15 fun things to do in Philly this weekend

THEATER

Phantom of the Opera
Through Nov. 12, various times
Academy of Music
240 S. Broad St.
kimmelcenter.org
$20

The iconic Andrew Lloyd Weber musical opens this weekend, starring Derrick Davis—the first African American to play the “Phantom” role. A cast and orchestra of 52 combine to bring the novel-based tale to life.

Broken Stones
Through Nov. 19, various times 
The Drake
302 S. Hicks St.
interacttheatre.org
$25

Interact Theatre Company presents its take on British playwright Fin Kennedy’s “Broken Stones,” a play starring Barrymore winners Charlotte Northeast and Joe Guzman that interweaves “Gilgamesh” and the controversial looting of the Baghdad Museum of Antiquities in 2003. It is, at its core, an examination of myth versus fact.

The Gap
Through Nov. 19, various times
The Drake
302 S. Hicks St.
azukatheatre.com
Pay what you decide

Philly playwright Emma Goidel premieres “The Gap,” a dark comedy about a woman convinced she’s been abducted by aliens. The bulk of the play unfolds later in life, as she and her sister—a skeptic of her abduction—struggle to recall the incident and wrestle with sisterhood and secrets.

LGBT

American Ham-Stand Drag Cabaret
Nov. 3, 9 p.m.
Painted Bride Art Center
230 Vine St.
paintedbride.org
$15

The Haus of Ham drag-queen comedy collective, featuring Lili St. Queer, Mistor Fahrenheit and Gayborhood songbird Eric Jaffe, mixes cheeky comedy and musical performance. Be prepared for gut laughs and over-the-top costuming—and maybe a few “Mean Girls” impersonations.

FOOD & DRINK

Bacon Fest
Nov. 4 through Nov. 5, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Northampton and Third streets, Easton
discoverlehighvalley.net
Pay as you go

One-hundred-fifty bacon vendors—Philly-area restaurants, markets and farms–offer tastings, while chefs duke it out with bacon dishes, pigs are roasted and runners burn off fat with a “Racin’ Bacon 5K.” Bacon-themed events don’t get much bigger than this:[tab]80,000 attendees are expected to attend.

Circadium Gala
Nov. 4, 6 p.m.
Circadium
6452 Greene St.
facebook.com/circadium
$100

Circadium, the first higher-ed program for contemporary circus in the U.S., celebrates the school and the art form at-large with this semi-formal gala that’s jam-packed with aerialist, juggling and acrobatic performances. Plus, of course, a dinner buffet, cocktails and a dance party.

Great Cider and Beer Festival
Nov. 4, 12 p.m.
Hawthornes Beer Café
738 S. 11th St.
hawthornecafe.com
Pay as you go

Eleventh Street bustles with beer and cider for this Hawthorne’s Beer Café block party, a showcase of more than 50 selections—see: the Wyndridge Cranberry Cider and Abita Pecan Harvest—that’s rounded out with barbecue, meatballs, roast beef and more indulgences from food trucks. Mass Folk Commons, a folk, punk and Celtic rock band, plays out the party from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Media Restaurant Week
Nov. 5, various times
State Street, Media
mediarestaurantweek.com
$25

Media kicks off its bi-annual Restaurant Week with prix-fixe dinner specials in $25, $35 or $45 packages. Twelve restaurants are participating, ranging from French bistro La Belle Epoque to Mexican BYO Dos Gringos.

Vendanges Wine Pairing
Through Nov. 20, 5 p.m.
Liberte Lounge
120 S. 17th St.
sofitel-philadelphia.com
$75

Sofitel celebrates fall with the French tradition of “late harvest,” or “vendanges,” pairing wines from around the world with a special four-course dinner menu. Code “WINE17” on OpenTable will net you a 30-percent discount.

COMEDY

Full Bush
Nov. 4, 7 p.m.
Merriam Theater
240 S. Broad St.
kimmelcenter.org
$40.50

Nick Offerman, who played Ron Swanson in “Parks and Recreation,” performs his solo comedy show “Full Bush.” The show primarily consists of gag-heavy folk songs.

Joel Kim Booster Standup
Nov. 4, 8 p.m.
Good Good Comedy Club
215 N. 11th St.
goodgoodcomedy.com
$12

Most recognized from Comedy Central, “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,” Logo specials and “Conan,” Booster is an emerging stand-up comedian with a bent for cracking jokes about pop culture and family. Bowen Yang, whose work includes contributions to “Broad City” and “High Maintenance.”

ART

Monument Lab: Washington Square
Nov. 4, 1 p.m.
Washington Square Park
Sixth and Walnut streets
muralarts.org
Free

The ongoing Monument Lab event series, centered around the public-installation project of the same name, continues with a spotlight showcase at Washington Square, highlighting artists Kaitlin Pomerantz and Marisa Williamson—whom, between the pair, contributed a piece about stoop culture and a scavenger hunt app about the square’s African American history. Music will be performed and food will be available.

BOOKS

Carol Berkin
Nov. 2, 12 p.m.
Museum of the American Revolution
101 S. Third St.
amrevmuseum.org
$5

A lunchtime escape, Carol Berkin, author of “A Sovereign People: The Crises of the 1790s and the Birth of American Nationalism,” discusses the book and its interpretation of the events that followed the dawn of American democracy. Berkin will sign books in Cross Keys Café following the talk.

Chris Matthews
Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m.
Free Library of Philadelphia—Central Branch
1901 Vine St.
freelibrary.org
$15

The MSNBC host and Philly native swings through Philly for a talk at the Free Library of Philadelphia. Matthews is touring in support of his new book “Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit,” a portrait of the other Kennedy who almost became president. Matthews previously wrote a biography about President John Kennedy.

FITNESS

Sunrise Yoga
Nov. 4, 6:45 a.m.
One Liberty Observation Deck
1650 Market St.
$20

Greet the day with a Downward Dog 57 stories above the rest of the city, alongside Alexandra Gallo of Philly Power Yoga. This is a bring-your-own mat event.