What To Do: As area opens, a few more options for outings

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times

As we head into July, many of the restrictions caused by COVID-19 have been removed or at least relaxed – just as the pandemic’s numbers are starting to surge in the wrong direction.

Still, you people who have been waiting to get out for months can now get out. You can break the chains and finally get “out and go.”

You can do things – but there is nothing to do (more or less).

You can do things such as take a hike in the woods, enjoy a scenic drive over country roads, swim in the ocean, canoe down a creek or drive around Philly to visually check out historic sites without having to deal with heavy traffic.

When I say there is “nothing to do,” “nothing” refers to events such as Greek festivals, garden tours, museum visits, strawberry festivals, outdoor music concerts (forget indoor concerts – they probably won’t happen again until 2021), historical celebrations and wine-tasting events.

Fortunately, the gate to the realm of live events is slowly beginning to open. There are attractions to visit when you get outside your neighborhood.

People’s Light (39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, www.peopleslight.org) is hosting “Car Concert: The Big Takeover” on June 27 at 6:30 p.m.

Billed as a “A Drive-In Concert Experience,” the event will take place in the theater’s parking lot.

Fronted by charismatic Jamaican-born singer and songwriter Nee Nee Rushie, this seven-piece band from the Hudson Valley plays original music that is rooted in and reverent towards the genres and rhythms of Jamaican pop: reggae, rocksteady, ska. They are devotees of Desmond Dekker and the way the old school did it.

At the same time, The Big Takeover crosses lines and blends traditions like global pop fusionists. The band’s deceptively complex arrangements and big hooks connect with the spirit of Motown and the uptown sophistication of the 21st century retro soul and R&B revival scene.

A $65 ticket applies per car not per person. Multiple passengers can attend under a single reservation as long as they arrive in the same vehicle.

The Brandywine River Museum of Art (1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds Ford, www.brandywine.org) will be reopening to the public on Wednesday, July 1.

To ensure the safety, security and quality of the visitor experience, the Brandywine will be implementing a variety of new procedures when it reopens, including face mask requirements, timed ticketing and capacity limits. Advance reservations are highly recommended.

Special exhibitions will include “Votes for Women: A Visual History,” and “Witness to History: Selma Photography of Stephen Somerstein.”

“Votes for Women: A Visual History” includes drawings, illustrations, and posters from museums, historical societies, and private collections that visualize the complex political messages conveyed by suffragists. Also included are historic photographs of marches and rallies, including the 1913 Women’s Suffrage Procession in Washington D.C. Examples of the costumes, clothing, sashes and other emblems of women’s activism worn by suffragists enliven the presentation, drawing comparisons between the representations and realities of women’s struggle to win the vote.

Presenting an inclusive historical narrative, the exhibition recognizes the efforts of women of color and their community networks, which have been largely overlooked, giving the false impression that women of color were absent from the struggle for voting rights. As a way to recognize these marginalized communities, the Brandywine commissioned a diverse group of women artists to create a mural of illustrated portraits featuring some of the women whose role in winning voting rights has been historically minimized because of their race or ethnicity.

“Witness to History: Selma Photography of Stephen Somerstein” presents 55 of the photographs taken by Somerstein on March 25, 1965, accompanied by his commentary of the day’s events. It is guest curated by Farrah Spott and on view at the Brandywine River Museum of Art as a companion to the exhibition.

The historic 1965 Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, civil rights march concerned one issue—the right to vote. Two thousand marchers set out on March 21 along Route 80, known as the “Jefferson Davis Highway.” After two failed attempts to complete the march, President Johnson dispatched federal and state troops to guard the demonstrators along the way to the state capitol, 54 miles away. By the time the marchers reached Montgomery, their number had grown to 25,000.

Hearing of the events, 24-year-old student photographer Stephen Somerstein jumped on a bus in New York city and headed to Alabama. He arrived on March 25, in time for the final march to the state capitol. With five cameras around his neck and only 15 rolls of film, Somerstein seemed to be everywhere at once documenting this pivotal moment in the civil rights movement. He captured photographs of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other prominent activists such as Rosa Parks, James Baldwin, Bayard Rustin, John Lewis, and Joan Baez. Somerstein also took poignant portraits of his fellow demonstrators, as well as the anonymous bystanders who had gathered along route to observe the civil action in progress.

