⚓️ Would you ever live in the Navy Yard? ⚾️ Phillies come home to South Philly this week

Happy Thursday, South Philly.

It’s Phillies opening day and we’re ready to see our furry green buddy again.

In this week's newsletter ...

• ⚓️ They're trying to make the Navy Yard a thing

• 🗓️ This week’s South Philly events calendar

• 🥗 🍕 Healthy and not-so-healthy new eateries

⚓️ Would you live in the Navy Yard?

Imagine we’re sitting at a bar having a debate about what constitutes ‘South Philly.’

Would you ever even think about the Navy Yard?

I mean, geographically, yes, of course. It is in the Southern part of South Philadelphia.

But it’s not a neighborhood. It’s not really South Philly, or even really Philly. There’s a DiNics, sure, and some pharmaceutical companies, a Marriott, and a bunch of dogs and their humans who take a shuttle in to their jobs at Urban Outfitters.

Nobody lives there, there’s no community. It’s just a place that could be kinda cool, I guess, but is just completely disconnected from the rest of the city — cut off by I-95 and without any real destination for those of us who aren’t employed there.

Maybe that’s changing, though?

There was an influx of media coverage of the Navy Yard this week after a big 25th Anniversary Of The Navy Yard event, celebrating the growth of the area since it was purchased by the PIDC, the city’s public-private development arm, from the federal government in 2000.

There’s no doubt it has been a rousing success. 15,000 people work there now and more than 150 companies have a presence there, per the PIDC.

But to make a place a neighborhood, you need people there all the time — not just 9-to-5. People who live there, and attractions for people who do not.

The PIDC and its associated developers are hard at work on just that task, telling PhillyMag that they expect 4,000 residential units and 8,000 people to live in the district 20 years from now. There’s a new residential building going up, expected to be complete this year, with over 600 units. (You can’t lease an apartment via their website yet.)

That PhillyMag article boasts that the Navy Yard “might soon be Philly’s hottest neighborhood”, and a Business Journal story features a developer speaking glowingly about how they’re going to “crush the next 20 years” in re-imagining the place.

But do you see it? No matter how many restaurants and jobs exist in the Navy Yard, can you imagine a world in which 8,000 people live there? Can you imagine a world in which you’re going to the Navy Yard for dinner?

When we talk about the potential development of the empty lots in the Sports Complex, with apartments and shops and restaurants, I can see that.

Importantly, it’s because it has the same access to the rest of the city as the rest of South Philly — thanks to the Broad Street Line. It’s as easy to get there as it is to get to Center City or Temple.

The Navy Yard just doesn’t boast that connectivity, and the walk today from the subway to those shiny new 600 apartment units is the definition of unpleasant — over a mile long, under an interstate, across a few highway off ramps, and along an eight-lane road. Biking isn’t much more fun, although there is a new bike lane near FDR Park for at least a portion of the route.

An extension of the Broad Street Line, at most recent published estimates, could cost over $1 billion. Don’t see that happening any time soon, unfortunately. A beefed up shuttle service could help, but buses get stuck in traffic, which is gridlocked at rush hour as it is today and even worse on any night there’s an stadium event.

Driving down Broad Street is really the only way to access the Navy Yard, and that’s always going to cause an issue — especially when the other side of that in-and-out gets jammed with sports traffic 300 nights a year.

What we have here in the Navy Yard, at the current moment, is a quasi-neighborhood with a lot of potential and even more unanswered questions. You can build it, but will they come?

A neighborhood that’s built up with apartments and tech companies but disconnected from the rest of Philadelphia sounds like … well, it sounds like a suburb that also has to pay city wage tax.

