Fellow West Philly residents Andrew Simonet (choreographer) and Manfred Fischbeck have helped put together a fascinating dance show, which begins at Drexel’s Mandell Theater (3300 Chestnut St.) tomorrow, June 17.

Sam-Gam Bam! (“sam-gam” means “flow together” in Sanskrit) is a collision of classical and experimental American and South Indian dance, a blend of traditional and modern. A classical Indian dance form, Bharatanatyam, which is featured in the show, began 2,000 years ago and represents divine mythology in performance.

The show is a product of collaboration among three Philly-based dance companies: Group Motion, Headlong, and Three Aksha. The companies are quite distinct in style, but find common ground through this presentation of dance.

The shows schedule:

June 17, 18, 23-25 – 7:30 p.m.

June 19 – 2 p.m.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. To buy tickets click here.
 

A neighbor, who lives on Melville between Spruce and Locust, emailed us with this information:

There is a black and white tuxedo cat that is on my roof. It is hiding under my deck and on the roof next door. He seems scared but doesn’t come across as feral. I am wondering if someone lost him. Details:

Black and White Tuxedo
White Nose
Yellow/Green Eyes

I live on Melville between Spruce and Locust. I imagine he climbed out of someone’s window on Melville, got here and now can’t get down.

If you lost a cat that looks like the one described above, please email: thecaretaker [at] gmail.com

Update (June 16): The cat is reunited with her owner! After reading this information the owner retrieved her cat from her neighbor’s deck.
 

Today’s dog is Brianna, a young American Bulldog mix. She’s between one and two years old.

Brianna was found in an abandoned building and brought to the ACCT animal shelter. She gets regular meals now, but she won’t be a really happy dog until she has her own family, something soft to sleep on, and a chance to walk or play outside every day.

Brianna is one of the gentlest and sweetest dogs around. She loves people, kids, and other dogs. She likes to play, but also likes to relax and cuddle. As far as playing goes, one of her favorite things to do is to play fetch. As far as relaxing, she loves to lie down flat on her stomach and stick her back legs out, kinda like a frog (see picture below).

Brianna is already well-trained. She knows commands like “sit,” “stay,” and learning “lie down.” She is house-trained, and never begs for food. She is very mature for her age.

She is a perfect dog with the perfect temperament and it’s a shame that she hasn’t been adopted yet. Maybe it’s because she sits quietly in her kennel while the other dogs bark and jump for attention. She is a staff and volunteer favorite and gets some extra kisses and treats here and there. She’s also a runway model! Recently she participated in a runway show for New Leash On Life.

Brianna has already been spayed and microchipped (so she doesn’t get lost), and has had all of her basic shots.

If you want to adopt Brianna, please email her pen pal Steve for more information at: s.t.weinberg [at] gmail.com or come to the ACCT shelter (111 W. Hunting Park Ave.). Her adoption fee is $30 (which may be discounted for certain adoption specials). If you can’t adopt Brianna you can also consider fostering her until she finds her happy ending.

Living in a city as big as Philadelphia, and not having enough gardening space, doesn’t mean you can’t grow and harvest some crops of your own.

Want to learn how to do it? Come tonight, June 15, at 6 p.m. to Cedar Park (50th & Baltimore) for a workshop on urban gardening. Erica Smith of Philly Rooted, an organization specializing in urban farm development, will teach you the basics of starting and tending a vegetable garden.

The workshop is organized by Cedar Park Neighbors. Please let them know if you are coming by phone 267.531.4147 or email: contact [at] cedarparkneighbors.org.

For more information download the flyer here.

The first in a series of public forums on the development of 40th Street is Wednesday. Community members are invited to share their ideas on the design and character of development along the street, which has become a key commercial corridor between residential neighborhoods to the west and academic campuses to the east.

One of the event organizers, the “Friends of 40th Street,” was formed in 2004 to bring the members of neighborhood communities, businesses, and anchor institutions together for a discussion on the planning principles of the 40th Street corridor. One key idea that will be discussed is transportation along 40th street.

That conversation started seven years ago continues this month with the forums. Here’s the full schedule:

Wed, June 15 – 7:30 a.m. – 3901 Market Street
Mon, June 20 – 7:00 p.m. – Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street
Wed, June 22 – 7:30 a.m. – Christ Community Church, 4017 Chestnut Street
Mon, June 27 – 6:00 p.m. – Greater Faith Baptist Church, 4031 Baring Street

For more information visit: www.40thst.org.

Three neighborhood meetings are scheduled for this week.

• Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) meeting will take place tonight, Tuesday, at 7:30 p.m., at the association’s center at 257 S. 45th St. One of the topics likely to be discussed at the meeting is the enrollment situation at the Penn Alexander School (PAS).

• Thursday, June 16, is the monthly meeting with the 18th Police District University City Division’s Lt. Brian McBride. Neighbors are welcome to bring their questions and concerns regarding crime, safety and policing the neighborhoods. The meeting will take place at the Calvary Center (48th and Baltimore) at 6 p.m.

• The annual meeting and potluck dinner for the Garden Court Community Association (GCCA) is also Thursday beginning at 6 p.m. at Community College West (4725 Chestnut St.). The program will start at 6:30 p.m. and will feature presentations by guest speakers Ann Mitchell from Penn Nursing and Lt. Brian McBride (wow, he’s presenting here, too!), and discussion “Neighborhoods: the Place for Healthy Activity.” The meeting will also include general elections.