Author: Paola Pérez

Good morning. Saturday’s forecast calls for clouds, a chance of showers, and a high of 58.

We spring forward this weekend, an occasion that some look forward to, and others dread. Before clocks change, Tony Wood gathered some figures for our consideration, and explains why the sun may be setting on year-round daylight saving.

What’s the polite approach to trim a neighbor’s tree? Our group chat weighs a reader’s dilemma.

But first up, there’s news about grocery store closures, a Philadelphia “wine fight” playing out in court, and our report card for this week in news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

What you should know today

• Philadelphia City Council next month will consider legislation to place some limits on immigration enforcement in the city and is planning a daylong hearing to parse the proposals.
• A fire at Savita Naturals in Logan Township, N.J., was extinguished late Thursday, marking a step forward in the investigation into the massive explosion that rocked the region. Three employees remain in critical condition.
• The mother of the 20-year-old man killed during a shooting at Lincoln University’s homecoming last October has sued the school and others, alleging that Lincoln prioritized the “college experience” over safety.
• Grocery Outlet bargain market is closing dozens of stores nationwide, including eight in the Philadelphia area.
• Philly’s oldest wine school says it’s under threat from a competitor’s cyberbullying that’s confusing customers and trying to erase its existence from the internet. An Instagram name was just the start.
• A Philadelphia court ruled that a state law barring those with convictions from working as private unarmed security guards is unconstitutional.
• Girl Scouts recently sold cookies at a South Jersey marijuana dispensary. The organization is not happy about it.
• Philadelphia Museum of Art director and CEO Daniel H. Weiss has hired a longtime associate to be the museum’s new executive vice president and chief financial and operating officer.
• The ingredients in a “milky white” substance that leaked into a Chester County creek last week are toxic to aquatic life, killing fish, eels, and worms, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said.
• Swarthmore Borough manager Sean Halbom was terminated after just six months, the latest in a string of short employment stints he has held in recent years.
• Chon Tong Thai Kitchen, one of Chinatown’s most promising Thai restaurants, abruptly closed late last month. And just a year after appearing on a Gordon Ramsay show, the owners of an Upper Darby restaurant are reportedly closing and selling the building.
• From the city’s DNC charm campaign to free museum nights and a crime-fighting pup, catch up on the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of our region.

Drama-free tree trims

A reader asked: My neighbor and I don’t get along. A tree from her yard is starting to brush up against my house. I know I’m allowed to trim it, but how do I go about doing it without starting another feud?

To help, Inquirer editor Evan Weiss called up features columnist Elizabeth Wellington and life and culture reporter Abigail Covington. They debated the most neighborly approaches, and questioned the end goal — for instance, are we snipping for purely aesthetic purposes, or is this foliage causing quality-of-life issues?

“Having an actively angry neighbor is more unpleasant than a tree branch dangling in your yard,” Abigail said.

Along with considering a brazen clip in broad daylight vs. going incognito, the group also brought up a good point: Pennsylvania law allows you to trim shrubs that cross your property line, but there are some fine print details to know.

Read along for my colleagues’ full verdict. And if you’re looking for advice (or just want to share your thoughts), we’re all ears. Send us an email here.

One viewpoint

In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson unpacks the role historic districts play in preserving Philly’s history, as well as the city’s incoming fiscal windfall.

He also covers an “unproductive conversation” about public transit in Harrisburg.

“When it comes to SEPTA, Harrisburg Republicans don’t know what they’re talking about,” Pearson writes.

Read along for his Pearson perspectives.

📍 Find the location

Where can you catch this reflective view? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly places to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Eagles offensive tackle

ADAMANT JAILOR

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Ginny Katsourides, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Stoop Pigeon. The women’s sports hub and cafe from Watch Party PHL has a new location with plans to open in June.

We were there

When will this enormous snow pile at PATCO’s Haddonfield station melt? The transit agency is taking bets, with plans to award a $20 Freedom Card to winning guessers.

Staff photographer Tom Gralish stopped by to check on where the mountain stands. He aptly described the scene: “Kind of like watching a glacier move … or watching grass grow … or watching paint dry … or rewinding a VHS tape.”

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

In response to the Sixers’ survey question about how they can improve a fan’s game experience, this Philadelphian kept it simple.

Over on Facebook, a feel-good story has brought Fishtown together to rave about Ekta Indian Cuisine on Girard.

Christine Flowers is living her best life in Old City.

And one @thrashertv’s latest viral reels captures the reality of driving through a “fresh winter pothole” in the city. My favorite comment: “in england, they drive on the left. in philly, we drive on what’s left.”

👋🏽 Thanks for reading. Have a good day, and I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow.

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.

Welcome to March.

Sunday will be cloudy and may see a wintry mix of precipitation.

Centuries of artifacts are buried in Philadelphia soil. Who should be allowed to dig up the city’s history? It depends on whom you ask.

Further on, we’re covering the latest on the U.S.-Israel joint strikes on Iran. Check Inquirer.com for developments.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

Buried treasure

Both amateur diggers and professional archaeologists say that they’re working in the public interest, but breaching the ground is a delicate practice and subject.

🚧 Not all “privy pirates” are the same. Some follow a set of rules and dig with integrity, but others trespass, shut out the professionals, and sell what they find underground.

🚧 Some archaeologists say the city has done little to protect its buried history, and warn about the risks of indiscriminate digging. “Once you dig through a site, you’ve destroyed it,” one told The Inquirer. “It’s gone.”

🚧 America’s 250th birthday is approaching, putting Philadelphia’s rich history in the national spotlight and raising questions about the access and preservation of that history.

Zoe Greenberg has the story.

In related news: Federal officials seized 36 Bronze Age-era short swords and 50 arrowheads following their arrival in Philadelphia in October.

‘Operation Epic Fury’

The U.S. and Israel launched a major joint attack on Iran early Saturday, following months of rising tensions and the movement of American warships into the region last week.

