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Happy Halloween! The future of Philadelphia doesn't have to be as spooky as today’s holiday: Our friends around the web helped us imagine future possibilities our city can flourish. This week, we realized just how much business the PHS Pop Up Garden brought to South Street West as the space evolved over the previous 4 years. Could you imagine a pedestrian street in Market East? Or even a family-friendly Philadelphia? And the way bike commuting continues to go up, can we expect less cars on the road? Now back to reality. More importantly: what will we do this weekend?  Lucky for us, this weekend is crawling with fun! Philly Weekend Events October 31-November 2:

Confession here. I've never been much of a soup girl. I mean, not that I was ever opposed. How else can you heal a cold without Chicken Noodle? (Now it's "Chickn" noodle.) Or the occasional Grilled Cheese MUST has Tomato Soup for that gooey, dipping perfection. But beyond that? I didn't want to waste time making soup. But now that I've been getting a CSA for over 3 years and my schedule has NOT slowed down, it's nearly impossible to keep up with all of these damn veggies. But now, I can can saute a few, add water/stock and Voila! I can divide soup into mason jars, stick them in the freezer and pull out a lunch without worrying about BPA or whether it's organic. Because, duh, I made it from farm-fresh, local & organic vegetables. So soup has saved me. Find the recipe for this delicious soup, after the jump:

It's a midterm election year! That means we get to sleep in and skip the polls, eh? Wrong! Although we're not voting for a new Commander-in-Chief, there's plenty to consider in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. Namely, WTF will make important decisions about taxes and funding for the keystone state?! Here's a looksy at the November 2014 Philadelphia Ballot for those teacher's pets who want to come all prepared. Let's preview the Philadelphia polls and who the environmental champions (and losers) would be.

What's the point of volunteering unless you get something out of it? (Just kidding.) But seriously, this cleanup gives back to you. Fairmount Fall Cleanup 2014 Find out how to join the Fairmount Civic Association after the jump!

Welp. It's Monday again. Hope you were able to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend! We explored the Schuylkill Boardwalk for a run, as you can see from this week's featured photo. Whether you scored a free Uber-X ride pre-sting opp or are still contemplating better names than SEPTA's new Key smart card payment system, it's time to start focusing on the important stuff. Like the week ahead, and how you're going to start locally celebrating Halloween all week. Philly Events: Week of October 27 - 31st:

Ready to celebrate the holidays focused on sugar shock? Halloween is only a week away, but you can maximize your celebrations at any age. With all of those traditionally-individually wrapped candies (estimated at over 598 million pounds at halloween alone!) generating wrappers, there’s room to make this holiday a little more sustainable. Let’s discuss how you can join festivities in a sustainable way!

We aren't kidding with the price and found all the pieces in our own city. We'll show you how with our Mission: Local Thrift Store  With the fashion trends changing from season to season, it can be hard to maintain the look when you’re on a budget. Who doesn't want top trends without the price tag? Luckily, we have a solution without burning a hole in your pocket. Whether you're searching for a 'new' piece inspired by your Grandpa's sweater or high-waisted jeans, there's no better place to shop for vintage clothes than your local thrift store. Thrift shops hold so many unknown treasures all for an unbelievable cost. In order to stay ahead of the fall trends, we took a trip over to the Salvation Army in Manayunk and scouted clothing options. Fortunately, the thrift shop is home to many wonders just waiting for a new closet home. We found an overwhelming selection of clothes in a wide range of colors and sizes. While at Salvation Army, we pulled an outfit together that can be seen at any college campus during the fall, all for under $15.00.  Find out how, after the jump!

"Women are damn resilient." One of the first speakers for the PA Conference for Women, Jill Abramson, was referring to her recent firing as The New York Times' executive editor in May 2014. But like Jill, the resiliency and power of women continued as a theme throughout the day. Although women were the focus of the conference, men and women can both discover lessons about how to make a difference in our community, become involved, and help others. Find the Pennsylvania Conference for Women 2014 Recap, after the jump!

Fall brings bright colors, chilly weather, and most importantly, great seasonal foods. It’s the best time of the year to bake fresh apple pie, simmer-up squash soup, or candy sweet potatoes.  If you’re not up for cooking yourself this week, there's a few great spots around Philly for delicious local eats. Events for the Week of October 20-24: