This upcoming weekend Milk & Honey Market is throwing two holiday celebrations: a Holiday Pop-Up Shop on Sunday at their West Philly store at 45th and Baltimore and Winterfest on Saturday at their Center City location at Sister Cities Park (18th St. and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway). Annie Baum-Stein, the owner, invites her West Philly neighbors to both events.

Winterfest will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes a lot of fun holiday activities for the whole family – a Treasure Hunt, Karaoke sing-a-long with Frosty the Snowman, and holiday arts and crafts. The event will kick off with a choir performing songs of the season. Throughout the day children will enjoy Story Art, Snowflake Science, Cold Weather Creatures, and cookie decorating. This page has a full schedule.

For Sunday’s Pop-Up Shop held at 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in West Philly, Milk & Honey partnered with local artist/craft team Fennec Designs (many will recognize their wares from VIX Emporium or Go West Craft Fests) who have invited their neighborhood artisan friends to participate. In addition to the pop-up gift shop, Build-Your-Own gift baskets and Cookie decorating kits will be on tap at the event.  You can purchase anything in the store for a gift basket and receive the gift packaging and a custom gift card free.

And here are some examples of locally grown or made gift items:

Urban Apiaries Honey, unusual bitters, shrubs and syrups for cocktailers, Beer Kits for Home Brewers, local artisan made kitchen accessories, art works and beeswax candles, a great assortment of cookbooks and of course lots of delicious edible gifts!

Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, began last night and we want to pass along information that Kol Tzedek, a Reconstructionist synagogue in West Philly, is inviting neighbors to its Annual Hanukkah Party/Fundraiser today from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Calvary Center for Culture and Community (48th & Baltimore).

Here’s more information from the Kol Tzedek website:

“Candlelighting is approximately at 4:30 pm… This is also vegetarian potluck dinner — bring along a dish to share and your own plates/cutlery if you are able. Come celebrate the Second Night of Hanukkah with the Kol Tzedek community! Light candles, nash on some latkes, play games, sing songs, listen to some classic klezmer brought to you by our Simcha Band, and enjoy the warmth of this holiday of Lights!

This event is also a fundraiser for the community. Suggested sliding scale donation: $8-18 for individuals, $18-36 for families. No one will be turned away! This year, we are aiming to have a bit of a marketplace, featuring local vendors, so bring along some extra cash for that last minute holiday shopping! We need lots of latkes! To volunteer for latke making or volunteer in other ways, contact religiouslife@kol-tzedek.org.

We invite you to bring any or all of these: a vegetarian dish to share, your own plate/napkin/cup/ silverware, your own menorah and candles so we can add to the beautiful lights, a donation of winter gear, coats, mittens, scarves, etc for a local charity.”

Doll by Jessie Schwarz.

University City Arts League is holding its annual Holiday Craft Show and Sale from December 7 to 21 and inviting everyone to the opening reception this Saturday, 6:00-8:00 p.m. (members-only opening reception is on Friday, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.). Over 50 artists will present their work at this year’s show, including ceramics, dolls, drawings, felted animals, hand woven bags, glass, illustrations, jewelry, note cards, paintings, prints, purses, scarves, table linens, wallets and more!

The show hours are:

Monday – Friday, 3:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, noon – 6:00 p.m.

For more information, visit www.ucartsleague.org.

Penn Museum (3260 South St.) is celebrating the 125th anniversary of their founding on Thursday, Dec. 6 with a 12-hour free Community Open House. The Open House runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with opportunities for behind the scenes tours, talks, informal meetings with the museum curators and collections staff, and more.

Full details of tomorrow’s activities are available here. And here‘s a story about Penn Museum in today’s The New York Times.

Check out these awesome holiday events for the whole family coming up at Walnut West Library. Thanks to volunteer group Friends of Walnut West Library for organizing many of them!

• A Zoo on Wheels is coming to the library on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 3:30 p.m. and bringing Outrageous Reptiles. It’s a great chance to come face to face with snakes, turtles and crocodilians to learn about diverse reptilian lifestyles and the importance of these animals in a variety of ecosystems.

• On Saturday, Dec. 1, from 1:30-3:30 p.m., Lauren Leatherbarrow will lead a wreath making event at the library. This event is being co sponsored by the Friends of Walnut Street West Library and the University City Garden Club. Frames and fresh balsam will be available as well as pine cones. Donation is $10. If you want a bow on your wreath you need to bring 10 feet of wire edge ribbon. Lauren will teach how to make the bows. Attendance is by pre-registration only with the head librarian, Heather Sparks. Space is limited since each person needs a large work area. No previous experience is necessary. Pre-register by calling 215-685-7671 or by email at: sparksh@freelibrary.org.

• On Saturday, Dec. 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the library is holding a Big Holiday Book Sale. Books for all ages will be available, so come and find the perfect gift!

• On Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., the library invites neighbors to the Children’s Holiday Concert featuring piano students of David Shunskis.

For information on other upcoming events and to see how you can support the library, visit: http://www.wswlibraryfriends.org/

Reuben Mitchell.

Reuben Mitchell, an inspiring 31-year-old actor, was riding his motorcycle on the 3900 block of Woodland Avenue shortly after 7 a.m. on November 12 when he struck a car that was making a u-turn. He died later that evening from the injuries sustained in the accident (source: Philly.com). Reuben was cast to play the role of Magnus in an upcoming Curio Theatre show, Tom Stoppard’s The Real Inspector Hound.

Mourning Reuben’s death and after some difficult decisions, the theatre administration decided to cancel the first weekend of previews scheduled for November 29 – December 1 but to go on with the main production run. Josh Browns who knew Reuben well will be filling the role.

“It’s been a real tragedy for the entire Philadelphia theatre community,” says Curio’s Managing Director Gay Carducci. “Though, we have known Reuben for quite some time, The Real Inspector Hound was going to be the first show that Reuben would have done with us. After much thought we decided to continue on with the show, as we believe Reuben would have wanted us to do.”

The December 5 performance will be held in honor of Reuben, and all of the proceeds that evening will go to his family in an “effort to help them during this trying time.”