A neighbor Shifra is looking for a permanent home for her foster cat Mama. Here’s what Shifra wrote us about her cat:

Mama came into my life a couple months back when she followed me home from 49th and Baltimore. Ever since then she’s been living in my foster care, but she is searching for her forever home.

She is a small, two-year old tuxedo. She has a very sweet symmetrical black patch on her snout, and the white on the back of her front legs trails up her legs, unlike other tuxedos.

Mama is very affectionate and spunky. She expresses herself with frequent purring and a soft background pigeon coo.  She can be playful, but mostly she just likes companionship. Her tail quivers when she gets excited and she sometimes likes to curl up under the covers.

She is in very good health, recently spayed, negative for FIV and FeLV, and has been given her first round of rabies and FVRCP vaccines. Mama would do best in a home where she is the only companion animal.

If you think yours might be Mama’s forever home, please contact Shifra at: shif9101 [at] hotmail.com

This might be the easiest thing you could ever do to help out an important West Philadelphia organization. A click. That’s it. There are only four days left (until June 17) to vote for West Philly’s Community Education Center (CEC) to help them get a $50,000 grant from Maxwell House. The center is competing against nine other community organizations across the country and only top five vote-getters receive the money.

During recent weeks, the CEC was fluctuating between positions 4, 5, and 6, so every vote counts. You can come back and vote every day. This week votes are hidden so it won’t be possible to know how the CEC is doing until the end. To vote, go here: http://www.kraftbrands.com/maxwellhousecoffee/drops-of-good/Pages/community-education-center.aspx

The CEC is a non-profit community based center with the focus on arts programming, music, dance and theater for people of differing backgrounds and cultures. You can read more about the center here.

Philly Beer Week is coming to an end with a bang. West Philly’s Dock Street Brewery (701 S. 50th Street) is hosting the Philly Beer Week Music Festival today, beginning at 2 p.m. The festival will feature food and beer by Dock Street and music by four local bands: Citywide Specials (2 p.m.), TJ Kong & the Atomic Bomb (3 p.m.), Bardo Pond (4 p.m.), and Da Comrade! (5 p.m.). The bands will play outside on the triangle.

Craft beer, gourmet pizza, and even cupcakes from Buttercream Cupcake Lady will be served. Also, Mariposa Food Co-op’s 50/50 raffle will be held during the festival. The festival is open to all ages and admission is free.

Today’s dog is Leo, a 3 – 5 year old male “blue” pit bull terrier. Leo is currently being fostered through ACCT, the city shelter of Philadelphia.

When Leo first arrived at the shelter as a stray, he was severely emaciated, lethargic and coughing. With lots of TLC, gradually increasing meal sizes and medical attention, Leo has a new lease on life.

He loves attention, especially tummy rubs. He also enjoys long walks, although he has some knee problems in his hind legs. According to the shelter vet, Leo should be restricted to leash walking and may need more intensive treatment later in his life.

Leo interacts very well with other dogs and is very friendly with people. He is housetrained and knows the command “sit.” He’s currently working on “down” and “stay.”

All members of the household must meet Leo prior to adoption and an in-home visit may be required. If you are interested in adopting Leo, please contact: westphillyfoster [at] gmail.com. The adoption fee is $50.00, which includes the neuter surgery, vaccines and microchip.

Thursday is the food festival Night Market Philadelphia, which will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the corner of 39th and Market streets. This night market, a celebration of local food vendors and ethnic and gourmet restaurants, will have a Philly Beer Week twist.

The previous edition of the festival in South Philly drew enormous crowds and caused a few pretty big lines, which called for necessity for more vendors for future night markets. So this time, event organizer The Food Trust is bringing over 30 street food carts and restaurants, including Guapos Tacos, Nomad Pizza, with its traveling wood fired oven, and Little Baby’s Ice Cream. The event will also feature music by local bands, street performers, and crafts.

Finally, the event is part of Philly Beer Week and the West Philly pub The Blockley will set up a beer garden at 39th and Market with a fine selection of craft brews from Victory, Yards, Troegs, Rogue and Brooklyn.

Today’s pet is Lyons, a black & white male cat.

Lyons is a very nice boy. He’s well behaved, doesn’t scratch the furniture, eats just enough food, not greedy or picky, and uses his litter box all the time.

He was found outside in the cold and snow this past winter, lost and alone, and hasn’t had too much luck in finding his forever home. He’s in foster care at the moment.

If you have a female cat he’ll be a gentleman, but he’s not too fond of other boys.

Lyons is neutered, vaccinated, and FIV/FeLV negative – all ready to just settle down in a new home.

Please give Lyons a chance.

To arrange a meeting with Lyons or for more information, email: Projectmeowadoptions [at] gmail.com