University City District

Truth and the Novel, author Geraldine Brooks
2025-10-20 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Penn Museum, 3260 South St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth, said Albert Camus. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks spent half her life as a journalist, running after the truth in difficult places where despots and warlords were desperate to obfuscate. Later she turned to fiction, but her novels always hew as closely as possible to historical truth. In the Wolf Humanities Center’s 2025 Dr. S.T. Lee Distinguished Lecture in the Humanities, Brooks will discuss her process as a novelist and how it is informed by the toolkit she acquired as a foreign corespondent covering conflicts in the Mideast, Africa, and the Balkans

A book signing will follow the lecture and Q&A.

Australian-born Geraldine Brooks is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist renowned for her deeply immersive, character-driven historical novels. Her fiction debut, Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague, became an international bestseller, translated into more than 25 languages. In 2006, Brooks won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her second novel, March. Her other bestsellers include People of the Book, Caleb’s Crossing, The Secret Chord, and Horse. In addition to fiction, Brooks has authored acclaimed nonfiction books, including Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women, Foreign Correspondence: A Penpal’s Journey from Down Under to All Over, and The Idea of Home. Her latest book, Memorial Days, was published in 2025.

Scary-Oke at Kingsessing Library
2025-10-21 15:30 - 17:30 | Kingsessing Library, 1201 S 51st St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Spooky Season is here! Help us ring in Halloween this year by singing your favorite tunes, hosted by Pirate Pebbs from Dr. Thunder Karaoke. All ages are welcome, so everyone has a chance to join the fun! We’ll set the vibes with treats and decorations, and everyone in attendance is encouraged to come in costume. Don’t miss this spooktacular event at your favorite neighborhood library!

Intro to Nerikomi and Marbled Surfaces at West Philly Tool Library
2025-10-21 18:30 - 20:30 | West Philly Tool Library, 1314 S 47th St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In this class, we’ll be learning about Nerikomi, a traditional Japanese technique of layering different colored clay bodies to create agate or marbled surfaces. This technique can be seen in candy making, laminating pastry dough, some beadwork in polymer clay, knifemaking techniques and many other spaces. In this class each guest can use provided bisque molds or free build to make a set of dishes or bowls for your home. We will be using Brown, white and Blue Clay during our time together. This class is open to all levels of clay, and is super approachable for beginners. I hope to see you at class!

This class is taught by local artist Mackenzie Pikaart, owner of MVP Studio. She holds a BFA in Crafts/Ceramics from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, taught at Fleisher and The Clay Studio, and has had multiple residencies throughout the country. Check out her page here!

The cost of this class is flexible. West Philly Tool Library is committed to keeping our classes affordable and accessible to as many people as possible. If you would like to pay less than the $100 ticket, please use coupon code “DISCOUNT10” or “DISCOUNT20” for $10 or $20 respectively off the class cost.

Also please consider paying more, if you are able, to help cover the costs of hosting this class and others like it.

Garden Mindfulness Meetup at Penn Museum
2025-10-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Penn Museum, 3260 South St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
Join Penn Museum for journaling in the garden lead by mindfulness specialist Dr. Hava Rose. Connect with the garden surroundings through a 30-minute intentional journaling exercise, then mingle and enjoy a small treat underneath the colorful fall trees.

No journaling experience required. Refreshments and journaling materials will be provided. Space is limited—advance registration required. Participants are welcome to explore the Museum after the conclusion of the program.

This mindfulness event is sponsored by the Nature Sacred Firesoul Network. Learn more at naturesacred.org.

Apply to the West Craft Fest
2025-10-23 08:00 - 2025-11-03 17:00 | Pennsylvania
West Craft Fest returns this holiday season, bringing two days of handmade shopping and local creativity to 50th Street and Baltimore Avenue, right outside Black Hound Clay Studio. Each day will feature a completely different lineup of 40 vendors offering one-of-a-kind holiday gifts — from jewelry, ceramics, and woodwork to prints, candles, clothing, and more. Admission is free and open to the public, making it the perfect stop for thoughtful, locally made presents.

