RECAP: Looking back on the week that was
• Mayoral field slims as MQS drops out
The Philadelphia mayor’s race just got a little less crowded: Maria Quiñones Sánchez is dropping out. The former four-term councilmember told The Inquirer she couldn’t keep up in fundraising, and called on the remaining candidates — there are now 10 vying for the Democratic nomination — to address the city’s growing Latino population. [Billy Penn]
• Warm weather brings out teen crowds (as usual)
Hundreds of teens gathering in public spaces around Philadelphia is not new; Billy Penn has reported on authorities grappling with warm weather surges of kids downtown for nearly a decade. Last week, police dispersed Wednesday night crowds around the Fashion District, and Saturday night crowds from a South Philly youth Easter carnival. No property damage was reported, but there were a handful ticket citations, and one arrest. [BP 2016/BP 2017/WHYY/NBC10]
• Public bathroom nears installation
Philadelphia has a lack of public bathrooms (sadly, the replacement Barnes & Noble will not have one), but it’ll soon have more. Officials are near installation of the first permanent municipal bathroom. Construction began last week to place the “Portland Loo” — a metal-walled, standalone structure — on the corner of 15th and Arch, across from Love Park. Next up is Clark Park in West Philly. [BP 2021/Inquirer$/Billy Penn]
• Phillies pull off a winning home opener
A lackluster start to the season was flipped on its head as the Phillies won their first home game and came from behind for a walk-off win the following day. Kyle Schwarber — who has a new Wawa energy drink named after him — invited the family of fallen Temple Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald to attend the home opener. [MLB/PhillyVoice/@Phillies]
VISION: Looking forward to the week ahead
• City Council candidate convention
Want to meet the nearly three dozen people running for City Council at large? You’ll have a chance to do so at Tuesday’s “candidate convention” hosted at WHYY’s Old City headquarters, in collaboration with good government group Committee of Seventy and The Inquirer. The contenders will be seated at tables, like a reverse job fair. RSVP here. [Billy Penn/C70/Ticketleap]
• Mayoral forums continue apace
Quiñones Sánchez dropped out a day before the Latino Mayoral Forum, hosted Monday at the Esperanza Arts Center. Tuesday night Fox29 hosts a televised “mayoral debate,” and Wednesday evening brings another forum on gun violence, this one in Center City. Thursday has the Black Media Matters forum at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, and on Friday Pastor Carl Day hosts a forum called Black Male Voices & Choices. [Esperanza/Ticketmaster/Eventbrite x 2/Instagram]
• Philly’s first Africatown Restaurant Week
At least a dozen food spots in Southwest Philadelphia are participating in the city’s first Africatown Restaurant Week, which runs April 10-16. The 15% off any order of $20+ is good for dine-in or take out at most locations, which specialize in a variety of cuisines, from Ethiopian to West African to Jamaican, and more. [Africatown/Eventbrite]
• Beer gardens and rooftop bars
It’s slated to top 80°F at the end of this week, making the opening of two al fresco destinations even more timely. Shofuso House in Fairmount Park hosts the Triple Bottom Cherry Blossom Beer Garden now through next Sunday, and Thursday marks the return of Bok Bar. The rooftop spot in South Philly offers yoga, drag shows, salsa nights, and other events. The PHS Pop Up Gardens on South Street and Manayunk are also now open. [Philly Grub/Bok Bar/PHS]
Catch up on the previous week
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