Jamie Gauthier

The Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. in the Penn Alexander School auditorium (enter through cafeteria/blacktop entrance on 43rd street between Locust and Spruce).

Officers and board members get elected at this meeting and special guests talk about important community issues. The event is free and all community members are invited to attend to learn more about the organization and get involved (check out the Spruce Hill boundaries map below).  Continue Reading

                             Li Sumpter

The Barnes Foundation continues its community programming in West Philadelphia and will host a special Barnes Presents! event this Thursday, Nov. 7 at The Bank (3750 Lancaster Ave). The event will introduce the Barnes’ current major exhibition, 30 Americans, and will include a conversation about race and equity in the arts. Li Sumpter, a scholar of art, myth, and humanities, and artist Sherman Fleming will participate in the discussion, moderated by the Barnes education team’s Jihan Thomas.  Continue Reading

It’s fitting that Curio Theatre Company is staging The Mystery of Irma Vep – A Penny Dreadful a couple of days after Halloween. By the way, Irma Vep is an anagram. You should figure it out before you proceed.

American playwright Charles Ludlam wrote The Mystery of Irma Vep as a campy celebration of the horror genre. Characters in this three-act play include a werewolf, mummy, vampire and Egyptian princess. Only two actors play all of the characters, so the performance includes more than 30 super-quick costume changes.  Continue Reading

Photos by West Philly Local

The rain didn’t prevent hundreds of youngsters, their older siblings, parents and grandparents from showing up at the annual Spruce Hill Halloween Tot Parade in their best spooky/funny/bizarre costumes. Some older folks who are very into Halloween showed up too! Anyway, check out some more photos below. Until next year!  Continue Reading

Outdoor summer jazz is over until next year in West Philly, but jazz music lovers have a chance to enjoy their favorite music indoors. A free event, Sanctuary Jam, will be held this Sunday (Nov. 3) for the first time inside St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Hamilton Village (3916 Locust Walk).

The event is organized by the music departments of University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and The Jazz Sanctuary, who have partnered to bring the Sanctuary Jam to the public – free of any charges. Pizza and drinks will be also available free of charge.  Continue Reading

UPDATE (10/30/2019): The Spruce Hill Halloween parade and block party will be held rain or shine! Check the Spruce Hill Community Association’s Facebook page for more details.

Despite some road work happening in the Spruce Hill neighborhood, the annual Halloween Parade will be held as usual. Tots and their parents/guardians are invited to the 23rd annual Spruce Hill Halloween Parade and Party on Thursday, Oct. 31. The parade will kick off at 4:30 p.m. at 45th and Larchwood, but gathering will begin at 4 p.m. The parade ends on “Little Osage” (4200 block of Osage Ave.), where the tots will be treated to cider, baked goods and other treats provided by neighbors and local businesses.

Every year, hundreds of costumed tots (ages 6 and under) and their parents participate in the parade organized by the Spruce Hill Community Association. It’s a fun, safe and family-friendly event with plenty of trick-or-treating possibilities in the neighborhood!  Continue Reading