Center City Residents' Association

1900 Market St, FL 8, Philadelphia, PA 19103

PH: 215-546-6719 Email: centercity@centercityresidents.org

TONIGHT

Quality of Life Meeting

Trinity @ 22nd St

2212 Spruce St, 6pm - 8pm

CCRA is sponsoring a meeting addressing the quality of life in the City at 6:00 pm on Thursday, November 16 at Trinity @ 22nd St., 2212 Spruce Street. The meeting will be hosted by Councilman Kenyatta Johnson and State Representative Ben Waxman. They will be joined by representatives of various City Departments who have jurisdiction over the quality-of-life issues that we care about.

See the agenda below.

View Agenda

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Join the Party! Help CCRA Green Plant Trees!

Help Green our neighborhood by helping CCRA Green plant 21 street trees on Saturday, November 18! No experience needed. Meet us at the entrance to the community garden at 25th and Spruce Streets at 9:30. Email Susan Kahn for more information.

Canned-Good Can-Do at the Square’s Dec. 4 Tree Lighting

Rittenhouse Square’s Holiday Tree Lighting is pretty special on its own, but you can make it even moreso by joining the Young Friends of CCRA and the Young Friends of Rittenhouse Square for their canned food drive during the Friends of Rittenhouse Square 2023 Holiday Tree Lighting on December 4th.

Come to Rittenhouse Square at 5PM to enjoy refreshments, music, giveaways, the illumination of the holiday lights and – you guessed it -- a guest appearance from Santa.

Stop by the information booth to drop off non-perishable canned goods to help support families and individuals in need. All food will be donated and will help feed our neighbors this season. The food drive will then continue during the Rittenhouse Square Menorah Lighting on December 12th.

Young Friend Volunteers are needed to help collect and manage the donations during both events. If interested, please contact Travis Oliver.

Water Department infrastructure project starting in Center City West

A Water Department project is starting to replace water mains and sewer pipes in the Center City West neighborhood - thus effecting the traffic pattern. Residents should expect to see work starting in the next few months.

About the project

Tang Ao-Qing and friends at Columbia University, ca. 1947.Courtesy the Tang Family

Join Nobel Laureate Roald Hoffmann as he shares an untold story about science and immigration as part of our new Science and Society speaker series.

Thurs. Nov 16, 5:30pm - 8pm

Science and History Museum

315 Chestnut St

Hoffmann personally knew Chinese scientists Tang Ao-Qing (1915–2008) and Lu Jiaxi (1915–2001). Both received their critical training in the U.S. and returned to China in the late 1940s. Hoffmann will reflect on his own experiences as an immigrant to America from a very different place, and how he came to know and appreciate these remarkable chemists. After his lecture, stay to engage in a conversation about science and immigration with Hoffman and David Caruso, director of the Institute’s Center for Oral History.

More Info

Dinos After Dark

Fri. Nov. 17|4pm - 9pm

Academy of Natural Sciences

Enjoy pay-what-you-wish admission and a festive, family-friendly atmosphere and the Dino Drafts Beer Garden in Dinosaur Hall.

This is a pay-what-you-wish event, with a recommended donation of $10.

More Info

Off for Thanksgiving Week?

Check out 'Visit Philly' for "34 Awesome things you can do in Philly for Thanksgiving."

Check it out

Explore Philly's authentic German Christmas Market

African Restaurant Week Continues in Philadelp-hia

Now thru 11/18

For the first time, Philly participates in African Restaurant Week, a national celebration of flavors from across the African Diaspora. Enjoy discounts and deals at more than 20 African, African American and Caribbean restaurants throughout Greater Philadelphia, including the new Nigerian hotspot Eatwell Philly in Old City and Dahlak in West Philly, a mainstay for Ethiopian eats.

More Info

Native American Heritage Month at the Nat'l Constitution Center

Now thru 11/30

National Constitution Center

525 Arch St

Explore the history of Indigenous people in pre- and post-colonial America. Daily programming includes an exploration of Indigenous peoples’ influence on the U.S. Constitution, activity tables highlighting historic maps from before the arrival of the Founding Fathers and Lenape language activities. On weekends, visitors can create their own take-home corn husk dolls, like those made by the Wampanoag people during the 17th century.

More info

Opening Weekend: Blueprint Cookies

More info

Rising Sun: Artists in an Uncertain America

Now thru Dec 31

African American Museum and PA Academy of Fine Arts

7th & Arch St

“Is the sun rising or setting on the experiment of American democracy?” Nearly two dozen artists interpret that question in new artworks that appear in this collaborative exhibition at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP). This landmark exhibit invites visitors to consider complex issues from multiple viewpoints. Note: The exhibition has been extended by popular demand. It now runs through December 31, 2023 at PAFA and through March 3, 2024 at AAMP.

More info

Philadelphia Marathon Weekend

Nov 17 -19

Ben Franklin Parkway

View Road Closures Here

More info

Holiday-Related Events and Happenings

Celebrate the Holidays at Franklin Sq

Franklin Square celebrates the winter months with seasonal attractions and special events all season long. 2023 highlights include:

Electrical Spectacle Light Show presented by PECO: These free nightly shows — inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s kite and key electricity experiment — illuminate the square every half hour with seasonal tunes (cue Mariah Carey) and choreographed light shows (beginning Friday).

Street Curling: Calling all future Olympians: Gather your most competitive pals and aim for glory at a sport you definitely knew about: Street curling! Curling rinks must be rented in advance and tickets are required (beginning Friday).

Chilly Philly Mini Golf: Fore! Center City’s only outdoor mini-golf course decks the halls and dons a parka, with 18 holes of festive lights, holiday music and iconic winter characters. Tickets are required (beginning Friday).

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 Mr. FIX.

Who Ya Gonna Call? Merchant Partner Mr. FIX!

Technology is great…. when it works. When it doesn’t…. well, you know.

But there is help, in the name of Merchant Partner Mr. FIX, the tech repair shop on 20^th between Pine and Lombard. Not just any repair joint, Mr. FIX is your go-to for a quick fix for your cellphone, laptop, tablet, computer and gaming console at affordable prices.

Not only that, Mr. FIX offers a wide variety of new and used devices for sale, including cellphones and computers. And… they pay more than both Apple & the carrier stores for your old or broken devices! What is not to love?

What IS to love is the fact that CCRA Members receive $10 off any repair with proof of membership. Get your fix at Mr. FIX!

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.

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

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

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

1600 Spruce St. Home, Design and Gift, 1600 Spruce St. (267-209-3350)

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

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

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

Dom's Shoe Repair, 203 S. 20th St (215-972-0098)

Eazy Computers & iPhone Repair 2005 Chestnut St (215-609-4446)

Empathy Through Art Inquire within (violetalexandre@gmail.com)

Excursions from the Square, (215-732-8487, 215-738-4500)

Eye Candy Vision, 218 S. 20th St (215-568-3937)

FrameWorks Studio & Gallery, 2103 Walnut St (215-567-6800)

Interact Theatre Co., 302 S. Hicks (215-568-8079)

Kimmel Cultural Campus, 300 S. Broad St (215-893-1900)

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

Loews Hotel Philadelphia, 1200 Market St (215-627-1200)

Mr FIX, 413 S. 20th St (215-261-5646)

Philly Bike Tours, Inquire within (267-521-2150)

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

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

Sandcastle Fun Co., Inquire within (267-462-1680)

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

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

Urban Tree Painting, Inquire within (445-230-1208)

CCRA assumes no responsibility and makes no representations or warranties, regarding any product and/or services sold by any Merchant Partner.