Photo from Snapdragon Flowers’ Facebook page.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the new flower and gift shop, Snapdragon Flowers, recently opened on Baltimore Avenue. The store is offering special Valentine’s Day rose bouquets and three sizes of designer’s choice roses in reusable heart-shaped boxes. But that’s not all. There is also a free same-day delivery within the 19143 zip code ($10 fee for same-day delivery within 10 miles of 19143; $15 fee for next-day delivery within 15 miles of 19143). Check out the Snapdragon Flowers website and Facebook page for more details. The store is located at 5015 Baltimore Avenue.

Also located on the 5000 block of Baltimore, VIX Emporium has a nice selection of goodies for sweeties, like jewelry, scented candles, Valentine cards, warm scarves, and more. Paul Carpenter’s ever-popular pint glasses are back in stock, which pair wonderfully with new brass bottle openers. There are also handmade ceramic mugs, guaranteed to make any drink taste better. Stop in and see what gifts catch your fancy, and pick up a box of Girl Scout cookies while they last.

While on Baltimore Avenue, also check out Zed’s Last Minute Gift Shop (Facebook page). The store offers an eclectic mix of vintage and modern pieces at affordable prices. At Zed’s, which has relocated to 4514 Baltimore Avenue from its original location across the street, you can also find some unique ethnic treasures and beauty products.

If you didn’t get a chance yet, stop by the recently opened Jinxed Store (4521 Baltimore Ave.) and check out their selection of art, clothing, and antiques.

Also check out these Valentine’s Day specials at local restaurants:

                           Renata’s Kitchen.

Couples are invited to enjoy a romantic candlelit 7-course prix-fixe Valentine’s Day chef’s tasting menu at Renata’s Kitchen (4533 Baltimore Ave.). The $45 menu features shared plates from the Middle East, and vegetarian options are also available. And you’re welcome to bring your wine, of course! To make a reservation, call 267.275.8254.

This weekend, Clarkville is offering a Valentine’s Day special for couples in love or just besties. You can get two appetizers, a heart shaped cheese pizza (cut broken upon request) and a dessert to share for $25. This special is for eat-in only, and reservations are accepted but not required (email reservations@clarkvillephilly.com or call 215-387-4992).

Distrito Taqueria has Valentine’s Day specials all weekend, like $20 margarita pitchers and $5 guacamole and chips.

For information on Valentine’s weekend events, visit our Events page.

Here is a chance to see John Edgar Wideman, a widely celebrated writer and winner of several literary awards, including the International PEN/Faulkner award, this Friday in West Philly. Wideman, who is also a founder of Penn’s African American Studies Department, will speak at the West Philadelphia branch of Mighty Writers (3861 Lancaster Ave.).

The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Mighty Writers is a local non-profit organization that teaches children to think and write with clarity. Mighty Writers West opened its doors in 2013 and since then has been offering classes, afterschool programs, College Prep courses, and a summer camp to West Philadelphia kids and youth. All programs at Mighty Writers are free to Philadelphia students. For more information, visit: mightywriters.org/mighty-writers-west.

The Ahimsa House community garden.

On Sunday, Feb. 14, a local nonviolence center, the Ahimsa House, will host Big Love, its 2nd annual benefit concert and raffle. The concert features Unidos da Filadelfia, JOHNNY POPCORN, Hardwork Movement, Silverton, Red Cedar Strings, DJs BeeTee Beats and SarahCuda. Raffle prizes include private massage, yoga, and photography sessions, Sixers tickets, as well as gift certificates to local businesses, such as Honest Tom’s and Greensgrow West. All proceeds will go to paying back the loan for the Ahimsa House community garden.

Last year, we published an article on the struggles of the Ahimsa House to save their community garden. The garden began in 2011 after the center’s founder, Meg Ferrigno, purchased the Ahimsa House at 5007 Cedar Ave. with a wrongful arrest settlement from the city. She immediately went to work turning the vacant lot next door into a garden where members from the community could grow and harvest free vegetables. Ferrigno put the garden up for sheriff’s sale along with a deposit for first bid as caretaker of the lot, but the garden was bought out from under her.

Ferrigno saved the lot last year with the help of donations from the community and a personal loan. Forty thousand dollars on the loan still need to be paid back. This year, the garden became part of the PHS City Harvest program, which provided the mulch and materials to build raised beds. Anyone from the community can request a plot to grow on, and part of the garden also grows food for the West Philly chapter of Food not Bombs.

More information about the campaign to save the garden can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/ahimsagarden.

The show will be at the Rotunda on 40th and Walnut. Doors open at 6 p.m. with music starting at 6:30. Entry is on a sliding scale donation basis between $10-15. Baked goods, including vegan and gluten free options, will be available for purchase. For more information, check out the event’s Facebook page.

– Alyssa Songsiridej

Photo courtesy of International House Philadelphia.

This year on the Chinese calendar is the year of the Monkey. It starts on February 8, and there will be celebrations around the city this weekend and on Monday.

Families are invited to the following events:

• International House Philadelphia (3701 Chestnut St.) is hosting a celebration tonight (Friday, Feb. 5), beginning at 7 p.m. There will be traditional musical and dance performances and a sampling of delicious traditional Chinese cuisine. The program includes:

7:00 p.m. – Traditional food tasting and vendors in Galleria
7:45 p.m. – Show featuring traditional dance, song, lion dance, and more begins in Ibrahim Theater

Tickets are $12 (general public); $8 (IHP members and alumni); $5 (children 12 and under). No tickets are required for children small enough to sit on your lap.  Continue Reading

“Racism is a Sickness,” an art installation that uses photography and personal stories to showcase the devastating effects of racism on American society, is currently on display at the Art Church of West Philadelphia (5219 Webster St.).

The photo essay, which is presented by Germantown-based photographer and blogger Tieshka Smith, highlights the disastrous socioeconomic effects of racism on the health and well-being of people of color and on society at large. The author hopes to jump start community conversations leading to action and increased cross-collaboration between community members, academics, elected officials, businesspeople and health care practitioners.

“Racism is a Sickness” events program (click to enlarge).

The soft opening of the exhibition was held on Monday, Feb. 1, and tonight everyone is invited to the opening reception, from 7 – 10 p.m., featuring a performance by Philadelphia-based vocalist and rapper DMNQ LNDN.

The installation will be on display until Feb. 29 and will also include the following programs and events throughout the month, such as The Letters Project, “White Like Me” film screening and discussion, an evening of performance art inspired by “Racism is a Sickness,” and more (please check this page for more details).

A closing reception and a community showcase, “Let the Community Speak” will take place on February 27 at 6 p.m.

For more information, visit: http://racismisasickness.tumblr.com/ or the event’s Facebook page.

The public is invited this Thursday (Feb. 4), at 7:30 p.m., to an open forum where democratic candidates for U.S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District, will speak and answer your questions. The forum is organized by the 27th Ward Democrats.

The following candidates will participate in the event:

– Chaka Fattah, Incumbent
– Dwight Evans, Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 203rd District
– Brian Gordon, Township Commissioner, Lower Merion
– Daniel Muroff, Democratic Ward Leader, 9th Ward
– Brian Sims, Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 182nd District

State Senator Vincent Hughes, 7th District, will also take part in the event.

The discussion is expected to be lively, so everyone is encouraged to attend.

Rosenberger Hall is located in Clark Park (43rd St. near Woodland).