It’s Friday, Philly, and still very, very cold.
The end of the week brought an attempted post-snow return to normal, with Philadelphia students back at school. But the deep freeze — and many of the problems that come with it, including icy, unshoveled sidewalks — will remain through the weekend.
And some restaurateurs are coping with rising food prices by charging you less. Learn how that works, below.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.
Baby, it’s (still) cold outside
How well did the city navigate this week’s winter storm? Well …
🧊 Some Philly sidewalks remain unshoveled, now more than four days after the snow fell. The city is responsible for many of them, including walkways outside government-owned buildings, in parks, and near SEPTA stops. Many smaller streets are still unplowed, too.
🧊 City schools reopened Thursday after days of virtual learning. Some students returned to snowbanks, burst pipes, and frigid classrooms.
🧊 Ice in the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers signals problems for the Philadelphia Water Department, which draws its drinking water from intakes along the waterways. The department also warns that the extreme cold is causing city water mains to burst — around 150 so far this month.
🧊 Next up: There’s an outside chance of snow in Philly this weekend. And temperatures in the city are forecast to be well below freezing, with lows near zero.
What you should know today
- Sen. John Fetterman on Thursday voted against a federal funding package that included allocations for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, despite previously noting his objections. Later, Democrats and the White House struck a deal to avert a partial government shutdown.
- New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said she supports enshrining the state’s existing sanctuary policy into law, as immigrant rights groups push for an expanded version. Her administration will also create an online database for people to upload videos they record of federal immigration officers.
- A veto-proof majority of Philadelphia City Council members have signed onto the “ICE Out” proposal that would limit the city’s cooperation with deportation efforts.
- Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity on Thursday announced her pick for a running mate in the governor’s race: Jason Richey, an attorney and chair of the Allegheny County GOP. President Donald Trump this week endorsed Garrity, calling her an “America First Patriot.”
- The Philadelphia School District’s board met Thursday for the first time since school closures were announced. They got an earful from community members.
- A jury awarded $7.8 million to the family of a Montgomery County resident and Bloomsburg University student who died in a 2019 fall after a night of drinking at a fraternity rush party.
- The woman who pepper-sprayed a conservative influencer on a SEPTA bus earlier this month has been charged with assault, officials said.
- The University of Pennsylvania will institute another round of budget cuts in response to the Trump administration’s actions that threaten future funding and revenues.
‘You can only charge so much for a taco’
As food costs rise, eating out has gotten more expensive. That doesn’t mean restaurants are making more money.
Some Philly-area eateries are adjusting their menus to reduce overhead or prices in a bid to attract diners. They say it’s more about getting creative with ingredients than shrinking portions.
Regional restaurant group Harvest Seasonal Grill, for instance, has cut out garnishes and swapped in a less-expensive scallop pasta dish in place of seared scallops served whole, among other changes.
After an adjustment period, lower check averages have come with higher customer counts and revenue, Harvest’s founder told The Inquirer — “and we didn’t sacrifice quality.”
Restaurant reporter Mike Klein has the story.
In other food news: Amazon plans to lay off nearly 1,000 Amazon Fresh employees in the region at the end of April as it closes the grocery stores. Three of Di Bruno Bros.’ five locations will close in the coming weeks, including one in Center City. And the McGlinchey’s name and building, which closed last summer, are now on the market.
Plus: Why is Dexter, the U.S. Navy’s last working horse, buried in Philly?
Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday. We’ll feature both new and timeless stories from our forum for readers to ask about the city’s quirks.
This week, we’re resurfacing an explainer on Naval Square, where the U.S. Navy’s last working horse is buried. The beloved Dexter worked for two decades in the middle of the 20th century at the Graduate Hospital site, then a home for retired sailors.
At his funeral in 1968, Taps was played on trumpet as his nine-foot casket was lowered by crane on the grounds. Here’s the full story.
Have your own burning question about Philadelphia, its local oddities, or how the region works? Submit it here and you might find the answer featured in this space.
🧠 Trivia time
Which 57-year-old Philadelphia dive bar is both responsible for popularizing the Citywide and hosting the city’s longest-running drag show?
A) Dirty Franks
B) Locust Rendezvous
C) El Bar
D) Bob and Barbara’s
Think you got it? Test your local news know-how and check your answer in our weekly quiz.
What we’re …
🦊 Remembering: When John du Pont killed Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz in Newtown Square on this week in Philly history.
🎥 Watching: Philadelphia, among the new selections to the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
📣 Cheering: The first Philly public elementary school to compete in national cheer finals.
🍫 Slurping: Hot chocolate at these seven cozy spots in the city.
🐕 Anticipating: The Simpsons’ 800th episode, which takes place in Philly and features Questlove.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: South Jersey resort hub (two words)
TINY TACTICAL
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Richard Freeman, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Gladwyne. A plan to redevelop the Lower Merion community has residents split on their town’s future. What happens next?
Plus: A Gladwyne estate that can be split into three lots is for sale for $8.5 million. Take a look inside.
Photo of the day
🔓 One last revived thing: Independence Hall reopened Thursday following a four-month preservation project. Reporter Mike Newall chatted with visitors from near and very far about what brought them to the hallowed halls of history.
Thanks for ending your week with The Inquirer. Paola has you covered this weekend.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Leave a Reply