Philly's movie scene; Rocky statue shuffle; PPA ticket refunds

#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY

Geese in South Philly
(Photo by @postcardsfromsouthphilly)

What is the state of Philly’s movie scene?

Landmark’s Ritz Five in Old City just closed for the time being due to failed inspections and fire code violations. And in late May, the company that looked to revamp South Philly’s Riverview Plaza movie theater with an IMAX screen scrapped its plans to do so.

With fewer physical spaces to see movies, community is more important than ever, said Christina Acevedo, founder of the Philly-based film club Girls Like Horror. Continue reading…

The AMC Fashion District 8 movie theater in Center City. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

The Rocky statue shuffle is on again.

The sculpture of Sylvester Stallone’s iconic fictional boxer Rocky Balboa will be moved out from the top of the museum’s steps, to be replaced by the original version that’s been on exhibit inside since April.

The city announced this morning that access to one of Philadelphia’s most popular tourist attractions will be blocked off till the end of the month, starting this Friday. Continue reading…

Tourists line up for photos in front of the second Rocky statue, still in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. (Nick Kariuki/Billy Penn)

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

• Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro signed legislation guaranteeing 30 minutes of recess to elementary students. [WHYY]

• Democratic Sen. Fetterman made a surprise speech at a GOP midterm convention, fueling party-switch fears. [AP]

• “Nothing has changed”: Pennsylvania’s election chief says voting will continue as usual despite Trump mail ballot limitation efforts. [WHYY]

• WHYY is inching closer to owning and operating Penn State University’s public radio and television assets, including WPSU-FM and WPSU-TV. [WHYY]

• The Philadelphia Parking Authority refunded more than $1.25 million worth of speeding tickets and voided thousands of additional violations on North Broad Street due to missing signage at one location earlier this year, officials said. [PhillyVoice]

• Philadelphia developers are seeking more building permits for new rentals. Here’s why. [WHYY’s PlanPhilly]

• New food options were unveiled at the Linc ahead of 2026 Eagles season and include a “tush push tater,” Kool-Aid glazed chicken wings and a “South Philly special” cheesesteak. [6abc]

MAYOR WATCH

Mayor Parker attends the Dream Chasers Sports & Entertainment Summit, an event hosted by Meek Mill, Dream Chasers, and Temple University connecting high school and college students with opportunities across sports, entertainment, business, culture, and community. (9:30 a.m.)

Parker then joins Philadelphia Police Department officials to announce a new public safety initiative designed to improve communication between police officers and individuals with neurodivergent conditions, special needs, or other communication barriers. (10 a.m.)

Parker will later attend the Uptown Rhythm Festival (4:30 p.m.) and then moderate a conversation with award-winning actress, singer, comedian, and producer Tisha Campbell celebrating the release of her new book, “The A Word: A Mother’s Journey Through Autism and Love.” (7 p.m.)

Highlights from Billy Penn’s City Guide

On the edge of Black Bottom: A walk down Lancaster Avenue
This West Philly neighborhood is steeped in history that locals are eager to keep alive.
Fairmount: Art, science, and so much more
The neighborhood combines unique colonial architecture with modern flair, canopy trees and the opportunity to sit and enjoy the sights at Lemon Hill at Fairmount Park.

ON THE CALENDAR

A Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour (Thursday),
Philadelphia Fringe Festival 9/11 Memorial (Friday),
Fairmount Stoop Sale (Saturday),
AND MORE!

See the **FULL LIST** of this week’s events calendar at BillyPenn.com!