Friday night jazz is returning to Cedar Park next week, with free outdoor performances by the area’s finest jazz musicians and bands. The annual series, presented by Cedar Park Neighbors and sponsored by local businesses and individual donations from neighborhood residents, kicks off Friday, June 7, at 49th and Baltimore.

Shows will take place every Friday from 6-8 p.m. (weather permitting) in June and July, plus an additional “rain date” performance on August 2nd.

Here’s this year’s schedule:

June 7: Rich Tucker & The Universal Music Koncept
June 14: Weez The People Collective
June 21: Rayburn Wright’s Jazz Lab  Continue Reading

University City District has released dates and more details for their signature summer events.

The Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll will return on Thursday, June 6 and Thursday, Sept. 12, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. This popular event showcases local businesses with a chance to try their signature items and offerings – for just $1! The event also provides an opportunity for new businesses to introduce themselves to the community. As the event has grown over the years, more community vendors have joined it. UCD is now also offering smaller vendors an opportunity to sell food and merchandise at the event after they obtain a permit through the Philadelphia Health Department. Read more about participating vendors for the June 6th Dollar Stroll here. Continue Reading

On Saturday, June 1, the Activities for Community Education in Science (ACES) outreach program at the University of Pennsylvania, is inviting students in grades 3rd-8th to perform a diverse and exciting line-up of experiments. Each student will have an opportunity to perform and discuss several different experiments in small groups, engaging in science demonstrations with other attendees.

Experiments will include:

• Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream
• Balloon-Powered Cars
• Colorful Chemistry
• Gold Nanoparticles
• Separating Dyes with Electricity
• Marshmallow Spaghetti Towers  Continue Reading

Friends of Clark Park presents Party in the Park on Saturday, May 18, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. This year’s party will feature food trucks, Dock Street beer, wine, Lil’ Pop Shop, live music, pop-up art from the University City Arts League, and family fun – at Clark Park (43rd and Baltimore).

Party in the Park is free to attend and open to all ages. Food and beverages will be pay-as-you-go with alcohol specials for Friends of Clark Park members. Event attendees may sign up for membership at the event to take advantage of the specials.  Continue Reading

The 61st Annual Spruce Hill May Fair will be held at Clark Park on Saturday, May 11th from noon to 6 p.m. (rain date is Sunday, May 12). The event is the primary fundraiser for the Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA). Proceeds go to support local schools and other organizations and sponsor popular neighborhood activities.

This year’s May Fair will feature the following events and activities:

• Over 50 local vendors offering a wide range of arts and crafts and other unique products, including many gift ideas for Mother’s Day. Others will have information about local groups and causes seeking public support.
• Exciting musical line-up with Dan Blacksburg and the Haimishers and special guests Compas 48.
• The University City Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale.
• Food for every taste will be provided by some wonderful food vendors.
• For the kids, there will be a petting zoo, a bounce house and 40-foot-long inflatable obstacle course, and professional face-painting.
• $1 raffle will feature great prizes donated by local merchants.

Continue Reading

Jane’s Walk, a global movement of free, locally led walking tours inspired by the legacy of writer and urban activist Jane Jacobs, returns to Philadelphia May 3-5 with more than 30 walks planned! Five of those walks will be held in West and Southwest Philadelphia. Here are more details:

Friday, May 3:

2:30 p.m.: The Penn Campus and Its Perimeter: Old and New Architecture
Meet walk leader David Hollenberg (UPenn/architect) at 40th and Locust streets  Continue Reading