Virtual lectures, gallery talks, performances, family programs and a summer art camp for kids will continue to be offered online for the foreseeable future as part of the “Brandywine at Home” initiative.

There will also be a special tribute to Betsy James Wyeth, who passed away in April 2020 — a memorial display of 20 Andrew Wyeth works featuring his wife. All works are from the Andrew and Betsy Wyeth Collection, including quite a few that have never been exhibited before.

Admission to the museum is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors (65+) and $6 for students with ID and children ages 6-18.

Winterthur (5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware, http://www.winterthur.org/) will begin welcoming back all visitors beginning July 1. Reservations are required. Please make them online or by phone (302.888.4600).

Most outdoor areas and the first-floor galleries will be open. Some in-person programs will be available also, including guided garden walks and garden tram tours. The Winterthur Store will reopen with social distancing markings and contactless transactions.

Because the well-being of our valued visitors and our staff remains our highest priority, safety measures such as the online reservation system, reduced capacity, and the restriction of some indoor areas will be in effect.

Please bring a face mask. In outdoor areas, you must wear a face mask when it is difficult to maintain a safe social distance of six feet from people who are not from your household. Wearing face masks is required in all indoor areas at all times.

Other state-mandated restrictions will be necessary through all phases of reopening. Please help Winterthur comply. Maintain appropriate physical distancing, follow one-directional pathways, and take other precautions as posted on-site.

Enchanted Woods will be open beginning July 1, but several of the features will be closed to play. The second-floor galleries and museum will remain closed for now.

Exhibition and/or House Tour tickets include General Admission to Winterthur with access to the grounds, garden, and Galleries.

Timed tickets will be available for two-hour intervals, beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m. daily. Tickets are $20 for adults, $6 for children (2-11), and $18 for seniors (62) and students (with valid ID).

Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, https://longwoodgardens.org/) has re-opened – sort of.

Longwood posted the following on its website:

Our garden gates are open on a limited, non-public basis for our Members only. As we have navigated unprecedented times, our appreciation for you, our Members, has grown by leaps and bounds, and we send you our heartfelt gratitude for your support, your encouragement, and your love for Longwood.

Just as our Gardens are a place of pleasure and respite, they are also a place of wellness and safety. Please honor the new visiting guidelines we’ve created in accordance with state and local regulations. It takes all of us to make our Gardens a world apart.

We will continue to make updates to our visiting guidelines, as well as open up Timed Admission Ticket purchasing as soon as we are able. We appreciate your ongoing understanding.

Another Longwood website page posted this:

We kept our promise to you. We’re welcoming you back to a place of beauty, a place of resilience, a place that has been so lovingly sustained … for all of our yesterdays, our todays, and our tomorrows.

Our beloved plants and trees have been waiting patiently to show off their beauty, give you a place of respite, and demonstrate the power of resilience. Upon reopening, our visiting experience will be different. We are committed to maintaining our culture of safety and well-being for all. Therefore, we have instituted new visiting guidelines in accordance with state and local regulations to help provide a safer and enjoyable experience while enjoying the beauty of our Gardens.

These new regulations touch many aspects of visiting our Gardens, including operating days and hours, Member reservations and ticket availability, personal protective equipment when visiting, arrival practices, mobility rentals, available restrooms, open garden spaces and pathways, and more. Conditions in our Gardens will continue to evolve, as will visiting guidelines, and we look forward to offering additional experiences as soon as we are able.

For example, some of our iconic outdoor garden spaces will require mindful walking in order to maintain safety and social distancing while you enjoy them … but they’re still here and still thriving. Our indoor spaces, including our Conservatory and Peirce-du Pont House will not be available upon our reopening … but they’ll be ready and waiting for when we can once again open their doors.

Upon reopening, we will be keeping our fountains running continuously throughout the day. The fountains will be dancing to the sounds of water and nature, not to music nor to dedicated shows, so you may soak in the splendor at any time while still maintaining social distancing.

While conditions will evolve and guidelines will change, many constants remain. Our appreciation for you. Our gratitude for one another. Our joy in sharing our beauty with you. And our commitment to many, many more beautiful tomorrows. Welcome back to Longwood.

