UPDATED 7/12/13 at 9:52 A.M. Many readers have contacted us here at West Philly Local wondering about updates on some of their favorite chew spots in the neighborhood. Well, we’ve asked around and got the scoop (plus more) on what’s going on in the hood’s restaurant and booze scene. Here are some highlights:

• Dorinda Hampton of Planet Vegan told West Philly Local Friday morning that she is ready to build out her sit-down vegan juice bar at 310 S. 48th Street as soon as she secures her permits. She is aiming for a late August opening.
• Zagat’s Danya Henninger reported Thursday afternoon that Thai Singha House at 3939 Chestnut Street is closed for the summer, as the Thai spot is moving a block down to a new location at 3900 Chestnut Street. A note on the website says Thai Singha plans to open sometime in around September.
  
• Everyone’s beloved local diner, Cedar Park Café, will open its original location at 4912 Baltimore Avenue come mid-August (if not then, by September 1^st, owner Nicole Lee told West Philly Local). The breakfast and lunch joint, which opened in 2011, relocated to 2035 North 63rd Street in Overbrook (pictured right) after its flagship spot was heavily damaged during the questionable demolition job following the Christmas Eve fire that engulfed—and destroyed—another local favorite, Elena’s Soul, in the adjacent building. But don’t expect the same Cedar Park on the 4900 block of Baltimore—as far as we can tell, the diner is receiving a bit of a facelift, with a new bright red and white awning, dark tiled façade, and a richer neutral-colored interior accented by what looks like faux-brick wainscoting.
• As for Elena’s Soul, West Philly Local got in touch with owner Algernong Allen this week, who told us by email that there is no update on the future of the popular restaurant and bar as he’s still “sorting the situation out with the insurance company in litigation.” We were also unable to contact the owners of Gary’s Nails, so no word on what’s happening there.
• West Philly Local also learned that Taco Angeleno will have to delay its opening. According to owner Vanessa Jerolmack, the anticipated taco truck/outdoor eatery, which we profiled in May, may not open until late summer or possibly next spring, depending, due to bureaucratic red tape. The Los Angeles native has a zoning hearing for Taco Angeleno, located at 5019 Baltimore Avenue, scheduled in early August.
• Speaking of opening delays, Rx The Farmacy—a rebirth of the original Rx restaurant at 4443 Spruce Street—is also pushing back its launch until August 1st from mid-July because of snags in inspection and issues with kitchen equipment among other things, said owners and chefs Ross Scofield and Danielle Coulter.

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1980’s disco musical Xanadu will open the outdoor movie series at International House Philadelphia this Friday.

It’s great to be a movie fan in West Philly this summer, especially an outdoor movie fan, as various locations in the area are hosting outdoor film series. And now International House Philadelphia (IHP), 3701 Chestnut St, is joining the list. Beginning Friday, July 12, the Totally Terrible 80s! film series kicks off, bringing the best and worst of the 1980s American films to the IHP patio. Films will be screened on selected Fridays rain or shine (in case of bad weather movies will be shown indoors in IHP’s Ibrahim Theater).

This Friday, Xanadu, a disco musical starring Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, will open the series. The opening party begins at 7 p.m. and features DJs, drinks, and dancing at Nineteen Eighty-Disco. The movie will start at sundown.

All screenings are free and don’t forget to bring your chairs and blankets. For more info on the series, visit www.ihousephilly.org and also check out our Events Calendar for information on upcoming screenings.

Until next Monday, July 15, local nonprofit organizations with a strong community-centric focus are encouraged to apply for a $10,000 grant provided by West Philly-based Vineyard Community Church (VCC). Last year VCC developed “Building It Together,” a capital campaign to renovate a building at 123 S. 51st Street into a worship space and community center. Ten percent of the proceeds was set aside to fund a new capital grant program. The purpose of the grant program is to “support new capital-intensive, community-centric philanthropic endeavors in Philadelphia and around the world.”

To be eligible for the grant, your organization doesn’t have to be faith-based and doesn’t have to be located in West Philadelphia, but organizations that meet either of these criteria will receive preference for funding. Funding is to be used for capital projects only, and is not eligible for operating and maintenance activities. Eligible activities include labor for construction, purchase of equipment, materials, and supplies.

For more information on eligibility, evaluation criteria and how to apply, please visit: http://www.vineyardwestphilly.org/serve/bit-capital-grant/. Deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on July 15, 2013. All applications should be emailed to: erik.johanson@gmail.com.