At least 201 people were killed and more than 700 were injured, according to Iranian state media. President Donald Trump said on social media that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the attack.

Global leaders are holding emergency security meetings and calling for the resumption of U.S.-Iran negotiations as the attack sowed concerns of a broader conflict. Trump said his main concern is the “freedom” of the Iranian people.

Pennsylvania Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick praised the coordinated strikes, while other lawmakers in the region have criticized it and called for legislators to return to Congress immediately.

In response to the turmoil, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherill said law enforcement would increase patrols at sensitive sites like houses of worship, while Philadelphia police said it was monitoring the situation overseas.

Find updates at Inquirer.com.

What you should know today

• A newly proposed bill would permanently restore all exhibits to the President’s House Site that were removed by the Trump administration in January.
• Immigrants are the only reason Philadelphia’s population is growing, according to a new analysis. It suggests stricter federal policies could threaten the city’s economic gains.
• New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Friday that “all options are on the table” when asked by The Inquirer whether she would support adding a new tax on ICE detention centers in the state.
• One woman is dead and another woman is in custody after a Friday afternoon shooting in South Philadelphia. An investigation is underway.
• New Philadelphia-area cardiovascular surgery centers offer lower-cost outpatient procedures, pulling profitable cases from hospitals and adding financial pressure on health systems.
• The Wallingford-Swarthmore school board approved a plan last week to cut nearly 20 positions as it tries to reverse what officials have called a trend of unsustainable spending.
• Philadelphia Museum of Art is bringing back “pay-what-you-wish” admissions Friday evenings starting April 10.
• New emails show Jeffrey Epstein repeatedly claimed he funded a “quantum gravity program” at the University of Pennsylvania, but he confused the school with Penn State. Also, a Cheltenham school may switch school picture companies due to an Epstein connection.
• Almost Home General’s Old City coffeehouse closed this week, capping a complicated two-year joint venture between the chain and the troubled restaurant group Glu Hospitality.
• Johnny Gaudreau’s family traveled from the Philadelphia area to Milan to watch Team USA win Olympic gold and honor the late hockey star. Johnny’s widow, Meredith, told us how they got there.

❓Pop quiz

In a time when many kids are glued to screens, this educational magazine is still thriving and reaching the lives of millions of children after 80 years — straight from the Poconos.

A) National Geographic

B) Highlights Magazine

C) Zoobooks

D) Brainspace Magazine

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

⛰️ Planning: A scenic spring road trip for mountain luxury in Bedford Springs.

🐢 Savoring: Bourbon chicken, snapper soup, and cinnamon buns round out some of the best things we ate this week.

🏠 Learning: How Snacktime’s bassist landed this spacious rowhouse.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: King of Prussia-based wedding dress retailer

ADD RIVAL BIDS

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Bobbi Harris, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Cochranville. More than a decade in the making, the 300-year-old village in western Chester County is moving toward its first public water line.

In other Chesco news: Area pet sitters are watching more than dogs and cats. These days, animal care means looking after more chickens, goats, and sheep.

🌷 Photo of the day

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Philadelphia Flower Show is back, full of colors, scented exhibits, flowery crowns, and roots.

From the Shakespearean production pictured above to a city citation, Inquirer columnist Stephanie Farr insists we don’t miss these exhibits at this year’s show.

And if you’re curious about what the Flower Show looked like before it opened its doors, check out these snaps by staff photographer Tom Gralish.

🎶 Today, we’re remembering Neil Sedaka by listening to this song: “They say that breaking up is hard to do / Now I know, I know that it’s true.”

One more musical thing: Mount Airy rapper KUR put us on to his special pick for a late-night fresh fruit stop, and it’s not Wawa.

👋🏽 Thanks, as always, for starting your morning with us. Have a great day.

Good morning. It’s a mostly sunny Saturday.

Philly’s surprisingly cold and snowy winter isn’t done yet. Resident weather expert Tony Wood breaks down what went wrong with the outlooks, and some big changes on the way.

Heavy snowfall in the area means snowmen, sledding, and snowball fights. But what if you’re randomly hit, unprovoked, by teenage strangers? We discuss.

Plus, there’s news about one of America’s most popular diet trends, the state of Philly’s pension fund, and our report card for this week’s news.

Scroll along for these stories and more.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

What you should know today

• Quakertown Police Chief Scott McElree was reportedly put on leave as the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office continues investigating a clash at a student anti-ICE protest.
• The so-called Clothespin building will host a hotel and hundreds of apartments after a recent sale. It once had the most office space in the city.
• Aramark will not be the official food, beverage, and hospitality provider at the new South Philadelphia arena where the 76ers, Flyers, and the city’s new WNBA team are expected to play.
• A decade ago, Philadelphia’s $10 billion municipal pension system looked like it could sink the city. Now it’s on pace to be fully funded by 2032.
• Franklin Mall reopened Friday after being temporarily shut down since a small fire last weekend at the once-popular Northeast Philadelphia retail destination.
• Despite winning awards for improving test scores, the Philadelphia School District says not enough neighborhood children want to attend Robert Morris Middle School.
• Intermittent fasting may be no more effective than simply cutting calories for weight loss, a new review of Rutgers research shows.
• A Philly-based biotech nonprofit has landed $76 million in federal funding to advance its artificial intelligence match-making tool that identifies existing drugs to treat rare diseases.
• Breeze Airways is expanding again at the Atlantic City Airport, this time offering more southbound flights.
• Pennsylvanians react to Reese’s ingredient changes, the Phillies face a prove-it season, Team USA honors Johnny Gaudreau, and more in this week’s Philly report card.

Iced by teens

This week, we’re answering this reader question on a bit of winter warfare: Two random teenagers threw snowballs at me, a grown man. One hit me in the face and knocked off my glasses. Was I, a grown man, allowed to throw the world’s fastest revenge snowball? Or should I have just yelled a few expletives and moved on (what I actually did)?

