Winter holidays are approaching fast, so here’s our little guide to where you can celebrate and buy locally-made gifts. These past two years have been very hard for small businesses, so please remember to support them this holiday season.

Also, please check out the 3rd District Holiday Shopping Guide recently released by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier’s Office and the West Philly Favorites campaign organized by the University City District. More information is below.

Handmade Holidays

When: Saturday, Dec. 4, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Where: Bartram’s Garden (54th and Lindbergh)

Bartram’s Garden is inviting families to celebrate Handmade Holidays with them this Saturday. Some of the planned events and activities include: a local vendor marketplace, pie-making contest, winter tree ID workshop, a Faulkner demo, wreath and holiday greens sale, campfires and seasonal refreshments. Please note that Bartram’s signature wreaths were for pre-sale only and all sold out, but there will be a wreath making workshop where attendees can make their own wreath. Some holiday greens and plants (poinsettias, Christmas cactus and houseplants) will be available for sale on Saturday. Masks are required for this event. Click here for more details. Continue Reading

After a very challenging couple of years, it’s important to remember about all the hard work done in the community by local not-for-profit organizations. There’s a chance to support them today, on #GivingTuesday. Today, we’ll be posting messages from local non-profits so that you can support them with your donation or volunteer work. Also, please check our Civic Life page for the list of local organizations. Continue Reading

The City’s Department of Licenses and Inspections has issued zoning permits for the demolition of six row homes on the east side of S. 44th Street between Spruce and Locust – from 245 S. 44th St. to 255 S. 44th St.

The three-story row homes have been used as single-family rental properties until recently. The city issued use permits for the buildings in 2018, allowing the property owners to repurpose the existing structures for multi-family use, with four to five units per building. Continue Reading

A new bike share station has been installed near Malcolm X Park (52nd and Larchwood).

Philadelphia’s bike share program, Indego, has installed more bike share stations around the city after announcing plans to expand its service area to more underserved neighborhoods last December. As part of this plan, Indego has been expanding its operation in West Philadelphia and in the past few months, the following new bike docking stations have appeared in West Philly:

• 52nd and Chestnut
• 52nd and Larchwood (near Malcolm X Park)
• 50th and Baltimore Continue Reading

                        Click to enlarge

The annual Philadelphia Marathon will return this Sunday, Nov. 21 after last year’s hiatus with COVID-19 safety measures in place. The Half-Marathon will be held on Saturday, Nov. 20. Both events kick off at 7 a.m. at 22nd St. and Benjamin Franklin Parkway and will bring road closures in many parts of the city, including in some West Philly areas.

Street and road closures will begin on Saturday and Sunday as early as 2 a.m. and will continue for the duration of the Half-Marathon and Marathon. All streets except Eakins Oval are expected to be reopened no later than 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Continue Reading

60th and Chancellor Streets redevelopment project rendering (courtesy of WPRE)

A large-scale redevelopment project has been proposed for the site of the former Imperial Ballroom building at 215-19 S. 60th Street and other nearby properties that will include construction of affordable housing, new community and event spaces, and a new public park or parking lot.

The basic project description so far is as follows, according to the developer, West Philadelphia Real Estate (WPRE):

• New construction of 30 affordable housing units along S. 60th Street and the 5900 block of Chancellor Street.
• New construction of three ground floor community spaces at 221, 225 and 227 S. 60th St. These spaces will be rented for nominal consideration ($1) to non-profit community groups who provide services to benefit the 60th Street Corridor / Cobbs Creek neighborhood. Continue Reading