Graduate Hospital Restaurant Week
The inaugural Graduate Hospital Restaurant Week is taking place through Aug. 30.
For one delicious week, participating neighborhood restaurants will offer special three-course prix fixe menus at either $30 or $45, giving you the perfect excuse to discover a new favorite spot or revisit one you already love. In addition to the specials, restaurants will continue serving their regular menus.
Participating restaurants include Banshee, L’Anima, Say She Ate, Chicks, Chateau Rogue, La Sera Italiana, Old Towne & Sanna’s, Saigon Grace Cafe and Sidecar Bar & Grille. ••
Mural Arts Philadelphia names new executive director
Mural Arts Philadelphia has named Emily Mello as its next executive director, succeeding founder Jane Golden after more than four decades of leadership. Mello will begin Sept. 1.
An educator, curator and arts administrator, Mello most recently served as the Mayer Senior Director of Learning and Public Programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. She previously held leadership roles at the New Museum in New York and the Pérez Art Museum Miami.
Mural Arts began in 1984 as part of the city’s Anti-Graffiti Network and has grown into a nationally recognized public art program. The organization oversees more than 4,500 murals across Philadelphia and produces more than 80 public art projects annually.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity to build on one of Philadelphia’s most impactful cultural success stories,” Mello said.
Golden will remain a consultant through the end of 2026. ••
Clef Club receiving upgrades
The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts broke ground on a $2 million renovation project at its home on South Broad Street.
Made possible by a $2 million grant from the William Penn Foundation, this renovation will enhance the Clef Club’s exterior and select interior spaces, strengthening its ability to serve artists, students, audiences and the wider community.
Guests signed a beam that will be transformed into a permanent keepsake commemorating this moment in the Clef Club’s history, and recognizing the community of supporters who helped make it possible. ••
Mayor launches citywide Scavenger Hunt on the Access Philly app
The city has launched the Bells Across Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt, inviting residents to find artist-designed Liberty Bell replicas placed throughout Philadelphia as part of the America250PA celebration.
The hunt is available exclusively through the free Access Philly app, which has been downloaded more than 30,000 times since Mayor Cherelle Parker launched it in March.
Participants who find five bells can enter drawings for prizes including passes to the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia Zoo, African American Museum in Philadelphia and Museum of the American Revolution, along with tickets to sporting events and concerts.
The hunt stretches from Overbrook Park to Tacony and includes South Philadelphia locations around the 9th Street corridor. Finding 10, 15 or 20 bells unlocks additional prize opportunities, including concert tickets, river cruises and tickets to Phillies, Flyers, 76ers and Union games.
“Through the generosity of our partners who donated prizes, the Bells Across Philadelphia scavenger hunt gives residents and visitors alike a chance to further explore our neighborhoods,” Parker said.
The free Access Philly app is available through the Apple App Store and Google Play. ••
Scanlon introduces legislation to expand eviction diversion programs
U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon is pushing for more help for renters facing eviction, introducing legislation that would provide federal grants to local governments to establish or expand eviction diversion programs.
The Stable Homes Act would fund pre-filing mediation between landlords and tenants, along with rental assistance, legal representation and housing counseling. Scanlon, whose district includes parts of South Philadelphia, said the programs can help families remain housed while also reducing costs for landlords and courts.
“At a time when working-class Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, we need programs that help individuals and families stay in their homes and prevent housing insecurity,” Scanlon said.
Philadelphia’s eviction diversion program has been cited as a model. During its first full year, 85% of cases entering the program avoided eviction court, while annual eviction filings fell from about 20,000 to 7,000 in 2021. The program also reduced court hearing wait times by two-thirds.
The bill would require participating communities to collect data and evaluate their programs. It is endorsed by the National Housing Law Project and the National Alliance to End Homelessness. ••
Feastival fundraiser returns this fall to support FringeArts
FringeArts will celebrate the 15th anniversary of its annual Feastival fundraiser on Wednesday, Oct. 28, bringing together some of Philadelphia’s top chefs, beverage makers and performing artists for an evening benefiting the organization’s year-round programming.
