We have good news and bad news. Curbside diners from Clark Park to Center City will be sad to hear that Honest Tom is retiring his taco truck. The good news is that an entrepreneur eager to get into the food truck game will get the colorful 1970 Chevy step van, one of the most vaunted food trucks in the city,  free of charge.

“Honest” Tom McCusker, who in December climbed out of the truck and into his new shop on 44th Street, is giving the truck away for a story.

“It runs like an old workhorse but definitely has its quirks,” said McCusker, who says he bought the truck off a man named Derek with credit card cash advances from “multiple credit cards.”

Here’s a post from his Facebook page that spells out the deal:

For those that have inquired or anyone else it may concern:

We have been trying to get the truck back into regular rotation for months now, but with the shop schedule being as demanding as it is we have realized that it is not going to be possible. So we’ve come up with a plan…

As good as the truck has been to us we’ve decided it cannot be burdened with a monetary value. We will be gifting it to a noble up and comer looking to dive into the dark scary world of food trucking. Email honesttoms – at – gmail.com with why you should be the chosen one and we will make a decision on monday the 9th of july,meaning emails must be in that Sunday by midnight.

So get your e-mail to Tom by midnight on July 8.

Update: The race has been sold out, but non-runners are welcome to the music fest.

Do you love running? Do you love beer even more? Does your passion for live music trump both your love for running and for good beer? Well prepare yourself for the Dock Street Brewing Co.’s annual Beer Run and Free Music Fest on Sunday, June 10. The 5K race runs through University City and culminates at the Free Music Fest where racers are rewarded with tasty Dock Street pizza slices and refreshing beer. The run will get your blood flowing for the local music line up featuring Hoots & Hellmouth, O’Death, The Extraordinaires, Street Walkers, and Tsunami Rising. All runners receive a token limited-edition pint glass, refreshments from Vita Coco, fruit, snacks and pizza/beer coupons.

Run pre-registration is $35 and on-site registration $40. The first 50 registered runners will receive a free Dock Street Philly Beer Run t-shirt. You can register at https://www.runtheday.com/app/find/register/841. Philadelphia Runner is the equipment headquarters and host for the packet pickup. On-site registration begins at 12 p.m. and the race starts at 2 p.m. just as the music fest begins. A portion of the proceeds benefits Cedar Park Neighbors Scholarship Fundraiser. The race is a great opportunity to feel a sense of community and spread fun energy throughout West Philly. Work up an appetite for Dock Street Philly Beer Run & Music Fest!

– Erica Kimmel

This is a reminder that beginning this week you can shop for fresh local fruits and veggies, dairy, meat, baked goods and flowers in Clark Park on Thursdays as well as Saturdays. The Thursday edition of the Clark Park Farmers’ Market (43rd and Baltimore) is resuming tomorrow, June 7, and will run until Thanksgiving.

The hours are 3 – 7 p.m. And of course, the Saturday Farmers’ Market is open year-round, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Han Dynasty, one of the city’s premier Chinese restaurants, has quietly opened its West Philadelphia location. The restaurant had a soft opening two weeks ago at 3711 Market Street, the former MidAtlantic restaurant’s space.

The restaurant specializes in authentic Chinese (Sichuan-style) cuisine and recently has been included in the list of the 50 best Chinese restaurants in the U.S. It serves lunch and dinner (no buffet), and offers takeout.

See the menu here. Stay tuned for set hours or call 215-222-3711.

Now we know what’s happening in the empty space adjacent to Manakeesh Cafe Bakery at 45th and Walnut. The Bliss Juices and Ice Cream bar is scheduled to open this summer, according to manager Abd Ghazzawi.

Manakeesh has fairly quickly become an anchor neighborhood business. It opened in January 2011 after months of renovation on the old bank building. Folks in the neighborhood had been speculating for some time on what Manakeesh would do with the other half of its building.

The exact opening date of Bliss has not been set, but Ghazzawi says it will probably be in early July. In addition to ice cream and freshly squeezed juices, the menu will include Lebanese fruit cocktails, breakfast items like crepes and waffles, Granita, and a few other things. Stay tuned for more information on the opening.

Good news: Dollar Strolls are returning this summer to Baltimore Avenue, according to University City District. Bad news: it looks like there won’t be a stroll in June, meaning we will have to wait until July for $1 samosas, cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon and theater tickets.

Here are the dates:

July 19

August 16

September 20

Stay tuned for more information on participating businesses and their $1 specials, and as a reminder of what we’ve been missing since last summer, check out the gallery below.