International House Philadelphia will present a couple of free films in celebration of the upcoming visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia. Both films are on the life of Pope Francis’ namesake, St. Francis of Assisi.

Roberto Rossellini’s 1950 classic, The Flowers of St. Francis will be shown on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7:00 p.m., and Brother Sun, Sister Moon, a 1972 film directed by Franco Zeffirelli, will be presented on Thursday, Sept. 24, also at 7:00 p.m. Both films will be screened at International House’s Ibrahim Theater, 3701 Chestnut Street.

Guest speakers will introduce each film. On Sept. 19, Professor Stefania Benini will present The Flowers of St. Francis, a timeless and moving portrait of the search for spiritual enlightenment. Benini was Lauro De Bosis Fellow at Harvard University (2014-2015), after having been Assistant Professor of Italian at the University of Pennsylvania (2007-2014). Her research focus in Italian Studies involves the sacred, from literature to cinema and theatre.  Continue Reading

The local synagogue Kol Tzedek, located at Calvary Center for Culture and Community, 48th and Baltimore, is inviting community members to its upcoming holiday services and events. Rosh Hashanah services will be held on Sept. 13, 14 and 15. Events will include children’s programming, potluck lunch at the chapel and a picnic at Bartram’s Garden.

Yom Kippur services and events will take place on Sept. 22 and 23.

There is no cost, although donations are welcome. Services are open to the whole community – it is not necessary to know Hebrew or be a practicing Jew. Online registration in advance is preferred and can be done on the website: kol-tzedek.org. Childcare is offered from 10 a.m. to the close of daytime services (except on Sept. 15) and in the evening of Sept. 22 and the entire day of Sept. 23.

More information and schedule are available here.

Photo courtesy University City District.

Custom-made swings, a new feature that was announced in the spring as part of a major enhancement of The Porch, a public space near 30th Street Station, are finally here. Designed by San Francisco-based Gehl Studio, the new swings are a result of the University City District’s mission to introduce innovative social seating in the area. You may have seen their Looped-In seating structures or custom public transit stop seats in your neighborhood.

The 14 slatted, wooden swings, which add an element of play to the space, were manufactured locally, by Bill Curran Design (BCD), based in Philadelphia’s East Falls. They come in three versions: the Porch Swing, which is meant to mimic swinging on a front porch; the Lounger, a gentle swing that simulates floating on air; and the Park Swing, an individual swing placed on the edges of the Porch.  Continue Reading

Archived photo (Selah Lynch/West Philly Local)

We have some news from the 5000 block of Baltimore Avenue. After a year of operation, Gush Gallery has closed its doors. Local artists Stephanie Slate and Sarah Thielke opened the interactive art gallery in August 2014 after months of fundraising through Indiegogo, but in the end it turned out to be very difficult to keep the business sustainable at that location.

Their former space at 5015 Baltimore Ave will not stay empty for long though: Snapdragon Flowers (Facebook page), a flower shop run by Cedar Park-based florists, is slated for October 2015 opening. Once open the shop will offer fresh and preserved floral arrangements, as well as gifts and cards with a botanical theme. There will be a couple of chances to learn more about Snapdragon Flowers and meet the owners at the upcoming Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll and Go West! Craft Fest at The Woodlands.  Continue Reading

Even if Beyoncé or Death Cab for Cutie aren’t your jam, the enhanced SEPTA train schedule this weekend might get you where you want to go quicker. SEPTA is beefing up some of its schedules this weekend – Sept. 5 and 6 – to accommodate traffic to and from the annual Made in America show on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

SEPTA announced that local train service will be available on the El (Market-Frankford Line) and the Broad Street Line every five minutes on Saturday and Sunday beginning at noon and lasting “throughout the day.” Additional trains will also be deployed when the concert ends.

Additional evening trips will be added on Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 15, 34, and 36.

There will also be additional late-night regional rail trains leaving from Center City and 30th Street Station. The special schedules are available here.

Check out these two cool and free events happening in the neighborhood this weekend, in addition to the movies at Clark Park (Friday, 7 p.m.), 40th Street Summer Series concert (Saturday, 6 p.m.), and Back 2 School Extravaganza at Malcolm X Park (Sunday, 2-6 p.m.). For more events, or to submit an event please visit our Events Calendar.

Philadelphia Obon Festival at Clark Park (43rd and Baltimore)

Sunday, 2-5 p.m.

Here’s a great chance to learn more about Japan and its culture at the third annual Philadelphia Obon Festival taking place in Clark Park this Sunday. The festival is presented by the Japanese House and Gardens. Activities include a participatory Bon Odori circle dance, a Japanese tea ceremony, Japanese music, including taiko drumming, and more. Guests can also enjoy delicious Japanese/Hawaiian street food on sale from Poi Dog Philly food truck. This is a free and fun event for both adults and children.

Philly Zine Fest at The Rotunda (40th and Walnut)

Sunday, noon-7 p.m.

Also on Sunday, The Rotunda is hosting the annual festival celebrating independent publishing – the Philly Zine Fest. Nearly 40 exhibitors will present their publications, from radical to informative to humorous. West Philly’s independent publishing center, The Soapbox, will also participate in the event. Check out an article by Philly.com with some more details about the fest. Here‘s the event’s Facebook page. Free admission.