The 2024 general election will take place Nov. 5, when registered voters can cast their votes in person at the polling locations around the city, but here are a few reminders for those who want to vote earlier.

Voter registration has been closed, but those who have registered can still apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29. The Philadelphia City Commissioners has opened ten Satellite Election Offices throughout the city, one in each council district, where voters can apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot, complete it, and/or return it. All election offices are open Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat-Sun 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Here are the election offices in West and Southwest Philadelphia:

2nd Council District

6100 Woodland Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19142

3rd Council District

4029 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

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The Philadelphia City Council passed a bill today that prohibits vehicles from stopping or standing in any bike lane in Philadelphia.

The proposed legislation, called the “Get Out The Bike Lane” bill, would penalize stopping, standing, or parking in a bike lane with a fine of $125 in Center City and University City, and $75 in other parts of the city. Councilmember Jamie Gauthier introduced the bill on behalf of Council President Kenyatta Johnson. It was passed unanimously.

The “Get Out The Bike Lane” bill replaces the current law, which went into effect in January 2013 and penalizes parking in a bike line with a fine of $75 in Center City and University City and $50 in other parts of the city.

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The Philadelphia Regional Institute of STEM Educators (PRISE) is hosting the annual STEM Educator Conference in West Philadelphia – on Saint Joseph’s University’s University City Campus (formerly USciences) – this Saturday, Oct. 26. The conference, entitled “Inventing and Affecting the Future through STEM: Working together to create the world we want,” will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and educators, high-school students, college students, and anyone interested in STEM education are welcome to attend.

The Keynote Speaker at this year’s conference is Gere Johnson, Women In Natural Sciences (WINS) alumna, graduate of the School District of Philadelphia and now a Conservation Planner with CT Resource Conservation & Development.

A student panel, The Future of STEM: A Student’s Perspective, will be facilitated by Dominique Thomas, a Philadelphia native and Manager of Social Justice Programs at The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. She works with WINS, which she is also a proud 2012 Alumna.

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Curio Theatre Company is kicking off their 20th anniversary season with the Philadelphia premiere of Larissa FastHorse’s satirical comedy and Broadway hit, The Thanksgiving Play. The play has been one of the most produced plays in the country. Curio Theatre Co-Founder Tim Martin is directing the staging, which runs October 23-November 9.

“Our playwright was tired of hearing many theatres say that they couldn’t produce plays with Native characters because there weren’t enough Native actors,” said Martin “This play is her response. Four well-meaning theatre artists come together to create a play for an elementary school, all the while struggling with the need for Native representation. Watch and laugh as they sort through cultural myths of our nation’s favorite family-focused turkey feast, by America’s premiere Lakota playwright.”

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The Spruce Hill Community Association has confirmed that the old neighborhood Halloween tradition is still alive: the 26th Annual Halloween Little Tot Parade will return on Oct. 31! As usual, gathering begins on 45th St. between Baltimore and Larchwood at 4 p.m. The parade will kick off at 4:30 p.m. and head east on Larchwood. Traditionally, the event concludes with a party at “Little Osage” (42nd and Osage), where parade participants are treated with cider and baked goods from local businesses and organizations.

Those who live in the area where the parade takes place, please be mindful of the following:

Roads will be closed from 3:45-5 p.m. (see the map below). You may not move your parked car if it is parked on the route during the parade.

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The Center for Emerging Visual Artists (CFEVA) is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST) this fall. Several West Philly artists and art organizations are inviting visitors to their studios this Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 19-20), from 12-6 p.m. The list of artists and organizations who will welcome visitors this weekend includes:

• The Arts League (4226 Spruce St)

• Painted Bride (5212 Market St)

• Caroline Santa, Colleen McCubbin Stepanic, Douglas Witmer, Mary Henderson, and Phillip Adams (Green Line Workspace, 4218 Lancaster Ave)

• The Soapbox (47th and Kingsessing)

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