Rex Manning Day 2024!

Any fan of the movie Empire Records knows to commemorate April 8th each year as Rex Manning Day. Based on the day the fictional Rex Manning character visits Empire Records in the film for an autograph signing. The movie is a classic and it’s filled with fun music, actors who went on to become big stars, and most of all LOTS of quotable quotes. So damn the man. Save the Empire. Happy Rex Manning Day 2024!

Take off early today to celebrate Rex Manning day at your local record store and if your boss doesn’t get it, you might as well be working for Music Town. Heck, use the Total Solar Eclipse as an excuse. Head to your local record store, or better yet, get to South Street Art Mart in Philly.

Rex Manning Day 2024 Block Party with South Street Art Mart was this past Saturday, April 6th

South Street Art Mart is located right off 4th and South Street (near Jim’s Steaks) and they’re the unofficial Philly spot for everything Empire Records and Rex Manning Day. They’ve adopted the holiday as their own and they hold a block party each year to celebrate the fictional, although now very real holiday.

This year’s 2nd Annual Rex Manning Day Block Party was held on Saturday, April 6th outside South Street Art Mart and it offered fun for everyone 12-7pm. Art, music, food, fun, and very cool people filled the block all day long. The McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton was there too, advertising their upcoming World Premiere of Empire Records the Musical coming up September 6th-October 6th, 2024.

Check out some photos from this year’s festival below, then keep an eye on South Street Art Mart’s Instagram for info on next year’s event. They’re a good follow anyway. You’ll see LOTS of fun posts between now and then, and get some great locally made gift ideas too.

The store is a must see in Philadelphia and a perfect spot to find a gift for any occasion. It’s filled with art and products from local artists, and curated to include a little bit of everything. A hop from Philly AIDS Thrift, and located next to the legendary Crash Bang Boom store too. Another great reason to meet down on South Street, and yet another shop helping to keep South Street weird.

Stop by next time you’re in Philly, and don’t miss Rex Manning Day with South Street Art Mart in 2025. It’s sure to be the best yet.

• The super cool South Street Art Mart, and hosts of this awesome annual party.

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  Who could pass by such a fun store front? Totally decked out for the occasion too. So many fun things, it's hard to know where to look first.

• Rex Manning Day Prize Wheel

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  Outside South Strert Art Mart there even more items to take home. They set up a really fun prize wheel with lots to win. Everything from stickers to totes to art prints and lots more.

• Empire Records pillows!

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  Take a bit of the movie home with you. Snuggle with it while watching Empire Records yet again. Buy one, or collect them all.
• South Street Art Mart Rex Manning Day 2024 Store Front

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  The South Street Art Mart store front was perfect. If you weren't thinking about walking in and checking out their wares, you were once you saw the front of the store. Everything perfectly curated for the epic party they were hosting.

• Rex Sux Trashcan

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  Rex Sux. Even the trashcans were themed.

• Rex Manning Day posters and prizes.

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• South Street Art Mart and Crash Bang Boom

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  Could there be two cooler stores next to one another? Not possible. A perfect pairing of shops, both helping to keep South Street weird in the best way.

• Empire Records Swag

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  Lots to buy from the many vendors out front. Empire Records themed swag and plenty of other stuff too.

• Rex Manning Day Block Party

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  They shut down a portion of 4th Street right near South Street, and held the party out in front of South Street Art Mart and Crash Bang Boom. A windy, but nice day for it too.
• No Music Town

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  Loving the themed trash cans. Every detail thought out. Really well done.

• The McCarter Theatre Center

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  The McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton will be debuting the World Premiere of Empire Records the Musical. Be one of the first to see the show, September 6th through October 6th, 2024.

• Damn the Man Movie Screening

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  They set up an outdoor movie screen to watch Empire Records for the entirety of the event - 12-7pm. It was just outside the store.
• Lorenzo and Sons Pizza

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  Not even a block away from very giant delicious pizza slices. Just don't ask for toppings. And a full pie may not fit in your car.

• TLA on South Street

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  The TLA on South Street is less than a block from South Street Art Mart. Next time you see a show stop by the shop first.

• Jim’s Steaks

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  Across South Street from South Street Art Mart is Jim's Steaks. It's been almost 2 years since Jim's Steaks on South Street closed after a fire. They acquired the building next door and renovated that space too. The new and improved and bigger than ever Jim's Steaks will reopen May 1st.

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