West Philly residents are invited to participate in the following job and volunteer training programs in West and Southwest Philadelphia:

University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative is recruiting Science Lab Helpers for positions with the University of Pennsylvania. Applications are accepted through Friday, Sept. 15. This is the 4th cohort the program has built with the university. They are looking to hire entry-level, Science Lab Helpers who will earn $15/hour to start.

The Skills Initiative is seeking applicants who possess a high school diploma or GED; are currently unemployed; and live in the West Philadelphia zip codes of 19104, 19131, 19139, 19143, or 19151. Applicants with experience working in janitorial, housekeeping, labor, science lab or related fields are encouraged to apply. Program participants receive a performance-based stipend during the training and learn the skills needed to successfully connect to employment and a fulfilling career path.  Continue Reading

This summer’s first Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll was held on June 15. (Photo by Ben Tran)

As the summer is coming to an end, this is a great opportunity to spend an evening outside enjoying food, drinks, treats and many other offers from local businesses, especially when every item costs $1. Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll returns Thursday, Sept. 7 for the second (and last) time this summer. It will be held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. between 43rd and 52nd streets.

Over 30 businesses will participate in this Dollar Stroll (see the map below), and there will also be live entertainment: Hip Hop Fundamentals will perform at 50th and Baltimore, and Red Hot Ticket, a four-piece band featuring members of the West Philadelphia Orchestra, will perform 90s hip hop favorites as they make their way
up and down Baltimore Avenue. Also, bring your kids to see jugglers in front of Milk and Honey (Baltimore and 45th), and for some face-painting and balloon art at Cedar Park.  Continue Reading

Photo by Chris Richman, University City District.

If you’re wondering what this new structure at The Porch near 30th Street Station that looks like a shipping container is, here’s the scoop: It’s a new destination for post-work drinks called The Pub at The Porch. This thing just opened and will be serving beer, wine, and rotating bar fare Wednesday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. while the weather is warm. The pub is operated by the well-known Bridgewater’s Pub, a drinking and dining destination inside 30th Street Station.

The Pub is located near the center of The Porch, where food trucks set up for weekday lunch service. Local firm SHIFTSPACE designed and manufactured the free-standing non-permanent 10×10 cube that houses The Pub. It has a vibrant turquoise color coupled with carved-out architectural features.  Continue Reading

This is a great example of neighbors helping neighbors. Senior residents of the Renaissance Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center located at 4712 Chester Avenue recently raised money to help one of the largest emergency family shelters in the area, Families Forward Philadelphia, get school supplies for their clients.

Renaissance residents and staff created a donation box crafted as a box of “Renaissance” Crayons. Staff, visitors, and family members dropped off items in the lobby, and a traveling store was made available for all residents interested in using bingo winnings to make donations.  Continue Reading

Bernie’s Restaurant and Bar is opening this fall at 3432 Sansom St.

Good news for this University City storefront that has remained vacant since Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House closed in July 2016. Come this fall, Bernie’s Restaurant and Bar, a casual dining restaurant, will open its doors at 3432 Sansom Street. Penn’s Division of Facilities & Real Estate Services, which has signed the lease for the Sansom Street space with the restaurant owners, announced the upcoming opening earlier this week.

This will be the third Pennsylvania location for the restaurant known as a “full-service independent American-style restaurant and bar serving quality food and drinks in a cozy neighborhood setting,” according to the announcement. Bernie’s currently operates two locations in southeastern PA: Glenside and Hatboro, and its owner, Eric Kretschman, is both a Drexel and Penn alum.  Continue Reading

Many homes in Spruce Hill and Cedar Park lost power last night, beginning shortly before 7 p.m. Power at some homes was restored about 40 minutes later, while other buildings were without much longer.

A fire broke out on the top of a utility pole near 47th and Cedar, according to a reader report.

“After the PECO guy was done extinguishing the fire, the fire dept turned their hose on it for a while. They managed to fix the pole and restore the power well before morning, which was nice,” writes Jen, who took the photo above.

No injuries were reported.