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Talk/Lecture Events in Philly

Thu, Oct 29, 2026 – Sat, Nov 28, 2026 (66 events)

Delaware Art Museum

DelArt Readers – Gabriele by Anne & Claire Berest

Thu, Oct 29, 2026 · 6:00 PM
2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE

DelArt Readers is a monthly, community-led book club at the Delaware Art Museum focused on fiction and nonfiction connected to art, artists, the artistic process, the Museum’s collections, or its exhibitions. Meetings encourage discussion, debate, celebration, and connection among participants.
Longwood Gardens

Storytime

Thu, Oct 29, 2026 · 11:00 AM
1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA
Featuring: Holden Barnes

Storytime invites young children and their families to gather beneath the London plane trees in West Conservatory Plaza for a seasonal reading experience. Longwood educators share two or three seasonally inspired stories through engaging read-alouds, followed by time for families to browse and read from a curated selection of books together.
Longwood Gardens

RE:SEARCH Oberlander Prize Forum V

Through Fri, Oct 30, 2026
1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA

RE:SEARCH Oberlander Prize Forum V is a three-day landscape architecture symposium presented at Longwood Gardens in partnership with The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF). The program examines how research, documentation, and holistic analysis inform design, management, and the changing relationship between landscape research and practice. It includes an evening reception and keynote, a full-day conference, and mobile workshops at several regional gardens and cultural landscapes.
The Colonial Theatre (Phoenixville)

The Greatest Moments in Philadelphia Sports History with Glen Macnow, Ray Didinger, & Joe Conklin

Fri, Oct 30, 2026 · 8:00 PM
227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, PA
Featuring: Ray Didinger, Glen Macnow, Joe Conklin

Ray Didinger, Glen Macnow, and Joe Conklin return to the Colonial Theatre for a multimedia celebration of Philadelphia sports. Didinger and Macnow recount stories behind the city’s championships, struggles, triumphs, and unforgettable highlights, accompanied by clips of iconic moments. Conklin brings comedy to the program by impersonating legendary Philadelphia sports voices, including Harry Kalas, Whitey Ashburn, Merrill Reese, Mike Quick, and others.
James A. Michener Art Museum

October Spotlight Tour: Moments in History

Sat, Oct 31, 2026 · 11:00 AM
138 S. Pine Street, Doylestown, PA

No additional event-specific details were found on the source page. Venue: James A. Michener Art Museum When: 2026-10-31 at 11:00 Price: Price not available Full details: https://michenerartmuseum.org/event/october-spotlight-tour-moments-in-history-2/2026-10-31/
Swarthmore College Lang Performing Arts Center

Thomas B. McCabe Lecture

Sat, Oct 31, 2026 · 11:00 AM
500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA
Featuring: Vivek Varma, Dawn Porter

The Thomas B. McCabe Lecture, “Humanity in Jeopardy? A Swattie’s Journey—and a Case for Leadership, Truth, Values, and the Liberal Arts,” features Vivek Varma ’88 in conversation with filmmaker Dawn Porter ’88, H’21. Using a playful, Jeopardy!-inspired format, Varma will discuss the people, experiences, and questions that shaped his views on leadership and responsibility.
Swarthmore College Lang Performing Arts Center

President's Panel

Sat, Oct 31, 2026 · 2:30 PM
500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA
Featuring: Valerie Smith

President’s Panel brings together President Valerie Smith and campus leaders for a conversation about Swarthmore College and campus life, followed by an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.
Ellarslie Open (Trenton City Museum)

Dangerous Women 3: Panel Discussion with Christina Weyl

Sun, Nov 1, 2026 · 1:00 PM
1 Theater Lane, Trenton, NJ
Featuring: Christina Weyl

Dangerous Women 3: Panel Discussion with Christina Weyl is the first of four “DW3 Sundays” connected to the Dangerous Women 3 exhibition. The program welcomes Christina Weyl, an author, scholar, curator, and director of The Atelier 17 Project, for a discussion about the women artists who helped advance modernism and feminism through the influential Atelier 17 printmaking studio.
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Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts

