A 19-story mural has been created on the side of the University Square senior community building at 3901 Market Street. The author of this masterpiece is Faith XLVII, an internationally-acclaimed street artist from Cape Town, South Africa. The giant 11,000 square foot artwork was created for Mural Arts Philadelphia.

An inscription on the mural reads: “Maneto Philadelphia: Optimism is a Strategy for Making a Better Future.” The Latin word “maneto” is part of Philadelphia’s city seal and means “to remain” or “to endure.”

The dedication ceremony for the new mural will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 11 a.m.

The mural, entitled The Silent Watcher, was inspired by the cultural, historical, and social aspects of the neighborhood. It features a strong archetypal female figure towering above pedestrians with a contemplative gaze.  Continue Reading

UPDATE (9/19/2019): Before saying goodbye to summer 2019, enjoy this Friday, Sept. 20 a free movie in Clark Park – a rescheduled screening of Creed II. Please bring your blankets and chairs. Also enjoy food from Philly Goodfellas, Foolish Waffles, and ICE CAVE. The film will begin at 7:30 p.m. to accommodate the earlier sunset time. Please note: This film is rated PG-13 and features swearing, intense scenes of boxing violence, and mild sensuality, and might not be appropriate for young children.

August 7, 2019: Free outdoor movies are returning to Clark Park at 43rd and Chester this week: University City District, in partnership with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and Friends of Clark Park, are set to present four great films every Friday night through August 30th.

Films will be shown at sundown in fair weather. A rain date of September 20th has been reserved for up to one film postponed due to inclement weather.

Please bring your chair or blanket for the films. Food and dessert will be offered starting at 6 p.m. from a rotating list of vendors. Here’s this year’s schedule:

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Did you know that you don’t have to wash your dog alone at home, in your bathtub or sometimes even your kitchen sink? You can do it in a specially made tub while socializing with other dog owners. And after you’re done, you don’t need to clean up all the mess. That’s what a self-serve pet washing shop, “PHilthy Paws”, which has just opened at 47th and Baltimore, is for.

In addition to the tub, PHilthy Paws also provides tools to clean your animal (shampoos, brushes, dryers, and more) that are included in your fee – ranging from $12 to $18 per wash, depending on the size of your pet. Dogs as large as 100+ pounds are welcome, too.  Continue Reading

                   112-114 S. 43rd Street.

The Spruce Hill Community Association Zoning Committee will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, Sept. 16, and one of the proposals on the agenda is construction of a new 12-unit apartment building on S. 43rd Street between Sansom and Chestnut.

The project involves consolidation of two lots – 112 and 114 S. 43rd St. – into one with demolition of the existing structure at 114, according to a Spruce Hill Zoning Committee announcement. The project envisions the construction of 12 units with four bicycle spaces and no parking. Property is in CMX-4 zoning, which requires four parking spots.  Continue Reading

While the weather is still warm, folks in Cedar Park and nearby areas may be interested to know that there is a new addition to the local drinking establishments scene. A pop-up wine garden, named simply The Wine Garden, which focuses on wine and wine only (no beer), has recently opened at 5019 Baltimore Avenue, in the outdoor space previously occupied by Taco Angeleno. One of the co-owners is Saba Tedla, owner of Aksum and Booker’s restaurants also located on Baltimore Ave.

The Wine Garden offers seating for up to 30 people and serves vintage wines and specialty drinks, plus live entertainment featuring local musicians, according to Philadelphia Magazine. Basically, it’s a great place to relax after a long workday and on weekends.

The Wine Garden is open Monday through Friday 4-11 p.m.; noon-11 p.m. on Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. on Sundays. It will stay open through the end of October. So far, there’s no website or Facebook page, but we’ll keep you posted.

September 12 Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll map (click to enlarge).

This year’s second and last Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll is happening on Thursday, Sept. 12 and will feature hundreds of $1 items (food, drinks, merchandise, theatre tickets, and more!), as well as live music and entertainment. The event will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. from 43rd to 52nd Streets, and there will also be a special performance at 40th and Baltimore.

Thirty-six Baltimore Avenue businesses and 15 community food and merchandise vendors will participate in the September edition of the Dollar Stroll. Check out this map for more details.  Continue Reading