Neighborhood Bike Works is moving! (Photo from NBW Facebook page).

Neighborhood Bike Works (NBW), a great neighborhood institution that has been providing bike education programs for youth and bike repair classes for adults for nearly two decades, has just announced its plans to open a new, larger hub and community shop in West Philly this Fall. The new site is located at two side-by-side storefront properties – at 3939 and 3943 Lancaster Avenue. It is one mile from NBW’s current headquarters in the basement of St. Mary’s Church on Locust Walk.

“By moving out of a basement space to a highly visible, street-level site, we hope more families will find us and get involved in our programs,” NBW Executive Director Erin DeCou said in a statement.

A larger space on Lancaster Ave will offer more flexibility and an opportunity for NBW to operate more than one class or event at a time. Located at the intersection of the Mantua, Belmont, and Powelton neighborhoods, the new headquarters will also allow NBW to be closer to more of the communities they serve.  Continue Reading

Here is the monthly breakfast and lunch menu served in Philadelphia public schools. Click on the images below to view the menus for grades K-8 and 9-12 for May 2015. If your school uses a Satellite menu, click here.

K-8 Breakfast and Lunch Menu, May 2015

9-12 Breakfast and Lunch Menu, May 2015

Great news for some local schools and lots of arts and culture organizations, which recently received grants and monetary awards for their achievements, continuous service to the community and to support some new projects:

• The West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools (WPCNS) received a $20,000 grant for the Greening Lea project from the TD Green Streets program. A collaboration between the Arbor Day Foundation and TD Bank, this Green Streets grant was one just of 10 awarded to communities across the country. The grant will be used towards planting a large shade tree area over the green stormwater management system to be installed at the Lea play yard this year. Please also check our post on the Greening Lea naming campaign, where local residents and businesses are encouraged to participate.  Continue Reading

Again, so many great events are taking place in our neck of the woods this weekend for adults and children alike. In addition to the spring edition of Go West! Craft Fest at The Woodlands this Saturday, there will be some free Philadelphia Science Festival activities in Clark Park. Also a reminder that the annual Penn Relays are back this weekend. The schedule is here and expect traffic jams and a lot of visitors on and around Penn’s campus.

In the roundup below we included a few fundraisers for local children’s programs and a bird watching opportunity at Bartram’s Garden. For more events, visit our Events Calendar.

Saturday, April 25

BirdPhilly Bird Walk at Bartram’s Garden

54th and Lindbergh Blvd.

Come to historic Bartram’s Garden on Saturday morning to enjoy this free bird walk with guides from BirdPhilly when they expect to see late wintering waterfowl with early arriving breeders and migrants like warblers and orioles (both species). 7 – 10 a.m. More info.  Continue Reading

Get ready, get set, go! A bike package from Spruce Hill business Keswick Bikes (kids’ 20” bike, helmet, bell) is just one of the exciting auction items featured at the 11th annual Saint Mary’s Nursery School (SMNS) “Spring for Our School” Silent Auction & Cocktail Party Fundraiser. SMNS is a non-denominational, Reggio Emilia – inspired nursery school and afterschool program located at 3916 Locust Walk.

The fundraising event will include catered hors d’oeuvres, Yard’s beer, wine, great community, and an exciting silent auction to benefit the program. The after party will take place at City Tap House from 8:30-10:00 p.m. Proceeds will help SMNS make essential playground improvements including an organic “green” shade for the playground.  Continue Reading

Here are the monthly breakfast and lunch menus served in Philadelphia public schools. Click on the images below to view the menus for April. Just a reminder that all students in the School District of Philadelphia are now eligible for free meals. If your school uses a Satellite menu, click here.

K-8 Breakfast and Lunch Menu, April 2015

9-12 Breakfast and Lunch Menu, April 2015