Here are a few things plucked from a full slate of weekend activities on the left bank. If we missed something that you are dying to tell us about, write editor – at – westphillylocal.com.

Friday, January 21

• Taxing Carbon: The Simple Solution to the Climate Crisis • Tabernacle United Church • 3700 Chestnut St. • 7 p.m.

Charles Komanoff, a widely known for his work as an energy-policy analyst, transport economist and environmental activist in New York City will talk.

Saturday, January 22

• Clark Park Farmer’s Market • Don’t forget that it’s open in the winter too • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

African Cultures Day • Penn Museum • 3260 South Street • 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. • Free with museum donation ($10 for adults, $7 for seniors and $6 for kids)

The program highlights include a performance by Penn’s African Rhythms Student Dance Troupe, music by the Women’s Sekere Ensemble, traditional African storytelling by Momma Sandi, neo-African drum and dance from LaSalle, a folkore workshop with Queen Nur, games, crafts, food, etc.

• Sonic Liberation Front meets Bobby Zankel and the Warriors of the Wonderful Sound • The Rotunda • 4014 Walnut St. • 8 p.m. • FREE

Sonic Liberation Front is an afro-futuristic creative music ensemble. Its members are a who’s who of Philly’s finest genre-bending improvisers, composers and folkloric musicians (and sometimes dancers).  Bobby Zankel leads an innovative jazz outfit. The Boston Phoenix wrote that Zankel “deserves any Talent Deserving Wider Recognition Award that the Jazz Press might offer.”

Cool photo from Clark Park at sunrise this morning. This is from the Clark Park twitter feed @clarkpark. The slopes, at least as we define them in West Philly, are indeed open. Schools are not.

Clark Park at sunrise on Wednesday. (Photo from @clarkpark. See the original here.)

There are still a couple of hours left to catch today’s winter edition of the Clark Park Farmer’s Market. Several hearty vendors have braved the snow to offer some fresh vegetables, bread, eggs and the like. The market runs until 2 p.m. today.

Monday’s snow drew some observations by Holly Otterbein in City Paper about the changes at Clark Park. The story quickly lays out the two sides of the argument: “improvements” versus “clear cut.” Here’s the meat of the story:

“Indeed, the renovations — though aimed at providing better drainage, improved paths and more lighting — are the subject of no small controversy. The Clark Park revitalization, which has been in the works for the last 10 years, has drawn criticism from various locals, including eco-artist Aaron Birk, who wrote this September in an e-mail to City Paper and others, “Clark Park is going to be clear-cut in the next day or so. There is now a chain-link construction fence preventing anyone from setting foot in the park,” adding, “Let me know if you’re interested in helping organize an emerge ncy sit-in. I have a 50-watt megaphone.”

But according to the Friends of Clark Park, only 24 trees have been removed and that’s because they’re old, diseased or invasive.

“These trees were selected for removal after consultation with arborists from the Morris Arboretum,” says xBrian Siano, vice president of the Friends. “And preserving the tree canopy was one of the most important goals we had.”

Below is a copy of the (now 10-year-old) master plan for Clark Park. The folks at The Friends of Clark Park have said that they expect the “A” park to be open by this spring.
Clark Park Master Plan

For those interested in recycling their Christmas tree,  we have so far found two options. The best local option in West Philly is to take it to Clark Park at 43rd and Chester Ave. on Jan. 9 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.. UC Green will turn your tree into wood chips that will be used for neighborhood parks and gardens. The cost is $5, which will go toward recouping the costs of the chipping. Your tree should be free of decorations etc. before you drop it off.

The City provides a second option. Trees will be accepted for recycling from Jan. 3 through Jan. 15 at three locations in the city. The closest for West Philly residents is 3033 South 63rd St. (between Lindbergh Blvd. and Passyunk Ave.). Other drop-off locations include near  the intersection of Domino Lane and Umbria Street in Manayunk, and State Road and Ashburner Street in the Northeast. More information about the program is available at (215) 686-5560.

Trees left curbside will be taken to the landfill.

Here is a flyer on the UCGreen option:

If you can stand the wind – and it is brutal at times – there is good sledding to be had at Clark Park today. A nice little ramp has been set up near the maintenance building. See more photos on our Flickr feed. About a foot of snow fell in West Philly overnight.