Here’s an assortment of events happening in the area this weekend. We hope this list is not too overwhelming. Enjoy your weekend and the warm weather while it lasts. For more upcoming events or if you want to submit an event, visit the West Philly Events Calendar.

Friday, October 4

Bindlestiff Books hosting author Stewart Acuff – 4530 Baltimore Avenue – 7:00 p.m. – This Friday, Bindlestiff Books will host Stewart Acuff, author of Playing Bigger Than You Are: A Life in Organizing. Acuff has spent more than 30 years as a union organizer, including several successful organizing campaigns in the south and serving as national Organizing Director for the AFL-CIO from 2001-2008. The event will be at the bookstore; copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.

Photo by Kyle Cassidy.

Romeo and Juliet – Curio Theatre (4740 Baltimore Avenue) – 8:00 p.m. – Curio Theatre Company is continuing its season with a production of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Curio is taking a very different look at the story by exploring gender roles – they made the decision to case Romeo and Juliet as two teenaged daughters of warring families. The young women fall desperately in love and set off a heartbreaking chain of events.  The same-sex casting proves the universality of Shakespeare’s immortal tragedy of pure, teenage love. Previews begin October 3. The show opens Friday, October 11 and runs through November 2. All performances are at 8 p.m. For more info and tickets ($20), go here.

Saturday, October 5

“Apportunity Knocks” Free Business Seminar – Astra Zeneca Auditorium, University of the Sciences (723 S. 43rd St.) – 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Small and mid-size businesses wanting to expand their use of mobile application technology to grow their customer base and increase sales have the opportunity to learn and do more at the “Apportunity Knocks” seminar hosted by Sen. Anthony Williams. The free seminar (and continental breakfast) will cover why apps and smart phones work for businesses, how to develop business applications, and how to market them to consumers.

“West Philly Grows Again” Kids’ Consignment Sale – St. Mary’s Nursery School  (3916 Locust Walk) – 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Come out to Saint Mary’s Nursery School at 40th and Locust to purchase high-quality kids’ clothing and other items at bargain prices. The sale helps SMNS fund its educational programming needs. To read more about this annual event click here.

Locust Moon Comics Festival – The Rotunda (40th & Walnut) – 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. – West Philly’s Locust Moon Comics shop invites neighbors to the 2nd annual celebration of comics and graphic arts. This year’s Locust Moon Fest is welcoming a host of brilliant creators and also teaming up with the Jack Kirby Museum. The event organizers have also recruited some of the best food providers around for this festival, so get ready for Philadelphia’s most delicious hoagies, tacos, coffee and ice cream. For more info, visit: http://locustmoonfest.com/

Pétanque Tournament – Clark Park “A” (43rd & Baltimore) – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Be sure to come and check out the 1st Philadelphia Pétanque Tournament, this Saturday at the Central Plaza in Clark Park’s Northern section.  Player registration is full but spectators are very welcome.  The action begins at 10 a.m. and will go throughout the day until late afternoon/early evening. To read more about the game and local pétanque players, click here.

Dirt Day at the Dirt Factory – 4308 Market Street – 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Come to the second Dirt Day at the Dirt Factory and receive up to 10 gallons of organic compost created from your food scraps for free. The event is also featuring a demonstration by Philadelphia Backyard Chickens on how to recycle your food waste by using it to feed chickens. Have questions? Email: compost@universitycity.org

“From Farm to Ford” Historical Walking Tour – Lea Elementary School Courtyard (47th & Spruce) –  11 a.m. -1 p.m. – Historical walking tours of the Garden Court neighborhood continue. Join the tour and learn the history of the neighborhood from its rural beginnings to today. Tickets are only $5! More information is available on the event’s Facebook page.

30th Street Craft Market – The Porch at 30th Street Station (30th & Market) – 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Shop unique, locally made gifts like jewelry, ceramics, home wares, stationery, art prints and originals, bath & body products, children’s items and more. There will also be food trucks, locally made ice cream and the West Philadelphia Orchestra! Rain or shine. Presented by VIX Emporium and University City District. Check out the event’s Facebook page for more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/215884445234823/.

Bark in the Park – Clark Park “B” (43rd & Chester) – 2 – 4 p.m. – Attention West Philly dog owners: Bring your adorable pooch to Bark in the Park and compete for best barker, neatest trick, shortest tail, dog-owner look-alike, Halloween costume, and more! Also, meet a local vet who will answer your questions about pet care and training. There will also be a raffle to win a basket of goodies for Rover!

Romeo and Juliet – Curio Theatre (4740 Baltimore Ave) – 8:00 p.m. – Preview show. For more info and tickets ($20), visit: http://www.curiotheatre.org/

Sunday, October 6

FIGMENT Philadelphia Art Project – Clark Park (43rd Street between Woodland and Baltimore) – 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. – On Sunday, Clark Park hosts yet another very cool event – FIGMENT, an incredible interactive public art project, will occur in both sides of the park. A free and family-friendly event, FIGMENT Phila will offer a multitude of exciting participatory installations, performances, workshops, and games in a variety of disciplines, including sculpture, visual arts, dance, theater, music, circus arts, and crafts. Participants will be invited to design, manipulate, move through, piece together, work together, and lend their creative voices to this hands-on celebration of interactive art and the community where anything is possible. Check out the placement map of all of the participants (click to enlarge). For more information, visit: http://www.phila.figmentproject.org/

Mighty Writers’ Block Party & Open House – 3861 Lancaster Avenue – 3 -6 p.m. – Mighty Writers, a non-profit designed to teach Philadelphia kids ages 7 to 17 how to write, will open the doors of its newest location in West Philadelphia to the public during an afternoon block party and open house. The event will provide area residents with an opportunity to learn more about Mighty Writers’ programming and staff, sign up for programs, and participate in a family-friendly day of music, food and fun. For more info, visit: http://www.mightywriters.org/west-philly-academy/

International Blues Explosion: Concert  by Sidi Toure  & Cedric Watson – Crossroads Music (48th & Baltimore) – 7:30 p.m. – This Sunday, Crossroads Music invites neighbors to an unforgettable international blues concert by Sidi Toure, a Songhaï blues musician from northern Mali, and Cedric Watson, who represents the emerging generation of Cajun and Creole musicians in Louisiana. More information and tickets ($10-$30) are available here.