We have some good news and some bad news for those who were anticipating a new date in July for the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll after it was cancelled last week due to rain. The merchants have not been able to agree on a reschedule date so there will be no stroll until September, according to University City District’s Mark Christman. The next (and only) scheduled Stroll this year is on September 12, 2013 and we hope that the weather will be more favorable for this popular community event next time.

Another great way to try some of the best food in the area – though not for $1 – is the 9th University City Dining Days, which kicks off July 18. Some 29 West Philly restaurants are participating in the event and taking reservations now. As always, you can select a dining option that works best for your palate (and your wallet!) out of the list of restaurants participating in the “3 courses, 3 prices” promotion – a pre-fixe three-course dinner special for $15, $25 or $35. The list includes both most popular dining destinations, like Dock Street Brewery or Jose Garces’ Distrito, and newcomers, such as Han Dynasty, Harvest Seasonal and Doc Magrogan Oyster House. The restaurants that range from craft beer bars to celebrity chef restaurants to cozy BYOBs to international cuisine are now taking reservations.

Photos via Universitycity.org.

To check out the list of participating restaurants with downloadable menus and to make your reservation, please visit: http://www.ucdiningdays.com/ Note: prices are for dinner only and do not include tax, gratuity or alcohol, and reservations should be made directly through the participating restaurant. University City Dining Days will run until Aug. 1, 2013.

The Garden Court Community Association (GCCA) is holding its annual meeting and potluck dinner on Thursday, June 20 and inviting neighbors to attend. The meeting will take place at the Center for Culinary Enterprises (310 S. 48th St; enter through the back of the building on Hanson St.) Potluck dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting begins at 7:15 p.m.

The meeting will be dedicated to the history of Garden Court. GCCA has been awarded a grant by the Preservation Alliance to put together a historic tour of the community and you can learn more about this project at Thursday’s meeting. There will be an opportunity to share your personal account of the neighborhood’s history. Here are some questions GCCA is asking you to think about so you can come prepared to share your accounts of living in the neighborhood over the years:

– What locations have been important to you and why?

– What monumental or pivotal moments of neighborhood change do you remember?

– How have you connected with others in the neighborhood over time?

Everyone is welcome to bring copies of pictures of yourself and of the community. As a reminder, Garden Court boundaries are between 45th and 52nd Streets and Cedar Avenue and Locust Street.

If you have questions, please Email Kate Mills at katewmills@gmail.com.

P.M. @ Penn Museum, the popular summer outdoor concert series that brings great live music performances and laid back atmosphere to the museum lawns every Wednesday night, from 5 to 8 p.m., is returning June 19. This year, the concerts, which cost only $5 and also include admission to the museum galleries, will run through mid-September and feature a colorful blend of global music performances – from gentle Latin folk to raucous Turkish fusion, to rhythmic Afro-Cuban jazz. American-influenced music will be also well represented, with bluegrass, swing, and good, old-fashioned rock n’ roll performances. See the full line-up here and check out the Events Calendar for upcoming concerts.

The P.M. @ Penn Museum series is specifically aimed at those who want to unwind after a long day at work. This summer the museum’s outdoor Stoner Courtyard will offer a relaxed outdoor locale for the concerts and the Pepper Mill Cafe’s garden bar will serve drinks and light fare. Please note that in case of rain concerts move inside.

This Wednesday, Bill Koutsouros’ internationally acclaimed ensemble, Animus, kicks off the series, offering an exciting fusion of ancient and modern music with traditional elements of Greek, rock, Middle Eastern, blues, Indian, jazz, and African music. On June 26, P.M. @ Penn Museum is hosting Philadelphia-based, multi-ethnic group Barakka, which specializes in Turkish folk-rock with a mix of eastern and western instrumentation.

Animus will kick off the P.M. @ Penn Museum concert series on Wednesday, June 19. (Photos courtesy Penn Museum)

The development team for the 92-unit residential development project at 4224 Baltimore Ave has scheduled a second community meeting for Tuesday, June 18, at International House (37th and Chestnut), in the South American Room (2nd floor), from 6:30-8:00 p.m. The proposed design plan has drawn criticism from the community and the project developers are seeking residents’ input to help work out alternative designs. About 40 residents attended the first community meeting last month where they were broken into groups to discuss such issues as building design, retail spaces, unit types, and parking/transit.

At tomorrow’s meeting, the team will be presenting two or three design schemes for discussion and comment, according to an email message by Barry Grossbach, chair of the Spruce Hill Zoning Committee. “Undoubtedly, what comes out of this meeting will play a major role in shaping any final submission,” the message reads.

We’ll let you know about the third and final community meeting on this project as soon as we obtain more information.

Organizers of Make Music Philly, the inaugural free citywide music festival taking place June 21, have announced its first confirmed events and West Philly Local has the skinny on what’s going on in our neck of the woods.