Calling all makers! Applications are open for vendors who create, author, or design their own work. The fee is $75 for a 6×4 outdoor space, with setup beginning at 8:30 AM and vending from 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, December 13 or Sunday, December 14. Space is limited, so apply by Monday, November 3 for the chance to join this beloved West Philly holiday tradition.

Parent Café: Harvest of Harmony: Positive Discipline for Purposeful Parenting
2025-10-23 15:30 - 17:30 | Overbrook Educational Center, 6722 Lansdowne Ave, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
A parent café is a place where parents of all types can gather and share their stories, their experiences, their worries, their fears, their wisdom, and find community and strength together. … Parent cafés also provide an opportunity for you to help connect parents to resources to help solve problems they might face.

WeWalk PHL Thursday Walking Group at Bartrams Garden
2025-10-23 17:00 - 18:00, 2025-10-30 17:00 - 18:00 | Bartram’s Garden, 5400 Lindbergh Blvd., PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, 19143
Come out for a walk in the park!

Join neighbors for a free, easy 1-hour walk on the Bartram’s Mile Trail with a group. Come every week or just when you can! All walks will be led by a trained We Walk group leader from the community and will meet at the Welcome Center.

Thursday walks in the Garden will be held weekly at 5pm between September 4 and October 30.

We Walk PHL is a free walking group that meets several times per week at various public parks. Launched as a pilot program in 2017, We Walk PHL is a partnership between Fairmount Park Conservancy, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (Get Healthy Philly), and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. We Walk PHL is funded in part by the Pa. Department of Health’s Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant.

For walk schedules, meeting locations, and other relevant updates, please visit the We Walk PHL public group page on Facebook.

Curating Mavis Pusey: Mobile Images with Hallie Ringle and Kiki Teshome
2025-10-25 14:00 - 16:00 | Institue of Contemporary Art, 118 S 36th St, PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, 19143
Join the ICA for an illuminating conversation on the making of Mavis Pusey: Mobile Images, featuring the exhibition’s organizers, Hallie Ringle, ICA’s Daniel and Brett Sundheim Chief Curator, and Kiki Teshome, Curatorial Assistant at the Studio Museum in Harlem.

Ringle will share insights into the decade-long research and curatorial process that brought this landmark exhibition to life—the first major museum survey dedicated to Jamaican-born artist Mavis Pusey (1928–2019). Showcasing over 60 artworks from her prolific 50-year career, the exhibition highlights Pusey’s distinctive approach to abstraction and her engagement with themes that continue to resonate deeply today.

Teshome will also discuss her work with Pusey’s personal archive—letters, poems, and design materials—that offer a rare glimpse into new dimensions of the artist’s life and practice.

Cyanotype Photos & Portraits
2025-10-26 10:00 - 13:00 | West Philly Tool Library, 1314 S 47th St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Join us for a fun hands-on cyanotype workshop featuring your photos! Participants will learn how to create striking blue-and-white prints using one of the oldest photographic processes. You’ll coat paper, learn how to digitally adjust your photo negatives, and expose your design to UV light to develop your own set of one-of-a-kind 8.5×11 keepsake prints. No experience necessary—just bring your creativity and curiosity. All materials and instruction provided.

Send your photos as soon as you can so that we can enhance the images for cyanotyping! Each ticket is for (2) 8.5×11 prints. You may purchase two separate tickets if you would like to make more!

The cost of this class is flexible. West Philly Tool Library is committed to keeping our classes affordable and accessible to as many people as possible. If you would like to pay less than the $60 ticket, please use coupon code “DISCOUNT10” or “DISCOUNT20” for $10 or $20 respectively off the class cost.

Halloween Party at Sunset Social
2025-10-26 12:00 - 18:00 | Sunset Social, 129 South 30th StreeT, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19143
Sunset Social is getting in on the Halloween Fun above the clouds! Come by the rooftop lounge for spooky movies all day, lawn games on the green, candy, popcorn and more! Costume contest at 3pm – open to all ages.

Guided Tour: Monsters, Myths, and Legends at Penn Museum
2025-10-26 13:00 - 14:30 | Penn Museum, 3260 South St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
Your expert tour guide will share scholarly insights and rich interpretation beyond the object labels—with a spooky twist. Ask questions, explore complex themes, and unlock surprising connections across cultures as you encounter the myths, monsters, and legends conjured by ancient imaginations.