The event, scheduled from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the FringeArts campus along the Delaware River, will feature small bites and drinks from restaurants and bars including Manong, Mish Mish, Kiddo, Post Haste, Almanac, Turks Head Wines and Victory Brewing. Performance installations by Brian Sanders’ Junk will take place throughout the venue, blending culinary and performing arts.
General admission tickets are $200, while VIP admission is $350 and includes early entry from 6 to 7 p.m. with exclusive food offerings and performances. All proceeds support FringeArts programming and the annual Philadelphia Fringe Festival.
The fundraiser comes just weeks after this year’s Fringe Festival, which is scheduled for Sept. 8-27 and includes performances across Philadelphia, including several in South Philadelphia. Tickets and additional information are available through https://fringearts.com/. ••
Flea market Sept. 12 at FDR Park
The FDR Park Flea Market will take place on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the FDR Park Welcome Center, 1800 Pattison Ave. There will be handmade and vintage goods from more than 50 vendors, everything from custom rubber ducks to vintage clothing to fresh flowers and plants. The market will support both local vendors and FDR Park itself. The event is free. For more information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/flea-market-at-fdr-park-tickets-1996370746644 ••
Thrill Show on Sept. 19
The 71st annual Hero Thrill Show will take place on Saturday, Sept. 19, from noon to 5 p.m. at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The cost is $15 per person or $35 for a family up to five. For more information, visit herothrillshow.org. ••
Volunteer for child literacy program
Philly Reading Coaches is looking for volunteers for the 2026-27 school year. Each coach reads one-on-one with a K-3rd grader for at least one hour per week after school. Visit ost.phila.gov/philly-reading-coaches or email PRC@phila.gov ••
New website for Review
The South Philly Review has returned to the website patimes.media.
The website includes news, arts and entertainment, crime, sports, opinion and a way to sign up for a free newsletter that will bring stories to your inbox. The site also includes a way to read the paper in “flipbook” style and a link to subscribe to the print edition. Copies of the paper can be found at the locations in this link: https://patimes.media/pickup-locations/#spr
Readers are also encouraged to follow the newspaper on Bluesky, on Facebook and on X @SoPhReview. ••
North Catholic 100th anniversary events
A number of events are planned for the 100th anniversary of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales ministry in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the opening of Northeast Catholic High School.
Here is the schedule:
• Sept. 8: Photos on steps of North Catholic building
• Sept. 22: Alumni Association Golf Outing, North Hills Country Club
• Oct. 3: Homecoming/all-year reunion at Cannstatter’s, 1-5 p.m.
• Nov. 1: Mass at North Catholic building, coffee and doughnuts afterward
• Nov. 8: Gathering of Alumni, family and friends, FOP Lodge 5
• Nov. 11: Veterans Day at St. Dominic
Call 215-543-1051 or necathalum@aol.com ••
3 performances of Oliver
The Star Players will present Oliver from Oct. 9-11 at Venice Island Performing Arts Center, 7 Lock St. in Manayunk. Show time is 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Group rates are available. Buy on Venmo @TheStarplayers or at Holmesburg Recreation Center, 4500 Rhawn St. For more information, contact director Bill Arthur at 215-685-8714 or Starplayers2013@gmail.com. ••
See Scrooge: A Christmas Carol
The Star Players will present Scrooge: A Christmas Carol on Friday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. at Venice Island Performing Arts Center, 7 Lock St. in Manayunk. Tickets cost $10. Buy on Venmo @TheStarplayers or at Holmesburg Recreation Center, 4500 Rhawn St. For more information, call 215-685-8714 or email Starplayers2013@gmail.com. ••
Caribbean cruise in January
The Marlyn Chakov Fein Chapter will cruise aboard the Norwegian Pearl to the Caribbean (Dominican Republic and St. Thomas), leaving out of Philadelphia’s Southport Marine Terminal, 5400 S. Broad St., Building 3, on Jan. 13 and returning Jan. 23. Group amenities include 5% off inside cabins, 10%-15% off ocean view , balcony, open bar/soda packages, shore excursion credits and 300 Wi-Fi minutes. Call Bernadette at 570-401-8417 for cost and additional information. The event supports cancer research and compassionate patient care at Fox Chase Cancer Center. ••
Host foreign exchange student
ASSE International Student Exchange Program is seeking local families to host foreign exchange students. Students come from countries such as Italy, Denmark, Spain, France, Ukraine, Japan and Australia. They are ages 15-18. Host families may be single parents, couples and single persons.
