Giant puppets will again bring joy and civic awareness to the neighborhood as Peoplehood Parade returns on Saturday, Oct. 29, thanks to West Philly-based Spiral Q Puppet Theater. Everyone is welcome to join in this annual event celebrating diversity, communities’ creativity and unity. This year’s theme is about collective power and be(com)ing GIANT together.

The parade will kick off at the Paul Robeson House (50th and Walnut) at 1 p.m. (line-up starts at Noon) and will end at Clark Park at 45th and Chester (see map below). The parade will be followed by a participatory group art-making activity in Clark Park at around 2 p.m.  Continue Reading

West Philly entrepreneurial sisters Kelly (right) and Jorrae Beard will appear on “Shark Tank” tonight.

Shark Tank keeps casting Philly entrepreneurs, and it’s especially nice to see West Philly-based teams presenting their products on the show. This Friday, Oct. 28, tune in to watch sisters Kelly and Jorrae Beard pitch “Lulu Bang” BBQ Sauce to the “sharks.” There will also be the show watch party tonight at the Enterprise Center (4548 Market St.), beginning at 7:30 p.m. (this event has been sold out).

Kelly and Jorrae are co-owners of Joyce’s Soulful Cuisine, a restaurant and catering business located at 59th and Chestnut that was named in memory of their mother, Joyce A. Beard. The sisters are also manufacturers of  “Lulu Bang” BBQ Sauce, which comes in four flavors – Asian Persuasion, BBQ Fusion, Bourbon Baby, and It’s Just HOT.  It’s now available in local shops throughout the Northeast region.

The name of the sauce is a tribute to Kelly and Jorrae’s brother, Michael “Lulu Bang” Beard, a National Guard veteran, who was murdered at the age of 32 in West Philadelphia, according to an article by Philly Mag.  Continue Reading

One of Greensgrow Farms Winter CSA shares (Photo courtesy of Greensgrow).

For those of you who prefer locally grown veggies and want to support local farmers during winter months, there’s a new winter CSA (City-Supported Agriculture) program in the area. Greensgrow Farms, located in Kensington, is “really happy” to be offering it for the first time in West Philly this season.

Greensgrow West’s new home at 5123 Baltimore Ave.

Greensgrow West has recently moved to a larger, more permanent location – at 5123 Baltimore Ave. – and Winter CSA share pick-ups will be available there from early December through mid-April.

To become a Winter CSA member, interested individuals can sign up online by November 26. Winter CSA shares include more than veggies; various share options are available – you’ll receive a choice of dairy or vegetable protein; milk, eggs, butter, yogurt, tofu or seitan. Seasonal fruit, fun specialty prepared items and a few pantry staples will also be included. Meat, vegetarian and vegan share options are also available. Check out a photo gallery of the Winter CSA here.

More information about the program is available here. Greensgrow CSA hotline is (215) 380-4355. You can also email: csa@greensgrow.org

To explore other CSA programs in the area, check our earlier post here.

Halloween is almost here, so if you’re looking for something fun to do check out our assorted list of events below. We also included Day of the Dead events in the neighborhood. Also, a reminder that the Spruce Hill Halloween Tot Parade will take place on Monday, Oct. 31, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Philly Thriller dancers usually perform after the parade – near 44th and Osage and in Clark Park – so if you want to catch their performance follow them on Facebook for more information and updates.  Continue Reading

West Philly educator Carole Williams-Green, who founded the Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Education Center, will be honored by the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education with the 2016 Meigs Award. The award is given annually to a regional leader who embodies the spirit and leadership of Henry Meigs, one of the Schuylkill Center’s founders.

A former public school teacher and administrator, Williams-Green led a successful multi-decade effort to rehabilitate the historic Fairmount Park Police stables in Fairmount Park’s Cobbs Creek, creating an environmental education center. Founded in 1991, the Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Education Center opened its doors in 2001.

Williams-Green has made a substantial contribution to environmental education in the Philadelphia region, reaching communities often excluded from traditional environmental education. She explains that “it bothered [her] that children from West Philadelphia had to travel so far to get these kinds of experiences [in nature], ones that really excited children.”  Continue Reading

The annual “Love Your Park” Fall Service Day is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 12, and Philadelphia Parks and Rec is now recruiting volunteers who can help clean, green and celebrate Philly’s parks. Overall, 2,000 volunteers are needed to help plant trees, collect leaves for compost, clean up trash and litter, and more.

There are many beautiful parks in West Philly, and volunteers can sign up to participate in the fall service day in their neighborhood park. Kids, families and large groups are welcome.

Go to loveyourpark.org or call (215) 683-3689 for participating parks and to register.