CCRA Newsletter

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - JULY 31, 2015

WHAT'S NEW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD UEDs May BE UEDone CCRA NEWS AND EVENTS Homes Needed for CCRA's House Tour CCRA Merchant Member Discount Program NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS AND EVENTS: PHS Pop Ups Garden Programs and Special Events Art Exhibit Summer Concert Series at PCI Dan Rottenberg Volunteer to Sort and Inventory Books            OUR SPONSORS           If you wou ld like to don ate  to C C RA, click  bel ow. WHAT'S NEW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD UEDs MAY BE  UEDONE Dodged that bullet. In a March 16 Special Edition of the newsletter, we urged our readers to contact Council regarding  UED's, urban experiential displays -  58 foot high, three dimensional digital billboards proposed for three locations -  South Broad Street on the Sporting Club garage, North Broad Street, next to the Convention Center,  and on Race, adjacent to the Reading Terminal. Calls and emails from CCRAers led to the elimination of the UED Sporting Club site in our neighborhood.  However,  the other two  proposed venues are "orphans", they have no Civic Association to present a citizen voice. Accordingly, despite requests from both CCRA and the Crosstown Coalition, Council  okayed UEDs for the Convention Center and  Reading Terminal sites. Fortunately, it's better to be lucky than to be good. This Spring, PennDot withdrew a long standing agreement delegating to  the City  the  State's  authority to enforce the signage provisions of the Highway Beautification Act. Presumably PennDOT  reasoned  that a  City which has, over the years,  failed to enforce tax bills totaling in the billions would be comparably feckless in administering signage regulations. The proposed UEDs fail to conform to the size and image limitations of the Federal statute AND the proposed displays are all within 660 feet of both  Broad Street and Race Street, thoroughfares  included in the Federal highway program. So, if PennDot enforces the Federal regulations, we may  be done with UEDs - cross your fingers. CCRA NEWS  AND EVENTS HOMES NEEDED FOR CCRA'S 57TH ANNUAL FALL HOUSE TOUR, SUN, 10/18 Our 57th Annual House Tour will be held on Sunday, Oct. 18  This is an important fundraiser for the Association.  As hundreds of your neighbors have done before, would you be willing to place your home, apartment, or condo on the Tour this year?  We provide insurance and multiple on-site hosts/hostesses.  You receive our deepest thanks, as well as recognition in our Tour Book and the Center City Quarterly.  Please contact the CCRA office for further information at 215-546-6719 or centercity@centercityresidents.org. CCRA MERCHANT MEMBERS DISCOUNT PROGRAM S upport our local merchants and save money too. These local merchants will provide a discount  (described here)  to any member who shows a current CCRA membership card (Di Bruno Bros. has its own CCRA card) and personal identification. Di Bruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut St. and the Market at the Comcast Center (215-665-9220)  Dom's Shoe Repair, 203 S. 20th St (215-972-0098) Eye Candy Vision, 218 S. 20th St (215-568-3937) Koresh Dance Company, 2002 Rittenhouse Sq St. (267-687-1769) Liberty Vet Pets, 265 S. 20th St. (888-458-8587) Nature's Gallery Florist, 2124 Walnut St (215-563-5554) PhotoLounge 1909 Chestnut Street (267-322-6651) Twenty-Two Gallery, 236 S. 22nd St, (215-772-1911) Rim's Dry Cleaners & Tailors,2203 South St. (215-546-1889) Rittenhouse Hardware, 2001 Pine St. (215-735-6311) Rittenhouse Pet Supply, 135 S. 20th St (215-569-2555) Computer Troubleshooters ,108 S. 20th St. (215-825-2101) Uber - Limo service Uber provides $20 off a first ride, Good for new users only.  