Now we know what’s happening in the empty space adjacent to Manakeesh Cafe Bakery at 45th and Walnut. The Bliss Juices and Ice Cream bar is scheduled to open this summer, according to manager Abd Ghazzawi.

Manakeesh has fairly quickly become an anchor neighborhood business. It opened in January 2011 after months of renovation on the old bank building. Folks in the neighborhood had been speculating for some time on what Manakeesh would do with the other half of its building.

The exact opening date of Bliss has not been set, but Ghazzawi says it will probably be in early July. In addition to ice cream and freshly squeezed juices, the menu will include Lebanese fruit cocktails, breakfast items like crepes and waffles, Granita, and a few other things. Stay tuned for more information on the opening.

The 2012 Philadelphia Open Studio Tours will take place in October and local artists and studios are welcome to participate. Registration is open until June 1.

Launched in 2000, POST is the largest tour of artist studios and creative work spaces in the region. Eighteen West Philly artists participated in last year’s event (see more here) and we hear that many have already gotten on the list of this year’s tours. If you are not one of them, you still have a chance to do it. Please visit this page for more information and to register.

The 2012 Tour dates for venues West of Broad Street are October 6-7.

A reader alerted us about flyers like the one above recently posted by police in the area surrounding 51st and Catharine Streets. The flyer says that on April 25, 2012, at around 6:48 a.m. a 17 year-old female was walking to school when she observed a young man sitting on the steps of a residence located at 644 S. 51st Street. The man stood up, grabbed the girl from behind holding a knife to her neck and dragged her to the rear of the alleyway where he began to cut and rip her clothing. The girl began to struggle and was able to break free and run home.

The attacker was last seen running between the 5100 blocks of Catharine and Walton Streets. He is described as a 20-year-old African American male, dark skin, 5’9″, medium build and clean shaven. He was wearing a black hooded jacket and brown Timberland boots.

Anyone with information is asked to call Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3251/3252.

Good news: Dollar Strolls are returning this summer to Baltimore Avenue, according to University City District. Bad news: it looks like there won’t be a stroll in June, meaning we will have to wait until July for $1 samosas, cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon and theater tickets.

Here are the dates:

July 19

August 16

September 20

Stay tuned for more information on participating businesses and their $1 specials, and as a reminder of what we’ve been missing since last summer, check out the gallery below.

The Old School Game Night scheduled for tonight from 4 to 7 p.m. in Clark Park has been postponed due to rain. The new date is Tuesday, May 22, according to the Friends of Clark Park website. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate next week.

Reader Fred Wolfe took this picture titled “Peony Envy” near 47th and Baltimore.

Send us your West Philly photos at editor@westphillylocal.com. Please include your name and your photo’s title.

See more neighborhood photos here.