(Foodinjars.com)

There will be a couple of great and FREE events today in the area.

• Food in Jars founder and canning expert Marisa McClellan presents a pickling workshop at Walnut Street West Library (40th and Walnut) beginning at 5:30 p.m. Other free events scheduled at Walnut St West Library this month include: May 13, 20 & 27 – Yoga For Kids!; May 16 – Plant Workshop; May 22 & 29 – Vinyasa Yoga for Adults. For more events (through July 14, 2015) and to RSVP, click here.

• Curio Theatre Company and Philadelphia Dramatists Center (PDC) have partnered for the second year in a row to produce the PDC@Curio Plays In Progress. PDC and Curio will bring two plays to life in professional staged readings, featuring actors from Curio’s professional company and directors from Philadlephia’s vibrant theatre scene. The first reading, Robin Rodriguez’s Flotsam, will be presented tonight, at 7:30 p.m., at Curio (4740 Baltimore Avenue). Flotsam is an eerie drama about a brother, a sister, and a storage unit. It will be directed by Jessica Schwartz (MAD BLOOD & other beauties, Fringe 2014; Modern Playground, Fringe 2013). Admission is free, and light refreshments will be provided. For more details about both readings, visit Curio Theatre’s website.

The little building at 4610 Cedar is coming down. (Photo by West Philly Local)

The small building that sits on the west side of the triangular parking lot at 4610 Cedar Ave. (near Baltimore) is finally coming down and it looks like a three-story building will take its place.

Fencing has been erected around the building, which most recently was a temporary branch of the Philadelphia Federal Credit Union, and the work should be completed by the end of the month, according to signs. A permit issued in November 2013 allows for the demolition of the current structure and the construction of a three-story building. The property is zoned for commercial and residential uses and is owned by the Bay Lay Song Family Trust, which is headed by members of the Lai family (who own the Vietnam Café at 816 S. 47th St., among other properties).

The building has been many things over the years (A West Coast Video, cheesesteak place, dollar store, gas station) and two businesses – Domino’s Pizza and Philly Flavors ice cream –  expressed interest in the property over the last couple of years. Both plans fell through.

This youngster found a friend Saturday at the Spruce Hill Community Association‘s May Fair in Clark Park. The petting zoo, which included a llama (maybe an alpaca), a large selection of goats and some peculiar poultry-like creatures, was a big hit.

The Philadelphia SPCA is now offering monthly low-cost veterinary clinics at Drexel University’s Dornsife Center (3509 Spring Garden). The first clinic is on Monday, May 11, from 2 – 6 p.m. See the flier below for more information.

Rendering of The Porch 2.0 (courtesy of UCD).

The Porch, the public space by the 30th Street Station, will soon get some new features and upgrades, including new landscaping design, custom-made swings, and a permanent food and beverage concept, University City District (UCD) announced this week. Rendering for The Porch 2.0 has also been released and suggests that the space, which replaced a large 30th St Station parking lot in 2011, will become greener.

UCD is collaborating with urban landscaping firm Groundswell Design Group on space redesign. The new design features include a series of tiered wooden platforms, intermingled with planters and vine canopies that “offer a variety of comfortable and intimate spaces for people to sit and enjoy each other’s company, savor the food and drink, or simply lounge and linger.”

San Francisco-based Gehl Studio will create several custom-made, brightly-painted wooden swings designed exclusively for the Porch. The swings are expected to add to user enjoyment of the space.

Finally, chef-restaurateur Michael Schulson has been invited to develop a permanent food and beverage concept for The Porch, which includes a parked food truck with a specifically designed and newly installed rotisserie. Rotisserie at The Porch will serve lunch seven days a week, and there will be a beverage trailer that will offer beer and liquor options Wednesdays-Saturdays from 4-9 p.m. By the way, revenue from the Rotisserie will benefit UCD’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI) program.

The new features are expected to be unveiled this spring.

A lot of cool events are happening in the area this weekend, including Second Fridays on Lancaster Avenue, Spruce Hill May Fair, Bartram’s Garden Spring Plant Sale & Mother’s Day festivities, UC Arts League’s Benefit Auction & Cocktail Party and more. Also, a reminder that the opening night for Curio Theatre’s farcical comedy Noises Off is this Friday. More details are below. For more upcoming events, please visit our Events Calendar. Happy Mother’s Day to all West Philly moms!

Friday, May 8

Carr Garden Groundbreaking Ceremony at Bartram’s Garden, 54th and Lindbergh

The groundbreaking for the Carr Garden restoration starts at 3:30 p.m. This free event marks the beginning of an exciting landscape renovation project on the western façade of the John Bartram House, recreating the Ann Bartram Carr and her husband Robert’s exotic plantings of the early 19th-century. Registration for the event is here.

“Arts in the Park” at Malcolm X. Memorial Park, 52nd and Pine

4 – 5:30 p.m.: Make Art Now!: Help create a community painting and sidewalk chalk art
5:30 – 7 p.m.: Performances by West Philadelphia middle and high school students (music, dance, spoken word, monologues)

Second Fridays on Lancaster Ave

Second Fridays kicks off at 5 p.m. with Live Music at the triangle lot at 42nd and Lancaster, featuring Toni Washington and PECCDC Brochure Release Party. Other events this Friday include: Neighborhood Time Exchange Open House (6-8 p.m., 4017 Lancaster Ave), Inner Journey Jazz at the CEC ($15) (7-9 p.m., 3500 Lancaster Ave); Open Mic Night at Reed’s Coffee (7 p.m. to whenever, 3802 Lancaster Ave), Free Screening of “Annie” (2014) (6:30 p.m., PEC, 325 N. 39th St); Reelblack Inc. presents “Closed Doors; The Integration of Baseball” ($5) (7 p.m., United Bank building, 3750 Lancaster Ave); Art on the Avenue presents “Full Circle: The East African Connection” – Paintings by Kenyan Artists and Emil Baumann (5:30 – 9 p.m., 3808 Lancaster Ave); Indego Bike Share Learning Session (6 – 8 p.m., 3750 Lancaster Ave, in the parking lot of the United Bank Building). More information is available on the Second Fridays on Lancaster Ave Facebook page.

“Noises Off” Opening Night at Curio Theatre, 48th and Baltimore

Curio Theatre Company wants folks to dress up in the 80’s style for the opening night of their new show, farcical comedy “Noises Off.” And those who do have a chance to win two passes for next season. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets ($15-$25) are available here.

Saturday, May 9

Spruce Hill May Fair at Clark Park, 43rd and Chester

The annual Spruce Hill May Fair will be held for the 57th time with some new activities added for children this year. This Saturday kids can enjoy pony rides and a petting zoo (both 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.) in addition to the bounce tent and 40-foot-long obstacle course. The fair, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. rain or shine, will also include a raffle with great prizes from neighborhood businesses (read more about them here), music performances, book and plant sales, and dozens of local vendors and food trucks. Please visit the Spruce Hill Community Association’s website for more information. If you would like to volunteer at the event please email Craig Santoro at craigsantoro@gmail.com

Spring Plant Sale at Bartram’s Garden

Bartram’s Garden Spring Plant will take place on Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Expert horticulturists will be on hand on both days for consultations and advice. The following events are scheduled for Saturday: Garden Bird Walk (7:30 a.m.) and Hidden History & Garden Tours (12 – 3 p.m.). Tickets are available at the Welcome Center. Click here for more information.  Continue Reading