Admission to Longwood Gardens is — Adults, $25; seniors (ages 62 and older) and college students (with valid ID), $22; youth (ages 5-18), $13; children (4 and under), free. Longwood Gardens membership prices start at $90.

The Delaware Art Museum (2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware, www.delart.org) is “thrilled to announce that it will reopen on Wednesday, July 1, 2020.” Museum Members will receive two weeks of exclusive access before opening to the general public on Wednesday, July 15.

To keep guests safe, Plexiglas shields will be installed at the front desk and in the Museum Store and all transactions will be cashless, so visitors are encouraged to remember their credit cards. Guests will also be required to wear face masks and practice social distancing. The Thronson Café will be closed until further notice. Maps and brochures will only be available electronically for the time being.

For more than 100 years, the Museum has served as a primary arts and cultural institution in Delaware. It is alive with experiences, discoveries, and activities to connect people with art and with each other. Originally created in 1912 to honor the renowned illustrator and Wilmington-native, Howard Pyle, the Museum’s collection has grown to over 12,000 works of art in its building and sculpture garden.

Also recognized for British Pre-Raphaelite art, the Museum is home to the largest and most important Pre-Raphaelite collection outside of the United Kingdom and a growing collection of significant contemporary art. Embracing all disciplines, the Museum’s Performance Series ranges from concerts by Pyxis Piano Quartet, resident ensemble of over ten years, to cutting-edge, multi-disciplinary artists committed to social justice and pushing the boundaries of artistic practice.

The Museum will return to its regular operating hours, which are as follows: Monday and Tuesday: closed; Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Thursday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. The Museum will be closed on Saturday, July 4 in honor of Independence Day.

The Museum has extended its two spring exhibitions through the remainder of the year, including “Layered Abstraction: Margo Allman and Helen Mason” (on view until January 17, 2021) and “Julio daCunha: Modernizing Myths” (on view until November 1, 2020).

Odessa resident and antiques dealer Paul Thien has been selected by the Historic Odessa Foundation (www.historicodessa.org) to open a gallery in one of the town’s historic buildings, where he will showcase Delaware pieces and share his passion and in-depth knowledge of the local furniture output.

The new gallery, which will be called Paul*Douglas Fine Antiques, is being housed at 116A E. Main Street, Odessa, in the historic Pump House, c. 1780, part of the foundation’s Historic Houses of Odessa. It is located directly across from Cantwell’s Tavern and next to the storied Corbit-Sharp House, c.1774.

A special three-day “soft” opening for the new gallery is scheduled for Friday, June 26, through Sunday, June 28. Thien will also host a celebratory reception at the gallery on Wednesday, July 1, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Odessa gallery will concentrate on 18th- and 19th-century furniture, paintings and associated accessories, with an emphasis on Delaware material.

Thien lives in the historic Enos House in Odessa and restored the home’s frame structure. In addition to his antique business, he is working toward a master’s degree, with a focus on Delaware cabinet makers and the state’s early architecture, through the University of Delaware and Winterthur Museum and Gardens. Some of his research has concentrated on the furniture-making specific to 18th-century Odessa (which then was called Cantwell’s Bridge) and architectural historiography.

The Historic Houses of Odessa were operated by Winterthur from 1958 until 2003 when it was permanently closed to the public. In 2005 Mr. Sharp’s granddaughter and granddaughter-in-law graciously stepped forward to establish a new foundation for the support and stewardship of the site. The Historic Odessa Foundation opened to the public in December of 2005.

Today, Odessa is a National Registered Historic District and is also home to a National Historic Landmark and two National Parks Service Network to Freedom Sites. The Historic Odessa Foundation continues Mr. Sharp’s groundbreaking work, preserving and interpreting the past through tours, exhibitions, and living-history programs for children and adults.

Just south of the state line separating Down in nearby Delaware, the state parks (https://destateparks.com/) opened on June 1 including several that are located in close proximity to Chester County such as Alapocas Run (1914 W. Park Drive, Wilmington, https://destateparks.com/Alapocas), Auburn Valley (630 Benge Road, Yorklyn,https://destateparks.com/History/AuburnValley), Brandywine Creek (41 Adams Dam Road, Wilmington, https://destateparks.com/BrandywineCreek), and Bellevue (800 Carr Road, Wilmington, https://destateparks.com/Bellevue).

