Philly Beer Week starts today with well over a hundred of venues and more than 30 breweries taking part. A lot of folks are expected to turn up and try hard to prove that Philly is the best beer-drinking city in the land.

What about the left bank? West Philly will be well represented with a good number of participating local pubs. See the full list below. For a complete rundown on events in any neighborhood or with any particular brewery, go to the Philly Beer Week link above and click on “event” and choose.

Two small events are kicking things off tonight in West Philly. Bridgewater’s Pub in 30th Street Station will feature tastings and special prices on a range of Samuel Smith beers from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Also from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the New Deck Tavern (3408 Sansom St.) will have a “Belgian Blast” with Blue Moon and Hoegaarden pints for $3.50.

We’ll keep you updated on daily events in future posts. Here are a couple of highlights to get you revved up:

• June 5 The Philly Cheese Experiment, World Cafe Live ( 3025 Walnut St.), 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. This amateur cooking contest complete with Brooklyn Brewery Beer looks to be savory and sweet. Tickets are $10-$15, which includes a lot of samples.

• June 9 Night Market Philadelphia Beer Week Edition, The Blockley Beer Garden (39th and Market Streets), 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. This thing couples two Philly specialities – good beer and killer food trucks.

• June 12 Philly Beer Week Music Festival, Dock Street Brewing Co. (50th and Baltimore), 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. This 3rd annual outdoor, all-ages show includes bands, beers and food.

Participating Beer Week establishments:

Bridgewater’s Pub (30th Street Station)
City Tap House (3925 Walnut St.)
Dock Street Brewery (701 S. 50th St.)
Local 44 (4333 Spruce Street)
MidAtlantic Restaurant & Tap Room (3711 Market St.)
New Deck Tavern (3408 Sansom St.)
The Blockley (3801 Chestnut St.)
World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut St.)

Update (June 6): After walking out the door Wednesday night and disappearing, Tabea came back home Sunday, June 5.

A neighbor, Deborah, is looking for her cat missing since last night:

Our beloved old cat Tabea got out of our house at 48th and Larchwood last night (June 1) and hasn’t been seen since. She is small, about 6 pounds, with brownish brindled sides and black striped legs and tail and a buff belly.

She has white whiskers and a shaved patch under her neck. She needs daily medicine so we need to find her fast.

If you see a cat that looks like it might be her, please call us at 215-474-4081. Reward offered for her safe return.

Update (June 6): Cobby has been found and returned home.

A black, silver and tan Yorkie, named Cobby, has been missing from 45th and Pine since May 30.

The dog is very friendly. He has a collar and microchip, but no tags.

If you see or capture him please call Melissa at 516-984-7926 or 718-551-4976 or email: melissa.theodule [at] gmail.com

One of the coolest events in West Philly and something many of us have been looking forward to all year is finally here. The first Dollar Stroll of the season is taking place tonight on Baltimore Avenue between 41st and 52nd Streets, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dollar Stroll means $1 deals on some popular items from local shops, cafes and restaurants (see the full list of participating businesses on the flyer below).

Local food vendors are lining up to showcase what they are good at and to satisfy every taste and preference in food and drink, from vegan to carnivore and fruit juice to beer. We figure that for about $6 bucks you can get dinner, desert, a couple of beers and about a dozen tunes (see below).

Worthy of special mention is that besides $1 deals you’ll be able to pick up a free-download card with an access code to download the “West Philly Mix Tape” featuring tracks by 11 West Philly bands, including West Philadelphia Orchestra. Download cards will be available at many of the participating locations.

And finally, $1 food and drinks are great, but don’t forget to stop by Curio Theatre to pick up tickets to their 2011-12 preview shows. This local gem put up some hugely popular performances this past season.

Today’s pet is Kahuna. He is currently living at the ACCT shelter.

Kahuna is a mostly white, 3-5 year old boy with some brindle patches, and a cute little brown spot above his eye. He’s a medium sized dog.

He loves to play with toys – rope toys, squeaky toys, and kongs. Another great thing about him is that he loves being around people.

Kahuna has a pen pal who is teaching him lots of stuff. He’s learning commands, which he’s doing very well with because he’s very smart. His pen pal is also teaching him to walk like a gentleman on the leash by using an Easy Walk Harness. Kahuna walks pretty well now, but can get a little excited when he sees people or other dogs.

Kahuna loves other dogs so if you want to see him you can bring your dogs with you. He is up to date on all of his shots. He is also microchipped and scheduled to be neutered. In other words: he is ready to go home with you.

If you’d like to meet Kahuna, stop by 111 W. Hunting Park Ave, walk straight to Adoptions (or Lifesaving, if you’d like to foster him). For more information call 267-385-3800 or email: acctadoptions [at] pspca.org

If you cannot adopt him permanently but would like to help anyways, you can consider fostering Kahuna until he finds his happy ending. Fostering will save not only this dog’s life but also the life of the dog that would move into Kahuna’s kennel at ACCT.

Bartram’s Garden is offering a half-price membership at the Seed Saver level as part of a community outreach effort. A $50 membership is now $25.

As a Seed Saver member you are eligible for 15 free-admission program passes to tours of this national historic landmark house and garden and for monthly educational programs (valid through June 30, 2012). Passes are transferable so you can share them with friends and family. Bartram’s Garden members also receive discounts on Garden Shop and plant purchases and invitations to plant sale previews.

The offer expires June 30. For more information call Alison McDowell at 215-729-5281 x103 or email: amcdowell [at] bartramsgarden.org