CCRA This Week – 6.11.26

This Week June 11, 2026

CCRA NEWS and EVENTS

CCRA’s Neighbors Night Out at Veda was a Huge Success!

Neighbors gathered over delicious bites, refreshing drinks, and plenty of conversation, proving once again that community is the best thing on the menu. New connections were made, familiar faces caught up, and the room was buzzing with neighborhood spirit. Thanks to everyone who joined us—we're already hungry for the next one!

New Bus Island at 16th and JFK!

The city has installed a new type of bus boarding platform on 16th and JFK, adjacent to Love Park (see photo 1). This looks great to those of us on CCRA’s Streets Committee; the raised platform makes it easier for folks to board the bus and speeds up boarding, while reducing conflict between bikes and buses and reducing sidewalk crowding around the stop. It also makes it so the bus doesn't have to swing sideways to stop, which saves time.

Could these modular bus platforms work elsewhere? How about in front of Trader Joe’s at Market and 22nd where there is similar conflict between parked cars, a bike lane and buses (see photos 2 and 3)? Submit your suggestions to this form here if you would like to be part of an effort to convince the city to do more of these in more places.

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 feature Rittenhouse pet wellness center Liberty Vet Pets.

Sick Puppy, Flitty Kitty? Go to Liberty Vet Pets

Because pets are family, it is critical to get it right when choosing a veterinarian. Well, dither no more. The right choice in Center City is Liberty Vet Pets on 20th Street, just off the Square.

Liberty is both a veterinarian’s office and an animal hospital (and they have a lab). Both its kind and caring Veterinarian and Associate Veterinarian are UPenn grads.

At Liberty they do it all and more:

Preventive care, dental, vaccinations, general surgery and nutrition.

And get this: They make house calls. For real.

What else? CCRA members enjoy 10% off services and boutique items (excluding food; CCRA membership card must be presented).

So the next time a four-legged family member needs a little TLC (or more), go straight to the good folks at Liberty Vet Pets.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

Juneteenth Celebrations are Around the Corner!

Juneteenth festivities are almost here! On Sunday, June 21, the Juneteenth celebration includes a parade through West Philly, a music festival, a vendor marketplace, and so much more.

Here are some featured events:

The Parade kicks off at 12:30 pm, starting at Highmark Mann on South Concourse Drive before going down 52nd Street and ending at Malcolm X Park (5100 Pine St)

The Festival and Marketplace opens at 11 am Malcolm X Park before concluding at 8 pm

Marketplace and Youth Pavillion opens at 11 am
Music Festival starts at 5 pm

For the full schedule, click here.

Disability Pride on the Ben Franklin Parkway

Show your support at the Disability Pride Parade & Celebration on Saturday, June 13. The parade begins from the north apron of City Hall at 11:30 am, followed by a festival from noon to 4 pm on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

The free event will feature live entertainment, food trucks, and family-friendly activities celebrating disability pride, visibility, and inclusion. More info is here.

Pride Month at the Rosenbach: Rare Books, Queer History & More

During Pride Month, the Rosenbach Museum & Library is celebrating LGBTQ+ history through its remarkable collection including the Mercedes de Acosta Papers, donated on June 1, 1960. Acosta, a lesbian author and public figure, donated correspondence with intimate acquaintances including Marlene Dietrich and Isadora Duncan, making it an important research resource for LGBTQ+ culture in the early 20th century.

Throughout 2026, the Rosenbach has several programs tied to the collection and broader queer history, running from July through November.

For the full program schedule and registration, visit here.

Real Time Real Estate

A Summer in the Spotlight: Welcoming the World to Our Neighborhood

This summer, Philadelphia finds itself on the world stage. As our city welcomes visitors for international soccer events and begins celebrating America’s 250th birthday, Rittenhouse and Fitler Square have a unique opportunity to showcase what makes our neighborhoods so special.

Beyond the excitement of the matches, visitors will discover something that can’t be replicated anywhere else: our history. From the beautifully preserved 19th-century townhomes lining our tree-filled streets to the architectural details hidden in plain sight, our neighborhoods tell the story of Philadelphia’s evolution and enduring character.

As we prepare to welcome guests from across the country and around the globe, let’s take a moment to appreciate the places we call home. Whether it’s a stroll through Rittenhouse Square, a quiet afternoon in Fitler Square, or simply admiring the craftsmanship of our historic homes, these everyday experiences reflect the spirit of a city that has been shaping America’s story for nearly 250 years.

