Most Penn undergraduates won’t be coming back to campus this fall, the university announced yesterday.

The university revised its plan for on-campus undergraduate housing for the 2020 Fall semester due to continuous spread of COVID-19. The revised plan was announced on Tuesday and now includes very limited on-campus housing for the Fall semester for international students and students experiencing significant housing or personal hardships.

Penn announced earlier this summer that the majority of instruction for undergraduate students would be online during the Fall semester, but the plan allowed for students to move onto campus.  Continue Reading

Here’s a great opportunity to watch two independent films with your family, friends and neighbors while in your own home! On Thursday, Aug. 13, at 5:30 p.m., join (via Zoom) this pop-up, virtual film club to screen two films from Mike Dennis of Reelblack Inc – “Hardest Part” and “Next Tuesday”. After the screening, stick around to have a community chat and share your thoughts and reactions to the films.

For more information and to register, click here.

Blue Stoop, a literary hub supporting Philadelphia writers and readers from all walks of life, is offering 8-week writing classes for the 2020 Fall season, including Foundations of Fiction Writing, Foundations of Cultural Essay Writing, and Foundations of Poetry Writing. All classes will be virtual this fall – through Zoom – led by Philadelphia based writers and poets.

The organization is also offering shorter intensives, the first being “Creating the Creative Life You Want” with writer and founder of the online community “Permission to Write,” Ashley Coleman, on Saturday, Aug. 22.  Continue Reading

The City’s Streets Department is expected to collect this week’s trash and recycling a day behind the normal schedule beginning Monday, Aug. 10. Residents should set their trash and recycling materials one day later than their regular day. The Streets Department will use Monday, Aug. 10 to only collect recyclables that have been accumulating curbside from previous weeks.

Streets Department crews have been working hard in the last several days to return to a regular trash and recycling collection schedule after significant delays over the past month due to staffing shortages, increased amount and weather. Trash collections have been on or close to a regular collection schedule over the last week, according to Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams. However, recycling collections have been significantly delayed as the Department prioritized trash collections for health and safety reasons.  Continue Reading

Last month Philadelphia entered a modified Green reopening phase and most businesses were allowed to reopen, including hair salons and barber shops, and spas and gyms, with COVID-19 safety protocols. Many West Philly restaurants also re-opened for outdoor dining, but indoor dining has been delayed until at least September. Unfortunately, since the COVID-19 pandemic struck some businesses in the area closed their doors permanently. Here’s an update on what’s currently happening at some local businesses and organizations since we posted the list of temporary closings and cancellations in the spring.  Continue Reading

West Philly artists are invited to submit their designs for the Enterprise Center’s 52nd Street Banner Design Contest. The Enterprise Center is seeking design concepts that will “positively represent 52nd Street culture, and that community members will be proud of.” The winning design will not only be featured prominently on 52nd Street, but the artist will also be awarded a $2,500 prize!

A panel consisting from representatives from the Enterprise Center and from the West Philly arts scene will select the winning design. Preference will be given to artists who live in West Philadelphia.

The deadline for submissions is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 31.

For more details and to submit your design, go here.