Photo by Jerome McGriff

FunTimes Magazine ‘Culture + Entertainment’ column, Week of May 20, 2024.

 “Your mental health is everything — prioritize it. Make the time like your life depends on it because it does.”

      — Mel Robbins, podcast host-author
           (Mental Health Awareness Month in May)

May is having its moment right now. Surrender to the sweet call of May with these engaging, enlightening, and entertaining low-cost or free entertainment offerings, which focus on fashion, kids, books, exhibits, and lively celebrations of African culture.

The future of music…

Friday, May 24, 2024. Are there any future Alicia Keys out there?  Remarkably, R&B songstress Keys began composing songs at age 12. Jump, Jive, and Jam! might just be the catalyst to turn the light switch on for a generation of tomorrow’s musicians. Kids under age 6 will fall in love with music in a safe, fun, and educational environment at this neat workshop introducing them to instruments, rhythms, and beats opening up a whole new world. Free, 10:30 a.m. EST to 11:30 a.m. EST. Sponsored by the Friends of the Roxborough Library. 6245 Ridge Ave. 215-685-2550 or www.freelibrary.org.

Omar Tyree

He wrote a book on urban fiction 

Friday, May 24, 2024. Author Kimberly S. Reed will host and lead a conversation, the Omar Tyree Book Tour Launch, with accomplished writer Omar Tyree, to promote his latest book, Control. The fiction piece features six edgy control-happy Atlanta entertainers including a rap artist, and their psychologist, Dr. Victoria Benning, who jeopardizes her career in an intriguing, drama-filled thriller. Tyree brings the goods with his colossal resume as a New York Times bestseller, a 2001 NAACP Image Award recipient for Outstanding Literature in Fiction, and a 2006 Phillis Wheatley Literary Award Winner for Body of Work in Urban Fiction. Philadelphia City Council acknowledged Tyree’s work in urban literacy in 2009, and his books have sold two million copies worldwide. A graduate of Howard University's School of Communications in 1991, Tyree writes about the urban Black experience and has been credited with creating the genre of urban contemporary fiction with his acclaimed novel, Flyy Girl, published in 1993. Free but registration is highly recommended, 6 p.m. EST to 7:30 p.m. EST.  Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St, 215-567-4341 or tickettailor.com.

‘Africa Day 2024’ features fashion & music

Saturday, May 25, 2024. Experience the best of African culture, achievements, and history at The Africa Day 2024 celebration featuring traditional music, African dance, and fashion; meet African Royalty representing ancient kings and queens. Take part in a Mancala Game Tournament and an African Drumming Circle. Enjoy R&B music by Patrice Hawthorne. Engage with a cultural exhibition and interactive games and crafts to make an African crown to wear in a parade; win prizes for the top crowns. Learn about African business in Philly. Africa Day recognizes the founding of the Organization of African Unity, now known as the African Union. The event honors the progress of African unity and shines a light on ”the cultural and economic potential of the continent.” Free, 3 p.m. EST to 6 p.m. EST. Fisher Park, 600 W. Spencer St. E-mail: [email protected], 484-546-4998 or www.creativephl.org.

Dino-mite exhibit

Saturday, May 25, 2024. Dig back in time and check out the Opening Day of Summer of Dinos at Morris Arboretum. See plants that were prevalent in the prehistoric age of dinosaurs in a self-guided exhibition. But young dinosaur lovers (and who isn’t?) can get their fill at yet another dinosaur exhibition called Garden Railway Dinos spotlighting more than 15 rail lines running along a third of a mile of track; enjoy fan favorites -- Triceratops, Velociraptor, and other Mesozoic creatures comprised of bark, leaves, and twigs. The Garden Railway is considered to be one of the United State’s largest outdoor miniature train displays. That’s not all, either; trek on over to a pop-up paleontologist’s cottage featuring hands-on “dig stations,” special family-friendly programming including Fossil Fridays, Dino Story Time, and more. Free with general admission: $20 for adults, $10 for kids, ages 3 to 17; free for kids under age 2. 10 a.m. EST to 5 p.m. EST. Morris Arboretum & Gardens, 100 E Northwestern Ave. 215-247-5777 or  https://www.morrisarboretum.org/.

Thursday, May 30 to Sunday, June 2, 2024. Enjoy dance and acrobatics wrapped into one show at Cirque du Soleil Corteo. Mauro, a dreamer clown, imagines his funeral as a festive carnival with angels. "Corteo" is a celebration of life. This show blends grandeur with intimacy, humor with sorrow, and celebrates the clown's strength, vulnerability, wisdom, and humanity, all set to whimsical, poetic music. Show times vary. $103 to $126, Liacouras Center/ Temple University. cirquedusoleil.com.

The Rev. Betty White

 The workshop examines hard topics with a soft approach

Monday, June 3, 2024. Confronting sensitive situations is always challenging. The Navigating Difficult Conversations virtual workshop has the answer and can help you practice skills to tackle hard topics. Share stories and tips to encourage effective exchanges for delicate situations at home or in your work life. The Rev. Betty White, manager of Clinical Pastoral Education for the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and the Rev. Jay Gardner, DMin, Zones of Peace Coordinator at Interfaith Philadelphia, will lead the informative discussion. The Rev. White has extensive experience working in the non-profit and healthcare sectors from 10 a.m. EST to 11:30 a.m. EST. Registration is required, for $45 (with a sliding scale). The event organizer is Interfaith Philadelphia, 100 W. Oxford St., Suite E-1300. Email: [email protected], 215-222-1012 or interfaithphiladelphia.org.