Cheltenham Township’s 48-acre Curtis Arboretum certainly looks like an arboretum. The park’s southern edge is dominated by a lush forest of sycamore, maple and ash that gradually opens onto a series of rolling hills featuring more than 50 tree species. Despite its name and expansive tree catalogue, Curtis is officially designated as a township park,
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An empty shopfront on South Street is in the midst of transformation. Ennis Carter, the founder of Social Impact Studios, a Philadelphia-based “creative hub,” affixes bolts of colorful paper to a wall and unfurls a vibrant, refrigerator-sized hand-painted canvas beneath a banner proclaiming “Made with Artistry & Activism.” For the month of July, the space
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When a crowd comprised of more than 60 renters, homeowners, organizers and representatives gathered on May 7 in Southwest Philadelphia’s Kingsessing neighborhood, they had one message: “The renters united will never be defeated.” Led by One PA, a statewide community organizing group, the rally was the latest move in the ongoing effort to secure 925
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Most birders have a “spark bird,” the species that ignited their passion for nature. Visual artist Deirdre Murphy, whose work blends scientific data with bird observations, has a “spark ornithologist.” Murphy credits John James Audubon, who revolutionized the field of ornithology with his detailed illustrations, as an early source of inspiration. “He’s my spark for
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