Indie-Life Media, the Baltimore Avenue based creative agency and co-working/event space, is inviting community members to their First Friday events in celebration of the Arts in West Philadelphia. This Friday (Oct. 4), 5-9 p.m., they will be showcasing the work of local artists Elizabeth Skoufalos, Nathan Grayson, Essence Hampton and Jonathan Metz (see flyer). The family-friendly event also includes arts & crafts for kids and sounds from DJ Rocdaspot. There will also be snacks and drinks for all to enjoy.

Indie-Life, founded in 2014 by local event planner/entrepreneur Rasheed Abdellah, will be convening visual artists to connect and create together at their creative studio at 4616 Baltimore Ave. Indie-Life’s goal for this series is to highlight West Philadelphia as an arts corridor, and to give more artists and makers the opportunity to showcase their work.  Continue Reading

The election of the new Neighborhood Advisory Sub-Committee for People’s Emergency Center (PEC) took place on Monday, Sept. 30. The NAS functions as a liaison between the community and the larger PECCDC (Community Development Corporation) board. NAS members are elected to the committee by their neighbors, colleagues and friends –  that live, work or worship within the service area (West Powelton, Powelton, Saunders Park, Belmont, Mantua and Mill Creek).

There were 16 candidates, 14 of whom were elected onto the NAS. Voters got a chance to use the City’s new touch screen voting machines (that will be used in the November election citywide) for the NAS election:  Continue Reading

EveryBody studio space at 4305 Locust St. (Photo by Sahar Coston-Hardy)

A new movement and wellness studio, EveryBody Movement and Wellness, is officially opening next week at 4305 Locust Street, a space across from CVS.

Starting Monday, Oct. 7, EveryBody Movement and Wellness will offer a wide range of small group movement classes including Pilates, suspension training, high-intensity interval training, yoga, kettlebells, Barre, dance, and more. People of all sizes, ages, genders, and abilities are welcome. In addition to group classes in the main studio space, there is also a private Pilates room and a wellness room that is being used for a variety of mind-body modalities (massage, reiki, therapy, etc). Some classes will be offered on a sliding scale.  Continue Reading

Photo from the Woodlands Facebook page.

Here’s great news for the Woodlands cemetery’s numerous visitors: The Woodlands has now brand-new restroom facilities – in the Carriage House (Stable) building, located next to the Community Garden (see map here).

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new facilities will take place this Saturday, Sept. 28 at 11:30 a.m. The bathrooms will be open for all events at the Woodlands, and whenever there is staff on-site.

Funding for the new restrooms came largely from the William Penn Foundation.  Continue Reading

“Meet the NAS” night at Community Education Center (3500 Lancaster Ave.) was held Tuesday, Sept. 17. Special invited speaker was Raymond Jones, Director of External Relations for State Senator Vincent Hughes. Participants enjoyed a light reception and presentations from each candidate (Photo courtesy PEC). 

Residents of some West Philly neighborhoods have a chance to help determine future members of the Neighborhood Advisory Sub-Committee at PECCDC (People’s Emergency Center’s Community Development Corporation). These members help support community program activities provided by PEC and the City’s Division of Housing and Community Development. The NAS is a sub-committee of the PEC Board of Directors and its function is in an advisory role, acting as community level liaison. Elections are held every two years.

The next election will take place this upcoming Monday (Sept. 30), from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at two locations:  Continue Reading