This Week: October 26, 2023

Design/Layout and Writer – Travis Oliver

Writer – Marc Werlinsky

Game Over. Time to Vote

With all the hubbub over the Phillies and the Eagles it’s been easy to forget that there’s an election coming up on Nov. 7. (And no, the lack of a Mayoral debate hasn’t exactly helped in that regard.)

But an election there is, fewer than two weeks hence. Who’s running? What’s on the ballot? Our friends at Billy Penn have it all down here.

So dust off the Red October pixie dust, #GoBirds and #GoVote!

CCRA News and Events

R.I.P. Sam Weinberg

This week brings the sad news of the passing of Sam Weinberg. Sam passed away on Monday, September 18. He was a past President of CCRA and also Owner and President of Frank Wolf Furniture. Our condolences go out to his family and his many friends. You can send your condolences to the family here. He will be missed.

CCRA Public Zoning Committee Meeting

On Tuesday, October 24, the zoning committee met to discuss five properties. You can watch the meeting here. Click here to see the report.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 28.

What’s Holding Up the Taney Street Re-name

Local folks from Taney Street, with help from CCRA and Fitler Square Neighbors Association, organized a movement to change the street name of “Taney Street”, which was named after a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; it was he who authored the long-reversed and reviled “Dred Scott” decision, denying citizenship to Black Americans. Simple, right? Wrong!! Read what’s slowing the name change down here.

Transporting Children, Then and Now

The end is the same, but the means differ. Enjoy Bill West’s thoughts here on the joys of schlepping the precious cargo of young children from here to there and beyond.

Members Meet ‘n’ Greet Happy Hour @ New Eatery Osteria Ama!

As a big “Thank You!” for being members, please join with fellow CCRA members for a fantastic Meet-and-Greet Happy Hour at the new Chestnut Street eatery Osteria Ama, located at 1905 Chestnut St., on the night of October 30th (yes, Mischief Night).

For only $10 you get to enjoy unlimited wine and delicious appetizers along with the festive company of other denizens of Center City. Although Registration is currently full, you can add your name to the waitlist. If there's a cancellation, you'll be added to the guest list and invoiced. Register h e r e NOW.

(This is a Members-Only event from 5:30 – 7:00 pm. Event is on the second floor and accessible by stairs only.)

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.

Clean, Safe and Green

Catch the Leaves before they Leave

Did you know that Mother Nature has blessed Pennsylvania with a longer and more varied fall foliage season than any other state? We are situated in a region of deciduous forests that display the full range of nature’s palette, with 134 species of trees, including the mountain maple and quaking aspen in the northern part of the state, and the black walnut, pignut hickory and southern red and scarlet oaks in the nether part of Pennsylvania. Don’t wait too long, as this show will soon be taking its annual hiatus. For more information, click here.

Under 40? Join Others in Planting a Native Pollinator Garden!

Help enhance our neighborhood as an urban oasis for helpful pollinators! Join CCRA’s under-40 cohort to plant our neighborhood’s first native pollinator garden in Schuylkill River Park. Think flowers, butterflies, hummingbirds and honey bees!

It’s all part of Love Your Park Day scheduled for Nov. 11 from 9 am to 1 pm. Meet at the Recreation Center at 400 S. Taney St. Email Susan Kahn with questions.

Fall Foliage on Foot

One of the many perks of living in the city is being able to walk along both our rivers and enjoy the currently spectacular fall foliage that graces both riverfronts. And….there’s more up and coming walking trails/connectors/extenders in the works. Want to know where to walk, and some unique activities along the way? Sneaker over here for details.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Artist John Rhoden’s Work Finds a New Home

The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts has acquired a collection of works by the late African American sculptor John Rhoden. Rhoden's art captures the essence of African-American culture and history, and his pieces have been displayed at various galleries and museums - including outside the African American Museum on Arch Street.

The acquisition of his collection by PAFA will provide an opportunity for art enthusiasts to experience the artist's unique style and gain a deeper understanding of his artistic vision. The move is a significant step towards recognizing and celebrating the contributions of African American artists to the world of fine arts. Check out a collection of his sculptures from “Determined to Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden” at PAFA through April 2024. Want a teaser? Here’s some highlights from the collection.

Bibliophiles Rejoice: Expanded Hours at the Library!

They listened, they heard. As of Oct. 16, Library hours have been expanded across the City.

What this means locally: The Parkway Central Library (19th & Vine) is now open from 9am to 8pm Monday thru Thursday. Friday is 9am to 5pm, closed weekends. The Philadelphia City Institute (19th & Locust) is now open from 11am to 7pm on Monday and Tuesday, and from 11am to 5pm Wednesday through Friday, closed weekends.

For the full story and operating hours, go here.

Community News and Events

Stealing for a Better City

The Philadelphia Citizen will be doing some serious brain picking, as a panel of dynamic leaders assembles to share powerful ways we can work together to help our city meet today’s challenges. Among the speakers at the Nov. 17 Ideas We Should Steal event will be Gov. Josh Shapiro, former Mayor Michael Nutter, music mogul Troy Carter and MSNBC’s Trymaine Lee and Ali Velshi.

The event, which takes place at the Ralph J Roberts Forum at the Comcast Technology Center, 1800 Arch St., runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a happy hour to follow from 4 to 5 p.m. General admission is $50 and includes a one year membership to the Philadelphia Citizen; admission is free for senior citizens. For registration information and more details, click here.

Sunday, Scary Sunday, at The Kimmel

On Sunday, 10/29….by day, your family can enjoy a Halloween Bash, get entertained with live music, arts & crafts, face painting, healthy treat tastings, and a Witches of Oz costume contest.

Then…., by night, there will be blood! Think vampires, but no screams allowed. In the Kimmel’s special live-to-picture presentation of F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent film classic Nosferatu!, Organist Brett Miller has reconstructed and adapted Hans Erdmann’s lost original score, and will be playing it live, on the world famous Fred J. Cooper Organ. The cost? NADA!! A free Sunday at The Kimmel. Register here for the family event, and here for the silent screen (or scream).

Lights, Action, Paint Brush

Philadelphia’s rich history in film moves from screen to wall as Mural Arts Philadelphia and artist Marian Bailey honor the city’s role in the movie industry with a mural on Samson Street, in back of the Philadelphia Film Center at 1412 Chestnut Street. To assist in the project’s design, you are invited to take a survey about why you treasure the city’s film scene. A panel will review all replies. To take the survey, click here. Perhaps you’ll have a hand in shaping this mural.

Those Were the Days: Electric Factory Concerts

Whether you were there or merely like to pretend you were, back in the day, Electric Factory Concerts was a major East Coast concert promoter, which makes the exhibit at Drexel’s Paul Peck Alumni Center Gallery a must-see. Not only are there original posters, photographs, and concert apparel, the exhibit also includes historic guitars (think Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor and Bruce). For more detail, groove here.

Drop Your Ballot off Here

Did you get a ballot in the mail? Time to fill it out and drop it off, and we’ve got a mail ballot drop-off location near you! Check the map below to find one close by, and do your civic duty.

Useful links

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.

The Rounds, internet only

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

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)

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