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.

The Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) is hosting a COVID-19 Zoom Q&A with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, the Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention Director and COVID-19 Guidance Lead, will present and answer questions.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to get first-hand information on the current status of the pandemic, learn what the city is doing to combat the disease, and what safety steps you can take to help minimize risk,” according to SHCA Board President Evan Johnstone. “This is intended as an interactive Q&A session, so please come prepared with questions.”  Continue Reading

There will be no recycling collections in the city from Wednesday, Aug. 5 through Friday, Aug. 7, the Streets Department announced on Saturday. If these days are your trash/recycling collection days, please hold on to your recyclables until next week.

The Department is still trying to catch up to a regular trash and recycling collection schedule after going off schedule in July, with delays lasting up to 4 days due to shortage of staff and a larger amount of trash and recycling materials last month. While trash collection remains a priority for the Department, recycling collections may still be delayed by several days or even suspended. The city is also currently monitoring a severe weather storm forecast expected to cause high winds and heavy down pours from Hurricane Isaias. Severe weather can cause major delays with trash and recycling collections as it happened in July because of tropical storm Fay.  Continue Reading