Philadelphia News Briefs: 08/07/17

1.) The city of Philadelphia is hard at work on its first parking-protected bike lane. According to the local CBS affiliate, “The city is reconfiguring Chestnut Street between 45th and 34th, adding a new bike lane that will be separated from the two remaining traffic lanes. Currently Chestnut has three traffic lanes with parking lanes on either side.” The new  setup will feature a biking lane protected by plastic posts, a parking lane, two traffic lanes, and another parking lane on the opposite side. Philadelphia’s biking community has long complained about cars using bike lanes for parking, and this step shows that the city is taking their feedback seriously. The city is currently thinking about adding similar parking lanes to South and Lombard Streets.

2.) A watermelon spill made some carriage horses very happy on 6th Street. According to the Washington Post, vendor Elwood Hutt Jr. of Salisbury, Maryland brought the fruit into town yesterday to try and sell it, but he took a corner too sharply and the melons fell all over the street. It was allegedly a big mess, but the horses who carry carriages up and down the road feasted on the broken melons, and children encouraged their parents to buy up the surviving fruit. All in all,, Hutt says that he lost almost $300 in product due to the accident. He was issued a citation by police.

3.) Are you a fan of Del Frisco’s on Chestnut Street in Center City? You’ll be excited to know that the high-end eatery is planning a second location on the corner of South Broad and Locust Streets in 2018 in the future Cambria Hotel Philadelphia. According to a spokesperson from the Texas-based Del Frisco’s group, the new Philadelphia location will sport seating for 230 in its main dining room, with room for another 35 in its private dining space. Patio seating for 30 along Broad Street are also part of the plans. The Cambria Hotel will have 223 rooms.