Clark Park at about 4 p.m. yesterday looked and sounded as usual. Kids playing after school; their parents nearby chatting. People walking their dogs or reading the paper. Then things changed for a few minutes when a large red-tailed hawk swooped down, grabbed a squirrel and perched about 20 feet off the ground near the older kids’ playground. The hawk sat on a branch with the squirrel dangling from its talons as people gathered underneath the tree to get a better look – the parents of younger children looking a little nervous. The hawk, one of many that call Philadelphia home, lingered for 20 minutes or so before taking his dinner to a more secluded location.

Think it’s impossible to shop and dance at the same time? Think again. Tomorrow (Dec. 23) you’ll get a chance to do last-minute holiday shopping at VIX Emporium and cut a rug at the Independent Rock school next door with The Last of the Red-Hot Lovers led by IR director and Stinking Lizaveta band member Yanni Papadopoulos (pictured).

The dance show is free and features a full band playing lively swing jazz. Refreshments will be available for a modest donation. The show will run from 6 – 9 p.m.

VIX will be open until 9 for your last-minute gift needs. Also Friday night, don’t miss a presentation of a new “West Philly” graphic, the fourth so far to celebrate this awesome neighborhood. To bring it to life, VIX enlisted the help of local artist Justin Turkus. Justin, who is a tattoo artist and the author and illustrator of picture book “Earth is a Wonderful Place to Be” (available at VIX), will be there to debut his new design. Handprinted notecards and stickers of the new image will be available starting from tomorrow, and totes, t-shirts and hoodies will arrive in the new year.

On December 24 VIX will be open from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (closed December 25 and 26).

The city Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) today postponed a decision on granting a takeout certificate to a proposed Subway at 4533 Baltimore Avenue to give the Garden Court Community Association, which borders the store’s location, a chance to review the proposal.

Several people who live near the storefront where the Subway is proposed attended the meeting at 1515 Arch St. and expressed concern about the increased traffic that would likely accompany the sandwich shop. Residents were led by Wilhelmina Herbert, president of the Garden Court Community Association, who lives nearby on S. 46th Street. She and other residents were concerned about the likelihood of increased traffic – from both customers as well as delivery and garbage trucks – along an alley that borders the rear of the store where neighborhood children often play.

“My issue is there is no parking,” Herbert told the ZBA.

Other residents – about 20 in all –  accompanied Herbert to the meeting. Many in attendance live on the west side of the 500 block of S. Melville and said they were not informed about a zoning meeting on the Subway proposal at the Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) earlier this month.

“Not one person from the 500 block of S. Melville was aware of [the meeting],” said Herbert.

The Spruce Hill Community Association today approved Subway’s application for a takeout certificate, which is required of all businesses that serve food, with stipulations that include the building a 6-foot high fence in back of the storefront to enclose the restaurant’s dumpster. The storefront, which is about 1,000 square feet, has the proper zoning and only the take-out certificate, which is usually a routine matter, is all that is needed for the business to open.

Much of the opposition at the Spruce Hill meeting was leveled at Subway because it was a chain, according to Barry Grossbach, who oversees zoning issues for the SHCA. A letter released a few hours before today’s meeting laid out the Association’s position (it is available in full below). In it, the SHCA zoning committee writes that the committee has no legal standing to reject the application simply because Subway is a chain.

“Spruce Hill has no authority to declare a corporate operator off limits no matter the feelings of individual committee members,” the letter states. “There is no stated policy about chain operators on Spruce Hill’s commercial corridors.”

The SHCA position includes stipulations about Subway’s use of the rear alley, lighting, painting and “general aesthetics.”

But nearby residents fear, once open, that Subway will not be able to control the traffic in the alley.

Ronald Patterson, the attorney representing Subway, tried to persuade Herbert to admit that the community opposition was really because Subway would be the first franchise restaurant on that part of Baltimore Avenue.

“You want to create a commercial avenue, this is what you get – you get higher-end tenants,” he said.

Herbet responded that she had “nothing against Subway.”

The Garden Court Community Association will have a meeting on the Subway proposal likely during the second week of January (the exact date is forthcoming). In the meantime, concerned residents can direct their concerns to the chair of the Zoning Board of Adjustments:

Lynette Brown-Sow
Chair, City of Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment
1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd. 11th Fl.
Philadelphia, PA 19102
The Spruce Hill Community Association position (pdf) SUBWAY ON BALTIMORE AVENUE

Spruce Hill Community Assocation – Proviso

Police are advising pedestrians to temporarily avoid Locust Street near 47th and 48th streets during late hours after a string of armed robberies near those corners. Police said there have been as many as four armed muggings recently, including one early this morning when a man’s phone and wallet were taken at gunpoint by two males.

Police have suspects and anticipate arrests soon. We’re trying to get more information on the muggings.

In fact, Southwest Detective Joseph Murray – aka thefuzz9143 – even tweeted a message to the robbers:

“To the 48th St robbers: celebrate Xmas early this year … I have a feeling you’ll be in CFCF [Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility] when the 25th rolls around.”

Kol Tzedek, West Philly’s progressive,  Reconstructionist synagogue, will host its annual Hanukkah party (Facebook event page) tonight from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to the synagogue, located in the Calvary Center for Culture and Community (48th and Baltimore).

The party will feature lots of latkes, a vegetarian potluck (you’re encouraged to bring a dish), music by the synagogue’s Simcha Band playing klezmer and all kinds of stuff for kids. If you can swing it, bring your own plates, napkins and silverware and a donation of winter clothing for a local charity. You are also invited to bring a menorah for the table and dreidel and pennies.

Your donation of $5 to $25 at the door goes toward Kol Tzedek’s mission to provide diverse and inclusive Jewish spiritual community in West Philly.

Starting from today Dock Street Brewery (50th & Baltimore) is not going to accept credit or debit cards on Wednesdays, so if you are going there tonight make sure to bring enough cash. The popular neighborhood restaurant is showing support to the “Occupy” movement by taking a stand against credit card companies who charge businesses fees for processing credit or debit card payments. According to a Dock Street press release, operating on a cash-only system will allow them to keep the money in the pockets of the 99 percent.

Saving this money will allow Dock Street to give everyone a 3 percent discount on Wednesdays. Occupiers and their supporters are especially welcome to come and make a statement by leaving their credit cards at home.