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Make an evening out of it tonight in Rittenhouse Square. (Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC)

Allow yesterday’s almost fall-like weather to remind you that you should take advantage of outdoor summer activities as much as possible while you still can.

To that end, tonight is the second Wednesday of the Concerts in the Park concert series in Rittenhouse Square. Last week’s show was postponed due to rain so here’s hoping for better luck tonight. UPDATE: The 80-degree forecast is looking promising.

The bands playing this week are 1) Government Cheaze, 2) Drink Up Buttercup, and 3) A Place to Bury Strangers.

It’s a great opportunity to maybe check out Center City Sips first, and then swing by the Rittenhouse Square concert afterward.

Or maybe bring a picnic and enjoy a nice summer evening in the park, complete with a concert under the stars.

Concerts in the Park [Official Site]

The Kimmel Center, Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC

This is not the place to recount the long and infamous history of Philadelphia sports fans — their passion hitting a level of obsessiveness beyond most.

Now is the time, though, to look forward to the return of The Philly Fan, the one-man hit show starring Barrymore Award winner Tom McCarthy and written by award-winning playwright Bruce Graham that is becoming gospel at the church of Philadelphia fandom.

The limited six-week engagement beginning Sept. 23 – Oct. 31 at the Kimmel Center’s Innovation Studio features a slew of content since it first debuted to much fanfare in 2004 — including updates from a Phillies World Series win and a Donvan McNabb trade.

The one man tour-de-force is hailed as a biting, hilarious journey through a half-century of Philadelphia sports history, including all the requisite ups and downs and with a familiar sense of impending doom and undying love.

Tickets are now available at $35 for Thursday and Friday performances and $47 for Saturday and Sunday performances. For more information, visit the Kimmel Center’s official website.

The Philly Fan
Sept. 23rd – Oct 31st, 2010

The Kimmel Center
260 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 790-5800
www.kimmelcenter.org

A jazz group performing at the Chaddsford Winery, Photo by S. Legato

Love music? How about wine? Excellent. Continue reading.

Until the end of the month, you can catch Summer Nights Under the Stars, every Friday at the Chaddsford Winery. Admission is only $22, and guests can look forward to live music in the winery’s beautiful outdoor setting, whilst sipping on crisp glasses of wine.

The concerts run from 6:30pm to 9:30pm, with an array of performers, from The Red Alert Band (60′s dance) to Alligator Zydeco (Southern soul). For a full list of dates and groups, visit the Chaddsford Winery’s official website.

Chaddsford Winery
632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, PA 19317
(610) 388-6221
www.chaddsford.com

Sunday, August 1st at 8 pm.

Percy Street Barbecue [Visit Philly]
@PercyStreet [Twitter]

Earlier:
In Photos: Lunch at Percy Street

Rufus Wainwright, Photo via the Mann Center

Affectionately referred to by Elton John as “the greatest songwriter on the planet” and praised by The New York Times for his “genuine originality,” Rufus Wainwright has established himself as one of the greatest male vocalists and songwriters of his generation.

On August 4th, the Mann Center continues its 75th Anniversary season with a concert you won’t want to miss, as Rufus Wainwright takes the stage for an evening of soulful music under the stars.

The Juno Award-winning Canadian-American singer/songwriter has released six albums and two DVDs to date, and has appeared on numerous soundtracks and compilations, as well as collaborated with artists like Elton John, David Byrne and Keane.

His latest album, All Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu, was released this March and features the single “Who Are You New York?”

Tickets are $34.50, $44.50 and $56. Doors open at 6 pm. Show begins at 7:30 pm. See ya there!

Mann Center for the Performing Arts
5201 Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131
(215) 546-7900
www.manncenter.org

Come Sunday, August 1st, East Passyunk Avenue will be lined with over 100 muscle, classic, antique, custom and show cars, shining along the four block stretch of the avenue. It’s the 5th Annual DooWop Car Show & Street Festival, and you’re invited.

Along with a number of fancy cars to swoon over, you can look forward to live music, face painting, car memorabilia vendors, and a craft show at the Passyunk Fountain.

Several of East Passyunk’s popular restaurants will be dishing out special street food and beverages for the day, from smoothies at Fuel to home-made gnocchi and savory sausage & pepper sandwiches from Mamma Maria.

For more information check out www.visiteastpassyunk.com.

5th Annual DooWop Car Show & Street Festival [ www.visiteastpassyunk.com ]

Animus, Performing at the Penn Museum on July 21st

On Wednesday evenings from 5pm – 8pm through August 25th, the Penn Museum’s Summer Music Series in the lush Warden Gardens offers an opportunity to sip drinks, enjoy light fare and explore the gardens while listening to live music inspired by ancient stops along the famed Silk Road trading route that brought East and West together.

The Silk Road theme is offered to herald the coming of a new major exhibition from China, Secrets of the Silk Road, making its East Coast stop at the Penn Museum in early 2011.

The Summer Music Series is Pay-What-You-Wish and is the perfect location to unwind after work. Select museum galleries are also open and the event occurs rain or shine. Visit the Penn Museum’s official website for a full line-up of performers.