To help, Inquirer editor Evan Weiss recruited life and culture reporters Jason Nark and Mike Newall. The group weighed the dangers of unprovoked snowballs, the value of retaliatory throws, and even brought up moving to warmer climates altogether (lol). Jason, who pointed out that our neighbors in New York City are also dealing with snowball related incidents, put it quite simply: “No one likes a snowball to the face.”

Read along for my colleagues’ full chat. And if you’re looking for advice (or just want to share your takes), we’re all ears. Send in your pressing questions here.

One viewpoint

In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson unpacks the race to replace U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, a security snafu at Gov. Josh Shapiro’s mansion, and calls for some basic sense about security.

He also analyzes the rise of cameras around Philadelphia.

“Over the last few years, Philadelphians have increasingly come under surveillance,” Pearson writes. “This surge in surveillance has led to some residents bemoaning what they view as a cash grab.”

Read on for Pearson’s perspectives.

📍 Find the location

Where can you find this mosaic by Isaiah Zagar? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly’s streets to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: 300-year-old village in western Chester County

CHEVRON LILAC

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Eileen Cleary who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Our Missing Hearts. Celeste Ng’s dystopian novel is this year’s One Book, One Philadelphia pick.

We were there

This cheerful celebration, captured by staff photographer Monica Herndon, was among our best sports photos of the week.

Edmundo Sosa and Adolis García consider themselves more like brothers than friends. After García signed a one-year deal with the Phillies this winter, they are reunited once again, with the “same goal.”

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

We all saw the viral video of Saladine Sharad riding his scooter on Lincoln Drive, but another funny scooter moment materialized from the recent winter storm, this time featuring Bad Bunny.

Speaking of the storm, this “emergency cheesesteak” is all the rage. And please… don’t be this guy.

I can’t be the only one going “awww” at these adorable baby penguins at Adventure Aquarium in Camden. 🥺

And what constitutes a “hidden gem” around here? One Philadelphian shares her hot take.

👋🏽 Thanks for stopping by. Take care, and I’ll see you tomorrow.

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.

Good morning.

Forecasts for Philly and its suburbs call for 16 to 22 inches or more of snow beginning Sunday. Find the latest updates at Inquirer.com.

In today’s main read: We join restaurant critic Craig LaBan in Japan with superstar chef Jesse Ito and his father, Matt. They touch on a challenging family history, balancing success, and the culture and cuisine that inspired their craft at Philadelphia’s Royal Sushi & Izakaya.

Further on, an analysis of new census data shows changes in relative wealth in the eight-county Philadelphia region.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

A family journey

🎤 Let’s turn the mic over to Craig LaBan for this father-son trip dispatch.

You have to wake up early in the morning to catch the world’s largest fish market at its peak. You also need to keep your head on a swivel.

“Careful here! These drivers can be crazy!” said our market escort, yanking me back from a warehouse lane wet with fish blood and water as several electric forklifts zoomed past. Piled high with styrofoam boxes bearing some of the most coveted seafood on the planet, these silent-but-speedy carts were designed for Toyosu Fish Market, a state-of-the-art facility built in 2018 on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay.

The massive refrigerated halls were already humming with activity before dawn on a November morning as Philadelphia chefs Jesse Ito and his father, Masaharu “Matt” Ito, walked through vast aisles of whole fish on ice toward the live-seafood hall, where an acre of ocean creatures bobbed in gurgling tanks flanked by an ike jime station. Thrashing madai red snappers there were deftly dispatched with two strokes of a knife and a wire spike to the brain — a swift death considered both humane and, from a culinary perspective, optimal.

“It instantly disables the nervous system from producing chemicals that degrade the fish and keeps the meat fresh,” said Jesse, of Royal Sushi & Izakaya, whose industry contacts had lent us official hats and white rubber boots to accompany them to areas of this seafood paradise where tourists are not permitted.

One of the most respected sushi chefs in the U.S., Jesse was not buying tuna on this day in November, but taking in this time-honored ritual alongside his father.

“I’m so glad we got a chance to experience that together,” Jesse said.

Matt, 72 and Japanese-born, taught a teenage Jesse the fundamentals of making sushi at Fuji, the family’s long-running restaurant in South Jersey. He and Jesse sold it before opening Royal Sushi & Izakaya in Queen Village together with partners in 2016, when Jesse was 26. — Craig LaBan

Follow along for this especially personal excursion, detours and discoveries included.

‘Big Bucks’

According to recently released census data, Chester County towns are among the wealthiest in the Philadelphia area, but Bucks County has made gains over the last decade.

Here are some key findings:

💰 Six of the 10 wealthiest municipalities are in Chester County. Overall, the county has the highest median income in the state of Pennsylvania.

💰 Incomes in other counties in the region have grown. The bulk of higher incomes were west of the Delaware River.

💰 Bucks County has been gaining star power. Some of its towns may merit the label “Big Bucks County,” with seven of its municipalities making the top 20, more than any other county.

Not all the gainers were wealthy towns. Dive into the data with Tony Wood and John Duchneskie.

What you should know today

• Montgomery County health officials on Saturday warned residents of a possible measles exposure at two locations in the county, after confirming another case of the highly contagious disease. Another potential exposure was reported this week at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington.
• The Bucks County district attorney is investigating the Quakertown Borough Police Department’s response to a high school student protest against federal immigration enforcement.
• Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro joined President Donald Trump at the White House for a breakfast on Friday, following weeks of uncertainty and strife over whether any Democrats would attend the traditionally bipartisan annual event.
• Chester County will soon inspect and plan repairs to the century-old Downingtown Trestle Bridge as part of a multiyear project to extend the Chester Valley Trail.
• Parkway West High School is among the last of the Philly area’s small, specialty schools. Its size is also a reason the school district wants to close it. The Samuel Pennypacker School also faces the threat of extinction after anchoring the West Oak Lane neighborhood of Northwest Philly for nearly a century.
• Philip Korshak, the poet-baker who left town after closing his cult favorite Korshak Bagels 2½ years ago, plans to return to South Philadelphia in the spring. This time, bagels aren’t on the menu.
• Croft Farm was once a stop for Black people seeking freedom from slavery. Now, a fresh archaeological expedition seeks to learn more about its role in that era.
• Four years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Philly area has become a hub for veterans and refugees seeking medical care and community. They express gratitude for support, and wariness of the future.
• A deteriorating, privately owned house in West Goshen is at the center of a fight to spotlight under-told history and preserve open land in the county.

