Come late summer, West Philly will be home to two new diverse and palate-pleasing restaurants located in the Dorrance H. Hamilton Center for Culinary Enterprises at 310 S. 48th Street.

For those who love Caribbean-American fusion cuisine, 48th Street Grille will provide a taste of the islands with a focus on seasonal fresh and local ingredients. Owned by Chef Carl Lewis of Catering by Carl Lewis, LLC, 48th Street Grille will serve fresh seafood, pasta, meat, poultry, curry dishes, burgers, salads, soup, vegetarian dishes and sandwiches, and non-alcohol beverages, as well as signature fare from the South and Jamaica, once it opens late summer. The 65-seat dining space will also offer sidewalk dining, take-out service, and full-service catering. It will be open Tuesday – Sundays for lunch and dinner, with mid-week breakfast available through Saturdays. Chef Lewis also plans to host special events for New Year’s Eve, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Mother’s Day, as well as host midweek Family Dining Nights.

Area vegans and vegetarians craving more chow options in West Philly will find potential in Planet Vegan Café, a sit-down vegan juice bar and eatery opening in late July/early August. The vision of Dorinda Hampton, owner of vegan food company Really Fresh Vegan, Planet Vegan is a reinvention and enhanced version of the restaurant Hampton developed as part of her stint on Food Network’s 24 Hour Restaurant Battle in 2010. The 25-person capacity space will feature a full juice bar with all organic juice and smoothies, as well as serve hot and cold sandwiches, hot vegan and veggie dishes, soups, and salads using all healthy, organic, non-GMO products. It will also offer juice cleansing, in which six 16 oz. bottles of fresh-made juice are given for the amount of time needed.

“We want to have a really cool place where people can come, socialize and enjoy people’s company,” said Hampton, who also owns Sprout Vegan Eatery and Juice Bar, located at 909 E. Baltimore Pike in Kennett Square. “I want to [also] give people a new way of thinking about healthy eating. You don’t have to compromise texture or taste. It can be tasty as well as beneficial to your health.”

Planet Vegan will be open Mondays – Sundays (hours are yet to be determined), with takeout and delivery options available. Hampton plans to host local entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays, and hold screenings of wellness, health and nutrition documentaries on Sundays.

Opened in September, the Center for Culinary Enterprises was designed to assist start-up and established food enterprises by providing commercial kitchen and food storage space for rent, as well as affordable food business development services. The 13,000+ sq. ft. facility, which is open 24 hours a day, includes four state-of-the-art commercial kitchens, the eKitchen Multimedia Learning Center (a demo kitchen and classroom), and retail space. A third restaurant may open in the space but it could not be confirmed.

–Annamarya Scaccia
 

One of the biggest Clark Park events of the year is almost here and we wanted to share details on what will be in store at this all-day celebration of spring and the community.

Just like in previous years, the Saturday, May 11 event will have games for kids, such as an obstacle course and a bounce tent, and a raffle with great prizes from University Pinball and other local businesses. The grand prize this year is an iPad 4, with 10 runner-ups worth 100 tokens each for games at the University Pinball Family Fun Center at 40th and Spruce. Raffle tickets are $5 for six chances.

Many West Philly-based artists and craftspeople will be selling their handmade unique stuff (jewelry, pottery, fabrics, and more.) Church groups will be helping kids make craft presents for Mother’s Day, and the West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools will be selling “LEA-monade” in support of the project to “green” the Lea School playground. Among other things to check out at the fair is a huge book sale, with many new and used books selling for $1 or less and the annual University City Garden Club plant sale. The plant sale will be at the UCGC’s booth near 43rd and Regent.

And of course, there will be a lot to choose from for your palate: some of the best food trucks in the area will be offering food, including Caribbean soul food, specialty pizzas, hamburgers and grilled meats, vegan and vegetarian dishes, and desserts.

Finally, here’s the line-up of the music performers at this year’s May Fair:

10:30 a.m. – Laura Szklarski (guitarist and singer)
11:30 a.m. – Sour Mash (high-energy bluegrass)
1:30 p.m. – Belleville Quartet (acoustic jazz ensemble)

NOTE: 43rd Street between Chester Ave and Regent Square will be closed for the fair, so residents are urged not to park there overnight on Friday night, or along the south side of Chester Avenue.

Spruce Hill May Fair
Clark Park (43rd & Chester)
Saturday, May 11
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Rebels Closet owner Conway Armstead with Takiya Lipscomb, director of operations.

The intersection between subcultures has always been present in history. From skaters blasting alt-hip hop to punk rock kids skanking to ska, the line between underground movements is one forever blurred.

It’s this almost-inherent connection that drives Rebels Closet, the new clothing store that’s set up shop in True Planet Vintage Boutique’s former home at 4501 Baltimore Ave. With an emphasis on street-wear fashion, Rebels Closet’s aim is to serve as an artistic and fashion meeting point “for all those different [counter]cultures,” said owner and former West Philly resident Conway Armstead. Sought-after national street brands like Mighty Healthy and BGRT will hang from racks next to local designers like G.E.E.K (Good Energy = Quals Kreation) Clothing Inc. that offer “an organic, more cultural-type feel,” which, according to Director of Operations Takiya Lipscomb, will appeal to “the immediate neighborhood.”

“We are going to be having those brands that people look for and [are] very rare to find in Philadelphia,” Lipscomb said. “[But] we’re gonna have an element for people who love couture, for people who wear basics every day. There’s going to be something for everybody.”

