🤼‍♂️ America's top college wrestlers descend on South Philly; Arts Bank to be preserved?

Happy Thursday, South Philly! It’s been a busy week and it’s going to be a busier weekend ahead. In this week’s newsletter …

• A rundown of the major NCAA tournament that will take over South Philly all weekend, including a visit from a certain Washingtonian.

• The future of the Arts Bank building at Broad and South is in question after it was sold off in bankruptcy to a private developer, but might it gain historic protection?

• It has been a wild crime week, with the story breaking of an assault in a South Philadelphia gym locker room and a police shooting of a man with a rifle.

• A jam-packed, feels-like-spring calendar of events in the neighborhood these next seven days.

If you’re enjoying the Scoop, do us a favor and forward this email to a friend you think would like it too? ☺️

🤼‍♂️ Nation’s top collegiate wrestlers come to South Philly

America’s top wrestlers will descend on the Wells Fargo Center this weekend for the NCAA’s Division 1 Men’s Wrestling Championships.

The three-day event begins with the first session at 12 p.m. on Thursday, and ends with championships awarded on Saturday evening.

In total, 330 wrestlers from around the nation will compete in 10 different weight classes, ranging from 125 pounds to 285 pounds. Wrestlers have to go undefeated and win five matches in three days to earn the national title in their weight class, which makes me tired just thinking about it.

Competitors will earn points for their school along the way in each match, ending with a team champion by the end of the night on Saturday. Penn State dominates the team tournament and has won three years in a row — and 11 times in the last times in the last 14 years. 😳

It goes without saying that the Sports Complex will be a bit of a zoo with all of these wrestlers, their families, and fans from all of their schools fighting for attendance. Tickets are available and as low as $20 for some of the sessions, but start at several hundred dollars for the Saturday night session.

Expect to see random collegiate wrestling gear at all the famous tourist spots this weekend, and expect even more mayhem when Donald Trump attends the final session. We’re hearing he’ll land at PHL shortly after 6 p.m. on Saturday … so plan accordingly.

🍨 More scoop …

🏛️ Protection proposed for the Arts Bank: The old Southwestern National Bank at Broad and South Streets, known today as the Arts Bank, was nominated for historic preservation earlier this month by the Preservation Alliance of Philadelphia.

It’s timely, as the building was sold to a developer as part of the University of the Arts’ bankruptcy proceedings in February, and there were objections in court about the sale to a for-profit entity that would turn the building into retail and housing. The state AG’s office argued that the building should remain an art space, but the judge ruled otherwise.

Should the historic designation be awarded, any developer would have to present future plans to the Philadelphia Historical Commission for approval — which can be timely and costly, but aims to protect the historic character of the building.

The detailed proposal argues that “for nearly a century, this building has played a key role in the cultural and architectural landscape of Center City Philadelphia, making it a strong candidate for inclusion on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places.”

The PHC can take up this application at their meeting on April 11 and if you have input, you can attend virtually or in-person to provide your comment.

🚔 Attack at Planet Fitness: Two men are wanted by police for an attack that left a victim unconscious in the locker room of the Oregon Avenue Planet Fitness location back in mid-February. (We’re not sure why it took them a month to release the surveillance footage, but it nonetheless was released this Monday.) The men were caught on camera fleeing after the assault, which happened shortly after midnight. No word on the victim’s condition or a motive. [Philly Police]

🛣️ Highway to hell? PhillyMag has a very well-written deep dive into PennDOT’s plans to widen I-95 through South Philly. One version of the plan destroys the ball fields down by the Walt Whitman Bridge in the process, and the story walks through how PennDOT has fudged the numbers to show higher-than-actual community support. [PhillyMag]

👮 Police shoot man near 17th and Moore: It was chaos in a usually quiet section of Point Breeze on Wednesday when a man armed with a rifle wandered around for several blocks before being shot by police. We have the 911 calls an some more details on what went down over on our IG account.

🗓️ This week’s South Philly events calendar

We can’t possibly find all of the cool events in South Philly on our own. Please send your submissions each week to [email protected] or DM us on IG at @south.philly.scoop.

Thursday, March 20

Basketball Tournament All You Can Eat 🏀
They can’t call it March Madness in their promo, but we can.
⏱️ 12 p.m. til 4 p.m.
🎟️ Starts at ~$80 for a table for two
📍 Chickie’s & Petes, 1526 Packer Avenue

Whitechapel: Hymns in Dissonance Tour 🤘
The death metal band, named after the London neighborhood where Jack the Ripper committed a series of murders.
⏱️ 6:30 p.m.
🎟️ $40.25
📍 TLA, 334 South Street

Painting with the Spirits with Spirit Medium Debbie 🎨
It’s painting and wine but there are dead people talking to you there too.
⏱️ 7 p.m. til 10 p.m.
🎟️ Starts at $54.99
📍 Painting With A Twist, 611 South Street

NCAA Men’s Division 1 Wrestling Championships 🤼‍♂️
⏱️ 12 p.m and 7 p.m. 📍Wells Fargo Center

Friday, March 21

Hoops4Hope Beef and Beer Fundraiser 🏀
This charity basketball league for people experiencing homelessness holds a fundraiser.
⏱️ 6 p.m.
🎟️ $40, includes domestic beer, well drinks, wine, buffet
📍 Paddy Whacks, 2nd and South Street

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships 👊
The fight promotion returns to South Philly.
⏱️ 7 p.m.
🎟️ $200 and up
📍 2300 Arena, 2300 South Swanson

Level Up: Sapphire Souls Tour 🎶
The DJ — who I have now been listening to while writing most of this week’s newsletter — is joined by three other acts at the TLA.
⏱️ 9 p.m.
🎟️ $45
📍 TLA, 334 South Street

