The Parent Infant Center (4205 Spruce Street) is organizing its first Annual Toy Swap this Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

How does it work? You can exchange your new or gently used toys for tickets to “buy” other toys of similar value, OR you can buy tickets at the door on the day of the event.

What kinds of toys? All toys and games for children, including sporting equipment, are accepted. No books, please.

What are the expected conditions of the toys? Only new or gently used items are accepted. All toy sets and games are expected to be complete and in appropriate containers (original boxes or see-through containers). Only the following “singles” from a set are accepted: vehicles, dolls, balls, wooden train tracks and Legos or Duplos.

When and where can I drop off my toys? Toys will be accepted on Friday, Dec. 9 between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. at PIC’s small gym.

If you have questions or if you’d like to volunteer at the event, please contact Clara Flores at: clara.flores.studio34 [at] gmail.com

Registration is now open for free “Family and Friends” CPR classes that will be held January 14, 2 – 4 p.m. at the New Africa Center (4243 Lancaster Ave.). This free training is being offered in hope of serving the surrounding community better and has a message that if more people knew CPR, more lives could be saved. The event is co-sponsored by Islamic Cultural Preservation and Information Council.

To register please call 215-222-0520 or 888-739-2234.

The Rotunda (4014 Walnut Street) is hosting Go West! Craft Fest’s Holiday show this Saturday, Dec. 3 from 11:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. Forty artisans will present their handmade creations, including unique, affordable jewelry and ornaments, art originals and reproductions, ceramics, and cozy hand-stitched woolens. There will also be an opportunity to buy children’s toys and clothes, soaps, candles and special holiday gifts for those you love. Everything is made locally.

For the entire list of crafty vendors and their profiles go to: gowestcraftfest.blogspot.com.

 
The AIDS Library of Philadelphia, the Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania and West Philly Local collaborated to revive this image from the early days of AIDS cultural activism. In recognition of World AIDS Day, the over 25 million people who have died from AIDS, and the 30,000 Philadelphians living with HIV, we encourage you to get tested today.

2012 marks the 25^th Anniversary of the AIDS Library – the only lending library devoted to HIV/AIDS in the United States. A part of Philadelphia FIGHT and located at 1233 Locust Street, more information about the AIDS Library and HIV testing can be found at www.fight.org.

Free screenings of Untitled, a 60-minute film on the history of the AIDS Crisis, will be held at the ICA from 11 a.m – 5 p.m., every hour on the hour, throughout the day today. The ICA is located at 118 South 36^th Street.  For more information, visit www.icaphila.org.

Here’s another opportunity to shop local for the holidays. The University City Arts League (4226 Spruce Street) is opening its annual Holiday Craft Show and Sale on Friday, Dec. 2.

Over 30 artists and crafts people will be selling their work, including jewelry, hand-painted silk scarves, pottery, hand-made gift cards, small paintings and prints. All work is hand-made and reasonably priced.

The artisans at the Arts League Crafts Show include Kelly Ann Mifflin (jewelry, pictured), Ken Beidler, Priscilla Sepe, Art Cohen, Dave (Fatman) Fowler (pottery), and Aubrey Levinthal (paintings).

The show is running December 2 through December 15 with the following hours: Dec. 2 & 3: 6 – 9 p.m., daily hours: 3 – 9 p.m., weekend hours: noon – 6 p.m.

60 percent of the proceeds will go to the artists and the remainder to support community arts programs provided by the Arts League.

Wake Up Yoga (4916 Baltimore Ave.) and teacher Vishnu are inviting folks who get affected by the change in season to attend a seasonal blues workshop this Saturday, Dec. 3, from 1 – 4 p.m. The workshop will help you understand and manage anxiety and depression according to Ayurveda, the science of life.

The workshop will teach you how to understand some of the underlying root causes of your seasonal blues, and how to cope with them using diet and lifestyle management tools.

The workshop contribution is $54 and you can register online or by calling 215-235-1228. Pre-registration is required.