Photo by Chris Richman, University City District.

If you’re wondering what this new structure at The Porch near 30th Street Station that looks like a shipping container is, here’s the scoop: It’s a new destination for post-work drinks called The Pub at The Porch. This thing just opened and will be serving beer, wine, and rotating bar fare Wednesday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. while the weather is warm. The pub is operated by the well-known Bridgewater’s Pub, a drinking and dining destination inside 30th Street Station.

The Pub is located near the center of The Porch, where food trucks set up for weekday lunch service. Local firm SHIFTSPACE designed and manufactured the free-standing non-permanent 10×10 cube that houses The Pub. It has a vibrant turquoise color coupled with carved-out architectural features.  Continue Reading

Rendering of The Porch 2.0 (courtesy of UCD).

The Porch, the public space by the 30th Street Station, will soon get some new features and upgrades, including new landscaping design, custom-made swings, and a permanent food and beverage concept, University City District (UCD) announced this week. Rendering for The Porch 2.0 has also been released and suggests that the space, which replaced a large 30th St Station parking lot in 2011, will become greener.

UCD is collaborating with urban landscaping firm Groundswell Design Group on space redesign. The new design features include a series of tiered wooden platforms, intermingled with planters and vine canopies that “offer a variety of comfortable and intimate spaces for people to sit and enjoy each other’s company, savor the food and drink, or simply lounge and linger.”

San Francisco-based Gehl Studio will create several custom-made, brightly-painted wooden swings designed exclusively for the Porch. The swings are expected to add to user enjoyment of the space.

Finally, chef-restaurateur Michael Schulson has been invited to develop a permanent food and beverage concept for The Porch, which includes a parked food truck with a specifically designed and newly installed rotisserie. Rotisserie at The Porch will serve lunch seven days a week, and there will be a beverage trailer that will offer beer and liquor options Wednesdays-Saturdays from 4-9 p.m. By the way, revenue from the Rotisserie will benefit UCD’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI) program.

The new features are expected to be unveiled this spring.

Photo courtesy UCD.

The Free at Noon concert series returns to The Porch at 30th Street station on Friday, May 16 with live performances by Hamilton Leithauser and Chet Faker. Leithauser, the lead singer of the recently broken-up indie rock band The Walkmen, will perform songs from his solo debut album titled Black Hours. Chet Faker is an electronica musician from Australia, who has also recently released his debut album, Built on Glass.

Sounds like something fun to do at lunchtime, plus there will be some awesome food trucks at The Porch on that day: Bonjour Creperie, Dadz Grilled Cheese, Innovative Catering, and Local 215. Smak Parlour, a mobile fashion boutique, will also be there.

Free at Noon concerts are presented by the University City District (UCD) and WXPN Radio. For more events at The Porch, visit: http://universitycity.org/porch-events

Photo courtesy University City District.

The spring has officially begun today and the University City District has announced an exciting spring program for The Porch, a cool public space near 30th Street Station. The spring programming will begin April 1 and will include a variety of FREE events and activities, featuring music, food, fitness, and fun. Here are some more details on what to expect at The Porch next month.

FOOD

Gourmet Food Trucks – Mon, Wed, Fri (11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.); Tue & Thu  (7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.)

MUSIC

WXPN Local Wednesdays
Noon on the first Wednesday of the month
Live music from Philly’s rising stars.

Ginger Coyle: April 2

You hear Ginger Coyle’s vintage vocals grace your ears, you undoubtedly feel as if you’ve encountered an old soul. The South Jersey singer-songwriter-pianist-guitarist first caught XPN’s attention with the bluesy “Silver Lining” from her 2012 EP Homeward Bound and is currently working on her full length to be released in 2014.

Lunchtime Accordion Serenade

Tuesdays, Noon – 1 p.m.

Enjoy live accordion music while you relax and have lunch or take a break from the daily grind.

FITNESS 

Put your lunch break to work for you with fitness programming from BodyRock Boot Camp.

Thursdays, 6 p.m.

Zumba: April 3 & 24

Bokwa: April 10

Bootcamp: April 17  Continue Reading

The Porch, a public space at the 30th Street Station, debuts its 2013 season’s Beer Garden this week, on Thursday and Friday, from 3 to 8 p.m. The Bridgewater’s Pub will serve German and craft beers and the food offerings will include Korean tacos and chicken parm sandwiches. In addition to the food and beer enjoy live music by hottest Philly musicians – Perseverance Jazz Band and Evan Cory Levine and Co. For more information go here.

The Porch will host only two more Beer Gardens this spring and summer – May 16 & 17 and June 6 & 7.

Spring is finally here and The Porch, once a congested parking lot and now an animated public space adjacent to the second busiest train station in the country, is getting ready to start its 2013 season programming. Beginning this Wednesday, April 3, all are welcome to stop by The Porch between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on most weekdays and enjoy gourmet food trucks, live music, street performers, fitness bootcamps, and a beer garden. Here’s more information on what’s coming up this month.

Lunchtime Accordion Serenade, Mondays & Fridays, Noon – 1 p.m.

Experience the beauty of solo accordion, from Eastern European to South American, Polka to American Jazz.

WXPN Philly Local Wednesdays, Wednesdays, Noon

Live music every Wednesday from Philly’s rising stars.
April 3 – Dante Bucci
April 10 – The Fleeting Ends
April 17 – Christie Lenée
April 24 – The Splashing Pearls

Gourmet Food Trucks

Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
The Cow and the Curd
Cupcake Carnival
Lucky Old Souls
The Sunflower Truck Stop

Fridays, 11:30 a.m. -2:30 p.m.
Just Jackie’s Food Truck
Say Cheese
Spot Burger
Sweetbox Cupcakes

Bodyrock Fitness, Thursdays, 6 p.m.

Put your lunch break to work for you with fitness programming from University City’s BodyRock Bootcamp.

April 4 – Bootcamp
April 11 – Bokwa
April 18 – Zumba
April 25 – Bootcamp

Give And Take street performers and The Little Circus

The Give and Take Jugglers and Little Circus shows feature juggling, comedy, vaudeville, circus arts and theater.

Wednesday, April 3, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Street Performers

Friday, April 12, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Little Circus

Backpack Gallery, Friday, April 5, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Combining contemporary visual art and performance, the Backpack Gallery brings the art to you.

The Porch Beer Garden, Thursday, April 18, 3-8 p.m.; Friday, April 19, 3-8 p.m.

Experience the Outdoor Beer Garden at The Porch at 30th Street Station. Bridgewater’s Pub will offer German and craft beers. Enjoy the fresh air and live music.

For more information about events at The Porch at 30th Street Station visit http://universitycity.org/porch-events