Choreographer and educator Anne-Marie Mulgrew presents The Keepers Project, a series of free movement workshops for people of 65 years of age and older. Workshops begin on Thursday, July 19 at the University City Arts League (4226 Spruce St) and registration is open now.

Workshops will include a series of guided movement and theater exercises exploring the group’s stories about family, roots or life-changing moments. People of all ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to participate. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to share, connect and be involved in the process taking place monthly through March 2013. Participants will keep a journal and leave with a workshop portfolio. It is recommended to attend all 10 sessions. Additional sessions will meet August 16, September 19, October 24, November 28, December 19, January 23, February 20, March 20, and the final culminating workshop TBD. Sessions run 10-11:30 a.m.

To register and for more information, please call 215.462.7720, email ammdco2000@att.net, or visit www.annemariemulgrewdancersco.org or www.ucartsleague.org.

Dear Department of Parks and Recreation,

So it has been seriously hot over the last couple of weeks. You already know this. We hear it is going to be just as hot for another week. Here’s the problem: We have a great drinking fountain in Clark Park that is right next to the basketball courts and playground. We would love to use it because, as you probably know, playing basketball when it is 95 degrees out makes you very thirsty. But the fountain doesn’t work. Could you please, please fix it?

Sincerely,

The Kids of Clark Park

(This letter represents views we heard expressed in Clark Park by kids young and old who want their fountain fixed.)

Salena Alberti, a meditation teacher with over 10 years experience in practicing and studying Buddhism, is teaching “Healing the Mind Through Meditation,” a series of new Buddhist meditation classes at Studio 34 (4522 Baltimore Ave). This series runs from July 2 to July 23 and classes are taught every Monday from 7 – 8 p.m. in the studio’s conference room. The cost is $8 per class.

Here are the topics of each class:

July 2 – The Nature of the Mind
July 9 – The Mind/Body Connection
July 16 – The Medicine of Forgiveness: Learning to Let Go
July 23 – Taking and Giving Meditation: The Power of a Superior Intention

These classes are great for beginners. Each class begins with a relaxation meditation, a brief teaching on Buddhist topics, and ends with another energizing meditation. It is not necessary to attend all 4 classes to benefit from this practice.

This 4-week series is being offered by Amitayus Kadampa Buddhist Center. For more information, visit www.meditationinphiladelphia.org or call 267-702-4083.

If you want to learn the basics of riding your bike in the city, come to The Coffee Ride this Saturday, June 23. The event is hosted by Keswick Cycle and Green Line Cafe and will start at 10:15 a.m. at Keswick Cycle (4040 Locust) with a skills clinic. You will learn everything from hand signals to how to properly lock a bike and everything in between. After the skills clinic you will go on a short ride (about 6 miles) through the city to practice the skills you went over in the clinic. The ride will end at Green Line Cafe at 43rd and Baltimore with a relaxing cup of coffee and sweet treats.

Here’s the event’s flyer.

The Porch, the outdoor space at 30th Street Station, is adding a few new things for the summer.

The University City District (UCD) recently received a $375,000 grant from ArtPlace to fund a permanent art piece at The Porch. Prema Katari Gupta, UCD’s Director of Planning and Economic Development said: “We will invite exceptional artists to engage creatively with our site, with our audience, and within our neighborhood context. Art will bring beauty, reflection, and delight to The Porch, as the site continues its evolution.”

One new fun activity to look out for at The Porch is a free nine hole mini golf course open every day in July from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. All you need to bring is a photo ID. A second new project is the opening of a beer garden with German and craft beers, bratwurst, sauerkraut, and Italian sausage sandwiches by Bridgewater’s Pub. The beer garden will include live music and is open July 12 (4-8pm), July 13 (noon-8pm), and July 14 (noon-5pm).

The Porch will exhibit two new visual art works. The first is a representational and experiential exhibit by Pew Fellow Nami Yamamoto. She is installing a Hakoniwa, Japanese for miniature garden as well as a form of psychotherapy called “sandplay therapy.” The therapy method involves subjects who order and design items within a sandbox. Nami’s art will recreate this form of therapy across the concrete of the porch.

Also, Justin Duerr’s Anaesthasia Emeralda Lucian piano, designed for UCD’s Heart and Soul piano project will be on display and ready for play at The Porch.

– Erica Kimmel

Update: The race has been sold out, but non-runners are welcome to the music fest.

Do you love running? Do you love beer even more? Does your passion for live music trump both your love for running and for good beer? Well prepare yourself for the Dock Street Brewing Co.’s annual Beer Run and Free Music Fest on Sunday, June 10. The 5K race runs through University City and culminates at the Free Music Fest where racers are rewarded with tasty Dock Street pizza slices and refreshing beer. The run will get your blood flowing for the local music line up featuring Hoots & Hellmouth, O’Death, The Extraordinaires, Street Walkers, and Tsunami Rising. All runners receive a token limited-edition pint glass, refreshments from Vita Coco, fruit, snacks and pizza/beer coupons.

Run pre-registration is $35 and on-site registration $40. The first 50 registered runners will receive a free Dock Street Philly Beer Run t-shirt. You can register at https://www.runtheday.com/app/find/register/841. Philadelphia Runner is the equipment headquarters and host for the packet pickup. On-site registration begins at 12 p.m. and the race starts at 2 p.m. just as the music fest begins. A portion of the proceeds benefits Cedar Park Neighbors Scholarship Fundraiser. The race is a great opportunity to feel a sense of community and spread fun energy throughout West Philly. Work up an appetite for Dock Street Philly Beer Run & Music Fest!

– Erica Kimmel