#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY
Planting joy
(Photo by @bhalda)
With strike’s end, the prevailing emotion is relief
“The strike is over, and nobody’s happy,” said Greg Boulware, president of DC 33, said as he exited negotiations that ended the strike he had called eight days earlier. “We felt our clock was running out.”
Boulware was and wasn’t quite right — union members did take to social media to question if their sacrifice had been worth the results and lots of Philadelphians were relieved to see the end of the work stoppage, even those who sympathized with the union workers. Continue reading …
Settlement is a winner for Parker, with caveats
Philadelphia’s mayor stuck to her guns and prevailed — and might have been helped by legal and political factors that greased the path to a result that seemed unlikely last week, reports Billy Penn’s Meir Rinde. Continue reading …
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Jefferson Health will bolster its ER services, among other things, thanks to a $28 million gift from the Kimmel family. [WHYY]
• VA says enough workers have left, so they’ve canceled their planned mass layoffs. What does that mean in Philly? [Inq$]
• The first phase of the massive cap over I-95 is nearly done. “They’re basically fastening everything together,” says a PennDOT spokesperson. [WHYY]
• Area historical organizations are pooling first-hand accounts of living through the American Revolution to make them available to the public. [WHYY]
• The Da Vinci Art Alliance faces a financial crunch that has been compounded by the loss of some federal funding. [PhillyVoice]
• A fundraising event at Union Transfer Sunday will perform songs from one of Philly’s great rock moments:1985’s Live Aid concert. [WHYY/BP]
• Keep that umbrella handy! This wet, muggy stretch of summer will continue into the weekend, maybe longer. [Inq$]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Parker has no public events scheduled for Thursday.
ON THE CALENDAR
📝 Billy Penn & WHYY pop-up newsroom July 14
🏮 All about the 2025 Philly Lantern Festival
🏊🏽 Public pools in Philly 2025
🌸 27 ways to get out and enjoy the warm weather
🏃🏽 Philly Runners Guide
Thursday, July 10: Budget Wrap-Up: What’s New in FY26 & What It Means for You
A virtual session from the Committee of 70 to break down the city’s final FY26 budget, discuss the politics behind the process, and talk what comes next. Free registration here. (5:30 to 6:30 p.m.)
Thursday, July 10: Know Your Rights training
Wooden Shoe Books presents an interactive training that will cover your basic rights on the street, in a car, at your home, in custody and on the web. This training will involve some audience role playing. (7 p.m.)
Friday, July 11: Tacony LAB First Friday – Autistic Art Coalition of Philadelphia art exhibition
This special First Friday brings the 6th annual exhibit back, plus, by popular demand, the Spin Choir, Neurodiversity & Neuroinclusion Awards, and the 1st Starfish Award. Light refreshments provided. Free RSVP recommended here. (6 to 9 p.m.)
Friday, July 11: SOUND TYPE: Mars Kumari x Alex Smith
The series’ second act at Asian Arts Initiative features Mars Kumari’s heady blend of dark ambient, witch house, hip hop, industrial, trip hop and hauntology. Plus guest writer Alex Smith, a local artist, writer, curator, “musician”/noise-maker whose work is wrought with Afrofuturist tension, avant garde fashion/assemblage, and dynamic visual presentation. $20 tickets. (8 to 9:30 p.m.)
Friday to Sunday, July 11-13: Punk Rock Flea Market
Shop fun finds on a budget! The indoor market is inside the banquet hall of Sheet Metal Workers Local 19’s building, while the outdoor part on Saturday/Sunday is in the parking lot. $10 in advance; $12 cash at the door. (4 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday/Sunday)
Saturday, July 12: Borski Splash!
A community celebration of the new Borski Park in Bridesburg, with a nature walk, field games, yoga, dancing, drumming, art, food, and more. Free. RSVP here.(10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Saturday, July 12: The Katika Festival
A day for families that showcases black owned food trucks, artists, DJs, and vendors from across the tri-state area. Hosted at the Lawn @uCity in West Philadelphia. Free tickets. (12 to 6 p.m.)
Saturday, July 12: Ice Cream Festival on Filbert Street
The annual outdoor event combines frozen treats with arts & crafts, contests, discounts, a live DJ, and more for kids of all ages! Free to attend. (1 to 5 p.m.)
Saturday, July 12: “Ama. Egg. Oyá.”
PlayPenn presents this play by Lori Felipe-Barkin at The CORE at Esperanza Health Center. The story follows Ama, a determined woman in Hialeah, Florida, on her relentless journey to motherhood. Weaving together Santería, the pulse of modern-day Miami, and the rhythms of Cuban culture, this powerful story explores infertility, faith, and the deep longing for creation. Tickets range from free to $50. (7 to 9 p.m.)
Sunday, July 13: Barnes on the Block 2025
The annual summer celebration returns to the Parkway, embracing Mural Arts’ 2025 theme, “The Place Where Art Meets Hope,” and celebrates the power of creativity to inspire and uplift communities. Live music, performances, hands-on art making, local bites, and a beer garden. Plus, free access to the main and second-floor galleries and special exhibit “From Paris to Provence: French Painting at the Barnes.” Free, but registration required for gallery access. (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
