University City Dining Days returns July 20 to showcase West Philadelphia’s diverse restaurant scene. This year’s promotion will feature 25 restaurants offering three courses for three prices: $20, $30, and $40 at lunch and dinner.

The list of participating restaurants and eateries includes: El Taco, Dahlak, Renata’s Kitchen, Jezabel’s, Garces Trading Company, Pattaya Thai Cuisine, Chengdu Famous Food, Renata’s Kitchen, Aksum, Booker’s Restaurant and Bar, 48th Street Grille, White Dog, and more.

The promotion ends on July 30. To view the full list of participating restaurants, their menus and contact details, visit: https://www.ucdiningdays.com. Reservations should be made directly at each restaurant.

Although summer is in full swing, West Philadelphia community-based non-profit, ACHIEVEability, is preparing for the upcoming school year and gearing up to give away school supplies to 650 students. From now through August 4th, donated backpacks and school supplies will be accepted at the organization’s office at 5901 Market St.

The list of suggested donation items is below.

ACHIEVEability is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The organization was founded in 1981 by the Sisters of Mercy and known as Philadelphians Concerned About Housing (PCAH). The non-profit has grown exponentially since its launch and now serves West Philadelphia neighborhoods that are beyond the resurgence of University City and experience a 34.5 percent poverty rate.

Continue Reading

Here’s some exciting news for aspiring local fashion designers and makers. Philadelphia’s Made Institute, an independent fashion design and sewing school, is opening a West Philly location in the Garden Court apartment building’s ground-floor retail space at 4719 Pine St.

At the new location, Made Institute will offer a variety of fashion design workshops and sewing classes, as well as fashion education for teens and children ages 11 and up. In addition, the Institute will offer its new space to community workshops and also operate as a shop where you students and the public can purchase a variety of fabric and sewing supplies.

Continue Reading

The Pandemic Pantry/Third Wheel Cheese farmstand (Instagram photo).

Here are some new options where you can buy fresh, locally grown produce in West Philly.

Pandemic Pantry Farm Stand

The Pandemic Pantry in association with Third Wheel Cheese are operating a retail farmstand at 705 S. 50th St. Produce is sourced directly from local farms and farmer cooperatives and includes plenty of certified organic options. The farmstand is open on Fridays from 3-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May through November. Follow the Pandemic Pantry on Instagram for more info and updates.

Continue Reading

The annual SEPTA Trolley maintenance project, Trolley Tunnel Blitz, is scheduled to begin this Friday, July 7.

While trolleys will be on diversion to 40th and Market via 42nd Street, SEPTA crews will be working in the tunnel and at the 40th Street Trolley Portal near 40th and Woodland. A portion of Woodland Avenue immediately west of the gated entrance to The Woodlands cemetery will be closed to vehicular traffic from July 8 to July 24 to accommodate SEPTA crews working on trolley track replacement (see map). Vehicles can only enter the cemetery by traveling west on Woodland Avenue.

In other Woodland Avenue news, it has been revealed that Phase 1 of the Woodland Avenue Complete Streets project, which includes installation of traffic signals and marked pedestrian crosswalks at the intersections of Woodland Avenue with Chester Avenue and near the Woodland Cemetery gates/40th St. Trolley Portal, has been postponed until next year. Design plans and construction contract to be used for this work are currently being finalized.

Continue Reading

The Penn Museum’s outdoor summer concert series that shines the spotlight on local bands, like the West Philadelphia Orchestra, returns as “Garden Jams” on Wednesday, July 5.

Every Wednesday evening in July, guests can enjoy cocktails in a hidden garden oasis (just off of South St.), live bands, food trucks, and exclusive after-hours access to the Penn Museum galleries, including a new exhibition, Ancient Food & Flavor. Each event begins at 5 p.m. (Note: Concerts are held indoors during inclement weather).

Continue Reading