This Week: March 28, 2024 | |
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Give Mayor Parker credit: She puts her money where her mouth is, as evidenced by her first budget.
She campaigned on public safety, quality of life and clean-and-green, and her budget reflects that. Some highlights:
- Funding for 400 new police officers, with 100 officers doing community patrol
- 100 new sanitation workers and 60 more trash compactors
- $36 million in “clean and green, including $18M for residential cleaning
Money well spent, in our opinion. The Mayor has clearly heard our members’ concerns regarding quality of life issues. We look forward to the return on investment.
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CCRA House & Garden Tour is Back and We Need Volunteers | |
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Are you passionate about preserving history and promoting community involvement? If so, we need your help! After a six-year hiatus, our House and Garden Tour is back, and we're looking for dedicated volunteers to make this year's event the best yet.
The House and Garden Tour is a beloved tradition in our community. It showcases some of the area's most beautiful and historic homes and gardens. Visitors have a unique opportunity to explore our community's heritage and learn about the unique architecture and landscapes that make our town so special.
But putting on an event of this scale takes a lot of work, and that's where you come in. We need enthusiastic docents to help cover the homes and gardens for two shifts. Your contribution will be invaluable in creating an unforgettable experience for our visitors.
As a volunteer, you'll be part of a dedicated team working to create an extraordinary event for our community. As a thank you, we'll also give you a free ticket for the tour. If you choose the first shift (12:30 – 2:45 pm), you can go on the tour during the second shift (2:45- 5pm), and vice versa.
So why wait? If you're ready to make a difference and help preserve our community's history, we'd love to have you on board. Join us today by filling out this application, or email Travis at centercity@centercityresidents.org and be part of something truly special. To learn more about volunteering for the House and Garden Tour, don't hesitate to contact us at 215-546-6719. We look forward to hearing from you!
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REMINDER: CCRA Kimmel Family Fun Day | |
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Don’t forget: CCRA’s Family Fun Day at the Kimmel Center is Sunday, April 14, 2024 from noon to 3 pm. What’s in store for the kids? Face-painting and a walking magician. No need to register, just show up.
For the grown-ups and the kids? Discounted tickets to Kimmel Campus performances (think “Hadestown”, Philadanco, and the Philadelphia Orchestra).
To purchase discounted tickets (promo code CCRA24) for a performance, go here: https://www.ensembleartsphilly.org/apo/index.aspx.
To take advantage of the convenience of a Garces box lunch, go here: https://phillyccra.org/event-5657565. Cost is $25 per lunch; deadline to purchase is April 5.
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Public CCRA Zoning Committee Meeting | |
On Tuesday, March 26, the zoning committee met. If you missed the meeting, you can watch it on our YouTube Channel. Visit here to read the report. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 23 at 7 pm via zoom. You can read more about what the zoning committee does on our website here. | |
CCRA MERCHANT PARTNER FEATURE | |
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 Balance Chiropractic Health Center! | |
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Get Back in Balance at
Balance Chiropractic Health Center
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Does something sometimes seem “off” with yourself, be it physically, spiritually or some other way? Well, no worries, as the caring, insightful professionals at new Merchant Partner Balance Chiropractic Health Center have what it takes to make things right.
Balance Chiropractic Health Center is a holistic natural health center which, simply put, does it all: Chiropractic Care, Massage Therapy, Prenatal Massage, Acupuncture, Aromatherapy, Meditation, Nutrition, Naturopathy including Herbs, Vitamins, Raw Honey and much much more!
Let Dr. Christopher Bernabei work his chiropractic magic and provide you with the highest level of care. A recent Yelp review states “The best Chiropractor I’ve ever seen so far!” Limited hours, so please check their schedules.
CCRA members can enjoy 20% off of any massage therapy treatment.
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Partner with a New Plant! | |
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If those old plants are going to pot and you’re ready to turn over a new leaf, trade them for new ones at the Philadelphia Horticultural Society’s plant swap, April 2, from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Society’s pop-up beer garden, 1438 South Street.
Bring plants, cuttings, and garden-related items for this free one-to-one exchange. Experts will be on hand to identify unknown plants. To register, click here.
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Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion | |
Learn About Prolific African-American John Rhodes | |
For those unfamiliar, John Rhoden was a prolific 20th-century African-American sculptor whose
sensibility was defined by his extensive world travels, sensualism, and a breadth of visual influences. In 2017 the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA) was selected to preserve and promote his artistic legacy.