ZoomOnArt Program: Peter Dudek

Mon, Nov 2, 2026 · 11:20 AM
Featuring: Peter Dudek

ZoomOnArt presents an interactive conversation with artist Peter Dudek, whose practice includes large- and small-scale installations, sculpture, exhibition curation, and work exploring architectural themes. Dudek will share images or short videos of their work and respond to audience questions, allowing attendees to help direct the discussion.
The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

A Duchamp Retrospective for Today

Mon, Nov 2, 2026 · 6:00 PM
219 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Matthew Affron

Matthew Affron, co-curator of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s first U.S. retrospective devoted to Marcel Duchamp in 50 years, presents a behind-the-scenes look at the exhibition. He discusses how the retrospective was developed, along with selected works and Duchamp’s continuing relevance.
Parkway Central Library

Angela Nissel | Good Grief, Pass The Bread Mom is Dead

Tue, Nov 3, 2026 · 7:00 PM
1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Featuring: Angela Nissel, Tayyib Smith

Angela Nissel presents *Good Grief, Pass the Bread, Mom Is Dead*, a candid, funny, and deeply moving memoir about becoming the caretaker of her terminally ill mother. In conversation with Tayyib Smith, Nissel discusses the complicated pursuit of her mother’s approval, the personal crises that shaped their relationship, and the grief and resilience that followed her mother’s death.
Community Arts Center (Wallingford)

Mad Poets Society Reading

Wed, Nov 4, 2026 · 7:00 PM
414 Plush Mill Road, Wallingford, PA

The Mad Poets Society Reading brings a poetry reading to the Community Arts Center in Wallingford. Information about the participating readers is available through the Mad Poets Society website.
James A. Michener Art Museum

Washington Croissant-ing the DelawareA Special Tour of The Crossing with Joshua Lessard

Wed, Nov 4, 2026 · 8:30 AM
138 S. Pine Street, Doylestown, PA
Featuring: Joshua Lessard

Washington Croissant-ing the Delaware offers an early-morning, behind-the-scenes tour of *The Crossing: Picturing the American Revolution* led by Joshua Lessard, the museum’s Director of Exhibitions. Participants begin in the lobby with coffee and croissants before entering the galleries ahead of public hours.
Parkway Central Library

Jesse Wegman | The Lost Founder

Wed, Nov 4, 2026 · 7:00 PM
1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Featuring: Jesse Wegman, Patrick Spero, Ph.D.

Jesse Wegman presents *The Lost Founder*, his account of James Wilson, an influential yet largely forgotten Founding Father. In conversation with Patrick Spero, Ph.D., Wegman examines Wilson’s role in the struggle for independence, the drafting and adoption of the Constitution, and the development of American ideas about popular sovereignty, presidential power, and the federal government.
Institute of Contemporary Art (Penn)

2026-2027 Visiting Artist Lecture Series: Heidi Lau

Thu, Nov 5, 2026 · 6:00 PM
118 South 36th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Featuring: Heidi Lau

The Weitzman Department of Fine Arts at the University of Pennsylvania and the Institute of Contemporary Art present an artist lecture and presentation with Heidi Lau. The program is part of the ICA’s 2026–2027 Visiting Artist Lecture Series, which brings together distinguished artists, activists, writers, and other cultural figures whose work engages with the social and cultural issues of the present day.
James A. Michener Art Museum

Beyond Words: “Land” – Daytime Book Club

Thu, Nov 5, 2026 · 1:00 PM
138 S. Pine Street, Doylestown, PA

No additional event-specific details were found on the source page. Venue: James A. Michener Art Museum When: 2026-11-05 at 13:00 Price: $10 members / $22 non-members Full details: https://michenerartmuseum.org/event/beyond-words-land-daytime-book-club/
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Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA)

George Washington Talk with Jill Vaum Rothschild

Thu, Nov 5, 2026 · 12:00 PM
118-128 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Jill Vaum Rothschild

Art At Noon: George Washington Talk with Jill Vaum Rothschild examines George Washington’s presidency from 1789 to 1797 through the changing landscape and workforce of Mount Vernon. Rothschild will focus on themes of place, presence, and enslavement, considering how Washington’s residence in New York and Philadelphia kept him away from his Virginia estate for much of his presidency.
Suzanne Roberts Theatre

