Rotunda To Host A Very Arty Party

Long ago, during the International Year Of Older Persons, which happened to also be the standard-setting year for all future partying, there was this way cool group of Urban Studies students at Penn. With the help of Profs Benson and Harkavy of the Center for Community Partnerships, these go-getters took their aforementioned cool, mixed it with some good ole' fashioned passion, and created what we now know as The Rotunda. We're pretty sure they got an A+ on the project, since this music and arts venue has now hosted over 2,000 events, all organized by a group of volunteers and staff members who are "fueled by the belief that art is a catalyst for social change."

Hopefully you've checked out The Rotunda by now (We have, lots of times), and plan on checking it out again on Oct. 1. But if you've never been, that's okay too, because The Rotunda is turning two whole hands this weekend, and you're invited to the party!

Like most ten year olds, The Rotunda will commemorate its birth with a weekend-long celebration of the arts. Details about the goings on (which will include live music, art auctions, film screenings, dancing, and of course, cake), after the jump.

Friday, Music and Art Schmooze, 7-9 p.m. $5-7 sliding scale

DJing and live visuals by VJ Yakov, Dime Universal Feat, Divine Essence with Merkaba E, a Hip Hop Poeticz feat, as well as the opening of the Silent Auction with visual art from 20 artists. Desserts and other treats included.

Saturday, Al Bustan Drum Jam, 4-5 p.m. $3-7 sliding scale

BYO-Drum to jam with top percussionists. Learn about Al Bustan’s Seeds of Culture’s Arab arts programs. The silent auction will continue.

Saturday, Rotunda Birthday Gala, 7 p.m. - ??? $10

Performances by MC Ramshackle, Old Goats, Phyllis Chapell, Plumdragoness & the Elements, Lillie Ruth Bussey, Drake _Archedream for Humankind, Ebony Malaika Collier, Paul S.Frosty Jackson, Miss Wise, St. Skribbly LaCroix Nassunni Na’imah Abbul-Karim, Kyle Taino Leonardo, Jorge La Llave, Adam Meora, Ale Driver, Traycee Lynn, Wes Gil, Stinking Lizaveta, The Notekillers.

The silent auction will continue along with live screen-printing and a raffle. Stick around to sing Happy Birthday to The Rotunda and eat cake.

Sunday, Philly Films, 5 - 9 p.m. $5-7 sliding scale

On the last day of the party, check out these short films with a Philly slant. Brendan Cooney of the West Philadelphia Orchestra will play a live piano musical score to the silent movies of Buster Keaton’s "One Week," and Harold Lloyd’s "Never Weaken." The silent auction will conclude at 9:00 p.m.