This Week: April 7, 2022

Editor - Barbara Halpern

Lead Writer - Richard Vaughn

Design/Layout and Writer - Travis Oliver

Join the fun, join the festivities and join renowned conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin as we toast the 75th Anniversary of the Center City Residents' Association! The date is June 1, and you're not gonna wanna miss this!

It will truly be a Gala evening as we pay homage to our story of origin as the neighborhood organization that prevented Rittenhouse Square from being turned into a parking lot way back in 1947.

Meet our internationally-renowned neighbor and Maestro Nezet-Seguin – recipient of CCRA's "Citizen of the Decade" Award – all while mingling with fellow Center City denizens and enjoying sumptuous cuisine and beverages with a background of jazz from the 1940's. Be part of our future as we continue to forge ahead for a safe, clean, diverse, and supportive community.

You can also socialize with Maestro Nezet-Seguin at an intimate, private cocktail reception earlier that evening at the Rittenhouse Square home of Bart and Jil Blatstein.

Because you’re a CCRA Member, you’re getting first crack at tickets to the affair.

However: Tickets are limited and will no doubt go fast. Both events are capacity limited.

Purchase Tickets Here

TRIFECTA

Looking for a getaway from the difficult times we live in?

You could do worse than to escape to the world of sports.

Consider:

· The Major League Baseball season starts this week, and there figures to be a lot of long balls flying out of Citizens Bank Park this year.

· A tradition like no other, the Masters golf tournament also starts this week. Phil out; Tiger in!

· The Sixers, featuring star Joel “MVP!” Embiid, begin their playoff run week after next.

PLAY BALL. Accent on the ‘PLAY’.

CCRA News and Events

CCRA Zoning Committee Report

On Tuesday, March 29, CCRA held its monthly zoning committee meeting. You can review the report here. The next zoning meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 26, 7pm.

CCRA MERCHANT PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

CCRA’s Merchant Partner program is a true Win-Win: It provides smaller local businesses with complimentary advertising and exposure while giving CCRA members generous deals and discounts. This week we feature local chill spot Good Karma Café.

No Dogma at Good Karma

Need to relax? Need to mellow out? Need to chill?

No need to head off to a tropical isle (not that there’s anything wrong with that….).

Just take your troubles over to the Good Karma Café at 22nd and Pine, where the fine folks there provide food, drink and a totally laid-back vibe (even when it’s crowded, which is often, and for good reason).

Good Karma ticks all the boxes: unique food and drink, friendly service, indoor/outdoor, seasonal fare (think pumpkin chai latte), eco-friendly, dog-friendly, vegan/vegetarian (vegan scones!), great playlists, fast and free WiFi.

With four locations around town, how can you lose?

Only by not taking advantage of the 5% CCRA member discount at the 22nd and Pine location.

Clean, Safe and Green

No More Mr. Nice Guy re Plastic Bag Ban

We can’t say they didn’t warn us: Philadelphia is now enforcing the ban on thin, single-use plastic bags, with businesses in violation looking at fines of at least $150. In fact, the bags have been prohibited since October; only warnings have been issued… until now. Unpack the details here.

A Mass of Glass? Check out this Recycling option!

What’s the best use of your throwaway glass?

Glass is the most recyclable material, but approximately 70 percent of it ends up in landfills, mostly due to contamination. Bottle Underground, a local South Philadelphia group, is committed to collecting, recirculating, recycling and up-cycling post-consumer glass. You can drop off clean glass in South Philadelphia or they will collect it from you via bicycle courier. See their website for more details https://bottleunderground.com.

Also check out their sister organization, Remark Glass, a women-owned business focused on innovative glass reuse. https://remarkglass.com.

Trade Your Weights for a Shovel

Come out on Saturday, April 23 and help the CCRA Green Tree Tenders plant street trees in the neighborhood! We have 15 trees to plant and can use all the help we can get - no experience necessary! Volunteers must provide proof of vaccination. We will meet at the entrance to the community garden at 25th and Spruce Streets at 9:30 am and will finish up before noon.

Please register here: https://bit.ly/3v19sHX

1. Click on the link above.

2. Create an account (if you don’t have one yet) by clicking on “Create Account”

3. Click “Sign Up” and sign into your account.

4. Complete registration.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

LOVE Park Pop-up to Support Black and Brown-Owned Businesses

Starting April 22, a pop-up marketplace featuring a number of local Black and Brown-owned businesses will grace LOVE Park. Dubbed “The Spring in LOVE”, it will take place over six weekends; retailers are members of the Greater Philadelphia African American and Hispanic Chambers of Commerce. Details here.

Hear Danielle Outlaw and Loretta Talk Shop and More

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw (pictured left) joined former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch (pictured right) last Thursday to mark the close of Women’s History Month and discuss the issues around being the first Black women in high-powered law enforcement positions. Details found here.

Community News and Events

It’s Not Just Us: Streeteries Are Complicated Everywhere

Streeteries unquestionably provided a lifeline for restaurants during the pandemic, but going forward? Not so simple. Go here to see how it’s playing out in NYC, New Orleans, Portland and elsewhere.

Cherry Blossoms and Coltrane? Yes, Please.

This concert at the Cherry Blossom Festival at Shofuso Japanese House and Garden will present a performance of music inspired by John Coltrane's under-recognized classic, Peace On Earth. This song was written for and premiered during Coltrane's concert tour of Japan in 1966 and illuminates his desire to inspire a greater peace and understanding among all human beings. In this special concert, the ensemble will transform the original composition into a triumphant celebration of life and the newness of Spring. Further information about all Cherry Blossom Festival events blooms here.

This concert is a collaboration between The Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia and Philadelphia Jazz Project.

Yes to Food, No to Cooking on Easter and Passover

Delicious holiday meals without all the prep and cleanup? I’m a believer! It’s true; more than a few eateries around town are more than happy to do both the cooking and the cleanup for Easter and Passover. Disbelieve? Check your options at The City Pulse - 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.

Good Karma Cafe, 331 S. 22nd St, (215-546-1479)

Liberty Pet Vets, 265 S. 20th St (888-458-8587)

Nature's Gallery Florist, 2124 Walnut St (215-563-5554)

Photo Lounge, 130 S.17th St. (267-322-6651)

Rittenhouse Hardware, 2001 Pine St. (215-735-6311)

Seafood Unlimited, 270 S. 20th St (215-732-3663) (TEMPORARILY CLOSED)

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

The Rounds, Use code CCRATHEROUNDS to receive free membership.

Ursula Hobson Fine Art Framing, 1528 Waverly St (215-546-7889)

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