🍸 Last call for summer happy hour deals!

🎙️ Kensington Revival Progress Report

The city has been at work implementing its Kensington Community Revival Plan for the past several months to deal with the neighborhood’s open-air drug market and issues like homelessness and addiction. How effective has it been? [City Cast Philly 🎧]

👮 Fare Evasion Enforcement Changes

Two months ago, SEPTA police stopped giving $25 tickets to people who jump turnstiles, and instead returned to issuing summary citations, which are a low-level criminal offense. They’ve since issued more than 700. [Inquirer 🔒]

⚠️ Street Closures and No Parking Zones for Resurfacing

Heads up: Starting this week, the city will be resurfacing some streets in East Mount Airy, East Germantown, and West Oak Lane, as well as around Fairmount Park. Check here to see whether your street will be impacted. [WHYY]

🏀 The Wilmington 76ers?

Gov. John Carney of Delaware publicly pitched the Sixers on social media last week, inviting them to build their new arena in Wilmington. [CBS3]

• As Sixers leadership waits on the needed approvals for a Center City arena, New Jersey officials have also tried to attract the team. [City Cast Philly 🎧]
• ✏️ Where do you think the Sixers should go? Write to me with your thoughts!

As summer comes to a close, we’ll say goodbye to all of Philly’s beloved hot weather customs, including seasonal happy hour specials. To make sure you get a last round in, here’s our last-minute guide to the best discounts on cocktails, wine, beer, and appetizers in town.

Center City District SIPS

For the 20th year in a row, Center City District SIPS has been making Center City a deal hotspot on summer Wednesdays. Until Aug. 28, more than 90 restaurants are offering $7 cocktails, $6 wine, $5 beer, and half-priced appetizers.

• For classic wine: Give Butcher Bar’s red zinfandel a try. It pairs well with their selection of meats and comfort food offerings.
• For a cocktail: Check out the Italian restaurant Via Locusta, which is serving a Hugo spritz — a prosecco, elderflower, mint, and lemon mix.
• For a great view: Attico Rooftop has lounge seating 15 stories up, plus the $8 Attico burger, made with black angus beef, fontina cheese, shallot jam, and aioli.

If you don’t want to pack in drinks and food by 7 p.m., some locations, like Uptown Beer Garden, will have 15% off dinner after happy hour ends!

🗓️ Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m.

Passyunk Passeggiata

East Passyunk Avenue is celebrating the hot season with Thursday evening happy hour and sidewalk specials all along the Avenue between Wharton and McKean Streets. The passeggiata — which in Italy refers to an end-of-day stroll in a town's central plaza — is put on by the East Passyunk Business Improvement District and runs until the end of August. Each of the 40+ participating businesses has different pricing and deals.

• For cocktails: Try the $7 rum punch at the Carribean restaurant Ocho Rios Parrilla.
• For on-tap specials: The brewery Human Robot SÜD has $5 Hallertau Pilsners, a German-style brew. While you’re there, check out their unique 10-ounce “Milktube” invention, which is a glass of beer foam. (Pro tip: The Milktube is only $2 on “Tubular Tuesdays.”)
• For a wine go-to: Barcelona Wine Bar has one of the largest Spanish wine programs in the United States. It’s offering a $6 wine option during the passeggiata.

Make sure you take a walk down the whole East Passyunk promenade, because some stores will have sidewalk sales or other deals, like 20% off all services at the hair salon Headhunters Hair Design.

🗓️ Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m.