Foodsday Tuesday: Get Your Al Fresco On

This, Phillyist readers, is shaping up to be the best. weekend. ever. With no less than three major outdoor events this weekend—all of which involve food or drink in some capacity—we'd be fools to tell you to do anything except going outside and exploring Philadelphia. We know we'll be out and about this weekend, even if thunderstorms are in the forecast. We never let a little rain get in the way of good times.

First up is the grand opening of the Piazza at Schmidts. Not much info is on the website yet, but we got a press release with the lowdown on the much-anticipated Bart Blatstein/Tower Investments project in Northern Liberties: "Opening day festivities will include: a Trunk Show with 150 emerging artists, crafters and designers from 10 am to 4 pm; and a not-to-be-missed line-up of musical talent with Illvibe Collective from 1 pm to 4 pm, The Northern Liberties Dance Band from 3 to 4 pm, and Gina Ferrera presents Worlds in Collision from 6 to 10 pm. On Sunday the action will continue with a live broadcast of the Philadelphia Phillies vs. the Washington Nationals baseball game from 1 to 4 pm, live Big Band music and dancing from 4 to 8 pm, and a showing of the movie Cinema Paradiso from 8 to 10 pm." And that doesn't even cover the food! Check out Thrillist Philadelphia for a sneak peek at Darling's, the new upscale diner from the people who've been making you delicious cheesecakes (in Fairmount and G-Ho) for years, which will host its soft opening this Friday and then (presumably) be open for the festivities this weekend. Plus, former Phillyist interview Suzanne Woods got a behind-the-scenes tour of Swift Half, a gastro-pubby place from the people behind the amazing Good Dog Burger set to open Friday, and blogged about it here. Craft beers? Fish tacos? Please and thank you.

Walk south along Second Street, or take the #5 SEPTA bus, and soon enough you'll find yourself in the midst of the Old City Stroll & Sidewalk Sale, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in galleries, shops, and restaurants (Fork! Panini! Franklin Fountain!) all around the Old City district. Plus, friends-of-Phillyist PAWS will have a table of their own—and you can go in and check out some of the awesome, adoptable animals they have available for fostering or adoption. (It is kitten season, after all...)

And then, if you're not too shopped-out/full/drunk, take a southbound bus to Bella Vista for the annual 9th Street Italian Market Festival, also running both Saturday and Sunday. With three stages' worth of entertainment, a "halfball" tournament, and, oh yeah, FOOD (vendors with websites are listed here, but that's just a small portion of what to expect), the Italian Market Festival is our annual signal that summer has, in fact, arrived.

So load up on sunscreen (yes, you can still burn if it's cloudy), buy yourself a SEPTA Independence or Convenience pass, and skip breakfast: this weekend in Philadelphia promises to be legendary.

Photo of the Erbe Building at One Hancock Square, which surrounds Northern Liberties' new Piazza, by Flickr user K_Gradinger.