This Week September 11, 2025 | | |
No one knows where the Summer went, but what we do know is that it is gone, and in its stead is early September, one of the loveliest times of the year, with warm days and cool nights filling the air.
In the air here at CCRA is Change. We have a new President: Nathaniel Margolies. We have a new Executive Vice President: Gina Shapiro. And we have a number of new Board members, most notably with the accent on Youth.
There is Change, too, with this intrepid newsletter. We now are a bi-weekly, and will be a combo platter of the previous CCRA This Week and Events and Happenings. What will not change is our mission to keep you up to date on all things Center City West.
So we’ll see you out and about, enjoying all the things our neighborhood has to offer. And of course: GO PHILLIES! GO BIRDS!
| | Fall is only weeks away, and so is the 62nd CCRA House Tour! | | |
On Saturday, October 18th, immerse yourself in an afternoon of architectural marvels and beautiful homes right here in the Rittenhouse and Fitler Square community. The CCRA House Tour has been ranked as a top CCRA event for years, and you won't want to miss this year's house tour.
Purchase your tickets here for just $55, or $60 on the day of the tour.
You can also purchase your tickets at our two satellite locations:
*Robin Apartments, 2003 Chestnut St.
*Rittenhouse Hardware, 2001 Pine St.
(on sale starting Saturday, September 13)
Volunteer and you can enjoy this extraordinary experience for free. Sign up to volunteer and make this event a success!
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CCRA held its zoning committee meeting on Tuesday, August 26th. In case you missed it, you can watch it on our YouTube Channel here. To read the report, visit here.
In observance of the Rosh Hashanah holiday, the zoning committee will not meet in September. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 28th.
| | 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 Merchant Partner 12th Street Catering!
If You’ve Got the Room, 12th St. Catering’s Got the Board
Big (or small) event coming up and you need to crush it with the food presentation? Fear not, new Merchant Partner 12th St Catering has got your back.
12th Street Catering is a Philadelphia-based full-service catering company that believes you eat with your eyes first, then with your mouth. They're devoted to making outstanding food with beautiful décor to match. Offering locally sourced ingredients, stunning displays, and highly seasoned staff, they're much more than just a crew of cooks--they're culinary artists with the passion to provide extraordinary eating experiences anywhere in Philadelphia and the Main Line.
Even better? CCRA members received a 10% discount on a delivered catering order. (This is a one-time offer with a minimum of 20 guests.) For any party over 50 you’ll receive a complimentary hors d’oeuvre.
| | Don’t look before crossing | | |
The Center City District’s popular Open Streets: West Walnut is back, running Sundays from September 14 through October 12, from 10 am until 5 pm. You can stroll car-free on 18th Street, from Locust to Chestnut Streets, and on Walnut Street from 15th to 19th Streets, while enjoying some of Philly’s finest restaurants and swankiest stores.
There will be activities throughout the day, including a performance by Temple University’s marching band this Sunday from 3-4 p.m. Weekly entertainment and features will include pop-up performers, bubble magic, and a designated family friendly zone. Click here for more details.
| | Apple-y Ever After: A Cider Social | | |
🍎 Apple-A-Day Cider Social 🍏
Friday, September 26 | 5:30–8:00 PM | $30
An apple a day keeps the doctor away… unless it’s fermented, then the doctor might just join you! Celebrate the season at our Apple-A-Day Cider Social, where cider, beer, and fall snacks pair perfectly with crisp September air.
Your $30 ticket includes:
- Admission to the Mütter Museum
- A peek at rarely seen treasures from the Museum & Library collections
- Live music in the magical Benjamin Rush Medicinal Garden
- Light bites to keep the apples company
Come sip, snack, and stroll through a garden party that’s equal parts history, harvest, and happy hour. Must be 21 or over, to enter. Details and registration here.
| | Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion | | 🇲🇽 🎉 Skyline, Salsa, and Celebration on the Waterfront 🎉 🇲🇽 | | |
Get ready to celebrate Mexican Independence Day in true fiesta style! On Sunday, September 14, from 2–7 pm, the Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest will come alive with the sounds of DJs, the rhythm of dancing, and the irresistible flavors of Mexican food and drinks.
This free, family-friendly festival—part of the PECO Multicultural Series—is all about music, culture, and community. Whether you’re twirling on the dance floor, sampling authentic eats, or just soaking in the skyline views by the water, there’s something for everyone.
📍 Where: Blue Cross RiverRink, Philadelphia
📅 When: Sunday, September 14 | 2–7 pm
💵 Cost: Free & open to the public (all ages welcome)
Bring your friends, bring your family, and bring your best dance moves—because this Independence Day celebration is one Philly tradition you won’t want to miss!
| | A Todo el Mundo le Encantan el Desfile (Everyone Loves A Parade)! | | |
Wrapping up September as Hispanic Heritage Month, look for the Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sunday, September 28 from noon-6 pm on Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Concilio’s Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade started in Philadelphia back in 1964, originally held as part of the Puerto Rican Week Festival. The event has grown each year, with about 1,500 people marching down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway alongside floats, musicians, dancers, performers and more to celebrate Puerto Rico’s diaspora in the City of Brotherly Love. With Pennsylvania having the fourth-highest Puerto Rican population in the U.S. (8%), there’s a lot of pride in the multigenerational crowds.
