With Valentine's Day right around the corner, Philly is overflowing with brotherly love, sisterly affection and tons of exciting V-Day events and happenings. So, whether you've found Mr. or Mrs. Right, or are still searching for a perfect love, now's the time to grab your favorite "special somebody" and paint the town red!

To get you started, I've pulled together a list of my top Valentine's Day activities. So, be sure to check them out - there's lots of Philly love to go around.

James' Top V-Day Picks:

First Person Arts StorySlam: The Ex-Files

Tuesday, February 14

7:30 p.m.

World Cafe Live

3025 Walnut Street

Do you have the classic love-gone-wrong story? Or maybe a story about the one great love you let get away? If you have a story to share, or just want to hear a few stories from the "ex-files" of others, join First Person Arts for this special V-Day story slam at World Cafe Live.

Valentine's Date Night

Tuesday, February 14

The Clay Studio

139 N. 2nd Street

Remember that passionate scene from the movie Ghost? The one where Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore get all cozy in front of the clay wheel? Well, here's your chance to recreate a milder version of that scene with your special somebody. Join the Clay Studio in Old City as expert instructors guide you through a special four-handed throwing class by candlelight.

Valentine's Ghost Tour of Philadelphia: Love Never Dies

Tuesday, February 14

8 p.m.

Powel House

244 S. 3rd Street

Discover some of Philadelphia's most haunting love stories on this 75-minute walking tour through Society Hill. Along the way you'll meet chilling characters and ghosts as they recount their tales of their greatest loves both lost and found. Just be sure to call ahead because reservations are required.
 

Valentine's Aphrodisiac Dinner Event

Tuesday, February 14

6 - 8:30 p.m.

Day By Day

2101 Sansom Street

Tired of the same old V-Day dinner for two? Then try this exciting and sensual evening with a slightly naughty twist.  Be entertained and schooled on the sexy science of food rumored to "get you in the mood." Join City Food Tours for a fantastic 3-course dinner bursting with no fewer than 15 aphrodisiac ingredients, including a complimentary glass of wine, delectable chocolates and the steamy secrets of world icons likes Cleopatra to Casanova!

Philly is a town full of stories and storytellers, so it makes sense that we're home to the world's only festival dedicated to storytelling, spoken word and memoir arts—the First Person Festival.  Starting November 10, First Person Arts will kick off an 11-day, story-filled celebration, taking place in multiple venues across Old City in Philadelphia.

For over ten years, First Person Arts has provided a platform for everyday (and some not-so-everyday) people to share glimpses into their worlds through storytelling.  Many of the stories shared at their monthly slams are humorous, some are even downright silly, but many are powerful tales about the triumphant and often fragile human experience. 

In keeping with their mission to foster appreciation for our unique and shared experiences, the First Person Festival is filled with the provocative, playful and personal programs they are known for. This year's programming includes theater, storytelling (of course), documentary film, workshops, author readings and more—each inspired by real life experience. 

Make sure you visit the First Person Arts website to check out the jam-packed festival schedule. In the meantime, take a look at my top picks to get you started!

James' Top Picks for the First Person Festival:

Peace Is A Haiku Song

Sunday, November 13

7 - 9 p.m.

Christ Church Sanctuary & Courtyard

20 N. American Street

Join the incomparable Sonia Sanchez, as First Person Arts and the Mural Arts Program kick off their collaborative project exploring how haiku communicates peace and urban transformation. Sonia will premier new poetry written for this project and will lead the audience in a haiku writing experience, the products of which will become a visual installation during the festival.  

Philly Youth Poetry Movement: My Life In The 215

Friday, November 18

7 - 9 p.m.

Painted Bride Art Center

230 Vine Street

The dynamic poets from the Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement (PYPM) share the stage with their heroes from Spoken Soul 215. Mentors like Just Greg, Lyrispect and Vision will share their own poems alongside the teens of PYPM. No judges or scores, just beautiful and brutally honest lyricism about life in the 215 from some of the best and brightest young poets around.

