SEPTA is extending Route 45 to provide direct daily bus service to the Navy Yard for the first time in more than a decade, a move aimed at helping to grow both the development and transit ridership.
The new service is scheduled to begin in August, with buses operating at about 20-minute intervals, starting at 12th and Noble Streets in North Philadelphia, through Center City, and to stops inside the Navy Yard itself.
More than 150 employers have facilities in the Navy Yard, with more than 16,000 people working on the campus. There are 614 units of housing and plans for more residential and commercial development.
“Our goal is to provide as many safe, reliable, efficient ways to get to the Navy Yard as possible,” said Alex M. Smith, vice president of Navy Yard strategic initiatives at the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp. It has built a path alongside South Broad Street to accommodate bike commuters and pedestrians.
“The 45 just provides another level of service for folks that may think otherwise than to take an Uber or their own car,” Smith said.
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The Navy Yard’s master plan projects about 3,000 people will be living there within 15 to 20 years. About 450 jobs are expected to be added at Rhoads Industries, a maritime company in the western part of the former military base.
Colin Foley, the chief of service planning and schedules at SEPTA, said a 2023 survey of the Navy Yard workforce found that 86% did not use transit, and 60% of those said they would use SEPTA if more options were offered.
Forecasters predict it could feel like 100 degrees on Thursday.
“While the district has made significant progress toward ensuring our schools are adequately cooled in order to provide safe and comfortable learning environments, there are still a number of schools with inadequate cooling systems,“ Deputy Superintendent Oz Hill said in a letter to families and staff.
The 52 schools, and early childhood programs located inside them, will all close early, and any after-school activities at those schools are canceled.
Schools’ dismissal times vary based on their start times.
While Thursday is district students’ last day of classes for the 2025-26 school year, staff are expected to report to work Friday.
The World Cup officially lands in Philly on June 14, when the Ivory Coast takes on Ecuador at the temporarily-renamed Philadelphia Stadium (aka Lincoln Financial Field) in South Philly, with five more games to follow.
But let’s be real: Getting into a match is going to be difficult. And besides, nothing screams Philly more than taking in a game at a local bar alongside strangers and Citywides that will give you the courage to cheer even louder.
Here are 19 bars in Philly and the suburbs that are going all-in on the World Cup, including four planning to be open until 4 a.m. for late-night matches.
🍺 Bars allowed to stay open until 4 a.m.
Earlier this year, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a bill into law permitting Philly bars to stay open until 4 a.m. for the duration of the World Cup. Just over 50 bars in the city thus far are eligible to apply for a permit to stay open that late, according to a list from the City of Philadelphia, and several told The Inquirer that extending their hours just wasn’t worth it.
On the eve of the World Cup, several bars were still waiting to get permit approval to stay open late.
These are four spots that plan to be open until 4 a.m. in Philly, from a bowling alley to a Latin American club-staurant.
The bar at Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse, 1941 Sansom St., on Aug. 31, 2022.MICHAEL KLEIN / Staff
While Cavanaugh’s Headhouse location has a rep among Newcastle United and Liverpool fans as a solid bar for soccer matches, the sports bar’s Rittenhouse location is the one that will be open until 4 a.m. during the World Cup. Cav’s will be serving daily drinks and food specials, and is one of more than 20 bars participating in the Crawl for the Cup, a citywide World Cup-themed bar crawl, including a scavenger hunt, on June 20.
The World Cup is practically a 24 / 7 event at Mamajuana. The Latin American Northern Liberties club-staurant will be staying open until 4 a.m. on match days while also hosting Sunday brunches and watch parties for 10 games from June 13 through July 19. The club’s World Cup special promises mascot appearances, daily food specials, and limited-edition cocktails, such as the Golden Cup, an old-fashioned served in a gold globe-shaped goblet. A full schedule can be found on Mamajuana’s Instagram.
This lively Hunting Park institution will be open until 4 a.m. during the World Cup to broadcast games in its downstairs bar and upstairs night club. Tierra Colombiana’s menu spans Latin America, which means you can have arepas while Colombia plays, ceviche during Ecuador’s matches, and extra large mojitos all tournament long.
