Photo courtesy of Neighborhood Time Exchange.

Neighborhood Time Exchange, an ongoing collaboration between the People’s Emergency Center Community Development Corporation (PECCDC) and Mural Arts that provides West Philadelphia artists with five-month residencies, is inviting community members to celebrate the culmination of the first Neighborhood Time Exchange artist residency of 2018. The public is invited to attend an upcoming Second Friday event with resident artist Ellen Tiberino on Friday, July 13, from 7–9 p.m. at the Neighborhood Time Exchange storefront in West Philadelphia at 4017 Lancaster Avenue.  Continue Reading

Honest Tom’s new logo.

Neighborhood foodies may have noticed that popular local spot Honest Tom’s Taco Shop (on 44th between Spruce and Locust) was closed most of last week following a power outage on July 3rd, caused by a falling tree. While the power outage did cause them to close a bit early, Honest Tom’s had planned to close for a few days around the 4th of July holiday anyway, in order to change their menu over to a completely plant-based (aka vegan) menu. That’s right: it’s vegan-only tacos, burritos and bowls from here on in. Many of the new menu’s items were available on the old menu, or run as occasional specials, so they won’t be completely unknown to Honest Tom’s regulars. Others are brand new.  Continue Reading

University City Dining Days, the popular annual event organized by University City District, is returning this Thursday, July 12. This is a great opportunity to visit some of the best local restaurants and enjoy a three-course dinner at a fixed price – $15, $25 or $35.

More than 35 restaurants, from craft beer bars to celebrity chef restaurants to cozy BYOBs, are participating in this year’s Dining Days (the biggest one yet!). University City’s international dining scene features dishes from India, Ethiopia, China, Vietnam, and more! Some recently opened restaurants are also on this year’s list of participants.  Continue Reading

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office announced charges against the person allegedly responsible for the hit and run accident that killed 5-year old Xavier Moy in the Walnut Hill neighborhood two weeks ago. The accident happened on Friday, June 22 at approximately 4:07 p.m. on the 5000 block of Irving Street. Twenty-five-year-old Anissa Thompson surrendered to authorities on Thursday morning and was charged later that day. The charges include homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and fleeing the scene of an accident, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Xavier was struck by the car while playing in the street. He was taken to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in critical condition and died about an hour later.

The bail  has been set at $500,000.

That time of year is coming up when SEPTA trolley riders will have to switch from trolley to subway when traveling to Center City. SEPTA’s annual Center City trolley tunnel maintenance project, “Trolley Tunnel Blitz,” is scheduled for 10 days this year – from July 13 to July 23.

Due to power, track and station improvement projects in the tunnel that runs between the 40th and 13th Street stations, SEPTA Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 will not operate in the tunnel from 10 p.m. on Friday, July 13, through 4 a.m. on Monday, July 23. Trolley service will begin and end at 40th and Market Streets, and trolleys will use their alternate diversion service routing to connect to SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line at 40th and Market Streets. Trolley passengers can board the Market-Frankford Line at 40th Street Station for travel to-and-from Center City, as the work efforts will not affect that service.

This is the fifth consecutive summer SEPTA has held the Trolley Tunnel Blitz. During this year’s tunnel closure, members of SEPTA’s in-house Engineering, Maintenance & Construction Division crews will work around-the-clock on key maintenance and construction tasks throughout the five-mile, single loop Center City tunnel.

If you’re spending the Fourth of July holiday in the city, here’s some useful information on the festivities, where you can watch the fireworks, and SEPTA service.

Wawa Welcome America July 4th Fireworks

The July 4th Concert and Fireworks will be held on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Wednesday, July 4th beginning at 7:00 p.m. The event is FREE and open to the public. Guests are invited to come early and enjoy the Party on the Parkway featuring food trucks, games, activities and more! The July 4th Concert will end with Philly’s largest Wawa Welcome America fireworks show in more than a decade, according to organizers. Produced by Pyrotechico and Comcast, the show will feature new special effects and a soundtrack dedicated to love.  Continue Reading