The list of nearby parks also includes Fox Point (Lighthouse Road, Wilmington, https://destateparks.com/PondsRivers/FoxPoint), White Clay Creek (750 Thompson Station Road, Newark,https://destateparks.com/WhiteClayCreek) and Wilmington State Parks (https://destateparks.com/Wilmington) — Brandywine Park (North Park Drive), Rockford Park (2000 Lookout Drive) and H. Fletcher Brown ( South Park Drive and N. King Street).

Another major attraction that is drawing visitors to Delaware is Delaware Park Racetrack (777 Delaware Park Blvd. Wilmington, Delaware, www.delawarepark.com) which re-opened for the year on Wednesday. The 83rd season of live racing at Delaware Park came to life with spectators and enhanced safety protocols, including enforced social distancing.

The racetrack posted the following protocols — Live racing attendance will be limited to a combined total of 3,000 patrons, both inside and outside; Initial access to the Clubhouse will be limited to the Paddock entrance; All patrons will have their temperature taken prior to being granted access to the Clubhouse; Guests flagged by temperature reading of 99.5° or higher (as established by Delaware Health & Social Services), or flagged by the health screening questionnaire will be prohibited from entering; Guests demonstrating symptoms will be asked to immediately vacate the property; Patrons entering the Clubhouse will be given a wristband that will need to be worn at all times; All patrons must possess a face mask when entering the property, bandanas will not be acceptable.

Patrons will not be allowed to congregate in any areas, except those patrons from the same household; Hand sanitizer stations will be located throughout the Clubhouse and outdoor seating areas; Outdoor seating will be available on the Apron and in the Grove area, including the tent.

The schedule for the 2020 Delaware Park racing season is: June 17 through October 17 — Live racing daily on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday (Thursday added July 16 through October 1).

Here in the Philly area, Parx Casino® (2999 Street Road, Bensalem, www.parxcasino.com) will reopen to the public at 9 a.m. on  June 29 in accordance with directives from the Centers for Disease Control, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Parx Casino® will implement new health and safety procedures to enhance its existing protocols on the property. The new hours of operation at Parx Casino® will be Monday through Thursday, 9am to 3am and beginning at 9am on Friday through 3am on Monday, the casino will operate on a 24-hour schedule.
Parx Casino® will implement new health and safety procedures to enhance its existing protocols on the property. The owners and operators of Parx Casino® are focused on the well-being of all team members and guests and are working to create an environment with superior standards of cleanliness and social distancing practices. Slot machines and table games will be reconfigured with limited seating and additional safety measures put in place. Select dining and bar options will be available with limited hours during this first phase of reopening.
Guest arrival process:
o   For now, valet parking will not be available to guests.
o   Entry will be limited to certain marked doors at each of the three main entry areas.
o   Guests will enter through doors that are either propped open, automated, or manually opened by a Parx employee.
o   If the property has reached capacity, guests may be asked to wait in an outside queue.  These queues will be sectioned off, covered from the elements, marked for appropriate social distancing and monitored by security.  We will establish a dedicated queue and entry for our Elite and Premium XClub guests.
o   A security officer will greet each visitor, screen them and ask them to use hand sanitizer.
o   The screening process involves some questions and a temperature check upon entry.  All guests will have their temperature checked using contactless thermal cameras or infrared thermometers.  If a guest registers a temperature at or above 100.4°F, the guest will be asked to take a secondary temperature screening in a non-invasive manner.  If the secondary temperature check also registers a temperature at or above 100.4°F, the guest will not be allowed entry into the property.  If the guest refuses the secondary screening, the guest will be denied entry.
o   Guests will be required to wear approved masks at all times while on the property.  If a guest does not have a clean, approved mask with them, Parx will provide the guest with a mask.  Guests who refuse to wear masks will be denied entry.
Additional guest safety procedures:
o   Guests will be advised to practice appropriate social distancing as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
o   Slot machines, table games, restaurant tables and other physical layouts have been arranged to promote distancing. Per governmental guidance, the poker room will be closed until further notice.
o   Hand sanitizer dispensers will be placed at all entrances and contact surfaces throughout the casino floor, restaurant entrances and service counters.  We encourage guests to use these stations regularly.
o   Health and hygiene reminders will be displayed throughout the property demonstrating the correct manner to wear, handle and dispose of masks.
o   We have increased the frequency of cleaning and sanitizing throughout the premises, with emphasis on frequent contact surfaces, including, but not limited to, door handles, bathrooms, ATMs, TRMs, kiosks, cage counters, gaming machines, gaming tables, dining surfaces and seating areas.
o   We have increased the frequency of air filter replacement and HVAC system cleaning and maximized fresh air exchange.

