CCRA This Week – 4.30.26

This Week April 30, 2026

Join CCRA Today!

Subscribe to this newsletter

Get Your Scorecard Here

It’s not often that all four Philly pro sports teams make news the same week, but that’s exactly what happened. ICYMI…

The Good:

By all indications the Eagles had an excellent NFL Draft.

Say Hello to Jonathan Greenard and Makai Lemon.

In Howie We Trust.

The Bad:

Sixers gonna Sixer. ‘Nuff said.

The Ugly:

The beginning of the Phillies’ season and the firing of popular Manager Rob Thomson.

Topper’s a good man; we wish him well. Let’s see what Donnie Baseball’s got.

The OMG:

HOW ‘BOUT THOSE FLYERS !?!?!

You wouldn’t want it to be dull, now would you?

CCRA NEWS and EVENTS

Annual CCRA Membership Meeting

Please Join Us For The Annual CCRA Membership Meeting

When: Wednesday, May 20th

Where: The Curtis Institute of Music, 1726 Locust Street

Time: 7 pm - 8:30 pm

Light fare will be served

The Annual Meeting agenda will include:

Center City District (CCD) leadership presenting the State of Center City Report
Nathaniel Margolies, CCRA President, highlighting the past year's accomplishments and CCRA's goals for the upcoming year
CCRA members voting on the slate of CCRA nominated board members (bios of candidates to follow in a separate meeting reminder to members)

Questions, send us an email.

Save the Date: CCRA Neighbors Night Out at Veda — Monday, June 1

Join fellow CCRA members for a relaxed neighborhood social at Veda Modern Indian Bistro on Monday, June 1, from 5 –7 pm.

This is a chance to mix, mingle, meet new neighbors, catch up with familiar faces, and enjoy a fun evening out in Center City. Your ticket includes a welcome drink from Veda’s happy hour menu and a selection of appetizers.

Tickets are $20 for CCRA members and $25 for non-members. Space is limited to the first 125 guests, so bring a neighbor and register early.

SPECIAL INVITATION! Golden Age Of Rittenhouse Historical Tour

Join us for a guided walking experience through Rittenhouse Square, where we explore the stories, details, and history that often go unnoticed in everyday life. Whether you're a longtime resident or seeing the neighborhood with fresh eyes, each tour offers something new to discover.

Special Offer:

Members of the Center City Residents’ Association (CCRA) and Friends of Rittenhouse can receive 10% off tickets using code MAY10 at checkout.

Spots are limited and expected to fill quickly again—reserve yours soon.

Click here to learn more, get dates and times, and links to the tour registration pages.

Each tour is limited to 20 participants to ensure an engaging and intimate experience. Advance registration is required, so book your tour now. We look forward to seeing you in May!

Got Milkweed?

This spring the CCRA Green committee has sent dozens of swamp milkweed seedlings into the neighborhood to nourish and sustain our Monarch butterfly population.

This is just one way that we are working to create a corridor of pollinator friendly spaces in Center City West. Join us by planting trees and flowers native to this area to sustain birds, bees and butterflies.

Learn more here.

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 Balance Chiropractic Health Center!

Get Back in Balance at Balance Chiropractic Health Center

Does something sometimes seem “off” with yourself, be it physically, spiritually or some other way? Well, no worries, as the caring, insightful professionals at Merchant Partner Balance Chiropractic Health Center have what it takes to make things right.

Balance Chiropractic Health Center is a holistic natural health center which, simply put, does it all: Chiropractic Care, Massage Therapy, Prenatal Massage, Acupuncture, Aromatherapy, Meditation, Nutrition, Naturopathy including Herbs, Vitamins, Raw Honey and much much more!

Let Dr. Christopher Bernabei work his chiropractic magic and provide you with the highest level of care. A recent Yelp review states “The best Chiropractor I’ve ever seen so far!” Limited hours, so please check their schedules.

CCRA members can enjoy 20% off of any massage therapy treatment.

Clean, Safe and Green

Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival

The annual Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival will be held on Saturday, May 2 from 12 pm to 5 pm.

Festival participants will include member businesses and sponsors of Rittenhouse Row, a non-profit organization supporting business in the Center City area.

