Made West, a West Philly hub of Made Institute, an independent fashion design and sewing school, is officially opening this week in Garden Court (4719 Pine St.). To celebrate the opening, Made West will hold a launch party on Friday, Aug. 18 (see the flyer below for more details).

Made West is “opening up a whole new world of sewing, fashion and crafts for the West Philadelphia community,” according to the announcement. Friday’s event is a great opportunity to learn about the upcoming classes, workshops, an afterschool program, teen fashion club and adult sewing classes.

Guests of all ages are also invited to tour the space, and check out the equipment and supplies. To register for the event, click here. Continue Reading

University City Dining Days returns July 20 to showcase West Philadelphia’s diverse restaurant scene. This year’s promotion will feature 25 restaurants offering three courses for three prices: $20, $30, and $40 at lunch and dinner.

The list of participating restaurants and eateries includes: El Taco, Dahlak, Renata’s Kitchen, Jezabel’s, Garces Trading Company, Pattaya Thai Cuisine, Chengdu Famous Food, Renata’s Kitchen, Aksum, Booker’s Restaurant and Bar, 48th Street Grille, White Dog, and more.

The promotion ends on July 30. To view the full list of participating restaurants, their menus and contact details, visit: https://www.ucdiningdays.com. Reservations should be made directly at each restaurant.

Here’s some exciting news for aspiring local fashion designers and makers. Philadelphia’s Made Institute, an independent fashion design and sewing school, is opening a West Philly location in the Garden Court apartment building’s ground-floor retail space at 4719 Pine St.

At the new location, Made Institute will offer a variety of fashion design workshops and sewing classes, as well as fashion education for teens and children ages 11 and up. In addition, the Institute will offer its new space to community workshops and also operate as a shop where you students and the public can purchase a variety of fabric and sewing supplies.

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Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll (Photos by Lora Reehling).

West Philly folks and visitors are invited to this summer’s first Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll, which will take place Thursday, June 15, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The popular outdoor event, organized by University City District (UCD), features dozens of local businesses and vendors offering deals on food, merchandise and other items along Baltimore Avenue between 40th to 51st Streets.

This year, the event will again feature $1, $3, and $5 bargains from neighborhood standouts like Booker’s, Vientiane Café, Dahlak Paradise and more, as well as newcomers including brewery Carbon Copy and Ethiopian chicken house Doro Bet. The vendors list, including West Philly-based merchandise vendors and food trucks, has also expanded since last year.

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Here’s some great local business news from the area around 50th and Baltimore.

Third Wheel Cheese Instagram photo.

If you have missed Milk & Honey Market since its closure in 2020, this news may excite you. Third Wheel Cheese Company, which was established in 2018 as a wholesale operation, has opened a new retail shop at 705 S. 50th St. The company, run by local foodie, food justice advocate and entrepreneur Ann Karlen, features a variety of artisanal, locally-made cheeses. The shop, which is located at the front of its warehouse, will hold its grand opening celebration on Thursday, June 15, from 1-6 p.m..

The shop will also carry regionally-made meats, crackers, jams and preserves, mustards, honey, olives, and other fresh and organic products, according to a report by The Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Michael Klein.

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Here’s some great news for Lee’s Deli fans and supporters. The popular Baltimore Avenue business, located at the corner of 47th and Baltimore, has quietly reopened, with a short Instagram post: “I’m Back.” (see below). The store was closed for several months after a U-Haul van crashed right through the front door in November, causing substantial damage.

The caption to the post, published yesterday, reads:

“Open Tuesdays – Saturdays 10am – 7pm on DoorDash, on phone, and in person. We love you. We thank you. City of Brotherly Love.”

Lee’s Deli owners and staff worked hard for several months to fix the extensive damage caused by the crash and to reopen the store as soon as possible. A GoFundMe campaign was launched in the weeks following the accident, and the community support was overwhelming with over $42,000 raised. Continue Reading