Join PAFA’s Lori Waselchuk on Monday, April 1 as she discusses Rhoden's incredible work, his personal story, and PAFA's stewardship of the Rhoden Collection and John Rhoden Digital Archive. It’s at the Philadelphia City Institute at 1905 Locust starting at 5:30 pm.
Details here.
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Community News and Events | |
It's Not Always Sunny in Philadelphia | |
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Something darkening comes this way on April 8, when the city experiences its most significant partial solar eclipse in 4 decades, as the moon will block out over 90 percent of the sun’s surface, turning day into night from 2:08 to 4:35 p.m. You can safely watch the eclipse in a large solar filter tent or through specially equipped telescopes at the Franklin Institute, as part of a free community viewing party from 1:30 to 5 pm. Music, beer garden, and solar related activities abound. The first 200 guests will also get a special solar eclipse donut from Federal Donuts and Chicken.
Eclipse Viewing Party, Monday, April 8 at 3 pm. Sponsored by Philadelphia City Institute at the Goat Statue in Rittenhouse Square. Watch the partial solar eclipse and enjoy stories and other eclipse-related activities for children and families! Viewing glasses will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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Warby Parker will provide free ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses at their retail locations starting Monday, April 1. The glasses will remain available until the day of the eclipse or until the stock runs out. Each family may receive up to two eclipse glasses. If a store runs out of glasses, the company will provide a free eclipse pinhole projector. A do-it-yourself pinhole projector is available on the company's website.
Don’t worry, if you miss this one, you can catch the next partial solar eclipse on May 11, 2078. For more information on the eclipse and the viewing viewing options around town, visit these websites.
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Philly’s James Beard Semi-Finalists Tell All…
Where They Dine
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The pros know, right? Then who better to get cuisine recommendations from than the semi-finalists of the James Beard Award competition? From sushi rolls to classic steakhouses to total tapas, here’s where they drink and dine.
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Philly Photo Day for Shutterbugs | |
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With trees, shrubs, and window boxes abloom, get out your camera/smartphone and aim to capture Philly at its most picturesque. Of course, if down and dirty is more your jam, well…..you know where to find it. The photo must be shot on April 5th (Photo Day) and should capture the grand and/or the mundane that make our city so special.
Once you’ve caught the essence of Philadelphia through your own lens, submit it digitally by April 14 to TILT Institute’s Philly Photo Day and you’ll be a part of their exhibition from May 18th – June 1st. You and “yours” can view it at their opening reception, or anytime during business hours in their Kensington location.
For all details, shutter here.
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Enjoy cocktails and classical music: Orchestra after 5 - Haydn and Mozart Power Hour | |
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Enjoy signature cocktails and pre-concert fun at the Kimmel Center in the Plaza of the Kimmel Center. Then head on over to Verizon Hall to hear The Philadelphia Orchestra and star pianist Andras Schiff play the classical sounds of Haydn and Mozart. Afterward, hang out for a bit and have another drink while you discuss the music of the Orchestra.
“Orchestra after 5” is a new, happy hour series for you to unwind after a hard day’s work. You can find more information about it here.
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Highbrow and Bibliophile Classes at The Rosenbach | |
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We know we’re preaching to the choir, but if you haven’t fully explored the offerings of the Rosenbach Museum, now is your time for cerebral enhancement at the private museum of the Rosenbach brothers, 2010 Delancey Place. The museum has opened up its spring classes (in person and virtual) to the public, including offerings about Ulysses, Plato, Gabriel García Márquez, activist Jewish women of the 20th century, hands-on calligraphy, and many others. Take a mind-expanding leap here for upcoming classes.
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Funday Sunday with Picasso and Friends | |
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Gather up the clan and head to the Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, on Sunday, April 7, for the PECO Free First Sunday Family Day; Boundless Creativity, from 10 am to 5 pm.
In addition to getting up close to works by Picasso, Renoir and other impressionists, the day will be filled with art activities and storytelling for children, a scavenger hunt, and a jazz performance. Registration opens on Thursday, April 4 at 10 am for this full day of family activities, with access to one of the most amazing private art collections in the world. Click here to register.
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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. | | | | |