Walnut Street between S. 15th and 19th Streets and S. 18th Street between Locust and Sansom Streets will be closed to vehicular traffic for a day-long celebration of food, music and local businesses. The event is open to the public.

For more information go here.

Rittenhouse Square Spring Fine Craft Show

The annual Rittenhouse Square Spring Fine Craft Show will be held at the Square on May 8-10 from 10 am - 6 pm (Friday and Saturday) and 10 am - 5 pm (Sunday).

The show features over 150 artists in ceramics, jewelry, wood, digital art, decorative and wearable fiber, furniture, glass and photography.

For more information go here.

Stroll a Little Farther. Shop a Little Longer.

As part of Open Streets this May, enjoy 18th Street from Locust to Chestnut and Walnut Street from Broad to 19th in this pedestrian-only playground. Eight full blocks to wander, browse, snack, sip, and soak it all in with no cars and lots of good energy.

With live music, pop-up performances and plenty of spots to stop and sit, consider your Sunday plans handled. Open Streets: West Walnut is free to attend and takes place Sundays through May 17 from 10 am to 5 pm. More details can be found here.

Farmers Market Re-opens at Schuylkill River Park

Want yet another reason to love the Schuylkill Banks?

Visit their farmers' market every Sunday from 9 am to 1 pm through the end of October. Make sure to stop by vendors such as Lost Bread Co., Cherry Grove Farm, Drink Mermead, Saint Roccos Treats, and Jezzabeles.

Located at 25th and Spruce, bring the pets and good vibes!

Community News and Events

Fabric of Freedom

Art Quilters Celebrate Independence, a juried traveling exhibit by the Pennsylvania Regional Chapter of Studio Art Quilt Associates, will premiere at Moore College of Art & Design on June 13.

Between forty and fifty innovative art quilts and quilted artworks will explore the broad meaning of independence and freedom of expression—from reflections on constitutional rights and democracy to interpretations of America’s multicultural heritage, music, and history.

Here is the link for more information about the exhibit.

Philadelphia City Institute Book Talk: Full Moon Bop

Full Moon Bop is a coming-of-age novel about 15-year-old Billy Mott, living in a fading New Jersey shore town during the winter of 1971, which explores themes of adolescence, morality, and the allure of a dangerous lifestyle.

You’re invited to join local author James Rahn as he talks about his latest novel, his 25-year old fiction workshop, The Rittenhouse Writers’ Group, and explores the creative process, all of which take place on Saturday, May 9 at noon, at the Philadelphia City Institute (Free Library), 1905 Locust Street.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information about the event, go here.

Calling All High School Science Enthusiasts

The College of Physicians of Philadelphia is now offering an after-school mentorship program for high school students interested in science, technology, and medicine.

Over the course of nine months, the Wohlreich Junior Fellows mentorship program connects students through field trips that provide hands-on learning.

From exploring the fascinating collections at the Mütter Museum to browsing historical medical libraries, students will meet once a week to develop an independent research project. Upon completion of each semester, students will earn a stipend. Rising 9th through 12th grade high school students from the School District of Philadelphia are eligible to apply.

Questions? Feel free to send your email here and include Wohlreich Junior Fellows Program in the subject line. Click here for more information.

Bloomsday 2026 in Philadelphia

June 16 is Bloomsday, the date on which James Joyce set events in his famous novel Ulysses, and Philadelphia will celebrate the day with a public reading from the book and an afternoon of related events at the Rosenbach Museum and Library, 2008-2010 Delancey Street.

The Rosenbach Museum & Library is home to Joyce's handwritten manuscript of Ulysses. The reading will begin at 1 pm on Delancey Street in front of the Rosenbach, and the Rosenbach is still accepting volunteer readers! (The 2000 block of Delancey Street will be closed to traffic to accommodate the reading.)

Other talks, tours and presentations starting at 2 pm will be conducted by the Rosenbach staff. The day will end with Molly’s Soliloquy read at Sunset on Delancey Street by Philadelphia actor Kirsten Quinn. Many of the events are free.

Registration for the reading and other programs is required and can be done on the Rosenbach webpage.

