Contact:
Giavana Suraci
T 215.440.5516
gsuraci@centercityphila.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Free concerts, happy hours and more on downtown office plazas! 

PHILADELPHIA (May 11, 2023): Center City Philadelphia holds 43% of all jobs citywide with a workforce from every neighborhood in the city, with more than 100,000 being employed in the office district. This spring and summer, Center City District (CCD) will celebrate and support Center City in-office employees by hosting free, outdoor events on West Market and JFK Boulevard.

Beginning May 18 and continuing every week through June 22, Center City Social invites office workers to make the most of their workweek by gathering with friends and colleagues for pop-up happy hours just steps away from their desks. CCD will provide live DJ and instrumental entertainment, plus lawn games, ping-pong and giveaways. Each location will also offer specialty food and beverage deals, which will vary week to week. Attendance is free for everyone ages 21 and over. The current schedule for Center City Social includes:

Thursday, May 18: Throwback Thursday Kickoff Event at the Comcast Center
1701 JFK Boulevard, 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

Join us for this unique kickoff event to the Center City Social series. Enjoy retro arcade games, specialty food and beverage offerings from Café Click, live DJ entertainment and more!

Wednesday, May 24: Official Center City District SIPS Preview Party
Pagano’s at Commerce Square, 2001-2005 Market Street, 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

Celebrate the start of summer during Center City District’s official CCD SIPS Preview Party, hosted in partnership with Wooder Ice Philly! The one-night-only special event, located at Pagano’s Market and Bar, will feature exclusive SIPS pricing ($7 cocktails, $6 wine and $5 beer), live DJ entertainment, giveaways and samplings courtesy of Hornitos® Tequila.

Thursday, June 1: Two Penn Center
1500 JFK Boulevard, 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

Enjoy al fresco cocktails, music and ping-pong in front of Uptown Beer Garden, conveniently located within Two Penn Center.

Thursday, June 8: 3 Logan Square
1717 Arch Street, 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

Come for work, stay for fun at 3 Logan Square! Live DJ entertainment, lawn games and pop-up putt-putt are on the agenda, plus food and beverage offerings from City Tap House.

Thursday, June 15: 1818 Market Street
1818 Market Street, 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

Chaddsford Winery will pop up at 1818 Market Street to offer local sips at affordable prices. Music, games and giveaways will also be available!

 Thursday, June 22: Duane Morris Plaza
30 S. 17th Street, 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

Gather friends and colleagues for the final Center City Social of the season! Food and drink items will be available from Constellation Catering and Chaddsford Winery, and live entertainment will be provided all evening.

In addition to Center City Social, Center City District SIPS also returns this summer to offer the ultimate after-work experience. Beginning June 7 and continuing every Wednesday through August 30, more than 60 bars and restaurants will offer $7 cocktails, including specials made with Hornitos® Tequila, $6 wine, $5 beer and half-priced appetizers. Find the full list of participating locations at ccdsips.com

CCD will also provide free lunchtime concerts in various office plazas. Live @ Lunch presented by TD Bank begins on June 7 and will continue every week through July 26. From 12 p.m.-1 p.m., everyone is invited to watch as local musicians showcase their talents in the heart of Center City.

The current schedule includes:

Wednesday, June 7: Rahnda Rize at Commerce Square
Wednesday, June 14: Fareed Simpson-Hankins at 1900 Market Street  
Wednesday, June 21: CrisTene’ Triplet at 1818 Market Street
Wednesday, June 28: Kayla Childs at 1700 Market Street
Wednesday, July 5: Micah Graves at 1515 Market Street
Wednesday, July 12: Julia Pratt at Shops at Liberty Place (Market Street Entrance)
Wednesday, July 19: Namarah McCall  at 2 Penn Center, 1500 JFK Blvd.
Wednesday, July 26: Zeek Burse at 3 Logan, 1717 Arch Street  

In the event of inclement weather, all Live @ Lunch presented by TD Bank performances will take place inside of the Shops at Liberty Place.

Live @ Lunch presented by TD Bank musicians were selected as part Black Music City, a collaboration of Philadelphia public music radio stations WXPN-FM and WRTI-FM and REC Philly, which recognizes and honors the influence of Philadelphia Black music history by awarding grants for new creative works.

All of these events build on lunchtime programs CCD has been offering in office building lobbies since the start of the spring. Center City FYI has enabled workers to learn about shopping and dining opportunities downtown and to connect with staff from SEPTA, PATCO, the Philadelphia Police Department and CCD.

As of April 2023, 64% of non-resident workers have returned to work downtown. Center City District continues to support that effort and encourages everyone to patronize the 2,800 retailers and restaurants that depend on in-person interaction. Find more information regarding employment, retail, transportation and more in the 2023 State of Center City report.  

All events hosted by CCD are weather permitting and subject to change. To learn more, visit centercityphila,org.

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The Center City District, a private-sector organization dedicated to making Center City Philadelphia clean, safe and attractive, is committed to maintaining Center City’s competitive edge as a regional employment center, a quality place to live, and a premier regional destination for dining, shopping and cultural attractions. Find us at www.centercityphila.org and on Facebook and Twitter.