Yes, You Can Go See a Movie This Weekend — But You Can’t Eat Inside a Philly Restaurant
Exercising inside a Philly gym is also off the table.
The Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, one of the Pennsylvania movie theaters set to reopen this weekend. (Photo by Garen M./Flickr)
A roundup of Philly news. This article may be updated at any time as new information becomes available.
Some Pennsylvania Movie Theaters and Museums Are Reopening
If you’ve been trying to figure out what the hell you are going to do over Fourth of July weekend, you have some new options. Pennsylvania theaters and museums are beginning to reopen.
No, you can’t go to your local Regal or AMC movie theater to watch the latest blockbuster. For one thing, there isn’t really a “latest blockbuster,” thanks to COVID shutdowns and delays in Hollywood. For another, Regal and AMC aren’t reopening until July.
But over yonder in Phoenixville, the historic Colonial Theatre is reopening this weekend. The Colonial Theatre’s reopening plan includes limiting capacity to 50 percent and requiring patrons to wear masks until seated. Social distancing rules will also be in effect. Don’t worry: You’ll be able to buy popcorn, candy and soda.
So what can you see at the Colonial Theatre? Beginning on Friday, they are screening Disney’s 2016 Jungle Book remake, Deadpool, and Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens.
But if you’re more into Andrew Wyeth than J.J. Abrams, you should know that Brandywine River Museum just reopened at 9:30 a.m. Face coverings are required at all times. And the museum, which houses a bunch of Wyeth family art, is also using timed ticketing to limit crowds.
Philly Officials Yank Indoor Dining
Scads of restaurants in Philly were preparing to open their indoor dining rooms this weekend, with limited capacities, of course. They placed food orders to accommodate the crowds. They increased staffing. But then on Tuesday afternoon, Philadelphia health commissioner Thomas Farley put an end to it.
Citing the continued spread of COVID-19 in Philadelphia, Farley announced that Philadelphia would not move into the full Green Phase under Governor Tom Wolf’s reopening plan. And that means no indoor dining in Philadelphia. Philly gyms were also expecting to reopen this weekend, but that’s now off the table as well.
Farley said the new target date for reopening indoor dining and gyms in Philly is August 1st. But he also noted that officials would evaluate the situation on an ongoing basis, possibly allowing that date to move up. Well, or back. He also warned that the city could move backwards if our COVID-19 numbers don’t start moving in the right direction, meaning things like outdoor dining could be nixed.
Why Are Some Philly Cops Not Wearing Masks?
In case you didn’t get the memo, you are supposed to be wearing a mask or other face covering to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. That includes Philly police officers, but I have observed many cops in public spaces without face coverings of any kind. Others have noticed as well:
I’ve seen most protesters wearing masks and even handing them out to each other. But it doesn’t seem to be required for police even though there have been recorded cases in their ranks. my mask protects you, your mask protects me, and they are protecting no one. pic.twitter.com/s3zGOTuvLY
— Potato Stan (@Spinyintrovert) June 6, 2020
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw has repeatedly told the force to mask up. And last week, Mayor Kenney issued an order (finally!) that all Philadelphians do the same when in public. And yet some cops continue to resist.
On Tuesday, Philadelphia managing director Brian Abernathy addressed the issue of cops and masks. He said that Philly police have been told to wear masks from the very beginning of the shutdown. “And they have been reminded on a number of occasions,” he added. “We will continue to follow up with the police officers and make sure that they are following the appropriate protocols.”
Good luck.
And Briefly Noted…
- Here’s what Kenney’s past supporters have to say about him now
- A Fishtown community meeting didn’t go so well.
- Police reform bills pass Pennsylvania house and senate.
- Momentum builds in the anti-fireworks brigade.
