In preparation for the 19th annual Philadelphia Marathon, city officials have issued a traffic and parking advisory for many parts of the city. Delays are expected and motorists are advised to avoid these areas. Some portions of West Philly will be affected too.

Some of the major areas impacted include:

– The inner lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Friday, November 16 through Sunday, November 18.
– Citywide along the 26.2-mile route of the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, November 18

The following streets will be closed at 6:45 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18, and will reopen, as runners pass through the race course. All race routes will remain closed until 4 p.m.

– 21st Street, from Spring Garden to Arch streets
– 22nd Street, from Spring Garden to Arch streets
– Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 22nd to 16th streets
– Arch Street between 16th to 4th streets
– 4th Street Arch to Vine streets
– Race Street, from 4th Street to Columbus Boulevard
– Columbus Boulevard (Southbound lanes), Vine Street to Washington Avenue
– Southbound off-ramp, from I-95 at Washington Avenue
– Washington Avenue, from Columbus Boulevard to Front Street
– Front Street, from Washington Avenue to South Street
– South Street, Front to 6th streets
– 6th Street, Bainbridge to Market streets
– Chestnut Street, 6th to 34th streets
– 34th Street, Chestnut Street to Girard Avenue
– Lansdowne Drive, Girard Avenue to South Concourse Drive
– South Concourse Drive, Lansdowne Drive to West Memorial Hall Drive
– West Memorial Hall Drive, South Concourse to Avenue of the Republic
– Avenue of the Republic, West Memorial Hall Drive to Centennial Circle
– Old Lansdowne Drive to the Sweetbriar Loop
– Black Road
– Martin Luther King Drive
– Kelly Drive
– The Falls Bridge
– Ridge Avenue, Schoolhouse Lane to Manayunk Avenue
– Main Street, Ridge Avenue to Green Lane.

Update: Here’s a link to a map showing the streets closed during the marathon.

Source: Philly Police Blog

The West Philadelphia Fresh Food Hub, a non-profit grocery truck that brings fresh and healthy food to Mantua, Belmont and West Powelton residents, is gathering community input that will help them create a strong, locally-owned business that serves everyone.

If you live in one of the above mentioned neighborhoods, you are encouraged to participate in the Food Hub’s Fall 2012 Community Input Survey. The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and to thank you for your time and honest responses, the Food Hub will provide you with a fresh produce voucher.

There are two important community meetings taking place in West Philly on Tuesday, Nov. 13. If you want to help shape up the future of your neighborhood, you are encouraged to attend these meetings or at least one of them since they are scheduled within an hour from one another.

• Philadelphia City Planning Commission Meeting – 6:30 p.m., Enterprise Center (4548 Market St.)

The Philadelphia City Planning Commission is inviting residents to the first meeting about their University City/Southwest Philly District Plan. The plan will make recommendations for zoning changes, city-owned land and facilities, and public investments and, when finalized, will have some far reaching implications for West Philly’s future development. Here’s what you can expect at the meeting:

– Learn about the planning process and existing conditions

– Help shape future development and public investment

– Work with Planning Commission staff and your neighbors in small groups.

For more information about this project visit: www.phila2035.org. There is also a need for volunteers who help facilitate table exercises with community members. If you’re interested, contact Andrew Meloney at: andrew.meloney@phila.gov or 215-683-4656.

• Annual Meeting of the Spruce Hill Community Association, 7:30 p.m., Spruce Hill Christian School Chapel (42nd & Baltimore)

This is Spruce Hill Community Association‘s biggest meeting of the year, where neighbors are invited to come renew their dues and vote for officers and directors to the 2013 Board. The full slate of nominees and their bios will be available at the meeting.

In addition, Matt Bergheiser, Executive Director of University City District, will present the project on rejuvenation of the 40th Street Trolley Portal. Plans and renderings of the proposed design will be shown and residents’ input and feedback is welcome.

All neighbors are welcome. Light refreshments will be served and the first 50 people to arrive at the meeting will receive free leaf bags. Spruce Hill is bounded by Market St., Woodland Ave., S. 38th St., and S. 46th St. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.

As the weather seems to be improving, why not go out and try your luck in the Second Friday Scavenger Hunt tonight on Lancaster Avenue, from 5 to 8 p.m. Collect as many tickets as possible at the 15 participating businesses in order to be in the running for some great prizes.

Here’s are the rules:

1. Start at the Community Education Center (3500 Lancaster Ave).
2. Pick up your Lancaster Avenue tote bag with a list of all participating businesses.
3. Visit at least 10 out of the 15 locations listed to collect as many tickets as possible to increase your chances of winning.
4. There will be bonus 5 tickets for those who visit Vintage Villa Antiques.
5. At 8 p.m., make your way to 3848 Lancaster Avenue for live music and drawings of the winners!

Prizes include $25 gift cards at Powelton Pizza, Central Resellers Market and Vintage Villa Antiques.

There will also be a prize for the person who checks in the most on foursquare at the different locations and a bonus random drawing from a bowl for a bag of goodies.

Also while you’re on the scavenger hunt, feel free to drop off canned goods or other non-perishables at CEC to support a local food pantry.

Finally, make sure to check out a new exhibit by ceramic artists Angela Klaerner Clark and Jimmy Clark opening at the Art on the Avenue Gallery. The gallery is located at 3808 Lancaster Ave and the opening reception is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information visit www.artonave.org.

This Saturday, families with young children are invited to a fun and educational event: the Parent Infant Center, which provides early learning and after school care for infants to grade 6 and is dedicated to promoting literacy and pre-literacy as a family activity, is organizing a Family Book Fest at the Rotunda (40th & Walnut). This is a free event and open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

There will be lots of reading, crafts and other family fun activities for ages 7-under. WXPN’s Kathy O’Connell, host of Kids’ Corner, will join in with read-aloud stories, followed by a concert with Two of a Kind.

Bring a slightly used children’s book for the swap table and take home some new stories to share with your family.

The very last public input session for the Bartram’s Mile planning process will take place this Saturday (Nov. 10) at the Garden’s Coach House. Everyone is welcome to come to an engaging design workshop and help brainstorm design and programming concepts for the park and trail space. Each group will be facilitated by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, PennPraxis, or Andropogon Associates.

Bartram’s Mile is an exciting project to convert one mile of currently vacant riverfront property into public green space and public input is essential to its success. To read more about the project, click here.

Bartram’s Mile Design Workshop
Saturday, November 10
12:00pm-3:00pm
Bartram’s Garden Coach House, 54th and Lindbergh Boulevard