Every summer, West Philadelphia experiences one of the city’s biggest rental turnovers as thousands of students around University City, Powelton Village, Mantua, and Spruce Hill prepare for new leases tied to the academic calendar at the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University.

According to a recent report from New Age Realty Group, the area’s student-heavy housing market creates unusually high annual tenant turnover, especially during late spring and summer leasing cycles. But for many renters, the biggest challenge is not simply moving — it is figuring out where to keep everything in between leases.

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Come celebrate new and old friends at the uCity Square community block party on Friday, Sept. 26, 2-8 p.m. at 37th and Cuthbert! Featuring local food, live music & comedy (see the line up below), games, and activities for the whole family. Free chair massages and a sound bath experience for the ultimate self-care.

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Original paper cutting artwork by Sue Gettlin (Courtesy of The Woodlands).

The Woodlands Annual Benefit will be held on Thursday, June 12 and will be dedicated to the 10th Anniversary of the Grave Gardeners program. The benefit will feature food and drinks from local vendors and a silent auction, with the cemetery’s late spring beauty as the backdrop.

Often seen tending the “cradle graves” at The Woodlands, the Grave Gardeners are dedicated contributors to the historic cemetery and green space. Ten years ago, The Woodlands put out a call to help them garden some untended graves, and they were flooded with volunteers. The group became The Woodlands Grave Gardeners. Today, the program has grown to 160 volunteers gardening 250 adopted cradle graves, adding life and color to the grounds. The program has inspired historic cemeteries around the world.

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Piffaro, the Renaissance Band at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral (Photo by Hoffer Photography)

Now is the Month of Maying
May 9 at 7:30 p.m. – Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, 19 S 38th St.
Tickets & information at piffaro.org/tix

Piffaro, the Renaissance Band brings spring to West Philly with an all-instrumental program, “Now is the Month of Maying.” The concert takes place on Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral. Information about the concert can be found at piffaro.org/tix or by calling 215-235-8469.

“There is so much springtime music from the Renaissance,” says artistic director Priscilla Herreid. “Imagine living through a cold, dark winter in a time before electric lighting or central heating. Now it’s May and you’re emerging into warm sunlight. You want to celebrate being alive and being together again! You want to dance, maybe have a little wine, listen to birds sing, and strike up a tune yourself!”

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Swing by uCity Square at 37th and Filbert this Friday, Dec. 6, between 4 to 7 p.m. for the annual uCity Square Holiday Fest! Free family-friendly activities include photos with Santa, live music, ornament decorating, s’mores and firepits, holiday movies, and West Philly’s only tree lighting ceremony at 5:15!

Grab the perfect gift at the West Philly Bizarre vendor marketplace and sip on hot cocoa and cider from Beach Beans Coffee Co. Learn more here: ucitysquare.com/holiday-fest.

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Piffaro, the Philadelphia-based and internationally renowned Renaissance wind band, New York City’s TENET Vocal Artists, and projection artist Camilla Tassi are collaborating to transform Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral. Artwork and poetry will be projected on the interior architecture of the historic building while the sounds of 16th century Italy will fill the sanctuary. The concert takes place at the Cathedral, located at 38th and Market, on Friday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m., and the band is offering West Philly Local readers a special 50 percent discount off regular ticket prices with code WPL.

The occasion of the concert is the 650th anniversary of Francesco Petrarch’s death. The most influential poet of the Italian Renaissance, he wrote hundreds of poems grappling with his thwarted love for the lady we only know as Laura, who died young of the plague. Love, Chastity, Death, Fame, Time, and Eternity all make appearances, embodied by the superlative singers of TENET. The music will run the gamut of 16th century Italian musical styles, from Carnival songs to sacred hymns to yearning madrigals.

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