City Cast Philly
🚆 SEPTA Begins Drastic Service Cuts
August 15, 2025 · — Siani Colón
Happy Friday, Philly! The weekend is an opportunity to have some fun, but use the time to take care of yourself, too. RAM is providing free dental, vision, and medical services tomorrow and Sunday at School of the Future in Parkside. Services will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
What else is happening this weekend in the city?
What's CITY Talking About?
🚍 SEPTA’s Transition to Service Cuts Begins
The Pennsylvania House rejected the Senate’s proposed budget, citing future fiscal problems baked into its plan. Now SEPTA will take the next ten days to implement 20% service cuts. And the reason for all this? Apparently, rural Republican resentment toward Philadelphia. [🎧 City Cast Philly]
- Related: Find fall service schedules for bus/metro lines here and schedules for the Regional Rail here. [SEPTA]
🛣️ Chinatown Stitch Project Moves Forward
The I-676 capping project intended to reconnect Chinatown lost most of its funding due to federal cuts, but designs for the Stitch project recently gained preliminary approval. The project would include a park, playground, and other amenities. [Billy Penn]
🚗 Periodic Vine Street Lane Closures Until January
Speaking of Vine Street, expect a slowdown for a couple of months. Beginning Monday, PennDOT will close lanes from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. as the agency implements pedestrian and cyclist safety improvements along the corridor. [PennDOT]
🎽 Philadelphia Marathon Sells Out in Record Time
The Philadelphia Marathon won’t take place until November, but 37,000 people from nearly 60 countries are expected to run across the city. Whether you’re training for the race or inspired to take up running, we have some tips to help you prepare. [NBC10, 🎧 City Cast Philly]
🏈 Sorry, Haters: Nowhere To Hide From Eagles Fans
Who’s filling the seats at NFL games? Eagles fans, of course. Turns out we have the most fans attending away games, filling 47% of seats. So competitors, you’re welcome for the sales you probably weren’t getting otherwise. [🔒 Forbes]
How Well Do You Know Philly?
It’s time for another weekly quiz! Let’s see how well you know Philly’s latest headlines and fun facts.
Bye-bye, Wells Fargo Center! The home of the Sixers and Flyers is now known as the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Do you remember visiting the venue under another name? Or are you just a really good guesser? Take a stab at answering this and our other trivia questions.
What To Do
Friday, Aug. 15
- 🛼 Rollerskating at 5209 Parkside Ave. (Parkside)
- 🎭 Slayed by the Bell at the Red Rum Theater (Old City)
- 📽️ Movie Night: “Mr. Polaroid” at Science History Institute (Old City)
- 🎶 Sound Type: Yu Su x Elissa Suh at Asian Arts Initiative (Callowhill)
- 🎵 Jazz in the Park at Konrad Square (Fishtown)
- 🪕 Philadelphia Folk Festival (Day One) at Old Pool Farm (Montgomery County)
- ✏️ Drink (Or Not) & Draw at Indy Hall (Northern Liberties)
- 🦁 Outdoor Screening: “Madagascar” at Clark Park (Spruce Hill)
- 🏥First Aid Training at Wooden Shoe Books (Queen Village)
- 🎤 Drag Karaoke at Nutmeg NA Bar (East Passyunk)
- 🎨 Paint & Sip at The People’s Gallery Project (Center City)
Saturday, Aug. 16
- 🚮 Philabag Cleaning Challenge (Mantua)
- 🎞️ Street Movies at The Yard at John Coltrane Street (Strawberry Mansion)
- 🎨 Arte en las Calles at Esperanza (Hunting Park)
- 🎤 Billy Idol at the Mann Center (West Fairmount Park)
- 🍷 Wine Class at Mural City Cellars (Fishtown)
- 🏠 Eviction Defense Training at Wooden Shoe Books (Queen Village)
- 🪩 Disco Brunch at Hall Pass (Callowhill)
- 💬 Pop-Up Activities Fair at Mural City Wine Cellars Garden (Fishtown)
- 🛍️ Phila Flea Market at Headhouse Shambles (Headhouse Square)
- 🧑🎨 Screenprinting & Studio Tour at Fabric Workshop & Museum (Center City)
- 🍨 Cocco’s Gelato Pop-Up at Cartesian Brewing (East Passyunk)
- 👖 Clothing + Home Decor Swap at Three Queens Yoga (Queen Village)
- ♻️ EcoFEST on the 5300 block of Wayne Ave. (Germantown)
- 👟 Three Mile Vision Tour beginning at 2700 Pennsylvania Ave. (Fairmount)
- 💘 Singles Happy Hour at Kite & Key (Franklintown)
- 🎞️ Philadelphia Mosaic: Immigrant Film Showcase at Fleisher Art Memorial (Bella Vista)
- 🖼️ Art Under the Stars at Sculpture Courtyard (Olde Kensington)
Sunday, Aug. 17
- 🎷 Jazz Concert at Girard College (Fairmount)
- 🛍️ Sunday Market at High Point (Mt. Airy)
- 🎶 Sunset Sessions at Morgan’s Pier (Old City)
- 🍸 Botanical Drinks Pop-Up at STUMP (Northern Liberties)
- 🌮 Philadelphia Taco Festival at XFinity Live (South Philly)
- 🎨 Reiki & Ceramics at Artifact Studio (Germantown)
- 🎸 Hiatus Kaiyote at Franklin Music Hall (Callowhill)
- 🌿 Indigenous Phytotherapy at Bartram’s Garden (Kingsessing)
- ♟️ Chess Club at Encanto Kicks & Coffee (Fishtown)
- 🪴 Plant Swap at South Philly Food Co-Op (South Philly)
- 📖 Poetry is for Everyone at the Head & The Hand (East Kensington)
🛍️ Thunderbird Salvage’s UArts pop-up is taking place this weekend in Kensington. The thrift shop recovered books, artwork, and tools left behind after the university’s closure. Former UArts students and staff get first dibs and a special discount on Saturday. The public can access wares later in the day and on Sunday.
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