Sidewalk parking banished at Fishtown rec center, with PPA help
It was one of those Philly traditions: Even though illegal, cars regularly parked on the sidewalks next to Shissler Recreation Center in Fishtown. Neighbors frustrated with being forced to walk in the street — often with kids and strollers in tow — had campaigned for years to make it stop.
And now, the community efforts finally appear to be bearing fruit, Jordan Levy reports, thanks to the PPA’s new emphasis on quality-of-life concerns.
OK Hot Chicken sets opening date in South Philly
After five years serving a daytime menu of sweet and savory Indonesian pancakes at 18th and Washington, the restaurateurs behind Martabak OK are spicing things up with OK Hot Chicken, an evenings-only venture operating out of the same storefront.
Soft-opening is set for Aug. 10, Ali Mohsen reports, with a menu of wings, tenders, sliders, and wraps — all in varying levels of Nashville-style heat.
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Pennsylvania is still without a budget for the current fiscal year, but it could be finalized soon: The state Senate will likely reconvene in August, said President Pro Tempore Kim Ward. [City & State]
• Three decades after starting Project HOME, which has provided living space for thousands of Philadelphians experiencing homelessness, cofounders Sister Mary Scullion and Joan McConnon are stepping down next year. [WHYY]
• A deep dive into the controversy at the Mütter Museum, where the fight over whether to dismantle some of the collection of human oddities has resulted in beefed up security and loss of donors. [WashPost—unlocked]
• Philly has about 6,000 registered block captains, but their contact info isn’t easily available. Now several captains have started working together to increase the impact of their work. [Kensington Voice]
• You can taste a preview of chef Kurt Evans’s forthcoming Black Dragon Takeout — “Chinese takeout with the spirit of soul food” — when it pops up this weekend at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. [Billy Penn/@philamuseum]
• The Phillies are buyers at the MLB trade deadline, and that’s pretty great, since it means they’ve maneuvered into real postseason contention. [Billy Penn]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Kenney joins the district’s back-to-school bus tour launch at MLK High School, where officials will give out free backpacks, supplies, and immunizations. Any bets on whether the mayor will smile this time?
ON THE CALENDAR
🥊 Dare one mention Rocky once inside the Art Museum? The team behind WHYY’s “The Statue” podcast is making it happen with a panel discussion and photobooth. Free with RSVP. (6 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4)
🦩Haven’t yet gotten your fill of Barbie? Make plans to hit Evil Genius in Fishtown for a themed drag brunch. Tickets start at $25 pp. (11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6)
📖 Billy Penn is proud to headline the inaugural Philly Story Fest, joining journalists from media outlets around Philadelphia to tell the city’s best stories on stage at the Bok. Early bird tix are $17. (7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5)
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