Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (center) displays a facsimile sign along with Vernoca L. Michael (left), former executive director of the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance/Paul Robeson House and Museum; Janice Sykes-Ross (right), executive director, and former Councilmember Jannie Blackwell (far right).

The draping came down on a new street sign at the corner of 50th and Walnut Streets Friday morning as the 4900 block of Walnut Street became “Paul L. Robeson Way.”

Dozens of local officials, including Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton, neighbors and supporters of the Paul Robeson House and Museum were on hand for the street-renaming ceremony near 4951 Walnut, where Robeson lived with his sister Marian Forsythe for the last 10 years of his life. He died in 1976.

“Paul Robeson became one of the most devoted fighters at home and abroad,” said Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier, who introduced resolutions in City Council renaming the block and designating April 9 as “Paul Robeson Day.” “He did this during a time when racists regularly lynched people who looked like him for speaking out against injustice.” Continue Reading

The Portland Loo (portlandloo.com).

How many of you had to run from Clark Park to the Green Line Cafe across the street to use their bathroom? Well, soon you won’t have to anymore as the city is planning to install a permanent public restroom at the park, according to reports.

Philadelphia’s first Portland Loo, the public ADA-accessible modular toilet designed and first-installed in its namesake city in Oregon, is currently being installed in Center City at 15th and Arch. The second Loo is expected to arrive in Clark Park later this year, in the summer or fall, according to a report in Billy Penn.

The City is working with the Friends of Clark Park on this project. As you may know, FCP has been working on the new Master Plan for the park since last year. Public restroom installation is an important part of this plan since it was the most requested amenity by local residents, according to the Master Plan survey results. Continue Reading

UPDATE (4/13/2023): Here’s a short update on the new Apple TV show, Catamount, filming in Philadelphia, including some West Philly neighborhoods. The show was filmed in Clark Park this past Tuesday, according to Amy Johnson, the unit publicist for the show. The next episode starts filming on Monday, April 17, and filming is not expected to take place in West Philly at this time. Overall, filming of Catamount is expected to continue through May 4, 2023.

(4/3/2023): Filming of a new Apple TV show, Catamount, continues in West Philly, and has expanded to new locations. This Tuesday, the filming crew will be working on Pine Street, from 48th to 51st. “No Parking” signs were posted over the weekend along the street, and cars were being towed today from these blocks in preparation for filming, which is expected to take place up until 11 p.m. on Tuesday, April 4.

Filming predominantly took place in the area of 44th/45th and Spruce since February, but is expected to expand as far west as 57th and Market. We’ll post more details when they are available.

The two plans under consideration for Woodland Avenue near the intersection with Chester Avenue and down to 42nd Street.

Traffic lights and crosswalks are coming to the section of Woodland Avenue near The Woodlands cemetery and the intersection with Chester Avenue.

Visitors to The Woodlands know that crossing Woodland Avenue at the awkward intersection at Chester or the trolley portal can get a little dicey. But a new plan unveiled last night at a Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) meeting will slow traffic along Woodland and close down the little section of 41st Street that often baffles drivers and pedestrians alike.

“The whole project is about user safety, whether you’re a pedestrian, a cyclist or a driver,” Julie Bush of the landscape architecture firm Ground Reconsidered told the SHCA board. Continue Reading

Many local folks have hosted music shows on their porches since West Philly Porchfest, the DIY music festival, launched in 2016. And now there is an opportunity to connect with local artists and host an art show. The West Philly Porch Art Show will be held in June in conjunction with the 2023 West Philly Porchfest, and the organizers, the West Philadelphia Community Art Alliance (WPCAA), are looking for folks who would like to share their porch with an artist as part of this exciting community event.

“This is a totally free, inclusive event that celebrates everyone in our neighborhood,” reads their Instagram post. “BIPOC and Queer artists are strongly supported and encouraged to participate in the event.”

Both events will take place on June 3 from 12-6 p.m., and more details will be available by next month. If you would like to host an art show, please fill out this form or email: westphillycaa@gmail.com.

If you want to host a music show on your porch, check out the West Philly Porchfest website for more details.

University City Garden Club plants are available for sale.

Spring is here and the time to shop for outdoor plants, herbs and veggie starters has begun.

This year, there are not as many options to buy outdoor plants in the West Philly area, after Greensgrow closing. But many spring plant sale events have been scheduled in the area this and next month. Here are some spots where you can buy plants and also participate in workshops, tours, and other activities.

• The University City Garden Club Spring Plant Sale is taking place online through April 19, with an order pick-up event scheduled for May 6 at 517 Woodland Terrace. This is a great opportunity for University City residents to shop for plants. To shop for plants, click here. UCGC members will also be at the May Fair at Clark Park (43rd and Chester) on May 13 with more items for sale and some fun plant related activities from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. In addition, UCGC will host a Mother’s Day Pop-up Plant Sale on Sunday, May 14, 12 – 6 p.m., at 519 Woodland Terrace near 40th and Woodland. For more information, visit: https://ucgcshop.square.site/. Continue Reading