The University City Arts League (UCAL) is excited to bring back its annual Holiday Craft Show, which kicks off on Friday, Dec. 5. UCAL’s Holiday Craft Show is a neighborhood art and shopping tradition, which features work by more than 30 craftspeople. This is another great chance to find unique handmade holiday gifts. Your purchase will also support the crafters who will get a percentage of the sales.

The opening reception is on Friday, from 6 to 8 p.m. If you can’t make it on Friday, don’t worry – the craft show runs through Sunday, Dec. 21, when the closing reception will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. The UCAL gallery, where the craft show takes place, is open daily: Monday-Friday 3 – 8 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday 12 – 6 p.m.

UCAL is located at 4226 Spruce Street. For more information, visit the UCAL website.

Bartram’s Garden signature wreath. (Photo courtesy Bartram’s Garden)

There will be a few local holiday shopping opportunities this week, which we are happy to pass along. We’ll start with a great festive annual event at the historic Bartram’s Garden.

On Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bartram’s Garden will be holding a Greens Sale and Holiday Market. The Greens Sale is a great opportunity to shop for beautiful handmade wreaths, centerpieces, and pine roping. Fresh evergreens and poinsettias will also be available for sale. There will also be an opportunity to decorate your own wreath at the DIY craft station or you can just purchase one made by volunteers.

The holiday market is a new event at the garden. It will feature local vendors and unique gifts for everyone on your list, including jewelry, pottery, handmade bags, natural apothecary and more! The event will also feature music and fresh apple cider.

The Bartram House, a national historic landmark, closes for restoration work next year, so guests are also invited to its tour while it’s still open.

Bartram members will get first pick of this year’s selection of wreaths and fresh cut greens during the preview party on Friday, December 5.

Bartram’s Garden is located in Southwest Philadelphia, at 54th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard (#36 Trolley line). For more information, click here.

Stuff the turkey, mash the potatoes, pour the gravy and sleep in because Black Friday is not the time to shop this holiday season. Instead, spend some holiday savings during Small Business Saturday! Buying local and supporting local business is a great way to give the community a boost.

West Philly is home to many great bookstores, including Bindlestiff Books (4530 Baltimore Ave), and Penn Book Center (130 S. 34th St), which is holding an Indies First event on Saturday, Nov. 29. Local authors are volunteering for a campaign spearheaded by Sherman Alexie (The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian) to support independent bookstores. Authors Anna Badkhen, Joan DeJean and Ken Kalfus will be helping all attendees pick out the perfect holiday reads for family and friends. Don’t miss out on this special opportunity to get advice from extraordinary authors.

From left to right: Anna Badkhen, Joan DeJean, and Ken Kalfus. (Photo courtesy Penn Book Center)

Badkhen, a West Philly based writer, is recommending “Citizen,” Claudia Rankins’ new book-length poem on racism and how our government deals with it as a way to sort through the recent events in Ferguson, Mo.

So, remember to attend Penn Book Center’s Indies First Small Business Saturday event on November 29th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and as part of the Small Business Saturday package Penn Book Center will be offering a two for one Holiday Sale on titles from the Everyman’s Library and a selection of cookbooks! Mulled wine, hot cider, and holiday treats will be served as well.

– Andrew Foronda

EDITOR’S NOTE: Small Business Saturday is a great opportunity to kick off your holiday shopping and support local businesses. Many of them will have special events and offers on Nov. 29, including businesses like Baltimore Pet Shoppe, VIX Emporium and others. Please check this page for more information.

West Philly musicians Sterling Duns and RB Ricks have released a single in response to the events in Ferguson, Mo. “Dr. X.” was uploaded to YouTube in anticipation of the verdict in the grand jury investigation of police officer Darren Wilson.

A handful of protests are expected today in Philadelphia. The group People Utilizing their Real Power (PURP) (Facebook page) is leading a rally, along with clergy, that is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. From City Hall, the rally is expected to move along North Broad Street to Cecil B. Moore Avenue.

Here is “Dr. X”:

The Parent Infant Center invites families with young children to celebrate the joy of reading at the annual PIC Family Book Fest on Saturday, Nov. 22. There will be plenty of read-aloud stories and crafts, Bollywood dancing, music, storytelling, and an appearance by WXPN’s Kathy O’Connell, host of Kids Corner. You can also bring a slightly used children’s book for the book swap table and take home something new to you.

The event will be held at The Rotunda (40th and Walnut), from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Screen shot from the video below that was produced by the Philo Project.

Need a rake? A wrench? Some pliers? Maybe a gas-powered lawn care tool to call your very own? You’re in luck because this Saturday (Nov. 22) is the West Philly Tool Library‘s semi-annual Fall Tool Sale and Drive.

The sale is a chance to get in on some great tool buys as they thin out the inventory a little and raises some much need cash. The sale runs from 9 a.m. to noon at the Tool Library, 1314 S. 47th.

Tax deductible donations are also encouraged and coffee and refreshments will be provided.

By the way, if you are unfamiliar with the West Philly Tool Library and want to join, here’s a little video you should watch: