Author: Julie Zeglen

Welcome to a new month, Philly. Stock up on rock salt (or calcium chloride) now: The season’s first bout of winter weather could hit early this week.

Despite broader economic challenges and a few restaurant vacancies, new and old Chestnut Hill businesses have found success. On this Cyber Monday, consider how the neighborhood’s main street is staying relevant in the Amazon era.

And U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle has been central in shaping Democratic messaging around Republican policies. Follow the Northeast Philadelphia lawmaker for a day in this look at his growing profile in Washington.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Old meets new in Northwest Philadelphia

As consumer habits skew digital, Chestnut Hill’s main commercial corridor has stayed busy with foot traffic.

🛍️ Business owners and retail advocates say Germantown Avenue’s diverse mix of shops — from a century-old hardware store to an all-day coffee and cocktail bar newcomer — is what continues to draw customers to the downtown area.

🍺 While some of the neighborhood’s biggest restaurants have closed recently, including the regional chain Iron Hill Brewery, patrons still visit because they expect they’ll be able to find something unique to eat, drink, or buy, experts told The Inquirer.

🎄 “When you come to Chestnut Hill over the holidays, you get what you came for,” one Germantown Avenue shop owner said. “You get that charming feeling of being somewhere special for the holiday.”

Consumer reporter Erin McCarthy explains Chestnut Hill’s commercial staying power — and the changes to come.

Further reading: After Cyber Monday comes Giving Tuesday. Experts share how to avoid charity scams and make your gift count.

‘He’s one of our best messengers’

🎤 I’m passing the mic to politics reporter Julia Terruso.

U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, a six-term lawmaker, is the most veteran of Pennsylvania’s eight Democrats in Washington. He has been the ranking member of the House Budget Committee since 2023, meaning he is the top Democrat playing defense as the Republican-controlled Congress ushers through GOP spending priorities. It can be a futile exercise in shouting into a void — until the yelling starts to echo outside.

Increasingly, Boyle, known as the Democrats’ “budget guy,” has been the man behind the messaging against President Donald Trump’s reconciliation bill and the shutdown fight over healthcare.

If Democrats reclaim Congress in next year’s election, Boyle would shift from ranking member to chair of the powerful Budget Committee, becoming the first Pennsylvanian to lead it since 1989.

It would be another resumé builder for the 48-year-old lawmaker whose role in Washington keeps growing and who has not ruled out a potential Senate run in 2028, when Democratic Sen. John Fetterman’s seat would be up. — Julia Terruso

Read on to learn how the Somerton resident’s profile is changing amid D.C.’s healthcare fight, and what he sees for his political future.

What you should know today

• A woman who waved a gun at officers died after being shot by police early Sunday in Hunting Park, officials said.
• A 25-year-old man died on Saturday at the federal prison at Fort Dix in New Jersey, prompting prison officials to notify the FBI, officials said.
• State police are investigating a Sunday shooting on I-95 that left one person wounded, and partially shut down traffic for hours.
• The Philadelphia Police Department is forming an unarmed “auxiliary” unit that could launch in 2026, adding to its ranks volunteer members to assist officers at public gatherings.
• A former Fox executive is asking the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider a petition seeking to terminate the license of the network’s Philly-area affiliate, Fox29.
• King of Prussia District is getting new funding to advance a trail project planned for Montgomery County, currently called the “Gulph Road Connector.”
• In Chester County, inmates are getting workforce training and jobs to match post-release. Nearly two years in, officials say it’s been a success.
• FIFA’s World Cup draw is happening this week. The event should help determine which international sides will play in Philadelphia this summer.
• A teen fled war in Ukraine for a new life. Now she’s at the top of her class at a Northeast Philly high school.

Quote of the day

The Bezos-owned Post snubbed Philly on its list of the country’s best sports cities. Nine Inquirer writers offer plenty of reasons why they’re wrong.

🧠 Trivia time

Which of these is a priority policy goal of Philadelphia’s new Vision Zero report?

A) The city wants to set its own speed limits

B) The city wants to change how it tracks traffic deaths

C) The city wants to get rid of bike lanes

D) The city wants to implement 20 new roundabouts

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

☃️ Planning: Outings to see these holiday light shows around Philly.

🍴 Begging you to do: Use your restaurant gift cards, ASAP.

📱 Appreciating: This Rutgers University professor’s efforts to spread kindness digitally.

🦖 Voting on: The name for the stone statue replacing Manayunk’s Bridget the Dino.

✉️ Considering: The apparent demise of mailed holiday cards.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: _ Arboretum in East Germantown

BUY RAW

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

Cheers to Maryn Gemgnani, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Robert A.M. Stern. The renowned architect whose designs included the Comcast Center and the Museum of the American Revolution, has died at 86.

And shout-out to Brad Baer, who shared this connection: “Bob was my dean in architecture school at Yale. In a full-circle moment, I was in his Comcast Center, watching the Comcast Holiday Spectacular with my wife and sons, when I learned of his passing.”

Photo of the day

📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if you’re not a lifer, something that made you fall in love with Philly all over again — or proud to be from here if you are. Then email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.

This “only in Philly” story comes from reader Megan McCusker, who describes finding a reminder of home, 100 miles away:

Branching out of my comfort zone to attend Columbia University in New York City but with roots firmly planted in Philadelphia led to an internal struggle between living the life of glamour and grind in the city that never sleeps and affecting a more laid-back, casual style. While my mind told me, “Keep up! Keep hustling!” my heart said “Just be who you are — the big-city, small-town girl from next door.”

That internal war started to fade the night the Phillies won the 2008 World Series. I had a friend who had already graduated from Columbia and was living downtown. He invited me and my friends to a place called Wogies, a sports bar that he claimed was for Philly transplants living in New York. I almost didn’t believe him that such a place existed, but since “Wogies” rhymed with “hoagies,” I thought maybe it could be true.

I arrived at Wogies to find a sea of red baseball caps and jerseys, only Phillies fans packed shoulder-to-shoulder in the center of a TV-lined bar, all eyes glued to the screens. Feeling the buzz after a beer, I felt like I had found my people and my place in a city that constantly reminds you of your anonymity.

About an hour into the game, into the bar walked a guy donning a Yankees hat flanked by two Phillies fans — his “friends.” As if the crowd could feel the presence of an intruder, the entire bar turned to see their foe, and without skipping a beat, began chanting in unison, “Boo! Boo! Get out of our house!” Nowhere in New York has a Yankees fan felt so unwelcome. The poor guy left!

It’s that kind of fan dedication and commitment that can only be inspired by being from Philadelphia. In that moment in a corner bar in the West Village, I realized my true identity without having to be physically present in Philadelphia. From then on, I had the courage to be unapologetically “from Philly” in a city where New Yorkers think talking about “the city” always and exclusively means “New York City.”