Rebels Closet held a soft opening on Sunday to introduce the new space to West Philly residents, and “give them a taste” of what the store will carry once it officially opens at the end of the month. While a multitude of items are currently available for purchase, it is not a “full representation” of what’s to come, which includes a fuller men’s department and the launch of a women’s department, according to Lipscomb. Armstead said he is also open to meeting with local designers about potentially carrying their lines.

“Rebels Closet” mural designed by Philadelphia graffiti writer and Armstead’s good friend Satan (a.k.a. SN)

But Armstead wants Rebels Closet to act as much more than a place to buy new gear. He also plans to use the vibrant, artwork-laden shop as a cultural destination, possibly renting it out for poetry readings, album listening parties, and rolling art galleries.

“It’s really cool the fact that we can take everything off the floor and make it look like a completely empty space and funk it out to be whatever you want it to be,” said Lipscomb. “[We] want to do those types of things during First Friday and First Thursday events [and] just bring in something that draws in the artistic crowd.”

In the end, Rebels Closet is a symbol for grassroots revolution, in both name and space. It represents nonconformity and individuality—a drum beat for authenticity accented by the yet-to-be completed mural on the back wall brandishing its name. “Most of [the brands] you won’t find in larger chain stores. Even they have an organic, self-expressive attitude. That’s what the rebel thing is about,” said Armstead, who is present at the store every day. “It’s just a form of expression that might not be a popular statement or way of thinking but it is what it is.”

“Everybody is their own rebel, whether you’re a rebel for the earth, or a rebel against the machine,” added Lipscomb. “Everybody has a rebel in them and this can be your closet.”

Rebels Closet is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Apparel is available in sizes small to XXL , and ranges from $20-25 for t-shirts, $40 for sweatshirts, and $35-45 for shorts.

– Annamarya Scaccia
 

Photo by Kyle Cassidy.

Theater (and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) fans should rejoice – West Philly’s Curio Theatre is getting ready to emBARK on The Hound of the Baskervilles, their last production of the 2012-2013 season and Philadelphia premiere. We hear that the play, which opens tonight at 8 p.m., is quite spooky (as it should be), but has some derailments, like the cast, Harry Slack of West Philadelphia, Steve Carpenter of South Philly and CJ Keller of Havertown, arguing about whether they should include a medical disclaimer for the audience or getting distracted by a Twitter comment (don’t worry, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson will get back on the case).

The new production, directed by Curio Artistic Director and West Philly resident Paul Kuhn is a very “Curio” kind of play, with its double-casting and high theatricality, and includes some costumes changes right in front of the audience! With all the derailments and cast distractions you may wonder how it will it end. Why not see for yourself? The shows will run through June 1.

The Hound of the Baskervilles, a Philadelphia premiere
May 8-June 1, 2013
Performing on Curio’s Corner Stage (corner of 48th St. and Baltimore Ave.)
All shows are at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (and Wednesday, May 8)
Ticket Prices: $15-20 ($5 off for preview tickets: 5/8-9)
Tickets/Info: 215-525-1350 or www.curiotheatre.org

The School District of Philadelphia is once again in fiscal straits and next year’s budget could see the worst cuts yet. More nurses, security guards, librarians, assistant principals, guidance counselors, aides, music and arts teachers, secretaries and even books and school supplies from every school in the city could go if the city doesn’t make up a $300 million shortfall. It’s already being called the “doomsday budget.”

A principal at a West Philly elementary school told parents recently that the proposed cuts are by far the worst she has seen in her 21 years. Students from city high schools are planning a rally today at the District headquarters. Members of the teachers’ union, which has been asked for concessions to help avoid the cuts, are scheduled to do “informational picketing” at every public school in the city tomorrow.

District officials are requesting $60 million from the city, which City Council members are so far reluctant to provide, and $120 million from the state, which also doesn’t seem too interested.

Home and school association parents from around the city are asking residents to get involved.

If interested, here are some things you can do to help:

• Contact your City Council member and members at large. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, head of the education committee, is available at 215-686-3418/3419 and jannie.blackwell@phila.gov.

• Contact your state legislators. The local legislators are likely to be very sympathetic, so another person to talk to is state Rep. Paul Clymer, the Bucks County Republican who heads the House Education Committee. His district office can be reached at 215-257-0279. His e-mail is: pclymer@pahousegop.com. Here is his Facebook page.

• Stop by the table at Saturday’s May Fair in Clark Park (43rd & Chester) and sign a local petition.

• Join an existing state campaign for funding by signing the petition here.

– Mike Lyons

This Wednesday, May 8, there’s a chance to support a local art program and try delicious Mediterranean dishes prepared by Aksum Cafe (4630 Baltimore Ave). From 5 – 10 p.m. Aksum is hosting “Dining for the Arts” – a benefit for the artists and communities served by the Center For Emerging Visual Artists (CFEVA). The specially-prepared three-course, pre fixe dinner will include Aksum favorites and vegan options ($45 per person, BYOB.) 40 percent of the evening’s proceeds will benefit CFEVA. To make your reservation call 267.275.8195.

The Center For Emerging Visual Artists, formerly Creative Artists Network, was founded in 1983 by Felicity R. “Bebe” Benoliel and serves emerging artists who live and work within 100 miles of Philadelphia.