🎸 Get your Bruce out, Philly!

The Boss is back in town, folks! Last night, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played the first of two shows this week at Citizens Bank Park (the second is on Friday). His original performance was scheduled for 2023, but had to be postponed due to stomach ulcers. Philadelphians are naturally especially excited for his return to form. Pop music critic Dan DeLuca called the first night’s show “hands down top notch.”

Will you be seeing him this week? Do you have a favorite Springsteen song you’d like to share with us? Let me know!

Plus, this weekend is almost the end of August (rude!), which means summer is winding down. I plan to spend as much time outside as possible—and Philly’s outdoor concert schedule is in full swing. This weekend, catch Springsteen at CBP, dance to Snacktime at the Oval, or see Omar Apollo at Mann.

— Rosa Cartagena (@_RosaCartagenaEmail to [email protected])

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After a year of waiting, Philadelphia fans are thrilled to see Springsteen and the E Street Band back in action. Dan DeLuca met the one and only Steve Van Zandt, who made his love for Philadelphia clear: “It’s absolutely true that Philadelphia was one of the first places to support the (E Street Band),” he recently told the Inquirer. “This is not nostalgic self-glorification.”

Philly fans have a long history with Springsteen. I’ve had the opportunity to interview Boss superfans who have bonded with their families through Bruce’s music, whether by telling their potential boyfriends to get better informed or by naming the family dog ​​Rosalita. Meet the families who share a love for Bruce.

Here you can find out everything you need to know about the concert on Friday.

The best things to do this week

📚 Bring your bag: The annual Philly Bookstore Crawl returns for the second year on Saturday, with neighborhoods featuring author talks and discounts. Here’s your guide to book-loving fun.

🎥 Run, don’t walk: To see the latest film from Philadelphia native Colman Domingo, Singing Singing. The actor joins a group of actors formerly in prison to tell a story about a profound, transformative journey through staging theatre in prison. Domingo spoke to us about his special monologue dedicated to ‘Wooder’ ice cream.

🐶 Beer with the best friends: At Bark Social in Manayunk, you can bring your pup to the bar, where dog park meets social club. Drag shows, trivia and speed dating (for you, not Snoopy) are all part of the community fun.

🥃 Try your luck: Take a chance to win a bottle of rare whiskey in the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s latest lottery. Here’s what you need to know.

😂 Local laughs: South Philly comedian Chip Chantry, a former teacher, breaks through with a role in Shane Gillis’ Netflix show Tires and now his comedy debut “Move Closer.” We asked him if he wanted to work as a full-time stand-up comedian.

🍳 Best recommendations: If you’re already dreaming of weekend brunch, we’ve got 12 great options in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey suburbs. Find fluffy pancakes, shrimp and grits, chilaquiles, or crème brûlée French toast.

🎤 End of season: Philly’s own funk-soul-punk fusion band Snacktime will play a free show at the Oval this Saturday to close out the weekly summer music series they curate. The party will also feature special guests.

📅 My calendar selection this week: Philly Bookstore Crawl, a Drag Tribute to Brat, Fonthill Castle Beer Fest

Thing of the week

Bilingual R&B singer Omar Apollo brings his God Said No Tour to Mann on Sunday, and I’m ready to dance and possibly cry to his beautiful, heart-wrenching songs about love, desire, and longing. Before the show, I chatted with the gay heartbreak king (look for my preview coming tomorrow!) about cheesesteaks, Denzel Washington, and why he loves performing in Philly. The tour’s dress code, according to his recent TikTok, is sunglasses, layered clothing, and elegance: “modest, but still slutty.” Will I see you there? Let me know!

Summer fun and more

🏊‍♀️ Blow the whistle: Philly’s public pools are already starting to close, so if you’re dying to soak up some summer rays by the pool, you’ll want to head there before Labor Day.

🚣‍♀️ See Philly differently: Change your perspective on the city by getting out on the water in warm weather and taking one of these 12 great canoe and kayak tours.

🥾 Or get out of the city: Enjoy a family-friendly hike nearby with trails at Four Mills Nature Reserve, Sourland Mountain Preserve, and other options perfect for kids.

🏖️ Shore bites: For beachgoers on the New Jersey shore looking for a delicious restaurant or the best brewery to cool off at, here’s the ultimate guide to the best restaurants on the shore.

Our critics’ recommendations

Aside from Springsteen, Dan DeLuca recommends other upcoming shows that are worth your time.

🔊 Friday: The War & Treaty, the husband and wife duo Tanya and Michael Trotter Jr., who have become a growing force in the Americana genre in recent years. The duo tours with their album Game for lovers and play World Cafe Live.

🔊 Also Friday: On Friday night, the Big Star Quintet will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the influential Memphis power-pop band’s 1974 album at the Keswick Theater in Glenside. Radio City.

🔊 Saturday and Sunday: Pitbull, the rapper and impresario also known as Mr. Worldwide who recently got Florida International University’s football field renamed Pitbull Stadium, is playing at HersheyPark Stadium with T-Pain. Casablanca-born, Bronx-raised rapper French Montana is headlining the Fillmore on Sunday.

🔊 Wednesday: Fans of American and roots music may be in a bind. The Allman Brothers’ Tedeschi Trucks Band headlines the Mann Center, with Margo Price as an impressive opening act. And the great and surprising late-career team of Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore are coming to World Cafe Live. Welsh genius and jack-of-all-trades Jon Langford, who painted the album cover for Alvin and Gilmore’s new album, Texasis the pre-act.

🔊 A look into the future: It’s a busy week at the Dell Music Center at Strawberry Mansion. Tamia and En Vogue play a double bill on Thursday. Groundbreaking hip-hop DJ Lady B’s annual basement party on Saturday features Washington, DC-based go-go band EU, plus Special Ed, Adina Howard, Doug E. Fresh, Kurtis Blow, Rob Base and more. Australian polymaths King Gizzard & the Wizard Lizard play Tuesday. And Chaka Khan plays next Thursday.

Read more music tips.

OK, so… it was my first time at the Linc.

I was on a concert tour this week and finally made it to the massive Lincoln Financial Field to see Pink, who grew up in Bucks County. Her hometown performance during the Summer Carnival Tour was full of Philly mentions, from highlighting her guidance counselor from junior high to mentioning Ishkabbible’s as her favorite cheesesteak place. Although the weather didn’t cooperate at the end of the evening — lightning strikes forced her to stay on the ground instead of doing her usual finale of mid-air flips — she put on a fantastic, acrobatic show. Do you have any favorite memories from the Lincoln, be it an Eagles game or another concert? I’d love to hear them. Email me so you could be featured in a future newsletter!

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This week I listened to Childish Gambino’s latest album, Bando Stone and the New World and I saw him play at the Wells Fargo Center last night – it was the height of a millennial fever dream. What are you listening to? Send me a recommendation.