The former Class and Nachod Brewery, near Temple (Instagram/@city_of_architectural_love)

Philadelphia could get an ‘Office of Music’ to support local artists

City Council is considering creating a permanent office focused on bolstering and boosting the local music industry. 

  • Establishing a Music Office would happen via city charter change, per a new bill. Based on recommendations from a task force, the idea follows a model that works: the Greater Philadelphia Film Office.

More support for the city’s impressive scene is badly needed, street musicians and band members told Jordan Levy.

→ What would a Music Office do?

Justus Rivera is a violinist who’s been performing in Philly for over a decade (Facebook)

Philly’s first-ever Sneaker Con features hundreds of kicks

After being held in London, Shanghai, Sydney, and across North America, Sneaker Con last weekend made its Philly debut.

That includes everything from Retro Jordan 5s to art collective MSCHF’s “Big Red Boots,” pictured below. Nathan Morris was there to capture the vibe.

→ Scenes from sneaker central

A man wears the “Big Red Boots” by art collective MSCHF. Designed to represent cartoon boots, they’re set to release on Feb. 16 for $350 retail. (Nathan Morris for Billy Penn)

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

Terry Gross, Marty Moss-Coane and Dave Davies all share a birthday

Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)

We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting. 

  • Gloria Casarez Elementary in Kensington is the rock in its students’ lives — a safe space where fear and trauma are discussed instead of ignored. It faces some policies that make it more difficult, the vice principal wrote last year in Billy Penn. [WHYY/BP 2022]
     
  • Penn Med trauma and ER staff teams, along with PPD, are teaching life-saving skills to West Philly communities to reduce prehospital deaths. [@ResusOne]
     
  • When a young person’s friends get shot, it can have psychological effects that affect their ability to learn. But for victims and their pals, sometimes healing is a group process. [WHYY]
     
  • Don’t bother bringing your firearm to gamble down the shore: guns are now banned from Atlantic City casinos. [NJ Spotlight]

By the numbers in Philadelphia

  • 33: Shooting victims recorded last week, vs. 25 the week prior. [City Controller via @PCGVR]
  • 195: Shooting victims this year so far, down 27% vs. this time last year. [PCGVR]
  • 54: Year-to-date homicides, down 13% vs. last year’s pace and but up 69% vs. five years ago [Philly Police]

MAYOR WATCH

It’s time to find out the featured title for the next “One Book, One Philadelphia,” a springtime program from the Free Library that centers several months’ worth of events, talks, and creative workshops around a single book. Mayor Kenney helps with the reveal at the Parkway Central branch (11 a.m.).

ON THE CALENDAR

🎶 An East Falls gospel party called “The Black Experience” goes down in East Falls with music, spoken word, skits, vendors, and refreshments included in your $25 ticket. (2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19)

🥃 Calling tequila and mezcal fans: Añejo Philly in NoLibs hosts its second annual “For the Love of Agave” tasting party. A $65 ticket includes sips of 30+ spirit, with guac and salsa chip-dipping stations in between (7 to 10 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20)

Catch up on the previous week

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