Starting tonight, there will be a new opportunity to enjoy music and dancing from Africa and the African diaspora at Elena’s Soul Showcase Lounge & Cafe.

Every first Thursday of the month, Elena’s will host the “Sonic Diaspora Dance Party” featuring DJs Brotha Onaci (the People’s DJ Collective) and Champe’ (Lion’s Den Productions) spinning music from traditions as diverse as Afrobeat, Cumbia, Kuduro, Reggae, House, Afro-Latin, Dancehall, and Soca.

Opportunities can be rare to listen and dance to African inspired music, and for many who follow the genre, Onaci is a welcome addition to the West Philadelphia music scene. Having moved from Chicago to West Philadelphia in August 2011, Onaci has made his mark in Philadelphia by performing for Occupy Philadelphia and Sanctuary Holistic Arts, in addition to spending time with broadcasting staff at WPEB 88.1.

Tonight’s Sonic Diaspora is a special celebration of Bob Marley in honor of his birthday on February 6, and there will be Marley tunes every hour, in addition to the high energy dance beats.

9:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. 21+. $5 cover. 4912 Baltimore Avenue.

– Emma Eisenberg

Five people were arrested yesterday in connection with an LSD distribution operation run out of a house on the 4800 block of Florence Street.

Those arrested include 31-year-old Joshua Dassay, who lives in the home, Wesley Crawford, 34, of Ardmore, and 33-year-old Raphael Zappala, who lives on 50th Street.

Police say they found about 9,500 hits of acid and $10,000 in cash at the Florence Street residence. The District Attorney’s office, which called the operation a “million dollar drug ring,” says the LSD ring was distributing on the Drexel University campus and an investigation began when a Drexel University student, who was arrested on unrelated drug and weapons charges in Montgomery County on Jan. 18, tipped off police to the ring. The student allowed detectives to record drug transactions over the telephone. Those conversations led to the arrest of another Drexel University student, who was allegedly a lower level supplier. That student also cooperated with police. Neither students’ names have been released.

“It is sad that this was taking place on a campus of higher learning, but I hope that the actions of a few do not tarnish the image of educational excellence that we associate with Drexel University,” said District Attorney Seth Williams.

The DA’s Office said the alleged dealers were making between $5,000 and $15,000 a week selling the LSD for $10 to $30 a hit.

Dassay, Crawford and Zappala both face felony possession charges. Charges also include “criminal use of a communication facility,” also a felony, for allegedly using a telephone for drug transactions, and endangering the life of a child. An infant was found inside the Florence Street home at the time of the raid. The DA’s Office said Dassay was wanted for crimes in nine other states.

Crawford is being held on $500,000 bail. Zappala’s bail is $250,000. Bail information was not available for Dassay.

This week’s featured cat is Haile. She is available for adoption through Project MEOW.

It’s not known how Haile got the burn scar on her back leg (she had it when Project MEOW pulled her from ACCT), but hopefully that hasn’t kept people from seeing just how wonderful this girl truly is. She’s a laid back, playful and lovable kitty who would make the very best Valentine for many many years.

Haile is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, FIV/FeLV negative, flea treated, and de-wormed. You can see her at Baltimore Pet Shoppe (4532 Baltimore Ave) and fill out an application to adopt or email projectmeowadoptions [at] gmail.com to meet this lovely lady calico.

If you want to start or join a town watch group on your block and missed the town watch information session earlier this month, here’s another opportunity.

Next training will take place on Thursday, Feb. 2, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Renewal Presbyterian Church (47th and Cedar). Patty Bulack of the Cedar Park Neighbors Watch group will be there again to share her experience. Also there is a strong confirmation from Tara Smith, the official trainer from Town Watch, that she will be present this time.

Neighbors are welcome to come and discuss how town watch group members are working together. If you don’t think you can participate in the collective town watch efforts, you are welcome to come and learn about how to be safer.

For more information please contact Patty at: pbulack [at] gmail.com.

Curio Theatre (4740 Baltimore Ave) has had a great season so far, hitting it off with both the public and critics with their first two shows – Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice and Dario Fo’s Accidental Death of an Anarchist. This week the theater presents the Philadelphia premiere of a work based on Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five.

The show is directed by Jared Reed and features seven Curio actors (most of them from West Philly) playing some 40 characters. No one in this show remains the same for long, except the time traveling main character Billy Pilgrim. The dynamic sets (built by Curio’s Artistic Director Paul Kuhn) and cast will often change, adding to the confusion Billy experiences during his travels.

The show preview begins Thursday, Feb.2, and the official opening is February 10. All shows begin at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. For more information and to buy tickets ($10-$20) visit this page.

We thought we would pass along some business happenings from along 45th Street. First, Demetris (photo above), which serves pizza and Mediterranean cuisine, has reopened at 4438 Chestnut Street after being closed for some time for remodeling. The restaurant offers dine-in, take-out and delivery services and the menu features traditional and gourmet pizzas, pasta, salads, charbroiled burgers and gyros among other things. The hours are Monday-Thursday 3:00 – 11:00 p.m., Friday & Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., Sunday 3:00 – 10:00 p.m. For more information call 215-222-8300 or visit their website.

Also, in case you missed it, a new pharmacy, Aspire Rx, has been operating between Walnut and Sansom streets for a few weeks. The exact address is 132 S. 45th Street. The store hours are Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Sat 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., closed on Sundays. For more information call 215-883-0332.

Finally, the pharmacy turned restaurant Rx at 45th and Spruce has been closed for a few days now due to some technical issues (see photo below). This morning quite a few people turned up at this popular brunch spot and were visibly disappointed to see the “Closed” sign. We are trying to get in touch with the Rx owners to see what’s happening and will let you know as soon as we have more details.