Heard in the Hall

Nutter to Open City Hall To All Philadelphians

Philadelphia, January 3, 2008 — Mayor-elect Michael Nutter invites Philadelphians to join him at City Hall on Tuesday January 8th from 4-8pm for an open house reception on his first full day in office.

“City Hall belongs to all Philadelphians. Making real progress will take all of us working together,” said Mayor-elect Michael Nutter. City Hall’s four portals will be filled with light and entertainment as the sounds of more than a hundred youth performers welcome visitors. “I hope that, under my administration, this is a place where the public feels welcome and visits often.”

Guests will enter through the building’s North Entrance, where they will ascend the grand stairway into the elegant Conversation Hall, where Mayor Nutter will shake hands. As guests leave Conversation Hall, they will have the opportunity to visit the Mayor’s Reception Room. Guides from City Hall Tours will be available to answer questions about the unique history of the building and its occupants. William Penn and Ben Franklin will also be on hand to help commemorate the day.

“Learn a little about our city’s history while you help us mark an exciting step into the future,” said the Mayor-elect.

In the courtyard, hot chocolate, cookies and other refreshments donated by area businesses will be served by Culinary Arts students from the Philadelphia School District.

Entertainment will include the University of the Arts bucket drummers, “Rumble;” Pyramid Temple #1 Youth Department Drum Corp and the West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad; the choirs and marching bands from Girard Academic Music Program and the Creative and Performance Arts High School; the Kids’ Band from the New Year’s Shooters and Mummers Association.

As part of a long-term plan to animate City Hall, connecting East and West Market Streets and North and South Broad Streets, the Center City District (CCD) and City of Philadelphia partnered to permanently light three of its ornate portals (north, east and west) in time for Mayor Nutter’s inauguration. (the south portal will be lit when construction is completed)

Four fixtures installed in the ground light up the decorative side panels in white light, while four more surface-mounted fixtures illuminate the archways to welcome the public.

This initiative builds upon the CCD’s 2004 installation of lights atop seven public and privately-owned buildings adjacent to City Hall to highlight all four façades and the December 2007 illumination by the City and The Pew Charitable Trusts of the eight newly restored Alexander Milne Calder bronze sculptural groups on City Hall tower.

Donors to the event include: Wawa Food Markets, Le Bus, The Doubletree Hotel, J&J Snack Food and Tastykake Baking Company.