Good morning, Philly! It’s expected to be a sunny Sunday, and hopefully one of many to come with spring finally here.
Warm weather isn’t the only thing we’re looking forward to. The Inquirer’s annual Spring Arts Guide is back! And with it comes a preview of the most exciting concerts, exhibits, and performances coming to the region this season.
Plus, artist Robert Lugo revealed a “monumental ceramic vessel” that depicts the transformation from a Bucks County jail to the Michener Art Museum.
— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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The fine arts (along with my seasonal allergies) are so back this spring. Inquirer writers spent weeks researching the best upcoming concerts, musicals, performances, and more. Buckle up, Philly, it’s going to be a busy season.
🎸 Music: The lineup is stacked. We’ve got Bruce Springsteen, Cardi B, Lily Allen, Florence and the Machine, and more coming to Philly.
📚 Books: From memoirs on local icons to rom-coms with fake dating schemes, we’ve got 10 upcoming reads for you this spring.
🎭 Performances: Check out a handful of upcoming local theater productions, like Dear Evan Hansen, plus where we’d recommend you grab a bite to eat after.
🎨 Art: A dual-venue show is coming to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. On top of that, a West Philly couple’s massive art collection will be seen in a two-museum show.
The Michener Art Museum was founded in 1988 and houses thousands of paintings, sculptures, and paper works in its collection. But long before it was a museum, the Doylestown building was a Bucks County jail.
Visible reminders of the building’s carceral past live on in portions of the perimeter wall, the arched gateway, and the warden’s home, which is now the museum’s administrative headquarters.
It’s a history that fascinated artist Roberto Lugo, whose next project, titled “Permanence: We Were Here,” will explore the museum’s forgotten transformation from prison to arts institution.
“This commission is really profound because it’s telling a truth, without trying to convince anybody of anything particular. I’m working more as an anthropologist would,” he said.
What you should know today
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Scores of No Kings demonstrations took place Saturday across the Philadelphia region.
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Bob Harvie may be Bucks County Democrats’ best chance at defeating U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in this year’s midterms.
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The University of Pennsylvania’s engineering school launched a $200 million fund to finance innovative projects at their earliest stages. It comes as federal research dollars have gotten tighter.
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Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter will (finally) make his highly anticipated major-league debut Tuesday night against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.
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Spring markets and festivals are soon returning to Philly! Check out some of The Inquirer’s most anticipated events.
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Back in November, Parc changed its signature martini, which proves that briny, salty, and savory cocktails are beating out the competition.
❓Pop quiz
Some of Philadelphia’s biggest restaurateurs are heading south to do business. Where are they mostly setting up shop?
A) Texas
B) South Florida
C) Hawaii
D) North Carolina
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re …
🏡 Impressed by: A couple wanted more space than their Newtown Square house could provide. After a winterlong search, they found a dream home in Malvern.
🏖️ Planning for: It’s time for a field trip! We’re heading to Delaware’s Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island for a quieter beach weekend getaway.
😋 Craving: Italian-style hoagies from the suburbs, award-winning cassoulet in Rittenhouse Square, lobster and shells at a revived South Philly staple, and all the other best things we ate this week.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Vashti DuBois is the executive director of this Germantown museum.
CHILE GOURMET SMOULDERS
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Christopher Downing, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Meek Mill. The Grammy-nominated artist recently joined LinkedIn and he’s already shaking things up on the world’s largest professional networking platform.
Photo of the day
🎶 Today’s song suggestion goes a little like this: “Repeat after me, happier times ahead / May you be loved, and may you feel joy / May you know peace that surpasses all understanding, I wish you this / And as I said, happier times.”
That’s all for today, folks! Thanks for starting your Sunday with The Inquirer. Until next time. 👋🏽