Join QVNA and the Friends of Bainbridge Green for the annual Spring Love Your Park cleanup day! Tools, bags, gloves, and snacks provided. Learn more here. See you there!

Join the Friends of Moyamensing Point for the annual Spring Love Your Park cleanup day! Tools, bags, gloves, and snacks provided. Learn more here. See you there!

Jefferson Square Park (300 Washington Ave) is seeking volunteers to help rake, sweep, compost, and remove trash. Register here for Jefferson Square Park’s cleanup on Saturday, May 10 from 9am–11am.

Spring has definitely "sprung":  the air is warming up and sweet with viburnums and daffodils, folks are shedding their winter "coats", the cherries and crabapples are literal eye-candy - and that means it's time four our Annual Mulch-Fest!  

We will be spreading mulch, planting/transplanting our annuals & perennials - and new shrubs, and tidying up our beloved park.

Specifics:

-Saturday, May, 10th, 9am-12pm

-We provide tools, gloves, bottled water and treats:  you provide the muscle, and get to catch up with your neighbors.

-Coffee and baked treats courtesy of our dear friends and neighbors at the Java Company.

As I have requested in the past, PLEASE sign up for our event through the Love Your Park link here; it saves me time and makes it so quick to sign you in!

Guided Tour of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church
Friday, May 9 at 1pm | 916 S. Swanson St

On June 2, 1700, Philadelphia’s Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church had its “grand opening.” Celebrate its 325th anniversary with a guided tour led by historian and archivist Jeanette Woehr.

It is easy to imagine the past when you visit Gloria Dei Church. Located on nearly five acres of green space, this national historic site predates the arrival of William Penn and the founding of Pennsylvania. The present day church was built between 1698 and 1703 to serve a parish of European settlers who lived along the banks of the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers. Today it serves as a link to a nearly forgotten history. Woehr will describe the history of this church, from its founding to the present day, and talk about many important historical figures who worshipped here or are buried in the graveyard.

Tour participants will meet inside the church building at 1:00 pm. The tour should take about an hour. Rain or Shine. Tickets are $15 each.

https://preserveoldswedes.org/event/guided-tour-of-gloria-dei-old-swedes-church/

325th Anniversary of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church
Sunday, June 1 from 10am–4pm | 916S. Swanson St.

Join neighbors to mark the 325th anniversary of Gloria Dei with a day of festivities, including a celebratory service, picnic, raffles, graveyard tours, and more! Buy your tickets here.

Opening Reception at 3rd Street Gallery
Sunday, May 4 from 2–4pm | 3rd Street Gallery | 610 S. 3rd St.

Come celebrate member artists April Flory and Judith Schermer’s new shows!

South Street Live!
May 3 at 12–6pm | South Street

Join the South Street Headhouse District and Da Vinci Art Alliance as they host South Street’s annual spring festival South Street Live on South Street between 8th and Front Streets. South Street Live! is a community-rooted event offering live performances, immersive art, local vendors, and cultural experiences. Highlights include Brauhaus Schmitz’s Maifest in the 700 block, Vinyl Block Party in the 500 block, and the Queen & Rook Fantasy Renn Faire in the 100 block. Find out more here.

Summer at Courtyard Fundraiser at New Wave!
May 3, 12–8pm | 300 Block of Catharine St.

In conjunction with New Wave Café, QVNA is hosting our third annual fundraiser for Summer at Courtyard—the free summer camp for children who live at the affordable housing development between Christian and Washington, 3rd and 5th Streets.

The program provides a six-week curriculum with reading and math, athletics, workshops on civics and engineering, weekly field trips, and more!

Join the celebration, enjoy some chicken fingers and a beverage, and help support this wonderful cause! Tickets for our raffle will be released soon. Stay tuned for more details!

Shredding and E-Cycling Event
Saturday, May 3 from 10am–1pm | Fishtown Rec. Center | 1202 E. Montgomery Ave.

Rep. Mary Isaacson and Councilmember Rue Landau are hosting a free Shredding & E-cycling event at the Fishtown Recreation Center. Responsibly and sustainably dispose of your personal information and documents and protect yourself from identity theft. Recycle your used electronics by e-recycling them. Staff will be available to provide constituents with information on city and state government services and resources.

