Photo courtesy of REC Philly.

As the state of music venues in West Philly stands, house shows reign supreme while The Rotunda and World Cafe Live are really the only two music venues in this part of town. Unlike in Callowhill and Center City, there are few choices for local musicians and touring acts to play in West Philly.

Here’s where Live! at William Street Common comes in. When the restaurant opened a little under a year ago at 3900 Chestnut Street, it was focused on pioneering their “flat pricing” concept. Since then, the communal dining restaurant and bar cut down on business hours and invited event management company REC Philly to spearhead its music series. The company also manages events at the Screening Room in Manayunk.

What’s the plan for this space in particular?  Continue Reading

Scribe Video Center, the West Philly-based non-profit organization with a nearly 35-year-old history, is moving from 42nd and Chestnut to a new location this month. Beginning Jan. 17, Scribe will be located at 4035 Walnut St., according to information posted on the organization’s website and social media pages.

Here are some other exciting news and happenings at Scribe, which offers film screenings and educational opportunities to individuals and communities who want to learn media making and explore the use of video.

Last month, Scribe received a $25,000 Art Works grant for 2017 from the National Endowment for the Arts. The grant will go towards a collaborative project, curated by Patricia R. Zimmermann, to highlight community-produced media work from across the country. The goal of the project is to collect works of artistic and historical value and then go on tour with the exhibits.  Continue Reading

If you’re not sure what to do for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, check out some happenings below. For more events, go here. Happy New Year!

New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront

There will be not one but two New Year’s Eve fireworks on the Delaware River waterfront. The first one is scheduled for 6 p.m. (good time for kids), and the other one will be at midnight. This is a free event. Here you can find best spots where you can watch the fireworks.

New Year’s Eve Parties/Concerts

• J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral (38th and Chestnut), 4 – 8 p.m.

Choral Arts Philadelphia and the Bach Festival of Philadelphia, led by Artistic Director Matthew Glandorf, will offer a rare performance of J.S. Bach’s complete Christmas Oratorio BWV 248. The concert will include an extended intermission, food and drink concessions. For more information and tickets ($15-$45), click here.  Continue Reading

Artwork by Laura Murdoch.

Need some holiday gifts with some Philly flavor? The annual Go West! Craft Fest holiday edition is this Sunday, Dec. 18 at The Rotunda (near 40th and Walnut) and will feature more than 100 artisan vendors selling handcrafted, locally made items.

Everything from hand-knitted winter clothing to locally made preserves to handmade toys will be available at The Rotunda. This thing has gotten so big over the years that it has now expanded into The Rotunda’s amazing Sanctuary space.

The Go West! Craft Fest runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and here is a list of vendors.

It’s not often you get to see a play’s world premiere. Here’s your chance with the debut of Antagonyms, which opens at the Curio Theatre Company on Friday, Dec. 2.

Written by playwright, actor and Curio member Rachel Gluck, Antagonyms tells the story of four young Philadelphians.

“In Antagonyms, four twenty-somethings wrestle with their sense of self and their relationship to each other as they find themselves at each other’s throats and in each other’s beds. Contemporary millennial anxieties fuel a stylized high-stakes power game, creating a world in which old Hollywood glamour mingles with the sticky floor of a West Philly dive bar,” said Gluck.

Artwork by Elizabeth Gallagher.

An antagonym is a word with two opposite meanings, such as “bound.” One could be on the move, “bound” to Center City for example. Or “bound,” as in tied up, unable to move.

The performance is directed by Jack Tamburri, and the cast includes Alee Spadoni, Alexander Scott Rioh, Andrew Carroll and Colleen Hughes.

This production has mature content and not recommended for children and there are themes related to sexual violence.

You can catch a preview performance tonight and Thursday night. Antagonyms runs on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 17. All performances begin at 8 p.m.

For tickets visit the Curio Theatre Company website or call 215-525-1350.

Get a head start on your holiday shopping at the Art Star Craft Bazaar happening on Saturday, Nov. 19 and Sunday, Nov. 20, 10-5 p.m. at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum (6825 Norwitch Drive). Northern Liberties-based purveyors of handmade goods, Art Star, has once again selected a line-up of top art/craft vendors who will be set up among one of the world’s greatest collections of vintage race cars. The Simeone Foundation Automotive museum is a true hidden gem located in Southwest Philadelphia, and the bazaar is a great opportunity to check it out with the entire family at a discounted price!

Find something truly unique and made by hand for everyone on your holiday list.

Each vendor will be setting up shop in a 10-foot-by-10-foot space within the museum. Shoppers can expect a selection of unique, quality goods handmade from a variety of materials by some of the most talented makers from the region and beyond. Jewelry, Pottery, Furniture, Photography, Holiday Ornaments, Cards, Home Goods, Clothing, Lighting, Fine Art Prints, Original Art/Sculpture, Baby Gifts, Stationary, Tee Shirts, Bags, Macrame, Hand Knits, and More! Avoid the mall and support small business this holiday season.

The vendors will be bringing loads of great gift items that will not break the bank!

Go here for the full vendor line-up.

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