Post-Show Curtain Chat

Thu, Nov 5, 2026 · 7:30 PM
480 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Featuring: BalletX, Keelan Whitmore

Post-Show Curtain Chat is an audience discussion held after BalletX’s Fall Series 2026 performance. BalletX dancers and guest artists will participate in the conversation, which will be moderated by Rehearsal Director and Community Liaison Keelan Whitmore.
The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

Mystery Book Club

Thu, Nov 5, 2026 · 3:00 PM
219 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Joyce Portnoy

Joyce Portnoy leads the Athenæum’s Mystery Book Club in a discussion of Michael Connelly’s *Nightshade*. The novel follows Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Stilwell, who has been sent to a quiet Catalina Island assignment after departmental politics force him away from his mainland homicide work.
Woodmere Art Museum

Impressionism Gallery

Thu, Nov 5, 2026 · 2:00 PM
9201 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Carolina Bromberg

Impressionism Gallery is a guided visual analysis led by Woodmere docent Carolina Bromberg. The program examines the transition from the 19th-century landscape paintings of Hudson River School artists to the 20th-century work of the Pennsylvania Impressionists.
Delaware Art Museum

Art Is Tasty

Fri, Nov 6, 2026 · 11:00 AM
2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE

Art Is Tasty is a guided discussion of a work of art at the Delaware Art Museum. Held on the first Friday of each month, the program combines conversation about art with the option to continue the discussion over a discounted lunch at Kaffeina Cafe. The November session features artwork by Violet Oakley.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA)

Horizons: American Landscapes from Tradition to Tomorrow

Fri, Nov 6, 2026 · 6:00 PM
118-128 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Dr. Lea Stephenson, Kerry Bickford

“Horizons: American Landscapes from Tradition to Tomorrow” is a conversation between curators from PAFA and the Brandywine Museum of Art, presented as part of PAFA’s landmark exhibition *A Nation of Artists*. Dr. Lea Stephenson and Kerry Bickford will consider how American artists have represented the landscape, from the sublime scenery of the Hudson River School and the intimate terrain associated with the Brandywine tradition to contemporary artists’ changing visions of place and environment.
PhilaMOCA

The Late(ish) Poetry Show

Thu, Nov 5, 2026 – Fri, Nov 6, 2026 · 8:30 PM
531 North 12th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Late(ish) Poetry Show is a lively evening of poetry featuring performances by Philadelphia poets, an audience open mic, music, games, and a DJ set. Attendees can watch the featured poets or enter the open mic lottery for a chance to perform a poem of three minutes or less.
Philadelphia City Institute

Author Event: Hazel Ann Lee

Sat, Nov 7, 2026 · 3:00 PM
1905 Locust Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Featuring: Hazel Ann Lee

Dr. Hazel Ann Lee, a poet and author, presents her science-fiction collection *The Astronaut’s Window: Collection of Poems and Short Stories Celebrating Nature*. Through poetry and short stories, the book explores nature and the universe, inviting attendees on a literary journey across space.
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Taller Puertorriqueno

The Power of Place: Artist Talk with Antonio Fiol-Silva in conversation with Maurice D. Cox

Sat, Nov 7, 2026 · 2:00 PM
2600 N. 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Antonio Fiol-Silva, Maurice D. Cox

The Power of Place is an artist talk connected to the exhibition *En Su Sitio / In Its Place: Antonio Fiol-Silva: Architecture + Urbanism*. Antonio Fiol-Silva, founding principal of Philadelphia-based SITIO architecture + urbanism and lead architect of Taller Puertorriqueño’s El Corazón Cultural Center, will discuss the social role of architecture in conversation with Maurice D. Cox, an urban designer and Harvard professor known for combining design, civic engagement, and equitable urban development.
The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

All-Ages "BYO Review" Book Club

Sat, Nov 7, 2026 · 10:30 AM
219 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Marc Meola, Rob Shoemaker

