Hot recs from the Philly Mag staff
Bi Jean Ngo and Brandon J. Pierce in The Snow Queen at the Wilma Theater / Photograph by Johanna Austin
In a moment in which the whole world is fighting for your time and attention (two rare and precious commodities these days), every day is an exercise in deciding what’s actually worth the read, the trek, the watch, the click, the deep dive, the effort.
We can help (at least a little) with that decision-making process, reader, via our Editors’ Cut — a weekly round-up of the best, can’t-miss bits of culture that we here at Philly Mag have been loving lately.
Want more? Here’s our weekly roundup of all the things to do in Philly this week.
The Recs: November 21st
The Philadelphia Marathon / Photograph by JPG Photography
To feel the Philly love: The Philadelphia Marathon
“So it hasn’t happened yet, but I’m counting down the hours to the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday. It’s such a fun day for us runners as we traverse the 26.2 miles through Philly’s neighborhoods and past landmarks to the finish line. One of the best parts is the spectators who show UP for the runners with their signs — some cute, some heartwarming, some hilarious — and cheers. I love everyone pounding the pavement and everyone spectating!” — Kristen Schott, deputy editor, lifestyle and weddings
To carbo-load: Manayunk Timber
“I have been living for starting my Saturdays at Manayunk’s Timber Yard. The unassuming lumber yard — yes, lumber yard — houses a bustling community of artists and features an indie bookstore, coffee stand, and, best of all, Dead King Bakery, a sourdough bakery that operates Thursdays and Saturdays with some of the best pastries I’ve had in Philly. It’s so very random (and Philly!) and makes me feel cool when I go there.” — Olivia Kram, digital marketing and community manager
To carbo-load, part II: Beignets from Brown Street Coffee in Fairmount
“The beignets sold at Fairmount’s Brown Street Coffee are always the first item to sell out, staffers tell me, and no wonder: These babies are a textural transcendence — silken, not-too-sweet custard (I like the vanilla best) cuddled by a wee pillow of sugar-dusted perfection. Locally sourced from family-owned Au Fournil, the Havertown-based French bakery founded and run by Stephane Wojtowicz (with his wife Nayla and son Clement), they’re a now my preferred way to say oui to life.” — Ronnie Polaneczky, senior editor
To earn our good-parent points: The Snow Queen at the Wilma Theater
“It’s the theater’s first foray into putting on a children’s play, but in true Wilma fashion, it does so smartly, without being childish. The modern take on the Hans Christian Andersen classic serves up enough laughs and magic to keep a young audience entertained, while also challenging them with some nontraditional choices. (The retelling is based on a script from Soviet era Russia so themes of tyranny and wealth disparity are more prevalent than, say, the magical aspects you’d expect in a fairy tale.) There are also some timely political allusions for the grownups — a child’s loved one being snatched away by an icy villain; the less subtle ‘Melt ICE’ shirts in the lobby benefiting the Latine immigrant organization Juntos.” — Laura Swartz, deputy editor, digital
To momentarily escape our harsh, harsh reality: The Creation of the Birds inside the “Dreamworld: Surrealism at 100” exhibition at the Philadelphia Art Museum
“I went to the PMA’s new surrealism exhibit, where in the very last room of the show, I was introduced to a Spanish surrealist, Remedios Varo and this particular piece, which I think makes the whole show worth it.” — Roxanne Patel Shepelavy, editorial director
The Creation of the Birds by Remedios Varo
To bond with mom: Jo Piazza’s Everyone Is Lying to You
I’ve been loving this book from Philly’s own Piazza, and what it says about social media and our time. Might be a good gift for holiday season: It’s a book that I like and think my mom would like too.” — Courtney DuChene, staff writer
To wrench ourselves free from Netflix for a night: Job at Theater Exile
“If you love a psychological thriller, you can’t beat Job at Theatre Exile in South Philly — a show that was just extended through Sunday. Philly theater veteran Scott Green and Juilliard-trained Arianna Gayle give powerhouse performances. (Everyone in the theater scene is talking about them right now.) Well worth getting off your couch for this one.” — Victor Fiorillo, senior reporter/arts and entertainment editor
To laugh (and also worry about what we’re actually going to do with all these useless pennies): The stellar piece on America’s penny problem, by Caity Weaver for The Atlantic.
“I will drop anything to read a Weaver story (including, recently, this gem of a story about what it’s like to be a Revolutionary War reenactor, also from The Atlantic), and, as expected, this short piece about what America plans to do with all of our dying pennies was fascinating and funny. (The answer: Nothing!?!?) Ever since the news broke that the last penny ever had been minted — right here in Philly — I’d wondered about this. Weaver brings the issue to life with her inimitable voice, but also with facts like this:
Mint officials told federal auditors in 2019 that, if even a fraction of the nation’s never-spent pennies were simultaneously spent or cashed in, the deluge of change would be “logistically unmanageable” for the federal government. For one thing, there would likely not be enough space to store them in our nation’s bank vaults.
Anyway: a great read and good cocktail-party fodder.” — Christine Speer Lejeune, editor
Philly Mag Staff
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