Organizers expect more than 5,000 attendees to show up in person, plus another 96,000 people who will tune in to watch it live on 6ABC.
For more information click here.
| | Real Time Real Estate: This Month | | What's Hotter Than a Pumpkin Spice Latte? | | |
As the leaves turn and the air gets crisp, Rittenhouse and Fitler Square neighborhoods are buzzing—not just with cozy cafés and autumn strolls, but with one of the most well attended house tours in our city!
The CCRA House Tour committee members are abuzz, planning for the upcoming Rittenhouse & Fitler Squares House tour event on Saturday October 18th from 1-5pm. This outstanding annual tour has been in existence for over 61 years! Having the honor of co-chairing this magical day with the support of the committee, members and tourgoers has been a pleasure and a success for our community.
From historic brownstones with fireplaces ready for their first log of the season, to sleek modern condos with skyline views perfect for sunsets and star-gazing, be ready to be wowed. We can promise this House Tour will be a show-stopper!
You can purchase tickets in advance for $55 online here, or in person at CCRA office1900 Market St, 8th floor (call to schedule a pickup, 215-546-6719), Rittenhouse Hardware (2001 Pine St) and Robin Apartments (2003 Chestnut St) (both cash only). Day-of-tour tickets will be $60.
Don't forget, get ready to enjoy some of our neighborhood's delicious restaurants offering a discount to you the day of the tour. We look forward to seeing you and appreciate your continued support.
Kate Federico, Compass RE
| | Community News and Events | | |
We know autumn is upon us when the leaves begin to turn and Rittenhouse Square explodes in a stellar display of original paintings, prints and sculptures for sale.
The Fall Fine Arts Show, running from September 19-21, will feature unique and one-of-a-kind creations of more than 140 artisans from all over the United States. Friday and Saturday hours are 11 am to 6 pm; Sunday hours are 11 am to 5 pm Founded by artists in 1928, the Square event is the oldest outdoor art show in the country. No matter your taste in art, there will be something to satisfy your visual palate.
For more information click here.
| | Move Over, Maestro: Your Turn at the Podium | | |
Ever wanted to step into Yannick’s shoes—baton and all? At Dilworth Park, you get that chance of a lifetime…well, sort of! Water Orchestra transforms the Dilworth Park fountain into a living, breathing symphony, where your gestures become the score.
Big, sweeping motions unleash dramatic bursts of sound and energetic jets, while gentle movements create soft melodies and playful pops of water. Every performance is unique—because the conductor is you.
Created by Montréal-based artists Ottomata and Atomic3 (produced by Ottomata, distributed by Wireframe), and paired with a specially curated soundtrack by the Philadelphia Orchestra for its 125th anniversary, Water Orchestra is part music, part movement, and pure magic.
📍 Where: Dilworth Park, west side of City Hall
🕒 When: thru October 3, 2025
• Daily: 9 am–9 pm (2-minute turns on the podium)
| | Fringe-y Times call for Fringe-y Measures | | |
The Philadelphia Fringe Festival, presented by FringeArts, is a city-wide celebration of innovation and creativity in contemporary performance.
Each September, the Festival explodes into every nook and cranny of Philadelphia with more than 1,000 artistically daring performances. Included in the festival are hundreds of independently produced performances and events, work presented by partnering Festival Hubs and producers, and a slate of programs curated by FringeArts.
Get your Fringe on here.
| | Coming Soon: A Moving Museum | | |
On Sunday, Sept. 21, Philly’s newest addition to its award-winning art scene opens to the public: Calder Gardens, a unique space dedicated to the avant-garde artwork of Alexander Calder, a native Philadelphian and one of the 20th century’s most influential artists.
The 6,500-square-foot space features a distinctive two-story building dedicated to the work of a single artist, with half of its structure underground. The surface level of the museum includes an enchanting meadow, while the underground space features mobile sculptures nestled in a sprawling garden.
The attraction is conveniently located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway near some of Philly’s other popular art museums, including the Rodin Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Barnes Foundation (its operational partner). Guests will be able to peruse the galleries and wander the garden as they take in the relaxing scenery of an immersive experience connecting art, nature and architecture.
Get tickets here and for more information click here.
| | Mathnasium Financial Literacy Workshop | | |
Mathnasium of Center City is excited to offer a Financial Literacy Workshop for students in 4th grade and up! With public schools closed on October 10th and 13th, it’s the perfect time for your student to join us at the center for a hands-on money simulation, learning real-world financial skills in a fun and engaging way.
Only 5 spots are available for the workshop, and we’ll be providing lunch and snacks on both Friday and Monday. To personalize the experience, please schedule an assessment so we can determine your child’s Financial Literacy level and place them in the right spot for success.
Schedule an assessment today.
| | Lettuce Gather at Fitler Square | | |
Every Saturday since 2003, the Fitler Square Farmers’ Market has been serving up farm-fresh bragging rights. Thanks to the Pennsylvania Food Trust, you can swap shrink-wrapped veggies for ones that still remember the dirt, and grab meats that haven’t taken a cross-country road trip.
Stop by 23rd & Pine from 10 am to early afternoon, year-round. Eat local, shop seasonal, and support our farmers; you will be promoting seasonal products grown locally on small, sustainable farms, rather than processed food from thousands of miles away. Their FB page says they could use some local volunteers to help out on Saturdays.
| | 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. | | | | |