Penn Museum
3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-898-4000
www.penn.museum

Sun Ra Arkestra, Photo: Mark Lazarski

At 6PM on Saturday, July 24th, University City District and The Rotunda are hosting a free, outdoor performance by the Sun Ra Arkestra that will take place on 40th Street between Walnut and Locust, directly behind the Walnut Street Free Library.

These pioneers of experimental music have called Philadelphia home since 1968, and for over 50 years have combined their Afro-Futurist ideas with traditional jazz music to create a unique sound that merges bebop, swing, ragtime, free jazz, and astral electronic instrumentation.

After Sun Ra’s death, Marshall Allen – who recently celebrated his 86th birthday! – became the Arkestra’s maestro in 1995 and they have continued to make creative music that is every bit as sonically spectacular and ahead of its time as it was 50 years ago.

If you’ve never seen a Sun Ra Arkestra performance, or missed last year’s excellent Pathways to Unknown Worlds: Sun Ra, El Saturn & Chicago’s Afro-Futurist Underground, 1954-1968 exhibit at the Institute of Contemporary Art, now is the time to witness one of Philly’s legendary music groups for yourself!

A performance by the Scorch Fire Show will combine flames and movement arts prior to the music and Rita’s Water Ice will be freely available to keep things cool.

Sun Ra Arkestra & Scorch
Saturday, July 24, 6PM
40th & Walnut/Locust Streets (behind Walnut Street Free Library)

En Vogue

The bigger-than-ever Global Fusion Festival kicks off tomorrow, with a concert that celebrates the cultures of the world. From international Bachata performers and hands-clapping gospel artists, to award-winning R&B soloists and cultural performers, the festival’s line-up is sure to excite the rhythms within your soul.

The festival starts at noon and runs until 8pm on the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing. Get ready for ethnic dance performances, cultural vendors, kid’s activities and a concert with national headliners such as R&B divas En Vogue; Soul singer Lyfe Jennings; Gospel Recording Artists JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise; Bachata artist Toby Love; Salsa singer Huey Dunbar; International Reggae singer Gyptian and many more… all hosted by VH1’s music host Amanda Diva.

For more information and for additional performers, visit the Global Fusion Festival’s official website.

Global Fusion Festival
Saturday, July 17th, 2010, Noon to 8pm
www.globalfusionfestival.com

Penn’s Landing [ www.visitphilly.com ]

The Philadelphia Orchard Project, an organization that wants to plant orchards across the city of Philadelphia to provide healthy food, green spaces, and community food security, is hosting a music festival and fundraiser this Saturday, July 17th.

The concert kicks off at 3pm at Liberty Lands Park, featuring the West Philadelphia Orchestra and four other groups. Suggested donation is only $5, and all proceeds go towards the organization.

Hungry concert goers can look forward to food from a number of great local food trucks, include Honest Tom’s Taco Truck, the Buttercream Cupcake Truck, and the Dapper Dog. Thirsty? Philadelphia Brewing Company made a donation to the event, and their guys will be there pouring beer all day.

For more info on the Philadelphia Orchard Project, visit their official website.

Concert for the Philadelphia Orchard Project
Saturday, July 17th, 3pm – 8:30pm
www.phillyorchards.org

Liberty Lands Park
926 N American St, Philadelphia, PA 1912

Cheap Trick & Squeeze, Performing at the Mann on Friday!

If this isn’t the perfect summer concert, I don’t know what is.

U.K. chart-toppers Squeeze and U.S. hit-makers Cheap Trick this Friday, July 16th at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts. Get your hands on this one before it sells out, you won’t want to miss out on a night of classic rock and pop favorites, from Cheap Trick’s “I Want You To Want Me” and the late 80s hit “The Flame,” plus Squeeze’s hits “Pulling Mussels (From the Shell) and “Tempted.”

As they celebrate their 35th anniversary together, Cheap Trick continues to be one of the most coveted bands of all time, blending elements of pop, punk and even metal in way that’s remained relevant for decades. Squeeze has been rockin’ since 1973 and there’s no sign they’re stopping anytime soon– with their legacy intact, Chris Difford’s lyrics and Glenn Tillbrook’s music have survived everything from ever-changing musical landscape to their own internal reshuffles and breakups.

Cheap Trick + Squeeze… now that’s legendary rock at its best!

Tickets are $29.50 and $53.50. Doors open at 6pm. Show begins at 7:30pm.

Mann Center for the Performing Arts
5201 Parkside Ave, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 546-7900
www.manncenter.org

Last Year's Global Grooves @ the Kimmel Center

Starting this Thursday, July 15th, the Kimmel Center’s Global Grooves returns for another Summer of shaking it up in the Perelman Theater.

These world music dance parties go down every Thursday night through the end of the month, on the 15th, 22nd, and the 29th.

The Kimmel is dishing out a rather diverse and eclectic line up this year, from Sarazino’s “blend of Latin pop, reggae, funk, African, French and Arabic music” to Bomba Estéreo’s psychedelic cumbia, which mixes folk sounds with contemporary splashes of electronica, reggae, and hip-hop. For more information on the artists performing, visit the official Global Grooves page on the Kimmel Center’s website.

Tickets are $20 for each show, and can be purchased online or at the Kimmel Center’s box office.

The Kimmel Center
260 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 790-5800
www.kimmelcenter.org