Thanks for starting your week — and month — with The Inquirer. See you back here tomorrow.

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Welcome to Wednesday, Philly. Today may bring some rain ahead of what’s expected to be a dry, breezy Thanksgiving.

One of the city’s beloved holiday traditions returns to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway this Thursday. Below, we recall the year Philadelphia almost lost its Thanksgiving Day parade.

And Elfreth’s Alley is getting a pocket park to honor the woman who saved it from demolition. Read on for plans for Dolly Ottey Park.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

P.S. This newsletter is taking some time off for the holiday. Look for its return to your inbox on Sunday.

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A Thanksgiving tradition floats on

Thousands of Philadelphians will gather in Center City this Thursday morning for the 106th annual march down the Parkway — officially, the 2025 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade.

🦃 But one terrible year nearly four decades ago, the legendary holiday event almost died. The city struggled to find a lead sponsor after the liquidation of Gimbel Brothers Department Store, which had funded the parade since its inception.

🦃 Philadelphia was soon wrapped up in a drawn-out corporate sponsorship saga that prompted angry newspaper columns, pleading editorials, and cheeky poetry published in the Daily News.

🦃 In the end, the 1986 Thanksgiving parade was bigger and better than it had ever been, thanks to the heroics of a different kind of local media — a TV station.

Reporter Nick Vadala digs through the archives for this very Philly throwback.

P.S. Check out The Inquirer’s 2025 guide on how to navigate the parade IRL or watch at home.

In other November traditions: The trophy is falling apart and attendance is down — but Northeast and Central refuse to stop playing their historic Thanksgiving game.

A new pocket park for Old City

What’s now a vacant lot at the end of the country’s oldest residential street will soon become Dolly Ottey Park.

Ottey was an Elfreth’s Alley resident and restaurateur who championed preservation of the narrow cobblestone passage starting in the 1930s. Her advocacy continued through the ’60s, when construction of I-95 threatened demolition of at least half the street.

After years of effort from Old City organizations, the pocket park in Ottey’s honor will come to life in 2026 — just in time for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, signed just blocks away.

Reporter Frank Kummer has the details.

What you should know today

• After a 3-year-old was starved and killed, a lawsuit accuses community health nonprofit Philadelphia FIGHT of failing to report ongoing abuse.
• The FBI has requested interviews with Democratic lawmakers, including two from Pennsylvania, who told troops to “refuse illegal orders.” And as Trump’s administration escalates the issue, can lawmakers actually face repercussions?
• Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the CROWN Act into law Tuesday. The landmark bill prohibits discrimination based on a person’s hair type, texture, or style.
• SEPTA won a $43 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration to replace 35 diesel-powered buses with cleaner diesel-electric hybrid buses.
• The Pennsylvania attorney general issued a six-figure fine to the former CEO behind an $82 million real estate scheme that impacted Philly’s poorest neighborhoods.
• The Philadelphia School District is among three being investigated by a Republican-led congressional committee over allegations of antisemitism.
• Days after Philly principals took to City Council and the school board to blast their lack of a contract, their union and the district have a tentative deal.
• William Way LGBT Community Center will permanently close its historic Center City building in December. Services will continue elsewhere.
• HBO crime drama Task received a nearly $50 million tax credit to film in Pennsylvania, the largest amount the state has granted to a single production.

Quote of the day

A growing number of college professors are banning laptops from the classroom, including some who noticed students were spending class time surfing the web or online gambling. They say it encourages participation and better learning. Students don’t seem to mind.

🧠 Trivia time

The holiday pop-up bars have arrived in Philadelphia. Which is not the themed name of one of them?

A) Miracle on 8th Street

B) Reindeer Gone Wild

C) North Pole on South Street

D) Uptown’s Little Workshop

Think you know? Check your answer.

What (and whom) we’re…

🩹 Following: Medical staffers of a Kensington wound care clinic.

🍽️ Answering: Readers’ questions about where Philly’s restaurant scene is going.

⚽ Swiping to decide: which Union players should stay or go.

🏈 Meeting: Eagles Hall of Fame inductee Bucko Kilroy, once called the NFL’s dirtiest player.

💸 Considering: What the plans to scrap diversity goals for city contracts will mean for Black Philadelphians.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Acclaimed Philly bread maker, now closing

KEENER ABYSS

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

Cheers to Rob Jefferson, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Cherry Hill. Five elementary schools in the South Jersey suburb will be overcrowded by 2028. The district is considering how to redistribute students.

Plus: Say Yes to the Dress star Randy Fenoli visited Cherry Hill on Saturday for the grand opening of a bridal boutique.

Photo of the day

🧹 One last neighborly thing: These South Philly dads bought personal street sweepers — a German device that’s “like a little Zamboni” — for their block. They’ve led to not only a cleaner street, but a stronger sense of community, too.

Wishing you a cozy, communal week. Paola will be back with you on Sunday.

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It’s a sunny start to the new week, Philly.

Philadelphia stands to lose tens of millions of dollars for housing as President Donald Trump’s administration changes the way aid goes to cities.

And two days before a West Philly apartment complex went up in flames in June, its owner, embattled city landlord Phil Pulley, transferred the vacant property to a New York investment firm. Read on for the latest in the suspected arson case.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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‘Disastrous for homelessness in Philadelphia’

A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development plan released earlier this month calls for cutting funds for permanent housing by two-thirds.

HUD’s new plan: The department will funnel most of the money for permanent housing into short-term housing programs with requirements for work and addiction treatment. HUD is also encouraging religious groups to apply for funding, and would limit funding to organizations that support “gender ideology extremism,” among other ideological preconditions.

Local impact: Philadelphia counts 2,330 units of permanent housing, many of them financed by $47 million the city received from HUD last year, according to city officials. Advocates say the lost funds could lead to a spike in homelessness by forcing people who were once homeless, but are now living in subsidized housing, back on the street.

Notable quote: “It’s a misguided approach that blames the victim and fails to address the lack of affordable housing,” one expert told The Inquirer, about the administration’s move toward transitional housing and required treatment.

Reporter Alfred Lubrano has the story.

In other government funding news: Rape crisis centers are finally getting funding from Pennsylvania’s budget, but advocates say it’s not enough to support survivors. Plus, SEPTA’s Zero Fare program for low-income riders could end next year. Some elected officials are pushing to save it.

Investigating a blaze

New details are emerging about a vacant apartment complex destroyed in June by a four-alarm fire, the circumstances of which are now being investigated by federal authorities.

Property records show the notorious landlord of the decaying Admiral Court apartments at 48th and Locust streets, Phil Pulley, had signed a deed transfer two days before the blaze.

This month, the new owner of the building — which records show is linked to investors in South Korea and Saudi Arabia — obtained a permit to demolish it.

West Philadelphia Councilmember Jamie Gauthier on Friday blasted the deal: “The new owner appears to be a shell corporation with little transparency,” she said, “and I’m deeply concerned that demolishing Admiral Court will create new blight and safety hazards.”

Reporters Ryan Briggs and William Bender have more details.

What you should know today

• A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from obtaining the private medical records of youth who sought gender-affirming care at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
• Trump this weekend doubled down on his call for six Democratic members of Congress, including two from Pennsylvania, to be jailed over their video directed at U.S. troops. Both U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan of Chester County and Chris Deluzio of Western Pennsylvania reported bomb threats at their district offices on Friday.
• The mother of Steven Dreuitt Jr., the Mount Airy man who died in January’s plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia, spoke about her son during a remembrance event on Saturday.
• U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick introduced a bill Thursday to modernize pipelines and emergency responses in the wake of a leak of a Sunoco pipeline detected this year in Bucks County.
• Councilmember Jeffery Young’s latest plan for the Cecil B. Moore Library — to build a new library nearby and convert the aging building into another public space — was met with pushback from neighbors who want to see it renovated.
• Bryn Mawr birth center Lifecycle Wellness is shutting down operations amid growing financial pressure, the nonprofit said Thursday.
• Penn Museum on Saturday unveiled a new gallery showcasing the artistic, linguistic, spiritual, and revolutionary traditions of Native Americans across the country.
• If you hoped to get a reservation at one of the city’s newly honored restaurants … well, good luck. The “Michelin effect” is already at work, with a surge in bookings soon after the awards ceremony.

Quote of the day

Thousands of runners crossed the Philadelphia Marathon finish line Sunday after an at-times-brutal 26.2-mile run, including up the hills of Manayunk. Meet the race’s winners here.

🧠 Trivia time

Which homegrown celebrity has been tapped to deliver Temple University’s commencement speech in May?

A) Quinta Brunson

B) Kylie Kelce

C) Colman Domingo

D) Will Smith

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🦃 Planning: How and where to watch Philly’s 2025 Thanksgiving Day Parade.

🪧 Watching: For a possible graduate student worker strike at the University of Pennsylvania.

🚨 Checking out: Cherry Hill’s Activate Gaming, which transforms childhood games into immersive arenas.

⚽ Noting: The Union’s 2026 MLS schedule, including when Lionel Messi might visit.

🗳️ Considering: Whether the Chester County poll book debacle is a prelude to 2026 elections.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Borders Philadelphia

CANDY BYLAW

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

Cheers to Patti Carr, who solved Monday’s anagram: Henri Rousseau. Albert C. Barnes acquired 18 of his paintings. Eleven are on display now in an ongoing show.

P.S. Here’s why Friday’s anagram was Plymouth Meeting: The Montgomery County mall is slated to be sold by owner PREIT to a Philly developer.

Photo of the day

Add another entry to the “Wait, that’s a Philly(ish) thing?” list: The green bean casserole turns 70 this year, and its creator’s family is honoring the iconic Thanksgiving side dish with a six-foot inflatable green bean lawn decoration for their home in Haddonfield.

📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if you’re not a lifer, something that made you fall in love with Philly all over again — or proud to be from here if you are. Then email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.

This “only in Philly” story comes from reader Ellen Pannell, who describes raising the next generation of Philadelphians:

I am a South Philly transplant who grew up near Valley Forge. During the ’70s, my immigrant mom would drag our family to every historic event in the city. When deciding where to plant my roots after college, Philly already felt familiar from all those bicentennial and civic events visited as a kid.

My husband and I bought our home between Broad Street and the Italian Market in 1996 when most friends gasped, “Below Washington?!” As transplants, we knew we had to get into good graces with the old Italian ladies on the block who would sit on their stoops in their house dresses and ask “So, whaddaya making for dinner tonight?” (I think four were named Mary.) We learned the lingo (“gravy” not “sauce”), planted trees, picked up trash, called the cops when things got out of hand — we made a go of it!

Those ladies asked whether we planned to fill “that big house” with kids, and with each pregnancy, they were the first to say “Gah-bless!”

Each kid was born at Jefferson, sometimes after we walked to the emergency room or took the subway after a recent street-closing snowstorm. Jefferson always took care of us, with old-timer nurses giving advice (“Don’t be a martyr for the pain, honey!”) to new, super-fit nurses aptly named Adrienne with a pep talk (“C’mon, you don’t need another epidural, you got this!”) to a novice sent to give me my IV (“The nurses said you won’t mind because you’re a pro”) to a room full of interns and residents there to be educated while Baby Four came into this world.

Fast forward through the child-rearing years of Moonstone Preschool, Palumbo Rec Center, Independence Charter, Central High, and eventually college, when I couldn’t convince even one member of my South Philly brood to leave the city they called home. (Thank you Temple, Drexel, and CCP!)

And now I am almost an empty nester and the old lady on the block, minus the house dress. All four kids have started their own lives in the city they love too much to leave, and where I am so proud to say they are true “born and raised South Philadelphians.”

Shout-out to the Marys among us. Have a good one.

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At last, it’s Friday. The weather forecast for Philadelphia Marathon Weekend is cloudy with a chance of sweat.

Teens from juvenile diversion program MileUp will be among the thousands of athletes participating in this weekend’s races. They’re running for more than accolades.

And President Donald Trump accused six Democrats in Congress, all of whom are either veterans or members of the intelligence community, of sedition “punishable by death.” We spoke to the two Pennsylvania lawmakers who were targeted.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

P.S. Friday means trivia. Scroll to find The Inquirer’s weekly news quiz in a new spot.

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Miles for expungement

A group of teenagers will take the final steps toward getting their criminal records expunged by running the 13.1 miles of the Philadelphia Half Marathon this Saturday.

🎽 They’re students of MileUp, a juvenile diversion program that gives young people who are charged with certain offenses, such as auto theft and vandalism, the chance to clear their records.

🎽 Mentors help them practice accountability and responsibility while developing distance running. For the fall cohort, the Philly Half follows their completion of a 5K and the All-City 10 Miler.

🎽 Data from the District Attorney’s Office show the program is keeping teens out of the criminal justice system. Participants say they’re grateful for the opportunity to start fresh as they approach adulthood: “Everyone deserves a second chance,” one 16-year-old told The Inquirer.

Reporter Nate File has the story.

Pa. lawmakers react to Trump threat

🎤 I’m passing the mic to politics reporters Aliya Schneider and Julia Terruso.

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan was in her Washington office when she saw attacks directed at her and other military veteran members of Congress from President Donald Trump, days after they urged members of the military and intelligence community to “refuse illegal orders.”

Trump called the Democrats “traitors” in a Thursday post on Truth Social and, in a second post, accused them of sedition that he said is “punishable by DEATH.”

