This Week: January 12, 2023

Editor – Barbara Halpern

Lead Writer – Richard Vaughn

Design/Layout and Writer – Travis Oliver

Writer – Margie Wiener

A Season of Hope

You don’t need us to recap the year 2022 – you were there. But as always with the future, in 2023, there is reason to hope.

Reason to hope that this year’s Mayor’s race will produce a leader with both vision and ambition.

Reason to hope that the Eagles, Sixers, Phillies and Union continue their winning ways, and that the Flyers soon join them.

And reason to hope that maybe, just maybe, our political climate will moderate, that we’ve had enough of crazy, and that the opposing sides will now choose to engage one another rather than to demonize and destroy.

Let’s hope.

CCRA News and Events

Casino Night Tickets

Let’s Break Bread Together –

It’s A New Year!

Our Community Potluck Dinner

Sunday, January 15, 5:30-7:30pm

Hosted by Trinity Center for Urban Life

So... how does this work? We’re keepin’ it simple. Bring your own dish and drinks to share with others (for 6?). Beer, wine and other spirits welcome! Dinner plates, cups and silverware will be provided. Break bread with your neighbors and make some new acquaintances. Live music by The Panamaniac!

Looking for other fun/hang-out things to do in the neighborhood? Try Drawing Botanicals, Tai Chi, Group Coaching Sessions for new ideas along with Kids’ Creating Comic Books, Knitting Circle, and pre-K art class. For more info, join in the fun here .

For the Love of Grace Wicks

This GoFundMe campaign is in support of Judy Wicks, a long-standing CCRA member, restaurateur, community activist and Fitler Square resident. Judy founded the iconic White Dog Café in 1983 and pioneered the "farm to table" movement in Philadelphia. She moved to Fitler Square in 2010 to “be part of a real community”. Judy has presented at CCRA annual meetings and CCRA used her house as a solar-powered “demonstration” house in the 2016 House Tour.

Here are the facts and the needs:

Judy’s daughter Grace, was struck by West Nile Virus, leaving her brain-damaged, partially paralyzed, and reliant on round-the-clock care. Judy has moved in with Grace as her caregiver. The goal is to provide Grace and Judy with most of what they need to support Grace’s recovery and her living expenses until the fall of 2023. So far, the campaign has raised over $135,000. For details or to contribute GoFund here .

Office Closure and Garbage Collection

In observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday, CCRA is closed on Monday, January 16. The office will reopen on Tuesday, January 17.

In addition, no trash will be collected on Monday, January 16. Collection will resume on Tuesday, January 17.

CCRA MERCHANT PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

CCRA’s Merchant Partner program is a true Win-Win: It provides local businesses with complimentary advertising and exposure while giving CCRA members generous deals and discounts. This week we spotlight Center City photography emporium PhotoLounge.

Got Pix? PhotoLounge is the Photo Go-To

In a world where image is often everything, you can’t take a chance when you’ve got critical photos to print. That’s where PhotoLounge comes in.

An independent small business since 1997, PhotoLounge believes in its soul that prints should be beautiful, affordable, easy to make, easy to get and long-lasting, and they back that up every day with superior service and knowledgeable, courteous staff.

You name it, they do it: digital prints, reprints and enlargements, archiving, fine art printing and Giclee, film processing, design and print photo books, professional head shots, passport photos and more. The store itself is an eyeful, and worth the trip alone.

So go where the pros go: PhotoLounge at 130 S. 17th. And BTW: CCRA members enjoy 10% off excluding other sales or discounted items.

Clean, Safe and Green

Sustaining Sustainability

Sustainability is an admirable goal, but one not easily met. So we’re here to help, thanks to our friends at The Philadelphia Citizen. From cleaning products retailers to clothing designers and baby supply companies, here’s a guide to Philly-based businesses that can help everyone live more sustainably.

PROWL at the Free WinTOUR

Scavenger Hunt in Fairmount Park!

Bundle up and brave the cold weather for Fairmount Park’s annual, FREE, all-ages scavenger hunt to explore the park’s 2,050 acres of trails, natural lands, historic landmarks, and public art this winter. Fun challenges and hilarious photo opportunities abound during this six-week, self-guided Scavenger Hunt. Participants who complete the fun and sometimes quirky “missions” will compete for the chance to win prizes. Details here: Sat. Jan. 14–Sun. Feb. 26

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Reading Room Honors Paul Robeson’s Wife

As a bass-baritone concert artist, actor, lawyer, and human rights activist, Paul Robeson was a larger-than-life character, which makes it easy to overlook his very accomplished wife, Eslanda Cardozo Goode Robeson.

