As the spring winds down and summer gears up, neighbors can look forward to more opportunities to spend time together and participate in events that can bring both social and personal fulfillment.
These may include spaces for food access and community connection, like the Germantown Farmers Market. They also include social worker services offered at the Joseph E. Coleman Library (and others around the city).
Germantown Info Hub has compiled a list of happenings that neighbors can expect in the warmer months.
Germantown Farmers Market
As reported in the past, the Germantown Farmers Market is under new-ish leadership but still strives to bring neighbors land-based goods and services like raw fruits and vegetables, pickles, jams, syrups and honey, juices, smoothies, and more via local vendors and farms. GFM operates biweekly through June 29. They will break in July, return on August 10th, and run biweekly until November 16th. You can find it at the usual spot at Market Square on Germantown Avenue in between Church and School House Lanes.
Germantown Kitchen Garden
The Germantown Kitchen Garden operates a farmstand on Saturdays, offering a wide range of fresh produce. And if that isn’t convincing enough, visit their plant nursery, where you can purchase shrubs, perennials, and annuals. The farmstand, located at 215 East Penn Street, is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Germantown Kitchen Garden accepts SNAP. You can visit their website to purchase plants online.
Maplewood Collective Happenings
Did you know that the shops and neighbors at Maplewood Mall (between Greene & Germantown Avenue beside Armat Street), also known as the Maplewood Collective, have a diverse range of events lined up for the rest of the summer? They aim to foster community within the mall and provide opportunities for people to support the businesses there. Events include:
- Father’s Day Block Party–June 8, 12-4 p.m.
- Open Mic on the Mall–June 29, 4-7 p.m.
- Art Festival–July 14, 12-4 p.m.
- Family Block Party/Movie Night–August 17, 4-8 p.m.
Rumba Fridays at Imperfect Gallery
Aside from being a place to gather and admire art, the Imperfect Gallery becomes an Afro-Cuban percussion jam session that seeks to keep the tradition alive through what Imperfect says “is not a performance,” but “an experience.” Rumba Fridays happen on the first and third Friday of every month at 5539 Germantown Avenue.
Little Itty Bitty Jazz Jawns
Every first Friday at Our House Culture Center (Germantown Avenue & Johnson Street), the Musicology Media Group partners with Mt. Airy CDC for interactive sessions to learn about the jazz music genre. These sessions are designed for the whole family to partake in workshops and live music.
Third Sundays at The People’s Lot
Germantown Residents for Economic Alternatives Together (GREAT) holds community gatherings every third Sunday of the month. These gatherings focus on green themes and include a potluck to which all neighbors are encouraged to contribute. Attendees can join in on lively conversations and explore a container garden of food, herbs, and pollinator plants. The potlucks are themed to promote local, in-season produce, allowing neighbors to try new recipes from one another.
These Third Sunday gatherings happen at 18 E. Church Lane from 2 to 4 p.m. See a full list of topics and potluck themes here.
Social services at the Coleman Library
Libraries across the city now offer social services a few times a month at over 15 neighborhood libraries, including the Joseph E. Coleman Library. Social workers are stationed to help connect people to needed resources, provide open office hours, and host programs like coffee chats and resource fairs.
Dates for June and future months have not yet been announced, but you can check the library’s website frequently to see when they’ll be offered. You can also call (215) 814-4492 with questions or email socialservices@freelibrary.org.
If you have a recurring gem you know of or host in the coming months, send it to Rasheed Ajamu at rasheed@resolvephilly.org.
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