Sunscreen? Check. Water? Check. Your lineup? Check.
Grab a tote: See our picks of the best area farmers markets.
Suit up: Meet a North Philly marathoner who dresses to the nines.
Get pumped: The World Cup is here, and so is your guide to the FIFA Fan Fest on Lemon Hill.
🥵 It’s very hot. Storms are likely Friday, but the air will be drier Saturday and Sunday.
📮 How do you cope with the heat? Got a favorite spot to cool off? Let me know.
— Paola Pérez (outdoorsy@inquirer.com)
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The Philly region is home to a plethora of farmers markets, so we compiled a list of 25 that are well worth checking out. Some operate through the fall, while others are available year-round.
Here’s a sampling:
🥬 Explore the Media Farmers Market which highlights vendors within a 150-mile radius (runs Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
🍑 Check out 4th & Lehigh Farmers Market and try the plump peaches and crates of juicy strawberries (opens in July; runs on Tuesdays from 11 a.m to 3 p.m.)
🧀 Try artisanal cheese at Clark Park Farmers Market in West Philly (open all year long every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Whether you’re new to this or true to this, we have something for you. Use our exclusive map to discover the top farmers markets, in Philadelphia and the suburbs.
News worth knowing
New Jersey secured a federal disaster declaration for the crops damaged in April’s rare heat-freeze sequence. Pennsylvania counties got a similar designation last month.
Philadelphia will begin opening pools on a rolling basis across the city Friday, but details are scarce.
FloatLab, a public art feature that will offer an eye-level view of the Schuylkill, finished its voyage up the East Coast and arrived at Bartram’s Garden on Wednesday.
FDR Park’s Anna C. Verna Playground will remain closed for at least another few weeks, after an inspection found that slide equipment did not meet safety standards.
🌳 Your outdoorsy experience
I’m on the hunt for new stories to share here. Tell me: Where do you go for a moment of calm? What sight takes your breath away? If you have photos, we’d love to see them — you might even be featured in an upcoming newsletter.
🎤 Now I’m passing the mic to arts and culture reporter Earl Hopkins.
The image of a long-distance runner is usually a combination of heavy-duty sneakers, compression shorts, and sweat-absorbing tops. But that’s not the picture Alim Wallace paints on a race day.
That’s because the North Philly native shows up in a tailored suit, with a pocket square and a suede briefcase stuffed with hydration packs and electrolyte gels. Yes, to a race.
Since his first race in 2025, Wallace has competed in the Philadelphia Marathon, the Broad Street Run, and others like the Life Time Miami Marathon and the Publix Atlanta Marathon. He’s racked up medals and thousands of social media followers who follow him not just to see him run past the finishing line, but to see what he wears crossing it.
“It was about having an idea, and being bold enough to do it,” Wallace, 31, said. “Some people will let an idea stop them. They say, ‘People are going to look at me funny. People are going to think this way.’ I really don’t care.” — Earl Hopkins
Learn how Wallace became the “The Suit Guy,” and how he hopes to motivate others.
A 39-day festival for the World Cup is officially underway on Lemon Hill in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, with thousands expected to join in on the free, open-air fun.
The city’s official watch party will let fans watch matches on a stage-size screen, play a bit of “futebol,” and explore vendor and food markets.
Here are a few things to know before you go:
⚽ To get there: There is no parking on-site. Consider SEPTA, the Philly PHLASH shuttle, cycling, or rideshare.
⚽ To get in: Fans must first register via an online form.
See our full FIFA Fan Fest guide for details on everything from road closures to ADA-accessible features and prohibited items.
Paola’s picks
🍓 A guide: How to properly wash your summer berries.
🩰 A performance: BalletX’s colorful love letter to Mother Nature.
☀️ A song: “i’ll kiss the sun” by Asal.
🕹️ A game: “Stroll” along the Wildwood boardwalk and meet the unsung heroes keeping the Shore alive.
🛶 An activity: The Schuylkill River Sojourn, a 112-mile guided trip, runs June 13-19 (pay per day or the entire weeklong journey).
A calming view
Bon voyage to this kayaker, whom I spotted paddling away under the Strawberry Mansion Bridge on Sunday.
👋🏽 This newsletter is taking a break in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. Rest assured, we will be back June 26. Until then, take care out there!
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