Mariposa Food Co-op is planning to directly support local community groups and organizations through a new initiative – Round-up for Change. The Co-op is currently accepting applications from Philly-area groups and organizations to receive funding/donations from this initiative, which is expected to launch in early September.

Through the program, the Co-op will donate the extra change when shoppers choose to “round-up” their purchase to the nearest dollar, at the register at their store at 49th and Baltimore.  Continue Reading

The I-76 West ramp to 30th Street is closing for four weeks beginning this Saturday for repairs and resurfacing, according to PennDOT. The ramp will close at 12:01 a.m. on July 21 and is expected to reopen in mid-August.

During the ramp closure, motorists are advised to use an alternate exit at South Street and should expect delays.

The closure is part of the $103.6 million project to rehabilitate the Chestnut Street Bridge over the Schuylkill River and several nearby structures. The project is expected to be completed in Fall 2020.  Continue Reading

Trolley track repair work is underway near 40th and Woodland.

SEPTA’s annual Center City Trolley Tunnel maintenance project, aka Trolley Tunnel Blitz, began on Friday night. All trolleys going east will be on diversion to 40th and Market, where passengers can switch to the train, for the duration of the project (until July 23).

A portion of Woodland Avenue, between 39th and Chester, is also closed to all traffic due to this project, which includes track repair work near the trolley portal. Chester Avenue between 41st and Woodland is also closed.

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Saxophonist, educator and composer Tim Warfield will headline the 2018 Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival, which will get underway in Penn Presbyterian Medical Center’s Saunders Park Greene, 39th and Powelton Avenue on Saturday, July 21, beginning at noon.

Hosted by People’s Emergency Center (PEC) and PEC Community Development Corporation (PECCDC), this marks the 12th year that this annual event has taken place. This year the FREE Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival offers a family-friendly jazz showcase featuring the best of Philadelphia and beyond. In addition to headliner Tim Warfield with his Organ Band featuring Terell Stafford, there is an exceptional lineup of jazz musicians curated by the Producer’s Guild of Philadelphia.  Continue Reading

A monthly Spruce Hill zoning meeting will take place tonight, at 7 p.m. at the Spruce Hill Center (257 S. 45th St), with two development projects on the agenda. Community members are invited to hear from the owners of a vacant lot at 224 S. 44th Street about construction of a new residential building. This project was first presented at last month’s zoning meeting. A four-unit semi-detached structure is being proposed on the lot in-between two old Victorian homes (see picture).  Continue Reading

A new “parklet” was installed this week on Pine Street between 47th and 48th.

Two new “parklets”- temporary outdoor seating platforms where you can enjoy a meal, a drink or simply relax – have been installed by University City District crews. In addition to the returning locations at 4040 Locust St. (hosted by Ramen Bar), 261 S. 44th St. (hosted by Honest Tom’s Tacos and Lil’ Pop Shop), 4239 Baltimore Ave. (hosted by Green Line Cafe) and 4903 Catharine St (hosted by Little Baby’s Ice Cream), check out the following new “parklets”:

• 3601 Market (between Market and Filbert, hosted by Schmear It, Jimmy John’s, and M.A.T.T.’s Sliders)
• 4725 Pine Street (hosted by the Garden Court Community Association)

“Parklets” usually stay through mid- to late November, as long as the weather is warm enough for outdoor seating. Just a reminder that you don’t need to patronize a particular business to sit in the parklet.