Members use code CCRA14.   Philly Foodworks - Use the code "CCRA" when signing up for home delivery and receive a $20 discount on delivery charges. NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS AND EVENTS PHS POP UPS GARDEN PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS, SUN, 8/1 AND 8/22, 15TH & SOUTH STS  The 2015 Philadelphia Horticultural Society Pop Up Garden is hosting a summer full of activities, garden programs, beer celebrations, and other special events. Gardeners will enjoy workshops on houseplant care, rain barrels, flower arranging, tree planting, and container gardens, as well as yoga sessions, a day for the dogs, and evenings devoted to Belgian drafts and local brews. Sundays, August 1 and 22, 1:15 p.m. Yoga in the Garden Theresa Conway, of Yoga on the Ridge, will lead hour-long sessions in the garden. All levels are welcome. Class fee is $10, and advance registration is suggested at www.yogaontheridge.com. Walk-ins are welcome as space allows.  ART EXHIBIT: PHYLLIS ANDERSON "PARALLEL PATHS," FRI, 8/14 THRU SUN 9/6, TWO GALLERY, 236 S 22ND ST. "Peonies in an Urn"  acrylic on canvas,  24" x 30", 2015, by Phyllis Anderson Opening Reception, Fri., 8/14, 6-9 PM Recent paintings by local artist Phyllis Anderson. "I approach painting as an exploration of process which takes on meaning and personal metaphor.  With many layers, each painting has a history, no matter the subject. Whether an abstract study, a commissioned portrait or a still life, my pieces are on parallel paths where I find poetry in the physical properties of paint." - Phyllis Anderson SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT PHILA CITY INS LIBRARY, MONDAYS IN AUG, 6:30 - 7:30 PM, 1905 LOCUST ST. Visit the PCI Library this August to cool off and enjoy an exciting series of diverse musical programs. All concerts will be held from 6:30-7:30 P.M. in the meeting room on the library's lower level and are free. Everyone is invited. Please note there is no elevator in the building. For more information, please stop by the Reference Desk, or call 215-685-6621.  Monday, August 10: The Daniel Bennett Group Monday, August 17: Birdie Busch Monday, August 24: Kenn Kweder Monday, August 31: Hidden Treasure Jazz Group Dan Rottenberg Will Be at THE PHILA CITY INS Library, WED, 8/19, 6:30 P.M., 1905 LOCUST ST The Friends of PCI Branch Library are sponsoring a free program with Dan Rottenberg, author, editor and journalist. He will discuss his new book  The Outsider, Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment . Open to all. Please note there is no elevator to the lower level where the program will be held in the meeting room. Volunteer To Sort And Inventory Books For The Philadelphia School District, 440 N. BROAD ST. WePAC (West Philadelphia Alliance for Children) needs an incredible amount of help from the community to get this job done.  Volunteer opportunities are available for a week, a day or a few hours. You will work at district headquarters at 440 N. Broad Street The work space is dusty so be prepared to get a little dirty. You will be on your feet so wear comfortable clothes and shoes.  Dust masks are available. Some assignments require heavy lifting.  Many only require standing, so read the description for each volunteer shift. Click  here  to see current opportunities for this work and keep checking back to see new opportunities as they become available. If you have questions, email  kyla@wepac.org .

