#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY
Windowless mirrors
(Photo by @city_of_architectural_love)
The nation’s only accredited circus school is closing in Philly
The Circadium School of Contemporary Circus has faced financial and administrative challenges since opening in Mt. Airy in 2017. But now it will close its doors on June 1 after multiple rounds of federal cuts.
“We met over the course of the fall to try to figure out what our options were,” said founder Shana Kennedy. “It just reached a point where it just has become unsustainable.” Continue reading…
Mural Arts unveils new Philadelphia Stars Negro League mural plans in West Philly
The group celebrated Jackie Robinson Day by unveiling the expanded design for the new wall that’s being built near the corner of Parkside and Belmont avenues –across the street from where its previous version stood from 2005 to 2026. Continue reading…
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• More Pennsylvania police agencies are signing up to help ICE enforce immigration laws, while Philly officials weigh bills to restrict ICE activities and Mayor Parker reacts with skepticism. [Inky$/WHYY/BP] +
• Register to vote and apply for a mail ballot ahead of the May primary election. [Billy Penn]
• Norwegian Jewel arrived this morning at PhilaPort Cruise Terminal. It is the first cruise ship docked in Philly in 20 years. [6ABC]
• How dubious high school credentials like ladder safety are boosting Pennsylvania’s graduation rate. [Chalkbeat]
• Philly’s LGBTQ+ opera singers, drag artists and performers are coming together for PrideAF, a celebratory arts festival of June shows. [Billy Penn]
• NASA astronaut and Eagles fan Christina Hammock Koch, one of the four Artemis II crew members, flew confetti from the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX victory around the moon. [NBC10]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Parker starts the day at the official investiture ceremony of Drexel University’s 16th president, Antonio Merlo, PhD (10 a.m.) before heading to the ribbon-cutting at Harlan Sharswood Townhouses and Renovated Community. (11 a.m.)
Parker also joins city and port officials at PhilaPort for the return of cruise service to Philadelphia with the arrival of a Norwegian Cruise Line ship. (1 p.m.)
She also will be at the inaugural Point Breeze Market Festival and announce the 20 “Ring It On!” corridors. (3 p.m.)
The ‘One Philly, One Future’ Budget Town Hall in South Philly will also be hosted by the mayor at Vare Recreation Center. (6 p.m.)
BILLY PENN GUIDES
🌱 Spring in Philly guide
🎤 Philly Record Store Guide
🌎 Guide to Earth Week
⚽ Billy Penn’s FIFA World Cup Guide
🛍️ Thrifty in Philly guide
📚 Book lovers’ guide to Philly
🍹 Non-alcoholic Philly
🏃🏽 Philly Runners Guide
ON THE CALENDAR
For the **FULL LIST** of this week’s events calendar, visit BillyPenn.com!
Friday, April 17: Green Day *Acoustic SING-ALONG NIGHT at Quig’s Pub
A throwback celebration by James Haro in Storage, featuring albums from Dookie to American Idiot, and hits like Warning, Welcome to Paradise, Wake Me Up When September Ends, and plenty of deep cuts. Plus new original songs from JHIS’ upcoming UNTITLED EP release. At Plays & Players Theatre. $7.18 tickets. (7:30 to 11 p.m.)
Saturday, April 18: Bartram’s Garden Spring Fest
Annual rain-or-shine celebration of spring in the Garden. Free and family-friendly activities include a medicinal herbs plant walk, tips on building a home apothecary, archives show and tell, live vibraphone and Son Revoltura music, Firstival celebration of Bartram’s being the U.S.’ first botanical garden, teach-ins, vendor market, seed swap, book exchange, tree giveaway and more. (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Sunday, April 19: Sunday Jazz over the City
As part of Philadelphia Jazz Month, saxophonist Mervin Toussaint and his band perform at the Rail Park. Toussaint is also an educator at Settlement Music School’s Germantown branch. Free. (4 to 6 p.m.)
