Elfreth’s Alley and 48 Record Bar Team Up for First Friday Garden Party Featuring Cocktails, DJs, and a Pop-Up Vinyl Mini-Market

Elfreth’s Alley and 48 Record Bar Team Up for First Friday Garden Party Featuring Cocktails, DJs, and a Pop-Up Vinyl Mini-Market

48 Record Bar, a listening room and cocktail bar located above Sassafras in Old City, will host a First Friday Garden Party at Elfreth’s Alley on Friday, August 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. The free, publicly open event will take place in the alley’s garden space, marking a temporary move from the bar’s usual location.

The event will feature cocktails from 48 Record Bar’s menu alongside live DJ sets from Daniel Giangrandi and guest selector Joey Sweeney. A pop-up vinyl mini-market will also be set up on-site, offering attendees the opportunity to browse and purchase records. Cocktails and vinyl will be available on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Joey Sweeney, Creative Director of 48 Record Bar, said the bar operated as a pop-up before it had a permanent venue, and that hosting events in unconventional spaces reflects its origins. Sweeney said holding the event in Elfreth’s Alley’s garden, alongside neighbors in Old City, made the collaboration meaningful.

Elfreth’s Alley, located in Philadelphia’s Old City neighborhood, is recognized as the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the United States.

Beyond the Garden Party, 48 Record Bar has additional programming planned for August at its listening room. Musician John Byrne will serve as the venue’s resident artist for the month, performing Americana, Celtic and folk music at 7 p.m. each Tuesday as part of the first half of Tuesday Nite Music Club. At 9 p.m., Sweeney will follow with a curated vinyl listening session.

The venue also offers a Record of the Month subscription for $40, which includes a hand-selected album delivered monthly along with special-edition liner notes written by 48 Record Bar. August’s selection is Hot Chip’s “The Warning,” released by Domino Recording Co. Subscribers may also bring their own records to Tuesday Nite Music Club to be cleaned using the venue’s on-site record cleaning machine.