Houlahan, a Chester County Democrat and an Air Force veteran, was one of six Democratic members of Congress who released a video Tuesday contending that Trump’s administration is “pitting” service members and intelligence professionals against American citizens and urging them not to “give up the ship.”

“The idea that the most powerful man on the planet, who wields the power of the United States military and should be emblematic of all the things we value in this republic, would call for the death and murder of six duly elected members of the House of Representatives and the Senate — I’m speechless and I’m devastated,” Houlahan told The Inquirer on Thursday afternoon. — Aliya Schneider and Julia Terruso

Read more on how Houlahan and U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, the second Pennsylvania lawmaker featured in the video, reacted to the president’s statements, and their goals for their message.

In other federal government news: The Trump administration said it wants to “completely deconstruct” the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Here’s what’s actually happening. Plus, the U.S. Department of Energy will loan $1 billion to help finance the reopening of Three Mile Island, a nuclear power plant near Harrisburg.

What you should know today

• A woman was killed in a hit-and-run early Thursday in University City. State officials have identified the person killed in a South Jersey crash after another man allegedly fled from police last week. And an East Germantown man on Wednesday admitted he struck and killed a wheelchair-bound woman with his car in Lower Merion last year, then fled the scene without helping her or calling police.
• An Ocean City woman who worked for U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew falsely reported a violent political attack when she’d actually paid an artist to cut her, federal authorities said.
• A Pennsylvania Senate vote Wednesday means the CROWN Act is closer to protecting workers from being fired for wearing Afros, braids, or locs.
• Philadelphia-based independent contractors and others who are self-employed could soon become exempt from paying certain business taxes, per new City Council legislation. Plus, a councilmember wants to make it easier for restaurants to get approved for outdoor dining.
• The ACLU’s Pennsylvania chapter slammed Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration for invoking its name amid what leaders described as the mayor’s “DEI rollback.”
• An organ donation nonprofit is accused of ordering an organ retrieval to continue despite the patient “reanimating” in a South Jersey hospital.
• Haverford College president Wendy Raymond announced she will retire in June 2027.
• City principals, working without a contract for nearly three months, showed up in force at the school board meeting Thursday.

Plus: Why is the Apollo-era lunar module leaving the Franklin Institute?

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 have an explainer on the lunar module that’s been on display outside the Franklin Institute for nearly half a century. The engineering prototype served to test how parts and pieces would fit together in preparation for the real Apollo 11 lunar module that took Neil Armstrong to the moon.

But now, it’s headed back to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in D.C. 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

Task, the HBO show set in Delco, has been renewed for a second season. Season 1 starred Tom Pelphrey and which actor?

A) Mark Ruffalo

B) Cillian Murphy

C) Noah Centineo

D) Bradley Cooper

Test your local news know-how with our weekly quiz and check your answer.

What we’re …

📬 Remembering: That time somebody from New Jersey mailed a fake bomb to the office of Dick Clark.

🍻 Learning: How the boozy business of the American Revolution went down in Philly bars.

🎙️ Following: The latest developments at the embattled World Cafe Live.

🦃 Welcoming: Gobbler season, courtesy of these Philly eateries.

📝 Considering: This call for creative resistance in the city and beyond.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: _ Meeting

HOT LUMPY

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

Cheers to Veronica Herzog, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Bellwether District.

Officials for the project, which will bring industrial and life sciences campuses to the 1,300-acre former refinery site in South Philadelphia, said they could soon announce its first tenants. (Plus: Eli Lilly & Co. is opening a biotech incubator at 2300 Market St.)

Photo of the day

It’s time to put the week in the rearview and look forward to the weekend. Have a good one.

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Morning, Philly. The sun returns from behind the clouds today.

Michelin has officially entered the Philadelphia dining scene. Below, sample Inquirer food writers’ analysis of the honored — and the snubbed — plus the results of our reader poll that asked which restaurants you thought should get a nod.

And nearly two years into the city’s efforts to shut down Kensington’s open-air drug market, some of the neighborhood’s most chronic challenges are slowly improving. But is the crisis too entrenched?

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Seeing stars

By the end of Michelin’s Kimmel Center ceremony on Tuesday night, three local restaurants had gotten a one-star rating, and 31 others got recognition.

But did the vaunted international arbiter of dining get it right in Philadelphia? Restaurant critic Craig LaBan sat down with food reporters Michael Klein and Kiki Aranita to compare notes, including which eateries they think deserve a second look.

Here’s more from our Michelin review:

🍴 Discerning palates: We asked readers last week to tell us which Philly restaurants you thought deserved a star. You agreed with Michelin on just one out of three.

🍴 Taste test: Is there a difference between a Michelin star, Bib Gourmand, and recommendation? Yes, but they’re all a win. Dig into the distinctions.

🍴 Closing time: Barely 12 hours after being included in Michelin’s recommended restaurants, East Passyunk Avenue’s Laurel said its final night of service would be Friday.

🍴 Love at first bite: All three Philly men who earned Michelin stars share another common thread — they’re proud “Wife Guys.”

In other food news:

• The owner of the beleaguered Bistro at Cherry Hill, a longtime mall fixture that closed this summer amid bankruptcy proceedings, has been indicted on charges of tax fraud.
• Percy on North Front Street has rebranded to become an all-day diner after receiving mixed reviews for its initial, pricier iteration.
• And LaBan reviews Stephen Starr’s Borromini, which aims to be an Italian Parc. His take: The vibes are immaculate. The food, not so much.

Signs of progress

Under the renewed efforts of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration, some residents and city officials agree that many of Kensington’s most chronic challenges have been improving, albeit slowly.

The neighborhood has fewer shootings and more drug arrests amid an expanded police presence. Riverview Wellness Village, Parker’s new $100 million recovery and treatment facility in Northeast Philadelphia, now houses more than 200 people.

But the open-air drug market persists — an intractable problem that has been a main character in Kensington’s story for decades. Some critics, including harm-reduction groups, say the administration’s efforts push the issues to other areas of the city or don’t target the source of the ills.

Reporter Ellie Rushing has the progress report, nearly two years in.

What you should know today

• Police are seeking to question two men in connection with the death of an American Airlines flight attendant who they believe was attacked in his South Philadelphia home last week.
• The head of Delaware County nonprofit the Opioid Crisis Action Network traded cash for sex acts to women in addiction, officials said, and has been charged with trafficking.
• A former West Philly ward leader was sentenced Wednesday to a year in federal prison for stealing more than $140,000 from his ward and a church where he served as a deacon.
• Immigration advocates say the Philadelphia Criminal Justice Center has become a “hunting ground” for federal agents. They want agents barred from the building. And in South Jersey, the Trump administration told Democrats it has no timeline to begin holding undocumented immigrants at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
• The new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit could put hundreds of dollars in the pockets of roughly 1 million people. Here’s how it works.
• Philly City Council is attempting, once again, to change city law to allow members to keep their jobs while running for higher office. Plus, Council delayed legislation that would advance Parker’s signature housing initiative.
• The Philadelphia Housing Authority is planning sweeping layoffs. Almost 300 of the agency’s 1,200 employees will be affected starting in January.
• The Union put sporting director Ernst Tanner on “administrative leave” as Major League Soccer investigates allegations of misconduct. 
• SEPTA’s trolley tunnel will stay closed at least until next week amid repairs to the overhead power system.

