Shawn's blog

West Philadelphia is getting festive during this holiday season, with unique performances, ongoing deals at local small businesses and restaurants, and plenty of opportunities to shop from local vendors. Click to learn more!

On Saturday, December 10, celebrate the holiday season with events and deals across University City and West Philadelphia! Get into the holiday spirit by shopping at local vendor markets, enjoying one-day offers from restaurants and small businesses, and enjoying festive events throughout the neighborhood.

The labor market of the past 30 months has been more varied than any other time in recent memory. Unemployment rates swung from record lows to record highs in weeks, and then quickly fell back. Some industries that were well prepared to adjust to the pandemic economy have thrived, while others have struggled with labor shortages and supply chain issues. In recent months, inflation concerns, along with the stubborn continuation of COVID-19, have continued to weigh on the minds of economists and employers.

We are pleased to announce three new members to our University City District board of directors, which is comprised of community, business, institutional, and non-profit leaders from within University City. The new additions to the board are: David Beaupré, Vice President for Finance & Administration and Treasurer at St. Joseph's University; Tracy S.

With summer rapidly approaching, students are heading home for a few months' break, and many of us who work in University City offices are settling into new hybrid work schedules. This has an impact on how we get around the neighborhood, so this month we are revisiting our transit recovery statistics. 

Since its debut in 2010, the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll has grown into a hugely popular event. Neighbors and Philadelphians from around the city convene on Baltimore Avenue to enjoy deals from local businesses, plus live music, free activities for kids, and a chance to experience one of our favorite commercial corridors in West Philadelphia.

This week marks a full year since the COVID-19 lockdown began.  Early on in the quarantine period, UCD began a long-term examination of how the lockdown would impact the labor market in the Philadelphia region.

Every week, we will be publishing labor market industry (LMI) data and important trends to consider in the development of an equitable economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. We are always looking for opportunities to learn, grow, and collaborate. Email wpsi@universitycity.org to learn more.

The Porch at 30th Street Station is about to get a lot more festive thanks to a new "Spread Holiday Cheer" campaign, a collaboration with Project HOME and Schmear It. For three weeks in December, from the 4th through the 22nd, UCD is hosting a special, holiday pop-up in the center of The Porch at 30th Street. The pop-up will enliven UCD's flagship public space while contributing to the fight against homelessness in Philadelphia.