Looking for some fun, unique and safe ways to spend your weekend? In the age of social distancing, Metro has you covered. Philly establishments have come up with inventive ways to have fun this weekend while staying healthy.
The Cabin at Independence Beer Garden
Independence Beer Garden is typically a popular destination when the weather is warmer, but this winter season, Philadelphians can experience the space in an all-new format. The new cabin setups at Independence are heated and feature fires alongside a few menu items that are sure to heat the night up. New specialty dishes and drinks include spiked hot chocolate, spiked apple cider, a French dip, gumbo, and onion soup with more items to be added as the season unfolds.
Reservations will be required and can be made through Resy, and hours for this weekend are Friday from 3 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from noon to midnight and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m. (additional hours available on Wednesday and Thursday as well.)
100 S. Independence Mall W, phlbeergarden.com
Tipsy History: A Love Story & Black History Month Storytelling at the Betsy Ross House
Celebrate the love-filled holiday this weekend while also celebrating Black History Month at one historic site in the city. This Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) at 7 p.m., Philadelphians can join in on Tipsy History: A Love Story, where they will hear a young Betsy Ross’s love story, and then take a love-themed tour of the house and finish around the corner at Art in the Age for a chocolatey cocktail.
The establishment is also commemorating Black History Month with Storytelling Sundays this month. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 14, 21 and 28, a Once Upon A Nation Storyteller will be on the courtyard stage sharing short, interactive tales highlighting the contributions that Black colonists and early Americans of color made during our nation’s early days.
239 Arch St., historicphiladelphia.org
Dark Comedy with Off Mic Comedy School
This Sunday, Philadelphia’s first all-virtual stand-up comedy school will be hosting a workshop on dark comedy from 1 to 4 p.m. According to a release, ideal for those with some standup comedy, theater, or improv experience, instructor Cassandra Dee will focus on turning darker emotions and experiences into comedy, while still connecting with the audience. This can include anything from physical or mental health problems to injustice, from trauma to death.
Dee will discuss how to transition to difficult topics without losing the audience, how to keep the audience engaged by building and releasing tension, and how to keep everyone on your side (or get them back on your side). Participants are welcome to show off their new skills in one of Off Mic’s upcoming open mic events, open to all with special priority to Off Mic students and alumni. Registration is $65 and is available online.
offmiccomedyschool.com
Theatre Exile’s “Sin Eaters”
Starting this week, South Philadelphia-based theater company Theatre Exile will present the debut of a new virtual show to audiences not only in the Philly area, but worldwide. From Feb. 11 to 28, “Sin Eaters” will be available to stream through a special link that will be sent after tickets are purchased. The play, which is the fourth show by award-winning playwright Anna Moench, will be directed by Theatre Exile Resident Artist Matt Pfeiffer, and will feature Philadelphia-based actors Bi Jean Ngo and David M Raine. This will be Raine’s debut in a Theatre Exile production, and this will be Ngo’s third production with Theatre Exile, previously starring in highly praised shows such as “Babel” and “Among the Dead.”
The 75-minute production is described as having a satirical beginning while looking and examining the world of inappropriate online content. The story then unravels into a drama especially for one character, Mary, when she can no longer connect with her boyfriend, coworker, or neighbors as the stresses around her begin to break her down. As she is pulled deeper into the recesses of the internet, Mary then finds a graphic video that makes her question her relationship, her sanity, and her own capacity for violence.
Tickets cost $15-$40 and can be purchased online or by calling 215-218-4022. A link to the show will be emailed after the purchase.
Fond pop-up
This Valentine’s Day weekend, head to East Passyunk hotspot Fond to indulge in a few specialty items added to their street-side grill, and an all-new bake shop pop up that will only be available for a limited time. This year, Fond is offering an elevated and delicious takeaway menu for Valentine’s Day available for pre-order now until Friday, Feb. 12.
According to the release, the menu includes the following: shrimp cocktail (six pieces) with yuzu cocktail sauce ($19); jumbo lump crab salad with apple, white miso, and basil ($22), crab cakes with smoked paprika aioli ($24), white bean and sausage soup ($9 / pint) and beef bourguignon ($24 / quart). As for dessert, Chef Jessie Prawlucki-Styer is hosting a bake shop pop-up with an assortment of decadent goodies such as: Meyer Lemon tart with blackberry glaze and brown butter crumble ($7); chocolate layer cake with dark chocolate buttercream, coconut, passionfruit curd, and milk chocolate crisp pearls ($7 slice / $38 whole cake); heart-shaped sugar cookies with vanilla bean raspberry icing ($4 each, 6 for $20); coconut caramel chocolate truffles ($21); pâté de fruit with strawberry-lemon, passionfruit, and cassis ($14) ; cocoa nib – hazelnut brittle ($12); peanut brittle ($9); Olive Bread ($8) and Walnut Cardamom Buns with vanilla cream cheese icing ($5).
Guests can pre-order now through Feb. 12 by emailing [email protected] or by calling 215-551-5000 for pick up from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14. Limited quantities of bake sale and kitchen items will be available for walk-in purchase. Additionally, Chef Lee Styer will grill street-side at 11th and Tasker on Sunday, Feb. 14 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with sausage sammies, housemade soup, salads, burgers, cocktails to-go, and much more.