Tale For Tale

Friends of the Philadelphia City Institute Library Book Swap.

Saturday, May 23, 1 pm to 2:30 pm, Community Room of the PCI Library.

1905 Locust Street on Rittenhouse Square.

Admission: Book(s) to Swap. No more than 5.

Here’s how it works: Bring a book(s) – take a book(s).

Chat with other book lovers.

Guidelines for books that will NOT be accepted:

• No textbooks or medical books

• No outdated topics

• No books with writing within pages

• No tattered or discolored books

• No travel guidebooks

• No language other than English

• No audiobooks

Please join in and support our wonderful PCI library.

Twilight Magic in the Gardens Returns!

What’s better than live music after hours at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens? Not much. Grab a blanket, pack your favorite snacks and drinks, and settle in.

Every fourth Friday from May through October, Twilight in the Gardens takes over from 7–10 pm, featuring live performances, guided art workshops and open gallery access.

Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for students and seniors, and $20 for PMG members. Tickets are released 2 weeks before each event online and they do sell out, so mark your calendar and grab yours early.

Your Voice Matters This Spring

May, 2026 is filled with both beauty, fun and…. civics. While we enjoy the beauty of spring and glorious outdoor activities, let’s not forget our civic duties. It’s time to vote on May 19th (check here for your polling place, voter guide, and other deadlines). It’s also time to learn about and influence Mayor Parker’s budget proposal. A comprehensive resource for the City's FY 2027 budget including City Council hearings can be found here. There’s one more public hearing! Or, from your most comfy chair at home, take a few minutes to complete City Council's survey, and share your priorities to help shape how City Council invests in our neighborhoods this year.

Let Your Patriotic Freak Flag Fly!

Get your flag on! Have an empty flagpole on your building?

If so, the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia is asking you to raise one. As America’s 250th birthday is quickly approaching, help show the spirit of our community!

Raise a flag of your choice. One that represents you, your community, or your heritage. Need help finding a flag? Want to show it off? Click here!

Deadline Nights at Philadelphia Ethical Society

Join Weekly Tuesday

“Deadline Nights”

at Philadelphia Ethical Society

Duke Ellington famously said: “I don’t need time, I need a deadline.”

Have a project you are looking to complete? Need some quiet space to read that book you’ve been meaning to finish since 1999? A bill or grant application you keep pushing back? Wanting to connect with other human beings in a cozy space?

Join them for “Deadline” nights from 5-9 pm every Tuesday at Ethical (1906 S. Rittenhouse Square). Think of this as an accountability group to finish that thing (book, unpaid bill, powerpoint, unwritten letter, task) you have been saying you would do all year. As long as it’s not rowdy, it’s welcome!

LOCATION: (in first floor Leader’s office or upstairs in Weston/Collier depending on demand)

5-8 pm Quiet work time (bring your own snacks to share!)

8-8:30 pm Socializing

New Plein Air Event Coming to Schuylkill River Park This June

Join the Friends of the Schuylkill River Park for the first-ever Plein Air event celebrating the beauty of Schuylkill River Park on Saturday, June 6. Artists are invited to paint outdoors in the park from 9 am to 2:30 pm, capturing the landscape in real time.

Completed works can then be submitted for public display and a silent auction, with proceeds benefiting the park. Participants will also receive a free ticket to the adults-only “Party in the Park” that same day from 7 to 10 pm, featuring food, drinks, and live music.

Cost is $20 to participate and registration is required by Monday, June 1. Find out more information here.

Celebrate International Pilates Day

Eat, drink, and give back at Schuylkill River Park!

Grab your friends and grab a drink! Parks On Tap, the traveling beer garden, has returned to the Schuylkill River Park (300 S 25th St).

It’s only for a limited time: open now through Sunday, May 3. Hours of operation are 4 pm to 10 pm Thursday and Friday, and 12 pm to 10 pm Saturday and Sunday.

A portion of the Parks On Tap proceeds go to the Fairmount Park Conservancy. Support the beer garden and you’re supporting our very own Philly parks.

Go here to see where Parks On Tap will show up next and support our parks all summer long.

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

Home, Retail, and Lifestyle