Cira Green…Eh
Cira Green is a 1.25-acre elevated park atop an 11-story parking garage on 30th Street between Chestnut and Walnut Streets. Every city needs more outdoor parks and spaces to gather with friends and family so this has been a welcomed addition to Philadelphia since its opening in 2015.
I hadn’t been there a few years so decided this past weekend was a perfect time to make another visit. I put on my helmet and biked down to 30th & Chestnut with a friend. For those who enjoy biking, they have a bunch of bike racks on the ground level once you enter on 30th Street.
Things have changed since Cira Green’s initial opening. For one, there is shade. A large tent setup provides plenty of shade for sunny days and a dry covering for those unexpected pop-up rain storms.
The views remain cool. However, daytime views don’t really compare to nighttime views. Don’t let that stop you during the day. It’s a great vantage point for the city, even if you’re looking at construction.
The slanted hills are also a nice touch.
They added food since the last time I was there. Sunset Social handles the food and they do a good job.
They have a solid selection of beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, frozen cocktails, as well as burgers, chicken fingers, and hot dogs. Ice cream and water ices are also available.
I grabbed an Arnold Palmer while my partner had the lemon water ice. Both were tasty, refreshing, and, more importantly, reasonably priced.
This place is nice, but it’s not great. I wanted to love it way more than I did. The energy felt off when I was there. It was loud. Music was playing under the tent, but it felt like a generic 90s soundtrack playing the likes of Smashmouth, and Fuel that generated no real vibe. The playlist could’ve been music you hear while shopping at Target.
They had a movie on the big screen television, but I couldn’t really hear the audio or recognize the film. I have no idea why they don’t have the Phillies’ games on, especially on a Sunday afternoon.
The tent, while providing a much-needed respite from the sun, sounded like we were sitting in the hull of a cargo ship whenever any wind blew through. The metal frame and straps holding the tent in place creaked distractingly loud.
The most annoying part of the experience is the sound that the metal tables and chairs make against the stone tiles when someone moves them. And, people move and rearrange them constantly to accommodate their groups. It’s metal on metal on a chalkboard shrieking. Please, for the love of anyone trying to enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the tent, place some plastic covers on the feet of the chairs and tables.
It’s a shame because, in theory, this should be a no-brainer. Would I go back? I’d definitely go back at night to check out the views skyline lit up and avoid the tent. If they put the Phillies games on, I’d be back a whole lot sooner.
P.S. The abundance of, I think, echinacea plants is a nice touch. They look great.
