Here is a chance to see John Edgar Wideman, a widely celebrated writer and winner of several literary awards, including the International PEN/Faulkner award, this Friday in West Philly. Wideman, who is also a founder of Penn’s African American Studies Department, will speak at the West Philadelphia branch of Mighty Writers (3861 Lancaster Ave.).

The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Mighty Writers is a local non-profit organization that teaches children to think and write with clarity. Mighty Writers West opened its doors in 2013 and since then has been offering classes, afterschool programs, College Prep courses, and a summer camp to West Philadelphia kids and youth. All programs at Mighty Writers are free to Philadelphia students. For more information, visit: mightywriters.org/mighty-writers-west.

Photo courtesy of International House Philadelphia.

This year on the Chinese calendar is the year of the Monkey. It starts on February 8, and there will be celebrations around the city this weekend and on Monday.

Families are invited to the following events:

• International House Philadelphia (3701 Chestnut St.) is hosting a celebration tonight (Friday, Feb. 5), beginning at 7 p.m. There will be traditional musical and dance performances and a sampling of delicious traditional Chinese cuisine. The program includes:

7:00 p.m. – Traditional food tasting and vendors in Galleria
7:45 p.m. – Show featuring traditional dance, song, lion dance, and more begins in Ibrahim Theater

Tickets are $12 (general public); $8 (IHP members and alumni); $5 (children 12 and under). No tickets are required for children small enough to sit on your lap.  Continue Reading

If you’re looking for something interesting to do tonight, check out this special exhibition opening at University City Arts League (UCAL). An emerging young artist, Patrick Maguire, has totally transformed the gallery space at 4226 Spruce St. The exhibition includes an amazing structure in the middle of the gallery, paintings on the walls, and ambient sound installation.

“Without ruining the experience it will be difficult to tell you much except that even the walls and doors of the space will be entirely different, almost disorienting–in the best possible sense of the word,” UCAL director Annette Monnier wrote in an email.

The opening reception for Maguire’s “We’re on a Road to Nowhere” exhibition is tonight from 6-10 p.m. You can also stop by any weekday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. during the run of the exhibition (January 15th-February 12th).

For more information, go to: http://www.ucartsleague.org/

Neighbors are invited to a fun and free community event this Friday (Jan. 15) in Cedar Park. Free Community Dinner/ Potluck Cabaret is hosted by Cedar Park Neighbors and will take place from 6-8 p.m. at People’s Baptist Church (5039 Baltimore Ave.).

Here’s some more information from the CPN website:

“You’re invited to share a meal with your neighbors!

Please join Cedar Park Neighbors for our first Community Dinner of 2016! Basic healthy food will be provided. You are welcome to bring something to share!

We’ll have a brief moment of community announcements, as well as some boards for resource sharing, but the main purpose of this event is simply to create a neighborly space to share a meal with friends old and new who live in Cedar Park.”

If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP by email (contact@cedarparkneighbors.org), calling or texting CPN at 267-BALT-AVE or through the Facebook event page.

If you’d like to help with setup or cleanup, please email JJ Tizou, CPN Board Member & Dinner Organizer, at jj@jjtiziou.net or leave him a voicemail at 267-702-5464.

Photo courtesy of IHP

International House Philadelphia (37th and Chestnut) will host a free screening of an inspiring documentary film about two best friends and world-class acrobats from remote corners of the globe who share the same dream of bringing hope and change to their struggling communities through circus. Circus Without Borders follows performers Guillaume Saladin and Yamoussa Bangoura whose dream unfolds in the Canadian Arctic and Guinea, West Africa, where they help Inuit and Guinean youth achieve unimaginable success while confronting suicide, poverty and despair.

Seven years in the making, this tale of two circuses — Artcirq and Kalabante — is an inspiring story of resilience and joy. Both troupes use art and the power of dreams to transform themselves and their communities. Circus Without Borders was the opening film for the 2015 Margaret Mead Film Festival in New York City.

Saladin and Bangoura will attend the screening and treat the audiences to a special performance following the film. They will also participate in a Q&A session with director Susan Gray.

The screening begins at 7 p.m. Visit this page for more information and to RSVP.

There are tons of festive events happening in the area this weekend, including one of the biggest local shopping events of the year, a new restaurant grand opening party, a craft show opening, a big FREE holiday family event, a dance party supporting a local non-profit, and more. More information about these and other upcoming events is below. If you want to buy a Christmas tree or holiday wreaths, greens and decorations this weekend, check out this post. For local gift ideas and more holiday shopping opportunities, visit our “Buy Local for the Holidays” page.

Friday, Dec. 4

• University City Arts League Holiday Craft Show Opening Reception, 6 – 8 p.m., 4226 Spruce St.

Thirty local artists will present their wares—just in time for the holidays! This is a great opportunity to shop for hand-made gifts for you and the whole family, such as cards, pottery, soaps, t-shirts, and more! Complimentary drinks and eats will be offered while you shop during the opening reception this Friday. The Craft Show is open daily Dec. 4-20. Monday-Friday, 5-8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 12-6 p.m. Closing reception will take place on Dec. 20, 4-6 p.m. The list of 2015 vendors is available here.

• Clarkville Grand Opening Party, 5 p.m., 43rd and Baltimore

New Baltimore Avenue bar and restaurant, Clarkville, is opening this Friday. The grand opening party kicks off at 5 p.m.

• West Philly jeweler Amy Neukrug presents her holiday collection at Hello World, 5 – 9 p.m., 3610 Sansom St.

• The Bald Soprano opens at Curio Theatre, 8 p.m., 48th and Baltimore  Continue Reading