Soccer at a bowling alley? That’s literally the vibe at Oregon Avenue’s South Bowl, a bowling alley and bar (with an outdoor lounge) that is staying open until 4 a.m. to broadcast the following matches: Australia vs. Turkey on June 14, Austria vs. Jordan on June 17, and Tunisia vs. Japan on June 21. Games will play on the screens above each lane, which means there’s the potential to land a strike while watching pro athletes score goals.
If the 4 a.m. crowd isn’t your speed, these 10 Philly bars are hosting World Cup watch parties that don’t skimp on the fun — even if they aren’t going all night long.
Scenes from the opening night of Bok Bar — initially called Le Bok Fin — in 2015.Michelle Gustafson
The Black Taxi
This Irish pub in Fairmount has long been a host for English Premier League matches, at one point even displaying the trophy for an afternoon of photo ops. Roughly a half-mile from the FIFA Fan Fest at Lemon Hill, this is the spot to take in a game with a perfect pour of Guinness.
📍 745-747 N. 25th St., 📞 215-232-1086, 🌐 theblacktaxi.com
All of Philly’s tournament matches will be simulcast on screen’s atop Philly’s most famous rooftop bar, which is hosting Puyero Venezulean Flavor for a monthlong food pop-up in June that includes arepas, empanadas, and bite-sized churros. Where else can you see the lights from the Linc — I mean, Philadelphia Stadium — twinkle in distance during a knockout game on July 4?
The crowd at Brauhaus Schmitz in Philadelphia cheers USA’s first goal against the Netherlands in the World Cup on Dec. 3, 2022.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
Bella Vista’s sprawling German biergarten is taking the party to the streets, closing down the block for free outdoor watch parties for matches on June 25, June 27, July 3, July 4, and July 19. Games will be broadcast on 20-foot-tall TVs in the middle of South Street, while indoors will feature 34 beers on tap, surprise giveaways, and burgers with novelty soccer ball pretzel buns. And on non-block party days, Brauhaus Schmitz will be still be airing World Cup matches indoors.
This Brazilian sports bar in Northeast Philly is the place to be for fans of team Brazil and is hosting not one, but two lively watch parties during the team’s match against Morocco on June 13 and Haiti on June 19. And if you’re only there for the vibes, Guanabara has a rooftop, three types of caipirinhas, and Brazilian-style cheesesteaks.
Known for its supremely satisfying smashburger, this neighborhood bar with a French twist has big plans for the Group Stage. Good King Tavern will open daily starting at 3 p.m. with an extended happy hour that features mini cocktails and street food-style snacks. Its upstairs wine bar, Le Caveau, will also be getting in on the action, which means you can sip a draft negroni and nosh on a fancy hot dog while watching your team of choice.
A bar where you can play 18-holes of mini golf between matches? Sign us up. Libertee Grounds will be gamifying its World Cup watch parties with the Pitch Passport, a punch card that rewards guest for watching every game at the bar-slash-indoor-mini-golf-course. How it works: Earn a punch for each nation when you a watch a match, which are redeemable for rewards such as a free beer, mini golf passes, or a lifetime membership. Drink specials will also be available.
This Chinatown sports bar is committed to soccer year-round, airing everything from Premier League matches to La Liga games on its 35 TVs. Expect the World Cup to be no different. Lion Sports Bar will be airing all matches at its original location and taking over Yamitsuki Ramen across the street for a ticketed open bar and buffet. Also available at both locations: a signature World Cup pink margarita garnished with collectible Lionel Messi stickers.
This longstanding Irish Pub in Center City is the official home of Philly’s Chelsea FC and Manchester City FC clubs, so you can expect that it will be a hub for World Cup games. The bar will air all 104 matches (with the sound on!) across 14 TVs and two projectors. Weeks one and two of the tournament are bringing specials on Michelob Ultra and Stella Artois, plus a ticket giveaway on June 13 for a future match.
The real fun at this rowdy, double-decker sports bar comes during the USMNT’s matches against Paraguay on June 12, Australia on June 19, and Turkey on June 25. The American Outlaws — the official support group for Team USA — will be taking over Top Tomato during those games for block parties with a live DJ that are open to all, no RSVP required.
