October 16, 2019

Philadelphia Story Ideas For November 2019 & Beyond

Here are the Philly stories you should know and tell this November and beyond.

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This fall, the region hosts three photo pop-ups specifically created for selfie-taking, including Happy Place (pictured). Photo courtesy Happy Place

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The Penn Museum’s Africa Gallery reopens November 16. Rendering courtesy of the Penn Museum

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The immersive nighttime display LumiNature transforms the 42-acre Philadelphia Zoo into an explorable, multimedia light and music experience. Rendering courtesy of Philadelphia Zoo

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Looking for a story to tell? Philadelphia has plenty of them. Here are some of the people, places and events on our radar for stories perfect for sharing today, next week, this season or next:

PROFILE: CLAY KATONGO, GLOBAL GUIDE:

When the Penn Museum’s Africa Gallery reopens November 16, Clay Katongo will be one of its Global Guides. Katongo, a pastor and lecturer, grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He says, “I like to share stories.” His particular background and interests led him to the museum’s Global Guides Program, wherein newer Americans tell of their home countries and cultures in specific galleries. Katongo plans to offer his insight into Africa’s three main religions: Christianity, Islam and multi-named indigenous belief systems. “Traditional religion in Africa doesn’t have a book. It’s oral, translated from generation to generation,” he said. He’ll also tell of his time helping to play the lukumbi, a tree drum used to communicate between villages. 3260 South Street, (215) 898-4000

HOTEL NEWS: CENTER CITY GETS A W:

All that construction on the 1401 block of Chestnut Street will come to an end in early 2020, when Center City welcomes two 52-story, side-by-side Marriott properties. The modern W Philadelphia (the city’s first W property) will have 295 luxurious rooms, along with a bar terrace, Living Room lounge, lap pool and 22 meeting rooms. Philadelphia’s rapidly expanding, wellness-focused Element (another first for the region) will have 460 rooms. W, 1429 Chestnut Street, w-hotels.marriott.com; Element, 1441 Chestnut Street, element-hotels.marriott.com

TREND WE CANNOT IGNORE:

This fall, our region hosts the opening of three photo pop-ups, simulated environments specifically created for selfie-taking. Fashion District Philadelphia has Candytopia, 14 fully dimensional, sensory-overloaded rooms that are part over-the-top candy store, part saccharine Instagram backdrop—with sugary snacks ($28 adults, $20 ages 4-12, open through January 5, 2020, closed select Tuesdays). King of Prussia is home to Happy Place, featuring 12 rooms of rubber ducks, rainbows, cookies, flowers, gumballs and euphoria ($35 adults, $30 ages 4-12, open through January 5, 2020, closed Tuesdays). In November, the Bourse will introduce Photo Pop Philly: Winter Wonderland, featuring festive themes, virtual reality and faux snow ($20 adults, $12 ages 5-10, select dates, November 15-January 5).

FILMING IN PHILLY:
Philadelphia is definitely back on Hollywood’s radar. This fall, five major projects—Concrete Cowboys, Dispatches from Elsewhere, Queer Eye, Mare of Easttown and After Exile—filmed or are filming locally. The biggest: Concrete Cowboys, directed by Ricky Staub and starring Idris Elba, will be a feature film about the famed horseback riders of North Philly (release date TBA). The most omnipresent: Dispatches from Elsewhere, an AMC anthology with a 2020 release. Honestly, if you haven’t seen Andre 3000 or Jason Segel around town, you’re in the minority. (Bonus points for spotting their co-star, Sally Field.) Netflix’s fab five became honorary Philadelphians, taking up in Old City to film season five of Queer Eye for a 2020 release. In November, Kate Winslet will be in Chester County to star (and produce) an HBO small-town detective series, Mare of Easttown (release date: 2020). Also this month, After Exile will bring Robert De Niro (Silver Linings Playbook) and Shia LeBeouf (Transformers) back to Philly to film a feature drama about a family’s life after their son’s imprisonment, also starring Shailene Woodley (release date 2021).

COMING IN NOVEMBER:

November 7-17, Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival: This festival showcases the Asian American and Pacific Islander experience through film, theater and music.
November 8-10, Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show: A juried display of museum-quality handmade jewelry, textiles and mixed media go on sale at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
November 8, Dilworth Park: The ice rink opens for business, as do the cabin and wintergarden—all in City Hall’s front yard.
November 9-10, Moby-Dick Marathon Reading: The Independence Seaport Museum hosts The Rosenbach’s 25-hour—overnight!—reading of the Herman Melville classic, on the author’s 200th birthday.
November 19-December 1, Mean Girls: The classic comedy, as retold Broadway-style, makes its way to Broad Street—a homecoming, of sorts, for creator and Upper Darby native Tina Fey.
November 28, 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade: The country’s oldest Thanksgiving parade makes its 100th run this year.

LOOKING AHEAD:

December 7, Firebird Festival: Phoenixville honors its namesake with performance, crafting and vendors, followed by a giant bonfire, created out of a community-built wooden phoenix.
December 14, Army-Navy Game: Army takes on Navy for the 120th time.
January 14-19, 2020, International Conference and Festival of Blacks in Dance: PHILADANCO and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts co-host this 32nd annual gathering and celebration of Black dancers.
January 21, 2020, Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service: Greater Philadelphia holds the country’s largest day of service, with tens of thousands of volunteers doing community projects throughout the city and region.
January 23-February 8, Philadelphia Orchestra, BeethovenNOW: Pianists Yefim Bronfman, Daniil Trifonov and Emanuel Ax join the orchestra for all five of Beethoven’s piano concertos, part of a season-long celebration of Beethoven’s 250th.
February 1-June 7, 2020: Votes for Women: A Visual History: The Brandywine Museum of Art commemorates the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote by displaying drawings, illustrations, posters, clothing and emblems expressing the message of the suffragists.
June 23-28, 2020: KPMG Women’s LPGA Championship: The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA)’s second-oldest championship—and one of five majors on the women’s tour—makes its first-ever appearance at Delaware County’s Aronimink Golf Club.

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ESSENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHY:

VISIT PHILADELPHIA® is our name and our mission. As the region’s official tourism marketing agency, we build Greater Philadelphia’s image, drive visitation and boost the economy.

On Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website and blog, visitphilly.com and uwishunu.com, visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages. Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the sites effective trip-planning tools. Along with Visit Philly social media channels, the online platforms communicate directly with consumers. Travelers can also call and stop into the Independence Visitor Center for additional information and tickets.