Shakespeare in Clark Park has announced its 2018 production, and it will be filled with music! For five nights in July, the popular local outdoor theatre production company will present a Glam Rock inspired Twelfth Night featuring Philly’s finest actors alongside student musicians. The production is directed by Jack Tamburri and is set to run July 25-29.

The glam rock exploration of Shakespeare’s classic romance will feature music and performances by local cabaret favorite, Jess Conda. In addition, the company, which has been incorporating the community into its productions for the past four years, is inviting young musicians from all over the city to form an epic rock band in their very musical Illyria.  Continue Reading

Orens Brothers discussing their plans for the 4400 block of Chestnut in 2015 (archived photo).

It appears that local developers, Orens Brothers, are ready to move forward with their plans for a major redevelopment of a portion of the 4400 block of Chestnut Street and South 44th Street between Chestnut and Market that were first presented in 2015.

The Spruce Hill Community Association’s Zoning Committee will hold a public zoning meeting tonight at 7 p.m. where the proposal to create a six-story apartment building with commercial ground floor spaces, a fitness center, a meeting room for residents and a garage will be discussed. The proposal involves relocating lot lines to create one lot from several lots. The project has been on hold while title was secured for some key properties.  Continue Reading

SEPTA has announced two major reconstruction projects in West and Southwest Philadelphia that will result in some street closures and affect service of trolley routes 11 and 36.

SEPTA will begin working on the complete replacement of the Woodland Avenue bridge, located on Woodland Avenue between 47th and 48th Streets. Street closures for the construction begin on Sunday, March 18, and the project is expected to be completed in Summer 2019.

During the construction, SEPTA Trolley Routes 11 and 36, which normally use the bridge, will be detoured to Chester Avenue between 49th Street and the 40th Street Portal.  Continue Reading

University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative is offering a new job training opportunity for local residents. Applications are being accepted through March 29 for a training program with University of Pennsylvania that will prepare individuals for entry-level, Science Lab Helper jobs.

The program is recruiting individuals with a wide range of prior experiences in janitorial work, housekeeping, labor and science labs. Program graduates will have the opportunity to earn a stipend while in training and receive on-the-job training at the University of Pennsylvania, earning $15/hour.  Continue Reading

A new reading series is launching this Thursday (March 15) at the Dock Street Cannery + Lounge (705 S. 50th St), and this is a great chance to meet some talented Philadelphia-based writers.

The event is hosted by West Philly authors Matt Jakubowski and Christine Kendall and showcases writers Ru Freeman, Emma Copley Eisenberg and Marc Anthony Richardson who will be reading from their work. Doors will open at 5 p.m. for drinks and snacks; the readings start at 7 p.m. Come early to secure a seat! Books will be available for sale during the event, provided by Bindlestiff Books.

Here’s some more information about the writers from the event organizers:

Ru Freeman is the author of the novels A Disobedient Girl and On Sal Mal Lane, a New York Times Editor’s Choice Book. She is the editor of the ground-breaking anthology, Extraordinary Rendition: American Writers on Palestine. Her writing appears internationally in the UK Guardian, The New York Times, and The Boston Globe. She blogs for The Huffington Post on literature and politics, is a contributing editorial board member of the Asian American Literary Review, and is the recipient of many fellowships including from the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, Yaddo, Hedgebrook, and the Lannan Foundation. Ru teaches creative writing at Columbia University.  Continue Reading

Garden Court residents are invited this Thursday, March 15 to the neighborhood association’s (GCCA) general meeting where they can learn more about zoning and how it impacts their neighborhood.

The meeting will include a special presentation by Martine DeCamp, senior planner for the City of Philadelphia assigned to University City and Southwest Philadelphia, who will share an overview of the city’s zoning process. You can also learn about how you can get involved and ask your most pressing zoning questions. Refreshments will be provided.

The meeting will be held at Mosaic Community Church (123 S. 51st St.) from 7 p.m. until approximately 8:30 p.m.

It’s worth noting that a recent proposal by the Post Brothers to build a 243-unit addition to Garden Court Plaza at 4701 Pine St. (see rendering) was rejected by the city for not conforming to the current zoning code (CMX-2) because of its height, density and open space and required a special variance. You can read more about this project here and here.