A popsicle shop is planning to open soon at 265 S. 44th Street in the vacant space formerly occupied by Unitea coffee & tea shop.

Local resident Jeanne Chang is going to open Lil’ Pop Shop in early April if licensing and inspections go as planned. Chang lives right around the corner from the shop and says she’s very excited about opening in West Philly. The shop is planning to sell artisan popsicles with rotating seasonal flavors using local dairy and produce. We’ll keep you posted on the progress.

This part of 44th street features three other businesses – Tampopo, Local 44 and recently opened Honest Tom’s Taco Shop.

After six years of operation, Wake Up Yoga is closing its West Philly location at 49th & Baltimore. The announcement was posted on their website and Facebook page. The studio will be staying open through April 17 when the last class will be taught.

To read the announcement click here.

Wake Up Yoga has two other locations – in Fairmount and South Philadelphia.

Il Rimedio, a restaurant that will offer “modern northern Italian cuisine,” will replace the once popular Rx at 45th and Spruce, where the brunch used to be worth waiting in line for on a Sunday. After about four weeks of displaying the sign “Closed tonight due to technical difficulties,” a new notice appeared on Rx restaurant’s door today (see below). As many locals suspected, the restaurant is changing hands. The Rx name, which opened under new ownership in 2010, played off the pharmacy that was previously located in the space. For those whose Italian is a little rusty, Il Rimedio translates as “the remedy.” Let’s hope so.

Stay tuned for more information on the new restaurant and its owners.

If you didn’t get a chance to buy girl scout cookies during their January – early February sale, there will be two more cookie tables set up this week, so come by and stock up!

Wednesday, Feb. 15 – 39th and Locust Walk, 3:00-6:00 p.m. (weather permitting)
Saturday, Feb. 18 – Clark Park “B” (43rd & Chester), 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (weather permitting)

For more information or to order cookies, contact Amy Kwasnicki (Brownie Troop 93273) at: kwaszilla [at] gmail.com.

Very unsettling news has come in from Jessica Baumert, the Executive Director of the Woodlands Cemetery. The cemetery has been vandalized several times this week. Approximately 25 headstones, mostly dating from the late 19th-early 20th century, were toppled with many of them broken as a result. The discovery was made Monday afternoon by one of the cemetery volunteers. The total cost of damage is approximately $15,000.

Anyone interested in donating toward the repair of these headstones can do so through the Woodlands website: www.woodlandsphila.org, or by mailing a check to the Woodlands at 4000 Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104. If you are interested in learning more about other ways you can help, please e-mail info [at] woodlandsphila.org.

The Woodlands is William Hamilton’s former Schuylkill River Estate, transformed in 1840 into a “rural” cemetery that is still an active cemetery today. It is the final resting place of many of the city and region’s accomplished individuals including artist Thomas Eakins, abolitionist Mary Grew, financier Francis Martin Drexel and surgeon Samuel Gross. The 54 acre grounds are open dawn to dusk for the enjoyment of the public.

Earth Cup Coffee (45th & Pine) is making some homey improvements. Word comes from owner Natasa Borcanin that the coffee shop has gotten some additional indoor custom-made seating (pictured) and a greater variety of light food fare, such as Hale and Hearty soups, stews, grilled cheese sandwiches, bagels, and pastries. All this, of course, to compliment their growing coffee and tea choices. The shop is now offering more than 20 varieties of coffee blends from all coffee growing continents and always has three espresso blends on tap.

Musicians have been stopping by too. Recently two local artists performed at the cafe – Sharedae and Debbie Valentina. Also a special guest from Chicago’s music scene Obisoulstar played an acoustic set of original songs.

To celebrate the Earth Cup improvements, Natasa is inviting everyone tomorrow (Feb. 4) to enjoy tunes by DJ Rod Bell (10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Also there will be some specials this Saturday and Sunday. For more information and photos, check out the Earth Cup’s Facebook Page.