After several years’ hiatus, The Neighborhood to Neighborhood (N2N) street festival is returning to 50th and Baltimore. An all-day event, which has featured stars like Macey Gray, Chrissette Michele and Robin Thicke, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 8, 12 – 8 p.m. This year, rapper Common will be headlining the festival, which will also feature live performances by national and local recording artists, including West Philly rapper Chill Moody. There will also be free food, vendors, a 76er’s Kids Zone, and tents with community resources.

The festivities will be held from 49th to 51st Streets and from Willows to Catharine. Check out the festival schedule here.

The festival is presented by State Sen. Anthony Williams, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, and Black Women in Sport Foundation (BWSF). The event is free and open to the public.

The festival began in 1989 as a barbeque, but was halted after 2010 due to budget cuts. Check out this story by Philly.com on the festival and its history.

Black Hound Clay Studio has recently opened near 50th and Baltimore and on Saturday, Oct. 15 all are invited to a Grand Opening Party. This is an opportunity to tour the studio and have fun – play pin the handle on the mug, drink some beer and eat s’mores toasted on the studio’s firepits.

The opening celebration begins at 5 and will be held on the studio’s large patio. It will also include live music by The West Philly Foot Tappers (starts at 8 p.m.). Suggested donation is $5 per person, and children are also welcome. You can find more information and RSVP on the event’s Facebook page.

West Philly clay artist Bethany Rusen is behind the studio, which offers classes and workshops, co-working space for ceramic artists and events throughout the year. The studio occupies a part of the spacious, former warehouse building at 711 South 50th Street (the other half is occupied by The Green Tambourine music studio). For more information, visit: www.blackhoundclay.com. (Photos courtesy of Black Hound Clay Studio)

A great way to say “goodbye” to the summer is by visiting the historic Woodlands cemetery grounds for the fall edition of Go West! Craft Fest. The fest is scheduled for this Saturday, Oct. 1 (rain date is Sunday, Oct. 2), from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and, as always, will feature handmade wares from about 100 local craftspeople, live music, and entertainment for the whole family. There will also be an opportunity to tour The Woodlands, sample delicious food from local eateries, and enjoy performances by Tangle’s tinycircus performers.

Here’s the schedule of performances:

11:00 – The Green Tambourine
12:00 – The River Bones
1:00 – West Philly Foot Tappers
2:00 – Brady And The Bear
3:00 – Tinycircus
4:00 – Christopher Davis-Shannon

For a sneak peek of what’s in store from the participating makers, go here. Also check out #gowestcraftfest on Instagram for more glimpses of Saturday’s offerings.

Photo by Rebecca Gudelunas

OK, now here is something to look forward to as the days get shorter and the leaves begin to fall. Curio Theatre Company will be staging The Birds in October.

Yes, we’re talking Hitchcock (based on Daphne du Maurier’s novelette, of course). Irish playwright Conor McPherson’s play builds on the story of birds gone wild as three people retreat to an abandoned farmhouse, where relationships begin to unravel. As it becomes clear that the birds are a signal of the apocalypse, the rules of society change.

While it shares its name with du Maurier’s work, which was set in her native Cornwall, England, and Hithcock’s frightening film, McPherson’s work charts its own course that includes explorations of human frailty under extreme duress.  Continue Reading

The annual celebration of Philly arts and artists, The Fringe Festival, will be held from Sept. 9 through Sept. 24. This year, the festival has expanded its reach and is presenting an array of outstanding contemporary theater, music, dance and other performances at city-wide locations, including many events in West Philadelphia.

Here’s information on some of the performances to be held in West Philly. We also included shows by West Philly’s all-female aerial dance company, Tangle (for more festival events and tickets, visit: fringearts.com).

Shakespeare @ the Bar: The Taming of the Shrew

Sept 11, 7:30 p.m. – City Tap House (3925 Walnut St)

Fire up your Tinder profile (seriously) and get ready for Shakespeare @ the Bar, a no‐holds‐barred experience of Shakespeare like no other in Philadelphia! This lightly rehearsed production of the Bard’s most irreverent romantic comedy exposes one man’s lusty, raucous scheme to “take one for the team” and get filthy rich in the process. FREE. Go here for more details.  Continue Reading

Lamees’s work turned into street art (Photo by West Philly Local).

You may have recently noticed the artwork of Penn Alexander student Lamees Abou-Hatab on the northwest corner of 42nd and Spruce.

Literally on the corner.

Lamees’s art work is a creative reminder that what you dump in the street drains will find its way into rivers and streams. Her work was chosen as part of a student art contest hosted by the Philadelphia Water Department and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and was turned into street art over the summer. Lamees is heading into 7th grade this year. Congrats to her!  Continue Reading