The coming year offers a wonderful reminder that history isn’t just found in museums—it’s alive in our neighborhoods, our homes, our parks, and our community. As Philadelphia celebrates its past and embraces its future, Rittenhouse and Fitler Square will undoubtedly continue to be among the city’s most treasured destinations. Here’s to a summer of community, pride, and welcoming the world to our corner of Philadelphia.

On another note, the house tour committee is seeking interesting and unique homes and condominiums for the 63rd Annual Rittenhouse- Fitler Square House Tour this fall. If you, or anyone you know would like to donate their home for the day please reach out. It’s a great day in our neighborhood!

Community News and Events

Odunde Festival: Sunday, June 14

Odunde Festival, the largest African American street festival in North America, takes place Sunday, June 14 from 10 am to 8 pm at 23rd and South Streets. Over 100 vendors will be there offering authentic fabrics, jewelry, food, and more across 15 city blocks. Expect road closures around Graduate Hospital and South Street.

To find out more info on the schedule for the festival, go here.

Join In On the Block Party Hosted By LCHC

The Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion will celebrate its 150th anniversary with a Community Block Party on Saturday, June 20, from 11 am to 3:30 pm on the 2100 block of Chestnut Street at Van Pelt Street.

The FREE, family-friendly event will feature live entertainment, food, church tours and activities for all ages.

Get more details here.

Wawa Welcome America is Here!

There’s only going to be one 250th America celebration, so might as well make the party one to remember! Wawa Welcome America is kicking off 16 days of family-friendly festivities across the city offering programs that celebrate the lives, voices, and experiences of all Americans through art, culture, wellness, and history.

Here are a couple events to keep your eye out for:

The Philadelphia Orchestra Free Pride Concert and Celebration on Tuesday, June 30 from 7 to 9 pm

Tickets are free, but registration is required! Find the details here.

Free Museum Days are popping up across the city!

Starting Friday, June 19 through Saturday, July 4 you can find which museum and when here.

Celebration of Freedom Ceremony on Saturday, July 4 from 10 to 11 am at Independence Hall

Times are subject to change, so make sure and stay updated here.

To find out what other events are happening around the city, see the events page here.

Are They Friends Now? A New Exhibit Explores Rocky’s Place at the Art Museum

A new exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art is exploring the story behind one of the city’s most iconic landmarks: the Rocky statue.

Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments explores the history and cultural impact of the Rocky statue, examining how monuments are shaped by artists, communities, and changing perspectives over time. The exhibit invites visitors to consider broader themes of memory, identity, power, and representation in public art.

The exhibit explores the decades-long debate surrounding the Rocky statue and whether it belongs in the realm of popular culture, public monuments, or fine art. Once viewed by some museum officials and art critics as an outsider to the institution, the statue has evolved into one of our city's most recognizable symbols, prompting larger conversations about who decides what deserves to be commemorated and how public meaning can shape a monument's legacy.

Open now through August 2, the exhibition is on view in the Dorrance Galleries on the second floor of the museum's Main Building.

Have a Ball in Rittenhouse Square!

An unforgettable gala and one of the last remaining black-tie events in Philadelphia. Friends of Rittenhouse are hosting their annual Ball on the Square on Thursday, June 18 from 7 to 11:59 pm.

Proceeds from this event go directly towards preserving, protecting, and beautifying Rittenhouse Square.

Between the ages of 21 and 40? Check out the Young Friends on the Ball, where the night will kick off at the Curtis Institute of Music (1726 Locust St) at 8 pm before joining the rest of the festivities at Rittenhouse.

For standard tickets, click here. For Young Friends on the Ball tickets, click here.

Summer Nights Under the Stars

Movie nights are returning to the Schuylkill Banks this summer! Grab your friends, family, and a chair for outdoor movie nights on select Thursdays, with films beginning around 8:30 pm.

Raiders of the Lost Ark will be shown on Thursday, June 11, at the Walnut Street Bridge, and Bend It Like Beckham will be shown on Thursday, June 18, at Grays Ferry Crescent.

Locations vary, so click here for location, date, and time before heading out. For upcoming movies, check their calendar here.