So far, the following local venues are participating in the all-day music jubilee:

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 3260 South Street
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Sheena Grier (pop, R&B, soul)

XPN Free at Noon, 3025 Walnut Street
12 p.m. – 1 p.m.: Southside Johnny & The Poor Fools (rock)

World Café Life, 3025 Walnut Street
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: September Call-Up (indie-folk, indie-rock)
4 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.: Cult Choir (experimental, indie-folk, soul)
5 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.: Keepin’ the Family (bluegrass, folk, indie-folk)
6 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.: This Way to the Egress (cabaret, gypsy, roots)

University of Pennsylvania, Music Building, 201 S. 34^th Street
2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.: Wesley Skold (world, Bossa Nova)
3 p.m.-3:45 p.m.: Classical Revolution Family (classical, other)
3:45 p.m.-4:15 p.m.: Matt Chylak (singer-songwriter)
4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: The Chairman Dances (indie-rock, art rock)

The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street
8 p.m.: JACK Quartet (classical, experimental, other)

The Porch at 30^th Street Station, 2955 Market Street
7:50 am – 8:30 am: Scot Sax (singer-songwriter)
8:15 a.m.: Kyo Daiko (Japanese drum group)

People interested in checking out the different Make Music Philly events can search either a listing of city venues or a city map on the festival’s continually-updated website. There’s also still time for artists and venues to register as an official MMP event before it unveils next Friday.

As West Philly Local first reported in April, Make Music Philly is the city’s first entrance into Make Music Day, a global do-it-yourself music celebration that began in France in 1982 and made its way to the states in 2006. The June 21 festival will take place across Philly from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

–Annamarya Scaccia

Here’s a sampling of events you might want to check out. For more upcoming events visit our Events Calendar.

Fri, June 14

9 am – 5 pm – St. Francis de Sales, 47th & Windsor Ave – Donations to be sold at the St. Francis de Sales Flea Market are being accepted in the auditorium. You can bring almost anything, except books, clothing and large furniture.

6 – 9 pm – 40th Street Air Space, 4007 Chestnut St – 40th Street Artist-in-Residence Program is presenting The Past is Over, a solo exhibition of new work by 2012-2013 artist-in-residence Mike Harpring (pictured right). Please visit http://40streetair.blogspot.com/ for more information.

7 – 9 pm – 8 N. Preston St (40th & Preston) – Grand Opening of Inewsent Studio & Gallery – Many West Philadelphia artists are a part of tonight’s grand opening of Inewsent Studio & Gallery, located in the historic Bell Telephone Exchange building on 40th and Preston.

9:30 pm – City Tap House, 3925 Walnut St – Blue Grass Music in West Philly – The Brummy Brothers are back on the road again and this time they’re kicking it off in West Philly’s City Tap House. https://www.facebook.com/events/502534066468815/

Sat, June 15

9 am – 4 pm – St. Francis de Sales Auditorium, 47th & Windsor Ave – St. Francis de Sales is holding its annual flea market featuring bargains and homemade goodies. Lunch will be served. For more information call 215-222-2255 or 215-222-5819.

10 am – 1 pm – Church of the Holy Apostles and The Mediator, 51st & Spruce Sts – The Church of the Holy Apostles and the Mediator is partnering with ECOvanta to hold an electronic waste recycling event. In addition, Nexcut Shredding will be on site to provide secure document destruction for $1.00 per box.

10 am – 4 pm – Clark Park, 43rd & Baltimore Ave – All-Army Reunion – The city’s first All-Army Reunion is also a chance to mark the birthday of the US Army for all US Army veterans in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. An estimated 200-300 veterans will attend the event that’s also open to their families and the public. There will be contests, live music, guest emcees, food and refreshments and more. Tickets are $5 per individual and $10 per a family up to six. Tickets can be purchased online or at the event. For more information, visit: http://vetscomforthouse.org/

11 am – 4 pm – Porch at 30th Street Station – VIX Emporium and the University City District are bringing more than 50 local crafters to The Porch at 30th Street Station for the 2nd 30th Street Craft Market. There will be three of Philly’s finest food trucks too – savory slow-cooked barbecue by Vernalicious, gourmet Italian sandwiches by Lil Dan’s, and Mac Mart’s macaroni & cheese specialties. For more info, go to: http://www.vixemporium.com/craft-shows/30th-street-craft-market/

12:00 – 8:30 pm – 55th & Chester – Stop the Violence Kickback Block Party – Mont Brown, the Southwest Philadelphia Ambassador for the “Stop the Violence” movement, will kick-off the Block Party in this region of the city and hopes to deliver positive alternatives by promoting education, the arts and small business development. There will be free food, live performances by 30 artists and 10 DJ’s, as well as a host of local vendors selling merchandise.

Sunday, June 16

12 – 5 pm – Firehouse Bicycles, 50th & Baltimore Ave – Party on the Porch – Firehouse Bicycles has new Sunday hours this summer and is inviting neighbors to a party that will include Danophonic spinning records, free food on the grill, and deals on bikes. For more information, visit: http://www.firehousebicycles.com/blog/events