Here’s a great opportunity for gardeners to get free compost and check out West Philly’s Dirt Factory. The Dirt Factory, which opened almost a year ago at 4308 Market Street, is inviting neighbors to Dirt Day on Saturday, May 18 where you can receive free compost created at the facility from waste contributed by local residents, attend free workshops and tour the facility. In addition, there will be free food from West Philly businesses, plantables, and even free buckets for collecting your compostable waste. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and here’s the workshop schedule:

• 11 a.m. – noon:  Making Your Own Compost featuring Christine Tilles, Penn State Extension Educator
• 1-2 p.m.:  Vegetable Gardening with Compost featuring Jessica Herwick, Penn State Extension Master Gardener

Everyone can take home up to 10 gallons of compost for free at tomorrow’s event, and while there, take a tour of The Dirt Factory to learn how the compost was made. Attendees are requested to RSVP at compost@universitycity.org

Reminder: The Dirt Factory is open for compostable waste drop-off from 5-6 p.m. on Wednesdays. For more information go to: universitycity.org/dirt-factory

This weekend there’s an opportunity to show your love for your local parks as many events are scheduled in the area as part of the “Love Your Park” week held citywide. Here are some details:

The Porch Beer Garden (The Porch at 30th Street Station)

Thursday & Friday (May 16 & 17), 3 – 8 p.m.

The Porch at 30th Street Station is hosting a two-day beer garden this Thursday and Friday. There will be live music by Perseverance Jazz Band (May 16), The Red Hot Ramblers (May 16), and Polkadelphia (May 17). Beer will be served by Bridgewater’s Pub and the following gourmet food trucks will show up at the event: The Cow and The Curd (battered fried cheese curds), Local 215 (locally sourced seasonal foods), and Sum Pig (gourmet comfort food). For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.

Picnic in Cedar Park (50th & Baltimore)

Friday, May 17, 6 – 8 p.m.

Cedar Park is celebrating “Love Your Park” week with a community picnic. You can bring your own food or pick up a coupon for a “picnic special” you can redeem at Cedar Park area businesses, including The Gold Standard Cafe, Dock Street Brewery, Hibiscus Cafe, Little Baby’s Ice Cream and more. Click here for more details.

Barkan Park Clean-up (50th & Spruce)

Saturday, May 18, 2 – 4 p.m.

Show your love for Barkan Park this Saturday and help with clean-up, weeding, and planting. Tools and refreshments will be provided. For more information call Mark at 215-476-2983.

Party in Clark Park (43rd & Baltimore)

Saturday, May 18, 4 – 8 p.m.
The Friends of Clark Park are hosting a party in Clark Park in observance of “Love Your Park” week and everyone is invited. This free community event will include food, music, games and the park’s first Beer Garden. At the party enjoy performances by West Philly based Pakistani musician Umer Piracha, The Philadelphia Women’s Slavic Ensemble and On The Water. And here are the food vendors at the party: MiniTrini (gourmet Trinidadian food), The Cow and the Curd, Taco Angeleno (new West Philly based taco truck), and Lil’ Pop Shop. Beer will be served by Dock Street and actually will cost $5, but if you join The Friends of Clark Park at the event you will receive a free beer ticket and can buy the next beers for $3.

By the way, also on Saturday Clark Park “B” at 43rd and Chester will be hosting Uhuru Flea Market from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., so you can spend the whole day at the park, especially since the weather is expected to be nice and sunny.

One of the biggest Clark Park events of the year is almost here and we wanted to share details on what will be in store at this all-day celebration of spring and the community.

Just like in previous years, the Saturday, May 11 event will have games for kids, such as an obstacle course and a bounce tent, and a raffle with great prizes from University Pinball and other local businesses. The grand prize this year is an iPad 4, with 10 runner-ups worth 100 tokens each for games at the University Pinball Family Fun Center at 40th and Spruce. Raffle tickets are $5 for six chances.

