Here’s a great chance to support a local independent bookstore and buy books at bargain prices. The Baltimore Avenue bookstore, Bindlestiff Books, is holding a “giant” sidewalk book sale this weekend. There will be hundreds of overstock titles for kids and adults alike, priced as low as $1. New titles will be added each day to replace those that have sold.

The sale will take place Friday, July 30 through Sunday, Aug. 1, Noon – 6 p.m. (weather permitting).

A preview sale will take place Thursday, July 29, from 3-6 p.m. Continue Reading

Philadelphia health officials are urging residents, including those fully vaccinated, to go back to wearing masks in public indoor spaces as the number of new coronavirus cases in the city is growing again due to the highly contagious Delta variant. The new guidance aims to protect children under 12 years old who are not yet eligible for COVID vaccines, according to acting Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole.

There has been a “small but disturbing” increase in coronavirus  cases and hospitalizations among children in Philadelphia, according to Bettigole. The number of new COVID-19 cases overall has doubled in the city over the past couple of weeks. Continue Reading

Shakespeare in Clark Park (archived photo).

After taking a break last summer, Shakespeare in Clark Park is resuming its annual summer productions by presenting five nights of PERICLES – from Wednesday, July 28 through Sunday, Aug. 1. Shows will be held at 7 p.m. each night and feature a troupe of tumbling circus performers.

This year SCP is offering a three-tiered seating reservation system with the following options:

• COVID-safe seating

This section is for groups that include unvaccinated or immunocompromised people. People in this section will be asked to wear a mask for the duration of the show and maintain 6-foot distance from the other groups sharing this space. COVID safe seating is limited. Please go here for more details and to reserve your space. Continue Reading

As Philadelphia is experiencing one of the worst years of gun violence, first-term lawmaker Amen Brown, who represents Philadelphia’s 190th Legislative District, continues his efforts to tackle this devastating issue. Brown, who earlier this year negotiated an agreement with the state’s largest gun show promoter to ban sales of “ghost gun” kits at its shows, has recently announced a Gun Violence Community Survey prepared by his office.

The survey is geared to residents of the 190th District, which encompasses several West Philadelphia neighborhoods, and asks several key questions pertaining to gun violence. Continue Reading

A rendering image of CCP’s Career and Advanced Technology Center being built at 48th and Market.

The Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) today celebrated the halfway point in construction for its highly anticipated state-of-the-art teaching and learning facility in West Philadelphia. The college held a midpoint ceremony for its Career and Advanced Technology Center (CATC) located at the southeast corner of 48th and Market.

Stakeholders and community partners received updates at today’s event on the programming and learning opportunities the CATC will provide. They also signed a stud with a permanent marker to be placed within the inner walls of the building and participated in a guided tour of the facility. Continue Reading

The Clark Park Farmers’ Market is still going strong after many years. Established in 1998, it is one of The Food Trust’s largest markets, offering fresh produce, baked goods, meats, flowers, and many specialty products. Just a reminder that the market operates year-round every Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at 43rd and Baltimore.

Although there is no Clark Park Thursday Market this summer, The Food Trust has opened other seasonal farmers markets in the city.

Here’s a list of other farmers markets in West and Southwest Philadelphia and their schedules: Continue Reading