Marc Meola and Rob Shoemaker lead this monthly, all-ages “BYO Review” Book Club at the Athenæum of Philadelphia. Inspired by the popularity of the Young Friends’ BYO Review Club, the gathering invites participants to bring a book they recently enjoyed, discuss it with fellow readers, and discover new recommendations for their to-be-read lists.
Woodmere Art Museum

Frederic Church’s Expansive Global Vision Defined His Role as America’s National Artist

Sat, Nov 7, 2026 · 2:00 PM
9201 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Elizabeth Mankin Kornhauser

This talk examines how Frederic Edwin Church’s international travels shaped his career and established him as America’s leading landscape artist. Presented in connection with the 200th anniversary of Church’s birth, the program considers how his art addressed industrialization, environmental damage, changing empires, national identity, slavery, and the Civil War.
Parkway Central Library

Author Talk | Rising from Ground Zero

Mon, Nov 9, 2026 · 6:00 PM
1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Featuring: Gregory P. Shea, Paul Brown

Authors of *Rising from Ground Zero* discuss how FDNY firefighters and other emergency responders navigated the organizational, leadership, and management upheaval that followed September 11. Drawing on previously unpublished interviews conducted by the authors, the presentation examines how responders processed change over the ensuing decades and considers lessons in crisis management, leadership under pressure, and organizational transformation.
The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

Fiction Book Club

Mon, Nov 9, 2026 · 6:00 PM
219 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Ned Scharff

The Fiction Book Club, led by Ned Scharff, discusses Abdulrazak Gurnah’s *Theft*, November’s selected title. Named one of *The Washington Post*’s Top 10 Fiction Books of 2025, the novel is Gurnah’s first new work since he received the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Plays & Players Theatre

Cold Reads & Cocktails

Tue, Nov 10, 2026 · 8:00 PM
1714 Delancey Place, Philadelphia, PA

No additional event-specific details were found on the source page. Venue: Plays & Players Theatre When: 2026-11-10 at 20:00 Price: Price not available
Parkway Central Library

Anthony Tommasini | Voice of a Century

Thu, Nov 12, 2026 · 7:00 PM
1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Featuring: Anthony Tommasini, Anthony McGill

Anthony Tommasini presents *Voice of a Century*, a portrait of Marian Anderson’s extraordinary artistry, life, and legacy. The program examines the doubts Anderson faced on the eve of her historic 1939 Easter Sunday concert at the Lincoln Memorial, after she was barred from performing at Washington’s largest concert hall because of its whites-only policy. Although 75,000 people gathered to hear her, Anderson worried that the landmark performance would overshadow the rest of her career.
Perelman Building

Arcadia Library Lecture: Archiving Independence

Thu, Nov 12, 2026 · 6:00 PM
2525 Pennsylvania Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Featuring: Justina Barrett

Arcadia Library Lecture: Archiving Independence examines how Americans have used major anniversaries to interpret the nation’s past and envision its future. Drawing on archives and examples from the 1876, 1926, 1976, and 2026 commemorations, Justina Barrett considers how world’s fairs, public-history projects, commemorative objects, and protests have shaped ideas of national unity and American identity.
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Swarthmore College Lang Performing Arts Center

List Gallery Lecture for exhibition, Beneath the elm tree's shade: Landscapes from the Swarthmore College Art Collection

Thu, Nov 12, 2026 · 4:30 PM
500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA

The List Gallery presents a lecture and curators’ discussion accompanying *Beneath the elm tree’s shade: Landscapes from the Swarthmore College Art Collection*. The exhibition explores the varied ways artists have depicted landscapes, environments, and spiritual visions of place over time. It features more than 20 paintings, many of which have recently undergone assessment and conservation treatment.
The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

Preservation Alliance '26 Fall Speaker Series | Iconic Places of Migration

Thu, Nov 12, 2026 · 6:00 PM
219 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Domenic Vitiello

Domenic Vitiello examines how migration has shaped Philadelphia’s neighborhoods, commercial corridors, monuments, and broader built environment. The talk considers the development, transformation, and preservation of places across Center City, South Philadelphia, Southwest Philadelphia, and other parts of the region, while exploring intergroup politics, redevelopment and gentrification, and the ways communities preserve and reproduce culture.
The Playhouse on Rodney Square

