University City Dining Days, the annual event where you can try food prepared at some of the best area restaurants at a discount, kicks off this Thursday (July 13). As always, dozens of University City-based restaurants will offer three-course dinner menus at three fixed prices – $15, $25 and $35.

Over 30 restaurants will participate in this popular event this year – from those run by famous chefs to ethnic cuisines to cozy BYOBs.

Some of the area’s well-known restaurants and bars are offering $15 three-course dinners, including Dahlak, New Delhi, Vietnam Cafe, Dock Street Brewery, Kabobeesh and more.  Continue Reading

Several people were attacked by a group of paintball shooters in West and Southwest Philadelphia on Thursday, according to police. The first attack took place near 42nd St. and Baltimore Ave. shortly after 4 p.m. when a man and a woman walking down the street were shot at by people who were inside a dark-colored Hyundai Azera, according to reports. The couple then saw two more people being hit by the same attackers nearby. After that they drove away.

The third incident happened at around 4:15 p.m. near 50th and Woodland. In this attack, which involved the same vehicle, four people sitting on a porch were attacked in a drive-by paintball shooting. Three people were struck in this attack. All four victims in this attack were transgender, according to reports. It’s not clear whether they were specifically targeted.

Police believe there were four people in the car. No descriptions of the attackers are available at this time. The investigation continues.

It’s that time of the summer again. The 2017 Trolley Tunnel Blitz, SEPTA’s catchy name for the annual construction and maintenance project inside the trolley tunnel to Center City, will take place July 7 – 17, according to an announcement by SEPTA. During the Blitz, which will begin at 10 p.m. on Friday, July 7, SEPTA Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 will not operate in the tunnel, but will be diverted to 40th and Market Streets.

Passengers are advised to use the Market Frankford Line for traveling to Center City or board the train at 40th and Market where trolley service will begin and end during the Blitz.  Continue Reading

In Philadelphia, thousands of children and youth are eligible for free or reduced price breakfast and lunch during the school year.  The city and the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger are partnering to also offer free meals when school is out. This food is accessible at more than 1,000 sites throughout the City, including recreation centers, parks, churches, and neighborhood blocks.

These sites serve free meals and snacks to children and teens age 18 and younger in Philadelphia, and there are dozens of such places in West Philadelphia. This map shows the currently available sites, and more sites are still being added.

There are no income requirements, ID, or registration needed in qualifying areas. For more information, visit: http://www.hungercoalition.org/summermeals or call 1-855-252-6325.

All SEPTA modes of transportation will operate on a Sunday schedule on Tuesday, July 4, but additional service will be added to subway and trolleys at night to accommodate those who are planning to watch the fireworks on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The following information may be helpful to West Philly residents:

Market-Frankford Line: A total of ten extra trains will be dispatched starting at 4:30 p.m. to provide service every five minutes. These extra trips will run until 12:30 a.m. to help customers get home after the event. Market-Frankford Line Night Owl buses will replace trains at 12:30 a.m. SEPTA’s 15th Street Station provides riders access to and from the Parkway festivities.

Trolleys: Additional trips will be added on Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 after the fireworks.

More information can be found at septa.org.

Click here for more information about July 4th events and activities in the city (Independence Day Parade, Free Museum Day, Party on the Parkway and more).

Ten artists were selected by local community members this Spring to create a series of public art pieces and installations to be on display through September along Lancaster Avenue. Each piece of art will explore progress, change, and invisibility.

                Photos courtesy of LoLa 38.

The work of four installation artists is currently on display at the former United Bank building at 38th and Lancaster and on the fence surrounding the site of the former University City High School (UCHS).

Melanie Booth, whose work can be seen on the fence, is a visiting exchange student at Drexel University from Sydney, Australia. Her piece is a Nylon 5’x8’ American Flag with embroidery titled #notmypresident (pictured above). Oluwafemi’s pen and digital print piece, Collective Conscious, is in the Bank’s parking lot windows and is best seen at night.  Continue Reading