Ryan

I woke up today like I do every day, like so many of us do – on my phone. I scroll through social media and read the news. I like this time in the morning to ease into the day because I know it’s going to be packed.

After a few minutes, I get up and get ready to run on the Schuylkill River Trail. I’ll be honest: I hate running, but I know it’s good for me. So I trudge outside in the sticky summer heat and turn up my music. It’s only mid-July, but I already know Charli xcx and Chappell Roan will dominate my Spotify Wrapped. It’s a #BratSummer.

I come home, shower, and get ready for the day. I love this time of the year because there are so many street festivals and community events – it’s one of my favorite things about living in the “City of Neighborhoods.” I decide to walk up to the Parkway (I’m a big walker) to attend “Barnes on the Block,” a block party thrown by the Barnes Foundation focused on creativity and artistic expression. I get there early and drop into Target to run a quick errand (I *love* Target). I head back to the grounds of the Barnes just in time for Batala Philly, a local percussion band, to perform. As soon as they begin, the crowd started dancing and having fun. It was nice to see everyone coming together to experience something joyful together….very Philly.

I walked around the booths and artists for a bit, before heading up the Parkway towards the Art Museum. There was a string of vendors selling art, crafts, and clothing. I crossed the street to check out The Oval – the summer activation of Eakins Oval. I’ve been several times before, and always like to see what the City does to transform the space each year. I’m in the Urban Strategy grad program at Drexel (where I also work) so I’m really interested in how public space is used  to create community. The Oval is one of my favorite examples of creative placemaking because it sits so unused and underutilized for most of the year. I think it’s a great way to quickly and simply bring life to an empty place – and the dozens of kids running around playing really emphasize that.

I walk back down the Parkway and stop in the garden of the Rodin Museum to read a bit. I pull out a book I’m reading for school about creating happier cities. I get a few chapters in before it starts getting uncomfortably hot. I move to a bench in the shade, but it doesn’t get much better. At this point, I decide to walk start to walk back towards home – but not before hightailing over to Rittenhouse Square to see what was going on for another festival, Bastille Day. There’s a small band playing with vendors. It’s a fun atmosphere, and I take it all in as I sit on a bench in the park while I gulp down a bottle of water.

I love Rittenhouse Square, and it’s probably my favorite place in the city. I used to live a block away and would find myself doing everything I could there. I think it’s so quintessentially Philadelphian, and I always find myself reflecting and  peoplewatching. I really feel at peace and incredibly connected to my city when I’m walking through or sitting on a bench. I sit for a while before heading home (to the air conditioning!!!)  to get ready to meet a friend later that afternoon.

I hop on the bus to City Hall to transfer to the El. Of course, the bus is delayed, and I bemoan how the PA budget failed to include adequate SEPTA funding earlier this week (alas). I take my seat and stare out the window before hoping off to head up to Fishtown.

I get off the El and walk a few minutes towards my friend Elissa’s house. We met/trauma bonded at our old job, and I really appreciate how I can always turn to her as someone else who works in marketing and communications – we always understand what the other is working on. Elissa is really eager to try an ice cream place in South Jersey, so we get in her car and head over the Betsy Ross Bridge. I get a cup of soft serve blueberry – which I’ve never seen before – and she gets a coffee milkshake. The ice cream was great, but it was even better to catch up about life and work after a pretty eventful month.

We talk for about an hour before the wind picks up and the sky grew darker. A storm front is moving towards us, so we decided to finish up and get back in the car to head back to Philly. We keep chatting as she drives, but naturally I get excited because we’re driving through the country seeing farm animals – did you even see a horse if you didn’t say, “Neigh?”

As soon as we turn onto the highway, the storm opens up and we drive through torrential downpour. I’m grateful we left when we did so we wouldn’t get drenched. The minute we head back over the bridge, the sun pokes out. Elissa kindly drops me back off at my place, and I spend the rest of my night avoiding the “Sunday Scaries” by meal prepping, doing laundry, and tidying up. I read a bit more and curl up in bed, happily wiped out from a full day of Philly.

Ryan has lived in Philadelphia since moving here for college. You'll probably find him out and about exploring. Say hi! IG: @the.great.wall | Twitter/X: ryan_wonderwall