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A relatively high number of crimes has been reported in the University City District area last month. In March, 33 crimes serious crimes, including gunpoint robberies, residential burglaries, aggravated assaults with a gun, stolen cars and thefts from cars, were committed within the UCD boundaries and reported to the police, according to the latest UCD Crime Update. Twelve arrests were made in connection to those crimes, according to the report.

The UCD Public Safety Division alerts residents to a high number of robberies in March (they say that this trend has continued in April), particularly near the Market-Frankford Line and several trolley stops (see map below).  Continue Reading

After news broke out earlier this week that Penn Book Center, the independent bookstore operating on Penn’s campus since 1962, is going out of business and closing next month, the owners – Ashley Montague and Michael Row – received a lot of messages of support from community members. The University of Pennsylvania’s English Department has also launched a petition on Change.org urging the University of Pennsylvania to “save” the store by possibly offering discounts for textbooks purchased there, much the way Princeton supports its independent bookstore.

“This closure would mean an immeasurable loss to Penn’s intellectual community and to that of the surrounding University City neighborhood,” the petition reads. “We believe that of all universities, Penn, with its strengths in business innovation, is capable of finding a solution to this problem.”  Continue Reading

A computer rendering of the redesigned main entrance hall at the Penn Museum, where the famous 3,000 year-old Sphinx will rest (from the Penn Museum website).

How does one move a 25,000-pound Sphinx up a couple flights of stairs? Very carefully, we presume. That’s what folks at the Penn Museum are mulling over right now as they plan to move the Museum’s best-known artifact, a 3,000-year-old, red granite Sphinx, into its redesigned main entrance hall.

“The Sphinx has long been our mascot and this puts it front and center, as the anchor of our new visitor experience,” said Julian Siggers, the Museum’s Williams Director.

Moving day is scheduled for June 13th and the new location will be unveiled in the fall.  Continue Reading

Penn Book Center, one of Philadelphia’s oldest independent bookstores, will close its doors next month. The reason for closing is not surprising: the business has been experiencing losses due to online sales giants, like Amazon, selling textbooks at cut-rate prices.

Penn Book Center was founded in 1962, and current owners – Ashley Montague and Michael Row – purchased the business in 2005. Located on Penn’s campus at 130 S. 34th St., the store carried many books that appealed to students, professors and scholars.  Continue Reading

The two-story restaurant space on the southwest corner of 40th and Walnut, where Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar used to be located, is finally getting a new tenant. Panera Bread is coming soon to the space, according to a sign posted outside. The space, which also includes an outdoor seating area, is currently undergoing renovation.

Harvest Seasonal closed its doors in early 2017 and until now the space remained vacant. The University of Pennsylvania owns the building and had been looking for “a tenant that will appeal to both the University and surrounding community,” according to an earlier report.

There is no official opening date for Panera Bread yet, but it is expected to be this Spring.

UPDATE: Online registration for the annual St. Mary’s Nursery School Fundraiser “Spring For Our School” closes on Tuesday, April 9 at midnight. Discounted tickets ($45) include drinks and food, music and dancing.

Do you want to support children in your community and have a great night out? Please consider attending the Spring For Our School Silent Auction & Party on Saturday, April 13, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the University of Pennsylvania Houston Hall – Bodek Lounge (3417 Spruce St.)

Who is Saint Mary’s Nursery School? SMNS is a diverse, non-profit, non-church affiliated school celebrating 55 years in West Philadelphia, home to 140 children and many active family members who participate in our co-op program. We offer toddler, preschool, Pre-K, After School and Summer Camp programs.

Honoring Representative James R. Roebuck: Rep. James R. Roebuck will be awarded the Jennifer Nix Award for Service in Early Childhood Education for his support of Early Childhood Education (ECE) over the course of his career. Rep. Roebuck is currently Minority Chair of the House Education Committee, and has served on this committee since the early 1990’s, championing education issues from Early Childhood through Pre-K and Higher Education. Rep. Roebuck shares, “It’s only in the past 10-15 years [that] the conversation has evolved and we have talked about programs in the state which would allocate substantial resources into ECE – and I’m proud I’ve been part of that effort.”  Continue Reading