Quote of the day

Philly-area federal workers are finally getting paid again. But after Jan. 30, if lawmakers once again fail to agree on keeping the government open, some federal workers could once again face a lapse in their pay.

P.S. Philadelphia International Airport will reopen two U.S. Transportation Security Administration-run security checkpoints that were closed amid the government shutdown.

🧠 Trivia time

Philadelphia School District students this week were invited to give their honest (and sometimes brutal) reviews of what?

A) Uniform proposals

B) District leadership

C) The pending facilities closure plan

D) School lunch options

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🏈 Watching: The trailer for HBO’s in-season Hard Knocks featuring the Eagles and NFC East.

🎸 Honoring: Late WMMR host Pierre Robert with a memorial concert.

🎤 Saying goodbye to: REC Philly’s Fashion District space as it closes due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

⛪ Obsessed with: These four roommates’ church-turned-apartment in Spring Garden.

🥕 Considering: How the uncertainty of SNAP benefits impacts children with autism.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Coming to a former refinery site in South Philadelphia

BRITS CHEWED LITTLER

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

Cheers to Nick Scola, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: DuPont. Axalta, a Philly-based spin-off of the Wilmington chemical company, hopes its merger with a global paint giant will boost sagging sales.

Photo of the day

🦀 One last crabby thing: The artist behind the “Boob Garden” and “Rave Coffin” strikes again in South Philadelphia with “Crab Couch,” which, as columnist Stephanie Farr notes, comes with claws and killer side-eye.

Thanks for starting your day with The Inquirer. Back at it tomorrow.

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Hi, Philly. Expect clouds and possibly rain this morning.

It’s almost time for the most ambitious among us to lace up their sneakers and run for hours through the city’s scenic and historic neighborhoods. For the rest, there’s the spectator’s guide to the 2025 Philadelphia Marathon.

And a pipeline leak disrupted a quiet Bucks County community. Some residents say they’ll never drink the water in their homes again.

Plus, the Michelin Guide has announced which Philly restaurants are worthy of its coveted stars. See the latest analysis at Inquirer.com and on Instagram.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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A spectator’s guide to the marathon

Philadelphia Marathon Weekend is upon us. This year, organizers expect roughly 30,000 athletes across Saturday’s half marathon and 8K, and Sunday’s full marathon and children’s run.

Not running, but want to be one of the thousands of spectators supporting those who are? We have some advice.

🪧 Pick your position: If you want the energy of a crowd, consider posting up at Chestnut Street in Center City or Main Street in Manayunk. If you’re looking for a calmer vibe, head to Kelly Drive.

👟 Get around: With road closures, parking restrictions, and heavy traffic expected, driving anywhere near the race is a risk. Metro lines and Regional Rail are your friends. Or, you can always travel by foot, like the runners.

🎉 Bring the party: But also layers, snacks, and the Philadelphia Marathon app downloaded on your phone to track participants in real time.

Here’s the full spectator’s guide to the 2025 marathon, including a map of the race route and closures.

More on navigating the marathon:

• See an extended list of when each city block will be shut down and reopened, and how buses will be impacted.
• Spectating (or running) with children? Check out our roundup of race-adjacent activities for them, plus our guide to kid-friendly restaurants along the route.
• Click through our sign generator for suggestions to inspire, amuse, or annoy runners.

‘Something off with the water’

Life has gotten more stressful for residents of a suburban Bucks County community after a pipeline leaked jet fuel under their homes, contaminating their water supply.

The 67-year-old Twin Oaks Pipeline is owned by Sunoco and its parent company, Energy Transfer. As part of the more than 2.5 million miles of pipelines that transport fuels in the United States, it tunnels under the Delaware River and runs below a school’s grounds and state and local parks.

State inspectors uncovered the leak in January. Regulators say it likely began much earlier.

Energy Transfer has apologized and taken steps to remediate the issue. But now, most people in the neighborhood won’t drink the water. Many won’t cook with it. Some even bathe elsewhere.

Reporter Frank Kummer has the story.

In other environmental news: A Conshohocken-area data center proposal was abruptly withdrawn over legal issues. Neighbors have cited concerns about light, noise, and air pollution, as well as water usage and electricity costs.

What you should know today

• Three people, including two young children, died after a fire ripped through a North Philadelphia rowhouse early Tuesday.
• Police have arrested a man suspected of killing one person and injuring another in a shooting last month near the South Philly sports complex.
• Burlington County prosecutors identified the man they say is responsible for killing a Maple Shade woman and her 6-year-old son eight years ago.
• Pennsylvania lawmakers from both sides of the aisle supported the release of the Epstein files after Republicans initially tried to avoid taking a vote on the matter. Plus, President Donald Trump is drawing widespread criticism after lashing out at a former Daily News reporter when pressed on the files.
• Mayor Cherelle L. Parker defended ending racial diversity goals for Philly contracts after facing criticism for the decision last week.
• School closings are coming to the Philadelphia School District. Four themes are emerging as leaders come closer to decisions.
• The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing the University of Pennsylvania for failing to release information related to an antisemitism investigation.
• A report published Tuesday by the Guardian accuses Union sporting director Ernst Tanner of racist, sexist, and homophobic behavior.
• The Michelin Guide has announced which Philadelphia restaurants earned stars: Her Place Supper Club, Friday Saturday Sunday and Provenance.

Quote of the day

West Philly’s Jubilee School on Monday commemorated the 1967 student walkout, when thousands of Philadelphia School District students demanded better treatment of Black students.

🧠 Trivia time

As shown during Sunday’s Eagles broadcast, Boathouse Row recently glowed pink and green as a nod to what?

A) The Eagles’ belated celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

B) The eventual return of spring

C) The theatrical release of Wicked: For Good

D) Preppy vibes

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🥧 Mapping: The best pies in the Philly area, from apple crumb and salted honey.

👖 Asking: Is Boscov’s selling the most offensively Pennsylvania outfit ever?

🏈 Following: The pushes for and against merging these Main Line schools’ football teams.

🌳 Studying: What makes older residents stay in Cherry Hill.

