Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is approaching and we have we compiled a list of events and service opportunities in our area on Monday, Jan. 20. We hope you can find an hour or two to participate in some of the events or projects listed below. If you know of more events or service opportunities, please post them in the comments. Also, go to http://www.mlkdayofservice.org/ to find more volunteer projects in your area.

8:00 a.m.-1 p.m. – Girard College (2101 South College Ave) – Philadelphia Futures will host free college readiness workshops for middle and high school students and parents. The five different workshops will be geared toward the various stages of the college-going process, and will be led by the Philadelphia Futures staff. Students and parents are encouraged to capitalize on their day off of school and work and participate in a workshop that will help to put them (or their child) on the path to college. The workshops are open to all Philadelphia residents. You can reserve your workshop seat by signing-up at www.mlkdaycollegeworkshops.eventbrite.com.

9:00 a.m. – Various Day of Service opportunities are available through Repair the World Philadelphia. Sign up until midnight on Friday, Jan. 17 to take part in such projects as beautification and cleanup of the Martha Washington School (766 N. 44th St) or building mobile libraries to be placed in various public locations around West Philadelphia. For more information and to sign up, go here.

9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – MLK Day of Service at Bartram’s Garden (54th Street and Lindbergh Blvd) – Volunteers are needed to clear brush, vines, and invasive species to open up the wooded trail, which runs along the adjacent stretch of the Schuylkill River, for pedestrians. Lunch and a free t-shirt will be provided for volunteers (while supplies last.) To pre-register, email: tgreenberg@bartramsgarden.org

10:00 a.m. – Bible Way Baptist Church (52nd & Master) hosts a Commemorative Worship Celebration. The service will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. and conclude around noon. As part of the celebration, the MLK Community Service Award will be presented to previously chosen individuals who have served in this community to ensure a better life.

10:00 a.m.; 3:30 p.m. – Join community activist Rev. Paul “Earthquake” Moore for the Annual MLK Day of Service. The day will kickoff at 10:00 a.m. with restoration and clean-up at New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, 7001 Woodland Ave. At 3:30 p.m. there will be a re-enactment march starting at 65th St. & Woodland Ave. After the march, Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have A Dream speech will be recited by Rev. Paul “Earthquake” Moore at New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. Assistance is needed with the re-enactment march. Visit http://paulearthquakemoore.com/ for more information.

11:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Martin Luther King Sharing the Heritage Celebration at the African American Museum (AAMP), 701 Arch Street. Free admission. Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, donate food for the ChAAMPs Against Hunger Philabundance Food Drive, engage in hands-on service projects, explore exhibits, watch great performances and more! For more information, click here. Hip Hop Fundamentals will also be performing their show “Civil Rights Movements: The power of youth engagement through the eyes of Dr. King.” They will begin the family-friendly show at noon.

All day – More than 250 students, staff and volunteers from YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School, an innovative alternative education program offering a second chance for former high school dropouts, ages 18-21, will repaint classrooms, hallways and community spaces at Thomas G. Morton Elementary School in Southwest Philadelphia (2501 S. 63rd Street) to honor the life, legacy, and service of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Morton Elementary, a K-5 school that serves 800 students, has not been repainted in several years. Volunteers from YouthBuild Philly will spend the morning of January 20 painting engaging and meaningful murals throughout the school to make the space a brighter and friendlier learning environment. The mural project will give special attention to the classrooms that house special education and autism support programs.

Here are a few happenings this weekend we wanted to bring your attention to. For more events or to submit an event, go to our Events Calendar. And be careful out there – try to avoid slippery sidewalks!

– Beginning this Friday, International House Philadelphia (37th & Chestnut) presents Free to Love: The Cinema of the Sexual Revolution. This is a groundbreaking series made possible with the support by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. The series will run through February 15. Here’s this weekend’s program (ADULT CONTENT): Friday, Jan. 10, 7 p.m. – I am Curious (Yellow); Sweden, 1967, 121 min. Saturday, Jan. 11, 5 p.m. – Pink Narcissus; US, 1971, 71 min. 7 p.m. – In the Realm of the Senses; Japan, 1976, 109 min. 10 p.m. – Deep Throat; US, 1972, 61 min. For more information and tickets ($9 general admission; free for IHP members) click here.

– Here’s a reminder that the Electronics Recycling Day, which was supposed to take place last Saturday in Clark Park, has been moved to this Saturday, Jan. 11. Bring your old phones, computers and other electronic devices and gadgets to Clark Park at 43rd and Chester from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Electronics recycling is free of charge, with the exception of $20 charge for recycling cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs and monitors.

– Biunity‘s annual chocolate themed bake sale and fundraiser Death Bi Chocolate will take place at the A-Space (4722 Baltimore Ave) on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2-5 p.m. The event supports the only organization for bisexuals in Philadelphia and raises funds for appearances at pride events throughout the year, such as Philly Pride and OutFest. You can donate a chocolate baked good and enjoy the chocolates available at the sale, or just come and play board games with some friendly people.

