadelphia. Philly Beer Week highlights the region’s diverse beer scene — its world-class breweries, neighborhood taverns, trend-setting restaurants, and rich beer culture and history. Philly Beer Week draws thirsty beer fans from throughout the region and beyond, making it one of Philadelphia’s key annual tourism events.
Catch the final two nights of PBW at venues like SugarHouse Casino, The Farmers’ Cabinet, Johnny Brenda’s, Prohibition Tap Room, Pub on Passyunk East and Dock Street Brewery. Check out the website for a full listing of events.
June 1-10
Prices and locations vary
www.phillybeerweek.org

 

Center City Opera Theater Presents “Slaying the Dragon”
In the early 1990s, Larry Trapp, Grand Dragon of the Nebraska Ku Klux Klan, conducted a hate campaign against minority groups in the predominantly white city of Lincoln. But when Cantor Michael and Julie Weisser reached out to this white supremacist, despite his anti-Semitic threats, Trapp turned his back on bigotry, converted to Judaism and campaigned for tolerance until he died in the Weissers’ home from advanced diabetes at the age of 42. Trapp’s story has inspired several imagined and documentary works, most notably Kathryn Watterson’s 1995 book, “Not By the Sword,” which will be reissued by the University of Nebraska Press in 2012.
Drawing upon these events and accounts, “Slaying the Dragon” presents the fictional story of Jerry Krieg, Grand Dragon of the KKK, whose life is transformed when he meets Rabbi Nathan Goodman and his wife, Vera. After waging a hate campaign against Asian immigrants, African-Americans, and Jews in the city, Jerry is ultimately won over by the Goodmans’ compassion. As a consequence, he resigns from the Klan, foils the Klan’s plot to bomb the synagogue, and resolves to speak out for tolerance. Yet despite his well-intentioned declarations, Jerry’s public about-face is met with skepticism by those he has persecuted, especially Giet Long, the Vietnamese director of the Asian Center; the Rev. Lincoln Masterson, an African-American preacher; and Esther Zikorn, a Holocaust survivor. Showings will continue at the Academy of Vocal Arts at 19th and Spruce streets the following Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, June 14-17.
Prince Music Theater at 14th and Chestnut streets
Saturday, June 9, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $39-79
www.operatheater.org

 

20th Annual Islamic Heritage Festival
Presented by the Islamic Cultural Preservation and Information Council, the 20th annual International Islamic Heritage Festival is a free and unique event that will draw visitors, vendors and Islamic scholars from all over the country. It gives Philadelphians a chance to experience authentic Islamic cuisine, music and entertainment along with learning about the rich Islamic heritage and history.
The festival will kick off with a “Unity in Diversity Community Parade,” featuring youth groups, drill teams, schools and community organizations from across the Delaware Valley. The parade will commence at 1 p.m. at Independence National Park, 5th and Market streets, and end on the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing. The festival begins at 2 p.m. on the RiverStage at the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing. It will feature an open market bazaar with an array of vendors providing international products and services, books, clothing, Islamic arts and crafts, jewelry, and foods from around the world. For families, there will be games for kids, face painting, and boat rides, among tons of free giveaways.
In addition, stage entertainment will be provided throughout the day by hip hop artists Kalil Ismail, R&B artists Blessing Sabir and Lox Knox, and the UPK Brass and Jazz Band. Other performers include hip-hop group Jabbernauts, the AICP Madiah Islamic chores group, a large variety of spoken-word poets and artists, along with other multicultural performance groups and aspiring music artists, all supported by a live band.
RiverStage at Penn’s Landing, Columbus Boulevard and Chestnut Street
Saturday, June 9, 2-8 p.m.
www.delawareriverevents.com

 

Free Screening: “NO ROOM FOR ROCKSTARS: THE VANS WARPED TOUR”
The Awesome Fest is partnering with the Delaware River Waterfront Corp. to present a weekly series of free outdoor movie screenings at the Race Street Pier. Every Saturday at nightfall throughout the summer, The Awesome Fest will be presenting independent features straight out of major festivals including Sundance and South by Southwest.
With more than 300 hours of film shot during the 2010 tour, “No Room for Rockstars” documents the true stories of modern-era rock ‘n’ roll from every possible angle. From the kids in the van playing parking lots to gain notice, to the veteran stage manager whose life was saved by the tour, to the musician who crosses over to mainstream success while on the road, “No Room for Rockstars” is Cinema Verite storytelling at its finest. Recently screened at Slamdance, SXSW and Hot Docs (Toronto), this is not a historical retrospective or concert film.
Race Street Pier at Columbus Boulevard and Race Street

Saturday, June 9, 8:30 p.m.
www.theawesomefest.com