For those wishing to enjoy early local summer outdoors, they are finding more options available to them as each week goes by.

Morris Arboretum (100 East Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, www.morrisarboretum.org) is a 92-acre Victorian arboretum in Northwest Philly. It has resumed welcoming visitors back to enjoy its scenic gardens.

Guests can enjoy thousands of rare and lovely wooded plants, including many of Philadelphia’s oldest, rarest and most magnificent trees. To prevent overcrowding, advance tickets are required.

Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania began in 1887 as Compton, the summer home of John and Lydia Morris, brother and sister. The I.P. Morris Company, an iron-manufacturing firm founded by their father and later run by John Morris, was a source of family wealth.

The land the Morrises purchased in Chestnut Hill was barren, with poor soil that drained too quickly; but with diligent care they surrounded their home with a landscape and plant collection devoted to beauty and knowledge. Two Lines a sculpture by George Rickey marks the former mansion site. The Widener Visitor Center was formerly the carriage house.

Plants that are in bloom right now are Clematis ‘Etoile Violette’ (Etoile Violette clematis), Rhododendron austrinum, (Florida azalea), Aquilegia canadensis (American columbine), Rosa ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’ (Souvenir de la Malmaison), Allium giganteum
(giant allium), Asimina triloba (common pawpaw), and Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel).

Morris Arboretum is now open seven days a week. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors (65-plus), $10 for youth (3-17) and free for children (3 and under).

A “Special Sunday Outdoor Event — Comics, Toys, Collectibles” will be held on June 28 at Plunder Palace (914 Township Lane, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, www.plunderpalace.com).

This will be an outdoor “flea market style” event.

Plunder Palace and other vendors will be buying, selling and trading comics, toys and collectibles.

The free event will run from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and will also feature cold beverages and food.

Parks on Tap (www.parksontap.com) is back for its fifth season of supporting Philadelphia’s parks. The travelling outdoor beer garden that gives back will adapt to social distancing rules for the new season by implementing a stationary beer garden in several fixed locations.

The first summer-long location is situated outside on the grounds of the Fairmount Horticulture Center Arboretum (100 N. Horticultural Drive) – a 70,000-square-foot area, which includes socially distant seating and numerous safety measures.. It will feature fresh food, beers on tap, wine and non-alcoholic beverages set in an outdoor environment with comfortable chairs and clean restrooms.

Parks on Tap is family (and fido) friendly. Season hours for Parks on Tap at the Fairmount Horticulture Center will be Monday-Friday from 4-10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon-10 p.m. A free membership is required. Food and drink are pay-as-you-go. Seating is first come, first served.

Not far from this location is another popular Fairmont Park attraction — the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center,
On June 24, the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center, Lansdowne and Horticultural drives, Philadelphia, https://japanphilly.org/shofuso/) reopened for 2020 and became one of the first gardens to open in Philadelphia.

Visitors, who are limited to a health-conscious 30 people per hour — can will be able to enjoy the sceninc grounds and view the site’s historic house from the outside.

Designed by architect Junzo Yoshimura, Shofuso was built in Japan in 1953 using traditional techniques and materials. It was shipped to New York and exhibited in the courtyard of the Museum of Modern Art in New York before moving to West Fairmount Park in 1958. In 2007, international artist Hiroshi Senju, inspired by the garden’s waterfall, donated 20 contemporary murals to Shofuso, which are permanently displayed inside the house. This historic site and museum features a hill and pond garden with a tiered waterfall, island, and koi fish, a tea garden featuring a traditional tea house, and a courtyard garden leading to a bathhouse.

