Pre-registration is now open for the Sweet Charity Spin Day workshop, a special 3-hour workshop on dropspindling which will be held at The A-Space on Saturday, March 24, from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.

In this workshop, you can learn how to spin your own yarn, which can be a fun and economical hobby. The workshop is presented by Jessica Suiter, Fiber Specialist at Hearthwise Spindles. Jessica will discuss basic spinning terminology and techniques, giving instruction to the group as a whole and individual instruction as needed. Fiber and spindles will be provided to each attendee for practice, and spindles, fiber and other materials will be available for purchase afterward. Locally-sourced Alpaca fiber from Abenaki Acres Alpaca Farm will be used for spinning, but synthetic fiber will also be available for strict vegans or those with allergies.

Cost of attendance includes a spindle to use during the workshop, fiber to practice with, and refreshments.

– Pay $28 if you pre-register by 2/19
– Pay $32 if you pre-register from 2/20 to 3/23
– $35 at the door

Registration fees can be paid by cash, check, money order or credit card during Sunday meetups, or checks & money orders can be mailed to Jazmin directly. Please email jazmin.idakaar [at] gmail.com with any questions or for the mailing address.

NOTE: All cancellations must be made 72 hours before workshop starts for a full refund. Cancellations less than 72 hours before the workshop will result in a partial refund, and cancellations the day of will result in no refund.

Spindles, Alpaca fiber, natural dyes and books will be available for purchase after the instruction portion of the workshop. Spindles used during the workshop will be available for purchase at a special discounted rate for attendees. All spindles and wood-based products from Hearthwise Spindles are from non-endangered tree species.

Space is limited to 11 spinners, so pre-registration is recommended. And here’s the event’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/events/244294465649148/

The first 2012 Friends of 40th Street general meeting will be held tonight at The Rotunda (4014 Walnut Street), from 6 to 7 p.m. Community members and business owners are encouraged to attend, learn about planning efforts in the area and share their neighborhood or organizational updates and announcements.

At tonight’s meeting, updates on the following planning efforts will be presented:

•    The Lighting Plan for 46th and Market.
•    The Peoples Emergency Center Neighborhood Planning Process.
•    The HUD Choice Neighborhood Planning Process happening in Mantua.
•    The Revelation Outreach Community Center’s plan to convert land at 39th and Haverford into the Walter Lundy Community Center.

Three more meetings are scheduled for this year:

Monday May 21
Monday August 20
Monday November 19

The Friends of 40th Street is a coalition comprised of residents, organizations, businesses, and anchor institutions working together on community-based issues. For more information on the Friends of 40th Street and what they do, visit this page.

If you’re looking for something to do with your little ones tomorrow, stop by the Lucien E. Blackwell Library (52nd & Sansom) for the “Little Dog Lost” storytime with local author and illustrator Monica Carnesi. The event will begin at 2 p.m. at the Children’s Department.

Little Dog Lost is a picture book about the true story of Baltic, a dog who was lost on an ice floe in the Baltic Sea. As a special treat, Dandie and Gus, the library’s very own Certified Therapy Dogs (who are local West Philly residents), will be attending this storytime. Dandie & Gus visit the library once a month, and this month Gus (pictured) is also celebrating his birthday!

Books will be available for purchase and signing. For more information about the author and “Little Dog Lost,” go here.

VIX Emporium (5009 Baltimore Ave) is inviting folks this Thursday, Feb. 9, for a custom jewelry making workshop with Sultana Aschim of Sultana Maria Jewelry. Everyone is welcome to bring a small memento and Sultana will make a charm necklace with it. She will drill a hole in your item or seal it inside a small glass vial, and attach it to your choice of chain.

If you don’t have anything to bring, you can create your own piece using only the components provided by Sultana.  She will also bring her full array of finished jewelry to use as design inspiration. This jewelry will also be available for purchase at a reduced price.

Sultana will be at the shop from 5 to 8 p.m. Refreshments will be served. No registration is required (it is first come first served) and there is no admission fee to shop the trunk show, but a custom piece costs $20-$40 depending on the complexity. For more information go here.

Are you single, between 25 and 35 years old, looking for a partner and love reading? Then this event may be for you. On Monday (Feb. 6), come to the Walnut St West Branch Library (40th & Walnut) for the Literary Speed Dating event. You are encouraged to bring a book you love, hate, or just want to use as an ice-breaker.

Mingling and light refreshments start at 5:30 p.m. and speed dating begins at 6:00. The event is free, but pre-registration is required. And please arrive early, as no-shows and late arrivals will forfeit their place on the registration list to those on the waiting list.

To register, please email Dan at ryand [at] freelibrary.org.

NOTE: This event is for straight singles. A similar event for gay singles is taking place tonight at 6:00 p.m. at the Independence Branch.

Friends of Clark Park are hosting Charles Dickens’ 200th Birthday Party this Sunday (Feb. 5) and everyone is welcome to attend this fun and free event. The celebration begins at 2 p.m. in Griffith Hall of the University of Sciences (43rd & Kingsessing), across the street from Clark Park. The party will feature dramatic readings, music and refreshments.

One of the party guests is British folksinger David Jones who will perform a medley of songs popular in England during the time of Dickens. Curio Theatre’s Jared Reed will present a scene from his adaptation of A Christmas Carol. The list of performers also includes The Kingsessing Morris Men with their sampling of English morris dancing and Frank Chance, Ceil Mann and Curio Theatre’s Paul Kuhn reading from David Copperfield, The Pickwick Papers, and Great Expectations.

The bronze Dickens statue was installed in Clark Park in 1901 and was the only statue of him in the world for over a century. It’s become a good tradition for neighbors to meet on or near his birthday to commemorate the statue’s special role in the neighborhood’s history.