Some changes are being planned for 30th Street Station and the area surrounding it, and if you’re interested to learn more about the Philadelphia 30th Street Station District Plan, come to an open house at the station this Wednesday, from 4 to 7 p.m. The project team will be there to present the plan and answer your questions, including how you can get involved in the planning process. Some information boards will also be at the station for everyone to check out (see the flier below for more details about tonight’s event).

The 30th Street Station District Plan is a joint effort among Amtrak, Drexel University, SEPTA, and Brandywine Realty trust, and other public and private stakeholders. The Master Planning process involves three main elements of analysis: transportation, the station and associated facilities, and commercial opportunities. The planning process is expected to take about two years.

Photo courtesy of University City District.

Here’s some great news for West Philly mobile gourmet food lovers: the University City District has announced that there will be no winter break in mobile food service at the Porch at 30th Street Station while other Porch events and happenings will resume in April 2014. The city’s most buzzed-about food trucks will be on site every Monday and Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. and every Wednesday and Friday from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Here’s the Porch food truck schedule through the holidays. We’ll post the early 2014 schedule soon.

Monday

Undrgrnd Donuts

Tuesday

Schmear It

Wednesday (No vending on December 25)

Cow and the Curd
Spot Burger (Facebook page)
Street Food (Twitter)
Sum Pig

Friday

Mac Mart
Mama’s Meatballs (Facebook page)
Milk + Sugar (Facebook page)
The Tot Cart (Facebook page)

The University City District and VIX Emporium are teaming up to bring  a new cool event to West Philly. The inaugural 30th Street Craft Market is happening Saturday, Feb. 23, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., and we wanted to let you know more about the participants. It’s an impressive list of super talented artists and crafts people from all around Philly who will offer unique, handmade items such as jewelry, pottery, cards & prints, knits, glassware, natural soaps & body care supplies, children’s items and more. Here’s the full list of participants (you can see their profiles here).

Art Star
As The Crow Flies & Co.
The Captain’s Vintage
Dop Dop Designs
exit343design
J4 WoodWorks
Jen McCleary Art & Design
joeyfivecents
Ken Beidler Ceramics
Krista Peel
The Lettered Set
Lindsay Gilbert Glass
Malachy Egan
Manic Muse
Mellifera Candles
Nice Things Handmade
Nicole Rae Styer
Old Blood
Phea Jean
Precious Meshes
Punk RocKnits
Rachelink
Sardine Clothing
Seampoets
Stitch Prism
Suzanne Francis
Tadpole Creations
Threet Ceramics
Volta Organics
VIX Emporium
Wrong World Ceramics

The market will take place indoors, at the 30th Street Station (that’s something unusual for America’s third busiest train station!), so you don’t have to worry about the cold weather and can spend more time shopping.

For more information, check out the event’s Facebook page or visit VIX Emporium‘s or the University City District‘s websites.

Folks who work, study or live in the area near 30th Street Station will soon have a convenient opportunity to buy fresh produce and healthy foods from local farmers. The Porch, a public space that opened near the station last fall, will have its own Farmer’s Market every Wednesday, beginning May 16. The market will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Here’s a list of participating vendors:

Brulee Bakery
Brulee Bakery serves bread, brownies, gluten-free treats, quiches, muffins and scones.

Frecon Farms
Frecon Farms sells fresh fruit, fruit butter, cider and cut flowers.

FreshaPeel Hummus
A fresh approach to hummus infused with natural ingredients and with flavors such as lemon kale, jalapeno, tomato basil, pumpkin, and spicy black bean.

John & Kira’s
Gourmet, artisan chocolate gifts and handmade confections.

McCann’s Farm
A third generation farming family from Elk Township, NJ with a full line of farm fresh produce, fruits and herbs.

Mompops
Homemade gourmet popsicles such as chocolate banana, strawberry cream, cantaloupe, mango, lemon-lime, strawberry basil, and peaches and cream.

MyHouse Cookies
Old fashioned, hand-crafted cookies, pies and quiches baked in small batches.

Spruce Hill Farm
Spruce Hill Farm features a variety of seasonal vegetables, herbs and cut flowers.

There will also be some supplemental programming for the first twelve weeks of the market, with Give and Take Jugglers and Citywide Specials musical ensemble entertaining the shoppers.

The Porch Farmer’s Market is produced by University City District in partnership with Farm to City.

In the area on Market St. between 30th Street Station and the site of the former US Post Office building community members gathered to celebrate the opening of a new public space yesterday – “The Porch” at 30th Street Station.

Spearheaded by the University City District,  project has been in development for eight years as part of a larger conversation between the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Brandywine Realty Trust, Amtrak and the UCD about the revitalization of this central transit hub of Philadelphia.The name of the new space was chosen from some 500 entries submitted by the general pubic.

Once a dangerous walkway outside of the one of the nation’s largest train stations, The Porch is now a 40-foot-wide space complete with tables and chairs, umbrellas and foliage. The project cost about $300,000 and was paid for with the help of a grant from the William Penn Foundation.

The Porch is part of an incentive to make this area more pedestrian-friendly by including farmers’ markets and community programming like weekly yoga and kickboxing classes led by Drexel Unversity Recreational Athletics staff as well as weekly circus events presented by the Little Circus. The Porch is also part of a more “capital intensive” vision for this area of the city. Over the next decade Brandywine Realty Trust (responsible for the Cira Centre) will be redeveloping the old US Post Office building for commercial use.

A fall festival at the space is coming up, including a Milk & Honey-sponsored honey tasting with Urban Apiaries and an apple cider history event presented by Bartram’s Garden.

– Jane

If you’re free around lunchtime tomorrow swing by 30th Street Station for the opening of “Philadelphia’s next great public space.” The celebration starts at noon and will also include the unveiling of the new name of the plaza along Market Street adjacent to the station – once a sort of dangerous and confusing mix of pedestrians dashing to make trains, taxis and Market Street traffic. Now it has trees, tables, chairs and sensible traffic patterns, making it a fitting introduction to our fair ‘burg for commuters and tourists alike.

Tomorrow’s opening ceremony will include street performances, refreshments and live music.