Shofuso is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. from Wednesday through Friday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Following guidance from the CDC and the City of Philadelphia, it has adopted the following policies:

Shofuso’s garden is open for touring and the veranda for sitting, but the house is only open for viewing from the outside.

Visitor capacity will be limited. Tickets are first come, first served.

All visitors age 3 and over must wear a mask. There will be hand sanitizing stations throughout the grounds. At the entrance, six-foot markers will allow people to wait in line safely.

Tickets are first come, first served; Adults: $12; senior 65+, $8; children 5 – 17, $8.

Another attraction in Fairmount Park that just re-opened is Treetop Quest Philly.

Treetop Quest Philly (51 Chamounix Drive, Philadelphia, www.treetopquest.com) is an aerial adventure park that will challenge you physically and mentally as you maneuver from tree to tree through obstacles and zip-lines. Once you’re equipped, they will teach you how to operate your equipment and you’ll be able to swing through each course as many times as you want for 2.5 hours.

Each participant is outfitted with a harness and gloves. Each course has a continuous belay system — a lifeline that is impossible to detach without a staff member. The activity is self-guided, and the staff is ready to assist when needed.

Reservations are required until further notice. Online reservations must be made at least 10 hours in advance, and the online waiver must be completed in advance of your visit.

All guests are required to wear a facemask while on the ground at the park. If you do not have a mask, they will be available for purchase at check-in.

Gloves are required for our activity. During this time, we encourage participants to bring their own gloves to use while up in the trees, gardening gloves are perfect for this activity.

We require social distancing while on the ground and in the trees at this time. All participants on the ground are required to stay 6 feet apart. We will only be allowing 1 participant per platform and 1 per obstacle until further notice.

Ticket prices are $52, adults; $45, ages 12-17; $35, ages 7-11; and $20; ages 4-6.

Hagley Museum & Library (200 Hagley Creek Road, Wilmington, Delaware, www.hagley.org) has opened the lower property with miles of trails and stunning scenery along the Brandywine exclusively to Hagley Members. With consideration for state mandates regarding social distancing and mass gatherings, Hagley is open only to Hagley Members on an advance reservations-only basis.

Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, https://tylerarboretum.org/) is open on a limited basis for Tyler members only. Pre-Registration is required. Tickets cannot be purchased at the gate and walk-ins are not permitted under any circumstances.

Tyler members can register for one of three available time slots: 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. (rain or shine). Only 25 vehicles will be permitted entrance to the property during each time slot. All treehouses, trail gates and all other buildings will remain closed until further notice. Only the restrooms in the lower level of the Barn will be available.

Other sites have limited access but are open to everyone.

Jenkins Arboretum (631 Berwyn Baptist Road, Devon, www.jenkinsarboretum.org) is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Please limit your visit to 1 hour to allow time for others to visit without crowding. You must wear a mask and practice social distancing at all times during your visit.

Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum (1237 State Rd, Andalusia, https://andalusiapa.org/) reopened its 100-acre space for socially distant, self-guided tours on select days beginning on June 15. Guests can purchase timed tickets online and explore the lovely grounds and exterior of the attraction’s impressive Greek Revival mansion.

Wissahickon Valley Park (various entry points including 120 W. Northwestern Avenue, https://fow.org/), a lush, 1,800-acre gem in near Roxborough, offers 57 miles of trails, crossing forest and meadow. Visitors can walk, bike or ride a horse through on the trails, or venture up the steeply wooded paths for a more challenging hike or off-road cycling adventure.

The grounds of Awbury Arboretum (The Francis Cope House, One Awbury Road, Philadelphia, awbury.org) remain open daily from sunrise to sunset, and, as always, are free. In response to the current public health crisis related to COVID-19, the Cope House, Education Center, and Arboretum offices are closed until further notice.

While it’s nice to get outside, there are also many good reasons to stay at home and take advantage of virtual offerings.

Over the next few weeks, Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, https://uptownwestchester.org/) is hosting a series titled,  “Facebook Live! Pick Me UP.” The series features three diverse performances.

It will begin on June 26 at 7 p.m. with a concert by Hot Breakfast!, a self-described “acoustic dork-rock power duo.” According to the band – “Don’t let the acoustic guitar fool you; there is plenty of rocking going on here.”

