Photo by Sasha Aleiner

Last year, West Philly witnessed its very first Porchfest, a concept that was introduced into the neighborhood by musicians Owen Lyman-Schmidt and Ross Hoffman (Liana Moskowitz, Abram Taber and Bobby Szafranski also helped organize last year’s festival). This year, Lyman-Schmidt and Hoffman are joined by new organizers, and West Philly Porchfest (WPPF) is back for year two.

New organizers include Carmen Greenwood, Morgan Melissa Robinson, and Ciara Chaly.

“I think it was a really wonderful sort of proof of concept that we could bring this to West Philly and it was embraced so quickly within the first year. I wouldn’t want to say that we were surprised at the turnout, but it was certainly validating to have seen it somewhere else and think this could work in our community and then have folks agree with us,” said co-organizer Lyman-Schmidt.  Continue Reading

A great summer tradition is still alive in Cedar Park! Summer live jazz series is returning on Friday, June 2, according to Cedar Park Neighbors. Bobby Zankel and the Warriors of the Wonderful Sound Six will kick off the series this Friday. West Philly musician Gretchen Elise will perform next Friday, June 9.

2017 Live Jazz Fridays in Cedar Park will be held every Friday at 49th and Baltimore, 6 – 8 p.m., weather permitting, through July 28th (see the flier for the full lineup). Don’t forget to bring your kids and your neighbors, as well as chairs or a blanket.

Stay tuned for more announcements about live jazz in West Philly – at Malcolm X Park and the annual Lancaster Avenue Jazz Festival. Continue Reading

The Cobbs Creek neighborhood, with the help of Cobbs Creek Neighbors, is holding the annual Spring Fling Fair on Saturday, May 27. The event will take place at the Blanche A. Nixon (Cobbs Creek) Library at 5800 Cobbs Creek Parkway, from 1-4 p.m.. This is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and learn about resources for the community. A used book sale will also be held.

Vendor and resource tables are still available. There is a fee for vendor tables ($25), but resource tables are free.

For more information and other upcoming events, visit Cobbs Creek Neighbors’ Facebook page.

Houses of worship are a vital part of Cedar Park, serving the neighborhood’s diverse population. This Thursday, May 25, community members and all interested individuals will have a chance to learn more about Cedar Park’s houses of worship at a townhall hosted by Cedar Park Neighbors and People’s Baptist Church.

“Have you ever walked by a house of worship in Cedar Park and wondered what went on inside? What do they believe? Who are their members? How do they live out their faith in the community?” reads a message on the event’s Facebook page.

Residents are invited to come hear from members of the following churches and fellowships:  Continue Reading

Due to bad weather, many local park cleanups scheduled for May 13 as part of the Love Your Park week had to be postponed. So, much to the delight of the Friends of Barkan Park, the organizer of the spring clean-up and planting event in this small park located at 50th and Spruce, a lot of volunteers showed up for the rescheduled event on Saturday, May 20.  Continue Reading

After being closed for about 18 months for maintenance and renovations, the Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library is set to reopen this weekend. The grand opening celebration will take place on Saturday, May 20, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and will include a block party featuring fun learning activities, balloon art, face painting, giveaways, library card sign-ups, food, and more.

One of the area’s largest libraries, which serves the communities of Cobbs Creek, Cedar Park, Walnut Hill, Mill Creek, Dunlap, and West Park, the Blackwell library has been closed since the beginning of 2016, and its patrons were redirected to other neighborhood branches. The maintenance work at the library, which first opened in 1976 and was the second regional library in the city, included a complete replacement of the building’s heating and air-conditioning system and installation of new ceilings and a new electrical system.  Continue Reading