Kids waiting for the Kingsessing pool to open in summer 2014. (Photo by Alex Lewis)

It’s hot out there, and we’ve been getting questions from readers about opening dates for local pools and spraygrounds. So here’s some good news: Philadelphia Parks & Rec announced today that public pools and spraygrounds will start opening on Friday, June 19, and openings will continue through July 1. The list and contact info for West Philly pools and spraygrounds can be found here. And remember that the pool season in Philadelphia is short; most pools will stay open only for two months or less.

By the way, Parks & Rec is still hiring lifeguards for this summer, and individuals 16 years of age or older are welcome to apply. For more information or to register, call the Aquatics office at (215) 683-3663 or email lisa.whittle@phila.gov. Also, visit this page.

The proposed apartment complex at 43rd and Baltimore.

After weeks of delays, the city has approved the proposal for a large residential building at the corner of 43rd and Baltimore that will include a large restaurant overlooking Clark Park.

The planned glass and brick building at 4224 Baltimore Ave., which has been two years in the making and has included a half-dozen community meetings, will include 132 units, a mix of upscale rental apartments aimed at young professionals and condo units for sale. It also includes 65 underground parking spaces and 50 indoor bike parking spaces.

The Spruce Hill Community Association zoning committee, the Friends of Clark Park and the University City Historical Society all approved the plan, but the Zoning Board of Adjustment, the city governmental body that reviews zoning variances, narrowly approved the project 3-2, according to Plan Philly. Opponents argued that the proposed building, which required a zoning change to include a five-story wing, would be out of character with the rest of the block.  Continue Reading

The first Open House for the 30th Street Station District Plan Open House took place on January 2 and was well attended. (Photo from phillydistrict30.com)

On Wednesday, June 17, there will be another opportunity to learn more about the 30th Street Station District Plan, a joint planning project for the area surrounding 30th Street Station. The second open house for the project will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at the station’s Amtrak building (30th St entrance).

Nearly 300 people attended the first open house on January 28 and participated in a survey. This Wednesday, open house attendees can see results of the survey (click here for the summary).

There will also be opportunities to:

• Meet the project team
• Gain a better understanding of the plan
• View early design ideas and provide input
• Learn what’s next for the plan

The 30th Street Station District Plan is a joint effort by Amtrak, Drexel University, SEPTA, Brandywine Realty trust, and other public and private stakeholders. More information about the project is available at: www.phillydistrict30.com.

UPDATE (11:20 a.m.): An 18-year-old woman was robbed at gunpoint and pistol-whipped early Tuesday morning near 44th and Baltimore, according to police and reader reports. The robbery took place around 2:15 a.m. This report came from one of our readers, a close friend of the victim:

“…A friend of ours… was robbed at gun point around 2 a.m. this morning at 44th and [Baltimore]. She was with a female friend in Clark Park after having finished a shift at a local restaurant when two males approached her and demanded her bag. She resisted and one of the males “pistol whipped” her across her left arm, forcefully taking the bag. She chased the male who took her bag north on 44th st. [to 44th and Larchwood], screaming as she went, which woke my wife and I from our sleep. After the male got into a silver vehicle she came to our door, understandably upset and asking for help. We called local police who appeared to have already been notified by someone else in the community and they eventually took her to the station at 55th and Pine to make a statement to detectives.”

Police said that the male with the gun struck the victim about five times on her left arm during the struggle for her bag. The victim sustained lumps and bruises to the arm and was taken to the hospital for treatment, according to police.

Here’s the map of robbery reports in West Philly for the past two weeks (June 2-16, 2015). Note: the robbery described in this post is not included in the map.

Source: Crimereports.com

This pooch was found today on Springfield Ave between 47th and 48th.

If you have any information about this dog please leave a comment or contact @BU_niverse.

Photo courtesy of Penn Museum.

Penn Museum is bringing back its popular summer concert series this week. P.M. at Penn Museum concerts will kick off in the outdoor Stoner Courtyard on Wednesday, June 17, with a performance by Harrisburg Mandolin Ensemble. Penn Museum’s summer night concerts, which are held every Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. through early September, offer a great opportunity to relax after a long workday in the museum’s green space and enjoy live music from around the globe.

In addition to the concerts, guests can enjoy non-alcoholic beverages and regionally themed light fare available for purchase at the Pepper Mill Café. Tickets are $10 and include museum admission (free for children under 6). Concerts are held indoors during inclement weather. Here’s the line-up for this month, from the Penn Museum’s website:

June 17

Harrisburg Mandolin Ensemble
This Pennsylvania-based group returns to kick off the summer series. Inspired by the early 20th-century tradition of the community mandolin concert, the group lays down original tunes and arrangements, as well as selections of jazz, swing, bluegrass, old-time, folk, and world music.

June 24

Xande Cruz
With a sound as rich and diverse as his native São Paulo, Xande Cruz adeptly blends urban and traditional, colors and sounds, together in a soulful way like none other. His music defies genres by combining Afro-Brazilian rhythms with samples, funk guitars, bass, drums, horns, and vocals.