City officials and community members gathered Friday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the $4.5 million revitalization of the West Mill Creek playground and plaza located at 5100 Parrish St.. Completed in just six months, the community-driven project transforms a historically neglected space into a safer, greener public hub just in time for summer.

Funded primarily through the City’s Rebuild initiative (supported by the Philadelphia Beverage Tax), the project also received a $600,000 state grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Local Share Account program and a $500,000 contribution from 3rd District Councilmember Jamie Gauthier. Continue Reading

Outdoor summer jazz is officially back in West Philly! The annual Cedar Park Jazz series returns this Friday, June 5, bringing live music, community vibes, and great energy to 49th and Baltimore.

Starting this week and running through the end of July, nine incredible local bands will take the stage every Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (weather permitting).

This is a free, family-friendly event open to everyone. Grab your lawn chairs, pack a cooler with water and snacks, and don’t forget your dancing shoes!

2026 Weekly Performance Schedule:

June 5: PM Revue
June 12: Karen Smith Experience
June 19: MJE Marston Jazz Experience
June 26: Garfield Fleming & Friends
July 3: Bobby Zankel’s Wonderful Sound Six
July 10: The Jazz Crew Big Band
July 17: Bert Harris and the AfroJazz Collective
July 24: Tia & The Connection
July 31: Fyrestorm

The event is organized by Cedar Park Neighbors with the help from neighborhood businesses and organizations. This year’s sponsors are Penn Live Arts, PFCU, Mariposa, VIX, Hellcat Studio, Carbon Copy, and Cleo’s Bagels. If you’d like to support Cedar Park Jazz, please go here.

The Jazz Heritage Series is also back! Performances take place at Malcolm X Park (51st and Pine) every other Thursday, 7-9 p.m. This Thursday (June 4), stop by the park to enjoy a performance by Kenny Davis.

West Philadelphia’s favorite neighborhood tradition is officially back. The Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll returns on Thursday, June 4, bringing thousands of neighbors, visitors, and food lovers out to explore Baltimore Avenue between 40th and 51st Streets.

From 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., local businesses and community vendors will be serving up an incredible lineup of $1, $3, and $5 deals on delicious food, cold drinks, and unique merchandise. Whether you are hunting for cheap eats, looking to support local makers, or just want to enjoy a beautiful evening stroll, there is something for everyone.

To help you plan your evening, here is a preview of the main hubs and activities you will find along the Stroll route:

Continue Reading

The Woodlands is inviting neighbors, history buffs, and nature lovers to its historic grounds for its annual benefit on Thursday, June 11.

The evening serves as the largest fundraiser of the year for the 54-acre historic landmark. Funds raised during the event directly support the ongoing preservation of its sprawling canopy, historic 18th-century mansion, and diverse community programming—from the popular nature tours to community partnership events.

Continue Reading

West Philly Porchfest 2026 performance map screenshot (from Westphillyporchfest.com)

Get ready for a neighborhood-wide block party! West Philly Porchfest is returning for a major milestone this weekend, celebrating its 10th annual edition on Saturday, May 30, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The completely free, do-it-yourself music festival is set to transform the neighborhood into a massive outdoor concert venue, featuring more than 400 free performances across over 190 resident-hosted porches, lawns, and sidewalks. Continue Reading

Dust off your picnic blankets and lawn chairs: cinéSPEAK’s Under the Stars Film Festival is returning to the bowl at Clark Park for its 2026 season.

Transforming the historic neighborhood green space into an open-air cinema, the annual four-week festival will run every Friday night from May 29 through June 19. Each event features a combination of award-winning independent cinema, live musical sets, local food trucks, and connections to neighborhood advocacy groups.

This year’s festival centers around the poignant theme of “community resilience,” curating a lineup that honors how individuals and collectives organize, protect one another, and build solidarity across global and hyper-local movements.

Continue Reading