NCAA Men’s Division 1 Wrestling Championships 🤼‍♂️
⏱️ 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. 📍Wells Fargo Center

Saturday, March 22

PennDOT Real ID Day at Whitman Plaza 🪪
The Real ID license deadline is May 7, and PennDOT is holding one of several events to help you get one if you want it.
⏱️ 10 a.m. til 2 p.m.
🎟️ No tickets
📍 PennDOT Driver License Center, 330 West Oregon Avenue

Tommy Richman: The Coyote Tour 🎤
The ‘Million Dollar Baby’ artist comes to South Street.
⏱️ 8 p.m.
🎟️ Starts at $41
📍 TLA, 334 South Street

NCAA Men’s Division 1 Wrestling Championships 🤼‍♂️
⏱️ 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. 📍Wells Fargo Center

Sunday, March 23

Youth Birding at John Heinz 🦆
Previous birding experience is not necessary as you explore all that our wonderful wildlife refuge near the airport has to offer.
⏱️ 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
🎟️ None, but RSVP requested
📍 John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, 8601 Lindbergh Boulevard

Phillies Charities 5K 🏃‍♂️
⏱️ 9 a.m.
🎟️ The race is sold out, but you can still go cheer!
📍 Citizens Bank Park, 11th and Pattison

The Franklin Quartet Presents “Linnea Borealis” 🎻
“A musical journey of rarely heard 18th and 19th Century Swedish Quartet repertoire pearls.”
⏱️ 3 p.m.
🎟️ $30 for adults, $5 for kids under 12
📍 Gloria Dei (Old Swedes) Church, 916 South Swanson Street

Pokémon League Night: March-ing Orders 🧑‍🎤
“Come one, come all to play some damn Pokémon. Talk about the new drop or just have some beers.”
⏱️ 5 p.m.
🎟️ Free
📍 Garage Passyunk, 1231 East Passyunk Avenue

Monday, March 24

Spring Gardening Workshop 🧑‍🌾
It’s time to get your garden back in order. This hands-on workshop will help you out, no experience necessary and catered to all ages.
⏱️ 6 p.m.
🎟️ Free
📍 Whitman Library, 200 Snyder Avenue

Tuesday, March 25

From Tibet to the Hearth 🍴
A celebration of women, culture, and cuisine.
⏱️ The 5:30 p.m. seating remains as of writing
🎟️ $85 per person, plus tax and tip
📍 Ember & Ash, 1520 East Passyunk

Muhibbah Dinner In Support Of Esperanza Immigration Legal Services 🍽️
Chefs from Juana Tamale, Royal Tavern, Yanaga Kappo Izakaya, E Mei, Reuby’s, and Kampar prepare a communal meal for a good cause.
⏱️ 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
🎟️ $160 for dinner
📍 Rex At The Royal, 1524 South Street

Wednesday, March 26

76ers Sports & Entertainment Career Fair 🧑‍💻
Want to meet hiring managers in sports and entertainment orgs around the region? This event is for you. Your ticket also gets you into that night’s game.
⏱️ 12:30 to 4 p.m.
🎟️ $68
📍 Wells Fargo Center

The Wiz! Dress Rehearsal 🎭
See CAPA’s performance of The Wiz! on the cheaper side as they prepare with a dress rehearsal. The show officially begins next week on March 26.
⏱️ 4 p.m.
🎟️ $5
📍 High School for the Creative & Performing Arts, 901 South Broad

A Trip to Italy In Poetry & Prose 📚
Featuring readings from six Italian American writers.
⏱️ 6 p.m.
🎟️ $5
📍 A Novel Idea, 1726 East Passyunk

Sixers vs . Washington Wizards 🏀
⏱️ 7 p.m. 📍Wells Fargo Center

Openings and closings

If you’re opening a new business and would like to be included in this part of the newsletter, shoot us a quick note at [email protected].

🍺 New life for former Grace Tavern: The Inquirer reports that the old Grace Tavern, at South Street and Grays Ferry Avenue, will reopen as a “fun neighborhood tavern” from the owners of Center City’s Tavern on Camac and U Bar. Just waiting on the liquor license. [@phillyinsider on IG]

🥖 Last week we told you that Skinny Joey’s Cheesesteaks — the new steak joint on deep South Broad from Joey Merlino — was set to open up shop before the end of the month. Now, we have a date: Friday, March 21. [Instagram]

🏋️ New pilates studio set to open: Passyunk Pilates will open their doors for an open house on April 4 at 2 p.m., and will officially open for business on April 7. It’s located at 1820 East Passyunk Avenue. [@passyunkpilates on IG]

The Great Depression hits South Street 💸

A weekly South Philly Scoop feature - an old school photo from somewhere in South Philly, and a bit of the history and background behind it.

In honor of the story above about the potential historic preservation of the Arts Bank building, we dug into the archives and found an old photo featuring the building.

This shot, from Broad Street looking east on South Street, is dated April 30, 1930.

The Arts Bank building — then, the Southwestern National Bank (meaning the southwestern portion of Philadelphia) — is pretty much the only one in the frame still standing today. There’s now new(er) construction on the entire rest of block, with the South Star Lofts building on the north side of the block and the 1352 Lofts down the block on the south side.

The bank building was designed by Ralph B. Bencker, who also designed the Rittenhouse Plaza on Rittenhouse Square and the Ayer Condominium on Washington Square.

It was completed just months prior to this photo being taken, in early 1930 — and was under construction during the Stock Market Crash of 1929 that led to the Great Depression. Many of those you seen in the photo were just likely beginning to feel the impacts of the Depression, and by 1933, the Southwestern National Bank was one of thousands nationwide that failed.

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See youse next Thursday.