✊ Considering: What comes after the “No Kings” rallies.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Wilmington chemical company

NUT POD

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

Cheers to Diane Marcakis, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. The Mütter Museum’s parent org announced plans Monday for a $27 million expansion and renovation at 22nd and Chestnut Streets.

Photo of the day

Stay warm today. I’ll be back with 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, Philly.

Gov. Josh Shapiro is calling the state budget that came out of the Pennsylvania legislature’s monthslong stalemate an across-the-board victory. What does it mean for his national brand?

And stolen cell phones sparked a fight and ongoing tension at Frankford High as students protest the school’s phone-locking policy.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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The political value of compromise

The federal government and Pennsylvania got new budgets on the same day last week. Both were late — the country’s by six weeks, the state’s by more than four months.

Shapiro, who oversaw negotiations among top Pennsylvania legislators, says the outnumbered Democrats in his state ended up with a better deal than what the outnumbered national Democrats got in the government shutdown. He also touts his willingness to “stay at the table and fight and bring people together in order to deliver.”

For a popular Democratic leader facing reelection in 2026 as whispers swirl over his potential 2028 presidential ambitions, the moment was bigger than a procedural win.

But critics are quick to note that it took the self-proclaimed dealmaker so long to get a deal. And securing long-term funding for public transit remains, in Shapiro’s words, “unfinished business.”

Politics reporters Gillian McGoldrick and Julia Terruso have the story.

Plus: Shapiro had a guest at Sunday’s Eagles-Lions game at Lincoln Financial Field: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a fellow swing-state leader who is seen as a likely rival for the Democratic nomination in 2028.

‘We just want to have a say in where our property goes’

Frankford High, like many schools in Philadelphia and across the country, has recently moved to get cell phones out of students’ hands during the school day in a bid to reduce distractions.

But tensions are flaring at Frankford over its stowaway policy, which requires phones be kept in lockers outside the building.

Several phones were recently stolen from the lockers, sparking a fight that sent a student to the hospital, as well as protests over concerns that the school cannot keep students’ property safe.

Education reporter Kristen A. Graham has more details.

What you should know today

• The families of two Mexican nationals killed in January’s Northeast Philadelphia jet crash have filed a wrongful-death suit against a medical airline, alleging that its negligence was responsible.
• A woman who was found dead inside an abandoned car in Lower Makefield on Sunday had been killed hours earlier by her boyfriend in Trenton, police said Monday.
• Pennsylvania’s Working Families Party is recruiting candidates to run against Sen. John Fetterman, should he seek reelection in 2028. Plus, the Democratic senator returned to work after recovering from a fall that required hospitalization, speaking Monday at a conference for Jewish leaders.
• Citing extraordinary circumstances, the Chester County Board of Elections will count the vast majority of the thousands of provisional ballots cast amid Election Day chaos.
• Following a cybersecurity breach at the University of Pennsylvania last month, a hacker claimed that they had compromised data for 1.2 million people — a figure the school now disputes.
• Flight schedules should soon return to normal across major U.S. airports, including Philadelphia, after the Federal Aviation Administration lifted government shutdown-related restrictions.
• In Philly and Delaware County, listings and sales of luxury homes are down from last year — but prices are up, according to a Redfin analysis.
• The first professional orchestra of Arab and Jewish musicians in Israel is coming to the Kimmel Center this week.

Quote of the day

Call him Pennsylvania’s reptile king: Peeling has operated the roadside attraction in Union County, about a three-hour drive from Philadelphia, for over 50 years.

🧠 Trivia time

Which Philadelphia college is getting an alma mater song for the first time in its 201-year history?

A) Temple University

B) La Salle University

C) Thomas Jefferson University

D) Moore College of Art and Design

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🎁 Buying: The most Philly gifts you can give.

🪧 Writing down: These clever ideas for Philadelphia Marathon signs.

🦶 Learning: What is a Lisfranc injury, and what does it mean for Lane Johnson?

🍴 Asking: Inquirer food writers about the city’s best restaurants before Nov. 21.

🏥 Considering: Whether health insurance should be treated like a perk.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Mütter Museum’s parent org, the _ _ _ of Philadelphia

FEELING PSYCHOSOCIAL

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

Cheers to Lynn Brubaker, who solved Monday’s anagram: Lancaster. The latest edition of our Field Trip series outlines a perfect weekend in the small city about 90 minutes from Philly, complete with lakeside glamping, a presidential home, and international eats.

Photo of the day

🌲 One last merry thing: The Wanamaker Grand Court will host a one-night-only holiday concert on Dec. 2 with an orchestra, chorus, singers, and organist.

Spread your own joy today, and I’ll see ya back here 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.

It’s set to be another gusty day, Philly.

Immigrants who have ongoing legal cases have been unexpectedly taken by federal agents amid the Trump administration’s push to boost arrests and deportations. In Philadelphia, the arrest of an Indonesian man at a routine visa appointment has sparked outrage among advocates.

And a nonprofit offered free MRIs in Hunting Park to screen for brain cancer. Doctors worry they’re not worth the consequences.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Routine appointments now ICE traps

Rian Andrianzah showed up for what he thought was a routine biometrics appointment in Philadelphia last month.

Instead, while his wife waited for him in another room, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested the Indonesian man and sent him to a Central Pennsylvania detention center. He now faces deportation.

It’s part of a strategy shift by President Donald Trump’s administration to arrest green-card applicants, asylum seekers, and others who are going through legal processes to stay in the country, lawyers and advocates say.

Meanwhile, members of the city’s Indonesian American community have responded quickly to Andrianzah’s arrest, raising thousands of dollars to support his family.

Immigration reporter Jeff Gammage explains the case.

Screening for brain cancer

The Brain Tumor Foundation has been holding free screening events for more than a decade in hopes of promoting early detection of brain tumors.

They’re popular, too: All spots for the foundation’s recent multiday screening event at Triumph Baptist Church in Hunting Park were claimed.

In the best scenarios, preventive medical screening can help catch diseases early when they are most treatable, and give people peace of mind.

But they can also lead to overdiagnosis, false positives, unnecessary stress, and costly follow-up procedures, doctors say.

Health reporter Kayla Yup has the story, including the criteria experts say screening tests must meet to be adopted as standard practice.

