Happy Martin Luther King Day! Here are reminders about what’s going on in the area today and information on today’s closings and schedule changes.

• If you missed our post about MLK Day of Service happenings and volunteer opportunities, you can read it here.

• West Philly Community Pet Pantry, where low-income residents can get free food for their pets, is happening from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Shepard Recreation Center (5700 Haverford Ave.).

• SEPTA buses and trolleys are operating on a modified weekday schedule. Go here for more information.

• Public schools and libraries, government offices and post offices are closed.

• There will be no trash and recycling collection today. If your trash collection day is Monday, set out your materials for Tuesday pick-up. Trash collection for the rest of the week will be delayed by one day.

Here’s a sampling of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day events and happenings in West Philly and Center City. Also, a reminder that subway trains will be running all night tonight to accommodate New Year’s Eve travelers. Happy New Year!

New Year’s Eve Fireworks

Philadelphia will ring in 2016 not once but twice with New Year’s Eve fireworks on the Delaware River waterfront (Penn’s Landing). The first show starts at 6 p.m., and the second one is at midnight. If you can’t make it to Penn’s Landing, check out this Visit Philly guide to the best spots to watch the fireworks and ring in the New Year.

New Year’s Eve Yoga

Studio 34 is hosting the annual New Year’s Eve Yoga and Mochi event from 8 – 10 p.m. This is a fun and inspiring all-levels yoga workshop led by Studio 34 teacher Morgan Andrews. After class, mochi (sweet chewy rice cakes) will be served. Admission for this class is sliding scale, $10-$20. Click here for more information. Also, you can try some hot yoga for free at Bikram Yoga West Philly (4145 Chestnut St), just bring a screenshot of this ad. Bikram Yoga is holding classes today until 4:30 p.m., and there will be one class on New Year’s Day, at 11 a.m. Here’s the schedule for this week.  Continue Reading

Here’s a list of assorted local businesses and their holiday hours. We’ll update the list as more information becomes available.

Coffee shops, restaurants

• Coffee Market (45th and Pine): Thursday (Dec. 24), Saturday (Dec. 26), Sunday (Dec. 27): 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Friday (Dec. 25): 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

• Green Line Cafe (45th and Locust): Thursday (Dec. 24): 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Friday (Dec. 25): Closed; Dec. 27 – Jan. 1: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. (43rd and Baltimore): 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. until Saturday, Jan. 2.

• Honest Tom’s Taco Shop (44th and Spruce): Closed Dec. 24, 25, 26, 27 and Dec. 31, Jan. 1, 2, 3.

• Renata’s Kitchen (46th and Baltimore): Thursday (Dec. 24) & Friday (Dec. 25): Closed; Open for the rest of the week and New Year’s (serving New Year’s Day brunch!).

• Rx The Farmacy (45th and Spruce): Closed until Thursday, Dec. 31.

Grocery, liquor stores

• Mariposa Food Co-op (49th and Baltimore): Thursday, Dec. 24: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 25: Closed; Saturday, Dec. 26: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 1: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

• Supreme Shop ‘n Bag (43rd and Walnut): Dec. 24 & Dec. 31: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Dec. 25 & Jan. 1: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

• The Fresh Grocer (40th and Walnut): Open 24 hours

• Fine Wine & Good Spirits (43rd and Chestnut, 49th and Baltimore): Dec. 24: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Dec. 25 & Jan. 1: Closed; Open regular hours on Dec. 31.

To accommodate New Year’s Eve travel, SEPTA will operate enhanced late-evening schedules on the Market-Frankford and Broad Street lines and Regional Rail (a special customer guide is available online). A number of bus detours will also be in effect on New Year’s Day to accommodate the Mummers Parade.

Thursday, Dec. 31:

• Extra trains will operate on the Broad Street and Market Frankford Lines starting at 7:05 p.m. for travel to the fireworks at Penn’s Landing.
• Broad Street and Market Frankford Line trains will operate overnight service Dec. 31 into Jan 1.
• The Market Street/Convention Center entrance to Jefferson Station will remain open until 2 a.m. to accommodate customers returning from New Year’s Eve fireworks.  Continue Reading

Good news for Philadelphia residents: this year, you don’t have to wait two weeks to dispose of your trash and recyclables if your collection falls on Christmas Day (Friday, Dec. 25). Set out your materials to be picked up on the following day – Saturday, Dec. 26. Fri, Jan. 1 collections will be picked up on Saturday, Jan. 2. UPDATE: Stay tuned for information on how to recycle your Christmas tree and waste from celebrations and presents.

Also, SEPTA has released its Holiday schedule. There will be some changes starting Thursday, Dec. 24 and through Friday, Jan. 1:

Thursday, Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve

• City Buses and Trolleys will operate on a modified weekday schedule. Amended timetables are available online at: http://www.septa.org/schedules/modified/modified-holiday-schedules.html.
• Suburban Buses, Trolley Routes 101/102 (Media Sharon Hill Lines), and the Norristown High Speed Line will operate on normal weekday schedules.
• On Regional Rail, a Midday Schedule providing earlier service from Center City will operate on selected trains. For details, go to: http://www.septa.org/schedules/rail/special/christmas-eve.html.
• The Market-Frankford and Broad Street Lines will operate with overnight train service Dec. 24 into Dec. 25.

Friday, Dec. 25 – Christmas Day: All SEPTA services will operate on a Sunday/Holiday schedule.  Continue Reading

Photos courtesy of Calvary Church.

The annual festive evening of Swing, Jazz, Salsa, Gospel and Christmas music returns on Sunday, Dec. 20 to the Calvary United Methodist Church (48th and Baltimore). The concert will feature original compositions and traditional favorites performed by Calvary UMC’s very own Greg Scott and his big band, Big Push, along with Philadelphia-area choirs.

Also featuring in the concert are vocalists Russell Thompkins of The Stylistics, Tony Perez, Mike Upshaw, Zara Simms and more! Tickets/suggested donations are $10 at the door, $5 for children. All proceeds from the concert will benefit the Cedar Park Neighbors Holiday Basket Drive in addition to other local hunger initiatives. Individual or institutional sponsors are also needed to help underwrite the concert, which always draws a huge crowd.

If you would like to help out, please go to the Donate page on the Calvary website (please indicate “Christmas Concert 2015” in the Comments/Questions section) or mail/deliver a check (payable to “Calvary UMC” – please indicate “Christmas Concert 2015” on the memo line) to the Calvary office at 801 S. 48th Street, 19143. There is no minimum amount to sponsor; all gifts are appreciated.

The concert starts at 7 p.m.