Made West, the West Philly hub of Made Institute, is relaunching under a new name and offering updated classes and curriculum in a revamped space at 4719 Pine Street.

Community members are invited on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 6 – 9 p.m., to celebrate the relaunch of West Workshop. There will be live music, drinks and sewing class giveaways. This is a great opportunity to network with West Workshop’s community of local creatives, teachers, students, artists and designers.

West Workshop is the sister studio of Made Institute, Philadelphia’s independent fashion design school with over a decade of experience. It creates accessible and inclusive sewing classes and workshops. With a deep appreciation for West Philly, the director, Thomas Rowe of Chrysalis Clothing, has been creating garments for local West Philly craft shows and fairs selling upcycled clothing and connecting with the local community since 2022.

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On Sunday, Aug. 3, the Black Bottom community will host a day of remembrance, celebration, and neighborhood activation to mark the 60th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic 1965 visit to the neighborhood. Themed “Honoring Rev. Dr. King’s Legacy in the Black Bottom—60 Years Later,” the event will center on community engagement, cultural storytelling, and the preservation of neighborhood history.

Planned in partnership with community leaders, institutions, area businesses, and grassroots organizations, this commemorative event will take place at 40th and Haverford and surrounding areas in the Black Bottom. A rich lineup of programming between 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. will include live performances, spoken word, storytelling, wellness services, free classes, food trucks, and a historical guide along Dr. King’s 1965 route through the neighborhood.

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Remote Area Medical (RAM), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, high-quality healthcare services to those who face barriers to care, is coming to West Philadelphia to provide a comprehensive dental, vision, and medical clinic at School of the Future located at 4021 Parkside Ave on August 16-17. The clinic will provide medical care to those who might otherwise go without these essential services.

By bringing healthcare directly to those in need, RAM’s free clinics remove the barriers of cost and distance that often prevent people from seeking care. RAM Clinics offer free healthcare services that include general medical exams, women’s health exams, dental cleanings, extractions, eye exams, and prescription glasses made on-site.

No insurance or ID are required; this upcoming clinic in Philadelphia is open to anyone in need. RAM encourages anyone who could benefit from these services to attend and receive the care they deserve.

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It’s hard to believe it but Movies in Clark Park, one of the most popular summer neighborhood events, is turning 10 this year. The event debuted in 2015 and since then has welcomed thousands of neighbors who enjoyed free screenings of family favorites, cult classics, and blockbuster hits under the stars at Clark Park’s “Bowl”.

The event is returning this Friday, Aug. 1 with a special 10th anniversary program featuring popular movies released in 1985, 1995, 2005. and 2015. The event kicks off with a screening of The Goonies (1985). Here’s the full program:

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The Skills Initiative, the career development program of University City District, is now recruiting participants for a no-cost Medical Assistant certification and job training opportunity, in partnership with Penn Medicine and the American Training Center.

Medical Assistant students will be offered professional development and career coaching with The Skills Initiative before completing eight weeks of Medical Assistant coursework at American Training Center (3600 Market Street Suite 850) and completing a two-week externship at Penn Medicine. Participants will earn a weekly training stipend and successful participants will earn an interview for a Certified Medical Assistant position.

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Here’s a short update on the demolition work that recently began on the 4700 block of Spruce street to make way for a 13-story mixed-use building.

The developer began work at the site in late May/early June with an expired demolition permit. The Department of Licenses and Inspections ordered work at the site to stop on June 6 by issuing an “Order to Correct”, which required the developer to obtain a new permit. The developer obtained a new permit on June 24 for “full demolition to create a vacant lot.” Since then the demolition notice has been posted on the site and the work is expected to resume shortly (see photo).

As a reminder, a 13-story apartment building will be built on the site, between the Garden Court community garden and the intersection of 48th and Spruce. It will include ground floor retail space and 170 mostly studio and one-bedroom apartments and  have 28 underground parking spaces. Read more about this project here.