A model of The Thing in the new Marvel exhibition at The Franklin Institute this spring in Philadelphia

May 1, 2019

May Story Ideas For Media

A sustainable clothing designer for every woman's body, the Lest We Forget Slavery Museum & more stories to cover this month

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Mary Alice Duff, the founder and owner of Alice Alexander.

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Justin and Gwen Ragsdale, the founders of Lest We Forget Slavery Museum.

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The summer 2019 Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package includes two tickets to "Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes." Photo by C. Mitchell for the Museum of Pop Culture

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Looking for a story to tell this month? Philadelphia has plenty of them. Here are some of the people, places and events on our radar right now:

HISTORY YOU SHOULD KNOW:

“You may have seen all the episode of ‘Roots’ or every movie made about slavery,” says Lest We Forget Museum of Slavery’s Gwen Ragsdale, “It’s not until you see these objects that you may have an understanding of what was used on Black bodies.” The historic Germantown museum, open Tuesday through Sunday by appointment, displays and explains thousands of “slavery artifacts: ironware, shackles, branding irons—that restrained, confined and often killed the enslaved Africans who were forced to wear them,” she said. There are also ship manifests, auction signs and Jim Crow objects that segregated and stereotyped African Americans. Museum owners Gwen and Justin Ragsdale issue this important reminder: “These objects are not related to Black history. They’re related to American history.”

PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Mary Alice Duff has been a “hobby seamstress my whole life,” she said. But it wasn’t until she became a mom that she made hobby a business. “Frustrated with the lack of sustainable materials for plus-size women,” she went back to school for clothing design, left her job and, in September 2017, launched Alice Alexander, a sustainable, ethical, slow clothing brand for women sizes zero to 30. Organic cotton, hemp and linen go into each made-to-order dress, skirt, jumpsuit, culottes, bodysuit, jacket or t-shirt. Although she and her staff of three welcome shoppers to their studio by appointment, Duff said “99%” of her 200-some clients find her line online. She relies on social media, especially Instagram, to get the word out about both new pieces and the importance of sustainable, inclusive fashion for every body.

VISIT PHILADELPHIA^®NEWS:

The summer 2019 Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package is the highest-value version of VISIT PHILADELPHIA’s popular hotel package yet. The new edition features tickets to the Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes exhibition at The Franklin Institute, free overnight hotel parking, a $25 promotional voucher for Garces Restaurants, PHLASH passes, ping-pong at SPiN and more. Available at 44 hotels, the package runs June 14-September 2, 2019. To learn more about it, go to visitphilly.com/overnight.

WHAT WE’RE EATING NOW:

Arturo Varela, Public Relations Manager: I’m loving the charcuterie board at Royal Boucherie in Old City. It has different types of cured meats, pâté and accompaniments, including a super tasty chicken liver mousse. It comes in two sizes. The small one is big enough to make a meal for two out of appetizers if you’re not that hungry, and it’s also perfect if you want something substantial but not too heavy to go with the bar’s amazing cocktails.

MAY HAPPENINGS:

Whitman at 200: The University of Pennsylvania Libraries Kislak Center has organized a yearlong celebration, from Philadelphia to Camden, New Jersey, around Whitman’s 200^th birthday, with an expanded roster of events on the day itself, May 31.
May 1-June 30, Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival: Didn’t seem possible, but this renewed Franklin Square tradition has expanded and transformed, with 29 new light sculpture and more live programming than ever.
May 2-late November, Al Capone’s Cell, Artist Installations: Eastern State Penitentiary reopens Capone’s prison cell and an adjoining cell to reveal restored and newly discovered paint schemes on May 2—and opens three compelling artworks about America’s contemporary criminal justice system.
May 4, Bold Women & Beer Festival: Philly’s first-ever female-focused beer festival takes over Love City Brewing for the day.
Opens May 9, Reconstruction Era Exhibit: The National Constitution Center introduces the country’s first permanent exhibition dedicated to the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th Amendments that ended slavery and promised equality.
May 18, Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby and Arts Festival: Human-powered vehicles (and other modes of transportation) parade along a three-mile obstacle course.
May 18-19, New Hope Celebrates’ Pride Festival: Bucks County (and Lambertville, New Jersey) hosts an LGBTQ celebration with a 100-foot equality flag and family-filled parade.
May 25-27, Brandywine River Museum of Art Antiques Show: One of the world’s prettiest pop-ups for browsing and buying beautiful old things pops up along the Brandywine River.

LOOKING AHEAD:

May 31-June 9, Philly Beer Week: Once the Hammer of Glory taps the first keg, the pub crawls, tastings—thousands of region-wide, brew-centric events—ensue.
June 1, Roots Picnic: A Philly tradition springs up at a new venue, The Mann Center, and features the 20^th anniversary of The Roots’ seminal album, Things Fall Apart.
June 1, Strawberry Festival: Orchards open, beekeepers arrive, kids have fun at Historic Strawberry Mansion.
June 9, Odunde: A full week of events (June 2-8) culminates in the East Coast’s largest African American street festival on South Street.
June 29-July 4, Wawa Welcome America: This year’s festivities include three fireworks shows, outdoor movies all over the city and a strong Army presentation presence.

OPENINGS:

George Washington Wood Bed and Breakfast: A historic 1882 Conshohocken residence has debuted as an elegant, affordable, five-suite bed and breakfast. Room rates from $199.
Reads & Company: Phoenixville gets a community-centric indie bookshop from author Robb Cadigan and Jason Hafer of the former Wolfgang Books. Opens May 10.

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