The exchange students have pocket money for personal expenses and full health, accident and liability insurance.
If interested in hosting an exchange student, call Holly at 800-677-2773, visit asse.com or send an email to asseusasouth@asse.com to request more information or start the application process. ••
Comcast launches Xfinity Shield, an intelligent home-protection platform
Comcast has introduced Xfinity Shield, a first-of-its-kind platform for intelligent home protection that leverages AI capabilities embedded across the nation’s largest converged network and Xfinity Gateway technology to transform WiFi into an always-on layer of cybersecurity, physical and family protection.
The average Xfinity customer connects 36 devices to WiFi. The Xfinity Gateway helps block malicious activity before it reaches devices and provides protection across the entire home. Comcast identifies, filters and blocks an average of 30 million threats every day.
Consumers today often juggle separate, expensive solutions for digital security, home monitoring and family safety. Xfinity Shield addresses this fragmentation by bringing these capabilities together in a new product suite.
“Xfinity Shield represents our vision for the next era of the intelligent home,” said Jon Gieselman, Chief Growth Officer, Connectivity & Platforms, Comcast. “We believe the network should do more than connect devices. It should help protect the people, their personal information and everything within their homes that depend on our most reliable WiFi every day. That’s the vision behind Shield: advancing the role of WiFi to both connect and protect the home.”
At the heart of Xfinity Shield is WiFi Shield, included at no additional cost for Xfinity Internet customers, which delivers three layers of protection built into the WiFi experience:
• Digital Protection: Cybersecurity Starts at the Network
WiFi Shield includes Xfinity CyberSecure, cybersecurity that helps automatically protect any device connected to the Xfinity Gateway from malware, hackers, phishing attempts and other online threats before they reach devices in the home. Unlike device-specific security tools, CyberSecure works at the WiFi level – assessing threats on the home network continuously to help protect every connected device – while also giving customers greater visibility and control when new devices join the network.
• Physical Protection: Awareness Without Additional Equipment
An opt-in feature, WiFi Motion uses the Xfinity Gateway and connected devices to detect motion inside the home – without cameras or traditional motion detectors. Using Xfinity Gateway intelligence, WiFi Motion detects changes in the home’s radio frequency signal between the Xfinity Gateway and a WiFi connected device, then sends instant notifications to customers through the Xfinity app when unexpected activity is detected. It provides an added layer of awareness without recording video, capturing images or identifying individuals.
• Family Protection: Simpler Controls for Healthier Digital Habits
Through Family Settings, customers can access tools that help establish online boundaries and create healthier digital habits for every member of the household. With devices connected through the Gateway, families can create profiles and organize devices by person in the app – enabling them to manage screen time, set device limits, pause WiFi and build schedules.
Within the Xfinity app, customers can also customize these features and notifications in three protection modes – Home Watch, Away Watch and Dark Watch.
For customers seeking an additional layer of protection, Comcast is also introducing Shield Select, which combines all the benefits of WiFi Shield with integrated hardware and enhanced capabilities. Shield Select includes an indoor camera, door/window sensor, cloud video storage capabilities and 24/7 urgent response functionality that allows customers to tap for emergency help.
Shield Select provides smart motion detection to AI-powered cameras that identifies people, pets, vehicles and package deliveries.
“Our goal was simple: make protection easier, smarter and more accessible,” said Fraser Stirling, Global Chief Product Officer, Comcast. “We believe the future of protection should be integrated into the technology people already use every day, not added as another product they have to manage. With Xfinity Shield, WiFi delivers protection that helps safeguard people’s digital lives, homes and families in a simple, digital-first experience.”
WiFi Shield is available nationwide for all Xfinity Internet customers with Advanced Xfinity Gateways. Customers can upgrade to Shield Select for $15 per month in the Xfinity app. ••
VFW looking for members
Bustleton-Somerton/CTR1 Michael J. Strange VFW Post 6617 meets on the third Wednesday of every month at American Legion Post 810, 9151 Old Newtown Road.
Meetings start at 7:30 p.m.
If you are a military veteran who served in a designated combat zone, you are eligible to join the VFW. ••
