#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY
Spirits and sunsets at Stateside
(Photo by @wmdkenner)
Band’s viral kickball commentating is helping them build fans
Brian Ulrich, the lead singer of Philly indie punk rock band Mid Sentence, has the best seats in the house to one of Philly’s great sporting spectacles: the Heyday recreational kickball games at Old Kensington’s Hancock Playground.
He’s turned a PA system out his apartment window made viral videos as he commentates on the action and spins dance tunes. Continue reading…
The birth of American fine art started in Philly
In 1805, America was in its 29th year and settling into adulthood. Americans were not just asking themselves how to build a nation, but how to cultivate it.
What was missing? A way to preserve and cultivate art and culture. That’s where the nation’s first fine art museum and school come in: the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Continue reading…
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• President Trump denied Johnny Doc’s commutation request to be let out of prison early. [Inq$]
• Pennsylvania Medicaid currently covers abortion services, but for how long? The attorney general and pro-life groups are waging an appeals fight. [WHYY]
• Gov. Shapiro came to Schuylkill Yards to unveil a $125 million state initiative aimed at helping state life sciences startups secure funding, accelerate clinical trials and bring new medical discoveries to market. [WHYY]
• Philadelphia has a new AI policy, but the committee that’s supposed to oversee it may not exist yet. [Technical.ly]
• Sports betting company DraftKings is suing Philadelphia for investigating whether it is violating consumer protection laws. [Reuters]
• Manayunk Canal water quality improves after 80-plus years of stagnant flow. [Chestnut Hill Local]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Parker has no public events scheduled for Wednesday.
Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)
We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.
- Can Americans still talk about guns and violence prevention? At this gathering at the Free Library, they tried. [WHYY]
- Sharon Hill police killed his cousin. Now he is Delaware County’s new reform-minded sheriff. [Inq$]
- City officials offer support to Southwest Philadelphia residents after shooting near basketball court. [CBS3]
- Though gun violence has declined to historic levels across Philadelphia, this year’s ManUpPHL 250 event focused on tackling its underlying causes through job creation and economic opportunity. [Tribune]
By the numbers in Philadelphia
- 15: Shooting victims recorded from July 13 to 19, with 1 fatality, according to city data. During the previous week, 15 shooting victims were recorded, including 2 fatalities. [Source: nickhand.dev]
- 96: Year-to-date homicides, down 24% vs. last year’s pace; down 69% vs. five years ago. [Philly Police]
Highlights from Billy Penn’s City Guide
• What the 52nd Street El doesn’t show you
Philly’s Walnut Hill neighborhood features Civil Rights history, science fiction origins, and some of the best food in Philly.
• Escape Philly’s busy streets at a 2,000 acre taste of nature near Roxborough
Get to know Wissahickon Valley Park, with its 50 miles of trails for hikers, bikers and anyone looking to enjoy a nearby trip to the great outdoors.
ON THE CALENDAR
Neighborhood Jawnts takes on Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy (Fri-Sun),
a free Math Festival (Friday),
a mini mini art show (Friday),
Franklin Square’s birthday (Saturday)
AND MORE!
Send us events to add to the **FULL LIST** of this week’s events calendar at BillyPenn.com!
BILLY PENN GUIDES
🏙️ Billy Penn City Guide
🍦 Vegan ice cream guide
🌽 CSA farmshare guide
🛝 Kid-friendly summer guide
☕ Philly coffee guide
🚶🏽♀️ Alt Philly history walking tours guide
🌱 Spring in Philly guide
🎭 Philly’s comedy scene
🎤 Philly Record Store Guide
🛍️ Thrifty in Philly guide
📚 Book lovers’ guide to Philly
🍹 Non-alcoholic Philly
😋 Dining in Philly
🏃🏽 Philly Runners Guide
