The University City Arts League will host a special event on Sunday, March 5 to raise money for the Nationalities Service Center, a local immigrant and refugee service organization. Neighbors of all ages are invited to participate in an art project to make welcome cards and signs for refugees. Participants will choose a card to learn a new word in Arabic that they can decorate and take home.

Al Bustan Seeds of Culture, the West Philly based Arab arts and culture organization, will facilitate an Arabic poetry activity – Nasij: Weaving our Cultures into a Collective Poem. Participants will make a sentence about their relationship with the city using Arabic words they have learnt. The words will be put into a collective poem that will be presented in English and in Arabic.  Continue Reading

If you’re looking for ways to cope with the upcoming presidential inauguration (we’re in West Philly, right?), check out these local events on Friday, Jan. 20. There will be an opportunity to have a conversation with other community members, to relax with some free acupuncture treatments, and dine at a local restaurant in support of refugees.

West Philly Community Solidarity Gathering

Calvary Center for Culture and Community (48th and Baltimore)

5:30 – 8 p.m.

Join your West Philly neighbors for an evening of solidarity, connection, conversation, song and food. Everyone is welcome, including young people accompanied by parents or caregivers. The schedule includes: Gathering and Interfaith Service at 5:30 p.m; Dinner and discussion groups at 6:30 p.m.; Singing and more conversation at 7:30 p.m.

Free-will donations at the door will be collected to cover expenses and to benefit the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Suggested donation range is $5-25, and no one will be turned away due to financial restrictions.  Continue Reading

Carol Isom

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help offset funeral expenses for Carol Isom, the woman killed when she was struck near 52nd and Locust by a car fleeing police on Nov. 29.

Carol Isom, 55, is survived by her husband of 34 years, five children, including a 19-year-old daughter in her second year at Temple University, and five grandchildren.

“My mom was everything. She was everything to everybody around here. She was like the neighborhood mom, and she did nothing but love, nothing but smile,” Brittany Isom, Carol’s daughter, told 6ABC.

Police say the pursuit began when two men in two vehicles began shooting at each other along Westminster Avenue and ended at 52nd and Locust when one of the vehicles struck the vehicle Isom was driving. She lived nearby on the 200 block of S. 53rd St. Her 56th birthday would have been on Dec. 10.

Runners and walkers who regularly visit the historic Woodlands cemetery and mansion grounds will be happy to know that a new water fountain near the running path will be installed in the next few weeks. This became possible thanks to the success of last year’s Gobble Wobble 5K Run. This year’s Gobble Wobble, which has become an annual fundraising event for The Woodlands, will be held this Saturday (Nov. 12), and all proceeds will continue to go toward improving amenities on the grounds.

                            Click to enlarge

Registration for this event is still open (go here to register, $40 per person or team), and participants will receive a custom Gobble Wobble pint glass, a year long membership to The Woodlands, and the chance to win a Thanksgiving turkey or “tofurkey” from Mariposa Food Co-op. Clarkville is also sponsoring the race with beer at the finish line for all the runners.

The race starts at 10 a.m., and on-site registration opens at 9:00 a.m. If you’re not planning to run, you can also consider donating. For more information, go here.

And here’s some more exciting news from The Woodlands: Regular visitors may have noticed some construction work happening on the grounds and also near the Hamilton Mansion.  Continue Reading

Bartram’s Garden will be hosting the annual Philadelphia Honey Festival this Sunday (Sept. 11). The festival will feature a bunch of fun and educational events and activities for the whole family, include honey tastings and sales from local beekeepers. Festivities will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and daytime events are free and open to the public. Check out the Bartram’s Garden website for more details.

One of the special events planned as part of the festival is the “Buzzed” Ice Cream Social fundraiser, featuring Little Baby’s ice cream, Art in the Age cocktails, and boozy ice cream floats!

Guests are invited to sample the exclusive new Bartram’s Garden flavor from Little Baby’s Ice Cream and enjoy Philly-themed favorites from Art in the Age, which is crafting a number of specialty concoctions specifically for the event including a Bartram-inspired cocktail.

Photos courtesy of Bartram’s Garden

Tickets are $15 ($12 for Bartram’s Garden members) and include your first drink and first ice cream or float. All guests will need to provide photo ID before being served alcohol. Click here to buy your ticket online.

The event will be held from 3 – 5 p.m. and all ages are welcome.

Bartram’s Garden is located at 5400 Lindbergh Blvd. and you can get there by public transportation (Trolley Route 36) or by bike. Parking is also available.

For more information, visit: bartramsgarden.org.

We’re sad to report that Robyn Biv, co-owner of Black Orchid Foods (Facebook page), the West Philly vegetarian and vegan catering service, was recently hurt in a house fire.

A fire erupted in her home near 51st and Kingsessing that destroyed her kitchen – where her business is based. Robyn suffered burns and was hospitalized. She has made a huge impact on the Kingsessing area by feeding many people for free or using a “sliding scale” with dietary restrictions always in mind. Some of you may have also tried the food served by Black Orchid at the most recent edition of Go West! Craft Fest.

While Robyn is recovering in the hospital from burns to her face, eyes, arms and hands, her friends set up a GoFundMe page to help her with some expenses.

Please follow this link if you would like to donate and support Robyn with your messages: https://www.gofundme.com/2dw1lek