Liberty City

Friday, November 11, 12, 18, 19

Christ Church Neighborhood House

20 N. American Street

April Yvette Thompson’s powerful one-woman show, takes place at the end of the 1970’s Black Power Movement in Miami. Liberty City weaves a rich story of family, race and the value of understanding your history while forging your own path. With chameleon-like skill, Thompson brings to life the many people that shaped her experience, including her Cuban-Bahamian father and African-American mother. The show climaxes with the infamous Liberty City riots and the journey a young girl must take to protect her family.

Behind The Scenes At Reading Terminal Market With Rick Nichols

Saturday, November 12

10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Reading Terminal Market

51 North 12th Street

Two Philly food icons come together when Rick Nichols leads you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the historic Reading Terminal Market. The Market is about to get a major overhaul, including a brand new demo kitchen. Get a first hand peek at the renovations, explore the underground staging areas, and try samples from select food stalls. Savor the market’s history and get a taste of its future with insights from Nichols, The Philadelphia Inquirer's former food columnist and other local experts.

This year, The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts celebrates its 10th Anniversary season by shining the world's brightest stars on Philly's legendary Avenue of the Arts! For over a decade, The Kimmel has been an international arts destination, bringing internationally-acclaimed entertainment experience to town, and also highlighting the work of Philly's own creative community through its resident companies, like Philadanco, The Philadelphia Orchestra and The Pennsylvania Ballet.

For the 10th Anniversary, the Kimmel announced a season-long series of performances, education events and initiatives, under the theme; Lights Up on Home.  The 10th anniversary season has kicked off strong!  Already, thousands of audience members have filled the Verizon Hall, Pearlman Theater, The Merriam Theater and The Academy of Music and been delighted by stellar performances by Esperanza Spalding, k.d.lang, Herbie Hancock, The Heath Brother and many more! And, that was only the beginning!

So make sure you visit the Kimmel Center website and checkout the full season of performances, programming and special events. To get you started, I've included some top picks below of a few performances in the very near future, that you won't want to miss out on! 

James' Top Picks for the Kimmel's Lights Up On Home Celebration:

Drumline Live

Tuesday, October 25  & Wednesday October, 26

7:30 p.m.

Merriam Theater

250 South Broad Street

Drumline Live  stops through Philly during its third U.S. tour! The show's vibrant cast has captured the energy of collegiate marching band programs across the south and now brings it to the stage for an explosion of dance and music. So, be sure to checkout Drumline Live, as it shares the American Marching Band experience with Philly and the world!

PHILADANCO - For Your Pleasure

Friday, November 4 through Sunday, November 6

7:30 p.m. (Friday & Saturday)

2:30 p.m. (Saturday & Sunday)

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts - Pearlman Theater

260 South Broad Street

The quintessential Philadelphia modern dance troupe, PHILADANCO returns for another season to light up Pearlman Theatre with their signature techniques, infusing all of their movement with color, music, passion and precision. This concert will feature both new work, company standards and Lincoln Center Orchestra drummer Ali Jackson Jr. and other guest musicians will play live as the group premieres Hope Boykin's Watching Go By, the day on Friday and Saturday night ONLY!

Can You Hear God Crying? by Hannibal Lokumbe

Tuesday, December 13

7:30 p.m.

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts - Verizon Hall

260 South Broad Street

International composer, musician and performer, Hannibal Lokumbe joins forces with The Kimmel Center and Philly's own Art Sanctuary to present Can You Hear God Crying? - a musical exploration of Hannibal's heritage and the human experience. This exciting and innovative jazz-infused experience will feature The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Enon Tabernacle Mass Choir, The Music Liberation Orchestra and is sure to be a soul-stirring experience. Don't miss this one-night-only spectacular!

How do you imagine Africa? Do you think of the beauty of African people, the color and vibrancy of their dress or even the intricacy of African artwork and masks? Or, maybe you see yourself and your own heritage?  These are a few of the questions posed by the Penn Museum in its newest exhibition and 12-month community engagement project, Imagine Africa. 

