Adrienne Williams, owner of Freebird Greenery, and Drew, her son. (Photo by West Philly Local)

It seems like all 10 of Adrienne Williams’ fingers are green; not just her thumb.

Williams has turned her passion for plants, community and self-care into Freebird Greenery, which will officially open this Saturday at 4711 Pine St. The ground floor storefront in the Garden Court Plaza building includes a variety of sizes and species of house plants, pots and even a locally made “propagation wall,” for starting plant cuttings.

“I really wanted a space that felt like community,” Williams said. “I thought, where do I like to spend time? What environment do I find peaceful?,” Williams said. “Plants are a big part of that for me.” The shop’s vibe fits Williams’ “plant care as self-care” philosophy. Continue Reading

Proposed building rendering at 42nd and Market (JKRP Architects).

A six-story, 352-unit apartment building proposed for 42nd and Market cleared the last phase of community review on Tuesday. When completed the nearly block-long building will cap off one of the densest blocks in the area.

Developers presented plans to the city’s Civic Design Review Committee, an advisory group for large projects that makes non-binding recommendations on everything from building materials to landscaping. Construction could begin this fall.

The Alterra Group presented the project to the West Powelton/Saunders Park RCO in June. The project is being built “by right.” The building will occupy most of the south side of the 4200 block of Market Street and include just over 22,000 square feet of ground floor retail space. Continue Reading

Parks on Tap, Philadelphia’s pop-up beer garden, is coming to West Philly’s Clark Park next week. The popular program, a partnership between the Department of Parks and Recreation and Fairmount Park Conservancy, features beers on tap, wine, non-alcoholic beverages and fresh food. It pops up at different parks throughout the city all summer long.

The traveling beer garden is currently located at Penn Treaty Park in Fishtown and will be at Clark Park (43rd and Baltimore) from Wednesday, Sept. 7 through Sunday, Sept. 11. The hours of operation are the following:

Wed-Fri: 4 p.m.-10 p.m.

Sat & Sun: Noon – 10 p.m.

Special events include a Happy Hour with the Friends of Clark Park on the opening day (Wed, Sept. 7), from 4-6 p.m. 25 percent of the proceeds will directly support Clark Park.

For more information about Parks on Tap, click here.

Photo by Randl Bye & Melissa Sobel

Dancefusion, a West Philly-based dance company, was founded by Artistic Director Gwendolyn Bye who grew up in Powelton Village. Celebrating 35 years this year, the company will be presenting ENVISIONS at the Philly FringeArts Festival in collaboration with The Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble from New York City.

The program will feature both companies with three performances on September 9 at 7:00 p.m. and September 10 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the Performance Garage, 1515 Brandywine Street in Philadelphia.

Dancefusion will present two pieces by Pauline Koner, a visionary dancer and choreographer. Concertino (1955) is set to music by Unico Wilheim van Wassenaer. The dance, using the flavor of court dances, depicts a Lady and her ladies-in-waiting in three facets of the Lady’s life. The second work is an excerpt from Koner’s monumental solo The Farewell (1962), set to Gustav Mahler’s The Song of the Earth. Dancefusion will add a third innovative, fun work for the company, Forces in G: Ode to a Ball, choreographed by Rachel Kantra Beal to music by J.S. Bach. Continue Reading

The 2022-2023 school year has begun today for tens of thousands of Philadelphia children and youth with the School District of Philadelphia welcoming students back into school buildings. For parents and guardians seeking free or low-cost afterschool or recreational activities for their kids, check out these two programs below.

LEAP at the Free Library of Philadelphia

The Free Library’s Literacy Enrichment Afterschool Program (LEAP) returns for a new school year at all libraries throughout the city with a playful learning focus for younger students and a focus on literacy and 21st century skills for all ages. LEAP is currently scheduled to be offered Monday through Friday at every library as staffing and operating hours allow.

The Library’s LEAP Out-of-School-Time Programming will offer Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) activities, literacy activities, slime making, and more. LEAP will offer homework assistance in-person during Library hours and live tutoring through Homework Help Online from 10:00 a.m. to midnight, 7 days a week. Continue Reading

The developers of 4601 Market St., which includes the stately, gold-cupolaed Provident building, are reportedly moving ahead with plans to build six apartment buildings, including an 18-story tower, on the site.

Executives with Iron Stone Real Estate Partners, which purchased the property in 2019, told The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jake Blumgart that the firm is moving ahead with plans to add 1,240 apartments on the site, which stretches west along Market Street from 46th to 48th Streets and north along 46th Street to Haverford Avenue.

The property is zoned CMX-3, a mixed-use designation that means the residential buildings will likely be constructed “by right” with little required community input on things like the inclusion of affordable housing. Continue Reading