This month, we’ll be publishing information about Halloween-themed events happening in the area. Here’s a roundup for the upcoming events at The Woodlands Cemetery and Mansion (40th and Woodland). Many of them are for the whole family. Please note that the first two events, dedicated to works of Edgar Allan Poe, will take place today (Tuesday, Oct 14).

Tuesday, Oct 14

Edgar Allan Poe: Funny Bones (kids are welcome)

4:30-6:30 p.m.

The Woodlands is a perfect setting for something mysterious and macabre, like a performance based on Edgar Allan Poe’s works. Literary historian and playwright Rob Velella, who specializes in 19th century American literature, will demonstrate some of Poe’s most loved stories. This event is especially great for kids. For more info and to buy tickets ($15 adults, $10 kids), click here.

Edgar Allan Poe: Master of the Macabre

7:30-9:30 p.m.

Velella, will continue his demonstration of some of Poe’s works, in this after-dark performance. After his performance, Velella will take you on a nighttime cemetery walk to visit Poe’s contemporary, Timothy Shay Arthur, at his eternal resting spot. This event is more suitable for adults and children ages 10+. For more info and tickets ($20), click here.  Continue Reading

Today, all public schools were closed for Columbus Day, so here’s breakfast and lunch menu for this Tuesday-Friday (Oct 14-17). If your school uses a Satellite menu, click here. Come back on Sunday evening for next week’s menu.

BREAKFAST (K-12)

A variety of three cereals is offered daily and served with a yogurt parfait or a mini loaf.

Tuesday

Breakfast Burrito
Cinni Mini Swirls
Choose 1: Peach Cup or Fresh Apple
Variety of Milk

Wednesday

Sausage, Egg & Cheese on Bagel
Appleways Bar
Choose 1: Orange Juice or Fresh Banana
Variety of Milk  Continue Reading

International House Philadelphia (IHP), which has been serving scholars and the Philadelphia community for more than 100 years, is holding a couple of special events this month.

IHP’s Open House will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 3 – 7 p.m. Community members are invited to tour the House, including its residential facilities, conference center and theater, and learn more about the services and programming offered there. You can also meet staff and some of the current residents from all over the world. You can explore IHP’s history by attending a historical exhibit on Tuesday. Last but no least, learn more about language courses offered at IHP, meet the teachers, and even sign up for some classes. Admission is free, but if you’re planning to attend this event, please RSVP. You can read more about the Open House and RSVP here.

On Friday, Oct. 31, IHP is throwing a Night of the Philly Dead: Brews and Brains party. It is a new, annual event and IHP staff hope that you will join them at their inaugural celebration of the undead’s favorite day of the year. There will be a zombie themed dance-party paying homage to the cult-classic movies, scary-good catering provided by TV Chef Barbie Marshall, craft beer, and themed cocktails, all included in your cost of admission ($50). Costumes are encouraged and there will be a competition. 9 p.m. – 2 a.m. For more information and tickets, go to this page.

There will be many more fantastic events this Fall at IHP, including some great film screenings, exhibits, and cultural events. For more info, click here.

The City is off for Columbus Day today, which means administrative offices and courts are closed. Public schools and libraries are also closed. Post offices are closed, too, and there will be no mail delivery. Some banks are closed, too.

There will be no trash and recycling collection today. Monday collections will be picked up on Tuesday and collections for the remainder of the week will be delayed one day.

SEPTA will operate on a regular weekday schedule today.

Good news for local late-night public transportation users. SEPTA is extending again its pilot “Night Owl” weekend subway service on the Market-Frankford and Broad Street lines, this time indefinitely. The service was introduced in June, prompted by the changing city, and initially it was planned to try it until Labor Day and evaluate it. Then it was extended until November and now SEPTA says that the service is so popular that it’s staying for an indefinite time.

Here’s some stats from SEPTA regarding the popularity of this service:

– An average of 15,000 riders each weekend have boarded trains between midnight and 5:00 a.m. since June 15. That’s 6,000 riders more than those who previously used overnight bus service.

– Weekend overnight train service has been most popular during holiday weekends (24,430 riders on July 4; 17,192 passengers over Labor Day weekend).

According to SEPTA, passenger safety was also evaluated during the pilot. Issues have been minimal, due to an increased police presence on overnight trains.

There’s a great opportunity this weekend to learn more about artists living and working in the area. The 15th annual guided and self-guided Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST) west of Broad St, including West Philly, of course, are happening on Saturday and Sunday (Oct 11-12). So don’t be shy and stop by to say hello and maybe stay for some special events and presentations. There are a number of individual artists and group artist spaces involved in the Studio Tours here in West Philly neighborhoods. Here’s what a neighbor and artist, Marabelle Hincher, wrote us:

The Anatomy of Peace. Marabelle Hincher.

“I hope a lot of people will take the tour; there’s a lot of great talent in West Philly and many art studios worth visiting.”

Marabelle is opening her studio at 5023 Catharine St. this weekend to present a fantasy collage, “Strange Anatomy,” which is a 33 image mashup of antique anatomical art combined with botanical and zoological elements (science lovers should also appreciate it!).

Here’s a list of other participating studios and artists:

UPDATE: There will be an Open House at The Cedar Works at 4919 Pentridge St on Sat & Sun Noon-6 p.m.

The Rotunda
4014 Walnut Street
Presenting Sanctuary, a site-specific sound art and video installation and series of performances. Oct 11 & Oct 12, Noon-10 p.m.

Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania
118 South 36th Street

40th Street Artist-in-Residence Program
4007 Chestnut St., 1st floor and 4013 Chestnut St.

Johanna Inman
40th Street Artist-in-Residence Program
4007 Chestnut Street, 1st floor and 4012 Chestnut St.

Tremain Smith
Tremain Smith Studio
520 South 59th Street

Jacques-Jean Tiziou
4919 Pentridge Street The Cedar Works, Sat&Sun Noon-6 p.m.

Heather Ujiie
University City Artist League
4226 Spruce Street

University City Arts League
4226 Spruce Street

Lorna Williams
40th Street AIR Space
4007 Chestnut St.

More information is available on the POST website.