❓Pop quiz

Basketball legend and all-time 76ers great Julius Erving turned 76 years old Sunday.

How much did the Sixers pay to acquire Erving from the New York Nets at the start of the 1976-77 NBA season?

A) $1

B) $3 million

C) $5.5 million

D) $7.6 million

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🌸 Yearning for: A springtime trip to Charlottesville, Va.

🎲 Playing: Board games at Queen & Rook with Revolution Museum chief R. Scott Stephenson.

🥧 Tasting: Country-style spinach pie and a limited-time pastry among the best things we ate this week.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: West Philly native and Temple alum

COMMANDO LINGO

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Derek Davis, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: In Pursuit. The new streaming series tells the story of America through the lens of Philadelphia.

Photo of the day

Carl Henderson of Carl’s Cards was a beloved figure in Havertown and beyond. He ran his shop with joy and selflessness for 31 years. After his sudden death last month, his family is keeping it alive.

🎶 Today’s track goes like this: “You can never correct nature / The tree that is born bent will never straighten its trunk.” That’s an English translation from “El Gran Varon” (The Big Man) by salsa legend Willie Colón, who passed Saturday at the age of 75.

👋🏽 Thanks for starting your morning with The Inquirer. Julie will bring you the news bright and early tomorrow. Until then, stay warm and take care.

It’s Saturday.

Snow is a near certainty this weekend, with a winter storm watch starting early Sunday for the Philly area. Coastal flooding is possible at the Shore. Resident weather expert Tony Wood (or “AccuTony,” as we like to call him) has the forecast details.

Philly runs on Wawa. What endears people to the store? Scroll along for a deep dive into how hometown fans fuel the beloved chain’s success, and our staffers’ takes on its food quality over the years.

Plus, we’re talking about a battle of the beer festivals brewing in Philadelphia, a new all-day cafe dosing drinks with controversial psychoactive plants, and our report card for this week in news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

What you should know today

• The Supreme Court ruling against President Trump’s global tariffs is good news, Pennsylvania lawmakers say. The state’s dairy industry has suffered. And in other federal news, a judge ruled that the Trump administration doesn’t need to finish restoring the President’s House for now.
• A 260-apartment development, largely composed of one-bedroom units, is the latest residential project slated for Ridge Avenue in East Falls.
• Several Quakertown High School students were taken into custody on Friday after a student walkout protesting federal immigration enforcement escalated into a confrontation that left at least one teenager bloodied and in handcuffs, according to witnesses and video footage from the scene.
• Philly Bierfest and the NYC-rooted Philly Beer Fest will be held on the same date this year, and their names sound nearly identical, but the similarities mostly end there. One wants the other to stop confusing customers.
• Two men have been arrested after breaking into a Lululemon store in Ardmore and allegedly stealing nearly $11,000 in merchandise, police said.
• A man was arrested after he allegedly placed hidden cameras inside restrooms at a Gloucester County barbershop where he worked.
• A new all-day lounge in Old City is betting on kava and kratom to pull crowds away from bars. The substances are associated with stress relief — and health risks.
• Haverford College could convene a committee to review whether U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s name should remain on the campus library, following newly revealed details of the mega-donor’s ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The school has also vowed to amend its events policy after a disturbance at a talk by an Israeli journalist.
• Tired Hands Brewing has turned its original Ardmore outpost into a private event space, for now, as its owner navigates the future of the beer company.
• Chicken bones, potholes, Bruce indoors, and a rush to book the Shore — this week’s Philly Report Card grades the city’s late-winter mood.

Quality check

Loyal customers in the Philadelphia area love Wawa. But as the chain grows, its expansion has tested the brand. With shifting menus and quality, how does it keep people coming back? To find out, consumer reporter Erin McCarthy spoke to the experts about Wawa’s “secret sauce” and how it set a national standard for success in the convenience store industry.

And for a dose of hometown critical analysis, Inquirer editor Evan Weiss polled features columnist Stephanie Farr, programming editor Tommy Rowan, and deputy food editor Jenn Ladd. They sound off on Wawa’s transforming food quality, and whether or not it’s changed too much, for better or for worse.

Got thoughts, opinions, or other ideas for topics we should debate? Send in your suggestions here.

One viewpoint

In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson gets into the numbers of the state of crime, public transit, and the economy in Philadelphia.

“Homicides are down, SEPTA ridership is up, and the city’s job growth proves unsurprising,” Pearson writes.

Get Pearson’s perspective on where these and other metrics stand.

📍 Find the location

Think you know where this lion is grazing? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly’s streets to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A new streaming series that tells the story of America through the lens of Philadelphia

INUIT SPUR

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Kate Vengraitis, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Chris Rabb. The state representative from Northwest Philadelphia said he will not seek reelection while he runs in the Democratic primary for the 3rd Congressional District.

We were there

Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, better known as La Scala, is one of the world’s most famous opera houses in the world. It’s a popular stop for Winter Olympics spectators when they’re not at a sporting venue.

If it looks familiar, it’s no coincidence. Philadelphia’s Academy of Music was designed after La Scala.

My colleague Ellen Dunkel, who is in Milan covering the Olympics, takes us with her to the theater that inspired our own.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

Have you seen these brightly colored apartment buildings in North Philadelphia? It sure seems like SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward relocated from Bikini Bottom.

While we’re talking colors, check out this stunning Eagles green painting of the Ben Franklin Bridge. One Reddit user said it “should be the Pantone color of the year.”

