Fun Things to Do in Philly this Week and Weekend

This week The Roddenberries holiday show comes to City Winery, Philly Pops Holiday Spectacular is at Marian Anderson Hall, Old City lights its Menorah, Bearded Ladies Cabaret comes to the Wanamaker

By Christina Griffith

Books, Binoculars and Birds

“Birder Backpacks” at 20 Free Library branches take Philadelphians from the stacks to the trails

By Thomas Devaney
New Urban Order

Philly Had the Answer to the Manosphere

So why did we get rid of places like the old LOVE Park, where young men want to hang out?

By Diana Lind

“Keep Moving, Whatever You Do”

We Walk PHL has logged over 3,000 walks in 28 city locations over the last eight years. It’s reshaping how Philadelphians feel and appreciate their parks

By Thomas Devaney
The New Urban Order

We Need More Complete Parks

Are a restroom and a snack bar too much to ask for?

By Diana Lind

Where Are the Trees We Were Promised?

Two years into the City’s first-ever Tree Plan, our leafy coverage has remained static. What happens now?

By Courtney DuChene
Citizen of the Week

FDR Park Steward Tara Anastasi

The park’s volunteer coordinator gets it done, from reclaiming lakes from the “phrag” to putting anyone who raises their hands to work.

By Thomas Devaney

Where Art Thou, Rebuild?

Connor Barwin’s City-funded $21 million revamp of Vare Recreation Center shows what the Kenney-era program could accomplish — so why did it fall so short of its target?

By Malcolm Burnley

“A Place Where Everyone Comes Together”

The architect of Central Park’s Edenic resurgence has retired to our own Rittenhouse Square, where he is the most well-versed park volunteer. Here’s what he thinks we can learn from NYC

By Christine Speer Lejeune
The Citizen Recommends

Placemaking and Economic Growth

The next in our Development … for Good series in partnership with Fitler Club and Drexel’s Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation features Connor Barwin, Jerry Sweeney and other investors in our city’s public realm

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy