West Philly residents are invited to The Lawn at uCity Square (37th and Filbert) on Saturday, Oct. 19 for a day filled with live music, fitness activities, and community engagement. The Open Sweat Jam West Philly Community Music & Fitness Festival, which will be held from 12-7 p.m., promotes wellness and civic responsibility.

The festival will feature Live Beats Fitness, an innovative fusion of live music and fitness led by internationally renowned drummer Jeremy Boyd, also known as “Wheat Bread,” and Nate McIntyre, owner of BodyRock Boot Camp, a West Philadelphia-based gym that gained national attention after its appearance on Netflix’s hit show “Queer Eye.” Also performing is Boogiemandela, a Philadelphia-based rap artist, producer, and sound engineer. Known for his Open Vibe pop-up open mic events, Boogiemandela will curate a live music experience that reflects the city’s vibrant and diverse underground music scene.

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The Philadelphia Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS) is resuming community meetings that would help determine new traffic safety features for South 47th Street from Chestnut Street to Kingsessing Avenue. Blocks along 47th Street from Chestnut Street to Paschall Avenue is on the City’s Vision Zero High Injury Network (HIN) and the 47th Street Traffic Safety project aims to improve traffic safety for pedestrians, drivers and cyclists along the corridor.

This project, along with the 48th Street Safety project was first introduced to residents in 2023, but the redesign and repaving of the street were put on hold earlier this year as more public input was needed. The initial plan included such changes as the conversion of a portion of the street, between Paschall and Market, to one-way vehicle traffic.

The new series of community meetings include three focus groups and one general public meeting, co-hosted by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District).

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The Table Sessions, Sattriya Dance Company, May 2024. (Photo by Shannon Sophy)

After 20 years, a West Philadelphia visionary arts group which has staged more than 100 productions, including an ambitious (and sold-out) undertaking supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, is changing its name and evolving. Journey Arts is the new name and branding of Intercultural Journeys, a gem in Philadelphia’s performing arts world.

Journey Arts plans to increase its offerings, including more ambitious and complex shows, seeking new and additional funding, and offer artists more production/development time of projects. And another large-scale production is already underway this coming season.

“Journeys are for seekers – when we create, perform, and witness together, the journey is that much richer and more nuanced,” Carly Rapaport-Stein, Executive Director of Journey Arts said. “Wayfinding together is our artistic beating heart. We seek connection and we are on this journey together. Today, our new name and visual identity match our ethos of artist-forward work and belonging for all.”

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Market Street near 40th will be closed this Saturday, Oct. 12 due to a large voter registration/encouragement block party organized by “When We All Vote” and Welcome America. The Celebrate Philadelphia – When We All Vote Block Party will be held from 1 – 5 p.m. at 4029 Market Street outside the Satellite Election Office of the 3rd Council District. Market Street will be closed between 40th and Preston Streets from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

During the event, guests will be encouraged to take civic action – including checking their voter registration, registering to vote, or making a plan to vote.

The event will also include:

• A program/open dialogue by A Seat at the Table: The Power of Influence: How Digital Platforms and Influencers Impact Elections/Future Generations: Young Voters and Their Role in Shaping Tomorrow, featuring several notable panelists.

• Rodeo-themed games and pop ups like a mechanical bull, line dancing, corn hole, sack racing, and more.

• Food giveaways, including pizza courtesy of Pizza to the Polls and OnePhillyConnect, and other treats courtesy of Herr’s and Tony’s Chocolonely.

• Cowboy hat giveaways courtesy of When We All Vote.

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The Friends of Clark Park, the volunteer-run organization that oversees much of the management of the park, is gearing up for the 2024 Parktoberfest, which will take place next Saturday, Oct. 19, 2-8 p.m.. Parktoberfest is a family-friendly event and a great opportunity to spend time with your friends and neighbors at the park, located at 43rd and Chester. The event will include live musical performances by local bands, food from neighborhood restaurants, and beer from Carbon Copy. The event is suitable for all ages!

Parktoberfest is a fundraiser for the Clark Park Master Plan, which was approved by the City last year. This new plan aims to expand the park’s impact on the community through multiple improvements and renovations.

“We are currently working to fund its final design and implementation,” says the Friends of Clark Park board member Cameron O’Grady. “The plan serves as a vision document, outlining substantial renovations to Clark Park to rejuvenate Park B. It includes plans for new playgrounds, a social gathering space near 45th and Chester, and other amenities and improvements.”

