University City Arts League
Posted by Samantha Lazar on April 8, 2010
Situated in a cheery rowhouse on 42nd and Spruce, the University City Arts League is a neighborhood gem, doing its part to bring art, enrichment, and fun to the community. They offer classes year round, as well as exhibits and special events for adults, teens, and kids. The spring session of classes, which runs for ten or eleven weeks at ridiculously low prices, just started – but it’s not too late to get in on the action and sign up for a class if you act quickly!
Adult classes range from fine arts like painting, wood burning, figure drawing, ceramics, and jewelry making to dancing of all sorts (hoop dancing, belly dancing, flamenco, and social dancing, to name a few). YOUCIE hosted a rollicking preview of the salsa dancing class a few weeks ago, which should have convinced anyone that spending an evening a week at the Arts League can get your blood flowing, your socializing going, and be the highlight of your week. There are also exercise classes, language classes, and even more eclectic things like “Home Brewing and Beer Appreciation.” ...
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Related Categories: Family Fun, Culture, Community Resources
Interactive Map of Powelton Village: Uncovering History
Posted by Samantha Lazar on April 5, 2010
When I was renovating my house I found names scratched into the plaster behind the drywall. Who were Mary, Elizabeth, Patrick, and Charles? Were they the children of the house? Were they renowned Philadelphians? Just how old was this graffiti? Who were these people who walked the same floors as me, slept in the same room, and ate in the same kitchen (well, maybe not — the kitchen was a later addition and not part of the original house). If I lived in Powelton Village I might be lucky enough to have answers.
The Powelton Village Civic Association has created an interactive map that compiles decades of information on the past residents of the area. Simply clicking on a house on the old 1927 map image will bring up a wealth of information, though some dwellings have more details than others; the map is still be updated on a weekly basis. The historical data is culled mostly from censuses between 1860 and 1930. It lists the occupants of each house as well as their occupations and often their places of birth (a good many are from Ireland. Others not from Philadelphia are from Maryland, North Carolina, or Virginia.) A lot of women are stenographers and men are clerks; other women are dressfitters in department stores, while men are locomotive engineers, foremen in lumberyards, or horsedealers. There are plenty of servants. Many properties also have big colorful pictures accompanying the listings.
If you don't live in a Powelton Village house yourself, there are still plenty of interesting things to check out. Look up famous Poweltonians — how about Kevin Bacon's ...
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Related Category: Community Resources
Free Sustainability Workshops: the Next Two Tuesdays
Posted by Samantha Lazar on March 12, 2010
UCD is all about improving West Philly/University City in every way possible. But while we’re at it, why not improve the city, the country, or the whole world? Environmental sustainability is a hot topic, and for good reason – it’s not only good (nay, necessary) for the planet, but it’s good for your pocket book as well. To that end, UCD is offering two free sustainability workshops, the first part of a series, that are open to West Philly residents and businesses.
The area is already home to numerous environment-boosting organizations, like UC Green, which goes around the neighborhood planting trees, and PRooF, the Philadelphia Rooftop Farm. In addition to painting the town green, though, why not cut down on your energy usage? These workshops will teach you how, with a special emphasis on problems and techniques that are especially relevant to the area. Learn how to caulk cracks, weather-strip, V-seal, and switch to the most efficient bulbs. You’ll also learn the nitty-gritty about your energy bill, PECO, and special money-saving rebates and tax credits.
The first workshop (on March 16th) is geared toward the owners of commercial properties, and the second (on March 23rd) is for residents. Do your part to reduce energy usage and make University City an even more environmentally friendly neighborhood. Your bank account – and the planet – will thank you! RSVP today to make sure to reserve a spot.
RSVP to seth@universitycity.org, or contact Seth Budick at 215-243-0555 by Friday, March 12
Tuesday, March 16, 3-4pm
Energy Efficiency Improvements for Commercial Property Owners
Walnut Street West Free Library, 201 South 40th Street
Tuesday, March 23, 5:30-6:30pm
Energy Efficiency Improvements for Residential Properties
Walnut Street West Free Library, 201 South 40th Street
Related Category: Community Resources
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