Many West Philly-based artists and craftspeople will be selling their handmade unique stuff (jewelry, pottery, fabrics, and more.) Church groups will be helping kids make craft presents for Mother’s Day, and the West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools will be selling “LEA-monade” in support of the project to “green” the Lea School playground. Among other things to check out at the fair is a huge book sale, with many new and used books selling for $1 or less and the annual University City Garden Club plant sale. The plant sale will be at the UCGC’s booth near 43rd and Regent.

And of course, there will be a lot to choose from for your palate: some of the best food trucks in the area will be offering food, including Caribbean soul food, specialty pizzas, hamburgers and grilled meats, vegan and vegetarian dishes, and desserts.

Finally, here’s the line-up of the music performers at this year’s May Fair:

10:30 a.m. – Laura Szklarski (guitarist and singer)
11:30 a.m. – Sour Mash (high-energy bluegrass)
1:30 p.m. – Belleville Quartet (acoustic jazz ensemble)

NOTE: 43rd Street between Chester Ave and Regent Square will be closed for the fair, so residents are urged not to park there overnight on Friday night, or along the south side of Chester Avenue.

Spruce Hill May Fair
Clark Park (43rd & Chester)
Saturday, May 11
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Photo by Kyle Cassidy.

Theater (and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) fans should rejoice – West Philly’s Curio Theatre is getting ready to emBARK on The Hound of the Baskervilles, their last production of the 2012-2013 season and Philadelphia premiere. We hear that the play, which opens tonight at 8 p.m., is quite spooky (as it should be), but has some derailments, like the cast, Harry Slack of West Philadelphia, Steve Carpenter of South Philly and CJ Keller of Havertown, arguing about whether they should include a medical disclaimer for the audience or getting distracted by a Twitter comment (don’t worry, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson will get back on the case).

The new production, directed by Curio Artistic Director and West Philly resident Paul Kuhn is a very “Curio” kind of play, with its double-casting and high theatricality, and includes some costumes changes right in front of the audience! With all the derailments and cast distractions you may wonder how it will it end. Why not see for yourself? The shows will run through June 1.

The Hound of the Baskervilles, a Philadelphia premiere
May 8-June 1, 2013
Performing on Curio’s Corner Stage (corner of 48th St. and Baltimore Ave.)
All shows are at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (and Wednesday, May 8)
Ticket Prices: $15-20 ($5 off for preview tickets: 5/8-9)
Tickets/Info: 215-525-1350 or www.curiotheatre.org

This Wednesday, May 8, there’s a chance to support a local art program and try delicious Mediterranean dishes prepared by Aksum Cafe (4630 Baltimore Ave). From 5 – 10 p.m. Aksum is hosting “Dining for the Arts” – a benefit for the artists and communities served by the Center For Emerging Visual Artists (CFEVA). The specially-prepared three-course, pre fixe dinner will include Aksum favorites and vegan options ($45 per person, BYOB.) 40 percent of the evening’s proceeds will benefit CFEVA. To make your reservation call 267.275.8195.

The Center For Emerging Visual Artists, formerly Creative Artists Network, was founded in 1983 by Felicity R. “Bebe” Benoliel and serves emerging artists who live and work within 100 miles of Philadelphia.
 

The traveling exhibition featuring contemporary botanical artworks depicting plants discovered and introduced by two generations of the Bartram family is opening today at Bartram’s Garden (54th St & Lindbergh Blvd). The exhibit coincides with Bartram’s Spring Plant Sale (members-only preview of the plant sale is also today) and many of the plants depicted in the artists’ works will be available for purchase during the sale, which will run throughout the weekend.

The exhibition will be installed in the gallery of the restored Barn, built in 1775 by John Bartram, and the oldest barn in Philadelphia. It will be on display through May 24, then will travel to further venues throughout the southeastern US. For more information, go here.

Bartram’s Spring Plant Sale will be open for general public this Saturday and Sunday (May 4 & 5), 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The plant sale is an annual fundraiser for the garden. For more information on what plants are available for sale this weekend, check out this page.