
City Cast Philly
🚄 New pop-up at 30th Street Station
August 22, 2025 · — Siani Colón
Good morning, Philly. Our thoughts are with the Villanova community after a distressing active shooter hoax sent the university into a panic yesterday. We'll monitor for updates as law enforcement investigates the situation.
Now, here's what else is happening in the Philly area.

What's CITY Talking About?
🏫 Philly Youth Return to School With Some Solutions, New Problems
Philly teachers are already back in school with students soon to follow. But with the new SEPTA cuts in effect Sunday, students can anticipate crowded commutes. At one Philly school, students aren’t just dealing with overcrowded buses, but overcrowded classrooms. And some are being forced to study in trailers in the meantime. [🎧 City Cast Philly]

🥗 Vegan Pop-Up Feeds Hungry Travelers at 30th Street Station
Food options inside the train hall are scarce as multiyear renovations continue. But if you’re waiting for Amtrak on a Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday… BTW, It’s Vegan can hook you up with plant-based goodies to sustain you on your travels. [📝 Hey Philly, Billy Penn]
- Related: If you need ideas for quick trips over the upcoming Labor Day weekend, we have guides for day trips in Pennsylvania and to New York City. [🎧 City Cast Philly, 📝 Hey Philly]
🏪 Business Owners Push Back Against New Curfews
If you need to make a late-night corner store run, good luck. A business curfew already in effect in parts of Kensington is expected to expand to other neighborhoods next month. Critics say the law would hurt businesses and make it difficult for overnight workers to access necessities. [🎧 City Cast Philly, Axios]
🏃 Race To Close South Philly Streets This Sunday
Heads up: Sections of South Philly will be closed to traffic on Sunday due to the Philly 10K. Roads will close at 1 a.m. Sunday morning and reopen around noon, with the exception being the post-race festival area. The course route can be found here. [City of Philadelphia]

How Well Do You Know Philly?

This week on City Cast Philly, we took a look at some one-star reviews of local parks and decided if they were fair assessments or totally inaccurate. Now we’re turning the tables and seeing if you can identify these Philly landmarks and locations based on their less-than-stellar reviews.
Can you recognize a landmark based on a hater’s word? Take our quiz and find out!

What To Do
Friday, Aug. 22
- 🍿 Screening: “National Treasure” at Independence Mall (Old City)
- 💃 Salsa Class & Social Dance at FDR Park (South Philly)
- 🎞️ Storyville: “Bumpa” at Scribe Video Center (West Powelton)
- 🛼 Rollerskating at 5209 Parkside Ave. (Parkside)
- 🥊 Screening: “Creed” at Clark Park (Spruce Hill)
- 🎨 Twilight in the Gardens at Magic Gardens (South Philly)
- 💘 Singles Summer Mixer at Liberty Point (Old City)
- 🎤 Karaoke, Tarot, and Caricatures at Little Treat (Queen Village)
- 🛍️ Vintage Pop-Up at Encanto Kicks & Coffee (Fishtown)
- 👏 Back 2 School Game Show at hall pass (Callowhill)
- 🎭 Improv Reality Show at Sawubona Creativity Project (East Passyunk)
- 💻 PowerPoint Night at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia (Center City)
Saturday, Aug. 23
- 📖 Philly Bookstore Crawl at multiple locations (Citywide)
- 🎷 Jazz Under the Stars at the Mann Center (West Fairmount Park)
- 🩺 Summer aBroad Health Fest at North Broad & West Butler Streets (North Philly)
- 🐐 Play with the Goats at Carroll Park (Caroll Park)
- 🎶 Summer Music Festival at FDR Park (South Philly)
- 🍣 Make Your Own Sushi at Dock Street (Fishtown)
- 🎞️ Street Movies at Vernon Park (Germantown)
- 🐚 Seashell & Rock Painting at 915 Spring Garden St. (West Poplar)
- 🎨 Urban Art Fest at Urban Art Gallery (Cobbs Creek)
- 💘 Coffee Shop Speed Dating at Cuor di Caffè (Old City)
- 🛞 Hot Wheels Monster Trucks at Wells Fargo Center (South Philly)
- 🍄 Fungadelphia Festival at Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education (Roxborough)
- 🖼️ Curator Festival at Cherry Street Pier (Old City)
- 🛍️ The People’s Market at Norris Square Park (Norris Square)
- 🌼 Botanical Alchemy at Glen Foerd (Torresdale)
- 👟 Sacred Sites Tour beginning at St. Peters Church (Society Hill)
Sunday, Aug. 24
- 🎉 Marsha P. Johnson Community Cookout at uCity Lawn (University City)
- 🖼️ Art Show at Queen & Rook Cafe (Headhouse Square)
- 🎂 Cake Club: Mini Chandeliers at 915 Spring Garden St. (West Poplar)
- ♟️ Chess Club at Encanto Kicks & Coffee (Fishtown)
- 🎤 Open Mic at Two Locals Brewing (University City)
- 🛍️ Creator Market at Jedidiah Gallery (Manayunk)
- 👟 Navy Yard Tour beginning at corner of Normandy Place & S. 11th Street (South Philly)
- 🚣 Boating at Glen Foerd (Torresdale)
- 🎨 Bring Your Own Craft at Washington Square Park (Center City)
🥳 Shoutout to Rebecca D. for becoming a City Cast Philly Neighbor! Join Rebecca in supporting our podcast and newsletter by becoming a member and enjoy some perks as a thank you.
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