June 13-16
Merion, Pa.
Cost: $70 and up
While this technically isn’t in Philly, and there is a large part of the world who could care less about golf, it's still a pretty big deal that a leg of the PGA Tour is making a stop only a half hour away from our lovely city. Already causing nightmarish traffic jams in the Main Line suburbs, the U.S. Open offers the opportunity to see golf bigwigs like Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott (no, not that one) and number one ranked Tiger Woods tee it up.
Sunday, June 16 12-7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free!
Bloomsday is the international holiday to celebrate all things James Joyce and for twenty years, Philadelphia's Rosenbach Museum and Library, which houses Joyce's original “Ulysses” manuscript, has hosted one of the biggest Bloomsday celebrations. The event takes place outdoors and features Joyce enthusiasts reading selections from Joyce's celebrated “Ulysses” all day long. Not only that, but local Irish pubs — most famously Fergie's Pub at 1214 Sansom St. — participate in a pub crawl in celebration of the literary masterpiece. Good books and good beer, isn't that what summer's all about?
June 11-16
Cost: One night - $10, full festival pass - $25
The third annual F. Harold Comedy Festival is taking place at the Walnut Street Theatre from June 11-16, and features sketch comedy, stand-up comedy, improv and storytelling. Each night features eight half-hour blocks of a mix of the aforementioned types of comedy. It's the only exclusively local comedy festival that takes place in the city, and $25 is a damn good price for six full nights of comedic entertainment.
Scavenger Hunt at the Art Museum
Saturday, June 15 at 2 p.m.
Cost: $34.50 (college student discount)
Watson Adventures presents the Murder at the PMA Scavenger Hunt! A murdered curator has left a trail of clues connected with secrets in works of art, and you and your team of savvy detectives need to crack the code and find out whodunnit. Teams of 3 or more are suggested as this hunt is supposed to be especially "challenging." So maybe this is a bit of a contrived activity, but an excuse to dress up like a detective and hold a magnifying glass is definitely shaking things up a bit this summer. Plus, the price of the hunt includes admission to the museum.
The Porch at 30th Street Station
Wednesday, June 19 at noon
Cost: Free!
Every Wednesday XPN presents a free concert at noon featuring one of Philly's rising musicians. This coming Wednesday, it's alt rock singer-songwriter Matt Duke. Known for his acoustic performances and reference-heavy lyrics, Duke could be "the next big thing" that you knew about first.
Flag Festival at the Betsy Ross House
June 14: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., June 15: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: $5
Philly is helping celebrate June 14’s Flag Day with its annual Flag Day Festival at the Betsy Ross House. While regular Betsy Ross House tours are running every day this week, Flag Fest really gets kicked off at noon on Friday with the city's Official Flag Day Ceremony at noon. Then, on Stars & Stripes Saturday, an array of activities including Funicular Aerial Circus, Give & Take Jugglers, Bag Lady Theater and Professor Horn’s Punch & Judy puppet show will be featured as well as arts & crafts activities and stories from Once Upon a Nation storytellers. The fun starts at 10 am on Saturday on Arch Street between 2nd & 3rd.