Theresa Caputo

Thu, Nov 12, 2026 · 7:30 PM
1007 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware
Featuring: Theresa Caputo

Theresa Caputo, known worldwide as the Long Island Medium, brings *Theresa Caputo Live: The Experience* to The Playhouse. Drawing on personal stories, candid humor, and her claimed ability to communicate with people who have died, Caputo shares intimate details about her work and delivers healing messages to audience members. Her presentation reassures people that their deceased loved ones remain connected to them in another way. A television personality and best-selling author, Caputo has been recognized as a prominent medium for more than 20 years and has reached millions of fans over the course of her career.
Philadelphia City Institute

Author Event: Sophia Demas

Sat, Nov 14, 2026 · 3:30 PM
1905 Locust Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Featuring: Sophia Demas

Award-winning local author Sophia Demas discusses her book *Conciousness Beyond Death*, which explores consciousness and her reported experiences with numerous miracles. The program connects spirituality, science, and personal anecdotes, including how Demas’s books have drawn the attention of scientists and reflect on the wonders of the world.
The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

Young Friends "BYO Review" Book Club

Sat, Nov 14, 2026 · 1:00 PM
219 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: John Cassidy, Anthony Hennen

Young Friends of the Athenæum are invited to the monthly “Bring Your Own Book Review” Book Club, hosted by John Cassidy and Anthony Hennen. Participants discuss their latest read, exchange positive or negative reactions, and connect with fellow readers. The club is designed to build an inclusive community through a wide-ranging selection of books chosen by participants.
Wharton Esherick Museum

Jennifer Johnson Artist Talk

Sat, Nov 14, 2026 · 2:00 PM
1520 Horseshoe Trail, Malvern, PA
Featuring: Jennifer Johnson, Emily Zilber

Jennifer Johnson, Wharton Esherick Museum’s 2026 Artist-in-Residence, will discuss her exhibition *All the Time in the World* and the new body of clay work she created during her residency. In conversation with WEM curator Emily Zilber, Johnson will explore connections among the museum’s architecture and landscape, its collections, and Wharton Esherick’s story. Her work considers how buildings and their contents preserve histories, reflect lived experiences, and express creative labor.
Longwood Gardens

Spotlight Tours

Fri, Oct 30, 2026 – Sun, Nov 15, 2026 · 11:30 AM
1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA
Featuring: Holden Barnes

Spotlight Tours are guided, 30-minute walks that introduce visitors to Longwood Gardens’ seasonal highlights and distinctive garden areas. During the 2026 autumn series, guides will focus on the Chrysanthemum Festival, including the horticulture, art, and science behind its displays. Tours are led by Holden Barnes and have limited capacity.
Ambler Theater

Love Me or Leave Me

Tue, Nov 17, 2026 · 7:30 PM
108 East Butler Avenue, Ambler, Pennsylvania
Featuring: Hannah Jack

Love Me or Leave Me is the subject of a Deep Focus online seminar led by film writer and educator Hannah Jack. The discussion examines this 1955 Hollywood classic for a wide audience, from casual movie fans to dedicated cineastes, as part of a monthly series exploring both widely celebrated films and less familiar classics whose reputations have evolved over time.
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Parkway Central Library

Ray Didinger | Look What the Kid Wrote Today

Tue, Nov 17, 2026 · 7:00 PM
1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Featuring: Ray Didinger, Michael Barkann

Ray Didinger presents *Look What the Kid Wrote Today*, a reflective account of his more than five decades in sports media. The book’s title comes from his grandfather, who proudly taped Ray’s newspaper articles to the mirror of his Southwest Philadelphia bar and showed them to customers. Didinger will discuss the book in conversation with Philadelphia sports broadcaster Michael Barkann.
The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

Athenaeum Literary Award Winner for Fiction

Tue, Nov 17, 2026 · 6:00 PM
219 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Ben Yagoda, David Bianculli

