Photo by Tug Haines / The Food Trust.

We are happy to report that after a few years away Night Market Philadelphia, a roving street food festival organized by The Food Trust, is coming back to West Philadelphia. The 15th installment of the festival will take place on Thursday, Aug. 14 on Lancaster Ave between 35th and 39th Streets. Last time West Philly hosted the event was in the summer of 2011.

Night Market on Lancaster Ave @ 35th will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. and admission is free. This is a great opportunity to try food from Philly’s best ethnic and regional restaurants and food trucks. Also, there will be live music and entertainment. West Philly hip-hop artist Chill Moody will perform along with a slate of other performing and visual artists.

Night Market’s mission is to spotlight a unique, diverse, vibrant and up-and-coming neighborhood in Philadelphia that some folks might not have explored. Lower Lancaster Avenue is the central hub of an area that includes lots of smaller communities, including Mantua (recently deemed a Promise Zone by President Obama) and Powelton Village.

“…We’re thrilled to be back in West Philadelphia for Night Market number 15,” The Food Trust Executive Director Yael Lehmann said in a press statement. “The Lancaster Avenue corridor is the central hub of one of our most vibrant, diverse and up-and-coming communities, making it the perfect example of why we choose the neighborhoods we do.”

The event is co-hosted by the People’s Emergency Center (PEC), one of the key neighborhood organizations in the area, which are raving about the chance to add Night Market to their calendar of activities along the Lancaster Avenue corridor and to show off their neighborhood to the festival goers. Over 15,000 people are expected to attend the event.

“…I hope that some visitors will also discover that it’s a great place to live and maybe even open up their next retail shop or restaurant,” said PEC President and CEO Farah Jimenez.

The weather is perfect for the last outdoor concert in the 2014 Cedar Park Summer Jazz series, which taking place tonight, from 6 – 8 p.m. Rich Tucker (Facebook page) and the Universal Koncept will entertain the crowd at 49th and Baltimore for the last time this year, as we’re saying goodbye to the series until the next summer. As usual, bring your blanket, or chair and a picnic, or enjoy a takeout from your favorite neighborhood restaurant.

The other day, when walking along Baltimore Ave we lamented that there was only one Dollar Stroll this year. It took place June 19 – seems like a long time ago. Today University City District (UCD) announced that due to popular demand, a second Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll this season is coming on Thursday, Sept 18! That’s great news for Dollar Stroll fans.

A record number of visitors flocked to the area for the last stroll, so UCD together with the Baltimore Avenue Business Association (BABA) are excited to bring the season’s second Dollar Stroll to Baltimore Avenue, between 43rd and 51st Streets.

As always, the event will start at 5:30 p.m. and go on until 8:30 and all are welcome to sample $1 items from local vendors during these three hours. There’s something for everyone – from $1 pours of craft beers to various bites for a buck to special memberships and ticket offers. In addition, there will be live entertainment at the 46th Street Triangle, including music from Y-Not radio, jugglers and fire artists.

The event (Facebook page) will happen rain or shine, according to the organizers. More information about participating businesses and their $1 specials is coming soon. Stay tuned.

The new benches inscribed with Charles Dickens quotes were recently installed in Clark Park. If you are in the park this weekend stop by the Dickens statue to check them out. The new benches is a coordinated effort of four local organizations and individual donors. Check the Friends of Clark Park website for more information.

Due to rain, tonight’s Henry IV show, which was supposed to take place in Clark Park, will be held at the Penn Ice Rink at 3130 Walnut Street. The show still starts at 7 p.m. Follow Shakespeare in Clark Park on Twitter (@shakespeareincp) for updates.
 

Here’s a reminder that the trolley tunnel closes tonight at 10 p.m. for Trolley Tunnel Blitz, a 17-day maintenance and construction project. During this time, SEPTA Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 will operate only west of 40th Street. Passengers traveling east of 40th Street can switch to the Market-Frankford subway line at 40th and Market where all the trolleys will divert to. You can also take a bus (Routes 42, 21).

The trolley service in the tunnel is expected to resume on August 18 at 4 a.m. We’ll keep you posted if there are any changes.

Check out this video, recently put up by SEPTA, that explains the Trolley Tunnel Blitz: