Two of the leaders of Philadelphia’s summery programming goodness are getting ready to provide the masses with spaces and places to gather, have a drink, rollerskate, eat, and convene outdoors. That’s right, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) is back with its pair of pop-ups – the South Philly location on South Street is now considered its “flagship,” but it’s entering new territory with a second site at 10th and Hamilton streets in the Callowhill section. With the help of the Pew Center for Arts & Hertigate, the society will be establishing a summer-long build-up to the beginning of construction on the Reading Viaduct Trail. And then there’s the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC), who has been providing free or affordable entertainment on the eastern edge of our city for decades. But this year marks the second season and grand return of rollerskating on the river at the Blue Cross RiveRink Summerfest. The pop-ups open June 1, and Summerfest debuts tomorrow.
The PHS Pop Up Garden at South Street will be operated by Khyber Pass Pub with an opening celebration June 1 at 5:30 p.m. There will be “sweet potato summer rolls with chipotle-hoisin sauce, Italian charcuterie and cheese with roasted olives, artichoke salad, pickled mushrooms and fig toast, bacon guacamole, fire-toasted salsa and spicy corn chips.” For drinks, they’ll be doing daquiris, Margarita Mondays, Brewsday Tuesdays, South Street Gulps on Wednesdays, all in Karen Regan’s lush landscaped “magical retreat with the city skyline as a backdrop,” according to a release from PHS.
In Callowhill, PHS communications guru Alan Jaffe says “this is a very new thing for us.” Construction of a three-mile rail park is set to begin in the fall, but in the meantime, his employer has “Walter Hood, who is a rock star landscape architect in the U.S. – he’s in Oakland, CA and he came out to visit when we were exploring” the site. Jaffe says it’ll be an oasis in a “gritty, industrial neighborhood.” Friends of the Rail Park and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania will curate a park that’s “a rare combination of historic preservation, contemporary planning, and green advocacy.” Top Chef alum Jason Cichonski and chef Sylva Senat have developed a concept called The Bun Box, offering an array of steamed buns, plus guac, chicken, curry and churros. They’ve even tapped a Philadelphian, Abby Sohn, for a site-specific sound installation on display underneath the Viaduct.
On South Street, they’ll be open seven days a week: 5 to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 2 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday; and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday. In Callowhill, they’ll be open Wednesday through Sunday: 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 2 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday; and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
“This year we made a big investment – we’re putting a surface down similar to a tennis court and it’s going to be painted to have a river effect,” says Quinn Logan from the DRWC, discussing the rollerskating surface at Summerfest. “Parts of the rink will have clear plexi-glass boards, so part of the rink will be see-through.”
Skating is free for Independence Blue Cross cardholders, $3 for admission to open skate and $10 for rentals. There’s also mini-golf this year with nine holes designed by local artists with reclaimed, recycled materials, and it’s $5 to golf. Chickie’s and Pete’s Waterfront Crabshack is providing the eats, as is Franklin Fountain with ice cream, shakes and floats.
“We’re trying to connect all the parks for a nice weekend along the waterfront,” Logan said, hinting at the possibility of a scenic, slow crawl from Pier 68 at 1751 S. Columbus Blvd. to the Washington Avenue Pier at Columbus Boulevard and Washington Avenue, up to Spruce Street Harbor Park, Summerfest, and the Race Street Pier. And that doesn’t even touch on the bounties of Penn’s Landing programming.
Look for: Philly Beer Week at the Harbor Park June 4 to 12; a Natural Lands Trust scavenger hunt June 12 (1 to 3 p.m. at Pier 68); LGBT Pride Fest June 12; Screenings Under the Stars Thursdays in July and August (save for the Democratic National Convention Thursday, July 21) at the Great Plaza; Smooth Jazz Summer Nights on Fridays in August; and the amazing PECO Multicultural Series at Penn’s Landing, starting with the Irish American Festival June 5 and concluding with Brazilian Day September 25.
Contact Staff Writer Bill Chenevert at bchenevert@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
Photo by Rob Cardillo provided by DRWC
