Still haven’t figured out your plan to vote in November’s general election? Here’s some info that will help.

First, there are some important dates. Oct. 19 is the last day to register before the Nov. 3 election. Check your registration status here. There are a number of ways to register, including online, by mail and in person. This is a good place to start.

Once registered, you have two choices. You can vote in person on Nov. 3 at, likely, a reduced number of polling places. Or, you can vote right now – by mail.  Continue Reading

Residents near a controversial proposed 30-unit apartment complex tucked down an alley of 51st Street near Spruce Street presented details on their opposition last night during an online meeting with developers, who committed to rethink the project.

A year in the making, the meeting between representatives of Callahan Ward and residents near 303 S. 51st Street, which housed an auto mechanics shop in the past, did not result in any specific concessions. But developers said they would modify the proposal to build 30 market rate apartments to include an unspecified amount or type of affordable housing and community space in addition to ground floor commercial.  Continue Reading

Haven Philly co-owners Marcus Hall (left) and Chris Scott.

This is a precarious time to open a business, but Marcus Hall believes he may have hit on a remedy for those stay-at-home blues.

Hall and partner Chris Scott launched likely the city’s first board game rental service on Saturday in West Philly (and eventually a full blown board game café near 51st and Baltimore). Haven Philly offers contactless drop off and pick up of board games in the West Philly zip codes of 19143, 19139 and 19104.

We’re talking everything from classics like checkers, Scrabble and Sorry to newer games like Catan and Ticket to Ride and, yes, even Pandemic. They have some 200 games available. Rental costs will be based on the game’s purchase price. Games that cost under $20, for example, will be available for $2.50 per day with a slight discount for multiple days (up to five days total).  Continue Reading

A 33-year-old woman was shot several times on the 46th Street platform of the Market-Frankford line just after 3 p.m. on Wednesday.

The unidentified woman was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and her condition is “unknown,” according to police. She was shot several times in the stomach and once in the leg. No weapon was recovered and no arrests were made as of Thursday morning, police said.

The School District of Philadelphia plans to open schools on Sept. 2 under a hybrid model that for most students will include two days a week in the classroom and three days a week online, officials announced Wednesday morning.

The plan calls for four-day-a-week instruction (Monday through Thursday) for special education students with “complex needs” and Pre-K students.

Students will also be able to opt-in to an all online “digital academy.” Registration for this program will begin at the end of July, according to the plan. Students who choose the digital academy will have to remain in that mode of instruction through the end of the first quarter and then can opt in to the hybrid model if they choose. More information on enrollment in the digital academy will be available later this month.  Continue Reading

Artist’s rendering of proposed five-floor building on N. 52nd Street near the Market-Frankford El stop.

A Philadelphia born-and-raised entrepreneur plans to build a five-story, $6 million “entrepreneurship hub” on 52nd Street, just north of the Market Street El stop.

Tayyib Smith, a self-described “serial entrepreneur” who has worked in the music industry and started ventures around Philadelphia, introduced the plan on Wednesday night during a zoning hearing with Achieveability, the neighborhood’s registered community organization (RCO).  Continue Reading