13 events on january 15 in the city

Feel the blaze of inspiration in works by great composers in peak form! Mozart’s graceful Concerto was one of four he wrote in a single year, at the age of just 19. Schumann’s grand “Rhenish” Symphony captures the awe he felt when he first visited the towering Cathedral in Cologne. Mendelssohn tossed off his Overture to Ruy Blas in a storm of creativity. And South Korean composer Unsuk Chin brings heart-racing heat to a five-minute piece that leaves you breathless.

Friday Night Lounge transforms the Philadelphia Museum of Art into an evening destination with live music, gallery access, and drinks, offering a different perspective on one of America's great cultural institutions. The museum's origins trace to the 1876 Centennial Exposition, when Philadelphia hosted the nation's 100th birthday celebration in Fairmount Park. Nearly 10 million visitors experienced the world's fair, and afterward, the art gallery in Memorial Hall became the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art—founded to train craftsmen and elevate American design. As collections grew through major bequests, the museum required grander quarters, and in 1928 the current Greek Revival building opened atop Fairmount hill, designed collaboratively by Horace Trumbauer, Paul Cret, and the firm of Zantzinger, Borie, and Medary, with perspective drawings by Julian Abele, one of few opportunities for an African American architect at the time. The building's monumental steps, later immortalized in the Rocky films, lead to over 240,000 objects spanning 2,000 years of creative achievement. Friday evenings invite visitors to experience masterworks from Thomas Eakins to Marcel Duchamp alongside contemporary performances, extending the museum's founding democratic mission of bringing art to the public.

Monthly tarot readings by The Astral Botanica every 3rd Friday at Manzanita in West Philadelphia. Sip, shop, and get a reading. $25 for 3 cards, $10 for a single card pull. Walk-ins welcome or DM @theastralbotanica to reserve a slot.

Rotating jazz trios play Thursday through Saturday from 6–9 p.m. at Time Restaurant on Sansom Street. A $5 per-person music charge supports the musicians directly. The venue offers three distinct spaces: a dining room, a whiskey bar with 200+ bottles, and an upstairs Bohemian Absinthe Lounge. Laid-back cocktail-lounge atmosphere in historic Old City.

Weekly karaoke every Friday night at Franklin's Pub in East Falls, hosted by In The Mix Bar Scene.

Friday nights at 7:30pm, Playtime Comedy takes over Philly Typewriter for a BYOB standup show on East Passyunk. The shop—co-owned by Bryan Kravitz and Bill Rhoda—houses over 1,300 vintage typewriters, including one autographed by Tom Hanks according to Atlas Obscura. Broad Street Review describes the space as having exposed brick walls and beautiful wooden floors in what was originally a synagogue. $15 online, $20 at the door (cash, Venmo, or CashApp). Monthly passes available.

Friday nights from 8:30 p.m. at this Center City gastropub that opened in 2024 in the former Farmer's Keep space at 20th and Ludlow. The owners of Thanal Indian Tavern renovated the building—once featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives—keeping the farmhouse vibes and rooftop deck intact. DJs spin while you work through upscale bar fare like the house smash burger and Korean BBQ riblets.

Friday nights at 9 p.m. with DJ Lars at this 1938 South Philly institution near Pat's and Geno's. The bar's namesake, Anthony "Ray" Capozzoli, started the tradition of greeting everyone with "Happy Birthday"—still honored today when someone rings the bell behind the bar and the whole room sings. Original oak bar, walls covered in decades of photos. Free birthday shot with candle if it's your day. BYOF.

Friday and Saturday nights at 9 p.m. in the upstairs bar at this family-owned Irish pub on South Street, now in its 43rd year. O'Neal's runs two happy hours daily (downstairs 4:30–6:30 p.m., upstairs 6:30–8:30 p.m.) and has been recognized as South Street's "Beer Authority" with 19+ drafts, a proper cask ale engine, and 100+ bottles for takeout. Quizzo Monday and Tuesday, darts league Tuesday and Thursday, poker Wednesday.

Friday nights at 9pm, a three-piece band backs you up as you belt out whatever's in the songbook—no backing tracks, just live guitar, bass, and drums plus a harmonizing host. The Independent Review Crew described singers who "transformed into a Chris Stapleton-singing Lucinda Williams" on stage. The upstairs room at this Center City Irish pub has hosted the night since 1994. No cover.

Friday nights from 10pm to 2am, all-vinyl DJs spin 60s and 70s soul, funk, and Motown while the Trestle Specials—Philly's only go-go dance troupe—shimmy on elevated platforms. The space sits under the Reading Viaduct at 11th and Callowhill. According to the venue's website, the bar is famous for reintroducing the classic whiskey sour to Philadelphia, with 70+ whiskies on the menu. Late-night happy hour runs 10-11pm. $5 cash cover, or RSVP for free entry before 11pm (limited to 10).

Friday nights from 10:30 p.m. to midnight, Stogie Joe's Tavern on East Passyunk transforms into a speakeasy with live jazz. Password to enter: "OLD SPORT." The bar was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives and is known for its Friday-night exclusive menu items and contemporary cocktails. Cash only. Same South Philly charm, new speakeasy vibes.