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Here’s some exciting news about a West Philly-based organization that has been helping unemployed but motivated local talent to get job training and pursue hiring opportunities with local employers. The West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, founded by the University City District (UCD) in 2009, has recently dropped “West Philadelphia” from its name. The reason is the rapid expansion beyond the West Philly borders over the past few years, which is impacting new neighborhoods and new industries. So, the new simplified name is The Skills Initiative.

“Although West Philadelphia is no longer in our name, it will always be our home. We will continue to be anchored in West Philadelphia, close to our University City District offices and founding major employer partners,” reads a recent announcement by UCD.

To go along with this exciting news, UCD has released a digital publication titled Skills Initiative: The Next Chapter, a collection of stories about employer partners, program alumni, funders, and staff that showcases the new Skills Initiative brand and impact. Click here to view or download the new publication.

A new look and logo have also been developed, driven by “a desire to match the quality of our visual presentation with the quality of our staff, services, and the talent of our participants.” The different colored blocks in the new logo represent the many stakeholders who make the Skills Initiative’s work possible.

For more information about the Skills Initiative, visit: philadelphiaskills.org.

Piffaro, the Philadelphia-based and internationally renowned Renaissance wind band, New York City’s TENET Vocal Artists, and projection artist Camilla Tassi are collaborating to transform Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral. Artwork and poetry will be projected on the interior architecture of the historic building while the sounds of 16th century Italy will fill the sanctuary. The concert takes place at the Cathedral, located at 38th and Market, on Friday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m., and the band is offering West Philly Local readers a special 50 percent discount off regular ticket prices with code WPL.

The occasion of the concert is the 650th anniversary of Francesco Petrarch’s death. The most influential poet of the Italian Renaissance, he wrote hundreds of poems grappling with his thwarted love for the lady we only know as Laura, who died young of the plague. Love, Chastity, Death, Fame, Time, and Eternity all make appearances, embodied by the superlative singers of TENET. The music will run the gamut of 16th century Italian musical styles, from Carnival songs to sacred hymns to yearning madrigals.

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West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC), the non-profit that promotes literacy programs to local schoolchildren in grades K-4, will lead hundreds of kids and their families on a fun literacy journey at the first-ever West Philly Literacy Village Reading Promise Festival.

This family-focused event, in partnership with Reading Promise (a Read by 4th initiative), will take place on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 12-3 p.m., at Saunders Park (39th and Powelton).

The event’s goal is to promote a love of reading, books, and literacy. Folks will enjoy free kids books and giveaways as well as free food, games and crafts. Guest authors and entertainers, including Monica Allison, Thembi Palmer, Tony Cruz, and Charlotte Blake Alston, will present on the main stage.

Each child will receive a passport upon entry and will be encouraged to visit at least four literacy program partner tables for activities. Children will receive a special prize for their “travels” on the literacy journey. Also, the WePAC partner school (see the list here) with the most student attendees will receive a water ice party!

WePAC promotes childhood literacy by engaging volunteers in Philadelphia public schools through re-opening and operating libraries. WePAC has partnered with A Book a Day, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Free Library of Philadelphia, HopePHL, Lift Every Voice Philly, Penn Libraries Community Engagement, and other local organizations to present this event.

A bicyclist riding along Woodland Avenue while a new separated bike lane is under construction. (Photo by West Philly Local)

UPDATE (10/1/2024): Legislation authorizing a bike lane on Woodland Avenue from Chester Avenue to South 42nd Street was introduced on Sept. 26 by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier. This is part of the Phase 2 of the Woodland Ave Complete Streets Project. If the bill is passed it will authorize the replacement of the parking lane with a 2-way bikeway on the south side of Woodland Avenue in 2027. The bill to turn the parking lane into a bike lane in front of the Woodlands cemetery was passed in 2022 and the work is currently underway (read more below). 

(9/20/2024): Streets Department crews have begun work on Woodland Avenue between the VA Medical Center Driveway and Chester Avenue, as part of the Woodland Avenue Complete Streets project which aims to improve safety for all users – drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists – between VA Driveway and 42nd Street.

