The highly anticipated restaurant serving authentic Mexican dishes, Don Barriga Mexican Grill, has opened at the corner of 45th and Spruce. It was very short notice for the restaurant’s grand opening on Sunday (the owners announced it on Saturday evening), but it was enough for the locals to swarm the place with calls and orders, prompted in part by half-off prices for everything on Sunday. The crowds forced Don Barriga to close for a few hours in the afternoon. One of the partners apologized on Facebook for some orders taking too long. “It was the grand opening and we were packed,” he wrote on our Facebook page. “We will improve every day.”  Continue Reading

The 40th Street Summer Concert Series returns Saturday, June 15 with a free performance by Philly rock group Stargazer Lily and opener Ashley Phillips. The event also includes kid-friendly activities, and free samples of Ben & Jerry’s (while supplies last)!

Before heading to the show, which begins at 6 p.m., check out the map. Due to construction near 40th and Walnut, the event will now be held at 39th and Walnut Streets, just near Locust Walk.  Continue Reading

Photo courtesy of Curio Theatre.

West Philly’s Curio Theatre Company has received a lot of scholarship applications for their 2019 Summer Camp Program, which will be held in two two-week sessions next month (July 1-12 and July 15-26).

“Interest and enrollment for Curio Theatre Company’s 2019 Summer Camp has far surpassed our expectations,” reads an email newsletter sent out by Curio. “More kids than ever have asked for scholarship assistance to attend Summer Camp 2019.”  Continue Reading

40th Street AIR Gallery at 4007 Chestnut St.

Local artists who need a kickstart to their career are invited to apply for the 2019-2020 40th Street Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program. The program provides free studio space to new or emerging visual artists who reside or are strongly affiliated with neighborhoods west of the Schuylkill River and assists them in their career growth.

If accepted, artists will be given a studio space at either 4007 Chestnut Street or 4013 Chestnut Street beginning September 1, 2019 and ending August 15, 2020. Artists-in-Residence will be encouraged to use that time to develop their own creative work and asked to share their talents with the community through outreach service over the course of the residency.

Applications are accepted through Monday, June 17. For more details about this program and to apply, click here.

It’s been more than a week since the large, nearly street-wide sinkhole opened up at the intersection of 43rd Street and Baltimore Avenue as the result of a sewer line break. The sinkhole was not very visible on the surface but underneath the pavement it was around 400 square feet. Since last Tuesday, Water Department crews have been working to repair the street, but it may take another two to three weeks, according to PlanPhilly.com.

In the meantime, Baltimore Avenue between 42nd and 44th Streets remains closed to traffic. Buses continue to replace the Route 34 trolley on Baltimore Avenue, between 61st Street and 40th Street portal. Stay tuned for more updates.

The new Panera Bread has opened at 40th and Walnut, in the former Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar space:

The new @panerabread at 40th and Walnut is now open. pic.twitter.com/zM7XE2ydiK

— University City (@ucdphl) June 12, 2019

This is the third and largest Panera location in Philadelphia. The two-story restaurant features several conference rooms, community tables, and even a private room for meetings and studying, according to The Daily Pennsylvanian. There’s also an outdoor patio with approximately 40 seats.