Shop Penn

Happy New Year, and welcome to 2024! The new year brings with it plenty of new things to do and see all throughout University City. Find out everything happening around the district with the latest edition of the “Shop Penn Playlist,” a snapshot of the top events being offered by institutions, organizations, and venues on and around campus all month.

Penn Basketball – The Palestra
January 6, January 20

Penn Basketball opens the 2024 Ivy League season in January with home games against Dartmouth (Jan. 6) and Harvard (Jan. 20). The Quakers went 7-5 in non-conference play, including a win over nationally-ranked Big 5 rival Villanova. Senior guard Clark Slajchart tops the team in points per game and is one of three players on the squad averaging double-figures this season.

Jazz Jam With Orrin Evans – World Café Live
January 10

World Cafe Liveʼs long-running Jazz Jam is for musicians and listeners alike. Orrin Evans and his house band will start the evening with a few tunes before they invite a rotating lineup of players to the stage. Instrumentalists and vocalists are welcome to sign up and sit in throughout the evening.

BODYTRAFFIC – Penn Live Arts
January 19-20

BODYTRAFFIC brings “vivid theatricality to a range of provocative works commissioned from some of today’s most dynamic choreographers.” This celebrated company returns with a commissioned world premiere by Matthew Neenan as well as three Philadelphia premieres: Love.Lost.Fly by Micaela Taylor, exploring how people from different worlds come together; The One to Stay With by Baye & Asa, a response to the opioid crisis; and PACOPEPEPLUTO by Alejandro Cerrudo, which honors self-expression in witty solos set to Dean Martin hits.

Damn The Torpedoes: Tom Petty Concert Experience – World Café Live
January 20

Over the years, Damn The Torpedoes has evolved with more committed members and a deep understanding of the Tom Petty catalog. The current lineup has been in place for several years and demonstrates the unspoken chemistry that makes a great band. The signature riffs, harmonies and underlying parts of the music are all there along with some fresh twists that are often inspired in the moment. The resulting performances have audiences smiling, singing, dancing and mourning the loss of this great artist.

CultureFest!: Lunar New Year – Penn Museum
January 27

Lunar New Year is observed by various Asian communities, including those of Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Tibetan descent. The festivities traditionally commence with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and conclude 15 days later on the first full moon. Originating as a time for respite from agricultural work and for togetherness with loved ones, Lunar New Year incorporates diverse customs such as feasts, gift exchanges, lantern lighting, and offerings to deities and ancestors.

Cirque Mechanics – Penn Live Arts
January 28

Throwing caution to the wind, the daredevil acrobats of Cirque Mechanics return to our stage with more “high-flying, free-wheeling fun” (Omaha World-Herald) in the Philadelphia premiere of Zephyr. Inspired by the wind, and the human ingenuity in harnessing its power, this brand-new show explores our relationship with the planet via a 20-foot-tall windmill, a rotating turntable and exhilarating feats. Get ready, Zephyr is a whirlwind of modern circus that’ll blow you away.