Ben Yagoda, winner of The Athenaeum of Philadelphia’s Literary Award for Fiction, discusses his biographical novel *Alias O. Henry* in conversation with David Bianculli, television critic for NPR’s *Fresh Air* and a professor of Film and Television Studies at Rowan University. Yagoda explores his research journeys through early-20th-century New York, where O. Henry developed the characters, settings, and distinctive voice featured in his work.
Parkway Central Library

Melissa Clark | The Big Book of Dinner

Wed, Nov 18, 2026 · 7:00 PM
1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Featuring: Melissa Clark

Melissa Clark discusses her cookbook *The Big Book of Dinner* and the techniques, flexible recipes, and foundational lessons that help home cooks prepare flavorful meals with confidence. Drawing on a chef’s creativity and a home cook’s need for practicality, Clark shows how to follow recipes precisely or adapt them to create something personal.
Theatre of Living Arts (TLA)

Criminal Presents: Don't Worry with Phoebe Judge

Wed, Nov 18, 2026 · 8:00 PM
334 South St, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Phoebe Judge

No additional event-specific details were found on the source page. Venue: Theatre of Living Arts (TLA) When: 2026-11-18 at 20:00 Price: Price not available Full details: https://www.tlaphilly.com/shows#chakra-skip-nav
Delaware Art Museum

Spotlight Talk: Art & Connection with the Vovchenko Family

Thu, Nov 19, 2026 · 6:00 PM
2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE
Featuring: Anastasiia Vovchenko, Kateryna Vovchenko, Nazar Vovchenko, Joe Soler

Delaware Art Museum welcomes Anastasiia, Kateryna, and Nazar Vovchenko for a conversation about their experiences with art and cultural connection in Ukraine and the United States. Gallery Learning Assistant Joe Soler will lead the discussion, exploring how the family’s relationship with the arts changed after moving to Delaware and how they discovered new ways to participate in the local arts community.
Delaware Art Museum

DelArt Readers – Metropolitan Stories by Christine Coulson

Thu, Nov 19, 2026 · 6:00 PM
2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE

DelArt Readers is a community-led book club that meets monthly to discuss, debate, celebrate, and share fiction and nonfiction related to art, artists, and the artistic process. The group also fosters conversation, connection, and community, sometimes responding to the Delaware Art Museum’s collections or exhibitions.
Longwood Gardens

Plantology on Tap: A Longwood Christmas

Thu, Nov 19, 2026 · 6:00 PM
1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA
Featuring: Karl Gercens

Plantology on Tap: A Longwood Christmas offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Longwood Gardens’ annual holiday display. East Conservatory Manager Karl Gercens discusses the year-long process, from initial planning through installation, behind the spectacular garden beauty, elaborate displays, and hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights. The program includes a small bite and a signature cocktail.
Main Line Art Center

November Writers Open Mic

Thu, Nov 19, 2026 · 7:00 PM
746 Panmure Road, Haverford, PA

November Writers Open Mic offers an informal, supportive, and creative setting for local writers to share their work. Attendees can bring writing to read aloud, meet other writers, and enjoy a relaxed evening with their own snacks and drinks.
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Philadelphia Museum of Art

Fashion and the Arts of India

Thu, Nov 19, 2026 · 2:00 PM
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Katherine Anne Paul

Fashion and the Arts of India is a conversation and live draping demonstration focused on the enduring design and cultural significance of the Indian sari. The program will connect contemporary sari fashions with centuries of classic styles represented throughout the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s galleries.
The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

Pre-Concert Talk with Jonghyun Park

Thu, Nov 19, 2026 · 6:00 PM
219 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Jonghyun Park

This special pre-concert conversation offers an inside look at the career and artistry of Korean tenor Jonghyun Park. Presented in collaboration with the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, the talk explores the realities of life as a modern opera singer, including elite international training and the preparation required for major premieres and performances.
Woodmere Art Museum

Frank Bramblett's Hypothetical Marriage of Monsieur Marcel Duchamp and Miss Helen Keller

Thu, Nov 19, 2026 · 2:00 PM
9201 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Paula Suss

