Today’s cat is Vanilla Bean. She is about one year old.

‘Nilla was abandoned when she was no longer a kitten. She tried to join up with a band of feral cats, but since she wasn’t feral, she kept dashing into the road. Luckily, she was found and now lives with a foster mom.

She is very playful, still a kitten, and she gets along with the two boys who live at her foster mom’s place, but they’re not kittens so they don’t want to play with her. She would love to go home with someone who will play with her.

“Nilla is not quite little kid proof yet (but learning!), so it’s better that any human kids in the home be about 8 or older. She doesn’t like to be held like a baby, but if you hold her right way up and give her head and chin scratches, she will love you forever.

What about her name? She’s not a Vanilla Bean, but that’s what foster mom’s human daughter called her and the name stuck. For now, you can call her ‘Nilla, but please don’t hesitate to change it.

Vanilla Bean is spayed, vaccinated, dewormed, housetrained, flea treated, and FIV/FeLV negative. Please email projectmeowadoptions [at] gmail​.com to meet her. Adoption application and adoption fee of $85 apply.

Street Movies!, a series of free outdoor short movie screenings and live performances organized by Scribe Video Center (4212 Chestnut St.), are happening this month in communities all around Philadelphia. The films, including animation, documentary, and experimental, focus on environmental justice, healthy foods, new immigrants and urban green spaces.

This Saturday, August 6, Street Movies! will be in West Philly. Four films will be screened in Clark Park’s Bowl (45th & Kingsessing) starting at 7:30 p.m. The film presentation is hosted by the Jubilee School and the Green Guerillas, who will power the screening with their biodiesel waste and vegetable oil-powered bus the “Grease Guzzler.”

Philly-based hip hop artist Alwatan Kwele, who is originally from Tanzania, will open the evening.

There will be another screening in West Philly hosted by Mill Creek Community Partnership on August 27. Stay tuned for more information about that event.

Here are synopses of the films (from the Scribe site):

The Future of Our History
by Jubilee School
K-6 students of Jubilee spend two years studying W.E.B. Du Bois, making a pilgrimage to Great Barrington, MA, where they visit the graves of Du Bois’ wife and young son. (2011, 15 min)

Pumzi
by Wanuri Kahiu
35 years after “The Water War” has ruined earth’s surface, a young woman defies the governing council of her indoor community, escapes to the outside to plant a growing seedling. (Kenya, 2009, 21 min). Philadelphia Premiere.

Green Grease Guzzlers
by Green Guerrillas Youth Media Tech Collective (in person)
A story about alternative and sustainable transportation, this excerpt showcases Green Guerrillas ona move, making their collective’s transportation more “eco-friendly” with the conversion of a 1990 Ford Econoline diesel bus into a lean and green biodiesel/waste veggie oil machine. (2010, 30 min). Philadelphia Premiere.

Save the Future
by Jenny Deller (in-person)
A young girl re-imagines her life as a PSA, blurring the lines between her family troubles and environmental catastrophe. Save the Future is a companion short to her feature “Future Weather” about global warming. The whole production was environmentally conscious. (2009, 3 min)
 

This Saturday, August 6, Cedar Park (50th and Baltimore) is turning 100 years old and neighbors are invited to celebrate at the Centennial Fair.

There will be live music, vendors, children’s activities and even a parade. Here’s the full schedule of events and activities.

Activities
1 p.m. – Cedar Park Scholarship Presentation
1:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Children’s Activities including ring toss, potato sack race, moonbounce, face painting and games – 1:15-4:00 p.m.
2 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Terrarium Make and Take Activity – 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Entertainment
Noon – DJ Jamar starts
1:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. – Rosemary Fiki Band
1:50 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Gretchen Elise
2:40 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. – Independent Rock School

The parade will take place at 4:30-5 p.m. Neighbors (and pets) of all ages are welcome to strut their stuff. Drums, fancy hats and parade attire are highly recommended.

Lastly, the final Cedar Park jazz concert of the season will run from 6-8 p.m.

While at the fair don’t forget to pick up a copy of the Cedar Park Neighbors Anniversary Brochure which includes historical pictures and stories of the neighborhood through the years.

Update (August 11): The cat has been found and returned to her owner.

A very friendly indoor-outdoor dark tortoiseshell cat has been missing from 43rd & Pine/Osage since Monday. No collar or microchip.

She’s petite, about 2 yrs old, and fixed. She has a condition with her right eye (as you can see from the photo) that needs to be dealt with. If you’ve seen her (or are able to capture her) please contact Lia at 215-559-4648, or email: lml3 [at] verizon.net (neighbor).

If you live within a few blocks of 43rd & Pine/Osage please check your yard, alley, under the porch, in the basement, garage, etc. She may be injured and hiding.

West Philly artists –  there’s still time to apply for the Lancaster Avenue Arts project.

Lancaster Avenue has been selected by The City of Philadelphia as a ReStore Corridors Through Art location. From September 30 – November 30 qualified artists can use vacant storefronts for their installations. More than a dozen locations are on the list.

Applications are accepted until August 8. Artists working in any medium are welcome to apply.

To see the list of available storefronts and to apply go here.

Today’s cat is Frank, a very handsome one year-old Lynx point Siamese, or perhaps a Siamese/tabby mix.

Frank was named after the most famous Frank of all (Sinatra!) because of his bright blue eyes and striking good looks. Whatever his lineage, he has the energy of a Bengal! Frank can be the sweetest and most loving kitty you’ll ever meet: He will wander over to you, walk all over you and almost swoon with purring.

Frank is young and very full of energy. He chases and wrestles with his foster brothers, and they chase and wrestle back. He knows how to play nice. He would do best in a home with another young, energetic cat with whom he could wrestle.

Frank is neutered, FIV/FeLV negative, up to date on vaccinations, and received flea/parasite treatment/preventative as needed.

For more information on the adoption process or to fill out an online application go to: www.citykitties.org. Adoption fee is $85 to help subsidize the cost of veterinary care.