Yesterday in Philly: Pools, World Cup & Carriage Bans
Summer officially hit Philly yesterday—here’s what you missed (and what’ll actually matter to you this weekend and beyond):
☀️ Surviving the Heat: Pools & Emergency Declarations
Yes, it’s stupid hot. The city declared a Heat Health Emergency to open up more cooling centers and—you’ll be glad to know—63 public pools are starting to open across Philly. Opening schedules are staggered (some open today, some next week), and you can check out when your local pool makes the list here or a full pool/sprayground rundown here. And yes, you’ll still need to bring a swimsuit and probably a lot of patience.
⚽ World Cup: Philly Goes Soccer Crazy
World Cup fever isn’t just for soccer nerds. Lemon Hill’s FIFA Fan Fest is drawing thousands—think giant screens, live music, food trucks, and way too many people in flags-as-capes. Recap the kickoff here or get the granular on what to expect if you’re heading over here.
- If you want to actually go to a match: Ticket prices might finally be creeping down, details here
- 700 tickets are being handed out to local community groups, so keep an eye on your favorite orgs here
- A handful of bars will have special permission to stay open till 4 a.m. during the tournament (list here)
- Camden’s doing a free World Cup fan fest, too: screenings, live music, food here
🚧 City Moves & Local Developments
- Horse-drawn carriage rides are officially banned citywide, ending a very Old City tradition (read)
- SEPTA is piloting new turnstiles to fight fare evasion—so if your swipe doesn’t work, it’s not (just) you (more)
- The Penn president shuffle continues: J. Larry Jameson will step down next summer, wrapping up one heck of an interim run (details)
📚, 🎨 & More Stuff Happening
- Philly’s Black-Owned Bookstore scene just got national recognition as the best in the US (check out the list—support someone local!)
- Barnes on the Block returns Sunday to the Parkway: street fest, art shows, live music (info)
- Philly Museum of Art's Art Kids Summer is back for families (details)
Quick Hits
- There’s a heat break coming after Friday, but storms first (forecast)
- Fire at a North Philly recycling plant sent up scary-looking smoke (details)
- Ward election protest drama: The always-thrilling world of Philly local politics continues (more)
That’s your Friday. Stay cool, stay informed, and maybe treat yourself to a bookstore visit before the next big soccer match.
