Kung Fu Hoagies cart (archived image).

After more than six years of operation in Clark Park, Kung Fu Hoagies, the vegetarian and vegan friendly food cart, will close next month, according to an announcement on their Facebook page.

The cart, a partnership between Paul Davis and Steve Renzi, was launched in 2010 and first rolled out in Clark Park in March 2012. It had been inspired by Davis’ love of Kung Fu (he’s a martial arts practitioner).

The reason for closing is “some life and business changes.”

“It’s a tough decision that we have to make, but can say that we have had an amazing 8 years serving the Philadelphia vegan and vegetarian community,” the Facebook message reads. “It’s been a really great experience sharing our food and passion for Kung Fu, and having such positive reception from amazing customers.”  Continue Reading

Photos by Kyle Cassidy.

3675 Market Street is officially open. On Friday, Nov. 9th, building management threw an open-house party at the 14-story office tower, intended to be the new hub of the Science Center’s “uCity Square” planned community. Alongside the Science Center, several other building tenants including Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), Biolabs, Backstage Capital, and Wexford Science + Technology opened their doors to the public. All six floors of the event were packed solid for most of the evening as building tenants, sponsors and community partners welcomed guests for tours, drinks, live music, performance art and even the occasional impromptu dance circle.  Continue Reading

This fall, residents can again participate in the City’s Leaf Recycling program, which begins Monday, Nov. 5. The program is provided by the Streets Department and helps the City keep leaves out of the landfill. Here’s how you can participate in the program, which will run until Saturday, Dec. 15:

Bagged leaf drop-off will be offered city-wide on Saturdays (with the exception of Nov. 24) at 23 designated locations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the duration of the program. Bagged leaves set out for pickup will be collected as trash. Leaf drop-off locations in West Philadelphia are the following:  Continue Reading

Developer Ryan Spak, left, discusses “5050 Baltimore” during a zoning meeting at the Calvary Center last night (Photo by West Philly Local).

A 12-unit residential building with ground-floor commercial that includes below-market units proposed for the corner of 51st and Baltimore drew overwhelming support during a Cedar Park Neighbors zoning meeting last night.

Proposed by West Philly-based developer Ryan Spak, “5050 Baltimore” would be a three-story building built on three oddly shaped lots at the triangular corner of 51st and Baltimore. The project needs zoning variances for an additional two residential units. Ten units is allowed by right. The project also needs a variance for a “group practitioner” – a mental health counseling non-profit – which is one of the tenants for the proposed commercial space.  Continue Reading

Photo from The Green Line Cafe Facebook page.

Storefront windows of several West Philly businesses were smashed overnight and some businesses were burglarized, prompting a burglary report from the 18th Police District (see below).

The Green Line Cafe posted the following message on their Facebook page this morning:

“Not what we wanted to wake up to at Locust Street this morning… No one was hurt. We’ll be opening late today, though.”  Continue Reading

Chestnut Street between 30th Street and Schuylkill Avenue will be reduced to two travel lanes and a bicycle lane for approximately six months due to construction on the Schuylkill Avenue viaduct, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced.

Motorists have also been alerted about a new traffic pattern set up by PennDOT crews earlier this week. Under the traffic pattern, motorists turning left onto Schuylkill Avenue to access westbound Interstate 76, Interstate 676 or Market Street will use the left lane on Chestnut Street, potentially causing significant backups and delays on Chestnut Street.  Continue Reading