"May is the month of expectation, the month of wishes, the month of hope."

                                                      -- Poet Emily Brontë  (1818 – 1848)

As April, which yielded so many engaging events, gives way to the promise of May, consider walking, dancing, and singing to the tune of these low-cost or free activities ranging from athletic races to strolls in the garden. And don’t forget: When event-going, please take precautions, especially when in groups and indoors, with the current COVID-19 variants and other infectious health threats. Check with the event organizers about their safety protocols, and also any changes due to inclement weather. 

Leslie Odom, Jr.

From Broadway to Broad Street

Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Remember the political character Aaron Burr in the smash-hit play Hamilton? Philly’s Leslie Odom, Jr. made the breakout Broadway role all of his own. Now the Tony and Grammy Award-winner takes his act on the road. The singer-actor takes the stage for a riveting solo concert. Odom is fresh off of co-producing and starring in the Broadway production of Ossie Davis’ Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch in which a Black preacher tries to reclaim his old church. Whether in concert or the theater, Odom has the chops. $49 to $149, 7 p.m. EST. Miller Theater, 250 S. Broad St. 215-893-1999 or ensembleartsphilly.org.

Andrés Cepeda

Columbia’s colorful Cepeda brings Latin heat

Thursday, May 2, 2024. Ensemble Arts Presents, with Metropolitan Entertainment, will bring the Andrés Cepeda: Tengo Ganas Tour to the local stage. Cepeda is a popular Colombian artist in Latin America. He is a singer-songwriter-producer and three-time Latin GRAMMY winner who mixes the best of musical genres. He studied music production in the United States. Cepeda founded Poligamia, a Bogota-based rock band that released four successful albums. He has nabbed three Latin GRAMMY Awards and secured multiple diamond, platinum, and gold records. Starting at $36, 8 p.m. EST. Miller Theater, 250 S. Broad St. 215-893-1999 or ensembleartsphilly.org.

 
Dance that keeps you on track…

Friday, May 3, 2024, through Sunday, May 5, 2024. Need a break during train travel? Check out Amtrak Presents PHILADANCO! William H. Gray 30th III Street Station. It’s all part of the ongoing Art at Amtrak series. Enjoy a refreshing and unexpected respite from the hustle and bustle of arriving at your next destination when PHILADANCO! The Dance Company presents three 18-minute daily performances of its famous piece, SEASONS by choreographer Francisco Gella. Free. May 3rd: 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. EST; May 4th: 6:15 p.m. EST., 7:15 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. EST.; May 5th: 2 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 4 p.m. EST. Dancers will perform on the mezzanine balcony overlooking the main concourse of Gray 30th Street Station, 2995 Market St. https://philadanco.org/event/amtrak/ or philadanco.org.

Catch them on the run….

Sunday, May 5, 2024. At this point, you can’t register to race in the City of Philadelphia’s 2024 Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run -- a straight-away course from start to the Philly finish on the world’s largest continuous road, Broad Street. But you can cheer on the 40,000 participants who will navigate the urban course on wheels and foot. It also boasts bragging rights as the nation’s largest 10-mile race. Enjoy the kids’ events (a Youth Fun Run) and post-race activities. Free, 7:30 a.m. EST. NBC10 will broadcast the race live and stream it live on all digital platforms. Broad and Somerville streets to the Philadelphia Navy Yard at the foot of South Broad Street, South Philadelphia. E-mail: [email protected], 215-683-3594 or broadstreetrun.com.

A healthy get-together

Friday, May 10, 2024. Let’s meet and mingle. Black Health Connect will gather health professionals to interact and network with others in their career fields at the Philadelphia Q2 Networking Mixer. Bring your business cards, your elevator pitch, a colleague, or a friend. Talk shop with professionals, organizations, companies, and small businesses to learn about career advancement and opportunities. Those interested in entering the healthcare field are invited to join this business mixer. Free entry but reserve a spot in advance. 5 p.m. EST to 10 p.m. EST  (Happy Hour Specials: 5 p.m. EST to 7 p.m. EST.) NOTO Philadelphia, 1209 Vine St. eventbrite.com or blackhealthconnect.com.

Tech connect at career conference 

Tuesday, May 7, 2024 to Friday, May 10, 2024. Diversitech 2024, the biggest professional tech event on the East Coast, is in Philly for those interested in career exploration and development. Gain insight into the cutting-edge technology industry at four days of workshops and panel discussions led by more than 60 national experts and official partners in the tech industry such as TiKtok, GSA, Accenture, and Rivian. Cinneah at Flynanced as well as Ryan Wilson, CEO of The Gathering Spot, and Erin Reddick, CEO of ChatBlackGpt. Learn about tech skills, interview tips, salary negotiation tactics, and even interviews with companies on the spot. Take test drives courtesy of Rivian, the electric vehicle brand, and the “Philly Day of Play” of innovative fun activities. The event sponsors Tribaja’s goal is to recruit diverse tech talent and help companies build diverse and equal representation by recruiting from Black and other underserved communities. $25 (students) and $149 (general admission), 10 a.m. EST to 4 p.m. EST. Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St. https://www.tribaja.co/.

The gardens at the Rodin Museum

The splendor of spring…

Selfie alert: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) has planted more than 100,000 flowering bulbs in public gardens and landscapes in Center City and along the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia this spring. About 1,000 of those flowers – perennials -- were saved and replanted from PHS’s 2024 Philadelphia Flower Show in February. These lush gardens were prepared through the handiwork of the nonprofit’s  Public Gardens and Landscapes program. PHS calls it “a colorful celebration of this season of renewal.” We call it a bargain, as in it’s free. Spend a day at LOVE Park (16th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard), Logan Square (200 N. 19th St.), the Rodin Museum (2151 Ben Franklin Pkwy.), and the Azalea Garden at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Kelly Drive and Fairmount Avenue). Take in the grandeur of hopeful daffodils and tulips, as well as a beautiful array of new perennials and shrubs at these locations, as well as 15 other gardens citywide. LOVE Park features a lush garden-style presentation of eye-popping annuals, perennials, and tropicals, as nearly 7,000 bulbs are in bloom. At Logan Square, check out the spring hyacinths, crocuses, daffodils, and more than 50,000 colorful tulips. See the spring perennials Meadow Sage, Meadow Rue, and Dianthus in vibrant purple and pink hues at The Rodin Museum. The stately Azalea Garden at the Philadelphia Museum of Art near Boathouse Row offers a serene picnic perch. All locations are free, 24 hours daily. 215-988-8800 or PHSOnline.org.