Many thanks to all who submitted their entries in this year’s Pumpkin Carving Contest. There were many amazing jack-o’-lanterns this year and our jury had a blast selecting winners in the Scariest, Funniest, Kids, Best Philly Themed, and Special Prize categories. Also, we’d like to thank everyone who voted for their favorite pumpkin and helped us select the Readers’ Choice winner.

Here are this year’s winners and we are already looking forward to next year’s contest!

Readers’ Choice: Bimal Desai (Dragon pumpkin)

Bimal Desai, a pediatrician and married father of two, did it again! His outstanding Dragon pumpkin was an absolute favorite in the Readers’ Choice category. Out of 289 votes submitted 112 were cast for this pumpkin. Congratulations to Bimal and he wins some great prizes from local businesses: a $40 gift certificate from Cafe Renata, a $40 gift card from Sabrina’s Cafe, a three-month membership to International House Philadelphia, a $25 gift certificate from Honest Tom’s Taco Shop and two Curio Theatre tickets.  Continue Reading

We received some great entries in this year’s Pumpkin Carving Contest, many of them from our young neighbors. Many thanks to everyone who participated! And now, it’s time to vote for your favorite pumpkin! All the entries are below. Please choose your favorite and cast your vote at the bottom of this post (please only one vote per person).

Just a reminder that the Readers’ Choice winner will receive our grand prize, which includes some great food and entertainment offers: a $40 gift card from Sabrina’s Cafe, a $40 gift certificate from Cafe Renata, a 3-month membership to International House Philadelphia, and Curio Theatre tickets. In addition to these prizes, a Readers’ Choice winner can also select one prize from the following businesses: Mariposa Food Coop, VIX Emporium, Honest Tom’s Taco Shop, and Rx The Farmacy.

Voting will end at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2 and the Readers’ Choice winner and winners in other categories (Scariest, Funniest, best Philly-themed, and Kids) and their prizes will be announced shortly after that. This year, to encourage participation, we’ll also have a random drawing among the entries that didn’t win in any other category.

OK, ready? Here you go (click to enlarge):

Voting has ended.

[poll id=”5″]

Photo by Eva Jacobs.

This weekend is not only about Halloween (that said, you can check Halloween events here). A bunch of other fun community events are being held this Saturday and Sunday, including food-centered events (End of Season Fall Market, Vegan Day celebration, a taco fundraiser), a tree giveaway and a couple of fall festivals. For more upcoming events or if you want to submit an event, go to our Event listings.

Saturday, Nov 1 

• End of Season Market Celebration & Tree Giveaway

Neighborhood Foods Farm (53rd & Wyalusing), 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Photo courtesy Urban Tree Connection.

Urban Tree Connection (UTC) and Neighborhood Foods (NF) invite neighbors to an end-of-season market, featuring fall farm produce, $3 chicken platters (cooked by NF Coop Members Gale and Nicole) with potluck sides, vendors, and giveaways: recycling bins and yard trees provided thanks to a grant from TreePhilly. You can also bring your own food or items to sell. There will be 50 trees available for property owners with yards – an open (unpaved) area on private property – and are absolutely free. They come with a free planting demonstration, educational materials, and a bag of mulch from the Fairmount Park Organic Recycling Center. Several species will be available, ranging from large shade trees to medium-sized trees to smaller fruit trees. A full list of available species can be found here. To reserve your tree and for species list, contact Karen: 215‐900‐1292 or karen@urbantreeconnection.org 

• Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) Celebration

Penn Museum (3260 South Street), 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Photo courtesy Penn Museum.

This Saturday, the Penn Museum presents the third annual Day of the Dead Celebration. Throughout Mexico and around the world, Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) brings family and friends together to pray for and remember loved ones who have died. The celebration includes pageantry, traditional music and dance, storytelling and puppetry, paper maché artistry, sugar skull and mask making, face painting, special foods and more.

Guests can also view colorful altars (ofrendas) designed by regional community groups, and a large Day of the Dead altar created by the Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia and the Mexican Cultural Center, co-organizers of the event, with the help of local artist Cesar Viveros. The event is free with Penn Museum admission ($15, general admission; $13, seniors [65+]; $10, children [6-17] and full-time students [with ID]; $2 ACCESS Card holders; free to children under 5, members, active U.S. Military, STAMP and PennCard holders). For more information, go here.  Continue Reading

Philly Thriller performs in front of The Rotunda (Facebook photo).

We hope you prepared your spooky costumes because All Hallows’ Eve is almost here! Check out our Halloween events roundup (for kids and adults alike) below and we hope you have a lot of fun. Also, the popular local community dance group, Philly Thriller (Facebook page), will be performing again on West Philly streets. Here’s a tentative schedule of their performances:

4:30 p.m. – Dress rehearsal on The Rotunda Plaza (40th and Walnut)
5:00 – 5:15 p.m. – Performances at 42nd and Osage
5:30 to 6:45 p.m. – Clark Park performances

Also, there will be some “Catch us on Baltimore Ave” flash mob performances, according to Philly Thriller founder Rashida Holmes.

Continue Reading

Two great local community resources, Scribe Video Center and KEYSPOT, are hosting open houses on Tuesday, Oct. 28.

KEYSPOT, a project by the Freedom Rings Partnership that has over 70 centers with computer labs, free internet access and training throughout Philadelphia, has recently opened a new location in West Philly – at Drexel University’s Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships. This Tuesday, community members are invited for an evening of mingling and refreshments at an open house at this location. There will be opportunities to:

• Learn about free computer access, education, and job preparation resources
• Participate in a Q&A session with KEYSPOT staff and clients
• Enter a raffle to win a netbook computer
• Discover how these KEYSPOTs are helping put Philadelphia’s job-seekers to work

The open house will be held from 4 to 7 p.m.. Dornsife Center is located at 3509 Spring Garden Street. The event is free and open to the public.

Scribe Video Center (4212 Chestnut St) will host an open house on Tuesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m.. It’s a great networking opportunity for emerging and experienced video makers. You can also learn about membership, workshops and programs at the center, tour the facilities, and check out the equipment! Light refreshments will be served.

Founded in 1982, Scribe Video Center provides training in all aspects of film, video and audio production by offering classes and workshops. It also hosts a wide variety of programs and event series, including Community Visions, the Producers’ Forum, Muslim Voices of Philadelphia, Street Movies!, and more.

Saturday, Oct 25

Locust Moon Comics Festival

If comics is your thing (or might be your thing or was your thing or is your partner’s thing) get yourself over to The Rotunda on Saturday for the third annual Locust Moon Comics Festival. This thing will include some fine independent cartoonists and creators, including: Paul Pope (Battling Boy), Bill Sienkiewicz (Elektra: Assassin), Dean Haspiel (The Alcoholic), Mark Schultz (Xenozoic Tales), Denis Kitchen (The Oddly Compelling Art of Denis Kitchen) and Farel Dalrymple (The Wrenchies), as well as local stars like Box Brown (Andre the Giant: Life and Legend), Dave Bullock (Justice League: The New Frontier), and J.G. Jones (Wanted).

The festival will include workshops, panels and discussion on the art, history and business of comics.

Several artists will debut new work at the festival, including the Locust Moon work Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream – a kickstarter funded Winsor McKay Tribute.

The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Entrance is by optional donation. No advanced tickets are needed. Kids 13 and under are admitted free. Here is a schedule.  Continue Reading