A 20-year-old man is in critical condition after being shot multiple times near 52nd and Pine Streets on Tuesday night, according to police. The shooting happened shortly after 8 p.m. in Malcolm X Park. 18th District police officers found the victim suffering from gunshot wounds to his back and shoulder and took him to Penn Presbyterian Hospital where he was listed in critical condition.

Police say the victim was walking through the park when an unknown male walked up to him and started shooting. He fired several more shots at the victim after he fell to the ground and then fled.

The suspect is described as a black male, 20 to 25 years old, heavy build, 5 foot 7 inches to 5 foot 9 inches tall. He was wearing a burgundy or orange colored hoody and black pants. He was last seen running north on 51st street.

If you have any information about this crime, please contact Southwest Detective Division at 215-686-3183/3184 or call 911.

Photos West Philly Local.

Theatre in the X last night staged the premiere of Running Numbers, the tale of a graduating high school senior trying to navigate his way through obstacles in his neighborhood and his family to get his way into college and, just as importantly, pay for it.

In our decidedly unsophisticated opinion, it is really, really good.

The play follows CJ, a brilliant student, as he tries to figure out how he is going to pay for a Penn education. He could get student loans, but his mom doesn’t want to sign the forms (she wants to hide her under-the-table earnings) nor does she want him saddled in debt for the rest of his life. Or, he could go work for the local pimp and drug dealer and make fast cash. Both options weigh heavily on CJ, but he takes the second option and we find him in the opening scene undergoing police interrogation after his arrest.  Continue Reading

Some of the best – and probably the most intimate – theatre in the city gets underway in Malcolm X. Park (51st and Pine) next week when Theatre in the X opens the world premiere of Running Numbers.

Running Numbers is a drama about a high school senior “whose dreams and desperation of going to college and overcoming his environment lead him to fast cash and dangerous situations.” The work is inspired by  “Financial Aid”, an incredible spoken work piece by Carvens Lissaint.

Cheyenne Barboza wrote Running Numbers and Christina May directs. The cast includes Abdul Sesay, Jarrett McCreary, Khadijah Davis, Iman Aaliyah, Aurica Hurst, Angelica Jackson-Thomas, Carlo Campbell, Walter DeShields, Niya Colbert, Brandon A. Drummond and Dwayne Alistair Thomas.  Continue Reading

Councilwoman Helen Gym will host a community gathering “to protect healthcare and education” tonight at Malcolm X. Park (52nd and Pine) from 6-8 p.m.

The gathering is one of three she will host over the next few weeks as part of “Resistance Summer.” The gathering comes as the U.S. Senate decides whether to go ahead with a debate on repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act.

Feel free to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on for the event.

Gym will also be in Vernon Park in Northwest Philly on Aug. 7 and Columbus Square in South Philly on Aug. 9.

Printing out inspiration for our sign-making table tonight (thanks @StreetsDept!). See you at 6pm in Malcolm X Park. #ResistanceSummer pic.twitter.com/8XQk1L1Rhi

— Helen Gym (@HelenGymAtLarge) July 25, 2017

Here’s some great news for Malcolm X Park and neighborhood residents. The Philadelphia Water Department is working on bringing green improvements to the park, which will include specially designed tree systems that will help manage local stormwater while adding new green features to the park’s square located at 52nd and Pine.

Residents are invited to learn more about this initiative at tonight’s community meeting organized by the Water Department and the Friends of Malcolm X Park. The meeting will be held at the park, beginning at 6 p.m. weather permitting, but will move to Lois’ Learning Tree (430 S. 52nd St.) in the event of rain.

The planned improvements are a part of the city’s Green City, Clean Waters program, which uses landscaped green tools to improve neighborhoods and protect local waterways from stormwater pollution.

Recently we told you about the return of Live Jazz Fridays, a great summer tradition in Cedar Park. In this post, we’re happy to report that the annual West Philadelphia Jazz Heritage Series held at Malcolm X Park (52nd an Pine) has also resumed.

The series, hosted by Friends of Malcolm X Memorial Park (Facebook page) and Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, is held every other Thursday (weather permitting) through Sept. 14, beginning at 7 p.m. Here’s the line up for the rest of the summer:

June 8 – Drummer Webb Thomas (see video below)
June 22 – The KDQ & Vocalist Susann Burgess
July 6 – The Barbara Walker Story
July 20 – The Budesa Bros
Aug. 3 – Vocalist Shirley Lites
Aug. 17 – Drummer Carlos Railey Group
Aug. 31 – Angel Baby
Sept. 14 – Pianist Alfie Politt  Continue Reading