Philadelphia Black Restaurant Week, a new initiative that brings a spotlight to Black-owned food establishments in the city, will be held from June 10-17, and it’s great to see some West Philly restaurants participating in the event.

The Philly Black Restaurant Week (BRW) will include special dining options at participating restaurants, plus workshops, cooking demonstrations, competitions and other events.

In West Philly, the Center for Culinary Enterprises (310 S. 48th St) will hold AROMA, a culinary panel discussion, where guests can learn strategies and tips from leading industry experts about owning a successful restaurant business. Featured panelists will include:  Continue Reading

Photo courtesy of University City District.

The first Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll this summer will be held Thursday, June 7. Businesses will be offering $1 items – from food to drinks to theatre tickets – from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will stretch from 43rd Street where select Clark Park farmers market vendors will be offering $1 deals, all the way to 52nd Street, where Greensgrow West will have some plants for sale for just one buck. The event will also feature live music and family entertainment along Baltimore Avenue.  Continue Reading

SEPTA will conduct a track renewal project on a portion of its Route 13 trolley line from June 8 – June 15, 2018. The project will take place on Chester Avenue between 65th and 66th Streets, on the eastbound and westbound tracks. During the track renewal project, buses will replace trolleys along the Route 13 from Darby Transportation Center (9th and Main Streets) to the 40th Street Trolley Portal. Passengers can board any Route 11, 34, or 36 trolley for service between the 40th Street Portal and Center City.  Continue Reading

Some of you have probably noticed blue bikes popping up in the last month at several locations in West Philly. They are actually a part of a multisite public art installation by Japanese American filmmaker and visual artist Rea Tajiri. Titled “WATARIDORI: birds of passage,” the project is part of the Asian Arts Initiative’s 25th anniversary celebration and “activates real and speculative histories” of Japanese immigrants in Philadelphia.

Check out this art installation at the front of the house at 4238 Spruce Street:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiwnzRWhpR6/?taken-by=westphillylocal

Other locations for Rea Tajiri’s public art installation include:  Continue Reading

Food service establishments are often high energy consumers due to using refrigeration and other 24/7 equipment and utilities are often their biggest expense every month. A new turnkey energy efficiency program, offered by the Philadelphia Energy Authority, helps small businesses in West Philly, such as corner and grocery stores, bars and restaurants, save money. The program is in partnership with West Philadelphia Financial Services Institution and Lime Energy.

Eligible businesses will receive a free energy assessment and will be provided grants, rebates and financing to install new, energy-efficient equipment that will help reduce monthly utility costs by up to 30 percent.  Continue Reading

West Philly Porchfest, an outdoor DIY music festival, is returning this Saturday (June 2) with dozens of free shows scheduled from 12 to 6 p.m. This year, musicians and groups representing various musical genres will be performing on porches in the area stretching from Market Street to Woodland Avenue and from 40th to 52nd Streets.

The festival organizers have created a useful map showing host porch locations and show times. All performances are divided into three groups. From 12 to 2 p.m., shows will be held on porches on and south of Baltimore Ave. From 2 to 4 p.m., most performances will be held north of Baltimore Ave. between 48th and 52nd Streets. And finally, from 4 to 6 p.m., check out performances north of Baltimore Ave. between 40th and 48th Streets. There are a few exceptions though (one show will be held near 58th and Osage), so make sure to go to the West Philly Porchfest website to check out the map.

This is the festival’s third year. Last year, 69 porches participated in the event.