The New Tavern bar at the northwest corner of 45th and Locust Streets, which before last summer was known as the Watusi II, has recently reopened under a new name after being closed for renovations.

The new name, Dallol, is related to a place in Ethiopia with the world’s highest average temperature, and there is also a volcano with the same name in that area. As was reported earlier, the property at 232 S. 45th St., where the bar is located, was purchased last summer by Ethiopian American Temsgen Wolegzi.

Dallol is positioning itself as a sports bar, with six big flat-screen TV’s and a large beer selection, but it also has a dining room in the back. The bar offers both American and Ethiopian food menus (lunch and dinner). They also take reservations for parties. Finally, there may be outdoor seating coming soon, according to their Dallol Sports Bar site.

Dallol is open daily from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Two people were robbed at gunpoint near 48th and Larchwood on early Sunday morning, according to police. The robbery took place around 1:30 a.m. when a 30-year-old man and 30-year-old woman were approached by two male teens (approximately 15-16 year-olds). One of them pointed a silver handgun at the man and said: “Give it up or it’s gonna be a homicide,” according to a police report. The suspects fled with two cell phones, keys, one of the victims’ ID and some cash.

Police say that the victims didn’t report the incident until 3:30 p.m. on Sunday and said they would not recognize the attackers if they saw them again.

Related post: Uptick in robberies reported by police, residents

Residents rank priorities as part of drafting the Walnut Hill neighborhood plan last night at The Enterprise Center (Photo by Mike Lyons/West Philly Local).

A group of Walnut Hill residents met last night to put the finishing touches on a five-year plan that they hope will eliminate blight, improve local business and affordable housing opportunities and cut down on litter in the neighborhood.

The meeting was the final in a series of gatherings to create a plan that balances the demographic changes in the neighborhood in recent years with the needs and interests of long-time residents.

Walnut Hill’s borders are Market Street to the north, Spruce Street to the south, 52nd Street to the west and 45th Street to the east. The neighborhood’s population has changed a lot since the 2000 census. The number of white residents has risen from 12 to 23 percent and the number of African American residents has declined from 81 percent in 2000 to 67 percent in 2010, the year of the latest census. That number has probably dropped even further since then.  Continue Reading

The Department of Making + Doing (DM + D), a collaborative workspace among four Philadelphia organizations, The Hacktory, NextFab Studio, Public Workshop, and Science Center’s First Hand, will close in November, according to Technically Philly. The University City Science Center-based space has been hosting youth-oriented workshops and other programming in technology, design, fabrication, and art for more than two years. DM + D partners revealed that the reason for closing the workshop is sustainability issues at the current location at 3711 Market St.

The good news though is that the four organizations are planning to continue their work at other locations. The Hacktory, which joined the collaborative and moved to the Science Center last year, is currently looking for a new space in West Philly, according to Technically Philly. The tech group offers classes and afterschool programs for local youth. We’ll let you know when we have more information about their new location.

Unfortunately, Walnut Street West Library at 40th and Walnut is closed again due to an unexpected building emergency. The staff are cautiously optimistic that they will be able to reopen by Monday, Aug. 31. The library was closed for a few days earlier this month because of HVAC issues.

Please check the library’s Facebook page for updates.

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Here’s a short update on the widely discussed mixed-use residential and commercial project at 4224 Baltimore Avenue across from Clark Park. Construction of the 132-unit building, which will include upscale rental apartments aimed at young professionals and condo units for sale, is not expected to start until late summer 2016, according to a letter to the SHCA Zoning Committee and the Spruce Hill community sent by the land owner Clarkmore LP and project developer U3 Ventures. The project was approved by the Zoning Board of Adjustment in June after weeks of delays, clearing the last hurdle for the project to go ahead.

“We are now pursuing detailed design, construction cost estimation, [and] retail tenanting along with other detailed planning work,” reads the letter signed by Lenard Thylan, Omar Blaik, and Tom Lussenhop.

Although more details are not yet available, the 17,000 feet of commercial space may include a large fitness center and a full-service restaurant with outdoor seating, among other retail options. We’ll keep you posted when we have more information.