John B. Kelly Pool in Fairmount Park/Photo via John B. Kelly Pool’s Facebook page.

As the summer is in full force, here’s information on where in West Philly and vicinity you can find a free outdoor pool or sprayground to cool off. If you know of any other pools/spraygrounds not included in the list please let us know at editor@westphillylocal.com or in the comments below.

Pools

Pool Hours: Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m.

Baker Recreation Facility (Map)
5431-43 Lansdowne Ave.
Phone: 215-685-0261

Cobbs Creek Recreation Facility (Map)
280 Cobbs Creek Parkway
Phone: 215-685-1983

John B. Kelly Pool (Facebook page)
4231 North Concourse Drive (Fairmount Park, by Please Touch Museum)
Phone: 215-685-0174

Kingsessing Recreation Center (Map)
4901 Kingsessing Avenue
Phone: 215-685-2694

Lee Cultural Center Recreation Facility (Map)
4328 Haverford Avenue
Phone: 215-685-7655

Mill Creek Recreation Facility (Map)
743-81 N. 48th Street
Phone: 215-685-0260

Myers Recreation Center (Map)
5800 Chester Avenue
Phone: 215-685-2698

O’Connor Pool (Website, Map)
2601 South Street
Phone: 215-685-6593

Sayre Morris Recreation Center (Map)
5835 Spruce Street
Phone: 215-685-1993

Shepard Recreation Facility (Map)
5700 Haverford Avenue
Phone: 215-685-1992

Tustin Recreation Facility (Map)
5901-29 W. Columbia Avenue
Phone: 215-685-0258

39th & Olive Playground – Mantua (Map)
39th & Olive Streets

Spraygrounds

48th & Woodland Playground (Map)
1414 S 47th Street
Phone: 215-685-2692
Hours: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Mon-Sat, closed on Sunday.

Click to enlarge.

Clark Park Summer Film Series is back again this summer, bringing free outdoor movies to the area on Friday nights. This Friday, “The Inconvenient Truth Behind ‘Waiting for Superman‘” is playing at 8 p.m. The film counters the position taken by the Davis Guggenheim 2010 documentary “Waiting for ‘Superman’.”

Everyone is welcome to watch the film at the park (45th & Regent) and discuss it afterwards. And don’t forget to bring your blankets, chairs and snacks.

Clark Park Film Series is co-sponsored by Philadelphia International Action Center (Facebook page). For more information on tonight’s showing, visit the event’s Facebook page.

Editor’s Note: The previous version if this post incorrectly announced Davis Guggenheim’s film “Waiting for ‘Superman'” screening tonight.

Photo: Annamarya Scaccia/West Philly Local

Already home to Philadanco and PhilaFunkLive, the seemingly quiet stretch of N. Preston Street between Market and Filbert Streets is buzzing with even more activity now that Inewsent Studios has claimed space in the historic Bell Telephone Exchange, which once served as a telecommunications enterprise in the early 1900s.

Opened in April, Inewsent, located on the second floor of the 113-year-old Georgian Revival building at 8 N. Preston Street, is a 12,000 square-foot independent multimedia complex meant to support independent journalists and artists living and creating in the city. It’s actually an extension of PhilaFunkLive (PFL), a sweeping 3,000 square-foot live performance hall and screening space in the Exchange that was founded by Powelton Village resident and real estate developer Michael Davis in 2007.

In addition to PFL, which hosts 12 – 15 bands a week, Inewsent houses two offices, three audio production studios, two additional 1,000 square-foot performance spaces in the basement, a 25-person call center, WINR Radio, WPFLTV, Cup O Soul Philly (a coffee shop only open during PFL events), and Inewsent Gallery, a permanent art space curated by Stephanie Santos and Lindsay Gilbert. In the future, Davis plans to also run an independent national news station out of Inewsent and is currently looking for a national news anchor and independent journalist in Philadelphia and 49 other cities across the country, from Alaska to Florida.

“Inewsent Studios provides performance spaces where independent artists can be seen and heard and also provides a productive, creative and collaborative environment,” said 52-year-old Davis, a former Army Military Police officer and Judge Advocate General who also runs his medical malpractice and criminal defense law practice out of the Exchange’s first floor. “I wanted to find the ‘best use’, do something fun and support independent artists, which is my passion.”

–Annamarya Scaccia