🏛️ Unpacking the UArts situation

💰 Consensus on City Budget

Mayor Cherelle Parker and City Council agreed yesterday on next fiscal year’s $6.37 billion city budget. It includes funding for an addiction treatment center in Northeast Philly, affordable housing in University City, and numerous other items. [WHYY]

🎨 Reflecting on UArts

Today is set to be the University of the Arts’ final day of existence (unless an ongoing attempt by Temple’s board to save the school is successful). From the protests and the president’s resignation to the future of the university’s buildings and what this closure means for the city, there’s a lot to unpack. [City Cast Philly 🎧]

• There’s now a push in City Council to hold hearings about the university’s sudden closure to help clear up confusion. [Inquirer 🔒]
• The shuttering of UArts is the latest development in a string of closures, consolidations, and other shakeups at Philly-area colleges. [Hey Philly]

✉️ Avoid These Errors on Your Mail Ballot

An early heads-up if you’re planning to vote by mail in November: Remember to fill in the last two digits of the year when you date your return envelope, and don’t forget your signature. These two mistakes increased between the 2023 and 2024 primaries, following Pennsylvania’s latest mail ballot envelope redesign. [Spotlight PA]

🍻 International Beer Collab

Germantown-based Attic Brewing Co. teamed up with England’s Attic Brew Co. and Spain’s Attik Brewing to brew a hazy IPA ahead of the Phillies’ series against the Mets in London this weekend. [PhillyVoice]

The beloved ramen shop that has brought killer house-made broth, noodles, and even “pastramen” to Philly’s culinary lineup is closing its doors on June 30.

Hey Philly spoke with Neighborhood Ramen general manager Lindsay Mariko Steigerwald and chef Jesse Pryor, who co-own the ramen joint at 617 S. 3rd St., to find out what the shop’s last month will look like, and to learn about the next iteration of the duo’s ramen pursuits.

Philly ➡️ Japan

After five years in Philly, the co-owners have decided to pursue a longtime dream of taking their ramen venture to Japan, specifically Tokyo. Steigerwald — who goes by her middle name, Mariko, when in Japan — explained that this move aligns with their vision for fine-tuning their craft.

“Neighborhood Ramen has always been more about the food and the ramen culture rather than making big profit margins,” she said. “And that means having access to more, and better, ingredients.”

They hope to have their storefront in Japan open for service by 2026, so mark your calendars and book those tickets in advance if you know you’ll miss seeing the smiley faces at the bottom of their bowls.

Meet the Owners’ New Philly Venture, ESO Ramen Workshop

But this isn’t goodbye forever just yet! While Neighborhood Ramen’s co-owners are waiting on permits and visas for their shop in Japan, they will be opening ESO Ramen Workshop at 526 S. 4th St. to the public.

Currently, the pair makes Neighborhood Ramen’s noodles from scratch at this location just a block away, using a giant ramen noodle machine they acquired in a Kansas City auction.

But they’ll soon use the space to house two different ramen concepts, which they’re aiming to open by this September or October. It will remain open until they leave for Japan sometime in the next couple years. Keep reading on our website to learn more.

WTF Happened With UArts? Plus, Bus Station Ideas & Mysterious Cloud Billboard

It’s the Friday News Roundup! We’ve got more details on the University of the Arts closure and the events that unfolded this week. Plus: Where should Philly put its intercity bus station, and what’s with that cloud billboard in Old City?