Explore and discuss Frank Bramblett’s expansive mirrored double portrait depicting Marcel Duchamp and Helen Keller. The conversation is led by Woodmere docent Paula Suss and places the work within Bramblett’s wide-ranging artistic career, which included experimentation with unconventional materials and changes produced by water, wind, temperature, and movement.
Independence Library

Preschool Storytime with Patricia Tanumihardja

Fri, Nov 20, 2026 · 10:30 AM
18 South 7th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Featuring: Patricia Tanumihardja

Patricia Tanumihardja leads a preschool storytime featuring her picture book *Fried Rice Surprise*. The reading introduces children to the many ingredients that can be used in a fried rice dish, followed by a related craft activity. Siblings are welcome.
Parkway Central Library

Read-Aloud with Rosemary Wells

Fri, Nov 20, 2026 · 10:00 AM
1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Featuring: Rosemary Wells

Rosemary Wells, the celebrated children’s author and illustrator, will lead a read-aloud for children and their families in the Montgomery Auditorium at Parkway Central Library. Free books will be available for children during the program while supplies last.
Philadelphia Museum of Art

Gallery Talk: Legendary Futures in Asian Art

Fri, Nov 20, 2026 · 6:30 PM
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Hiromi Kinoshita, Katherine Anne Paul

Join a gallery talk in the Asian Art exhibition *Legendary Futures*, where curators Hiromi Kinoshita and Katherine Anne Paul discuss works presenting contemporary visions of extraordinary creatures. The talk is held in the Great Stair Hall and focuses on art including *The Woodpecker and the Ironsmith* by Ram Singh Urveti.
Taller Puertorriqueno

Meet the Author: Anika Aldamuy Denise

Fri, Nov 20, 2026 · 4:00 PM
2600 N. 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Anika Aldamuy Denise

Meet Pura Belpré Honor–winning author Anika Aldamuy Denise at Taller Puertorriqueño for an after-school author event. Denise will present her new book, *La Bandera: Poems of Resistance and Pride*, which is also available in Spanish. The program is recommended for children ages 8 and older, and attendees are asked to RSVP.
Taller Puertorriqueno

Elizabeth Acevedo's Philly Book Launch for Anger is Only a Shadow

Fri, Nov 20, 2026 · 6:30 PM
2600 N. 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Elizabeth Acevedo

Elizabeth Acevedo’s Philly launch of *Anger is Only a Shadow* brings readers together for an in-person celebration of the acclaimed author’s newest work. Presented by Harriett’s Bookshop in partnership with Julia de Burgos Bookstore at Taller Puertorriqueño, the evening includes a reading, conversation, book signing, and other special surprises.
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Parkway Central Library

Flashbang: Sci-Fi Stories That Will Blow Your Mind!

Sat, Nov 21, 2026 · 3:30 PM
1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Featuring: Rorie Still

Flashbang: Sci-Fi Stories That Will Blow Your Mind! is an author event centered on Rorie Still’s anthology of vivid science-fiction stories. The collection moves across a wide range of tones and forms, including a humorous anti-bullying story, a somber haiku, and a straightforward stranger-danger tale. Its varied characters are ordinary people coming through difficult, unusual days while searching for something they urgently need, such as peace, confidence, or freedom.
Philadelphia City Institute

Author Talk: Mary Cappello

Sat, Nov 21, 2026 · 1:00 PM
1905 Locust Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Featuring: Mary Cappello

Mary Cappello, celebrated author of *Swallow*, presents her new book, a lyrical work set in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. The book is shaped by memories of her mother, Rosemary, a beloved community organizer, poet, and longtime editor of *Philadelphia Poets*. Framed as an ode to caregiving, creative work, and shared mortality, the program takes place in the spirit of Thanksgiving.
The Newtown Theatre

Changemakers in the Cultural Sector (Panel Discussion)

Sun, Nov 22, 2026 · 1:00 PM
120 North State Street, Newtown, PA
Featuring: Marty Moss-Coane

