The SEPTA Trolley Tunnel that connects West Philadelphia with Center City will close for more than two weeks beginning Friday, July 9, which means that trolley routes 10, 11, 13, 34, and 36 will temporarily divert to 40th and Market. The annual trolley tunnel maintenance/construction project, “Trolley Tunnel Blitz”, will begin at 10 p.m. on Friday and continue until Monday, July 26, at 5:00 a.m.

During the “Blitz”, trolleys will continue operating in West Philadelphia. SEPTA customers may transfer to the Market Frankford Line at the 40th Street station (40th and Market) at no additional charge. Continue Reading

After a two-year break, Philadelphians are again invited to celebrate July 4th at the “Wawa Welcome America” festival, which includes a concert at the Mann Center for Performing Arts (5201 Parkside Ave) and fireworks on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

The concert will be held at TD Pavilion at the Mann Center, beginning at 7 p.m., and will feature Bebe Rexha, Flo Rida, and a special performance by the Philly POPS. Gates open at 4 p.m. The concert is free, but tickets are required (click here). Those who can’t make it to the concert or are not ready to mingle with crowds yet can watch it live on NBC10 and TeleXitos. Continue Reading

The Barnes Foundation and the People’s Emergency Center Community Development Corporation (PECCDC) are continuing their collaboration with a new project – Everyday Places Artist Partnerships. The project, which began rolling out last month through the Barnes and PECCDC’s collaborative initiative Barnes West, will provide West Philly residents with spaces to engage with multidisciplinary artistic projects that “offer inspiration and promote ​hope and healing.”

This week, the partners have announced five West Philadelphia-based social-impact artists who have been selected to participate in Everyday Places: Keyonna Butler, Marshall James Kavanaugh, Jahwula Seapoe, Karen Smith, and Andrea Walls. The selected artists will partner with neighborhood businesses and sites – including grocery stores, restaurants, laundromats, public parks, and community organizations – to build interactive, participatory projects. Continue Reading

Keni Jackson (Facebook photo)

Great news for local jazz music fans! After a two-year break the popular Thursday night jazz series, Jazz Heritage Series, will return to Malcolm X Park this summer. The series will kick off this Thursday, July 1 (weather permitting), with a performance by Southwest Philadelphia native Keni Jackson, a bass player and vocalist.

All concerts are free and held every other Thursday evening from 7-9 p.m. Please bring your blanket or portable chair, and picnic! Please note that performances are not held in inclement weather.

Here’s the full schedule of performances through October 21st: Continue Reading

John B. Kelly pool is opening July 6th.

Summer is here, and Philadelphia residents will finally get a chance to cool off in public pools after a two-year break (all pools were closed last summer because of COVID). Please note that not all pools will reopen this summer – the City’s Parks and Rec Department has announced that only about 70 percent will reopen due to a shortage of lifeguards, the problem also brought on by the pandemic.

Pools will begin reopening this week. Check out the reopening schedule for some public pools and spraygrounds located in West and Southwest Philadelphia: Continue Reading

Philly folks, get ready to bring your reusable bags when you go shopping. The City of Philadelphia has announced that the ban for single-use plastic bags and non-recycled content paper bags will begin on October 1st, with the transition period for businesses beginning Thursday, July 1.

The ban will require retail businesses like supermarkets, convenience stores, gas stations, take-out restaurants, farmer’s markets and even food trucks to switch to recyclable paper bags or to offer customers to buy reusable bags. Continue Reading