Just in time for the spring and summer season when many folks may need to purchase home and garden tools, the West Philadelphia Tool Library is holding a Spring Tool Sale. The event will take place on Saturday, May 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tool Library’s location at 1314 S. 47th St.

The sale will feature some great deals, plus this is a great opportunity to support a 14-year-old local non-profit. The sale is open to everyone (you don’t need to be a member).

The West Philly Tool Library was founded in 2007 with a goal to lend tools to community members. Since its founding, the organization has expanded its inventory to over 4,000 tools and has welcomed over 2,600 members. To learn more about membership at the West Philly Tool Library, go here. Continue Reading

The annual Spruce Hill May Fair was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, but this year the organizers, Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA), are bringing back the popular community event. The May Fair will be held virtually on Saturday, May 8, 4-8 p.m.

Local vendors, artists and craftspeople are invited to participate in the event free of charge. Community groups and organizations seeking to do outreach are also invited to be part of this event. Space is limited and priority will be given to local community organizations and artisans. Continue Reading

The annual West Philly Porchfest, which was cancelled last year due to the COVID pandemic, is set to return in June!

Flyers in different colors have been posted around the neighborhood announcing that it will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2021 from 12 to 6 p.m.

The outdoor DIY music festival, which was first held in West Philly in 2016, gives an opportunity to local musicians to play and to West Philly residents and guests to enjoy free shows in various music genres. The Porchfest’s motto is that anyone can perform or host a show.

Folks who are interested in hosting a show on their porch can sign up here. The organizers have also created a Facebook group where porch hosts can connect with musicians looking for porches to perform on. Continue Reading

Photo courtesy of Parks on Tap

Parks on Tap, Philadelphia’s traveling beer garden, will kick off its 2021 season tomorrow with the first-ever Cherry Blossom edition. The garden will pop up at two locations outside the Fairmount Horticulture Center Arboretum (100 N. Horticultural Drive) through Sunday, April 25 and will partner with the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia to present the Shofuso Cherry Blossom Viewing. This new campaign includes three weeks of prime Cherry Blossom viewing, socially distanced activities, virtual programming, and new Japanese-inspired fare.

Parks on Tap will also feature products from Two Local’s Brewing, Philadelphia’s first Black-owned brewery, and will offer three weeks of free live performances to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month. Continue Reading

The Woodlands Cemetery and Mansion will be auctioning off rare wood from the Grove of Seven Giants – the historic English Elm trees that had stood there for over 200 years, but had to be cut down after succumbing to Dutch Elm disease a few years ago.

The wood from the Grove of Seven Giants was milled in 2017, and has been carefully drying ever since. This rare wood is now ready to be used in restoration projects at The Woodlands, and in your own home! The Woodlands is auctioning off live edge, raw slabs in a variety of sizes to be used for woodworking projects, furniture, and more. Continue Reading

Neighborhood Bike Works (NBW), a West Philly-based non-profit organization that has been providing free bikes to essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, is holding a virtual Spring Fundraiser on Thursday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m.

Over the past year, the organization has been working through its Bikes for Neighbors program to connect people all over the city with safe and reliable bicycle transportation. The bikes were made available for free to essential workers – those working in hospitals, grocery stores, restaurants, warehouses, etc.

The Bikes for Neighbors program received over 540 requests for bicycles from Philadelphia residents in need, and 118 bicycles have been given out so far. Forty-five percent of the bikes have gone to healthcare workers and another 20 percent to grocery store employees. Continue Reading