Changemakers in the Cultural Sector is a panel discussion about the future of the arts and the ways creative professionals can help build stronger communities. Co-hosted by ArtWRKD and moderated by WHYY’s Marty Moss-Coane, the conversation brings together artists, curators, producers, cultural organizers, and creative entrepreneurs to examine access, visibility, collaboration, sustainability, and new ways of creating cultural opportunities.
The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

Nonfiction Book Club

Mon, Nov 23, 2026 · 6:00 PM
219 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Lee Rodgers

Lee Rodgers leads the Athenæum’s Nonfiction Book Club in a discussion of Colin Thubron’s *To a Mountain in Tibet* (2012). The book follows Thubron’s pilgrimage to Kailas, a Hindu and Buddhist holy mountain regarded as one of the world’s most sacred places. The memoir combines an account of the physical journey with a deeply personal exploration of spirituality, mortality, and the inner life, and is presented as a moving travel narrative for readers interested in both world travel and journeys of the soul.
Longwood Gardens

The Making of A Longwood Christmas Member Webinar

Tue, Nov 24, 2026 · 12:00 PM
1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA
Featuring: Jim Sutton, Dr. Quyen Hart

The Making of A Longwood Christmas Member Webinar offers an inside look at the ideas and craftsmanship behind Longwood Gardens’ cosmic-themed holiday display. Director of Display Design Jim Sutton discusses how the Gardens were transformed into an immersive universe of wonder, including the creative process and artistic decisions behind this year’s presentation.
Wharton Esherick Museum

A Conversation on John B. Flannagan and Wharton Esherick with Art Historian Katherine Rangoon Doyle

Tue, Nov 24, 2026 · 12:00 PM
1520 Horseshoe Trail, Malvern, PA
Featuring: Katherine Rangoon Doyle

Art historian Katherine Rangoon Doyle leads an online conversation about the connections between sculptors John Bernard Flannagan and Wharton Esherick. Doyle’s 2026 book, *John B. Flannagan: A Salvation in Stone*, is the first comprehensive study of Flannagan, whose stone carving and advocacy for direct carving closely parallel Esherick’s work. The discussion will consider Flannagan’s overlooked legacy, the two artists’ relationships with New York City’s art world and contemporaries, and their differing approaches to modernism.
The Athenaeum of Philadelphia Cancelled

What the Founders Read

Through Sat, Dec 19, 2026
219 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Bradley Owen, Ph.D.

What the Founders Read is a yearlong discussion group for Athenæum members, led by Bradley Owen, Ph.D. The group examines the education of the American Founders, with particular attention to their engagement with the classical literature and ideas of ancient Greece and Rome and the ways those influences shaped the ideals of the new nation.
Delaware Art Museum

Transcendent: Landscapes of the Hudson River School Guided Tours

Through Sat, Jan 9, 2027
2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE

Transcendent: Landscapes of the Hudson River School Guided Tours offers a closer look at the Delaware Art Museum’s exhibition through a guided exploration of its highlights. Led by a trained Museum Educator, each tour considers how Hudson River School artists portrayed nature as the primary locus of the divine.
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The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

Philosophy Discussion Group: The Meaning of Life

Through Thu, May 13, 2027
219 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Featuring: Bradley Owen, Ph.D.

The Philosophy Discussion Group: The Meaning of Life is a monthly Athenaeum discussion series led by Bradley Owen, Ph.D. Participants will examine competing philosophical views about whether life has meaning, using *The Meaning of Life*, edited by E. D. Klemke. The readings are organized around three themes: whether life is meaningless without God, whether life can be meaningful without belief in God, and whether the question of life’s meaning is itself significant or legitimate.
Bristol Books & Bindery

BRT Book Club

Through Thu, Jun 3, 2027
129 Mill Street, Bristol, Pennsylvania
Featuring: Amy Kaissar, Ken Kaissar

BRT Book Club is a relaxed, welcoming discussion series led by Bristol Riverside Theatre Co-Producing Directors Amy and Ken Kaissar. Across six meetups, participants will read and discuss six plays, exploring their stories, characters, and the elements that make them effective onstage. The gatherings are intended for theatre lovers and include casual conversation, opportunities to meet fellow audience members, and the option to enjoy a glass of wine.

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