Salsa at Love Park Every Friday

Dance into the weekend at Salsa at the Plaza, held every Friday throughout the summer at LOVE Park. Free salsa lessons begin at 7 pm, followed by open-air dancing under the city skyline with music from DJ Kevin Ngo. No partner or experience is required. Just bring your dancing shoes and get ready to move!

More toe tappin’ details are here.

It's Finally Time for Center City SIPS

Raise a glass to SIPS, happening once every Wednesday now through August 26, from 5 to 7 pm at participating bars and restaurants across the city. With discounted drinks, bites, and plenty of midweek energy, this is the perfect excuse to get out and enjoy the neighborhood.

The full list of restaurants can be found here.

World Cup SEPTA Broad Street Rides are (Sort Of) Free

For the upcoming FIFA World Cup games in Philadelphia, Airbnb will sponsor free SEPTA Broad Street Line rides leaving from NRG Station after all six matches at Lincoln Financial Field.

The complimentary rides will begin at halftime and continue for two hours after the final whistle. Rides to the games will still cost the regular SEPTA fare of $2.90.

SEPTA is also receiving an additional $5.5 million in federal funding to support extra service during the World Cup.

Read more about it here.

Pick Up Your Summer Ingredients at Fitler Square's Food Trust Farmers Market

The Food Trust Farmers Market returns to Fitler Square every Saturday from 9 am to noon.

Located at 23rd and Pine Streets, the weekly market features a variety of local merchants offering fresh eggs, produce, baked goods, and more.

Click here to find out more information.

Your Summer Yoga Destination is Here

Stretch into summer with Yoga on the Banks! Groups such as Monarch Yoga on the Banks and Philly River Flow will be hosting classes along the Schuylkill River.

Monarch Yoga will host classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 7 pm, Fridays from 4 to 5 pm, as well as Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30 to 9:30 am now through October. Held on the grass at 25th and Locust, registration is required and costs $5 for non-members. Click here to sign up!

Philly River Flow will have classes at the Schuylkill River Banks at 25th and Locust on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 and 6:30 pm, Saturday at 10 am, and Sunday at 10 am and 5 pm. Click here to sign up for a free class.

Your Next Drink Spot: Balcony Bar at Curtain Call

Happy hour with a bird's eye view? Sounds like a dream come true. Located at the Kimmel Center (300 S Broad) and as part of the Center City District SIPS, Balcony Bar at Curtain Call will be held every Wednesday now through August 26 from 5 to 7 pm.

Enjoy skyline views, rotating DJs, ticket giveaways, and unbeatable $6 to $9 food and drink specials from Curtain Call.

Rain or shine, indoor and outdoor seating available. Register for the free event here.

Summers Most Anticipated Novels Have Arrived

Looking to refresh your summer reading list? Barnes & Noble on Chestnut Street is hosting two author events this June featuring acclaimed writers and their latest releases.

On Thursday, June 25 at 3 pm, bestselling author Maggie O'Farrell, known for Hamnet, will discuss her new novel Land during a special Barnes & Noble virtual event. This is a ticketed event. You must have a ticket to gain access to the virtual event.

Get your ticket here and learn more.

On Saturday, June 20 at 6 pm, Andrew Sean Greer, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Less, will visit the Chestnut Street store in-person to discuss and sign copies of Villa Coco.

Purchase your ticket here to guarantee entrance to the event.

Whether you're searching for your next beach read or hoping to meet a favorite author, these events offer the perfect opportunity to kick off a summer of reading. Want to know about other upcoming events at this location? Go here.

Call Your Mother is Set to Arrive in the Neighborhood!

Call Your Mother, the popular D.C. based bagel chain, is opening a new location in the former Metropolitan Bakery space.

The bagel deli originally launched in Washington, D.C. and has built a following for its colorful shops, bagels, breakfast sandwiches, coffee, and deli-style favorites.

An official opening date has not yet been announced, but we can expect more information to come as the new location gets closer to opening.

Find out more information, click here.

There's a New(ish) Bank in Town

Don't switch over your bank account just yet. The First Bank of the United States is reopening, but this time as a museum.

A ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, July 1, will mark the reopening of the First Bank of the United States, which has been closed to the public since the nation's Bicentennial celebration in 1976. Following an extensive, multi-million-dollar rehabilitation, visitors will once again be able to step inside the historic building and learn about the Bank’s pivotal role in Alexander Hamilton’s vision to establish a central banking system.