The Penn Museum has selected works from their extraordinary African collection, and curated an exhibition of 50 items around 8 universal themes, including Fashion, Strength, Healing, The Divine, Power, Creating, Changing and Beauty. The museum's African artifacts, in combination with a variety of interactive activities and multimedia, allow for a more personal and in-depth exploration of the themes' relevance to Africa, the museum's collection and also to the viewer. Throughout the exhibit, the museum has placed whiteboards for visitors to express their ideas on each theme and what could make the collection a more engaging and enlightening experience.

One of my favorite pieces included in the exhibit is the Zulu Love Letter. Instead of writing notes, Zulu women wore pins that contained a combination of shapes and colors to send their messages of love or even displeasure. Other highlights include the 30-foot Interactive Digital Wall where visitors can create their own interpretation of Africa and the African Music Jukebox, where you can explore the eclectic and lively sounds of African music.

Of course, everyone knows you can't fully understand a culture until you have tasted it's cuisine! So, every Saturday through April, the museum's cafe will offer a "Taste of Africa" featuring delectable African dishes, like Roasted Chicken & Fufu, Black Eyed Pea Fritters, Groundnut Stew and more.

Presenting much more than just an exhibit of artifacts through Imagine Africa, the Penn Museum has opened its doors in an unique way and invited the Philadelphia community to be a partner in this project. In addition to the exhibit, the museum will offer exciting programs including ceramic art and African dance workshops, a lecture series, community nights and even a showcase featuring the Philly Youth Poetry Movement. 

The Penn Museum plans on using the community feedback gathered through the exhibit to guide and plan for the redesign of their main African Collection.  Imagine Africa is a phenomenal project that invites the public to the table in a sincere and groundbreaking way.  So, definitely make time to visit and share your thoughts on what Africa means to you.

Click here to visit the Penn Museum's exciting new interactive website for the full program schedule and to start sharing your ideas now! 

Mixing Metaphors: The Aesthetic, the Social and the Political in African American Art

Now through December 31

African American Museum of Philadelphia

701 Arch Street

Last week, I got a sneak preview of The African American Museum of Philadelphia's new exhibition, Mixing Metaphors: The Aesthetic, the Social and the Political in African American Art.  This powerful collection of work explores art's role in interpreting the fullness of the African American experience and includes more than 90 paintings, prints, drawings, photographs and sculptures by 36 artists. 

Mixing Metaphors is organized into three thematic sections that provide a lens through which to view the art; Reflections and Likeness, Constructing Place and Rituals of Existence. Each of these sections include a fantastic selection of images by noted photographers, all of which provide a very tangible sense of the collection's historical context and significance. The exhibit includes proud images of inner-city youth and southern families, Martin Luther King marching on Washington and on the first non-segregated bus, and intimate images of period icons like John Coltrane, Sarah Vaughan and Muhammad Ali.

"This show will bring people into a context of where their life is and what it has been, reflected through other people's memories and experiences." said AAMP curator, Richard Watson during our walk through the exhibition. "You will see young people who will see themselves in these pieces. You will see older people who will see themselves in the memories reflected in these pieces."

Mixing Metaphors presents the work of luminary African-American artists like, photographer, Gordon Parks, storyteller and quilt-artist, Faith Ringgold, and also contains work by significant emerging artists from around the country. Some the show's artists use their work to tell the stories of day-today living, or to reflect on ideas about identity, politics, music or love, while others use more abstract constructs like lines, colors and shapes to explore their subjects. In its entirety, Mixing Metaphors challenges the viewer to examines art's role in our community and how one's own experiences can affect the interpretation of the art. 

The exhibit will also include film screening of Separate, But Equal with a discussion with filmmaker Shawn Wilson, art-making workshops with local artists, artists’ talk with local artist Allen Edmunds, whose work is featured in the exhibit, and a musical poetry slam.

Together, the artists found within Mixing Metaphors truly represent the richness found within the African American story and true breadth and diversity found within our artistic community. You can checkout AAMP's website for the full programming schedule and exhibition details.