Where in the Museum do monsters hide, with demons and guardians lurking inside? With amulet in hand, hunt creatures small and grand!

Discover vampires, werewolves, sea monsters, and other mythic beasts that tiptoe the line between fear and fascination. Alongside your seasoned guide to strange and sublime, you’ll dig deeper into the meaning of monsters: what they protected, what they punished, and what they revealed about the cultures that imagined them.

Space is limited.

Pumpkin Painting Party
2025-10-27 17:30 - 19:00 | 4601 Market St 5th Fl, 4601 Market St 5th Fl, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Join Bethanna CUA 10 and Caring People Alliance CUA 6 for an evening of creativity. They’ll have pumpkins ready to paint, plenty of colors to choose from, and lots of festive cheer. Location: 4601 Market St. 5th FL Philadelphia, PA 19139

Halloween Celebration at The Lawn
2025-10-30 17:00 - 18:30 | The uCity Square Beer Garden at The Lawn, 37th and Cuthbert, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
Get ready for Halloween fun the whole family can enjoy! Come celebrate with costumes, festive music, sweet treats, and all the spooky-season vibes you can handle.

Everyone is invited to express themselves in costume and join in the festivities, including a Mask-Making Workshop with Cassie Craft Coven—design your own spooky or silly creation! Spots are limited, so we recommend arriving early, though you’re welcome anytime.

Costumes encouraged. Good times guaranteed.

Wood Window Restoration at West Philly Tool Library
2025-10-30 18:30 - 21:30 | West Philly Tool Library, 1314 S 47th St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Learn why you should consider saving your historic windows and how you can restore them —no experience needed! In this hands-on workshop at the West Philly Tool Library, you’ll practice stripping paint, replacing glass, re-glazing window panes, and painting. Perfect for homeowners looking to tackle another project!

This class will cover:

Removing window sashes from the frame

Stripping peeling paint and removing aging glazing

Cutting replacement glass

Re-glazing window panes

Painting sashes

This class will also include some time for Q&A’s regarding students’ individual home projects. If you are interested in general painting techniques – we encourage you to check out our other classes that focus on these topics.

Pop-Up Exhibit: Rebecca Gilbert Memento Mori Wood Engravings
2025-10-31 12:00 - 13:00 | Fisher Fine Arts Library, 220 S 34th St, PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, 19104
View local master wood engraver Rebecca Gilbert’s Memento Mori print series, full of beautiful skeletons.

Spruce Hill Tot Parade
2025-10-31 16:30 - 18:00 | 45th St. between Baltimore & Larchwood
A beloved West Philly tradition is back! The 26th Annual Halloween Little Tot Parade returns on October 31, bringing families, costumes, and community cheer to Spruce Hill.

Gather with neighbors starting at 4 p.m. on 45th Street between Baltimore and Larchwood, then watch the parade step off at 4:30 p.m., heading east along Larchwood. The celebration concludes at “Little Osage” (42nd & Osage), where tots and families can enjoy cider, baked goods, and festive treats from local businesses and community partners.

Neighbors along the route, please remember that roads will be closed from 3:45–5 p.m., and parked cars must stay put during the parade.

Costumes, smiles, and community spirit are all welcome—come join the fun!

Boo-tanical Bash at Plant and People
2025-10-31 17:00 - 19:00 | Plant & People, 3952 Lancaster Avenue, PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, 19104
Join Plant and People for a Halloween celebration filled with spooky fun and leafy magic! Kids can enjoy festive games, a Halloween storytime, and free hands on activities!

Into the Blue Exhibit at Penn Museum - on view through spring 2026
2025-11-01 09:00 - 17:00 | Penn Museum, 3260 South St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
A new exhibition curated by undergraduate students from the University of Pennsylvania explores the deep human history associated with a popular hue that has stood the test of time—Into the Blue: The Pursuit of a Color opens Saturday, March 29, 2025 at the Penn Museum.

Unlike today, blue was not easy to produce nor acquire in the ancient past. The relentless pursuit of blue for use in textiles and art has led to the development of ingenious methods in producing this rare, highly prized color that holds significant meaning for diverse cultures around the world throughout history.

