Weekend event picks: Dance, beer & more

Leave the weight of this stressful week in the rearview mirror. It's smooth sailing from here on out.

The time has come to say goodbye to a seasonal fixture. The Rothman Ice Rink at Dilworth Park (1400 JFK Blvd.) will officially close on Sunday, Feb. 22, so get your skating in now. Hours for this weekend are 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21 and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22. One final lunchtime skating exhibition, in which local skaters show their skills, will take place at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20.

The American premiere of Scottish play "Long Live the Little Knife," in which a husband-and-wife con-artist team play dirty in an art-forging scam, closes this weekend at the Off-Broad Street Theater at First Baptist Church (1636 Sansom St.). Final performances include 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20 and Saturday, Feb. 21 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22

BalletX heats the season up with its Winter Series, bringing choreographers and movements from around the world to the Wilma Theater (265 S. Broad St.) with four pieces with varied cultural backgrounds. Including the U.S. premiere of Spanish choreographer Cayetano Soto's Malasangre, marked by exaggerated movements and an air of sexiness, other program notables include a piece based on war photographs and ballet set to Jeff Buckley's version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Performances are at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, Friday, Feb. 20 and Saturday, Feb. 21 as well as 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21 and Sunday, Feb. 22.

All weekend long, the Lunar New Year — or Chinese New Year — is honored at various institutions like the Please Touch Museum (4231 Avenue of the Republic) and International House Philadelphia (3701 Chestnut St.) for events ranging from kid-friendly to those packed with tradition and culture. Don't miss the Philadelphia Suns parade through Chinatown on Sunday, Feb. 22 starting at 11 a.m. at 10th and Spring Streets.

Three of life's best items — music, beer and barbecue — are up for the tasting and listening at World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) on Saturday, Feb. 21. Starting at 1 p.m., over 30 regional breweries will set up shop for beer and barbecue sampling while live bands set the mood with their tunes.

Quench your thirst with the taste of Germany. Or German beers at least. The German Society of Pennsylvania's (611 Spring Garden St.) Philly Bierfest will feature beers not only from Germany, but locally brewed lagers, bocks and weizens. Other than the drinks, hear live music, take part in a homebrew competition, taste German cuisine, play games (like arm wrestling) and so much more. Doors open at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21.

If your viewing tastes tend to skew a little raunchy, Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) will be your go-to spot on Saturday Feb. 21. Sex columnist Dan Savage's Hump! Tour, showcasing five-minute sex-positive films, comes to Philly, boasting the best in kinky, adult themes. Check out one of three showings: 6 p.m., 8:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Celebrate a century of Ruba Club (416 Green St.) on Saturday, Feb. 21. With music from The Slicked Up 9s and DJ Kid Charlemagne, photo booth, food and drinks from Di Bruno Bros. and Pabst Blue Ribbon, the whole night — starting at 9:30 p.m. — will be the most happening 100th birthday party you might ever attend.

A combination of organ, dance and art comes to the Kimmel Center (Broad and Spruce Streets) when organist Renee Anne Louprette takes the helm of the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ and accompanies the LA Dance Project's "Moving Parts," choreographed by The Black Swan's Benjamin Millepied. Keep an eye on the ambiance: The stage will be set with installations by artist Christopher Wool. The show begins at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22.

Who'll take home Best Picture? Will Bradley Cooper walk away with a Best Actor win? See all the Oscars action on Sunday, Feb. 22 at any of these great viewing parties, complete with drink specials, awards brackets and more. (Even hang with us at the Hard Rock Café!)

For more Things to Do, check out our calendar for the most up-to-date happenings