This Week October 3, 2024 | |
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Is Philly the Best Sports Town? It’s a fair question that makes for an excellent debate.
But what’s not up for debate is the Eagles’ performance last Sunday. After how last season ended, haven’t we now seen enough? Hopefully, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie feels likewise and cuts bait with the current Head Coach. We hear talk about Bill Belichick, a guy who knows a thing or two about winning.
On to baseball. The Phillies won the National League East, and as we go to press it looks like their first playoff opponent may well be the beloved New York Mets. Get ready to be serenaded with “Let’s Go Mets!” at Citizens Bank Park.
A Phillies-Mets playoff series? Now that’s a World War III scenario we can believe in!
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It Ain’t Over til It’s Over | |
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A huge shout-out to our Council members Kenyatta Johnson and Jeffrey Young, Jr., for holding an informative session on 9/23/24 for the neighbors on how to save money on real estate taxes, and options in managing our assessments. And here’s some good news from one of our State Representatives, Ben Waxman: the DEADLINE TO APPEAL YOUR REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENT has been EXTENDED until 12/31/24. Here’s a website he provided to help us navigate our options.
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Job Opps at Penn’s Village | |
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Our friends at beloved Penn’s Village announce two current job openings: One for Executive Director, and one for Operations Manager. Penn’s Village is a terrific organization, to put it mildly. We strongly urge all interested parties to apply.
Click here to see the operations manager job description.
Click here to see the executive director job description.
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CCRA Board Meeting: Presentation on Redesign of Pine and Spruce Streets | |
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At its regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday, October 8, CCRA will host a presentation by City officials of Mayor Parker's plan to redesign Pine and Spruce Streets. This plan is a part of the City's response to the death of Dr. Barbara Friedes at 18th and Spruce on July 17th of this year. After the presentation, the board will review and consider all other regular and necessary matters.
We believe this will be the first outward-facing presentation of Mayor Parker's plan. We expect the presentation to run about 15 minutes, followed by a question and answer session lasting about the same time.
The meeting will be held in the ground floor BEX space at Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 160. The meeting will commence promptly at 7 p.m., and the City's presentation will be the first item on the agenda.
All CCRA members in good standing are invited to this meeting. We are asking people who plan to attend to register here. This is so we can make sure we have enough seating.
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CCRA MERCHANT PARTNER FEATURE: | |
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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 new Merchant Partner Curtis Institute of Music!
New Merchant Partner Curtis Institute Turns 100!
Two big things about the legendary Curtis Institute of Music: One, it turns 100 years old this month and two, it is the newest CCRA Merchant Partner!
Curtis is both a local and global treasure, providing both world-class musical instruction and delightful local concert offerings. A few fast facts: Curtis is tuition-free, giving merit-based, full-tuition scholarships to all 160 students. Acceptance Rate? 3%. Student-to-Faculty Ratio? 4:3. Free student recitals? Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings.
And the good news for CCRA Members? A 10% discount, valid on all Curtis Symphony Orchestra concerts, Curtis Presents concerts, and this season’s Curtis Opera production of Le nozze di Figaro. Use promo code CCRACURTIS10.
What else is there to say? Get your tickets here now!
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Bikes Rule In Philly For One Day This Month. | |
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For one day only, coming up on Saturday, Oct. 19, cars will be banned from 20 miles of City streets to make way for the 2024 Philly Bike Ride.
This is not a race. It’s a social bike ride! Riders of all ages and all abilities will have an opportunity to enjoy tooling around the City, riding by iconic historical landmarks, enjoying live music, snack and refreshment breaks, and joyful surprises along the way. Plus cross the finish line and enjoy an epic festival by the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Rocky Steps in Philly.
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Ride passes for the day are just $74 and include:
· Fully stocked rest stops with snacks, water, and bathroom breaks
· Extensive mechanical support along the course
· Access to Finish Festival by the Finish Line with music, food trucks, exciting activities, and partner giveaways
· Branded Water Bottle
There are discounts for college students and kids, and for an extra $15 you can rent a great bike for the day. Registration information can be found here.
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Vibe-A-Delphia? Yep, Oct. 5 On the Parkway | |
On Saturday, October 5, bring a blanket or chair to Maja Park (N 22nd Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway) for a free, outdoor jazz concert from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Vibe-A-Delphia will be performing with saxophonist Mark Allen. For more information visit here.
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Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion | |
National Coming Out Day Celebration | |
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While Pride Month has long passed, members of the LGBTQ+ community can celebrate their identity at events around the region to commemorate National Coming Out Day.
National Coming Out Day, first observed on Oct. 11, 1988, was created to encourage people to be open about their sexuality with family, friends, and colleagues because the founders believed homophobia thrived in silence.
On Saturday, Oct. 12, from 6 to 10 p.m., Lucy's, located at 1720 Chestnut St, is hosting "The Tipsy Day Party" in celebration of National Coming Out Day. All are welcome. Get your tickets here.
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Spice up your evening by groovin’ to the lively beats and learnin’ the art of salsa dancin’. Every Sunday at 8 pm, outside Izlas food truck on American Street, come for an incredible salsa experience with Flacco's dance studio. A fabulous op to dance, have fun, and impress your sig. This event is free. Reserve your spot here.