And watch out, Bella Vista: A new driver is hitting these ruff roads. Could he be with the “Philadelphia Barking Authority”?

👋🏽 Have a good day, OK? I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow.

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.

Good morning.

We’re promised a sunny Saturday with a high near 44.

The snow, which is melting at a historically slow pace, has reached a 65-year milestone in Philadelphia for the length of time spent with at least three inches still on the ground.

Did an Inquirer reader cross the line by hitching a ride from a kind stranger? Who was responsible for the uncomfortable trip?

Scroll along to read our advice chat, as well as details of a new bill that could help save historic Jersey diners, ChatGPT’s “opinion” of Philadelphia, and our report card for this week in Philly news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

What you should know today

• State Rep. Chris Rabb reported his now-former campaign treasurer to the feds. He is in a competitive primary for Philly’s open congressional seat.
• A Philadelphia jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $250,000 to the family of a York County woman after finding the company’s baby powder product caused her fatal cancer.
• Children ran from a Lindenwold bus stop in a panic on Thursday when an ICE operation was carried out nearby. About 60% of the district’s students are Hispanic. Also, in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Gov. Josh Shapiro said he plans to fight the development of warehouses into ICE detention centers.
• In recent years, a string of iconic diners in New Jersey have shuttered their doors. New state legislation aims to keep the lights on at those still in business.
• The daughter of man who prosecutors say ran a human trafficking ring in Northeast Philly pleaded guilty to helping manage the finances of the criminal organization.
• An Abington high school principal was placed on administrative leave amid an investigation into “inappropriate” social media posts.
• A Pennsylvania company has pleaded guilty to a crime stemming from its work installing hundreds of illegal video gambling devices across the state — but charges will be dropped against the owners.
• Two Jersey brothers discovered their ancestors came to the U.S. on a schooner that was illegally transporting enslaved people. A new film tells their story.
• Philadelphians are annoying, but we have the best sandwiches and iconic branding, according to a new analysis into ChatGPT’s views. Here’s how it ranks us and other cities.
• From Philly’s Super Bowl cameo to the emotional investment in avian domestic life, catch up on the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of our region.

Carpool courtesy

Consider the following problem, presented to us by a reader:

A friend and I were waiting for Regional Rail for Center City when the announcement came that the train was canceled. It being freezing weather, I asked other passengers what their transit apps were saying, and what their plans were. A man said he was planning to drive to Center City, and his car was parked in the lot. Before I could stop myself, I asked for a ride. His wife did not like the idea, giving a wide-eyed look, but the man agreed after hesitating.

The husband was very nice, as was the car, but the wife was irritated the whole way into the city — she never said hi or introduced herself and when we tried to include her in the conversation, she sat silent.

Was it weird for me to ask for a ride or was it weird for her to treat us like a nuisance?

For this tricky situation, Inquirer editor Evan Weiss recruited features columnist Stephanie Farr and food and dining reporter Beatrice Forman. They hit several key points: the kindness of strangers, Philly’s helping spirit, and the importance of reading the room. To them, it sounds like all parties involved left the wife out in the cold.

“My 2026 resolution was to be less of a hater and I do fear this question has set me back,” Beatrice said.

Read along for my colleagues’ verdicts. And if you’re looking for advice, we’re all ears. Send in your pressing Philadelphia problems here.

One viewpoint

As more fare-evasion-resistant gates pop up at SEPTA stations, some riders look to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s efforts to make bus fares free, and wonder why Philadelphia can’t do the same with its transit.

In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson considers the suggestion: “While that all sounds exciting, it isn’t a good idea. Especially not here,” Pearson writes.

Get Pearson’s take on the cost of free rides, along with his thoughts on the city school district’s facilities plan “going the way of SEPTA’s Bus Revolution.”

📍 Find the location

Think you know where this cherry blossom-filled kiss took place? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly places to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: A new European destination from PHL

TROOP

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Jan Dalina, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Limerick. Sheetz opened its first Philly-area store in the Montgomery County township — right across from a Wawa. The rivalry rages on. Or, as reader Gerry Frank put it, “Bad for Wawa but good for customers.”

💡 We were there

Staff photojournalist Monica Herndon captured these ice sculptures made by artist Emily D. Stewart in Narbeth. Their days are numbered as temperatures rise, making them an “ephemeral” art form.

Stewart said she was inspired to craft them after reading about Swedish lanterns.

“I love working with snow in my yard or other public places because it is inherently social,” Stewart said. “As I work, people walk by, cars pull over. I get to have conversations with neighbors and meet new friends.”

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

It seems like it was just yesterday that we shared theories of what Nick Castellanos might have said or done to get benched. Now, Phillies fans are bidding him adieu. “This feels like the new Jersey Shore note,” commented Q102 Philly radio host @rach_ontheradio.

The new Sheetz is also a big talker on our Instagram. Among the hilarious reactions on FOX 29’s Facebook: “Sheetz is just Wawa with a deep fryer.” “this was the first shot in the Gastaurant wars.” “Are you Sheeting me?” (lol)

Abbott Elementary posted some cute candygrams for Valentine’s Day.

And as we continue to thaw out, let this reel be a reminder that we’ll be rewarded real soon.

👋🏽 That’s it for now. I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow.

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.

Good morning, Philly. The brutal, gusty cold continues.

In Sunday’s main read, pop critic Dan DeLuca explores a growing wave of pop-music dissent.

And with the prospect of a hotel potentially replacing the old Gillian’s Wonderland Pier, the neighborhood in its shadow fears losing its quaint Ocean City feel — and sunrise views.

Scroll along for these stories and more.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

A new era

Is protest music back? The answer seems to be yes.

From Bad Bunny’s vow to protest with love to a more confrontational approach by Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen, music has seen an emerging resistance to the Trump administration and what critics call overreaching immigration enforcement.