Phase 1 of the project, which is expected to be completed this fall, includes the addition of a separated bike lane from VA Driveway to Chester Avenue along north and south curb and installation of traffic signals with crosswalks at Chester Avenue and 40th Street Portal/The Woodlands. To accommodate the addition of the bike lane, street parking in this section of Woodland has been removed.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) wants your input on how to spend more than $170 million in federal funds from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program to install public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Pennsylvania. At least $14 million of this funding will be allocated to Philadelphia to subsidize the installation of public EV chargers.

Residents have an opportunity to learn more and provide feedback for this project as PennDOT is currently conducting a brief survey to help inform the program and identify location priorities.

PennDOT is first required to use the federal funds towards building a network of fast charging along major roadways, which is also reflected in the survey. You can check PennDOT’s progress to deploy this charging network on the PennDOT NEVI Active Projects Map.

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Walnut Hill Community Playground (Archived photo/Selah Lynch).

Here’s some great news for Walnut Hill Community Playground users. The public playground, located at 47th and Sansom, will be rehabilitated thanks to a $75,000 grant from the Target Foundation, according to a recent announcement by University City District (UCD). The funds, secured through UCD’s new Community Playground Revitalization Program, will be used by members of UCD’s Green City Works landscaping social enterprise to perform general improvements to the playground.

Improvements to the park, which dates back to the 1970s, with the current version built in 2009, will be made based on community feedback. The goal is to “make it safer and more welcoming for neighbors and other users,” according to the announcement.

The playground is dedicated to Alice Jones, a community leader who dedicated her life to her neighborhood. Her grandson, Shuja Moore, who is determined to carry on her legacy of positive community change, has been instrumental in spearheading the idea to revitalize the playground.

More details on this project are coming soon.

The Habitat for Humanity project starts to fill in the gap along a Reno St. rowhouse block. (Photos by Tony West)

Work has begun to create new affordable housing in West Philadelphia on four lots at 40th and Reno in Mantua, in a project by Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia. Part of Habitat’s strategy: free land and labor.

Habitat for Humanity is a worldwide nonprofit organization, now 48 years old, whose mission is to build or repair homes that low-income people will own. This development began with four vacant lots that had been picked up by the Philadelphia Land Bank. Habitat Philadelphia worked with Mantua Civic Association and Councilmember Jamie Gauthier to acquire them for 3-bedroom owner occupancy houses.

“Volunteerism is a key part of the method, recruiting corporate partners as well as homeowners,” said Habitat spokesperson Adam McGrath. On a day last week two dozen workers from Children’s Hospital and Gilbane Building Co. joined Habitat crew to assemble the framing for exterior walls, a task that will keep them busy the rest of September.

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The new, “fully-modernized” McDonald’s restaurant at 40th and Walnut is expected to open this month on the ground floor of a new office building.

The original 50-year-old McDonald’s building at 40th and Walnut was demolished last year to make room for the new Penn-owned six-story building. The project is part of the University of Pennsylvania’s plan to invest in the 40th Street Corridor, which began more than 20 years ago. Penn purchased the land from McDonald’s in 2022 and is leasing space to it in the new building. The new building will house Penn offices on the floors two through six.

The new restaurant is expected to have a soft opening on Monday, Sept. 23. A grand opening is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 4. The restaurant has a new team of operators, who are reportedly “excited to open for the community.”

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Here’s a unique opportunity to visit and learn more about some of the most interesting but often forgotten historic and cultural places along 52nd Street, aka “The Strip.” A walking tour titled West Philly’s Main Street: A Walk Through Time, will take place Saturday, Oct. 5, and is organized by All That Philly Jazz, a public project exploring the history of jazz in Philadelphia. The 52nd Street stroll and talk, led by All That Philly Jazz Director Faye Anderson, will uncover the Strip’s hidden past as an entertainment destination for African Americans.

The 52nd Street Stroll dives deep into the Strip’s social and cultural heritage. Uncovering hidden landmarks, it will revisit forgotten stories and remember the iconic figures who shaped the historic corridor.

Here are some of the stops during the stroll:

• Nightclub frequented by celebrities such as Muhammad Ali, Cab Calloway, Joe Frazier, Teddy Pendergrass and Stevie Wonder.
• First-ever Walk of Fame memorializing African American artists of stage, screen and television.
• Oldest Black-owned bookstore on the East Coast.
• Sites featured in the 1972 Blaxploitation film “Trick Baby.”
• Restaurant where President Bill Clinton ordered soul food.

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