Many local stores and cafes will be closed or will have special hours tomorrow and this weekend:

Coffee Market (45th and Pine): Thursday, Nov, 24: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Nov. 25-27: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Mariposa Food Co-op (49th and Baltimore): Thu, Nov. 24: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Green Line Cafe: All locations will be closed this Thursday and Friday. Wednesday, Nov. 23: 43rd and Baltimore – closes at Noon; 40th St. and Powelton Village shops will close at 3 p.m.; Locust Street – Closes at 5 p.m.

Milk and Honey Market (45th and Baltimore): Thursday, Nov. 24: Closed

Renata’s Kitchen (46th and Baltimore): Thursday, Nov. 24: Closed

Fine Wine and Spirits stores (44th and Chestnut, 49th and Baltimore): Closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Supreme Shop-N-Bag (43rd and Walnut): Special hours on Thanksgiving Day: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.

The Fresh Grocer – Open 24 hours

This is a reminder that Clark Park Thursday Market (43rd and Baltimore) is taking a break until June 2017, and the last mid-week market will be held this Wednesday (Nov. 23) due to Thanksgiving. The market will have special hours this Wednesday – from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Clark Park Saturday Farmers Market is open throughout the year, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more information on other city markets run by The Food Trust, visit: http://thefoodtrust.org/farmers-markets

These properties along the 6200 block of Osage are for sale. They were quickly built following the MOVE bombing in 1985 and quickly fell into disrepair (Photo Google Street View).

The city has invited developers to bid on 36 controversial properties on the 6200 blocks of Osage and Pine hastily rebuilt following the MOVE bombing in 1985.

A fire began after police dropped a small bomb from a helicopter on a home at 6221 Osage Ave. following a long standoff with members of the black liberation group MOVE, who had barricaded themselves inside. Eleven people, including five children, were killed in the fire that followed the bombing. More than 50 neighboring homes were destroyed.

Only about half of the residences are occupied, and now the city is looking for a builder to buy the properties and either renovate them or demolish them and start over.  Continue Reading

From left to right: Noah’s Pizza owner Mekonen Hailu, executive chef Sal Traina, and co-owner Chris (Photo by Rana Fayez)

Pizza lovers of the west rejoice, we now have more options. Noah’s Pizza just opened next to Lil’ Pop Shop at 4602 Woodland Ave. Now we’re quite aware of the shortage of quality pizza on our side of the river, but this is exactly why owner Mekonen Hailu decided to transition his previous business, Noah’s Market, into what is now Noah’s Pizza.

The pizza shop opened about a couple of weeks ago, with the idea to provide quality pizza to the neighborhood. “There is more need for pizza than a mini market here,” said Hailu.

The pizza chef? Sal Traina, he’s the executive chef at Chestnut Hill Hospital. He’s really good friends with Hailu and well, he loves making pizza, so he decided to add a side gig to his work week. “I wanted to help out a friend,” said Traina.  Continue Reading

The 23rd annual Philadelphia Marathon activities will take place from November 18-20. The half marathon will take place on Saturday, Nov. 19 and the full marathon will be held on Sunday, Nov. 20. Here’s some important information for those who are planning to attend and those whose plans may be affected due to street closures.

Marathon Races, Activities, Cheer Zones

Here you can find information on weekend race activities, and information on the races is available here. Information for fans, including cheer zones, can be found here.

Street Closures

2016 Philadelphia Marathon Course Map (click to enlarge)

Streets will be closed in many parts of the city in connection with the marathon on the weekend of Nov. 18 – 20. Delays can be expected. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes, avoid areas along the race course, allow for extra driving time and proceed with caution during Race Weekend. Due to increased security in the Parkway area, parking and traffic regulations will be strictly enforced. Street closures will be enforced on a rolling basis as runners go by.

Some of the major areas impacted include:

• The Benjamin Franklin Parkway Friday, Nov. 18 through Sunday, Nov. 20

• Citywide along the 26.2-mile route of the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 20

• The I-676 off-ramps at 22nd Street (westbound) and 23rd Street (eastbound) will be closed on Saturday, Nov. 19 and Sunday, Nov. 20 after 4 a.m. for event security preparation. Ramps at 15th/Broad may also close, if needed.  Continue Reading

In light of last week’s presidential election that left many people in Philadelphia frustrated and upset, Greensgrow West (5123 Baltimore Ave) is organizing a community potluck dinner this Friday (Nov. 18) to provide a space for people to be together. All are invited and are welcome to bring a dish to share and/or nonperishable food to donate to PEC’s Rowan House, transitional housing for women and children.

If you want to bring a donation, PEC is currently collecting sides for Thanksgiving dinner, like corn and cranberries, and canned protein, like tuna.

Greensgrow will also have space to write cards to local minority-owned businesses and a small fire pit in which to write down feelings and throw them in.

The dinner will take place from 6 – 8 p.m, and you can RSVP on the event’s Facebook page.