Drawing from a longtime tradition, Springsteen is leading the way in the current trend toward musicians opposing the government in song. In “Streets of Minneapolis,” he expresses outrage at the deaths of protesters at the hands of federal agents.

And now, all eyes are on the Super Bowl, which could be another stage for that pushback to be on display.

Dive in with Dan DeLuca.

🎡 Eclipsing Wonderland

🎤 Now I’m passing the mic to Amy Rosenberg down the Shore.

Marie Crawford was immediately charmed in 2021 when she and her soon-to-be-surfer husband Rich moved into their historic house in the literal shadow of Gillian’s Wonderland Pier.

They’d come from Blue Bell, Pa., to live year-round by the ocean, and landed with an amusement park right up the street.

“The ball drop, that was what we heard from my house,” she said, referring to the 130-foot-high Drop Tower ride. “It was, ‘Ah, ah, ahhhhhhhh,‘” she said, imitating the screams she would sometimes hear.

“It was so beautiful and romantic. On our porches, we would hear the ocean, not the amusement park. There were families, babies in strollers, coming up the street, flowing up to Wonderland. We were kind of ambassadors.”

Now, more than a year after the closing of Gillian’s, the residents are faced with the possibility of a seven-story hotel they fear will block their sun, bring traffic to their streets, and threaten the small-town charm they found in their little pocket of Ocean City. — Amy Rosenberg

Hear why some in the community believe “the tone of the neighborhood” could dramatically change.

What you should know today

• Sen. John Fetterman is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to halt its plan to develop two ICE detention centers in Pennsylvania, citing a strain on local resources and negative impacts on communities.
• A statue of Harriet Tubman will debut at City Hall this fall. The city is taking submissions from Philadelphians for a quote to be displayed on it.
• Harsh winter conditions are taking a toll on robins, opossums, and other animals in the Philly region. In Cape May, nearly all woodcocks were wiped out.
• One Tun Tavern will open in Old City after all. A long-running legal fight over the reproduction of the Marine Corps’ birthplace has been settled.
• Knitters and crocheters are turning out scads of red wool hats, a symbol of resistance to ICE in Minneapolis. They’re appearing atop heads in Philadelphia and across the country.
• After her frozen car in Fishtown garnered tens of millions of views on TikTok, Tianna Graham is getting a new car for free through Carvana.
• Firefighters found the body of a man inside a North Philadelphia home that caught fire. It’s the third fatal blaze this year.
• Members of the public in Norristown are demanding answers after a police cruiser responding to a 911 call struck a naked man standing in an intersection.
• The Philadelphia region could expand its “eds and meds” identity as local colleges compete for more defense-related research and job training funding.
• Rebecca Campbell, a former longtime Walt Disney Co. executive who has also worked in local television in Philadelphia, has joined The Inquirer’s board of directors.

❓Pop quiz

Before she was the chef at Kalaya, what was Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon’s former occupation?

A) opera singer

B) flight attendant

C) bookkeeper

D) train conductor

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🏔️ Exploring: Skiing, cozy dining, and historic estates in this snowy New England escape.

🏠 Curious about: How an “impulsive” decision led to a West Philly dream home in our latest “How I Bought This House.”

🍄‍🟫 Savoring: The bloom shroom at Manong, among the best things we ate this week.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Nonprofit system (two words) 🏥

FEATHER JOH SHELF

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Patrick Kerwin, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Roxborough. A large apartment project for the Northwest Philly neighborhood was changed to add more family units and appease other concerns

🪗 Photo of the day

Philadelphia’s own Don Bitterlich helped the Seattle Seahawks get on the board in the team’s first NFL season in 1976, but the 72-year-old really made his name playing the accordion.

🎶 Today’s song sounds like: “Youth’s like diamonds in the sun / And diamonds are forever.”

👋🏽 Thanks for starting your day with us. Julie will bring you tomorrow’s news bright and early. Until then, have a good Sunday.

Welcome to February.

Sunday is set to be partly sunny, and wind chills from an offshore storm will make it feel subzero in Philly. The Shore is expecting minor flooding, made potentially worse by the full moon.

In today’s main read: A Grammy-nominated music producer and engineer calls Philadelphia “the indie music capital of the world.”

Further on, we unravel questionable deals for student rentals around Temple University that have raised concerns about potential mortgage fraud.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

Philly’s ‘ultimate hype man’

From a young age, Will Yip dreamt of working in music. Tonight, he could go home with his first Grammy.

Yip is a go-to collaborator for acclaimed bands like Philly’s Mannequin Pussy and Baltimore’s Turnstile. He recorded Turnstile’s breakthrough Never Enough in Los Angeles, which netted five Grammy nominations.

But even without his first golden gramophone, the producer will come back home to his new state-of-the-art studio in South Philadelphia, ready to cook up more bangers.

In Yip’s own words: “Everyone is like, ‘Bro, why are you building a million-dollar studio? Aren’t studios dying?’ They are. But my brand of music, that I’m lucky enough to work with, is flourishing. Rock is back. I’ve waited my entire life for this, for people to want electric guitars. I’ve felt it bubbling for the last 10 years. And now it’s happening.”

Pop critic Dan DeLuca has the story on Yip’s road from Philly to the Grammys.

Plus: Here are our Grammy predictions (and a little rant in defense of country music stars), and a shout-out to Philly rapper Eve, who finally got recognition for her verse on “You Got Me” by The Roots and had kind words for her hometown.

Mortgage scheme

An Inquirer investigation found that Philly-area real estate agents brokered $45 million in questionable deals for student rentals around Temple.

The findings: More than two dozen professionals helped arrange the sale of apartment buildings at inflated prices. These rentals had sat on the market for months, then abruptly sold for about double their asking prices.

The key player: Patrick C. Fay of Coldwell Banker was involved in every deal. After The Inquirer published a report concerning 33 of Fay’s deals around Temple, Coldwell cut ties with him. But Fay had a counterpart on the other side of every transaction, including agents at Coldwell and other major brokerages.