Many neighbors have started looking for ways to get rid of their Christmas trees, so here are a few options.

UPDATE (1/4/14): Electronics recycling has been postponed until Saturday, Jan. 11. Christmas tree recycling is still on for January 4. For those who want their tree to be turned into something useful instead of adding to the landfill, there are some recycling options available. On Saturday, Jan. 4, bring your tree along with used and unwanted electronics to a Christmas Tree and Electronics Recycling event at Clark Park (43rd & Chester). This annual event is organized by UC Green, University City District and eForce Recycling. A $10 donation is being asked for each tree to cover expenses of turning it into wood chips. Also, a $20 charge will be asked for recycling certain type TVs and monitors (check the event’s Facebook page for more info). The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you want to keep your tree a little longer, please note that the city will launch its Christmas Tree Recycling program on Monday, Jan. 6, according to an announcement posted by the Streets Department. The program will run through Saturday, Jan. 18. During this time, residents may drop off their trees for recycling at any of the following Streets Department Sanitation Convenience Centers Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.:

3033 South 63rd Street
Domino Lane and Umbria Street
State Road and Ashburner Street

Christmas trees brought to these sites will be used for composting or mulch. Before dropping off your tree, make sure it’s untied and free of all decorations and ornaments, plastic bags or wrappings. More information can be found here.

Finally, trees left at the curb will be picked up on regular trash collection days and will not be recycled.

(Photo courtesy of the University City District)

This is a call to all creative neighbors: Fun-A-Day, the annual community art project organized by the Artclash Collective, returns next month and your participation is very welcome. Here’s what you are asked to do:

Choose a project and make one piece of artwork every day for the entire month of January, then share your work in a group art show held the following month. The 31 resulting pieces create a narrative outlining each artist’s journey through the first month of the year. Projects may vary from lighthearted to serious, “high-brow” to “low-brow.” Past year’s list of mediums includes photos, drawings, paintings, songs, textiles and more.

Since its inception in 2005, Fun-A-Day has grown to inspire similar art shows around the country and internationally and shown tens of thousands of pieces by hundreds of artists. Fun-A-Day Philadelphia is organized by a group of local artists, including three of the founding members of the Artclash Collective.

Photo via Fun-A-Day on Facebook.

The 10th Annual Fun-A-Day Art Show will be held at Studio 34 (4522 Baltimore Ave) on Friday, Feb. 7, and Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Studio 34 has hosted the event since 2008. The “Fun-A-Day Lite” show will feature select pieces of various projects in the hallways of Studio 34 for an entire month after the show, until mid-March.

Participation in Fun-A-Day is free and open to all ages. No sign up is necessary. Everyone is invited to join in on the fun and come to the show to see what your friends and neighbors have been up to during the first month of 2014.

Please follow Fun-A-Day on Facebook or visit the Artclash Collective website for updates on the show.

Here’s a chance to check out one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in West Philly and hang out and share in the holiday joy with your neighbors. Garden Court Community Association is hosting a Winter Stroll and Holiday House Tour on Saturday, Dec. 28. The event will also include, music, fun and entertainment. Note to participants: Festive attire is encouraged.

The stroll and house tour will take place from 5 to 8 p.m., followed by dancing at Take the Lead Dance Studio located at 47th and Pine. Light refreshments will also be served. The stroll starts at 4603 Cedar Avenue.

Cost is $10 with advanced registration; $15 at the door. No cost for children under 12.
The event will take place rain or snow. To RSVP email: hwrdlowell@yahoo.com or call 215-747-6371.

As West Philly Local recently reported, The Blockley, a popular music venue located at 38th and Chestnut, is closing at the end of the year and has announced its final shows this weekend (Dec. 26-29). For more information, go to The Blockley’s Facebook page.

Thursday, Dec. 26 – Hip-Hop Finale feat. Schoolly D, Reef the Lost Cauze, Cee Knowledge (Doodlebug of Digable Planets), Mic Stew, Beano, Voss, and Chase Allen. Doors – 8 p.m. , Show – 9 p.m. 21+. $10 adv/$12 D.O.S.

Friday, Dec. 27 – Splintered Sunlight (Grateful Dead tribute) w/ Sakima. Doors – 8 p.m., Show – 9 p.m. 21+. $7 adv/$10 D.O.S.

Saturday, Dec. 28 – Long Miles w/ Spiritual Rez. Doors – 8 pm , Show – 9 p.m. 18+. $10 adv/$13 D.O.S.

Sunday, Dec. 29 – A Funky Farewell feat. The Everyone Orchestra. Late night DJ Battle 1-3 am feat. DJ Logic & Special Guest TBA. Doors – 5:30 p.m., Show – 6 p.m. All Ages. $20.