The virtual concert on July 9 will present Alex Moreno, a classically trained tenor. He has performed in “The Marriage of Figaro”, “Elixir of Love”, “La Traviata”, “Iolanta”, the comic opera “Los Martirios de Colón” and other opera in his native Venezuela. Most recently he was in the Opera of Philadelphia’s production of Verdi’s “Requiem.”

The online show on July 10 will feature Stephanie Phillips, who has been singing, playing guitar, and writing music from an early age. She has performed all over the United States, including many clubs in New York City such as the SpeakEasy and the Village Gate. Phillips describes her music as “progressive folk.”

A “Ballroom and Latin Dance Virtual Lesson” at West Chester Public Library (wcpubliclibrary.org)    is scheduled for June 30 at 7 p.m.

Participants are invited to join Suzy Keenan from Carousel Ballroom in this fun/no pressure lesson and learn the beginning steps for a couple of the best-known dances. All are welcome. No partner is needed. Event is open to teens and adults.
Carousel Ballroom is West Chester’s own local ballroom and Latin dance studio which offers group and private lessons and dance parties at its studio on Westtown Road.

This weekend, the 33rd Annual Clifford Brown Jazz Festival (http://cliffordbrownjazzfest.org/) will be live-streamed this year now through June 27.

The first-ever “Virtual Clifford Brown Jazz Festival” is a free presented by City of Wilmington, Delaware. However, “attendees” are encouraged to donate to Cityfest Wilmington, the city’s non-profit arm that support events like the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival. Donations can be made at http://cityfestwilm.com/.

The schedule for June 26 is: 7 p.m., Gerald Chavis Quintet featuring Carol Riddick; 8:05 p.m., Mike Boone Quartet featuring Mekhi Boone; 9:10 p.m., The Barbara Walker Story; and 10:15 p.m., Jonathan Barber & Vision Ahead.

The schedule for June 27 is: 3 p.m., Vertical Current; 4:05 p.m., Voices for Healing Ensemble; 4:55 p.m., Terra Soul Project; 6 p.m., Dennis Fortune and Friends; 7:05 p.m., The Whitney Project; 8:10 p.m., Korey Riker Band; 9:15 p.m., Fostina Dixon & Winds of Change; and 10:30 p.m., The Jeff Bradshaw Band.

For the last 12 years, The Roots Picnic (http://rootspicnic.com/philly) has been on of Philly’s most impressive and most appreciated music festivals. The live version of the 2020 Roots Picnic is a COVID-19 victim, but the virtual version is ready to pack a punch.

The virtual edition of the festival, which is scheduled for June 27 at 8 p.m. will be streamed for free on YouTube. Former first lady Michelle Obama co-hosts the event, which includes performances by H.E.R., Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, Sza, Kirk Franklin and D-Nice, as well as appearances by Janelle Monáe, Kerry Washington and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Video link for Roots Picnic 2020 — https://youtu.be/OgPp0WBbKpg.

Another popular Philly music event at this time of year traditionally is Wawa Welcome America (https://welcomeamerica.com/).

Wawa Welcome America is an annual multi-day citywide Independence Day festival. This year, a wholly reimagined festival will take place entirely in virtual format and bring more than 50 events to the Delaware Valley from June 28 through July 4.

The festival will open on June 28 with behind-the-scenes looks at One Liberty Observation Deck and the American Swedish Historical Museum, and a gospel celebration with Zak Williams and 1/Akord at 7 p.m.

“Museums of the Day” will be American Swedish Historical Museum, Christ Church Burial Ground, Fort Mifflin on the Delaware and One Liberty Observation Deck.

On June 29, “Museums of the Day” will be Museum of the American Revolution, Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia and Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center. At 7 p.m., there will be s special 10th Anniversary patriotic musical performance by the United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own.” The Band will present “United We Stand/Music to Connect Us” featuring popular music, vocal arrangements, and the finale, “The 1812 Overture.”

“Museums of the Day” will be Association of Public Art, Eastern State Penitentiary, Fireman’s Hall Museum and Free of Philadelphia Library Rare Book Department The Rosenbach on June 30, and the National Constitution Center on July 1. At 7 p.m. on July 1,

The United States Army Field Band presents “Fanfares for Freedom” — an inspiring show of patriotic favorites and spectacular performances.