SOSNA Newsletter

The 2015 Streetscape Contest Winners and Light Up the Night Friends & Neighbors,  Congratulations to the 2015 SOSNA Streetscape Competition winners! Many of our neighbors work hard to make our neighborhood beautiful, so thank you to all who entered for creating lush gardens along our streets! For more information on the Streetscape Competition and the full list of winners, past and present, click here! If you'd like to take a tour of even more amazing urban gardens, or you have a garden space you'd like to share with the community, join the South Philly Food Co-op's Garden Tour, taking place September 12th!   Don't miss the Summer Music Series concert tomorrow, July 30th at the Triangles Plaza! We'll have Benjamin Karp performing and food from Samosa Deb! Please check SOSNA's Facebook page for updates if we have to cancel due to inclement weather.    Coming up next week: Light Up the Night at Julian Abele Park! On Tuesday, August 4th stop by the park between 6pm and 8pm to meet officers from the 17th Police District and raise awareness about safety and crime prevention in our neighborhood! We'll be joined by FoCA, SCP, and a food truck! At 8pm the South of South Town Watch will lead a neighborhood patrol- all are welcome! Events Light Up the Night - National Night Out Event - Tuesday, August 4th The SOSNA Safety Committee is thrilled to announce the fifth annual Light Up the Night event on Tuesday, August 4th. This year we are celebrating National Night Out at Julian Abele Park (22nd & Carpenter/Montrose) from 6:00-8:00pm on the 4th. Events Triangles Summer Music Series Every Thursday night this summer come enjoy live music, good food and meet your fellow neighbors at the Triangles Summer Music Series! Meet us at the Triangles Plaza (23rd and Grays Ferry Ave/South Street) starting at 6pm. Thursday, July 30th we'll have music by Benjamin Karp and food from the Samosa Deb food truck! Events South Philly Food Co-op’s 5th Annual Garden Tour Do you have a cool garden, backyard space, beautiful flower boxes or share a plot growing some ripe tomatoes in a community garden space? Then you can help support the South Philly Food Co-op’s 5th Annual Garden Tour! News Wild for Wellness at the YMCA This FREE program educates children ages 10-14 about making healthier eating habits and will take place at the Christian Street YMCA from Septmeber - November. For more info, contact Marlene DeVose at 215-735-5800.   Events SOSNA Office Closed The SOSNA Office will be closed from Wednesday, July 29th - Friday, July 31st.  Events 18th & Christian Farmers' Market Join us for our 18th & Christian Farmer's Market re-opening for the season! This market will feature Buzby Farms, a great local farmer from New Jersey. They will have a variety of fruits and vegetables, and will accept cash, FMNP vouchers, ACCESS/EBT cards, and Philly Food Bucks. This market is open every Thursday from 3pm- 7pm at the Christian Street YMCA. News Donate Your Shoes to Support E.M Stanton Elementary! Stanton Community Partners has partnered with ShoeBox Recycling to recycle shoes and raise funds for Stanton! Please drop your unwanted paired men's, women's and kids shoes that are still usable in the designated recycling box at the SOSNA office (1901 South St.) beginning on Tuesday, June 2nd. Please note ShoeBox Recycling does not accept heavy winter boots, skates, blades or flip-flops. Thank you for your continued support of Stanton Community Partners and E.M. Stanton!   Events Julian Abele Park Farmer's Market The farmer's market at Julian Abele Park is returning May 26th! The market will be every Tuesday from 2-7 PM. The wonderful provider will again be Highland Orchards, out of Delaware (they also go to Fitler Square on Saturdays and Schuylkill River Park on Wednesdays). They have fruits, veggies, preserves, honey, meat, cheese, eggs, and more! Stop by for your mid-week shopping!

