Shakespeare in Clark Park is returning this week. For five nights (July 24-28), the popular outdoor theater company will present the classic tragedy “King Lear” in the park’s “Bowl” at 43rd and Chester.

Shakespeare in Clark Park brings to life this classic tale of power and madness with a company of Philly’s favorite actors including Brian Anthony Wilson and Charlotte Northeast, transforming Clark Park thanks to scenic design by Sebastienne Mundheim.  Continue Reading

Photo courtesy of The Enterprise Center.

Since its opening in 2012 the Dorrance H. Hamilton Center for Culinary Enterprises has helped many local food entrepreneurs launch their businesses: restaurants, catering services and more. Now those interested in learning the ins and outs of operating a food truck have a chance to try their hand at this business while bringing fresh, healthy food options to West Philadelphia.

The Culinary Center, located at 310 S. 48th St., launched their first food truck incubator last month. The program is based on the Beefsteak food truck concept (patented by James Beard award-winning chef and humanitarian Jose Andres’ Think Food Group).  Continue Reading

Photo from Theatre in the X website.

One of our favorite things about summer in West Philly is performances by Theatre in the X, the company that stages free Afrocentric plays at Malcolm X. Park. This summer they will present the world premiere of “The Beast of Nubia” on Aug. 4, 11 and 18. (look for a more detailed preview later this month). Check out the trailer below. For now, we wanted to let people know about their fundraiser and volunteer sign-up.

Theatre in the X has a GoFundMe campaign here to keep the summer performances going well into the future. They are also seeking volunteers for everything from ushers to wardrobe assistants to set builders. Go here to fill out the volunteer form.  Continue Reading

The first heat health emergency of 2019 has been issued in Philadelphia due to extremely high temperatures (maximum heat indexes over 110 are forecasted for the region this week). The Health Emergency began Wednesday, July 17, at noon and is scheduled to end Sunday, July 21, at 11 p.m.

A declaration of a Heat Health Emergency activates the City’s emergency heat programs, including the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging’s Heatline, extended hours at select Free Library locations that have been designated as Cooling Centers, home visits by special field teams, enhanced daytime outreach for the homeless, and a reminder from the City to the public to look in on older friends, relatives, and neighbors.  Continue Reading

This year’s free Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival offers a family-friendly Jazz showcase featuring the “Hometown Sound of Philadelphia Jazz.” Philadelphia Tenor saxophonists Bootsie Barnes and Sam Reed will headline the 2019 Festival on Saturday, July 20. The event takes place starting at noon in Penn Presbyterian Medical Center’s Saunders Park Greene, 39th and Powelton Avenue.

Hosted by People’s Emergency Center (PEC) and PEC Community Development Corporation (PECCDC), this marks the 13th year that this annual event has taken place, which has grown from a few hundred attendees to 4,000.

The Producer’s Guild of Philadelphia has curated an exceptional lineup of jazz musicians performing on the Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival stage. In addition to Barnes and Reed, this year’s lineup includes jazz performers Jamal Jones & the Bureau of Sonic Wonderland Jazz Orchestra, Glenn Bryan & Friends, Geraldine Oliver, Chris Oatts, and Jonathan Michel. The Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble will also be back by popular demand.  Continue Reading

University City Dining Days, the popular annual dining promotion, will be held from Thursday, July 18 through Sunday, July 28.

This year, over 30 restaurants will offer three-course menus for either $15, $25, or $35, including first-time participants like Mediterranean-influenced restaurant The Common, Argentine empanada shop Jezabel’s Cafe, and upscale sandwich joint KQ Burger. For the first time, many restaurants will also be offering lunch options for 2019 Dining Days.

Make your reservation directly at a restaurant of your choice. The menus and contact info of participating restaurants can be found here.