“Hotels” for wild bees created by artist Thomas Gartside.

Philadelphia artist Thomas Gartside has created a set of “hotels” for wild bees – temporary lodgings that can provide shelter for bees threatened by population loss across the region. These works – part art sculpture, part garden-ready functional habitat – will be on exhibit at the Art on the Avenue Gallery in West Philadelphia, and be silent-auctioned over the run of the exhibit.

The exhibit, Inhabit: three variations on domesticity, kicks off this Thursday, Sept. 2 at 5 p.m. at the gallery located at 3808 Lancaster Ave. It will feature 16 unique “bee hotel” art pieces by Gartside that will be auctioned off. The proceeds of the auction will support PennEnvironment’s work to fight bee die-offs through tackling bee-killing pesticides, habitat loss and climate change. Continue Reading

New Powel/SLAMS school building (photo from RogersArchitects.com)

A new public school building opened this morning in the Powelton Village neighborhood, as the 2021-2022 academic year begins and students return to full-time in-person learning for the first time since March 2020.

The new building, located at 3610 Warren St., houses the Samuel Powel Elementary School and the Science Leadership Academy Middle School (SLAMS). The 87,000-square-foot, two-story building is a joint project by Drexel University and developer Wexford Science and Technology.

To celebrate the opening of the new school building and the start of the new school year, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and School District Superintendent William R. Hite stopped by the school this morning. They greeted students and families and participated in the Opening Bell ceremony. Continue Reading

Summer Rock at The Green Tambourine.

The Green Tambourine is reopening soon for in-person learning!

Programs:

Beginning September 7th, the 9-year-old music studio located at 711 S. 50th St., will be offering in-person individual lessons for all ages, as well as group beginner instrumental classes for 2-4 kids and ensembles (vocal groups & rock bands). Go here for more info and to register.

Teachers:

• Julia is a vocalist and pianist with focus on classical and musical theater.

• Justin is a guitar player and classroom music educator who also plays bass, piano and ukulele. He loves funk, jazz and pop music.

• Evelyn is a pianist focusing on classical music. Continue Reading

The family and friends of Haroon Sharifi, a West Philly resident with Afghan roots, who was stuck in Afghanistan for days after the Taliban takeover of the country, can now breathe a sigh of relief. Haroon arrived back in the United States on August 24th and has made his way back home to West Philly, according to information provided by his West Philly friends. But it took a joint effort by Haroon’s wife, Awista Hashimi (she had stayed in Philadelphia with their five children), and his West Philly friends and neighbors to bring him back home.

Earlier this month Haroon, a permanent resident who along with his wife and children was granted asylum in the U.S. five years ago, made an emergency trip to Kabul to help his family secure medical care for his seriously ill mother. His return flight was scheduled to take place last Monday, the day the airport closed to commercial flights after the Taliban takeover. Continue Reading

Throughout this month, SEPTA crews have been working on the Southwest Connection Improvement Program, rebuilding the main infrastructure on the Media/Elwyn Line between 30th Street Station and the Arsenal Interlocking, which is below Penn Medicine Station (former University City Station).

The work, which takes place every weekend, began on August 7th and is expected to be completed this Sunday, Aug. 29.

This Saturday and Sunday, there will be some SEPTA service changes to facilitate the construction: Continue Reading

After more than a year of virtual learning caused by the pandemic, University of Pennsylvania students are moving back to campus this week to resume in-person learning. Partial closures of Spruce Street to accommodate students’ move-in began on Monday and will continue through Sunday, with the exception of Thursday when the street will remain open to traffic.

From Friday, Aug. 27 through Sunday, Aug. 29, Spruce Street will be closed between 38​th​ to 40th​ from 7:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Just a reminder that no vehicular traffic, including bicycles, is permitted on the closed section of the street. If you’re a bicyclist you will have to get off your bike and walk. Buses will be on detour (please check SEPTA for more info).

Penn Police will be on site during the closures assisting with traffic flow and delays should be expected.