Tom McCusker makes some damn fine tacos and now Channel 10 knows it too. Oooo, and he wants to make and bottle his own hot sauce. Bring it on Honest Tom.

Mill Creek Farm (4901 Brown Street) will hold its annual fundraiser today from 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center (640 Water Works Drive) – behind the Art Museum. The farm is “an educational urban farm dedicated to improving local access to fresh produce, building a healthy community and environment, and promoting a just and sustainable food system,” according to its website. A non-profit, the farm is an important part of West Philadelphia and it relies on this annual fundraiser for a substantial chunk of its budget. In addition to growing food, the farm conducts community workshops and youth employment programs.

The fundraiser will include the debut of West Philly Grown, a documentary about the farm. A silent auction will also be held (holiday gifts perhaps? hmmm?). Live music will be provided by The Bro’s Perspective, a jazz fusion trio, as well as by violinist Carlos Santiago and harpist Mary O’Malley. As if that isn’t enough, there’s also going to be food and drink from Philadelphia Brewing Company, Dock Street Brewing Co., Art in the Age, Bar Ferdinand, Beau Monde and Honest Tom’s Taco Shop. That is a substantial line-up. Holy smokes, I’m salivating just writing this.

Now, it’s a fundraiser so it ain’t free. Tickets are $25 (cash/check) and are available at the door.

If spending a few hours being driven around to look at West Philadelphia murals while sipping a beer sounds better than fighting the mad Black Friday shopping crowds, then we’ve got something for you. The Ale and Arts Adventure begins Friday afternoon at World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut St.) where you can grab a cold one a board a “trolley” that will drive you around to several murals in West Philly before stopping at Dock Street Brewing Co. (701 South 50th St.) for another round and a brewery tour.

Riders then return to the trolley for a scenic ride back to World Cafe Live for a “spread that highlights their impressive menu.”

Tickets are $35. Here’s the itinerary:
1:30 p.m. • Meet at Wold Cafe Live
2:00 p.m. • Trolley departs
2:45: • Dock Street tour
4:00 • Trolley returns to World Cafe Live

A mock-up of the expanded Mariposa at 4824 Baltimore Avenue.

The Baltimore Ave member-owned  food co-op Mariposa needs some help to cover the estimated $2.2 million costs for their new location down the street in the old bank building at 4824 Baltimore. The co-op recently purchased the building.

The co-op has most of the tab covered in a combination of grants, loans and donations. But there are two ways that neighbors can help cover the rest. The first is buying some raffle tickets at a buck apiece. Each ticket gives you a chance to win one of dozens of fabulous prizes, including handmade goods from local artisans, classes and workshops, deals at local eateries and hotel stays. VIX Emporium (5009 Baltimore Ave.) is selling the tickets online here. The raffle drawing will be held Nov. 20 from 2-10 p.m. at Dock Street Brewing Company (701 South 50th), in a shindig that will include live music.

Mariposa is also offering member loans. The loan terms are from five to 10 years and offer a 3 percent return. Many co-ops have used member loans to help with expansion plans and decrease the reliance on banks. The minimum loan is $1,000.

The proposed layout of the new building.

So the skinny on the expansion in case you hadn’t heard … The new space is a five-fold increase from the current space and there are plans for a mezzanine level cafe, a classroom and rooftop gardens and behives. The folks at Mariposa say that the added space will help them scale up their purchasing volume and keep prices relatively low. The added space will also mean that the co-op will be able to serve non-members, though membership – the lifeblood of Mariposa – will still be encouraged.

A date has not been set for the opening of the new building.