Dear BSR Subscriber,
Welcome to the latest exclusive monthly tips for our subscribers!
It’s time for our monthly BSR in the Wild update!
These exclusive tips for subscribers let you know where our team is heading on the Philly scene this month. There are three sections: FIND US, Neil’s Nod of the Month and Recommended Reading. If you’d like to step up and support our work, a donation of $10 or more directly supports our writers. Starting in February, Friends of BSR and Local Media Champions will receive a new monthly newsletter with additional insights and previews in our coverage. As a reminder, Friends of BSR commit to donating $5 a month or $60 a year. Local Media Champions support us at the $20 a month level.
We appreciate support of all sorts, including public recognition. I'm glad that BSR has been recognized in the Philly News Awards for the second year in a row: Alaina Johns is up for Editor of the Year again. Voting is open to all, through Monday, February 3, so make your voice known when it comes to Philly journalists!
Lots to reflect on as 2025 starts, to say the least.
A handmade sign outside City Hall at the September 7, 2024 No Arena protest. (Photo by Alaina Johns.)
FIND US!
FIND ALAINA Quixotic Professor Qiu WHEN: Running January 31-February 23, 2025 WHERE: InterAct Theatre Company at the Proscenium at The Drake WHY: I'm intrigued by the world premiere of this satire "inspired by real-life cases of Chinese American scientists being targeted for allegedly carrying out economic espionage." Plus, it's got two of my favorite local actors: Justin Jain and Bi Jean Ngo. Ain't No Back to a Merry-Go-Round WHEN: Thursday, February 6, 2025, 6:30pm WHERE: The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History WHY: This documentary's Philly-based director, Ilana Trachtman, will be present for a talkback and audience Q&A at this screening. According to the Weitzman, the film explores "the first time Black civil rights activists were joined by an organized white community -- predominantly Jewish -- to protest segregation" at DC's Glen Echo Amusement Park in 1960. We need reminders and examples of interfaith, interracial solidarity right now as we face the coming years. FIND OUR FRIENDS
A Celebration of 2025 Philly Books — Blue Stoop WHEN: Thursday, February 6, 2025, 7:00pm WHERE: Online WHY: We love being in community with our writing-loving friends at Blue Stoop. They note that "46 conventionally published titles by Philly or Philly-connected authors [are] coming out in winter, spring, and summer 2025." That's worthy of a celebration! YA, romance, memoir, there's something for everybody. Tickets are a fundraiser for Blue Stoop's work.
FIND NEIL: FUN-A-DAY reception WHEN: Friday, February 7, 2025, 7:00pm-11:00pm WHERE: Studio 34, 4522 Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia WHY: My wife Kelsey and two of our friends have a collaborative art project that they've been working on together all January. Without giving much away, I'll say that each of them has a random assignment per day and then it all comes together. They created this under the umbrella of FUN-A-DAY, which I love the spirit and letter of: do something fun each day in January then show it off in this group exhibition!
Super Bowl LIX WHEN: Sunday, Feburary 9, 2025 WHERE: Televised from New Orleans WHY: Sports isn't normally our beat here at BSR. And I admit I only dabble in watching sports at all. Stephen Silver wrote for us a few years ago that "Eagles fandom... is much more about a family gathering on a Sunday afternoon to watch the game over pizza, beers, and wings, while cheering, booing, and devising elaborate trade scenarios that promise a better team next year." There's something charming, indeed, about Philly rallying behind the Eagles in their second big matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. It's our civic pride du jour.
Mariposas Galácticas & ABBAsolutely fABBAlous Valentine’s Day Dance Party WHEN: Friday, February 14, 2025, 8:00pm doors WHERE: Johnny Brenda's WHY: I know my friends Chris Baldys and Chrissy Tashjian from very different parts of my Philly arts ecosystem, but I recently learned that they are both part of an ABBA tribute band. I'm a few decades late to ABBA, so what?
FIND ALAINA: Much Ado About Nothing WHEN: Running February 13-March 16, 2025 WHERE: The Lantern Theater Company at St. Stephen's Theater WHY: Who doesn't love the barbs between Beatrice and Benedick? This eminently silly play has always been a favorite of mine in the Shakespeare canon. Lantern artistic director Charles McMahon is an assured hand with these annual Shakespeare productions. His 2023 Twelfth Night was particularly good, among many others over the years, so I'm going back with high hopes. A Raisin in the Sun WHEN: Running February 19-March 30, 2025 WHERE: People's Light in Malvern, PA WHY: I'll take any chance to see Lorraine Hansberry's famous play in our region, but when I saw that Melanye Finister is starring in it, I knew I needed tickets. She's one of my favorite actors in the Philly region. And a drive out to Malvern is always a welcome day-trip from my South Philly neighborhood, whatever the season.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater WHEN: Running February 28-March 2, 2025 WHERE: The Academy of Music WHY: I will take any chance I get to see Alvin Ailey. I'm not a dance critic and have no training in that world, but I do love to watch dance when I can, and this company never fails to transfix me. I could never get tired of watching its repertory.
Photo by Dario Calmese
FIND ALAINA: Guest teaching journalism undergrads WHEN: February 2025 WHERE: Temple University WHY: My longtime arts journalism colleague Howard Shapiro is teaching the next generation of cultural critics in his writing course at Temple. Each year I step into a class with him to talk to the students about being an arts editor. They always have plenty of great questions! We at BSR love to take an active role in training and mentoring young and emerging arts critics. If you're interested in our educational programming, we have two review-writing webinars, each one available for a $30 donation to BSR. Reach out to Neil for access!
'BSR' editors Alaina and Kyle and executive director Neil have been working together on Philly arts and culture coverage since 2019. (Photo by Daralyse Lyons.)
FIND US: Office Hours WHEN: February 2025 WHERE: Location TBA WHY: If you've ever wanted to sit down with Alaina & Kyle and chat, here's your next chance! Friends of BSR and Local Media Champions will get the details in their inboxes by February 12. Become a Friend of BSR for $5 a month and you'll enjoy other benefits, both virtual and in-person, throughout 2024.
FIND NEIL: Kelsey McKinney - You Didn't Hear This From Me book event WHEN: February 27, 2025, 8:00pm WHERE: The Fillmore WHY: I quickly latched onto Philly journalist Kelsey McKinney's podcast Normal Gossip as a vehicle for anonymized true storytelling of messy situations. The commentary within each episode also had me questioning social norms of all sorts, but particularly those around what "gossip" even is. This book event is part of her national tour and also connected to my day job at First Person Arts. Look for You Didn't Hear This From Me in your local bookstore!
Neil’s Nod of the Month
Connie Garcia-Barrio has a guide to navigating Valentine's Day while juggling grief. February brings up some of my own feelings of grief, which is Connie notes "isn't something to be fixed." Look for this
Recommended Reading
I've spent a lot of time online reading articles and social media posts recently. I've also done that for, well, a few decades now. As I've matured I've wondered about how I spend my time and how others channel their emotions. Roz Warren's 2020 essay about COVID rage bubbled up for me again recently and feels relevant all over again.
The great crooked cake crisis
Roz Warren
View
Now that you've found us, FUND US!
Thanks for being part of our community!
Neil Bardhan
BSR executive director
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