Sometimes it’s hard to tell who is a “gentrifier” these days – or whether that word or concept still has any meaning. Film director Kelly Anderson, a self-proclaimed “gentrifier” from Brooklyn will talk about her journey and her neighborhood after a screening of her documentary My Brooklyn (see trailer below) at the International House (3701 Chestnut St.) on Tuesday.

Drawn to Brooklyn in 1988 by cheap rent and a “Bohemian culture,” Anderson watched through the nineties and particularly into the early part of the 21st century as luxury housing and chain stores changed the neighborhood forever. Starting to sound familiar? The changes spark conversations about “authenticity,” who controls the future of the neighborhood and cause Anderson to examine her own role in the changes to the neighborhood.

The film’s themes are relevant to many parts of West Philly.

The film focuses on the future of Fulton Mall, a popular African American and Caribbean shopping Center, that officials are considering razing. “The film’s ultimate questions become how to heal the deep racial wounds embedded in our urban development patterns, and how citizens can become active in restoring democracy to a broken planning process,” according to its website. The film is co-sponsored by the Scribe Video Center.

Here are the details:

Tuesday, April 9, 7 p.m.
International House Philadelphia
3701 Chestnut Street
$10, $8 students/seniors, $5 Scribe and IHP members

Here is a trailer:

Police are still trying to identify a body found in a burning car in the Kingsessing neighborhood on early Saturday morning, according to reports. The cause of the fire is also being investigated. The body was found around 4:30 a.m. in a burning 2013 Toyota on the 5300 block of Glenmore Avenue in front of houses. This is a relatively secluded block, according to residents who live there and who witnessed the fire.

Neighbors reported waking up to loud popping sounds, followed by an acrid burning smell and then witnessing a dozen police cars, fire crews and an ambulance at the scene.

A woman and a child were hit by a U-Haul van at 43rd Street and Baltimore Avenue this morning at about 11:45 a.m. Both were taken to the hospital, according to reports from witnesses. Many neighbors witnessed the accident, which happened while many people were shopping at Clark Park’s Farmers’ Market and hanging out at the Green Line Cafe.

Witnesses said that a young woman was driving the van and she remained at the scene to talk to police. The victims’ condition is unknown at this time, but some witnesses said that both the woman and the child were conscious after the accident.

Here’s another great event for the whole family happening this weekend in the neighborhood. The University City Arts League (4226 Spruce St) invites friends and neighbors to their 4th annual Chili Bowl event that will be held on Sunday, Apr. 7, from 1 – 5 p.m.

As always, the UCAL staff will fill up bowls made in their pottery studio with different versions of delicious warm chili, veggie and meat, provided by nine local restaurants: Atiya Ola, Distrito, Gold Standard Café, Green Line Café, Guacamole Mex Grill, Harvest, Honest Tom’s, Milk and Honey, and Powelton Pizza. Once again, Greg Salisbury, head of SOOP catering, will be creating meat and vegan chili and Yards Brewing will be supplying beverages.

The annual Chili Bowl event raises funds for the University City Arts League’s Pottery Studio. (Photo courtesy UCAL).

Sounds great, right? All you have to do is to buy a beautiful hand-crafted chili bowl and you can eat all the free chili you want. And if you bring your kids, they all will eat free when their parents purchase a bowl! After you try all the chili you can vote for the best chili-maker in the neighborhood.

“This is a really fun event,” says Noreen Shanfelter, Arts League executive director. “It’s great for the whole family. We’ll have music and face painting for the children to enjoy.”

This event benefits the UCAL Pottery Studio. It will help cover the expenses of a new, third kiln that was recently added to increase capacity at the studio and new lighting.

Pottery is the most popular of all courses at the Arts League and is available for children, aged 5 to 12 after school Monday to Friday, and for adults on the weekends and on several weeknights.

For more information contact the Arts League at 215 382 7811 or visit www.ucartsleague.org.

West Philadelphia-based poet Hila Ratzabi is inviting poets into her home for the “Red Sofa Salon,” a poetry workshop that also includes free vegetarian food.

The salon will take place twice a month for two hours and space is limited (there is only so much room on the velvety, red, curved sectional sofa). Ratzabi, who has been nominated for the prestigious Pushcart Prize, writes: “The goal of these gatherings is to develop a small community of writers committed to learning, growing, and taking our poetry to the next level, regardless of where we are on our writing journeys.”

The first meeting is Monday, April 8 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. For more information on the salon, go here.

We are very sad to report that Miki Takamori, the woman who was injured in the house fire on the 4600 block of Larchwood Avenue on Jan. 23, has passed away. Miki sustained serious injuries in the fire, including burns on 20-25 percent of her body, and a broken back and ribs from jumping out of the second floor window trying to escape the blaze, but was doing better in the last several weeks. She had made tremendous progress since the accident and was getting close to the time when she could be transferred to a rehabilitation center from the hospital, when on Monday, Apr. 3, she suddenly went into cardiac arrest, according to her friends.

Miki’s funeral will take place on Saturday, Apr 13 at the Unitarian Society of Germantown:

April 13 (Saturday) at 2:00 p.m.
Unitarian Society of Germantown
6511 Lincoln Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19119