What you should know today

• The parents of a 16-year-old shot and killed last month near Northeast Philadelphia High want the city to know not just how he died, but who he was.
• A 21-year-old South Jersey man was charged by federal prosecutors with cyberstalking a 13-year-old girl and coercing her into self-harm.
• The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office this month charged a record number of Philly cops in a grant theft scandal. DA Larry Krasner has been unusually quiet about it.
• SEPTA’s largest employee union voted Sunday to authorize a strike. Transport Workers Union Local 234 represents, among other workers, bus, subway, and trolley operators.
• Jefferson Health reported a $104 million operating loss in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, while Penn Medicine reported a $109 million operating gain in the same period.
• Wilmington-based DuPont’s latest spin-off, Qnity, which makes artificial intelligence-enabling materials, is growing fast with demand from Nvidia. Plus, Swedish-owned Essity acquired a Playtex brands and tampon manufacturing plant in Dover for $340 million.
• Ardella’s House, a residential program to help formerly incarcerated women with reentry, opened its second location in West Philadelphia on Friday.
• St. Hedwig’s in Chester is no longer a church. Some of its buildings may be redeveloped into multifamily housing.
• A 14-foot-long great white shark named Contender, the largest tagged and tracked by research group OCEARCH, pinged near the New Jersey coast last week.

Quote of the day

The Ministry of Awe, a new permanent cultural attraction, is set to open in the historic Manufacturers National Bank in Old City this March. Meg Saligman founded the project in 2022 as a nonprofit dedicated to reviving the vacant bank and creating an arts venue with work that riffs on the bank theme.

🧠 Trivia time

Amy Gutmann is coteaching an undergraduate class this semester in the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication. Which is not one of her past roles?

A) Politics professor at Princeton University

B) Temple University visiting scholar

C) U.S. ambassador to Germany

D) Penn president

Think you know? Check your answer.

What (and whom) we’re…

⭐ Voting on: Which Philly restaurants deserve Michelin stars.

🐈 Meeting: Gary, the cat that ended a friendship and cost $25,000 in legal fees.

🎓 Congratulating: Two local students honored as 2026 Rhodes scholars.

🎨 Checking out: The Brandywine Museum of Art’s new Malcolm Jenkins-approved exhibition.

🧠 Considering: What Philadelphia’s next 250 years will look like.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: About 90 minutes from Philly

ANCESTRAL

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

Cheers to Peter Stevens, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Barnes Foundation. A South Philly teen broke into the institution 73 years ago. It led to a lifelong artistic career.

Photo of the day

Puppies that are being raised to serve people who are blind took in the many sights, sounds, and most importantly, the many smells of Philadelphia International Airport Saturday morning.

In other canine-related news: Sixers star Tyrese Maxey’s turn as a pup wrangler will be shown at the National Dog Show this Thanksgiving.

📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if you’re not a lifer, something that made you fall in love with Philly all over again — or proud to be from here if you are. Then email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.

This “only in Philly” story comes from reader Miles Davis, who describes witnessing the emergence of a cultural movement firsthand:

The night that changed my life and let me know I was from the best city in the United States of America was when I was with my best friend, Eric, heading downtown. It was 1980 at Wagner’s Ballroom. We were going to see for the first time a battle of hip-hop, which was turning up the streets with rap and turntables spinning the newest jams.

The show was so lit and not a person was seen sitting. Heck, in the time hip-hop came out, no one was ever sitting at a hip-hop event. We called people who sit at rap concerts a Wall Flower who holds up the wall.

Hip-hop came on the scene with its own sound and meaning. I was so glad to have been a part of that culture knowing what it meant and where it was going.

Follow your own groove today. Have a good one.

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Welcome to a new week, Philly, and go Birds to all who celebrate.

Delaware County is closing two homeless shelters amid Pennsylvania’s budget impasse, leaving families who relied on the services scrambling to find temporary housing.

And remote work is on the decline in 2025, but some Philadelphia business leaders are sticking with it.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Shelter system stretched too thin

Social services organizations around the Philadelphia region have been struggling as the budget impasse in Harrisburg keeps them from receiving expected state funding.

In Delaware County, officials say they’ve propped up the homeless shelter system for as long as they can by dipping into county coffers. Now, they can’t hold on anymore: Two shelters will close this month, and a rental assistance program will be paused.

The closures are likely temporary until a state budget is approved and funding flows again. But remaining shelters have already seen a surge in people seeking assistance. Street outreach providers have noticed more people than usual living outside. And temperatures are dropping.

It’s the latest blow to a county that in recent months has lost its largest hospital system, and as the federal government is set to delay nutrition and energy assistance benefits.

Notable quote: “This is people’s last resort. This is the last stop before being on the street,” a resident of the soon-to-close Wesley House said of the room he shares with his family. “I feel like we’re being kicked while we’re already down.”

Reporters Ximena Conde and Gillian McGoldrick have the story.

In other Delco news: A Republican candidate for a seat on the Upper Darby Township Council is facing scrutiny from Democrats over old social media posts.

‘Give the people what they want’

The pandemic normalized remote work for many Philly-area companies. But more recently, several of the city’s largest employers — Comcast, Independence Blue Cross, and the City of Philadelphia itself, for instance — have required more in-office time.

💼 Employers who have stayed fully or partly remote say the benefits remain.

💼 Some of these company leaders, including those who represent smaller organizations that might not be able to offer the most competitive salaries or bonuses, note that remote work allows employees more flexibility, and helps to attract the best talent from anywhere. For those with hybrid setups, the use of office space is changing, too.

💼 Still, others bemoan the tradeoffs of less face-to-face time.

Business reporter Ariana Perez-Castells has the latest dispatch from the workplace culture front.

What you should know today

• One person was killed and six others were injured in a shooting Saturday at Lincoln University, which was celebrating homecoming weekend, authorities said.
• A Lower Gwynedd man has been charged with the attempted murder of a Plymouth Township police officer after authorities say he struck the officer with his car multiple times.
• Chester saw one of its safest summers ever in 2025, with zero deaths from gun violence. Police and prosecutors credit a combination of advocacy work and intervention groups.
• The family of Kada Scott honored her life Sunday by releasing balloons on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.
• The University of Pennsylvania on Friday released the letter sent to President Donald Trump’s administration, explaining why the school rejected its proposed compact.
• Demonstrators in big, green inflatable costumes have become a symbol of resistance to the Trump administration. A Temple University professor explains why.
• Philadelphia health systems’ profit margins have seen a sharp drop since the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Joyce Wilkerson, Philly’s longest-serving school board member, was just named the nation’s top urban educator. The award comes as her membership on the board has been legally questioned.

Quote of the day

The souls of pets are said to return on Oct. 27, a few days before the Día de Muertos on Nov. 1 and 2. Some families are honoring departed dogs and cats with “pet ofrendas.”

🧠 Trivia time

Which area of Philadelphia has its own Fright Registry, which maps out nearly 100 businesses and homes offering tricks or treats, decorations, or Halloween events for families?

A) West Philly

B) North Philly

C) South Philly

D) Fishtown

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🏀 Naming: All the Sixers who scored 18+ points in their rookie debut.

🚂 Planning: A day of leaf peeping and mountain charm in Jim Thorpe.

🪓 Checking out: King of Prussia Mall’s gaming venue plus bar-restaurant.

🏈 Loving: This football-forged bond between a Cherry Hill teacher and former student.