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Interest Rates Finally Dropped! Things to know… | |
Rates have decreased an entire percent since July! This is great news. This decrease has the same impact on affordability as an 11% decline in housing prices.What does this mean for you? | |
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For Buyers, it means:
. Lower rates = more buying power
· More buyers could enter the market, leading to more competition
· More inventory may hit the market (with more sellers deciding to move)
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And for Sellers, it means:
· Lower rates = higher prices (typically)
· More buyers could enter the market
· More sellers could also enter the market, leading to more inventory (and therefore more competition)
If you aren't planning to buy or sell, perhaps consider refinancing!
It may be the perfect time to consider if your rate is higher than 7%.
Just a friendly reminder: rates can change in the blink of an eye!
Take advantage of the fall market and the new interest rates!
I am always free to answer any questions and link you up with local lenders.
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Community News and Events | |
First Fridays Are Special at the Barnes | |
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As if the Barnes Foundation wasn’t superb enough on its own, let’s add their First Fridays series to the mix.
This Friday you can groove to the sounds of Sofrito, a Latin jazz collaboration between pianist Luke Carlos O’Reilly and trumpeter Josh Lawrence, featuring masterful compositions and reinterpretations of works by luminaries like Thelonious Monk, Chucho Valdes, Stevie Wonder, and Mario Bauza.
It’s an evening of art, great live music, cocktails, and light fare. Importantly, First Friday at the Barnes includes access to the collection. Details here.
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Know Before You Go . . . To The Polls! | |
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Okay, so you’ve already made up your mind who you’re going to vote for in the Presidential Election. But how much do you know about the other politicians who you’ll see on the ballot? You know, the folks that probably will have even more impact on your life than the Commander-in-Chief.
Don’t believe everything you’re seeing on all those paid political ads. If you’re looking for a quick way to get an actual unbiased read on the candidates, look no further than this great summary write-up by The Philadelphia Citizen, the City’s only local nonprofit, nonpartisan media outlet for solutions-based journalism and events with the goal of bolstering democracy in the American city where it was born.
The article covers the candidates for attorney general, state reps, state treasurer and one of our two seats in the U.S. Senate. And, if by some chance you haven’t registered to vote yet, it’s not too late. Click here to register!
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Meet the Artists at the Philadelphia Open Studio Tour | |
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Curious about the artists behind the art? Want to see them “in studio”?
Well, now’s your chance, at the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST), set for our neighborhood Saturday October 19 (noon-6) and Sunday October 20 (12:30-6).
Each October, POST provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse of visual artists at work through an approachable, self-guided, easy-to-navigate tour. This year it’s at the Parish House of the Church at the Holy Trinity at 1904 Walnut.
Here are the artists you’ll find there: Violet Alexandre, Nancy Gordon, David Horwitz, Jim Wadleigh and Mark Wilie. For further details, head here.
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Spooky Season Has Begun! Celebrate Halloween With A Little Help from your “Friends” | |
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Some good choices here, folks, that may curdle your blood:
Saturday, Oct. 5, 11 am—5 pm: A Spooky Handmade Market at Mt. Moriah Cemetery. The Entrance is at 6201 Kingsessing Avenue.
Darksome is an Art & Craft Market that celebrates and champions HANDMADE art and crafts with a weird and spooky twist! Rather than accepting anyone interested and having a plethora of vendors, the limit is 100, and they finely curate this event to bring you high-quality creations. Costumes are encouraged. More information can be found here.
Saturday, November 2, 1 pm - 2:30 pm: Death and Life at Mt. Moriah Cemetery
This Hidden City tour is a great intro to Mount Moriah, the largest cemetery in PA and home to some of our city’s finest grave architecture. Trees and vines have engulfed the gravestones in some areas, giving the place the atmosphere of a lost city in the jungle. Guests will learn about the role of cemeteries as a place for leisure in the Victorian era and the influence of the Freemasons. Part wilderness and part sculpture garden, this city of the dead is, by turns, eerie and poignant. Peel back the canopy and reveal the wonders below. Get your tickets here.
Now thru Nov 9: Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary (2027 Fairmount Avenue)
Tour the annual Halloween haunted attraction and get the scare of your life. Incredible walking tour...with live, spooky characters making you laugh (or scream!). Purchase tickets online to get the cheapest rate. For more information, visit here. Warning: This attraction is not for the faint of heart.
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Philadelphia’s “storied” past is rich and inspiring, with a lively cast of great and bawdy characters who resided here over the last 200 years. We all know pieces of our foundational stories, but oh, there’s so much more.
History buffs: Come out on Friday, Oct. 4, 12-4 pm, and delight in celebrating the Historical Society of PA’s special 200th birthday, connect with the past and make meaningful discoveries about who you are and who we are together. Local cultural organizations will have activities, tours, and demonstrations that will share American history in exciting ways. Music, vendors, and food will bring a street party vibe to the 1300 block of Locust Street. Travel back in time here.
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Say “Cheeeeeeese” (Steak) | |
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Think you know your cheese steaks? Here’s a question: When Harry and Pat Olivieri created their first steak sandwich in 1930, what kind of cheese was on it?
A. Cheez Whiz
B. None
C. American
D. Provolone
If you think you know the answer, head over to City Cast Philly and take their Philly Cheese Steak Trivia quiz.
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Merchant Partners "Deals and Discounts" Program | |
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. | |
CCRA assumes no responsibility, and makes no representations or warranties, regarding any product and/or services sold by any Merchant Partner. | | | | |