The newly renovated (and re-christened) Stateside Live! now includes a rooftop bar and beer garden. Just steps away from the action at Philadelphia Stadium, what will it offer soccer fans? The entertainment complex is hosting the official World Cup pregame for ticketholders. A match ticket and $50 will get you expedited entry and access to a tailgate with a food voucher, while $175 buys a spot at a prematch buffet with cheesesteaks, roast pork sandwiches, and open bar.
Stateside Live! will also be open to the general public during all six of Philly’s World Cup games. Matches will be simulcast on the venue’s new outdoor stage alongside a selection of food trucks.
But if you’re looking to keep it extra local during the World Cup, these bars in the Philly suburbs are going above and beyond for the World Cup, from erecting a pop-up beer garden to brewing a special IPA.
The Landing Kitchen, an all-day cafe created by Nicholas Elmi and Fia Berisha at the riverside redevelopment of the Pencoyd Ironworks on July 10, 2021.CHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Located in Bala Cynwyd, just across the Pencoyd Bridge from Manayunk, this all-day riverside cafe with a family friendly vibe will be broadcasting all quarterfinal, semifinal, and finals matches outdoors on a 164-inch screen. Chef Nicholas Elmi will be firing up a smoker for barbecue specials during the games, and guests are strongly encouraged to play bocce or relax at a fire pit during halftime.
Named one of the 10 best bars for watching soccer in the U.S. by the Men in Blazers, Bucks County’s Villa Capri is one of the only bars in the Philadelphia suburbs that has committed to airing all 104 World Cup matches — with the sound on. The Doylestown bar is also rolling a limited-edition cocktail menu for the tournament that includes drinks such as the $14 Equalizer margarita, which comes in passionfruit, pineapple, strawberry, or pomegranate.
This haunt for West Chester University students already has a reputation in Chester County as a Liverpool bar that airs Philadelphia Union games. During the World Cup, Kildare’s is going all in on USMNT. The bar will be shutting down a portion of Gay Street for a free, 21+ watch party during Team USA’s matchup against Paraguay on June 12. Kildare’s will also be showing a selection of other games starting at noon daily, with to-be-announced drink and food specials on offer.
Malvern’s Locust Lane Craft Brewery is hosting a pop-up World Cup beer garden in Upper Merion’s Nor-View Farm Park with free entry from June 11 through July 19. Games will be broadcast on TVs under the park’s pavilion, where attendees can bring their own chairs and enjoy a selection of $8 beers on tap, plus food from the Epicurian Garage Truck. The beer garden will open one hour before the first broadcast game and close before midnight; schedule can be found here.
A former New Jersey Brewery of the Year, Zed’s Beer takes the World Cup as seriously as it takes its brews. The Marlton bar will be airing all Team USA matches, alongside several other key games as designated on the bar’s digital calendar. Also on offer: Soccer-themed quizzo and a new limited-edition IPA called the “48 hops for 48 teams.” Made with hops from each country with a qualifying FIFA team, this beer will be available for the duration of the tournament.
📍19 N. Maple Ave., Ste. A, Marlton, N.J. 📞 856-872-7632, 🌐 drinkzeds.com
The bodies of poor and Black Philadelphians have long been exploited in the name of medical progress — even after death.
Grave robbing was a common practice among medical schools like the one at the University of Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the cholera outbreak created great demand for cadavers. Medical schools paid people to steal freshly buried corpses for medical students to conduct research in the hope of developing cures.
Very often, a wealthy white population benefited from the cures derived from experimentation on these bodies.
Black Philadelphians were denied burial in the city’s cemeteries, so many of these bodies were buried in potter’s fields without tombstones.
In 1794, after being denied worship at Old City’s St. George’s Methodist Church, the formerly enslaved Richard Allen founded the Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, considered the world’s first AME congregation. In 1810, he purchased what today is called the Bethel Burial Ground.
A statue of Bishop Richard Allen outside Mother Bethel AME Church.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
The minister, who would go on to become one of America’s most influential Black leaders, wanted Black Philadelphians to receive a dignified final resting place, with tombstones.
Through her 2024 play The Great Privation (How to Flip Ten Cents Into a Dollar), Harlem-raised playwright Nia Akilah Robinson seeks to offer audiences a peek into this macabre history with Philadelphia roots.
“This topic of grave robbing is a subject in which I had conversations around the dinner table with my parents,” Robinson said. “It is a practice that has a long and storied history in Philadelphia, especially institutions like University of Pennsylvania medical school, and these crimes continue today.”
