Community members are invited to support a local arts and education organization at a special family-friendly event. A Book a Day, a nonprofit based in West Philadelphia, is hosting a free fundraiser, titled Alphabet Soup, at the University City Arts League (4226 Spruce St.) on Saturday, Oct. 7, 1-4 p.m.

The event is an opportunity to celebrate A Book a Day’s efforts and achievements in elevating literacy, as well learn about their upcoming projects. Proceeds from the event, which will include a silent auction and raffle, will help ABaD with their efforts to continue providing free educational and art programs.

As always, readers of all ages are invited to join the host in the festivities. Kids’ focused band Ants on a Log is performing, authors Thembi Palmer and Kat Yeh will read and sign books, kid-friendly fun crafts can be made. Also, A Book a Day will unveil their new, one-of-a-kind project. Continue Reading

Photo courtesy of UCD.

The popular community and business event, Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll, is set to return for the second and final time this year. It will be held Thursday, Sept. 7, from 5-8 p.m., when visitors are invited to stroll up and down Baltimore Avenue between 40th and 51st Streets for $1, $3, and $5 deals on food, drinks, merchandise, and more from local businesses and neighborhood vendors.

Due to this week’s heatwave, University City District (UCD), the longtime event organizer, urges all attendees to wear cool clothes and make sure to bring water so they can hydrate before and during the event.

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Scribe Video Center is hosting its annual Street Movies!, a free screening series for audiences of all ages that tours neighborhoods around the Philadelphia region, bringing a program of independent film – fiction, animation, documentary, and youth and community produced work – from around the world to local parks, lots, playgrounds, and community spaces.

This Saturday, Aug. 26, the Street Movies! series will make a stop in West Philly for a screening in Saunders Park Greene (39th and Powelton). The screening is co-hosted by Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, the Arab cultural organization based in West Philadelphia. The screening, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will include the following short films that focus on diasporic Arab experience:

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Shamus, who directed Shakespeare in Clark Park’s 2023 production of Two Gentlemen Of Verona, is pictured as Malvolio in the 2018 production of Twelfth Night (Photo courtesy of SCP).

Shakespeare in Clark Park (SCP) is returning for the 2023 season with a Tony award-winning musical! The popular non-profit organization, which has been presenting professional theatre productions in Clark Park’s “Bowl” since 2006, will present a musical adaptation of Two Gentlemen of Verona for five nights – from July 26 to July 30. Continue Reading

Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll (Photos by Lora Reehling).

West Philly folks and visitors are invited to this summer’s first Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll, which will take place Thursday, June 15, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The popular outdoor event, organized by University City District (UCD), features dozens of local businesses and vendors offering deals on food, merchandise and other items along Baltimore Avenue between 40th to 51st Streets.

This year, the event will again feature $1, $3, and $5 bargains from neighborhood standouts like Booker’s, Vientiane Café, Dahlak Paradise and more, as well as newcomers including brewery Carbon Copy and Ethiopian chicken house Doro Bet. The vendors list, including West Philly-based merchandise vendors and food trucks, has also expanded since last year.

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The full map is available here.

West Philly Porchfest, the annual DIY music festival where anyone with a porch or stoop can host a show, is returning this Saturday, June 3. Dozens of free shows featuring a variety of music genres will take place all over the neighborhood from Noon-6 p.m. The festival has grown over the years (it was first held in 2016), and this year, it stretches from 42nd Street in the east to 59th Street in the west, and from south of Kingsessing to north of Chestnut.

From 12-2 p.m., most performances will take place south of Baltimore Avenue, then from 2 to 4 p.m., most shows will take place north of Baltimore from 42nd to 48th Street. Finally, from 4 to 6 p.m., most performances will be held north of Baltimore, from 48th to 59th.

For the full list of performers and schedule, visit the West Philly Porchfest website.