Beer Drinkers Can Now Keep a Watchful Eye on Philly’s Ghost Ship

Where to start — with news of a new fall beer garden on the Delaware River waterfront, or the 90-foot-tall ghost ship across the way?

Let’s go with ghost ship. Shipbuilding on the river started in the 1670s, according to the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, so there are probably some Colonial ghosts swimming around. Philly has historically not made great use of its waterfronts, but the DRWC is working to change that with projects like Spruce Street Harbor Park, Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, Cherry Street Pier, and, yes, a ghost ship.

Biangle Studio created the three-dimensional, 90-foot hologram out of light and water to look like an eerie 18th-century ship resting next to Race Street Pier under the Ben Franklin Bridge.

The ship first appears Friday, October 4, and sticks around Wednesdays to Sundays from 7 to 10 p.m. through Sunday, November 3.

Matt Stanley for DRWC

To go with the ghost, DRWC teamed up with FCM Hospitality — the group behind Morgan’s Pier, Craft Hall, Harper’s Garden, and the roving beer garden Parks on Tap — to open a beer garden at Race Street Pier. Like the installation, it runs now through November 3.

The family-friendly, outdoor River Beer Garden is set up with chairs and hammocks and serving beer from Mainstay Independent Brewing Company and food from Lost Bread Co. (both are located at Craft Hall).

Kory Aversa

The menu includes Lost Bread’s ever-popular soft pretzel and pretzel shortbread cookie along with a sausage platter, Frito pie (chili, cheddar, Fritos), a smoked cauliflower dish, a grain salad, and sandwiches including pastrami-style pit beef and vegan spiced pumpkin.

Hours are Wednesday to Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. and weekends from noon to 10 p.m., weather permitting.

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• Indoor Beer Garden Craft Hall Is Now Open With Food, Drink, and a Pirate Ship Playground