The play, set at Mother Bethel in 1832 and the present, is now being staged at Theatre Exile.
It explores the history of grave robbing in America in the name of medical progress, through the story of a Black American mother and daughter who keep vigil over their recently buried loved ones’ graves to protect their bodies from grave robbers or “resurrectionists,” who were often white.
Andre G Brown, Rayne, Aidan McDonald, and Semaja Murphy in “The Great Privation (How to Flip Ten Cents Into a Dollar)”Paola Nogueras
“I saw the description of a play, talking about an African Methodist Episcopal Church, 1832 graveyard in South Philadelphia,” the Rev. Carolyn C. Cavaness of Mother Bethel said. “That’s Mother Bethel! That’s me.”
The Rev. Carolyn Cavaness celebrates worship service Nov. 11, 2024 after Mother Bethel AME appointed her the first woman pastor in its history. CAVANESS-TBDTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Robinson first drove past Weccacoe Playground and Bethel Burial Ground during rehearsals for Theatre Exile’s production. Philadelphia-based director Ontaria Kim Wilson wanted her to see the place that she had been writing about.
“When I was crossing into that block with Ontaria, as she was driving, I felt something, I can’t even explain it,” Robinson said.
“In Philly, there is a lot of respect paid toward talking about the history through those signs of what happened here. Sometimes when I go past those [historical markers], I see a tribute, and I feel a sadness. I get why it’s there and I also [think] maybe we need more plays doing that, too.”
Today, members of the Mother Bethel congregation, families visiting Weccacoe, and the thousands of Philadelphians and tourists walking past this small playground hold the juxtaposition of young life and centuries-old resting souls at once.
Philadelphia-based director Ontaria Kim Wilson has directed Nia Akilah Robinson’s 2024 play “The Great Privation (How to Flip Ten Cents Into a Dollar),” which is now playing at Theater ExileCourtesy of Theater Exile
Theatre Exile is partnering with Mother Bethel to offer the production crew a more real-world context to the story of the play. Cavaness met with Wilson and attended the first rehearsal and will participate in post-show discussions during the run of the production.
“You always have the contesting and the non-acceptance of Black bodies being fully human,” Cavaness explained. “‘You’re not fully human, so I can do with your pieces, I can do with your body, as I see fit.’”
Cavaness can’t help but think of Allen, who was initially buried in front of Mother Bethel.
“They would have people guarding his body. Again, this notion of protecting the dignity and of having to reinforce that and to show that,” she said.
Playwright Nia Akilah Robinson’s 2024 play “The Great Privation (How to Flip Ten Cents Into a Dollar),” is now playing at Theatre Exile.Courtesy of Theater Exile
Organizations like the Mütter Museum and Penn Museum hold the remains of Black people and Native Americans in their collections and in recent years have faced significant public backlash over their acquisition and display. The Mütter has engaged in extensive community programming regarding its background as a medical history museum while receiving criticism that its efforts to repatriate the remains of Indigenous people have moved too slowly. Penn has embarked on internment and repatriation processes that some critics and families argue have been flawed and rushed.
“We are the caretakers of this history. We are entrusted,” Cavaness said. “We have a responsibility to care for and uplift and to say their names and their stories. They just can’t go away.”
These real-world, very local connections continue to inspire Wilson’s direction of the play in preparation for sharing it with the descendants of those buried in the Bethel Burial Ground. The Great Privation could rely on its inherent didacticism, but Wilson’s direction is focused on uplifting the love story of a mother and daughter, and Robinson’s surprisingly humorous writing.
Robinson hopes the play can be received as a comedy, even as it holds so much grief.
Semaja Murphy and Rayne in “The Great Privation (How to Flip Ten Cents Into a Dollar)”Paola Nogueras
“I hope that [the audience] find themselves laughing. And I hope that Philly audiences feel like this play was written with care,” said Robinson.
“It’s Philadelphia. It’s the birthplace. It’s another chapter in who we are as a nation,” said Wilson. “And I think it’s important that, especially during this time, we grab onto any information that we can learn about this American experiment.”
“The Great Privation (How to Flip Ten Cents Into a Dollar)” runs through June 14, Theatre Exile, 1340-48 S. 13th St., theatreexile.org/tgp25