CCRA Newsletter

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - JULY 24, 2015

WHAT'S NEW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD The CCRA Community: Indego's Number One Neighborhood CCRA NEWS AND EVENTS Homes Needed for CCRA's House Tour CCRA Merchant Member Discount Program NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS AND EVENTS: PHS Pop Ups Garden Programs and Special Events Summer Teen Reading Program at PCI Art Exhibit Volunteer to Sort and Inventory Books            OUR SPONSORS           If you wou ld like to don ate  to C C RA, click  bel ow. WHAT'S NEW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THE CCRA COMMUNITY: INDEGO'S NUMBER ONE NEIGHBORHOOD The statisticians at Indego, the City's new bike share program,  have reached an obvious conclusion - our neighborhood is number one.  The bike station at Rittenhouse Square (the north side of Walnut on the 1900 block) is the City's most heavily used Indego facility - "no other station comes close" according to Indego spokesperson, Keira Smalls.  The  Indego stats also tell us that the most common Indego trip connects to our neighborhood between the station at 23rd & South (opposite South Square Market)  and University City. Even though the system has only been up and running for three months, it's taken off like Chris Froome, the Kenyan tearing up the Tour De France. In the first three months of the program, the City has seen 160,000 trips taken by 30,000 riders on the program's 600 bikes positioned at 71 stations.  There are plans afoot for additional Indego facilities but the program's current stations fit the neighborhood's travel needs well. Want to go to Trader Joe's?  There's a station on the north side of the 2200 block of Market. More of a Whole Foods shopper? Indego has that covered too with its station on the 2100 block of Hamilton St. Tired of living on bread alone and in search of food for the intellect? Indego is at the main branch of the Free Library at 19th near Vine.  CCRA NEWS  AND EVENTS HOMES NEEDED FOR CCRA'S 57TH ANNUAL FALL HOUSE TOUR, SUN, 10/18 Our 57th Annual House Tour will be held on Sunday, Oct. 18  This is an important fundraiser for the Association.  As hundreds of your neighbors have done before, would you be willing to place your home, apartment, or condo on the Tour this year?  We provide insurance and multiple on-site hosts/hostesses.  You receive our deepest thanks, as well as recognition in our Tour Book and the Center City Quarterly.  Please contact the CCRA office for further information at 215-546-6719 or centercity@centercityresidents.org. CCRA MERCHANT MEMBERS DISCOUNT PROGRAM S upport our local merchants and save money too. These local merchants will provide a discount  (described here)  to any member who shows a current CCRA membership card (Di Bruno Bros. has its own CCRA card) and personal identification. Computer Troubleshooters ,108 S. 20th St. (215-825-2101) Di Bruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut St. and the Market at the Comcast Center (215-665-9220)  Dom's Shoe Repair, 203 S. 20th St (215-972-0098) Eye Candy Vision, 218 S. 20th St (215-568-3937) Koresh Dance Company, 2002 Rittenhouse Sq St. (267-687-1769) Liberty Vet Pets, 265 S. 20th St. (888-458-8587) Nature's Gallery Florist, 2124 Walnut St (215-563-5554) PhotoLounge 1909 Chestnut Street (267-322-6651) Twenty-Two Gallery, 236 S. 22nd St, (215-772-1911) Rim's Dry Cleaners & Tailors,2203 South St. (215-546-1889) Rittenhouse Hardware, 2001 Pine St. (215-735-6311) Rittenhouse Pet Supply, 135 S. 20th St (215-569-2555) Uber - Limo service Uber provides $20 off a first ride, Good for new users only.  Members use code CCRA14.   Philly Foodworks - Use the code "CCRA" when signing up for home delivery and receive a $20 discount on delivery charges. NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS AND EVENTS PHS POP UPS GARDEN PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS, TUES, 7/28, AND SUN, 8/1 AND 8/22, 15TH & SOUTH STS  The 2015 Philadelphia Horticultural Society Pop Up Garden is hosting a summer full of activities, garden programs, beer celebrations, and other special events. Gardeners will enjoy workshops on houseplant care, rain barrels, flower arranging, tree planting, and container gardens, as well as yoga sessions, a day for the dogs, and evenings devoted to Belgian drafts and local brews.  Tuesday, July 28, 5 to 10 p.m. Dog Days of Summer Each dog who visits the garden will receive a special gift from Dogfish Head Brewery. Doggie bags will also be given to dogs who perform the best tricks. Sundays, August 1 and 22, 1:15 p.m. Yoga in the Garden Theresa Conway, of Yoga on the Ridge, will lead hour-long sessions in the garden. All levels are welcome. Class fee is $10, and advance registration is suggested at www.yogaontheridge.com. Walk-ins are welcome as space allows.  Summer Teen Reading Program at Phila City InsT, Tuesdays THRU 8/4, 3-4PM, 1905 Locust St. The Philadelphia City Institute branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia located at 1905 Locust Street invites all teenagers (entering grades 7-12) to participate in our summer reading program. Interested teens should stop by the library anytime to enter the prize raffle (one hour of reading = one raffle ticket). Great prizes will be provided by the Friends of PCI Library. Teenagers can also participate in fun craft and cooking activities during the library's Teen Tuesdays program, which will be held on Tuesdays from 3:00 to 4:00 P.M. (beginning June 30 and ending August 4). Please visit the Reference Desk of the library or call 215-685-6621 for more information. ART EXHIBIT:  SUMMER GROUP SHOW, THRU 8/9, tWENTY-TWO GALLERY, 236 S 22ND ST. Treat yourself to a wonderful piece of original artwork this summer...  It will give you enjoyment for a lifetime and can be passed on for others to enjoy in the future....and you will be supporting local artists!   Volunteer To Sort And Inventory Books For The Philadelphia School District, 440 N. BROAD ST. WePAC (West Philadelphia Alliance for Children) needs an incredible amount of help from the community to get this job done.  Volunteer opportunities are available for a week, a day or a few hours. You will work at district headquarters at 440 N. Broad Street The work space is dusty so be prepared to get a little dirty. You will be on your feet so wear comfortable clothes and shoes.  Dust masks are available. Some assignments require heavy lifting.  Many only require standing, so read the description for each volunteer shift. Click  here  to see current opportunities for this work and keep checking back to see new opportunities as they become available. If you have questions, email  kyla@wepac.org .