The West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC) is expanding its School Library Program from 14 to 16 West Philadelphia elementary schools for the 2026–27 school year, widening access to open, functional libraries and literacy resources for local students.

WePAC relies on a volunteer-powered model to reopen and staff elementary school libraries across the area. Volunteers organize library operations, host weekly storytimes, and help students choose books that match their interests and reading levels. During the 2025–26 fiscal year, WePAC operated 14 school libraries, serving 3,388 students weekly, hosting 3,010 library sessions, and circulating 38,609 books with the help of 8,568 volunteer hours.

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The Office of Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District) is launching a series of property tax assessment workshops across West and Southwest Philadelphia to help residents navigate rising property values and secure available tax relief, including the low-income property tax freeze.

The first two workshops take place on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Transfiguration Baptist Church (3732 Fairmount Ave) and Thursday, Oct. 1, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Belmont Charter School (4030 Brown St). Additional workshops across neighboring communities will be announced in the coming weeks.

Following recent citywide property reassessments conducted by the City Office of Property Assessments, many Philadelphia homeowners are facing higher property value evaluations—and potentially larger tax bills. Recognizing the financial pressure this places on local families, Councilmember Gauthier’s office is bringing resources directly into neighborhoods to ensure residents take full advantage of city assistance programs.

During the workshops, attendees will receive one-on-one assistance with their property assessment, tax relief, and estate planning.

On Thursday, Sept. 17, at 8:45 a.m., a rally will be held at City Hall, North Apron, to protest the Mayor’s proposed extension of the City’s contract with Reworld Incinerator to continue burning our trash, thus generating tons of airborne pollutants and ash. Protesters will urge the City Council, which must approve all City contracts, to reject the Mayor’s proposal.

West Philly’s Councilmember, Jamie Gauthier, will offer the amendment to disapprove this contract when the Mayor sends it to the Council. Gauthier makes three main arguments against the contract extension:

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Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) and the University of Pennsylvania have officially launched the Penn-CCP Entrepreneurship Academy, a new initiative designed to drive economic growth and support small businesses across West Philadelphia.

The program was announced on Thursday during a signing ceremony and open house at CCP’s Career and Advanced Technology Center, featuring leaders from both institutions, local official representatives, and program leadership (see photo).

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Bargain hunters and treasure seekers, mark your calendars! A community-wide neighborhood yard sale is set for Saturday, Sept. 26.

Originating in Cedar Park and expanding across West Philly, this new neighborhood-wide effort already has over 60 households signed up to participate simultaneously.

Whether you are clearing out household items or looking for unique local finds, here is everything you need to know:

Seller Registration:

West Philly residents interested in listing their sale on the official event map must register by Saturday, Sept. 12. You can sign up using the Yard Sale Registration Form.

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Since opening its doors in 1976 as the first museum in the nation designed specifically for children ages seven and under, the Please Touch Museum has served as a cornerstone of early childhood education and interactive play in Philadelphia. Now housed in Fairmount Park’s historic Memorial Hall, the beloved institution is kicking off a yearlong 50th birthday celebration this October to honor half a century of sparking curiosity, creativity, and discovery across generations.

The milestone anniversary will feature free community events, new interactive exhibits, and special celebrations for local families.

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In a major win for local economic development, off-price retail giant Burlington Stores, Inc. is packing up its New Jersey headquarters and relocating to West Philadelphia, according to state and local officials.

The Fortune 500 company has agreed to purchase property at 3151 Market Street within Brandywine Realty Trust’s Schuylkill Yards development. According to a press release from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, the total project represents a $370 million investment—marking the largest corporate headquarters relocation to Philadelphia in recent memory.

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The end-of-summer tradition is back: the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll returns this Thursday, Sept. 3, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., bringing $1, $3, and $5 deals from dozens of local businesses and neighborhood festivities to Baltimore Avenue between 40th and 51st Streets.

Organized by University City District in partnership with local businesses and organizations, this edition features more local vendors, music, and community block parties spread out along the corridor.

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Here is the latest roundup of restaurant updates and culinary developments across West Philadelphia.

New Openings & Upcoming Arrivals

After months of anticipation, Barakat Chicken opened last month at 43rd and Walnut. Launched by the team behind Barakat Halal Market in Northeast Philly, this new Central Asian and halal eatery sits directly across from Masjid Al-Jamia and next door to Makkah Market. The fast-casual spot includes indoor seating for 10–15 guests and serves authentic house-made specialties—including traditional beef plov (pilaf), stews, kebabs, chicken shawarma, and prepared items available by the pound. Check out their Instagram for more info.

7th Street Burger is coming to 3931 Walnut St, taking over the ground-floor retail space until recently occupied by Hummus Grill. The NYC smashburger chain is set to open its doors by the end of the calendar year. Founded in 2021 in New York City’s East Village by college friends Kevin Rezvani and Paras Jain, the fast-casual spot operates on a minimal approach centered around quality ingredients, quick service, and accessible pricing.

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If you missed the legendary era of Studio 54, now is your chance to step back into a world of glitter, platform shoes, and non-stop funk. On Saturday, Sept. 12, Curio Theatre Company will host Curio 54, an immersive disco, glam, and dance party at the newly renovated Calvary Center Hall at 48th and Baltimore.

Designed as both a celebration and a fundraiser, the evening offers community members a chance to hit the dance floor while directly supporting live local theatre.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
Time: 7:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Location: Calvary Center Hall (4740 Baltimore Ave)
Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door (Cash or Venmo only)

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City officials and Kingsessing community members gathered on Tuesday, Aug. 25, to celebrate the grand re-opening and ribbon-cutting of the Francis J. Myers Recreation Center located at 58th and Kingsessing. Following a comprehensive $27 million renovation, the 148-year-old Southwest Philadelphia facility has been completely transformed into a modern, fully accessible hub for neighborhood residents.

The extensive overhaul preserved the historic integrity of the original 1878 structure while completely reimagining its interior and exterior footprint. The expanded facility now features:

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SEPTA’s trolley tunnel will be closed for repairs for four upcoming weekends.

West Philadelphia commuters who rely on SEPTA’s T lines (T1, T2, T3, T4, and T 5) will need to adjust their weekend travel plans. SEPTA has announced that the underground trolley tunnel will close for four upcoming weekends, requiring full surface busing across all five routes.

Tunnel closures will begin at 2 a.m. on Saturdays, with a gradual transition to complete bus service overnight. All five lines will operate entirely as buses from 5 a.m. Saturday until 5 a.m. Monday on the following weekends:

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A key connection between West Philly and Center City will be shut down for vehicular traffic starting Monday, Aug. 24, as PennDOT begins a major reconstruction of the Market Street Bridge.

The bridge, which stretches over the Schuylkill River, I-76, and regional rail lines between 23rd Street and Schuylkill Avenue, is slated to remain closed to drivers through October 2027 as part of a $150 million infrastructure project. While the full multi-phase project extends into spring 2029, the bridge closure itself is expected to last roughly 14 months.

Here is what local commuters, cyclists, and transit riders need to know about the closure:

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Phase 1 of SEPTA’s New Bus Network Initiative (formerly Bus Revolution) kicks off Sunday, Aug. 23. For West Philadelphia and University City commuters, several key routes will see modified alignments, route truncations, and frequency upgrades.

Here is a breakdown of what West Philly riders need to know:

Key Route Changes & Adjustments

• Route 49 will no longer travel into South Philadelphia and will now terminate at 40th Street & Woodland Avenue (Trolley Portal). Additionally, its Center City route shifts from 20th Street to 22nd Street.

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