West Philly residents have an opportunity to learn more about solar power for their homes at an upcoming Cedar Park Neighbors meeting at the Calvary Center (48th and Baltimore). The meeting will be held on Monday, July 17 from 7 – 8 p.m.

In an effort to make solar power more affordable for all Philadelphians and to provide solar installation training at the School District, a special city-run program, Solarize Philly, has been recently created as part of the Philadelphia Energy Authority. Representatives from Solarize Philly will be at the meeting to explain how the program works and to answer questions.

The program has already been picking up steam in the city, including in West Philadelphia.  Continue Reading

All SEPTA modes of transportation will operate on a Sunday schedule on Tuesday, July 4, but additional service will be added to subway and trolleys at night to accommodate those who are planning to watch the fireworks on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The following information may be helpful to West Philly residents:

Market-Frankford Line: A total of ten extra trains will be dispatched starting at 4:30 p.m. to provide service every five minutes. These extra trips will run until 12:30 a.m. to help customers get home after the event. Market-Frankford Line Night Owl buses will replace trains at 12:30 a.m. SEPTA’s 15th Street Station provides riders access to and from the Parkway festivities.

Trolleys: Additional trips will be added on Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 after the fireworks.

More information can be found at septa.org.

Click here for more information about July 4th events and activities in the city (Independence Day Parade, Free Museum Day, Party on the Parkway and more).

Community members are invited to celebrate the 52nd Street corridor’s historic legacy and to support Black owned and operated businesses at the Marketplace “Seeds of Sovereignty” Festival. The festival will be held on Sunday, June 25, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (the event has been rescheduled due to rain in the forecast for Saturday), between Walnut and Spruce Streets and will feature vendors, a children’s village, performances, food, fashion shows, and workshops.

One of the goals of the festival, organized in collaboration with the African Cultural Art Forum (ACAF), Philadelphia Assembled Collaborative, Philadelphia Association of CDC’s and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, is to set the stage for collaborations that will promote a sovereign society and to engage sustainable economic development opportunities in West Philadelphia and around the world.  Continue Reading

Tangle Movement Arts will present a firefly-inspired performance this Friday at The Woodlands (Photo by Michael Ermilio).

Nature Nights at The Woodlands is a great summer event for families. This Friday (June 23), the 2017 Nature Nights kick off with a Firefly Night, featuring all-female aerial acrobat group, Tangle Movement Arts, with their firefly-inspired performance.

Everyone is also invited to learn more about fireflies with the Academy of Natural Sciences’ Invertebrate Specialist Karen Verderame. She has worked at the Academy for over 13 years and oversees the live invertebrate collection.

Finally, guests are welcome to treat themselves to local snacks from Lil’ Pop Shop, and take part in fun activities and crafts with University City Arts League.  Continue Reading

The Jubilee School, a private K-5 school located at 4211 Chester Avenue, will be hosting a ceremony honoring the site of the MOVE bombing (at the intersection of Osage Avenue and Cobbs Creek Parkway) on Saturday, June 23, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. The event is open to the community and will feature performances from local poets and artists, including scholar Sonia Sanchez.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission approved earlier this spring the placing of a historical marker. Students of the Jubilee School, who have studied the 1985 bombing of the MOVE headquarters at 6221 Osage Avenue for the past two years, approached the PHMC with a nomination, according to the The Philadelphia Tribune.  Continue Reading

Summertime brings many chances for locals to enjoy outdoor music performances in the area. We wrote about summer jazz returning to local parks, West Philly Porchfest, and the annual 40th Street Summer Series. Summer Night Concert Series at the Penn Museum is another great tradition that kicks off this Wednesday, June 21 with a performance by The Mid East Ensemble and a special offer for West Philly Local readers (see more info below).

The eighth annual Summer Nights Concert Series will bring an eclectic lineup of performances—including Creole Zydeco, Calypso, ‘20s Jazz, Middle Eastern folk, and more—to the relaxing garden setting of the museum’s Stoner Courtyard. The series is geared to visitors of any age, from friends meeting after work to families with children. Concerts are presented every Wednesday evening, June 21 through September 6, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. To see the full line-up, visit the Penn Museum website.  Continue Reading