🗓️ 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 27

A Pop-Up Video Game Afternoon 🎮
The library hosts a video game get-together.
⏱️ 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
🎟️ Free, it’s the library
📍 South Philadelphia Library, 1700 S Broad

Josiah Queen: My Promised Land Tour 🤲
The 22-year-old Christian musician has topped the Billboard ‘Top Christian Albums’ chart.
⏱️ 7 p.m.
🎟️ GA is around $50
📍 TLA, 334 South

Flyers vs. Montreal Canadiens 🏒
⏱️ 7 p.m. 📍Wells Fargo Center

Friday, March 28

Wolfpack Legendary Pop Up Shop 🛍️
Community artists hold a pop up shop.
⏱️ 5 p.m.
🎟️ Free, donations welcome
📍 Tattooed Mom, 530 South

Flyers Alumni Friday Night Fights: Celebrating Old Time Hockey 🏒
The annual event celebrates Flyers hockey of years past and raises momey for charity. Includes open bar, apps, and dinner.
⏱️ 5:30 p.m.
🎟️ $350, with tables of 8 available for $2,800
📍 2300 Arena, 2300 South Swanson

‘Stone Soup: Works by Eustace Mamba’ Opening Reception 🖼️
A new exhibition opens at the Magic Gardens, running through June 1.
⏱️ 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
🎟️ Pay-As-You-Wish
📍 Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, 1020 South

Electric Feels: Indie Rock & Electronic Dance Party 🪩
This 21+ “party with a festival feel” features DJs spinning tracks from artists like Tame Impala, MGMT, and the Killers.
⏱️ 9:30 p.m., doors at 9
🎟️ $25.50
📍 TLA, 334 South

NLL Lacrosse: Wings vs. Ottawa Blackbears 🥍
⏱️ 7 p.m. 📍Wells Fargo Center

Saturday, March 29

Knights of Columbus Spring Clothing Drive 👕
Cleaning out your closet this spring? Bring new and gently used clothing to the St. Paul Parish annual spring clothing drive this Saturday.
⏱️ 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
📍 St. Paul Parish, 923 Christian

Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler Community Job Fair 🧑‍💻
“All are welcome to attend the fair this Saturday, March 29th in South Philly to learn about careers in education, public service, the building trades, libraries, and commerce,” per the State Reps’ office.
⏱️ 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
📍 Mt. Enon Baptist Church, 5th and Snyder

Skinny Joey’s Cheesesteaks Grand Opening 🥖
⏱️ 11 a.m.
📍 Skinny Joey’s, 3020 South Broad

Phillies Clothing Pop Up and Watch Party ⚾️
Philthy Co. will hold a pop up with their apparel, and the brewery will tap their “Big Phan” west coast pale ale. The Phils play in D.C. at 4:05 p.m.
⏱️ 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
📍 Brewery ARS, 1927 West Passyunk

The Dandelion Project Casino Night 🎲
This group, which supports camps and after-school programs for kids ages 5 through 14, hosts an annual fundraising event.
⏱️ 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
🎟️ $50
📍 The Dandelion Project, 1415 South 9th

The Goods: A Comedy Show 🎤
Four comedians are on the docket at this independent standup night.
⏱️ Show starts at 8 p.m.
🎟️ $8 early bird, $15 full price
📍 At My House, 760 South 4th

Rebecca Black: The SALVATION Tour 🎶
The artist famous for 2011 hit “Friday” tours in support of her second studio album.
⏱️ 8:30 p.m.
🎟️ $35
📍 TLA, 334 South

Flyers vs. Buffalo Sabres 🏒
⏱️ 1 p.m. 📍Wells Fargo Center

Sixers vs. Miami Heat 🏀
⏱️ 7:30 p.m. 📍Wells Fargo Center

Sunday, March 30

Paffuto & Amy’s Pastelillos Pocket Party 2.0 🥟
The Italian Market eatery collabs with the Fishtown-based pastelillo eatery for a delicious day of pocket-shaped foods.
⏱️ 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
📍 Paffuto Italian Eats & Treats, 1009 South 8th

Spray Tan Training Class 👙
A one-day spray tan certification class. (This is in the Navy Yard. If you read the opening portion of the newsletter, please don’t yell at me for including it.)
⏱️ 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
🎟️ $399
📍 Courtyard Marriott at the Navy Yard, 1001 Intrepid Ave

