University City District hosted a fall event at Renata’s Kitchen with activities, free refreshments, and a live music performance on Oct. 23.
University City District, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the neighborhood, partnered with Renata’s in an effort to sponsor a family-friendly event in the West Philadelphia community. Renata’s — a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean-style eatery that serves as a popular happy hour and dining spot for Penn students — provided snacks and drinks while utilizing the Trolley Portal Gardens green space for the event.
“A public space is meant to be used, and part of what we’re trying to do is show folks different ways in which you can use it,” UCD senior manager of events and community partnerships Margaret Starke said. “This event felt like our way to say to the neighborhood [that] we’re for kids too.”
Around 30 people attended, with a crowd composed primarily of toddlers and parents. Ants on a Log, a Philadelphia-based trio that performs gender and environmental justice music, played during the event. Some highlights of Ants on the Log’s set include their gender-inclusive song “Terry the Nonbinary Canary” and a freeze dance activity that brought children up to the dance floor.
“We take a lot of our inspiration from our own lives and the people we are in community with,” band member Julie Be said. “People are looking for music that isn’t just sunshine and rainbows for children. They want something of content.”
In addition to Wednesday’s event, Starke noted, UCD also hosts an annual Holiday Hoopla event in December and music pop-ups in May and June in partnership with Renata’s Kitchen.
For future programming, Starke encouraged Penn students to refer to the UCD website for a community calendar and sign up for the Neighborhood News and monthly events newsletters. Starke also recommended next September’s Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll, which features $1 to $5 deals on food and merchandise, and University City Dining Days in the summer.
“It’s really us giving back to the community, sharing the news, and what’s going on,” Starke said.
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