Two turkeys strolling through Bartram’s Garden last summer. (Photo by West Philly Local)
Some people have written us with concerns about the turkey that has been spotted strolling around the neighborhood in recent days. As suspected, the turkey appears to be from Bartram’s Garden.
The turkey apparently got into a territorial dispute with his brother and took off. Spokeswoman Kim Massare said the Bartram’s Garden staff is interested in getting updates on the turkey, but other than that there is not much that can be done.
“They are federally protected birds and they generally have a wide territory,” said Massare. “If it’s in good health and seems happy there’s no reason to be concerned.”
Otherwise, you can help document the bird’s whereabouts by snapping a photo, leaving a comment here or visiting the Bartram’s Garden Facebook page here.
A turkey, possibly one of those in the photo above, rambling down 50th Street near Springfield. (Photo courtesy of @kayasinfo on Twitter)
There is an axiom in Philadelphia (and most other cities) – as the weather heats up, so does the gun violence. Two people were shot to death last night in the city, including an 18-year-old near 54th and Chestnut. Six others were injured. An important meeting tonight at The Calvary Center (48th and Baltimore) is part of a grassroots effort to help curb gun violence in the city.
The meeting includes representatives from CeaseFire, an organization whose aim is to unite neighborhood and community groups to address gun violence, and Heeding God’s Call, a faith-based group that stands up to witness gun violence and pressures local gun stores to implement practices that will deter “straw purchases” of guns.
Tonight’s meeting runs from 6:30-8 p.m. This is the second gathering on “Addressing Gun Violence” organized by Kol Tzedek Synagogue, West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship, and Calvary United Methodist Church. All three congregations are part of POWER, Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower and Rebuild, an organization dedicated to opportunity and justice for Philadelphians. If you have questions, e-mail rabbi – at – kol-tzedek.org.
The shooting victim near 54th and Chestnut was riding his bike when the shooting occurred, according to reports. Police are unsure what caused the shooting and so far have no suspects. In another shooting last night, a man was shot twice in the face near 34th and Mount Vernon in the Mantua neighborhood. Police say that he is paralyzed from the neck down.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell who is a “gentrifier” these days – or whether that word or concept still has any meaning. Film director Kelly Anderson, a self-proclaimed “gentrifier” from Brooklyn will talk about her journey and her neighborhood after a screening of her documentary My Brooklyn (see trailer below) at the International House (3701 Chestnut St.) on Tuesday.
Drawn to Brooklyn in 1988 by cheap rent and a “Bohemian culture,” Anderson watched through the nineties and particularly into the early part of the 21st century as luxury housing and chain stores changed the neighborhood forever. Starting to sound familiar? The changes spark conversations about “authenticity,” who controls the future of the neighborhood and cause Anderson to examine her own role in the changes to the neighborhood.
The film’s themes are relevant to many parts of West Philly.
The film focuses on the future of Fulton Mall, a popular African American and Caribbean shopping Center, that officials are considering razing. “The film’s ultimate questions become how to heal the deep racial wounds embedded in our urban development patterns, and how citizens can become active in restoring democracy to a broken planning process,” according to its website. The film is co-sponsored by the Scribe Video Center.
Here are the details:
Tuesday, April 9, 7 p.m.
International House Philadelphia
3701 Chestnut Street
$10, $8 students/seniors, $5 Scribe and IHP members
West Philadelphia-based poet Hila Ratzabi is inviting poets into her home for the “Red Sofa Salon,” a poetry workshop that also includes free vegetarian food.
The salon will take place twice a month for two hours and space is limited (there is only so much room on the velvety, red, curved sectional sofa). Ratzabi, who has been nominated for the prestigious Pushcart Prize, writes: “The goal of these gatherings is to develop a small community of writers committed to learning, growing, and taking our poetry to the next level, regardless of where we are on our writing journeys.”
The first meeting is Monday, April 8 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. For more information on the salon, go here.
West Philadelphia-based Crossroads Music is putting on a unique concert this weekend – one that hasn’t been seen in the U.S. in decades. A group of heralded Indian musicians will combine their talents for a 24-hour concert on April 6-7 at the Main Building at Drexel University (3141 Chestnut Street).
The Raga Samay Festival will feature 10 soloists who perform classical Hindustani (North Indian) music. They will perform 15 concerts over the 24-hour period, beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The concerts will include vocal solo performances accompanied by tabla and harmonium, instrumental solo performances accompanied by tabla and instrumental jugalbandi (duets). Perhaps the best part, is that the music is improvised so what you hear will be a unique performance.
The schedule includes:
• Sunset performances by vocalists Arati Ankalikar and Kaivalyakumar Guruv
• A unique sunrise duet dedicated to the memory of Ravi Shankar, featuring santoor maestro Tarun Bhattacharya (his student) and mandolin virtuoso Snehasish Mozumder (who performed with his ensemble)
• A midnight sarod solo by Alam Khan, the American-born heir to a legendary family of Indian musicians (see video below).
• A noon performance on flute from Steve Gorn
• Kala Ramnath‘s famous “singing violin”
• The versatile Nayan Ghosh, one of the few masters of both sitar and tabla
• Concerts by two world-class Philadelphia-area artists: vocalist Sanhita Nandi and sitarist Allyn Miner
Tickets range from $15 to $50. More information on tickets is available here. Below is a video featuring Alam Khan, who will be onstage at midnight.
Here’s another CSA option in West Philly. The West Philly Foods CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program is taking applications for the upcoming growing season.
Run by The Enterprise Center, this CSA includes a box of fresh, locally grown produce – from herbs to tomatoes to berries – delivered monthly and optional items, including jams, pies, baked goods and bread. The program even includes shares for beer, pesto and flowers.
The program is also committed to providing fresh produce to low-income residents around the Walnut Hill and surrounding neighborhoods. The program also employs local youths in the program and helps connect a growing network of young urban farmers.
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