Fall officially began today, and it’s probably the best time of year to visit the Woodlands Cemetery and Mansion at 40th and Woodland. The Woodlands has again prepared an exciting program of events for those who want to celebrate this season on the historic grounds, including events for the whole family and runners. Check out the list below. For more information, visit: woodlandsphila.org.

HollyWoodlands: Arsenic & Old Lace
Frank Capra, US, 1944, 118 min., b/w
Friday, Oct. 4
Doors Open at 6:00 p.m.
Film Starts at 7:00 p.m.
Free. Please RSVP here.

Fall Tree Tour: Hidden Gems & Old Favorites
Saturday, Oct. 5
9:00 a.m.
$10; Free for members. Register here.  Continue Reading

Happy Juneteenth! The celebration of America’s “other Independence Day” kicks off around the city today (if you need background on the holiday that marks the end of slavery see the video below from The Root). The epicenter of the city’s Juneteenth celebration will be in West Philly this Saturday, June 22, with a parade down 52nd Street and and a festival in Malcom X. Park complete with vendors, food and lots of music.

The day kicks off with an “Honor Our Ancestors” breakfast. The parade begins at noon at 52nd and Jefferson and proceeds south on 52nd Street, which will be renamed “Muhammad Ali Way” during a ceremony in Malcolm X. Park (3 – 4 p.m.). The Juneteenth Musicfest will run from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the park. The featured performer is Kindred The Family Soul. Their performance is scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. Continue Reading

The national oral history recording project StoryCorps is coming to record at The Porch at 30th Street Station from May 28 through June 26.

The StoryCorps MobileBooth (Photo by Ryan Dorgan).

You can reserve a recording spot (there is a limited number) tomorrow, May 14, beginning at 10 a.m. by calling the project’s 24-hour reservation line at 1-800-850-4406 or by visiting WHYY.org/storycorpsPHL.

StoryCorps’ MobileBooth allows two people to record a conversation between them about “who they are, what they’ve learned in life, and how they want to be remembered,” according to the project. A StoryCorps facilitator will help with the interview. Here are some tips for effective interviews.  Continue Reading

A computer rendering of the redesigned main entrance hall at the Penn Museum, where the famous 3,000 year-old Sphinx will rest (from the Penn Museum website).

How does one move a 25,000-pound Sphinx up a couple flights of stairs? Very carefully, we presume. That’s what folks at the Penn Museum are mulling over right now as they plan to move the Museum’s best-known artifact, a 3,000-year-old, red granite Sphinx, into its redesigned main entrance hall.

“The Sphinx has long been our mascot and this puts it front and center, as the anchor of our new visitor experience,” said Julian Siggers, the Museum’s Williams Director.

Moving day is scheduled for June 13th and the new location will be unveiled in the fall.  Continue Reading

Artists Leo Tecosky (left) and Roberto Lugo are bringing their work to the historic Hamilton Mansion at The Woodlands (40th and Woodland).

Beginning Sunday, March 31, local artists Roberto Lugo and Leo Tecosky will bring their work to the historic Hamilton Mansion at The Woodlands as part of their Graffiti & Ornament exhibit. The artists, who embrace graffiti and hip-hop culture within their artistic practice, incorporate a carved 19th century graffiti inscription in the exhibition, connecting Philadelphia’s past with the present.

In addition to the opening celebration on Sunday, from 1 – 4 p.m., the exhibition includes other special events every week throughout April:  Continue Reading

“The Gables” (Photo by West Philly Local).

The University City Historical Society has applied to the city’s Historical Commission for protection of a cluster of 41 Victorian homes near Clark Park on Chester Avenue and Regent Streets.

Well-known 19th century architect Willis G. Hale designed the homes, which include the mansion known as “The Gables” (now a bed and breakfast) and nearby twins on the 4500 block of Chester Avenue and twins and row homes on both sides of the 4500 block of Regent Street. Collectively, the properties would form the “Chester-Regent Historic District.”  Continue Reading