The Pennsylvania SPCA is coming to West Philly! On Saturday, Nov. 14, pet owners are invited to the Dornsife Center (3509 Spring Garden St.) to learn more about their pets’ needs, body language, and how to problem-solve tough behavior. SPCA will present two workshops: Cat Workshop is from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., and Dog Workshop is from 12-1 p.m. Both workshops are free and open to the public. In addition, workshop participants will be entered into a drawing to win a free basket of dog or cat supplies and toys.

The workshops will be held in the School Building, Room S108. For more information, call (267) 463-2329 or email: education@pspca.org

Bikram Yoga West Philly opens this weekend at 42nd and Chestnut.

The Bikram Yoga studio at 4145 Chestnut St. is reopening this weekend after being closed for remodeling since late September. A full schedule of 26 hot yoga classes a week is starting this weekend, according to studio co-owner Bob Casey, with the first class being held at 9 a.m. this Saturday.

As was reported last month, the studio has a new management team and changed its name from Bikram Yoga University City to Bikram Yoga West Philly. Here’s what Casey, the only person who is still there from the original team (Bikram Yoga University City opened in 2012), says about the new team and their decision to change the name of the studio:

“Bikram West Philly is not just under new management but also new ownership. Leo Eisenstein, new co-director, is a Philadelphia native (his father graduated from West Catholic High); he lives in Philly… and he is thrilled to be part of owning and operating a business in West Philadelphia… not just University City but all of West Philly.”

Casey says that his new partner feels that the studio can be more than just a yoga “studio”; it can be a yoga community center for all of West Philly. Eisenstein is excited about the partnerships they can form with civic associations as well as businesses.

Speaking of similarities and differences between Bikram University City and Bikram West Philly, Casey adds that Bikram West Philly will be a yoga studio in the same way Bikram Yoga University City was when it first opened, but Bikram will be the only style of yoga that will be offered there. “Other than that I would say that almost everything will be different.”

For information about the grand opening weekend class schedule, visit the Bikram Yoga West Philly Facebook page.
 

For 10 months, selected local and international artists have worked in a newly-renovated storefront space at 4017 Lancaster Avenue as part of the “Neighborhood Time Exchange” Artists-in-Residence Program. This Friday, the artists along with the Mural Arts Program, The People’s Emergency Center, Broken City Lab, and The City of Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy will present their culminating exhibition, Reciprocity: Exhibiting Moments and Momentum from Neighborhood Time Exchange.

Three cohorts of artists participated in residencies between January and September 2015 and worked for one to three months: The first cohort of residencies, which took place between January and March, included artists Ian Sampson, Betty Leacraft, Kandis Friesen, and Philippe Leonard. The second cohort, between April and June, included Macon Reed, Camae Dennis and Rasheedah Phillips, Matt Neff, and Sasha Phyars-Burgess. The third included Pato Hebert, Lucy Pistilli and Brian Bazemore, John Phillips, Mark Clare, and Meredith Degyanski.  Continue Reading

We’re sad to report that Mary Pitts-Devine, the woman who survived a violent assault in March when she was shot eight times by her neighbor at her residence near 46th and Spruce, passed away on Tuesday.

Pitts-Devine, 47, had undergone multiple surgeries since the attack, the most recent less than a month ago. She died from complications related to her injuries and preexisting medical conditions, according to a report by Philly.com who spoke to Pitts-Devine’s brother Eric Pitts. Pitts-Devine, a LaSalle grad, entrepreneur, social worker, and writer, was also a breast cancer and kidney transplant survivor.

“Mary has passed. May she rest in peace. Thank you for all your support and prayers. She will no longer be in pain. A true soldier,” Pitts wrote on the online fundraising page he had set up for his sister back in March.

According to information posted on the page, Pitts-Devine’s homegoing service, “Celebration for Mary R. Pitts,” will be this Friday, Nov. 13 at Metropolitan Baptist Church, 3500 Baring Street. Viewing is at 5 p.m.

The burial will be on Saturday morning, Nov. 14, at 10 a.m. at Merion Memorial Park, 59 Rock Hill Rd, Bala Cynwyd.

There’s a chance to help your neighborhood park on the “Love Your Park” fall service day this Saturday (Nov. 14). Over 75 Philly parks need help, including many in West Philadelphia.

Friends of Clark Park is hosting a clean-up and beautification day in the park from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., and seeking community volunteers who can join them. Meeting is at 9 a.m. by the shed (45th and Regent). Please bring a trowel (if you have one).

If you live in Cedar Park, consider volunteering from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. in your neighborhood park. Community members are invited to celebrate fall and spend the day working alongside friends and neighbors to help clean and green Cedar Park. Your work may include raking leaves, putting the gardens to bed, planting perennials and bulbs and doing general clean up. All ages are welcome, and tools will be supplied. To RSVP, please email contact@cedarparkneighbors.org  Continue Reading

Matt Pestronk of Post Brothers speaking at the annual Spruce Hill Community Association meeting. (Photo West Philly Local)

Matt Pestronk did something at last night’s annual Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) member meeting that property developers rarely do anymore in the neighborhood. He voluntarily showed up and answered questions from residents about the reasons his company, Post Brothers, plans to spend some $250 million on apartment buildings, including the newly purchased Garden Court Plaza building at 47th and Pine.

Pestronk, who owns the company with his brother Michael, took questions ranging from whether they would allow pets in their buildings (an emphatic “yes” on that one) to whether Post Brothers would convert any rental units into condos and put them up for sale (probably not).

The company has acquired several buildings in recent years including: 4311 Spruce Street; The Netherlands at 4300 Chestnut; Chester Plaza at Farragut and Chester; Chester Hall at 4205 Chester; Hamilton Court at 3800 Chestnut; and Garden Court Plaza. Altogether, they have accrued about 550 units.  Continue Reading