2025 Meredith Auction and Celebration
Friday, May 2 from 6:30–10:30pm | Mummers Museum | 1100 S. 2nd St.

William M. Meredith Elementary School is consistently one of the highest performing schools in the city, with a waitlist of hundreds of students for the upcoming school year. However, Meredith does not receive as much funding as other K–8 schools in the district, a funding gap that continues to grow. The Meredith Home & School Association (HSA) helps bridge that gap through fundraising, including the annual auction. This year, the HSA aims to raise over $130,000 to help cover costs of support staff, the performing arts program, and some of Meredith’s favorite traditions. Click here for more info!

Don’t miss our monthly Community & Safety Meeting to stay up-to-date on everything going on in the neighborhood. The meeting is co-sponsored by Bella Vista Neighbors Association, the Hawthorne Empowerment Coalition, and the South Street Mini Station.

Washington Avenue Connector Project Update
Thursday, May 1 from 6–7pm | Gloria Dei Church | 916 S. Swanson St.

Hill-Physick House Spring Plant Sale Kick Off Party
Thursday, May 1 from 5–7pm | Hill-Physick House 321 S. 4th St.

Enjoy drinks and nibbles with first access to the handpicked herbs, house plants, annuals, perennials, and hanging baskets. You can also attend on Friday, May 2 from 10am–5pm and Saturday, May 3 from 10am–4pm. Buy tickets here.

2025 is an exciting year for us at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church in Philadelphia. We are celebrating the 325th anniversary of the consecration of this National Historic Site. 

We invite you to join us on Sunday, June 1, 2025 as we mark this special event with a day of festivities. Activities include:

10:00 am – Celebratory Service: The congregation of Gloria Dei will be celebrating the last Sunday of the Easter season (which is always a time of joy and thanksgiving). During the service, Rev. Dr. Christopher Micklewright, rector of Gloria Dei Church, will reflect on the church’s history and will lead the congregation in prayers of thanksgiving for the past and hope for the future. 

11:30 am – Picnic in the Hall and Grounds: Following the service, the Gloria Dei Church congregation will host a picnic in Riverside Hall and on the grounds. Parishioners will grill a variety of main dishes and contribute sides and desserts. 

11:30 am – Museum Display: For one hour only, join historian and archivist Jeanette Woehr in Riverside Hall as she uses our most treasured articles to bring Gloria Dei’s history to life. Among them: lightning rods that Benjamin Franklin installed on this church in 1752  … and Andreas Rudman’s Naturalization Papers signed by William Penn in 1701.

11:30 am – Wine Raffle and Gift Table: Here’s your chance to win a special bottle of wine or two in our wine table raffle. Also, stop by our gift table for beautiful items that support our preservation efforts … including authenticated, limited edition prints of Bill Terney’s 2012 painting of Gloria Dei Church.

12:00 pm – Graveyard Tours: Our nearly 350-year graveyard is the final resting place for thousands of extraordinary people. Learn about them by using our free self-guided tour app. Our historians will also showcase two recent fascinating underground discoveries: the c. 1675 blockhouse and Peter Gunnarsson Rambo’s grave.

1:00 pm – Scavenger Hunt: Kids of all ages will enjoy connecting the past and the present with this fun event. Our graveyard has been in continuous use since 1677, and its graves contain a wide variety of symbols and carvings dating from the 18th century to today. Wander the grounds to find and learn about them.

2:00 pm - Scandinavian Folk and Art Songs: Singer, songwriter, bandleader and composer IVA will present a unique recital featuring works by Swedish composers not often heard in this part of the world. Her repertoire covers classical through modern, as well as folk songs. After this spectacular concert, please join IVA for an exclusive meet-and-mingle event in Riverside Hall. Tickets available here: 

https://preserveoldswedes.org/event/iva/.

Donation-Based Vinyasa Yoga
Sundays from 4:30–5:30pm | Practice Yoga Coop | 804 S. 4th St.

Check out a great yoga class at Practice Yoga Coop! All the proceeds go to supporting Yoga4Philly, which is a non-profit committed to making yoga and meditation available to everyone. Click here to find out more about the impact of Y4P in Philadelphia.

Lotion Blending Workshop
Sunday, April 27 4–5pm | Full Moon Blends | 617 S. 4th St.
Join Certified Aromatherapist & owner of Full Moon Blends for a lotion blending workshop. Learn more about aromatherapy & essential oils before creating your own all-natural scented lotion to take home. Sample several essential oils and learn about their emotional and physical healing properties before picking your favorite oils to blend. Snacks & drinks provided but BYOB is OK! Guests will also enjoy 10% off Full Moon Blends aromatherapy products. Register here.

