Mill Creek Farm (4901 Brown Street) will hold its annual fundraiser today from 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center (640 Water Works Drive) – behind the Art Museum. The farm is “an educational urban farm dedicated to improving local access to fresh produce, building a healthy community and environment, and promoting a just and sustainable food system,” according to its website. A non-profit, the farm is an important part of West Philadelphia and it relies on this annual fundraiser for a substantial chunk of its budget. In addition to growing food, the farm conducts community workshops and youth employment programs.

The fundraiser will include the debut of West Philly Grown, a documentary about the farm. A silent auction will also be held (holiday gifts perhaps? hmmm?). Live music will be provided by The Bro’s Perspective, a jazz fusion trio, as well as by violinist Carlos Santiago and harpist Mary O’Malley. As if that isn’t enough, there’s also going to be food and drink from Philadelphia Brewing Company, Dock Street Brewing Co., Art in the Age, Bar Ferdinand, Beau Monde and Honest Tom’s Taco Shop. That is a substantial line-up. Holy smokes, I’m salivating just writing this.

Now, it’s a fundraiser so it ain’t free. Tickets are $25 (cash/check) and are available at the door.

Poet Elyse Fenton

Elyse Fenton, a poet who is temporarily living in West Philadelphia, won the prestigous Dylan Thomas Prize earlier this week for Clamor, a collection of poems about her experience as the wife of a soldier serving in Iraq.

“The full spectacle of this is just starting to dawn on me,” she told the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Peter Florence, the chair of the judges for the prize, called Fenton’s work an “astonishing, fully accomplished book of huge ambition and spectacular delivery.”

Fenton was presented the award during a ceremony Wednesday at the University of Swansea, located in the Welsh city where Thomas was born. The prize includes a 30,000 pound ($48,000) cash prize. Fenton’s work was the first time the 3-year-old prize has been awarded to a book of poems. Authors under the age of 30 who have published a work in English are eligible for the award.

The Inquirer reported that Fenton is staying in her brother’s West Philly row home while her husband, who served in Iraq in 2005, serves a legal clerkship in Trenton.

A sampling of stuff happening around the area today/tonight. See happenings for information on other events.

• Eateleh: A Life in Klezmer • 7:30 p.m. • Calvary Center for Community and Culture • 801 S. 48th St. (at Baltimore Avenue) • Tickets: $10-$30
A production of the Philadelphia Folklore Project and Crossroads Music, this event includes a documentary about klezmer music and a performance by Elaine Hoffman Watts and Susan Lankin Watts (mother and daughter) who are part of a family of klezmer musicians. The documentary tells the story of their family and the legacy of klezmer, a musical style rooted in Ukrainian and Romanian traditions.

Organizers strongly recommend buying tickets in advance. They are available online and at the door until they sell out.

Here’s an interview with Elaine:

Elaine Hoffman Watts from Leeway Foundation on Vimeo.

The West Catholic football team upended Northern Lehigh 55-14 on Friday in the PIAA Class AA quarterfinals in Allentown. The Burrs advance to the state AA semifinals, which are scheduled for December 10-11. West Catholic advanced to the state finals in 2008 only to lose a heartbreaking, double-overtime game to Wilmington Area 35-34. The Burrs made a playoff run last year before falling to Lancaster Catholic 23-21 in the semifinals.

The Burrs will take on either Trinity or Lewisburg in the semis.

Does anyone have any photos or videos from Friday night’s game? Please pass them along to editor [at] westphillylocal.com and we will post them.

Here is some video from EasternPAFootball.com:

A piece from a past show.

Every year since 2003 the folks at Neighborhood Bike Parts put out a call to local artists to come and scrounge around in their used parts bins. Tonight we get a chance to see (and buy) what they’ve created from all those chain rings, cranksets and pedals. The annual Bike Part Art Show runs 7-10 p.m. tonight at Studio 34 (4522 Baltimore Ave).

Proceeds from the silent auction and raffle that will run during the show benefit the Neighborhood Bike Works’ free after-school programs and summer camp scholarships. The show will also include beer and snacks. A $5 donation at the door would be greatly appreciated.

This gal was found this morning in Clark Park by a USP student. She has a collar and a choke chain, but no tags and no chip. Any info contact Melissa at mjankoviak [at] mail.usp.edu.