The Friends of Clark Park continues working on the new master plan for the park, which includes gathering input from the community. All interested community members and groups have another chance to learn more about the plan and discuss in person their vision for the park, which stretches from Baltimore Ave. to Woodland Ave. from 43rd to 45th St. FCP will hold an Open House session on Thursday, Dec. 14 in Rosenberger Hall which is the Saint Joseph’s University (formerly USciences) building at the south end of Clark Park.

The event will provide an opportunity for an open discussion and interested community members can stop by the open house at any time between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m.

The first Clark Park Master Plan Open House took place at the Farmers’ Market on Nov. 19., and the results will inform this open house.

The goal of the master plan is to set the vision for future park development and investment plans. It is expected to be completed early next year.

The Cobbs Creek community is invited this Wednesday, Dec. 7 to come see the recently opened West Philadelphia Boys & Girls Club, located at 5843-55 Catharine Street. Caring People Alliance is celebrating the grand opening of this long-awaited facility with a ribbon cutting followed by an indoor coat giveaway and mobile food pantry for the community.

Community members are invited to visit the mobile food pantry presented by The Print Foundation, Inc. and select a new children’s coat in the newly refitted gymnasium. The event kicks off at 3 p.m. and goes until 4:30.

The 25,000-square-foot Boys & Girls Club provides two floors of classrooms, a large multi-purpose room, and a gym with a pull-down screen and a professional basketball court. The entire building is handicapped accessible.

“We are very excited to bring this full-service, state-of-the-art facility to the community,” says Jerry Macdonald, president and CEO of Caring People Alliance. “It features an early learning center and after school programming. In the future, it will offer teen and senior programming.” Continue Reading

Get in the holiday spirit with the first ever uCity Square Holiday Fest! The uCity Square Holiday Fest features a local artisan marketplace, great for holiday shopping, alongside food trucks El Tlaloc and Grilled Salmon Stand and a beer and wine garden by Wissahickon Brewery and Chaddsford Winery.

Holiday Fest also offers FREE family-friendly activities including live music performances and DJs, holiday karaoke, a pop-up ice skating rink, photos with Santa, a kids ornament craft workshop, hot chocolate giveaway, and more.

Vendor fees benefit Theatre in the X, a neighborhood theater for the West Philadelphia and African-American community.

uCity Square Holiday Fest takes place at The Lawn at uCity Square (37th & Filbert) on Friday, Dec. 9 from 3-7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 10 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Rain date is the following week on December 16 and 17.

For the full schedule and list of vendors, visit www.thelawnphl.com/events. If you’re coming, please register here.

SEPTA is bringing back festively decorated vehicles to some routes to help bring holiday cheer to riders. Throughout this month, you can catch decorated “jolly trolleys” on Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36.

In addition, SEPTA is holding a competition for decorated buses. There will be several chances to check out the buses participating in this year’s competition and even vote for your favorite one.

At least one of the buses will be in West Philly, at the Trolley Portal Gardens (40th and Woodland), on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The family-friendly event will include crafting activities, photos with the Grinch, and complimentary hot chocolate from Renata’s Kitchen from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This event is co-sponsored by University City District. Continue Reading

@thelawnphl is hosting the inaugural @ucitysquare Holiday Fest on Dec. 9th + 10th! Two days of FREE fun for all, including live music, artisan vendor marketplace, pop-up ice skating rink, a beer and wine garden, crafts, photos with Santa, food and so much more! Let us know you’re coming, register today!

The holiday season is here, which means time for shopping for holiday wreaths, greens and decorations and, of course, buying gifts for your loved ones. During this season, it’s important to support neighborhood businesses and makers, many of whom have been struggling in the past couple of years. Plus, there will be several holiday markets and other shopping events scheduled in the area.

Holiday Wreaths & Greens, Plants and Ornaments

For those who are looking for holiday wreaths and greens, Bartram’s Garden is holding its annual Handmade Holidays event this Saturday, Dec. 3, Noon – 5 p.m. Bartram’s signature evergreen wreaths and other holiday greens and plants are still available for purchase online. All orders will be available for pick-up at the event on Saturday, from Noon to 2 p.m. In addition, the event will include a make-and-take wreath-making workshop from Noon to 4 p.m.. For more information, go here.

Some local plant shops have holiday plants, gifts and ornaments available. Check out these two Black women-owned businesses: Plant & People (1431 N. 52nd St.) and Freebird Greenery (4711 Pine St.). Continue Reading