How do you imagine Africa? You can join the discussion, explore and also have a lot of fun tomorrow, Oct. 26, at Penn Museum‘s Evening to Imagine Africa, a free event for neighbors, friends and first-time visitors. This community night is part of special programming around the new gallery project Imagine Africa with the Penn Museum, an initiative using a new visitor-centered method of exhibition planning.

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and feature two workshops – a Hip Hop dance workshop with an instructor from Rennie Harris RHAW, and an African Dance Workshop with the Penn student group African Rhythms. Also in the program: belly dancing with Habiba, and Spoken Word with the Philly Youth Poetry Movement. Complimentary refreshments will be served.

Tomorrow’s night is the first of three free Wednesday evening community nights. The additional nights will run March 28 and May 23, 2012. To learn more about the Imagine Africa with the Penn Museum project go to this page.

Rehearsals are underway for the West Philly production of the school edition of RENT performed by local high school students. Project Theater Project has selected a group of really talented folks who are working hard to put together an unforgettable show.

There is a little over a month left in the fundraising campaign to help this project. They still need to raise about $2,400. To donate please go to the project’s Indie GoGo page.

Check out the video of the group’s first rehearsal here. They sound pretty good for never having sung together before.

West Philly folks: Get ready for some Halloween madness this and early next week. Here’s a rundown of spooky happenings for adults, kids and pets! (We’ll be adding to the list. If you know of something that should be included please email: editor[at]westphillylocal.com).

Tuesday, October 25

 
Movie Night: Night Of The Living Dead (1968)
Dock Street Brewery, 701 S. 50th Street
8 p.m.
21+
For more information go here.

Thursday, October 27

 
Variety Show! Halloween Round-Up with the Suitcase Junket
Green Line Cafe, 4426 Locust Street
7 p.m.
Free
All ages
The West Philly Round-Up has a Halloween theme and a special challenge: How many accordionists can fit into the Green Line on one night? If you’d like to perform (any genre welcome), email bate.emily[at]gmail.com. This Round-Up will also feature a special guest, one-man-band The Suitcase Junket.

Friday, October 28

 
Annual Halloween Party
International House, 3701 Chestnut Street
9 p.m.
$10 general admission; $8 students + seniors; Free for IHP members + residents
21+
Come out to play and dance with ghosts and goblins as IHP is transformed into a haunted playground. Enjoy music, food, beer and a costume contest at midnight!
 

Saturday, October 29

 
Drinker’s Halloween Massacre
Drinker’s West, 3900 Chestnut St.
8 p.m. – 2 a.m.
21+
Website

“Heroween” Celebration
City Tap House, 3925 Walnut Street
9 p.m.
$10 per person
The event will benefit the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. Featuring DJ, dancing, raffle and a Halloween fashion show. There will be prizes for best costume, best team costume, and highest fundraiser. Sign-up for a costume or make a donation and enter for free. Otherwise, a $10 donation will be collected at the door.
For more information go here.

Rocknoceros Halloween Party!
World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut Street
11:30 a.m.
Adults: $10; Children: $7 (ages 1-12); Free for children under the age of one
Presented by Peanut Butter & Jams.
For more information and to buy tickets go here.

Sunday, October 30

 
Howl-O-Ween Dog Parade
Pleasant Park Nursing Home, 4712 Chester Avenue
2 p.m.
Halloween themed costume parade featuring the dog park dogs. Fun for all ages.

Monday, October 31

 
Halloween Tot Parade
Meeting by Milk & Honey (45th & Baltimore)
4 p.m.
Featuring the Penn Drum Band, costumes, dancers and trick or treating! Parade will begin by 4:30 p.m., proceed to Larchwood Avenue, to 43rd Street and end at “Little Osage” between 42nd and 43rd Streets.

UPDATE: House minority leader Eric Cantor has canceled the speech on income inequality after his office learned that it would be open to the public, several news outlets are reporting. The Wharton School confirmed that the speech has been canceled. Cantor’s office has told reporters that they thought the speech would only be open to the media and members of the Penn community. A Cantor spokesperson told Philadelphia Daily News reporter Chris Brennan by email that “The Office of the Majority Leader was informed last night by Capitol Police that the University of Pennsylvania was unable to ensure that the attendance policy previously agreed to could be met.” Wharton reportedly planned to allow 300 members of the general public into the speech.

For the last couple of weeks many West Philadelphians have been going to Occupy Philly. Now Occupy Philly is coming to West Philadelphia.

According to the announcement on their Facebook page, the Occupy Philly movement is going to make it to West Philly Friday for a major protest outside the Wharton School (3730 Walnut St.) at the University of Pennsylvania, where Republican Eric Cantor, the House minority leader, will speak about income inequality from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The protest is part of a march dubbed “Occupy Eric Cantor,” that will begin at 3 p.m. at the movement’s base camp near City Hall.

A reader found an approximately one-year-old female tabby cat (calico because of white paws) at 33rd and Walnut St. She is missing an eye.

If anyone knows whom this cat may belong to please email Erin at: ebuckle2 [at] gmail.com

Curio Theatre Company is about to start a series of fun interactive performances for children. On selective Saturdays through May 2012 kids and their parents/guardians are invited for a unique theater experience with Kid Curio and the Improv Avengers. Children will have an opportunity not just to watch the show, but also to be part of it.

The show is run by two Curio Theatre company members, Eric Scotolati and Ryan Walter, and is geared toward kids ages 6 – 12. There will be lots of games and laughing, but the show also will help kids learn the basics of improvisation and develop useful public speaking skills.

The first show is this Saturday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m. Tickets are only $5. Please go here for more information and to purchase tickets online.

Here’s a full list of Kid Curio show dates:

October 22 & 29
November 5
December 17 & 28
January 7
February 18 & 25
April 28
May 5 & 12