These 10 entrepreneurs could open inside Philly rec centers
By the end of this year, you could walk into a Philadelphia rec center and find a barber school, a comic book store, or a community seafood program.
- The city’s new “Making Space” initiative offers local entrepreneurs a chance to open inside a Parks & Rec property. The deal: free rent in exchange for mentorship or youth programming.
More than 600 small biz owners applied, Asha Prihar reports, way more than anticipated. She chatted with the 10 finalists announced last week.

Philadelphia Flower Show returns indoors, with a new spark
The Philadelphia Flower Show, the nation’s oldest and largest horticultural event, runs now through March 12 — and it’s gloriously colorful as ever.
- Back at the Convention Center after two years at FDR Park, the event has some changes. There’s a clear winding path through the exhibition, and many installations are larger, and more interactive.
The “Garden Electric” theme is a nod to the spark of joy in giving or receiving flowers, reports Erin Blewett, who took dozens of pics from the show floor.
→ Florals in neon and cotton candy

RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
- President Biden comes to Philadelphia Thursday for his budget address, accepting an invite from Rep. Brendan Boyle, the highest ranking Dem on the House Budget Committee. [Reuters/6ABC]
- The Trump supporters who drove from Virginia and parked a Hummer full of guns outside the Convention Center during the 2020 vote count will not get additional jail time. [BP 2020/AP]
- One of two contenders in Chicago’s mayoral runoff, conservative Democrat Paul Vallas, spent 5 years running the Philadelphia School District when it was under state control. [Block Club/Chalkbeat]
- Peak cherry blossom bloom will come to the region in late March, per the head gardener at Fairmount Park’s Shofuso house, which has a map of the best spots for hanami viewing. [Japan Philly/PDF]
- W Philadelphia hosts a job fair Wednesday at its 15th and Chestnut location, hiring for food and drink, housekeeping, security, and other positions. [LinkedIn]
- Eagles center Jason Kelce made a cameo in a dating skit on Saturday Night Live as his (Super Bowl 57-winning) brother Travis Kelce hosted. [@ACinPhilly/Today/@nbcsnl]
MAYOR WATCH
Nothing on Mayor Kenney’s schedule today. City & State has a look back at five times he clashed with outgoing Council President Darrell Clarke on policy.
ON THE CALENDAR
🥃 Last minute option for lovers of rye whiskey and fine fashion: the Suits & Sazeracs fundraiser to benefit nonprofit The Wardrobe. Tickets are $75. (6 to 9 p.m. Monday, March 6)
🎵 World Cafe Live and PAFA teamed up for a multimedia music, poetry, and art exhibition celebrating African American artists, with multiple shows this month. (8 p.m. Wednesday, March 8)
💘 Punch Buggy Brewing’s next “Pitch A Friend” event — which our reporters tested out — invites singles to show off their pals at the Kensington taproom. (8 p.m. Thursday, March 9)
Catch up on the previous week
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