Bird's eye view at Race Street Pier (Instagram by @kslouf)

#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY

Bird’s eye view at Race Street Pier
(Photo by @kslouf)

Parker takes $6.7 billion budget plan to the people

As Mayor Cherelle Parker works to get her $6.7 billion proposed budget passed by the end of June, she and her entire cabinet have been barnstorming around the city, holding a series of town halls — part information session, part pep rally — to explain the spending plan to residents.

The latest event, held in a North Philly church, was the seventh of nine planned town halls. BP’s Meir Rinde was there, as were a lot of city officials, who got into the nitty-gritty of the budget. Continue reading…

Audience members at Mayor Cherelle Parker’s budget town hall at Deliverance Evangelistic Church held up their fingers at her urging. June 2, 2025. (Meir Rinde/Billy Penn)

Should Hershey Kisses become Pa.’s state candy? 

Last month, Pa. legislators approved a House bill that would make the Hershey’s Kiss the official state candy. Getting here was no small feat. The bill, which was originally written by eighth-grade students, has taken four years to make it this far.

The Hershey Kiss is certainly a respectable, safe choice, but there are other choices to consider, as well. BP’s Julia Binswanger lays out some other candy contenders. Vote for your favorite! Continue reading…

Hershey Kisses: candy royalty or overrated? (Frankieleon, licensed under CC BY 2.0)

RECAP

$ = paywalled

• A Code Orange Alert for unhealthy air quality has been issued for the Philly area, parts of South Jersey and the Lehigh Valley today. High temps and wildfire smoke from Canada are expected. [NBC10]  

• The School District of Philadelphia is under federal investigation for asbestos monitoring. [Chalkbeat] 

• NJ Transit is looking to improve services ahead of a fare hike and major events in 2026. [WHYY] 

• In a Northeast Philadelphia classroom, Kyle Schwarber’s home runs are helping students learn math skills. [CBS3] 

• The Linc is gearing up for the FIFA Club World Cup with new soccer-friendly turf and some stadium seat changes. [Billy Penn] 

• Roots band co-founder Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter’s new book explores childhood trauma and transformation. [WHYY] 

• Del Frisco’s Grille will close later this summer after nearly seven years as the ground-floor restaurant at the Cambria Hotel Philadelphia in Center City. [PhillyVoice]

Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)

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

By the numbers in Philadelphia

  • 26: Shooting victims recorded from May 25 through 31, including 5 fatalities, according to city data. During the previous week, 28 shooting victims were recorded, including 4 fatalities. [Source: nickhand.dev]
  • 93: Year-to-date homicides, down 15% vs. last year’s pace; down 44% vs. five years ago [Philly Police]

MAYOR WATCH

The Mayor will join Creative Philadelphia at the newly reopened “Creative Philadelphia Art Gallery,” which was closed for renovations earlier this year, at City Hall, 2:40 p.m.

ON THE CALENDAR

💜 UArts 1-year commemoration events
🌈 Pride Month celebrations
❤️ Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander month events
🌸 27 ways to get out and enjoy the warm weather
🏃🏽 Philly Runners Guide

Wednesday, June 4: Caregiving Screening, Resource Fair
Caregiving, a new documentary created with executive producer Bradley Cooper, highlights the challenges and triumphs of caregiving in America. Join WHYY and several local groups for a 4 p.m. resource fair and reception, and 6 p.m. screening and panels. Free with registration.

Wednesday, June 4: Night Market Happy Hour 
Head to the Indy Hall roof deck for board games, drinks, and a view of the sights and sounds of the Northern Liberties Night Market below. (5 to 7 p.m.)

Wednesday, June 4: Spring Northern Liberties Night Market 
From 5 to 10 p.m., this family-friendly, dog-friendly, night-time festival will feature dozens of food trucks, shopping vendors, kids activities such as paint-your-own pumpkins & games, live music, and entertainment.

Thursday, June 5: The Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll
The popular street festival brings thousands of visitors to Baltimore Avenue between 40th and 51st Streets to experience $1, $3, and $5 deals from local businesses, plus live music, arts and crafts activities, and plenty of fun surprises. (5 to 8 p.m.)

Thursday, June 5: Old City Eats Block Party
An evening of diverse eats, seasonal sippers, music and more, as a bevy of Old City’s top restaurants, bars and eateries come together for a one-night-only block party event, held on 2nd Street between Market and Chestnut streets. (5 to 9 p.m.)

Thursday, June 5: An evening with Toshi Makihara 
Fire Museum presents non-idiomatic free improvised music using percussion and found objects / sound sites. Toshi will perform with a variety of improvisors in three different ensembles. At the Rotunda. Donations welcome. (7:30 p.m.)

Friday, June 6: First Friday: Superheroes of Science
Explore the cutting-edge world of super suits—from swimsuits to binders to bulletproof vests, and everything in between. Discover the science behind the textiles and fabrics that keep us safe, stylish, and supported — and design your own super suit! In honor of Pride Month, check out the collection of books written by LGBTQ+ scientists. (5 to 7 p.m.)

Friday, June 6: Chestnut Hill’s 3rd Annual Pride Party
An evening filled with art, community, and pride. NoName Gallery will be serving up vibes and good energy with Dirty Gertie’s Non-Alcoholic Cocktails, a Kay Synclaire book signing, and more. Free with RSVP. (5 to 8 p.m.)

Friday, June 6: Immigrant Heritage Month Kick-Off and Closing of The Philadelphians
From 7 to 9 p.m. at Love Park, enjoy free performances, food, and more celebrations of the closing weekend of The Philadelphians, a public art projection that highlights the city’s vibrant immigrant communities. 

Saturday, June 7: Hackett Elementary Fishtown Mega Flea Market 
2 vintage flea markets in one spot for a mega flea market at York and Trenton and along Frankford Ave from Trenton To Thunderbird Salvage. 200+ vendors! (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Saturday, June 7: Black Men in Media Summit
Join WHYY for a conference that centers Black voices in a discussion of media, storytelling and changing narratives. At WHYY’s Studios, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Register here.

Saturday, June 7: Northern Liberties Music Fest 
Performers include Teacher Alexis, Shortwave, Ken Ulansey Klezmorim, Taylor Kelly, RevChris & Les Garcons Crasseux, and Solomon Dub. From 4 to 10 p.m. at Liberty Lands.