#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY
Graffiti tags, from the ground up
(Photo by @t.crimmin)
Major art attraction for the work of Alexander Calder opens Sunday
If you want to understand the life and work of Alexander Calder, the abstract sculptor popularly known as the inventor of the suspended mobile, the Calder Foundation invites you to explore its website.
But if you want to feel a personal connection to Calder’s buoyant, colorful shapes and enter into a shared space with these fluid objects, the Calder Foundation has built a building for that. It opens to the public this Sunday. Continue reading …
A basement, a garage, a vacant department store: Fringe continues to bring drama to unusual spaces
One of the very best things about the Philadelphia Fringe Festival is seeing shows staged in places without stages.
Billy Penn contributor Jane Von Bergen has been to warehouses, a mansion in Germantown, a bedroom in Fishtown, a rowhouse in South Philly, community gardens, a few former factories, and a mostly vacant church. It’s fun and just the right amount of weird. Jane introduces you to some of this year’s oddest locations. Continue reading …
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Allentown, Philadelphia and Harrisburg ranked as #3, #4, and #15 of the worst in cities the country for people living with asthma, according to a new report. [WHYY]
• Amazon and SpaceX won a slice of Pa.’s $793M broadband funding. Critics are worried about reliability. [Spotlight PA]
• DA Krasner will hold town halls in West Oak Lane, Southwest Philadelphia, and Society Hill to discuss how residents can respond if Trump deploys National Guard to Philadelphia. [Inq$]
• SEPTA service around Philly has been restored, but passengers are paying more for those rides with a 21.5% fare hike in effect. [CBS3]
• Speed cameras along busy Broad Street have gone live and a 60-day grace period for violators is now in place. [NBC10]
• The Philly Pretzel Factory plans to add water ice and soft-serve ice cream to its menu. [PhillyVoice]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Parker, city officials and former Philadelphia mayor Michael A. Nutter will announce details regarding the return of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic in 2026, at City Hall. Noon.
ON THE CALENDAR
🍂 Autumn festival lineup
🫶🏽 9/18: Exploring Trends: How Immigration Shapes Our Region
💬 9/18: Moving Forward | A WHYY News Town Hall
🏃🏽 Philly Runners Guide
Tuesday, Sept. 16: Conversation with Sonia Sotomayor
WHYY’s own Cherri Gregg talks with the Supreme Court justice at Parkway Central Library about her books “Just Ask!” and “Just Shine!” Free with registration. (6 to 7:30 p.m.)
Tuesday, Sept. 16: Born Equal: America’s Founding Promise and the Fight for Equality
Livestream tickets still available for this event on the eve of Constitution Day. Constitutional scholar Akhil Reed Amar, of Yale Law School, discusses his new book, which explores the transformative amendments that redefined freedom, equality and voting rights in the post–Civil War era. Book sale and signing to follow. Free to attend. (6:30 to 7:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, Sept. 17: Science & Football: How Gatorade Fueled the Dawn of Sports Medicine
Sixty years ago, in Gainesville, Fla., a new drink called Gatorade was created. Its founder’s daughter, Phoebe Cade Miles, will speak about the invention that propelled the Gators to victory, and the unlikely launch of a drink that changed the world of sports. The hybrid presentation will be followed by Q&A and an informal reception at the Science History Institute. Free to RSVP. (6 to 8 p.m.)
Wednesday, Sept. 17: An Evening With Justice Amy Coney Barrett
Register for the livestream of Coney Barrett at the National Constitution Center for a Constitution Day conversation to discuss her new book with a glimpse into her role (and daily life) as a justice. Free registration required. (6:30 to 7:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, Sept. 17: Uncle Bobbie’s X Wallo267 – Book Signing/ Meet & Greet
Join Uncle Bobbie’s and award winning podcaster and Philly icon, Wallo267 for the paperback release of his NYT bestseller. $28.50 tickets. (7 p.m.)
Thursday, Sept. 18 & Saturday, Sept. 20: Working for the City of Philadelphia: Civil Service 101
Learn from the city’s HR office about becoming a Civil Servant, employee and educational benefits, the application process, and more FAQs. At The Water Shed at 5300 Wayne Ave. in Germantown. (1 to 2:30 p.m.)
Thursday, Sept. 18: Puppet Karaoke Peoplehood Fundraiser
Share the stage at Pentridge Station with Spiral Q’s giant puppets and props and a giant lip syncing mouth puppet. Bring your friends to be your puppet backup dancers. Doors will open at 5:30 pm, with puppet karaoke running from 6-8 p.m. and dance party to follow. Free RSVP; Suggested donation $25 (or more) – no one turned away for lack of funds! Funds support the upcoming Spiral Q 25th Annual Peoplehood Parade & Pageant.
Thursday, Sept. 18: Seeing Better: Aversation
Emma Copley Eisenberg & Jade Doskow
Join a reading from Eisenberg’s “Housemates,” a presentation of Doskow’s recent work, as well as a far-ranging conversation with Eisenberg and Doskow about novels, photography, and how both forms can offer us better ways of seeing our current moment. Doskow will also demonstrate her modern large-format camera on site. Free with registration. (6 p.m.)
Thursday, Sept. 18: Picture Me Philly
Express yourself and channel your inner artist in this outdoor pastel drawing class. BYOB at Drexel Square! $23.18 tickets. (6 p.m.)
Thursday, Sept. 18: Singles Arcade Night
A $10 power card is included in the $25 ticket price for this event at Dave.& Buster’s. For ages 25-45+. (7 to 9 p.m.)
Friday to Sunday, Sept. 19-21: Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show
Founded by artists in 1928, and run by a committee of artists today, this is the oldest outdoor art show in the country. Steeped in rich history and tradition, there is absolutely no other show like it. 140+ artists and 8 categories.
The post Calder Gardens; Funky Fringe locations; Krasner on National Guard | Morning roundup appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY.
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