Into the Blue spans 4,000 years—displaying 20 objects from across the Penn Museum’s collections, including select artifacts from the Middle East, China, Africa, ancient Egypt, and Central America.

The exhibition examines three themes: Obtaining Blue, Making Blue, and Synthesizing Blue.

Obtaining Blue highlights the mining and transportation of lapis lazuli, a semi-precious gemstone used in decorative and ceremonial objects in the Middle East—along with the trapping of kingfishers, brightly colored birds whose feathers were used to decorate articles of adornment in China.

Into the Blue will be on view through spring 2026 and is included with Penn Museum admission.

Ginkgo Watch 2025 at the Woodlands Cemetery
2025-11-01 09:00 - 2025-11-30 17:00 | The Woodlands Cemetery & Mansion, 4000 Woodland Ave, PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, 19104
GINKGO WATCH 2025Ginkgos are known to put on a show each fall with their bright yellow foliage, but their most special trait is dropping all of their leaves at once after one of the first frosts of the season.

The Woodlands staff is keeping a close eye on the trees and the weather in order to be as prepared as possible for Ginkgo Watch. With this map, you can visit the Ginkgos. You can also learn more about the history of the Ginkgo at The Woodlands (did you know the Ginkgo tree was first introduced to the US here at The Woodlands by our own William Hamilton?) with our blog post, “Roots of the Ginkgo.”

Come for a walk this Fall to see the glowing ginkgo leaves, tag your photos with @woodlandsphila and #GinkgoWatch, and make sure to follow our social media for updates on when the golden carpets arrive.

Día de los Muertos: CultureFest! at the Penn Museum
2025-11-01 10:00 - 16:00 | Penn Museum, 3260 South St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a lively holiday blending of Indigenous Mexican beliefs and traditions with the Catholic celebrations of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. With roots in rituals dating back 3,000 years to pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, Día de los Muertos is observed across Latin America and in Latine communities worldwide.

Explore the unique history, traditions, and expressions of this celebration of life and death. Learn about the ofrendas (offerings) at the center of the festivities. These ornate and colorful altars honor the dead (and encourage them to join the party!) with bright yellow marigolds, food, drinks, and photos. Discover the origins of the iconic smiling calacas y calaveras (skeletons and skulls) that are seen on candy, masks, and dolls across parades, vigils, and gatherings.

West Philly Skill Share: How to Code a Website
2025-11-01 14:00 - 16:00 | Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library
Join us for the final installment of the West Philly Skill Share! Did you customize your Myspace to perfection back in the day but forgotten HTML? Are you interested in coding your own website, without using expensive and generic website builder platforms?

Come to Blackwell Regional Library and code your own website with Ana Woulfe, a local artist and self-taught coder. Learn how to code in HTML and CSS on the Phoenix Code program.

Please bring a laptop with you to this workshop.

Little Explorers: Colorful Leaves
2025-11-05 10:00 - 11:30 | Bartram’s Garden, 5400 Lindbergh Blvd., PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, 19143
ABOUT LITTLE EXPLORERS:

Every first Wednesday of the month, March through November, 10-11:30am. Join us for exploration, a garden walk, and stories! Please feel free to bring a snack.

Designed for toddlers and preschoolers, ages 2-4. One adult chaperone is required for every two children.

For more information, email Leslie Gale, lgale@bartramsgarden.org.

Mind & Mood Recharge Powered By Penn Medicine
2025-11-05 17:00 - 20:00 | Penn Museum, 3260 South St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
Unwind in the galleries with an uplifting array of health-centric happenings during the popular Penn Medicine after-hours wellness series, now in its third year. Get centered with all-levels yoga, sound bath, and meditation from local practitioners. Slow down and savor a mindful gallery exploration or spark creativity by dropping in to an artmaking session. Explore a rotating lineup of curated artisans in our wellness marketplace and enjoy light bites and botanical refreshments at their botanical bar.

Spirituality on Tap
2025-11-05 19:00 - 20:00 | Dahlak Paradise, 4708 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Calvary Church hosts Spirituality on Tap, an informal monthly gathering to discuss – not debate – questions related to spirituality, theology, religion, etc.

While SOT is not explicitly an interfaith group, and some discussions may be specific to a Christian context, all faith and religious/non-religious backgrounds and identities are welcome.

