In addition to the Holiday Gift Card Promotion (running through Dec. 24) and West Philly Forward Fundraising campaign where you can donate directly to local businesses and organizations, University City District has recently launched another campaign supporting West Philly businesses – West Philly Favorites.

The new campaign features a curated series of gift packs filled with handcrafted and locally produced items from small neighborhood businesses, including VIX Emporium, Renata’s Kitchen, Jezabel’s Cafe, Metropolitan Bakery, Snapdragon Flowers, and more. All proceeds from sales of West Philly Favorites packs go to participating businesses.  Continue Reading

When shopping for holiday gifts this month please remember to support small local businesses. This year it’s more important than ever because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which cut down revenues at many local restaurants and shops by as much as 90 percent. On top of that, many neighborhood businesses have been struggling to stay open after this year’s civil unrest.

Gift cards from local shops and restaurants is a great idea for a holiday gift and you can buy them safely online at many businesses. Please check your local business association or neighborhood community organization for more information on businesses in your area, such as Baltimore Avenue Business Association, Lancaster Avenue Business Association, 52nd Street Commercial Corridor, Garden Court Community Association, Cedar Park Neighbors, and more.  Continue Reading

The Cedar Park Neighbors community organization has launched their 2020 Holiday Food Drive, the event held annually since 1985. This year, the food drive and volunteer event that brings holiday meals to dozens of neighborhood families every year, has some changes due to health safety reasons for both recipient families and volunteers and the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This season, in lieu of holiday food baskets, CPN will work with their community partners to distribute grocery store gift cards safely to families.  Continue Reading

              Photo courtesy of Penn Museum

Philadelphia libraries and museums have closed their doors again due to the COVID-19 pandemic until at least January 1, 2021, but it doesn’t mean that all events and activities are cancelled. The Free Library of Philadelphia is offering many programs virtually and maintains digital resources – ebooks, audiobooks, movies, TV, music, and more – that you can access anywhere with your library card.

Several Free Library locations, including Walnut Street West Library, have also started offering contactless material pickups and returns. Please visit this page for more details.

Many museums, including the Penn Museum, continue to hold events online, many of them free, for adults and children alike. Check out the Penn Museum’s events calendar for upcoming virtual events and programs.  Continue Reading

Here are Thanksgiving Day hours for local grocery stores and supermarkets in case you need to do some last minute shopping for your holiday table:

• Mariposa Food Co-op (49th and Baltimore): Thanksgiving Day: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 27: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
• ACME Markets (40th and Walnut): Thanksgiving Day: 5 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Supremo “Shop n Bag” (43rd and Walnut): Thanksgiving Day: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• ALDI (46th and Market): Thanksgiving Day: Closed
• The Fresh Grocer (56th and Chestnut): Thanksgiving Day: 6 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Shoprite at ParkWest Town Center (1575 N. 52nd St.): Thanksgiving Day: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

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UPDATE (10/24/2020): Spruce Hill Community Association has launched a neighborhood Scavenger Hunt. Here are more details:

Spread throughout Spruce Hill are the 10 letters that spell “Spruce Hill.” All you have to do is find all 10 letters! Full instructions, along with clues and a submission form, can be found online, or you can print out a hard copy of the form and submit your answers in the mail slot at the Spruce Hill Center, located at 257 South 45th St. The first 100 entries with all 10 correct locations will receive a small prize supporting one of neighborhood businesses after the hunt closes. Deadline for submission is Sunday, Nov. 1 at midnight.

Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) has canceled this year’s Halloween Tot Parade, an event that had been held for 23 years. Instead, neighborhood residents are invited to participate in a virtual Spruce Hill Halloween Parade, which will take place online at www.sprucehillca.org. Submit photos of your Halloween costumes or decorations via email to shcahalloween@sharypic.com, or tag your Instagram or Twitter posts with #SHCAHalloween from October 30 to November 1 and you’ll appear in the virtual parade!

SHCA is also hosting a Spruce Hill neighborhood scavenger hunt, which will launch this weekend. There will be a bunch of great prizes to those that successfully complete the search.  Continue Reading