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Neighborhood Bike Works Have extra free time and want to support a local youth and community outreach program? Give Neighborhood Bike Works a visit. Founded in 1999, the non-profit has been making a difference in Philly’s underserved neighborhoods with free bicycling programs throughout the summer and school year. Kids (ages 8-18) learn about cycling safety, bicycle mechanics, and healthy lifestyles.

Philly is infamous for a bad rep from cheesesteaks to unruly sports fans. Yet, I’ve never imagined Philly being famous for being a healthy travelers’ destination. That’s one opinion based on a recent study by NerdWallet Health. Nerdwallet compared 50 largest U.S. cities on four aspects to rank the “Best Vacation Spots for the Health Conscious”: weather (can you spend time outdoors without getting burned?), availability of fresh foods, walkability, and hotel affordability. Philadelphia managed to come in seventh, beaten out only by New York, San Francisco, Portland, DC, LA, and Baltimore. So what does Nerdwallet's nomination of the 7th healthiest city say about Philly?

Summer is officially here! Beaches, Fourth of July, Barbecues, Swimming, Tacos… Yes, tacos! Something about tacos puts me in a relaxed mood. (Or maybe it’s the margarita that I sip on while I make a batch…) Tacos are a spicy, flavorful meal; plus they’re super easy to make with a few ingredients from your CSA. I prefer shrimp tacos because of the high protein, low fat, and digestibility. It’s also chalked full of GOOD fats, like monounsaturated or omegas also found in avocados, olive oil and walnuts. It’s also great for those who aren’t ready to be totally meat-free yet.

Biking While a Woman (BWW) is a condition that appears to affect large numbers of potential female cyclists in the US. Nearly every study that looks to answer the question "who rides bikes" turns up results indicating "mostly men." Something about being a woman keeps women off bikes, or perhaps it's BWM that gets men onto bikes.  But as a woman, I can only share insights into what it's like for me and other female friends to ride our bikes in Philly and surrounding areas. I started riding a bike because I was in grad school, spending insane hours at school and coming home at various hours. The thought of paying Septa for the privilege of sitting in traffic on a bus; standing on a corner waiting for a bus; a bus or train schedule dictating my arrival or departure from school made me anxious and even a little angry. Even though it's public transit, I didn't like needing fossil fuels to get around. I got a bike and never looked back. >Are you a lady who still hasn't made the transition to biking? Here's 6 reasons you should catch on to the BWW now:

Making plans for you week but still have some spare time to fill? Whether you’re looking for gardening tips, bike trips or just want to celebrate some #Philly love, here’s our round up of local green events happening this week. Check em out after the jump!

The summer solstice is around the corner, and Philly is packed with events to celebrate the official start of summer. Whether you want to party on a farm, celebrate local food or gardens, join a cleanup or hackathon, we’ve got the best fun and green options for you:

It’s that time of year again! Summer is here, or rather, a few short days away, marking the return of many of the city’s farmer’s markets and their bounties of fresh and local summer fruits and vegetables. Don’t want to miss your favorites? Here’s a quick guide to the summer’s harvests.  Summer Guide to Philly’s Farmer’s Markets:

Since I’m still in college, I’ve moved around a lot over the last couple of years. Every move, I end up with unwanted or disproportional furniture. Being new to the Philly area, I had no idea where to donate gently used furniture. I’ve since learned from experience that places like Goodwill or the Salvation Army aren’t very user friendly. They tend to be pickier about items they accept and it’s difficult to schedule pickup times (especially without a car). Whether you’re looking to buy or donate old furniture, we saved you some of my previous stress and found a few places for you on Where Can I Wednesday. Plus, they all benefit great causes. Here’s where to donate furniture in Philly:

Saturday is the Summer Solstice and an amazing time for a celebration! This Saturday, join the Weavers Way Community Programs with a Hoedown from 6-9 PM.