Sixers vs. Toronto Raptors 🏀
⏱️ 7:30 p.m. 📍Wells Fargo Center

Monday, March 31

Phillies Home Opener vs. Colorado ⚾️
The Phillies start the season in Washington on Thursday, but play their first game in South Philly on Monday afternoon.
⏱️ 3:05 p.m.
🎟️ Tickets start around $80 on the secondary market
📍 Citizens Bank Park

Flyers vs. Nashville Predators 🏒
⏱️ 7 p.m. 📍Wells Fargo Center

Tuesday, April 1

Community Town Hall with Councilmember Squilla & State Rep. Waxman 🇺🇸
Give feedback to your elected officials. (Mark Squilla reps most of South Philly east of Broad, and Ben Waxman reps most of Bella Vista.)
⏱️ 6 p.m.
🎟️ Free and open to the public
📍Church of St. Luke & The Epiphany, 330 South 13th

Dock Street South Art Opening 🎨
A night of art, music, dancing, laughing, eating, and drinking.
⏱️ 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
🎟️ Free
📍 Dock Street South, 22nd and Washington

Dom Kennedy 🎤
The L.A. rapper comes to South Street.
⏱️ 8 p.m.
🎟️ Starts at $23.50
📍 TLA, 334 South

Wednesday, April 2

Disturbed: The Sickness 25th Anniversary Tour 🤘
The heavy rock band is joined by Daughtry, and they’re playing their hit album The Sickness in its entirety.
⏱️ 6:30 p.m.
🎟️ Starts at $29.50
📍 Wells Fargo Center

DEAD KENNEDYS: East Coast Tour 2025 🎸
The 70s/80s punk rockers hit the TLA.
⏱️ 7:45 p.m.
🎟️ Starts at $44
📍 TLA, 334 South

Phillies vs. Colorado Rockies ⚾️
⏱️ 6:45 p.m. 📍Citizens Bank Park

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].

3️⃣ Three times the Good’s Vintage: You may have noticed that Good’s has been in flux over on 9th Street in the Italian Market for a bit, but come April 4 we will have three versions of the store — The Original, at 1022 South 9th Street, their home decor shop at 1026 9th, and their clothing and accessories shop up a block at 902 South 9th.

🟢 More, yet minimal, chaos: Middle Eastern-themed rug shop Minimal Chaos opened a shop on East Passyunk last year, and now they’re expanding their Bok Building presence with Nasseb Studio, what they call a “creative playground.” More info on their website.

🥗 Healthy eats at 4th and Moore: Need help meal prepping or just want a healthier take out option? Horseman Wellness just opened in the old Manny & Phil’s Pub location at the corner of 4th and Moore. Very active on social media about life attempting to start a small business, give ‘em a follow. [@horsemanwellnessclub on IG]

🍕 New pizza spot looks pretty good if pics mean anything: In the opposite category of healthy food, we told you a few weeks back about Angelina’s, the new pizza joint on Oregon Avenue which will also host a John’s Water Ice window this summer. They opened for business this week — the pies and menu both look great.

🧘 New pilates studio on Pass: Joining Movement Source as a pilates option on East Passyunk Avenue will be Passyunk Pilates, a new studio opening up between Moore and Mifflin, in the old Mesh Vintage space. Open houses will be held on Friday, April 7 and April 11.

🆕 Lots of movement at Passyunk and Moore: Okay, so first, Arctic Scoop closed. Then, Flannel rebranded and changed the menu. Then the new pilates studio. And now it looks like the long-vacant space(s) right next to Stogie Joe’s will be re-opening. Signs in the window say South Philly Optical — currently in a smaller shop down the block — will be moving to 1807 East Passyunk, and social media activity indicates the opening of a pottery studio, The Pottery Spottery, at 1805. We love social media activity.

🎭 The Wiz opens at CAPA: Listen, The Wiz is coming to the Academy of Music in June. Should you go? Sure, yes, why not. But the students at CAPA, the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, at Broad and Carpenter, will be performing the same show this week, Thursday through Sunday. Tickets are only $25. Support the kids. [CAPA]

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See youse next Thursday. ✌️