Hear Philly: Food, Music & More At The Porch In May
By Dan Majka
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- Currently in its third year of programming, The Porch at 30th Street offers great food, fitness and lots of free fun.
"What's really unique about the Porch is that it's not only a destination for people coming to events, but it's also a spot where you can stop and enjoy a cup of coffee as you're coming out of the train station, you can just sit and people watch, you have a gorgeous view of the Philadelphia skyline," says Lori Brennan, Marketing and Communications Director for the University City District. "It's very pleasant just to be outside, pull up a chair and kind of relax and enjoy -- or take advantage of lots of different programming that we do."
Perhaps the most popular of those programs is the Gourmet Food Truck program which provides service five days a week, Monday through Friday.
"On Mondays we have Delicias, Farm Truck, Hot Diggity, and Mac Mart," Brennan says. "On Tuesdays, breakfast and lunch with Schmear It. Wednesdays, The Cow and The Curd, Jimmies Cupcake Company, Nomad Pizza, Taco Mondo. Thursdays, breakfast with Undrgrnd Donuts, and Fridays we have Bonjour Creperie, Dadz Grilled Cheese, Innovative Catering and Local 215."
Brennan says when you eaten too much at the food trucks -- you can work it off for free every Thursday at 6 p.m. with BodyRock Fitness.
"They rotate a schedule that ranges from Zumba, Bokwa and Bootcamp," she says. "It's really a lot of fun to be in an outdoor urban environment, working out right next to cars passing by and people waving. Nate (McIntyre) at BodyRock does a really great job of pushing everyone to their own personal limits."
And for music lovers, the Porch, in partnership with WXPN, offers a chance to hear live music from some of Philly's rising stars.
"On (May 7), we're featuring bass player Philip D'Agostino who has just released a new album called Inlets," Brennan says. "Then a really big event, Free At Noon, comes back Friday, May 16. It features Hamilton Leithauser and (Australian electronica musician) Chet Faker."
Brennan says the Porch welcomes back some old favorites in May like the Please Touch Museum and the Academy of Natural Sciences, while also introducing some new ones to the site.
"On Friday, May 9, Almanac Dance Circus Theatre will perform," she says. "We'll see four performers tumbling and climbing and kind of telling a story using the physical language of their bodies in action."
In another unique music experience, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia entertains audiences on Wednesday, May 14. But if it's dance you enjoy, the Porch has that as well.
"MM2 Modern Dance Company joins us on May 18 from 1-2 p.m. producing a work called 'Breath,' says Brennan. "School of the Future is a new group that we're working with. The Firebirds will bring their drumline and their band dancers on Monday, May 19 from noon-1 p.m. This gives the students a tremendous opportunity to showcase their talent and their work at a public site."
BalletX, Philadelphia's premier contemporary ballet company, performs at the Porch on Wednesday, May 21 and then one day later, it's the first of two opportunities for audiences to engage in the Arab culture through music.
"Al Bustan Seeds of Culture will be performing twice on site, May 22 and May 29, both at noon," Brennan says. "They will be doing engaging and interactive Arab percussion demonstrations and classical and folk music presentations."
The Porch at 30th Street wraps up May's calendar of events on the 31st with a presentation from Philadelphia's all-female dance company, Tangle Movement Arts, called 'Passages.'
"Tangle Movement Arts will be performing at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.," Brennan says. "That will be like a circus, kind of acrobatic presentation that I think will definitely delight everyone as they walk by and stop and hang out."
For more information on events at The Porch, visit theporchat30th.com or follow The Porch on Twitter @theporchat30th and also on Facebook.
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