Many local events, activities and programs have been canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Many West Philly businesses, organizations and venues have also announced temporary closings, restrictions or new ways of operating to help slow down the spread of the virus and following Mayor Jim Kenney’s directives.

Here’s a list of canceled or postponed events and closings/changes in operation for local businesses and organizations (check back for updates):

Closings, Changes in Operation

• The Green Tambourine is now offering online music classes for kids and adults.

• VIX Emporium is closed until further notice, but their online shop is open with free local delivery. With Mother’s Day approaching fast (May 10), VIX has been adding many more items to their online shop, now organized in categories like home wares, bath & body, jewelry, stationery & paper, and Philly-themed items. Go here to shop online. Local customers: enter promo code LOCAL to receive free next-day delivery on anything in the shop, within 1 mile.

• Greensgrow West is closed until further notice, but online orders are accepted with pickup at their Kensington (Greensgrow Farms) location. Go here for more info.

• Studio 34 is offering a variety of online (Zoom) yoga classes. Check out their weekly schedule here.

• Renata’s Kitchen is now closed on Mondays and Tuesdays for cleaning and disinfecting. The new hours are: Wednesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Breakfast/brunch and dinner are available for takeout or delivery. Go here for more info.

• Scribe Video Center is offering virtual film screenings, workshops and other programs.

• Penn Museum is closed until further notice. Check out the Museum’s virtual programs and experiences both for kids and families and for adults.

• The Free Library of Philadelphia has launched new Virtual Program Listings, where you can find information on some of your favorite library events now offered online – via Facebook, Instagram, Crowdcast, and Zoom. Programs are being offered for library lovers of all ages, from storytimes to financial workshops to cooking classes and much more. Here’s more info.

• The University City Garden Club’s 2020 Plant Sale will be pre-order/pre-paid with curbside pickup only. The pre-order period will run until April 20th. Pickup of pre-orders will be Saturday, May 2 on Woodland Terrace near the 40th Street Trolley Portal. Order online here or download the flyer here.

• A list of local restaurants/eateries that currently offer takeout/delivery can be found here.

• Crust Vegan Bakery (42nd and Chester) will be closed through at least April 30th. A no contact, pre-order/prepayment only, bake sale will be held on Saturday, April 11 in Manayunk. More info.

• Four Worlds Bakery is open for pickup (from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.) or delivery. The store accepts online orders for their morning bakes on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Go here for more info.  Continue Reading

April is the month when many folks start visiting local garden centers to buy plants for their gardens. Many plant sales are also held in April or early May. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, all physical plant sales have been cancelled and garden centers have been closed unless they’re a part of a larger store, like Lowe’s. So what can you do? Here are a few options where you can order plants and pick them up locally.

Since the annual Spruce Hill May Fair has been cancelled, the University City Garden Club is holding an online plant sale (until 11 a.m. on Monday, April 20). There is a large selection of annuals and perennials, and herb and vegetable plants. Orders will be available for pickup on Saturday, May 2 on Woodland Terrace near the 40th Street Trolley Portal. Go here for more info and to shop.  Continue Reading

The Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m., in the Penn Alexander School gymnasium (enter through cafeteria/blacktop entrance on 43rd street between Locust and Spruce). At its annual meeting, the community group elects new officers and board members and invites guest experts to talk about important community issues. The event is free and all community members are invited to attend, learn more about the organization, and get involved.

This year’s meeting will feature a presentation on a community-influenced, space-based initiative. Julie Bush, Landscape Architect, Principal at Ground Reconsidered, will be the featured speaker on “Penn Alexander School: Re-imagining the Schoolyard.”  Continue Reading

Residents are invited to the monthly Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) Board meeting tonight at the SHCA center at 257 S. 45th St, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Representatives from Penn will be at the meeting to provide updates on current events and plans, including Glenn Bryan, Assistant Vice President of Community Relations, Ed Datz, Executive Director of Real Estate, and Maureen Rush, Vice President for Public Safety and Superintendent of the Penn Police department.

Regular committee updates and May Fair planning are also on the agenda.  Continue Reading

Mark Wagenveld photographed in Clark Park in 2011 (Photo from Spruce Hill Community Association Facebook page).

UPDATE (2/1/2018): A memorial service for Mark Wagenveld will be held on Saturday, Feb. 17 at Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church at 412 Pine St. Visitation will be from 9:45-10:45 a.m., with a service to follow at 11 a.m.

Longtime Spruce Hill community leader and retired Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Mark Wagenveld passed away on Saturday at the age of 73.

We got to know Mark in his role as president of the Spruce Hill Community Association and a mentor of sorts who took an interest in West Philly Local soon after we began publishing in 2010. He always had solid news tips and words of encouragement for us.

We also know him as the driving force behind the May Fair in Clark Park and the Halloween Parade. Mark became active in community work soon after his retirement from the Inquirer in 2005, according to Barry Grossbach, his friend and colleague in the Spruce Hill Community Association.

“Sometimes we don’t fully appreciate a person’s contribution or importance while they are around,” Grossbach wrote. “Not so with Mark. Everyone knew what he did and what he meant to our community. And everyone will be the poorer for his absence.”  Continue Reading

It wasn’t a very good start to the “Love Your Park” week on Saturday, May 13, with some of the events, like the annual Spruce Hill May Fair, being rained out. This week, there will be more chances to celebrate and help clean up your neighborhood park as the “Love Your Park” week, sponsored by Philadelphia Parks & Rec and local community groups, continues. On Friday and Saturday, festivities will be held at at least three West Philly parks – Clark Park, Cedar Park and Malcolm X Park. A couple of park cleanups have also been scheduled, and volunteers are needed. Here are more details:

Cedar Park (49th and Baltimore)

Picnic in Cedar Park: Friday, May 19, 6-8 p.m.

Residents are invited to bring their own picnic or pick up a dinner at one of the neighborhood’s great businesses and enjoy a beautiful spring evening with their friends and neighbors.

Service Workday: Saturday, May 20, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The service workday in Cedar Park has been rescheduled for Saturday, May 20 due to rain. Volunteers of all ages are welcome. Help is needed planting annuals and perennials, pruning, weeding, and doing general clean up. Tools and gloves will be provided. RSVP here.  Continue Reading