The impact: These sales raise concerns of mortgage fraud and could affect property assessments and tax bills, and lead to foreclosures. Records show at least one such property has gone into foreclosure over an unpaid mortgage.

Uncover the full report from Ryan W. Briggs and William Bender.

What you should know today

• Some Philadelphia high schools reported difficult conditions Friday as a bitter cold snap gripped the region. Classrooms at one storied magnet fell to “untenable” temperatures below 40 degrees.
• The dangerous cold also saw nonprofits field hundreds of calls for shelter and outreach workers to help Philadelphians experiencing homelessness move into warming centers.
• The U.S. Senate passed a bill late Friday to fund the federal government, but a short-term shutdown still went into effect Saturday. Sen. John Fetterman crossed the aisle to vote for the compromise bill. Here’s how other local senators voted.
• A recently engaged South Philly couple rang in the new year in Puerto Rico. A wrong turn led to an ambush, and only one made it home.
• A former Philadelphia medic is accused of taking money from a 72-year-old woman’s wallet after she was pronounced dead at her Center City apartment.
• A judge ordered former Philadelphia Art Museum director and CEO Sasha Suda to submit her wrongful-termination claim to arbitration under her employment contract, rejecting Suda’s bid for a jury trial.
• As Gov. Josh Shapiro criticized federal agents, a Republican challenger for his seat says Minnesotans — and Pennsylvanians — should cooperate with ICE.
• The NBA suspended 76ers forward Paul George for violating its antidrug policy, dealing a significant blow to the team’s season. He will miss 25 games without pay.

An enduring vision

Before February was Black History Month, it originated from Negro History Week. It was founded in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, the child of two formerly enslaved parents.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially expanded its recognition.

Born from an effort to encourage Black people to learn and reflect from history, it would become a project between Woodson and Black schoolteachers.

In a column for The Inquirer, educator Rann Miller explores the origins of Black History Month and its enduring legacy in Philadelphia and beyond.

❓Pop quiz

To Provenance chef Nicholas Bazik, this place is “as close to a perfect diner as it gets.”

A) Silk City

B) Broad Street Diner

C) Sulimay’s

D) Bob’s Diner

Think you know? Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: One of the most memorable moments in Eagles history

APPLY CHILLIES

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Lynne Wlodarczyk, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Curtis Institute. The Center City music school is in the early stages of dreaming about the eventual use of the beloved Art Alliance building on Rittenhouse Square.

Photo of the day

🎶 Today’s track goes like this: “Please, don’t fall in love with everything on opening night / Flashback to infinity, just one more time.”

One more musical thing: A dozen Mummers string bands got their encore at the chilly Linc on Saturday. Thousands of people cheered them on “like it’s New Year’s Day all over again.”

👋🏽 That’s it for now. Thanks for stopping by this morning, and have yourself a great day.

Good morning.

We’re still in the arctic-cold single digits, and snowpacks continue to melt at a glacial pace. Resident weather expert Tony Wood explains its profoundly chilling effect on cleanup efforts.

Today, we take on a reader’s question about unclaimed sleds on snowy hills.

Plus, there’s news on Sixers co-owner Josh Harris’ email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein, what customers are saying about Di Bruno Bros. closing three stores, and our weekly report card for the latest regional news.

Scroll along for these stories and more.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

What you should know today

• At a Friday hearing, a federal judge chastised a Trump administration attorney for making “dangerous” arguments over the abrupt removal of slavery-related exhibits from the President’s House. The judge said she will visit the site at Independence Mall before deciding the fate of the dismantled displays.
• One year ago today, a deadly medical jet crash devastated Northeast Philadelphia. City officials plan to hold a memorial observance this evening to honor its victims.
• Newly released emails reveal an ongoing business relationship between Jeffrey Epstein and Sixers co-owner Josh Harris. The records — buried within 3 million documents — shed light on a yearslong correspondence.
• While Di Bruno Bros. shoppers lamented the imminent closure of three grocery stores, some said that they weren’t surprised and that they had noticed a change in quality over the last few years.
• A month after dangerous winds led Mummers string bands to cancel their New Year’s Day Parade competition, one string band says it’ll be too cold to play Saturday’s makeup show at the Linc. Here’s how the Eagles and other Philly pro sports teams pulled strings of their own to help make the event happen.
• Journalist, tireless community activist, and “Philadelphia institution” Dan McQuade has died at 43. “He understood Philadelphians better than anyone because he was one,” a colleague said, “quirky and funny, competitive and humble, loyal and kind.”
• Eli Lilly plans to build a $3.5 billion pharmaceutical plant in the Lehigh Valley to expand manufacturing capacity for next-generation weight-loss medicines.
• An appeals court declined to reinstate racketeering charges against George Norcross. It will be up to a new attorney general to decide what’s next.
• A federal jury in Philadelphia ruled that Comcast owes a start-up company $240 million for infringing on its patent and using its voice-remote technology.
• From Center City West’s increasingly grimy sidewalks to the unhinged return of savesies, catch up on the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of Philly.

About those stray sleds

With the snow sticking around, slopes across the Philadelphia region are still being used for sledding fun.

But what happens if you come across a lonely sled? We’re answering this reader question: Every time we go sledding, my kids somehow inevitably lose a sled. And every time, there seem to be extra, unclaimed sleds lying around. Is taking one of those stealing (from a child!), or just part of the karmic redistribution of sleds?

To discuss sled etiquette, Inquirer editor Evan Weiss called on two other fathers, reporters Jason Nark and Mike Newall. Their chat touched on every possible option, from posting about a found sled on Facebook to borrowing it for the afternoon — and then just leaving it be.

They also reminisced on the “rough business” of being a kid and fighting for your sled, and using things like garbage can lids as makeshift sleds. (That reminded me of this absolutely wild reel of a guy trying his luck with a suitcase, a mattress, and … a frying pan.)

