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

Here’s a quick update on our last month’s post regarding the development of a 132-unit residential complex at 43rd and Baltimore (4224 Baltimore Ave) across from Clark Park.

Developers announced in June that they were finally moving forward with the construction. The work began promptly after the announcement. Street parking around the construction area was closed and trees were removed, which made the site much more open and unrecognizable. Some excavation work has also begun.

Zoning approval for the project was granted in June 2015 and building permit was issued in May 2019. Continue Reading

Weekly transpasses are being replaced by fare cards for Philadelphia public school students, the School District of Philadelphia and SEPTA have announced. About 65,000 eligible students in Philadelphia will receive a SEPTA Student Fare Card – a contact-free, reusable chip card that students can use to get to and from school during the 2021-2022 school year.

Here’s how the card will work for students:

Students can use the fare card up to eight times per day between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. on any bus, trolley or subway on school days. If a student needs to use regional rail, they can upgrade their student fare card at designated SEPTA stations for about $10 per 5-day school week. Continue Reading