It is Dock Street Brewery & Restaurant’s 4th anniversary today and in honor of their birthday specially prepared Flemish Sour will be on tap. The festivities begin at 5 p.m. For more information go here.

Philadelphia’s 8th Annual Black Women’s Arts Festival (BWAF) is taking place this week, July 27-31, at several city venues, including West Philly’s The Rotunda (4014 Walnut Street), which will host a series of events starting Thursday, July 28. This year’s festival’s theme is Healing & Joy, celebrating the healing and creative arts.

On Thursday there will be a free clothing and book swap from noon to 5 p.m. Women are encouraged to bring gently worn clothing and books for others to take and enjoy.

On Friday and Saturday there will be day-long events with a wide range of scheduled music performances, workshops, lectures, presentations, fashion shows and exhibitions from noon to 11 p.m. (both days free until 8 p.m., with some exceptions).

Finally, on Sunday, July 31, there will be another all-day event starting at 11:00 a.m. with music and dance performances by a variety of artists. Highlights of this day include dance classes by Shandra Staley – modern dance class at 1 p.m. and African dance class at 3 p.m. ($8 in advance; $10 at the door), and stage performances by Zoe Flowers and O, at 6 and 7:05 p.m. respectively.

For more information about the schedule and participants visit the festival’s schedule of events page.

Cyro Baptista, a great Brazilian percussionist, is likely to bring the house down when he performs tonight at the second concert of the 40th Street Summer Series (free live outdoor music concerts).

Baptista is known for his highly entertaining “Beat the Donkey” shows which feature a blend of music from all over the globe, martial arts, tap dance, samba, jazz, rock and funk and Baptista’s innovative percussion on instruments created by himself. Per Baptista’s website, “There is an undeniable aura of fun and humor whenever Cyro Baptista takes the stage.”

Tonight Baptista will present compositions from his album “Banquet of the Spirits.” Percussionist Adam Rudolph and multi-instrumentalist Joseph Bowie will open the show.

The concert will begin at 6 p.m. on the field behind Walnut West Library (40th & Walnut). Upon the conclusion of the show there will be a daredevil fire dance and fire breathing performance for those who stick around.

This year Walnut Hill Community Association (WHCA) turns 50 and its annual Community Day will be a great way to mark the anniversary. All neighbors are invited to join the celebrations this Saturday, July 16, from 11:00 a.m. to 7 p.m., at 50th and Locust Streets. There will be live music, free food, moon bounce, raffles, and other fun stuff. See the poster for more details.

Scribe Video Center (4212 Chestnut Street 3rd Floor) presents a special Storyville screening of short films about Arab and Muslim communities in the U.S. tonight at 7 p.m. The films Arab American Road Movie (2005, 14 min), Tales from Arab Detroit (1995, 45 min), I, Too, Sing America and 9-11 Moments (2002) are produced by Detroit-based filmmaker Joan Mandell who will be at the screening in person.

Tickets are $5 for general public, free for Scribe members, Muslim Voices participants and Al Bustan Seeds of Culture staff, students and members.

Mandell will also present a workshop on oral history tomorrow, July 9, at 11 a.m. You can register online here or by calling 215-222-4201. Tickets for this event are $20 for general public, $10 for Scribe members and free for Muslim Voices participants.

To read more about both events click here.
 

Here are two super cool events happening in West Philly this weekend.

To mark the longest day of the year, the annual Summer Solstice Music and Art Festival will take place in Clark Park (43rd & Chester) tomorrow, June 25, beginning at noon.

The festival has been a West Philly tradition since 1970. This year the organizers are bringing over 40 vendors and nine bands, along with the arts and crafts vending, dance and theater and fun activities for kids.

Here’s a full band lineup with starting times.

12:30 – 1 p.m. – Lion Versus (Stage 1)
1:15 – 1:45 p.m. – Mount Joy (Stage 2)
2 – 2:30 p.m. – Early Ape (Stage 1)
2:45 – 3:25 p.m. – Bedroom Problems (Stage 2)
3:40 – 4:20 p.m. – Arrah and the Ferns (Stage 1)
4:40 – 5:20 p.m. – Psychic Teens (Stage 2)
5:35 – 6:05 p.m. – Serpent Throne (Stage 1)
6:20 – 7 p.m. – Samsara (Stage 2)
7:15 – 8 p.m.- Dangerbird (Stage 1)

Also on Saturday, world-renowned Philly-based band The Sun Ra Arkestra will kick off the 40th Street Summer Series – a series of free outdoor live music performances organized by the University City District and The Rotunda. The series will feature concerts by internationally-acclaimed artists every fourth Saturday in June through September, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The opening act for tomorrow’s performance by The Sun Ra Arkestra will be the West Philly drill team, the Elegant Cavaliers.

All concerts will take place at the 40th and Walnut Street field (behind the Walnut Street West Library). If you get there early enough you can also enjoy complimentary (first come, first served) Rita’s Water Ice which will be given out during the performances.