🚰 Considering: The Gloucester Township candidate who’s an unlikely David to a for-profit water company’s Goliath.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Kid-friendly cultural institution

SUMPTUOUS ACME HEEL

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

Cheers to Bruce L., who solved Sunday’s anagram: Maya Nazareth. The Philadelphia entrepreneur and founder of Alchemize Fightwear delivered her pitch to celebrity investors on ABC’s Shark Tank on Wednesday.

Photo of the day

📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if you’re not a lifer, something that made you fall in love with Philly all over again — or proud to be from here if you are. Then email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.

This “only in Philly” story comes from reader Joe Hogan, who adds an entry to a long history of legendary sports fandom:

Philly enjoys a reputation throughout the country as having some of the most robust sports fans. They are not opposed to booing their own team if the team’s performance doesn’t meet fans’ expectations. Our fanatical support for our teams goes back many years.

Back in 1960, my brother Mike attended St. Joseph’s College (now University), where students enthusiastically supported their basketball team. Mike did it in a very special way during a St. Joe’s game at Madison Square Garden’s holiday festival. It was near the end of the second half against Manhattan College, and a questionable foul (in Mike’s view) was called on a St. Joe’s player.

The alleged foul was so dubious — obviously the ref was catering to the home team — that the response required far more than screaming obscenity-laced insults from the stands. It required, in Mike’s mind, an up-close and heated exchange with the ref so he’d understand his infraction. Mike bolted from the stands and onto the court with a defiant finger pointing at the ref, yelling that it was a baseless call. Security quickly escorted Mike from the arena to allow the game to go on.

However, a local news photographer had captured the moment and the picture appeared on the front sports page of a local tabloid. Someone at Life magazine, obviously taken by the intensity depicted in the photo, decided the entire country needed to see this amazing level of fan support. The picture of Mike on the court was included on Life’s last page, which was titled Miscellany. The photo caption identified Mike as the St. Joe’s fan, “with beverage in hand.”

After Life’s publication of the picture, Mike received several standing ovations the next week when entering classrooms.

Keep calm and enjoy your Monday. I’ll be back with you 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.

It’s Friday, Philly. It’s also time to bring your plants inside, with frost advisories possible through the weekend.

A local couple is asking you to reconsider the rock dove with their Philly Pigeon Tours.

And Johnny Doc played a pivotal role electing his brother to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Ten years later, things are different.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

P.S. Friday means trivia. Our latest news quiz includes questions on an art theft, a “No Kings” cameo, and more.

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

Preaching pigeon empathy

Pigeons once enjoyed high status across ancient cultures as symbols of love, safety, and war. Today, they’re more likely to be viewed as another urban annoyance. You might even know them as “rats with wings.”

🪶 But modern pigeons, aka rock doves, are just misunderstood, according to Hannah Michelle Brower and Aspen Simone. The couple came to appreciate the birds after caring for an ailing one, now named Primrose.

🪶 Their love for their adopted pet has grown into a popular weekly birding tour in the Italian Market (and soon, West Philly), plus a podcast. “We debunk a lot of pigeon misinformation and replace it with facts,” Brower said.

🪶 Their story might just give you a new perspective on the city’s winged — and, in two enthusiasts’ telling, surprisingly cuddly — residents.

Culture reporter Mike Newall has the bird’s-eye view of South Philadelphia.

A family connection

Though it’s been a year since former Philly labor leader John Dougherty reported to federal prison on embezzlement and bribery convictions, his name still looms over Pennsylvania’s elections.

His brother, Kevin Dougherty, is one of three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices up for retention this November. A decade ago, John helped get Kevin elected through the backing of his union, Local 98.

This time around, labor is still spending big on the justice’s retention, though Kevin says his brother is not involved. Republicans have still sought to tie the judge to John’s misdeeds.

Politics reporters Gillian McGoldrick and Katie Bernard explain.

What you should know today

• Failures in the domestic assault and kidnapping cases of Keon King, who is accused of killing Kada Scott, go beyond prosecutors withdrawing earlier charges, a review of police and court records shows. Plus, Scott’s death has prompted City Council to probe the Philadelphia justice system’s handling of domestic violence cases.
• A sixth person will go to trial over the September 2022 shooting outside Roxborough High School that killed 14-year-old Nicolas Elizalde and wounded four others.
• A masonry company executive who bribed an Amtrak manager over lucrative 30th Street Station contracts was sentenced Thursday to 18 months in prison.
• The wife of Par Funding’s founder was sentenced to one day in prison — the last prosecution of people tied to the fraudulent firm.
• Mayor Cherelle L. Parker on Thursday announced a task force to crack down on illegal dumping, the work of which will include hefty violation notices and monitoring common dump sites.
• Ursinus College president Robyn E. Hannigan, who is in her fourth year at the small liberal arts school in Collegeville, was abruptly removed from the job Thursday.
• More than 300,000 Pennsylvanians need help heating their homes. The federal shutdown has delayed that assistance.
• Philadelphia played host to several cash handoffs tied to a national sports betting scandal involving the NBA, poker games, and the mafia.
• Construction of a new bridge connecting the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Turnpikes could begin in 2031. One of two options will be chosen next spring.

Plus: Where is the ‘Umbrella Man’ statue that used to reside outside the Prince Theater?

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 from 2019 on the fate of Allow Me, the lifelike, 6-foot-10 sculpture colloquially known as “Umbrella Man.” He disappeared after the former Prince Theater — now owned by the Philadelphia Film Society, hosting its 34th annual Philadelphia Film Festival this week — declared bankruptcy in 2010.

But he didn’t go far. 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

The owners of Surfside, the popular Philly-made canned cocktail, are suing Anheuser-Busch over what?

A) Pretending to own Surfside

B) The packaging of its own hard teas

C) Calling Surfside “disgusting”

D) Stealing its secret recipe

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

✈️ Remembering: That time Charles Lindbergh criticized Philly’s airport.

🇺🇸 Celebrating: “52 Weeks of Firsts” in 2026.

👻 Buying: Tickets to the Wanamaker Building’s spooky film series.

🥙 Following: Jersey Kebab from Haddon Township to Collingswood.

🥫 Considering: How work requirements impact Philadelphians’ SNAP benefits.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: West Philly rec center closed in 2021

SCOUR ALEHOUSE

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

Cheers to Eileen Weigand, who solved Thursday’s anagram: city controller. Christy Brady, seeking her first full term as Philly’s fiscal watchdog, is being challenged by Republican Ari Patrinos in the Nov. 4 general election.

Photo of the day

🏓 One last squeaky thing: The biggest squash event in the United States is at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in University City this week. Now is a great time to get into the sport, with the 2028 Olympic Games set to include it for the first time.

Thanks for ending your week with The Inquirer. Enjoy the weekend.

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