The December opening of a reading room at the Paul Robeson House and Museum in West Philadelphia hopes to change that.

Eslanda Robeson gave up a career in medicine to manage her husband’s stage, concert, and film career; she later earned a doctorate in anthropology and wrote two books. She also acted in Jericho (1937), Big Fella (1937), and Borderline (1930).

The Eslanda Robeson Reading Room will serve as a space for research and digitizing the family’s collection. For more on this remarkable woman and on the Reading Room, go here.

So Many Ways to Get Involved in

MLK Day of Service January 16th…

The National Constitution Center’s MLK Day of Service is FREE, and includes the Reading of King’s iconic “I Have a Dream Speech,” Story Corner, an Arts & Crafts Activity Table, and a Family Concert featuring songs of the civil rights era. A full schedule of their online and on-site programming for MLK Day, including links to register, is available here.

Also, from January 14-16, to emulate Dr. King’s spirit of service, the NCC is sponsoring a School Supplies Drive for the School District of Philadelphia, as part of Global Citizen’s Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service. To see what’s needed and how to donate, click here.

You can also click here to choose from the many other service opportunities for MLK Day.

Join CCRA Now

Community News and Events

Born to Run? Broad Street Run 4/30/23 (new date!)

The Good News: You can run without a mask and not have to wave your Vax card this year.

The Bad News: They changed the date to April 30, much to the chagrin of their loyal fan base of runners, who actually do have lives beyond this race and were planning for the usual first week in May date. Why the change? Don’t ask!

If the finish line is your goal, start pacing yourself now. The lottery to win the right to run (yes, a lot of people suffer from “runners high”) can be submitted after Feb.1st here .

Penn Museum Revamps Eastern Mediterranean Gallery

It’s a new look at an old, old world. The Penn Museum has renovated and reimagined its Eastern Mediterranean Gallery. It’s now a 2,000 sq-ft multisensory gallery featuring 400 artifacts from the Museum’s own excavations through the Eastern Mediterranean, and a whole lot more. Dig through the details here.

Mangia, Mangia!

It’s Restaurant Week(s)

When you live in Center City, you know that a week’s not long enough for us to jockey so many luscious meals at restaurants within walking distance of our digs. So Center City District (CCD) made Restaurant Week 10 days long. A perfect excuse to end that silly “dieting” New Year resolution, sometime during the “week” of Jan 15-28.

You know the drill - Make your reservation asap, BYOBs are especially revered, leave room for dessert. Check out your local options here .

“Burger Brawl” Sounds Like a Food Fight, but It’s Not

When the battle for Philly’s best burger also raises money for Philadelphia schools and youth programs you know you’re onto something good, and that is most certainly the case with 2023’s Burger Brawl, to be held Sunday, Feb. 5 at Xfinity Live.

Started in 2011 by the owners of Rittenhouse eatery Rouge, the Brawl attracts over 60 of the area’s leading chefs to compete for Best of Burger.

There’s the Brawl, but first there’s the Crawl. Take the entire month of January 2023 to crawl your way into all participating restaurants to taste their competing burgers. After you have tasted all you can, download the Let’s Rallie app to vote and help find the top 10 burgers in Philadelphia. Juicy details here.

Useful links

Merchant Partners "Deals and Discounts" Program

Would you please support our local merchants and save money too? These local merchants will provide a deal or discount to any member who shows a current CCRA membership card and personal identification.

The Bake Shop on 20th, 269 S. 20th St (215-644-9714)

The Philadelphia Orchestra, One S. Broad St (215-893-1955)

The River Boat Tours, Schuylkill River & Walnut St (215-309-5523)

The Rounds, internet only

Veda Modern Indian Bistro, 1920 Chestnut St (267-519-2001)

William Schwartz Jewelry, 1831 Chestnut St (215-665-8115)

Alimentari Restaurant at Di Bruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut St, 2nd Floor

Astral Artists, 1500 Walnut St. (215-735-6999)

12th Street Catering, 3312 Spring Garden St (215-386-8595)

Blue Sole Shoes, 1805 Chestnut St (215-496-9244)

City Fitness, 2101 South St & 1819 JFK Blvd (609-254-9048)

Di Bruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut St (215-665-9220)