Drinks and food optional, and on your own.

Opening Reception - Postigo Express: Documenting the Basque Conflict in San Sebastián, 1977-2003
2025-11-07 17:00 - 19:00 | Arthur Ross Gallery, 220 S 34th St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
The Arthur Ross Gallery at the University of Pennsylvania will present the first American exhibition of acclaimed Basque photographer Fernando Postigo’s work from November 7 through late December 2025. This groundbreaking show offers unprecedented access to documentation of one of Spain’s most turbulent historical periods.

Exhibition FeaturesThe exhibition will be accompanied by a short film about Postigo made by exhibition curator and award-winning documentary filmmaker Peter Decherney. Postigo will attend the opening, providing a unique opportunity for programming that addresses Basque history, the role of photojournalism, and the press’s role during revolutionary times.

Postigo’s granddaughter, Libby Paquette, served as assistant curator to the exhibition, and she has just begun her first year as a Penn undergraduate.

This rare presentation offers American audiences their first chance to experience one of Europe’s most important photojournalistic chronicles of political transformation and social upheaval.

The Postigo Express is curated by Dr. Peter Decherney, Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Endowed Term Professor in the Humanities, Professor of Cinema & Media Studies, and Director, Penn Global Documentary Institute, with Libby Paquette, Assistant Curator. Funding is provided by the Neumann Family Fund and the Arthur Ross Gallery.

Paint the Dancefloor: Phunktastic
2025-11-07 19:00 - 22:00 | Institue of Contemporary Art, 118 S 36th St, PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, 19143
Join the ICA for Paint the Dancefloor: Phunktastic, ICA’s annual night of art and dancing inspired by the bold rhythms of Mavis Pusey and the cosmic “Funk-tional” visions of Xenobia Bailey. Come dressed in your funkiest, most colorful looks and get ready to groove with Lola Kinks!

Paint the Dancefloor is presented by the Institute of Contemporary Art, in collaboration with the Weitzman School of Design and the Sachs Program for Arts Innovation. This event is part of Arts at Homecoming at the University of Pennsylvania.

The event is free, and all are welcome! Registration is strongly encouraged.

Spiral Q’s Peoplehood Parade
2025-11-08 08:00 - 17:00 | Paul Robeson House, 4951 Walnut St, PHILADELPHIA, 19139
Save the date! The 25th Annual Peoplehood Parade returns on November 8, 2025!

Each year, activists, neighbors, and youth come together each Fall to build Peoplehood’s giant puppets, banners, and performances that celebrate Philly’s justice movements and nurture community connections.

Get involved by volunteering beforehand, or join in on the day of the parade. The parade starts at the Paul Robeson house, and ends with a gathering at Clark Park. All are welcome!

Ground & Release Yoga & Candle Making Experience
2025-11-09 09:00 - 23:00 | Cork & Candles University City, 3421 Walnut St, PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, 19143
Start your morning with mindfulness, scent, and slow movement.

Join Flow With Tiff and Cork & Candles for a grounding morning experience centered on rest and release.

Begin by exploring soothing seasonal scents and creating your own candle with intention. Then, move into a gentle yoga flow to ease tension, reconnect with your breath, and settle into stillness. The morning will close with journaling and light reflection using reflection cards, accompanied by breakfast bites and refreshments.

A mindful morning of creativity, movement, and grounding to start your day with ease.

CHOMP for CHOP: A Week of Dining Out for Good
2025-11-10 08:00 - 2025-11-16 17:00 | Multiple Locations in Philadelphia
Don’t miss this heart-warming (and stomach-filling) week in the Philadelphia region. The Philadelphia region’s eclectic and varied dining scene is sponsoring a new week-long event this November to encourage everyone to try new restaurants, sample new cuisine and do good!

The lineup includes neighborhood favorites like Gold Standard Café, Sabrina’s Cafe, Vientiane Bistro and so much more!

By choosing to have a meal at any of the participating restaurants in the Greater Philadelphia region between Monday, Nov. 10, and Sunday Nov. 16, 2025, you will support Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Food Pharmacies in our region.

West Philly participants:

48th Street Grille – Caribbean & American Food

The Gold Standard

Haraz Coffee House