The museum's inaugural exhibits include Marks of Friendship: 250 Years of U.S. Diplomatic Treasures, featuring artifacts from diplomatic missions around the world during the 18th and 19th centuries, and America's National Anniversaries: Philadelphia on the World Stage, which examines the city's past celebrations of historic milestones.

Find out more here.

Think You Know Everything There is to Know About the Declaration of Independence?

A centerpiece of Philadelphia's Semiquincentennial celebrations, The Declaration's Journey, is on display at the Museum of the American Revolution through Sunday, January 3, 2027, and is included with museum admission.

The immersive exhibition tracks the Declaration of Independence's impact not just at home, but across more than 100 countries worldwide, featuring over 120 rare artifacts and documents from more than 50 lenders, alongside video, illustrations, and interactive elements.

From Thomas Jefferson's writing chair to an early LGBTQ+ Pride flag signed by Gilbert Baker, the exhibit offers a sweeping look at how one document sparked a global conversation that is still very much ongoing. The exhibit is family-friendly and accessible, with daily programming for adults as well. Full details here.

Insert Joke Here □

We’re not joking. 2000 Sansom Street is Philly's Funniest Block. On Saturday, June 13 from 5:30 pm - 7 pm ComedySportz, Helium Comedy Club, SideQuest Theater, and MacGuffin Theater will host “Philly Funniest Block.”

This laugh-out-loud, patriotic party will feature sidewalk comedy performances, theater games for kids and teens, a joke scavenger hunt, an oracle, magician Fred Siegel and so much more. Even the other businesses on the block are taking part by displaying jokes and puns along their windows for what is named, “The Laugh Track.” At 6:15 pm Councilmember Rue Landau will conduct the ribbon cutting with a rubber chicken.

The event and ceremony is free to all. But check out comedy events happening that night. Tickets for performances that night and future workshops will cost $17.76 if you use the code: PhillysFunniestBlock. Get it?

ComedySportz 7 pm show
SideQuest 9 pm show
MacGuffin Future improv work for ages 7-17

The restaurants on 2000 Sansom are getting in on the laughs as well. Say the magic words “Philly’s funniest block” to your server and Melograno’s Cacio e Pepe will be $17.76 and at Curry Leaf they give you 10% off your order.

Don’t miss out on all the fun and puns. There’s more to learn about the funniest block here.

Philly’s Pups Compete to Be the Next Spokesdog

Think your dog has star power? The Philadelphia Water Department is searching for its 2026 Spokesdog, a canine ambassador for clean waterways and responsible pet ownership. Bring your pup (costumes encouraged) to the Spokesdog Competition on Sunday, June 14, from 2–5 pm at Philadelphia Brewing Company. Enjoy games, prizes, food and drinks while cheering on Philly’s four-legged contenders. No pre-registration is required, but space may be limited. Learn more here.

Bicycle Coalition Policy and Celebration

Join the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia on Wednesday, June 17, at 5:30 pm at Resurrection Philadelphia (123 S. 17th St.) for an evening celebrating recent wins in bicycle advocacy, pedestrian safety, transit, and trail development. Hear about policy priorities for 2026, connect with fellow advocates, and help shape the agenda for 2027.

For more information and to RSVP, go here.

First Friday at the Barnes

Kick off July with an unforgettable evening of live music and art at First Friday at the Barnes. On Friday, July 3, 2026, from 6–9 pm, Philadelphia based vocalist Elle Morris takes the stage for a special performance accompanied by cocktails and a vibrant social atmosphere.

Guests are invited to explore the galleries, enjoy live music, and experience one of Philadelphia’s premier cultural destinations.

Admission is free and includes access to the Barnes Collection and the Roberts Gallery. Registration is required, and the event is open to the public. To register go here.

Editor – Barbara Halpern

Lead Writer – Richard Vaughn

Writer – Marc Werlinsky

Writer - Bob Vogel

Writer - Terry Demchak

Contributor - Bonnie Eisenfeld

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.

Arts and Entertainment

Academy of Vocal Arts

Curtis Institute of Music

Interact Theatre Co.

Kimmel Cultural Campus

The Philadelphia Orchestra

The Philadelphia Theatre Co.

Violet Alexandre

Computers and Technology

Eazy Computers & iPhone Repair

Mr FIX

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