Starting this week, The Food Trust‘s healthy food incentive program, Philly Food Bucks, will be available at a West Philly location of The Fresh Grocer (56th and Chestnut). Philly Food Bucks offers free-food coupons to SNAP participants who use their ACCESS card at area farmers’ markets (if you spend $5 in food stamps, you get $2 extra to spend on more fruits and vegetables at the market). With funding from the USDA’s Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive grant program, The Food Trust now has the opportunity to expand this model in other retail settings in Philadelphia and across the state.

“We’ve seen firsthand the impact Philly Food Bucks has at our regional network of farmers’ markets, allowing customers to make healthier decisions while sticking to their budget,” says Yael Lehmann, Executive Director of The Food Trust. “This grant allows us to offer the same opportunity in additional retail settings, like corner stores and supermarkets, to help more people bring home fresh, affordable food for their families.”

In addition to increasing the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables by SNAP participants, this expanded Food Bucks program will benefit local farmers as well as local grocery businesses.

The promotion will run Sept. 13-Oct. 17 and will be available only at The Fresh Grocer at 56th and Chestnut Streets in West Philadelphia. During this period, Price Plus® club card members who use their ACCESS card will receive a $2 digital coupon for every $5 they spend on fresh fruits and vegetables.

Hamilton Street Porch Sale (Facebook photo).

UPDATE: Due to rain in the forecast for Saturday, the sale will take place on Sunday, Sept. 13, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

There’s a great opportunity for amazing bargains, food and fun this Saturday Sunday in Powelton Village, when Hamilton Street residents will come together for their big annual porch and sidewalk sale. The sale is held each year on Saturday after Labor Day, and this year marks its 35th anniversary!

This thing encompasses four blocks – from 3300 to 3700 – and features over 100 vendors, including a mix of long-time residents, local vendors, and the BBQ stand run by St. Andrew & St. Monica Church. There will be a wide mix of items for sale, including: housewares, bookcases, furniture, pottery, clothes, family treasures, books, antiques, plants, food, jewelry, musical instruments, electronics, children’s toys, and more.

For more information, check out the sale’s Facebook event page.

Click to enlarge

Some nice events will be happening this weekend and next weekend, and we want to highlight a few of them. Also, stay tuned for more information on the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll (Sept. 17), and the fall edition of the Go West! Craft Fest (Sept. 19). For more events or if you want to submit an event, please visit our Events page.

Second Fridays on Lancaster Avenue

Second Fridays will be held on Sept. 11, beginning at 5 p.m., and here’s what’s in store for this Friday: Vendors Village, Neighborhood Time Exchange Open House, paintings and drawing exhibit by Doina Botez, open mic night, a screening of “Song of the South” and more, all on Lancaster Avenue, from 35th to 39th. For more information, visit the Lancaster Avenue Philly website.

Honey Festival at Bartram’s Garden

The beautiful Bartram’s Garden (54th and Lindbergh Blvd.) is hosting the 6th annual Honey Festival this Sunday (Sept. 13). Events will include open hive demonstration, tastings, and even a live “bee-bearding” with Don Shump from The Philadelphia Bee Company. Also beer brewing, beekeeping workshops, kids’ activities, a cooking contest, free yoga sessions, and more! The festival will take place from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Check out this page for more details.

Fringe Arts Festival

The annual Fringe Festival kicked off on Sept. 3, with many wonderful performances and art installations taking place in the city. West Philly is also hosting a few Fringe events this and next week, so here are some more details:

• “Body of Water” dance show by Antonia and Artists – Sept 11, 12, 8 p.m.
CEC Meeting House Theatre, 3500 Lancaster Avenue

Our bodies are 75% water. What would happen if we moved like the liquid we are? Antonia & Artists is a dance company made up of talented humans and led by choreographer Antonia Z Brown. Watch as they journey through the depths within to harness the fluidity, agility, and transformative strength of the most powerful element. For more info and tickets ($18), click here. 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.

We hope you’re enjoying the last days of summer. Here’s some information on what’s closed today, and schedule changes for some city services and SEPTA. Happy Labor Day!

• All government offices and public libraries are closed today

• Post offices are closed, and there’s no mail delivery

• SEPTA is operating on a Sunday schedule

• No trash/recycling pick-up today. Set out your Monday’s trash on Tuesday, Sept. 8. There will be one-day trash pick-up delay for the rest of the week. Sanitation Convenience centers are also closed today.

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