The monthly installment of Philadelphia’s longest running and most authentic hip-hop happening is Thursday at The Rotunda (4014 Walnut St.) Dubbed the community-based celebration of “The struggle, the Love,and the culture of Hip Hop,” The Gathering has been running since 1996 and usually takes place on the last Thursday of the month, except for November (Thanksgiving and all). It features b-boys/b-girls, emcees, pop-lockers, grafitti artists, DJs and men, women and children of all ages.

The night also features open cyphers and a tag wall. Warning, the cyphers and such often trickle outside the Rotunda and last well into the wee hours. Yep, even on a school night.

Admission is $3.

Below is a video of Philadelphia Slick at a 2007 edition of The Gathering.

I came across this guy playing near the older kids playground at Clark Park on Saturday morning. I shot it with the video feature of a little Canon powershot digital camera.

If you have ever had a tinge of regret after hearing about a show at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts that you would love to see but couldn’t afford, then you should read on.

The West Philly Rush Hour program makes a limited number of $10 tickets available two hours before every show (except the Dance Celebration performances) to West Philadelphians. The tickets will be available at the Center’s box office two hours before each show for one hour. So, for example, if a show starts 8 p.m., then tickets will be on sale from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are available on a first come-first serve basis and they only can be purchased in person. There is a two-ticket maximum. Seating will be located throughout the venue, subject to management discretion.

To get the tickets you must show proof of residency (valid driver’s license or non-driver’s license photo ID) in one of the following zip codes: 19104, 19131, 19139, 19142, 19143, 19151 and 19153.

The program does not currently offer tickets for the Dance Celebration performances, but will offer $5 tickets for Philadelphia International Children’s Festival events in April.

Here’s the Center’s schedule.

Cindy Miller was kind enough to pass along  about 10 photographs from various time periods. We will post them occasionally. If you want them all, write editor [at] westphillylocal.com.

This is from University City off the Grid… During a tour aboard the Market-Frankford train of the “A Love Letter For You” mural series, Canadian Todd proposed to another Canadian, Meaghan. All you need is love…as the Penn Singers Light Opera Company sing…

Mediamaker Barabara Grant weaved folklore and oral history together into a multimedia piece that she will show tonight from 6-8 p.m. at the Philadelphia Folklore Project (735 South 50th). When My Mother Broke Her Leg (and came to live with me) is about “aging, advocacy, health care policy” and her mom. Her piece is also about reconsidering the role of a child, family history and health care equity, particularly for seniors.