Schubert Mass in G
Sunday, April 27 at 3pm | St. Peter’s Church | 3rd & Pine Sts.

All are welcome at St. Peter’s Church for a performance of one of the most popular settings of the mass ordinary: Franz Schubert’s Mass in G. St. Peter’s Choir, under the direction of St. Peter’s Interim Music Director Dr. Derrick Thompson, will perform with organ and strings. Attendance is free.

Pennsylvania Before Penn
Sunday, April 27 at 2pm | Gloria Dei Church | 916 S. Swanson St.

Did you know that some 20-30 million American can trace their genealogy to one or more of the early Swedish settlers in America? Join Kim-Eric Williams, a retired Swedish professor from the University of Pennsylvania with a doctorate in ministry, as they talk about the history of New Sweden’s colony in this area. Register here.

Thank you to For Pete’s Sake for partnering with us on the parking lot painting party!

Everyone who helps paint on Saturday will receive a drink ticket for a free beer (nonalcoholic drinks for kids) and can enjoy a painting party special: $10 for a cheeseburger and fries!

Enjoy some delicious treats and help spruce up the QVNA parking lot and Carpenters Walk!

From America with Love: A Honky Tonk Benefit for Ukraine
Friday, April 25 & Saturday, April 26 at 8pm | Ulana’s | 205 Bainbridge St.
Join neighbors and residents for two benefits performances to support SAVE UKRAINE, which raises money to support children in Ukraine with resettlement and reuniting with their families after being held behind Russian lines. Tickets are $40. Call 646.326.7950 for more information.

2025 Nebinger PTA Annual Spring Fundraiser
Saturday, April 26 at 7pm | Fleisher Art Memorial | 719 Catharine St.

Raise a Glass to 100 Years of Nebinger! Whether you're a longtime supporter, new to the Nebinger family, or want to support one of our neighborhood schools, all are invited to a Roaring 20s-themed soirée in support of the school. The event will feature a silent auction, open bar, delicious bites, music & dancing. Buy tickets here.

Mario Lanza Dog Park Spring Cleanup
Saturday, April 26 from 10am–2pm | Mario Lanza Dog Park

Join the Friends of Mario Lanza Dog Park for our Spring Cleanup event to get the park ready for the warm weather! This clean up will focus on landscaping the gravel and entranceways, cleaning up the fencing and signage, and cleaning up the trash area. Make sure to wear clothes you’d wear for lawn work. We'll provide rakes, shovels, brooms, equipment. Bring some water if it's hot! Reach out to mariolanzadogpark@qvna.org or message us on Instagram @mariolanzadogpark

From America with Love: A Honky Tonk Benefit for Ukraine
Friday, April 25 & Saturday, April 26 at 8pm | Ulana’s | 205 Bainbridge St.
Join neighbors and residents for two benefits performances to support SAVE UKRAINE, which raises money to support children in Ukraine with resettlement and reuniting with their families after being held behind Russian lines. Tickets are $40. Call 646.326.7950 for more information.

Gravestone and Historic Marker Community Day Service
Friday, April 25 from 1–3pm | Gloria Dei Church | 916 S. Swanson St.

Join Marco Federico of Heritage Conservation Collective and participate in a local service project to clean historical markers and gravestones during National Historic Marker Day. The event is free. Pre-registration is highly recommended.

Join us for our monthly Beautification Committee meeting where we will share updates on the QVNA parking lot pillar painting project, as well as how the April 12 Tree Tenders Planting went in Queen Village!

Mansions Along the Delaware
Wednesday, April 23 from 8:15am–5:15pm | 321 S. 4th St.
Please join the Powel House Committee and PhilaLandmarks for a special day of touring. We will be visiting three historic mansions along the Delaware River and enjoying lunch at the oldest tavern in Pennsylvania. Register and learn more here.

Donation-Based Vinyasa Yoga
Sundays from 4:30–5:30pm | Practice Yoga Coop | 804 S. 4th St.

Check out a great yoga class at Practice Yoga Coop! All the proceeds go to supporting Yoga4Philly, which is a non-profit committed to making yoga and meditation available to everyone. Click here to find out more about the impact of Y4P in Philadelphia.

Easter Promenade
Sunday, April 20 at 12:30pm | South Street

Hop on over to South Street for the 92nd Annual Easter Promenade! This popular Easter tradition is free, family-friendly, bunny-positive, and overflowing with fantastic fashion! Kick-off is at 12:30pm, with the Best Dressed Contest at 1:15pm.