Read along for their full take. And if you’re looking for advice, we’re all ears. Send in your pressing Philadelphia problems here.

One viewpoint

Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson is a strong advocate for snow days. Snow weeks? Not so much.

In the latest edition of Shackamaxon, Pearson gives his take on Philadelphia’s “underwhelming” snow response, as well as political incentives and the city’s “resign to run” provision.

📍 Find the location

Think you know where this historic house is located?

Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly’s places and streets to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Music school

INTUIT CRUSTIEST

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Maria Francesconi, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Atlantic City. The resort hub’s international airport is getting more southbound flights on Breeze Airways.

We were there

Hundreds of the world’s best tattoo artists and their fans got together at the Villain Arts Tattoo Festival in Philadelphia Jan. 23 to 25. Staff photographer Tyger Williams captured the ink in action.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

“I beg your finest pardon?!?!?” This runner takes dedication to a whole new level.

Over on Facebook, the Philadelphia Art Museum posted Guy Carleton Wiggins’ 1935 piece “Snowstorm, Fifth Avenue” for the snowy occasion. I also saw this nice frosty sunrise view from Conshohocken.

And I’m still not over the car found encased in slush and ice in Fishtown. At least its windshield wipers are up…

👋🏽 That’s it for now. I’ll bring you the news again tomorrow morning.

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.

Welcome to Sunday.

One progressive lawmaker has become a prominent voice in City Hall. We examine how she charted a new path to power.

But first, a massive winter storm is sweeping through the Philly region. As conditions grow icier by the minute, we’ve got you covered with important information and guides below, and all the latest updates at Inquirer.com.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

Snowpocalypse now

Philadelphia is weathering its most significant winter storm in years. The threat of heavy snowfall and potentially dangerous icing prompted a citywide emergency and a winter storm warning through early Monday afternoon. All schools are closed Monday.

Forecasts say 6 to 18 inches of snow is possible across most of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Philly is expecting somewhere between 6 and 10 inches.

Though exact amounts are never fully certain, one thing is for sure: It will not melt soon. The bitter cold will stick around for several days.

🔍 Use our map to see how much snow is expected in the Philly region.

🛷 Once it’s safe to go outside, bundle up and make the most of the snowfall at some of the area’s best sledding spots.

🪏 And before you grab the shovel, we explain how to do it safely and give you the rundown on Philly’s snow rules.

⏰ Could this storm break records? Take a look at the top January snowstorms in Philadelphia history.

Get more from resident weather expert Tony Wood, and be sure to visit Inquirer.com for developments.

‘Thought leader’

🎤 Now I’m passing the mic to City Hall reporter Anna Orso.

When Mayor Cherelle L. Parker unveiled her much-anticipated plan to address Philadelphia’s housing crisis last year, there was predictable criticism from the political left. Activists said the proposal drafted by the moderate Democrat would not do enough for the city’s poorest residents.

Less predictable was that a majority of City Council stood with them.

Even the Council president, a centrist ally of the mayor, sided with a progressive faction that just two years ago had been soundly defeated in the mayor’s race — but whose new de facto leader in City Hall has proven adept at building alliances across the ideological spectrum.

At the center of that shift was Jamie Gauthier. — Anna Orso

Read along to learn how the second-term Democratic lawmaker from West Philadelphia has solidified her place as a leading voice on Council.

What you should know today

• Philadelphia parents are worried and shocked over the school district’s proposal for closings, colocations, and other changes would affect children in every neighborhood in the city. “That can’t happen,” one told The Inquirer.
• Michael Coard, a leader in the fight to memorialize enslaved people at the President’s House in Philadelphia, is launching a new campaign to restore the dismantled slavery exhibit and keep it on Independence Mall.
• Federal immigration officers shot and killed a man Saturday in Minneapolis, as hundreds of people protested in the cold in a city still reeling from another fatal shooting weeks earlier. The man, identified as Alex Pretti, was an intensive care nurse at the Veterans Administration who was troubled by President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, according to his family.
• Very little is publicly known about Jonathan Gerlach, the Ephrata man accused of stealing human remains from Mount Moriah Cemetery. Here’s what we have learned about him.
• In Camden, incoming state-appointed School Superintendent Alfonso Q. Llano Jr. says it’s too soon to know if more budget cuts will be needed after the district cut nearly 300 jobs last year.
• Collingswood Mayor Daniela Solano-Ward settled a conflict-of-interest lawsuit by agreeing to void her vote and recuse herself from decisions on an ambulance-services contract with Virtua Health, which employs her husband.
• One of Kennett Square’s last remaining sizable undeveloped parcels could get hundreds of townhomes and apartments — but only after a former industrial site is decontaminated.
• The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts has named art museum veteran Kristen Shepherd as its next leader.

❓Pop quiz

Swedish retailer Ikea, which has its U.S. headquarters in Conshohocken, announced this week that it is testing an immersive product experience on which platform?

A) Minecraft

B) Roblox

C) Fortnite

D) Vegas Sphere

Think you know? Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Tokyo bar and shrine to the city of Brotherly Love (two words)

HILL PHOBIA SHINNY

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Geraldine DiPersia, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Will Shortz. The New York Times crossword editor and NPR puzzle master is moving the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament to Philly next year.

Photo of the day

Emilio Mignucci, the third-generation grocer of Di Bruno Bros, is synonymous with cheese in Philly. He recently took us through his favorite places to grab a bite on a perfect Friday in the city.

🎶 Today’s song goes like this: “The things we do for love / Like walking in the rain and the snow / When there’s nowhere to go…”

One more thing: Food writer Kiki Aranita has a reminder to boot: “If you’re ordering delivery from any restaurant or local business, remember to tip your delivery person extra — especially if they dash through the snow and arrive at your house on a re-purposed ATV.”

👋🏽 How will you pass the time indoors today? Let me know. I plan to eat soup and (finally!) finish Task. Thank you for checking in this morning, and may you be safe and warm.