As we all know green is in. And I don’t mean the color of Kermit the Frog. Green as in clean, organic, natural. Sarah Holmes brings that idea of natural to a pretty fantastic line of health and beauty products, which she will show off on Saturday at VIX Emporium (5009 Baltimore Ave.) as part of the annual Go West! Craft Fest, which runs from noon to 5 p.m. at Cedar Park and nearby businesses.

Holmes, who owns Gritty City Beauty Co., is putting on a makeup workshop at VIX called Rock that Chartreuse Eyeshadow: Create Your Own Custom Color. Participants will learn how to blend natural mineral eyeshadows into the color you have always wanted. Stop by the workshop at VIX anytime between noon and 5 p.m. and Sarah will hook you up with everything you need. She’ll also show you how to make it happen. The cost for the workshop is $10. Folks can also check out all her products, from natural face wash to organic men’s aftershave.

Go West! will also include an all-day vintage and used bike sale at the friendly neighborhood bike shop Firehouse Bicycles (above Dock Street Brewing). A whole bunch of vendors will be set up in Cedar Park selling all manner of West Philly delights.  Singer/songwriter Loren Gilder will play at 1 p.m. A special children’s program begins at 2 p.m. with Pamela Draper playing kids classics. And, oh yes, there will be face painting and other fun kid stuff. The West Philly band Sour Mash (Facebook page) will play at 3 p.m.

Hurricane Irene canceled a lot of events two weeks ago, one of which was Family Day Festival in Mantua on Aug. 27. The event was rescheduled for this Saturday, Sept. 10, and will take place from noon to 7 p.m. at 34th St. and Mantua Ave.

The festival organizers, The Mantua Community Improvement Committee (M.C.I.C.), promise free food, refreshments, a star-studded concert and other fun activities, but also say that this is an educational and fundraising event. And it’s all about positivity despite flash mob and violence problems. Members of the community will be encouraged to sign M.C.I.C.’s “Positivity Pledge,” a commitment to focusing on youth support in homes, communities and schools.

The event will be also raising money to support a youth entrepreneurship program starting this fall.

The free concert lineup includes musicians Kwamè, Grammy award-winning group Naughty By Nature and hip-hop legend Rapper Slick Rick.

Iris Marie Bloom, a well-known West Philly activist and director of the environmental group Protecting Our Waters, is one of the organizers of an anti-fracking protest which will take place tomorrow, Sept. 7, from noon to 2 p.m. in Center City. The protest will include a rally in front of the Pennsylvania Convention Center and march which will follow until 3 p.m.

Another West Philly resident, Beth Nixon of Spiral Q Puppet Theater Ramshackle Enterprises, will also join the action as one of the performers at the rally.

One of the speakers at the tomorrow’s rally is Josh Fox, director of Oscar-nominated documentary Gasland.

For more information on the protest visit this page.

Here’s something else to do tomorrow after the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll. The West Philly Tool Library is throwing an open house party at 7:30 p.m. for folks in the neighborhood. If you haven’t seen their new location yet this is a good chance to do it and also to enjoy the company of your West Philly neighbors.

Food and drinks will be served and West Philly’s own Sour Mash will perform starting at 8 p.m.

If you have some tools lying around your house that you are not planning to use bring them with you and receive a prize (and a receipt for your tax-deductible donation).

And just a reminder: the new warehouse is located at 1314 S. 47^th Street.

How do we know that the summer’s almost over? The final 2011 Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll will take place this Thursday, Sept. 1. Yes, the fourth and the final one this year. So, don’t miss the chance to enjoy $1 deals again and say goodbye to this event until the next summer.

We hear that nearly 20 businesses, vendors and food trucks will participate in the final Dollar Stroll, so look out for new participants.

The stroll will start as usual at 5:30 p.m. (it’s not a bad idea to come early) and will go on until 8:30 p.m. Apart from the vendors, there will be live music and street performances as well. And, as always, there will be copies of the free West Philly Mix Tape download card available for pick-up. If you haven’t got one, stop by the University City District table in front of Calvary Church (48^th and Baltimore).

Click to enlarge

Hurricane Irene has caused some service and event cancellations and closings in the city. Here’s what we have so far as concerns our area. Drop a comment if you have anything to add.

Services:

• SEPTA is canceling service from 12:30 a.m. until noon on Sunday.

Events:

• 40th Street Summer Music Series concert by Viex Farka Toure & Kyo Daiko canceled (originally scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday).
• Mantua Community Improvement Committee’s 7th annual Family Day Festival canceled (originally scheduled for Saturday, noon to 7 p.m.). The event will be rescheduled.
• Street Movies! outdoor short film screening at Milk Creek Playground (4700 Brown St.) canceled (originally scheduled for Saturday, 7:30 p.m.). The event is rescheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 31.
• Rockin it Clean Live show at The Rotunda canceled (originally scheduled for Saturday, 6:30 p.m.). The show is rescheduled for Oct. 8.

Closings:

• Penn Museum is closed both Saturday and Sunday.
• World Cafe Live is closed Sunday and tomorrow’s shows are postponed.