Tony B. Watlington Sr. took some razzing when he arrived in Philadelphia for a high-stakes job: superintendent of the city’s public school system.
Who was this outsider hired to run the nation’s eighth-largest school system?
Watlington was born in New Jersey — Fort Dix, to be exact — but spent most of his life and all of his career in North Carolina, with the lilting Southern accent to prove it.
Philadelphia School District Superintendent Tony B. Watlington, Sr. at round table discussion at Murrell Dobbins Career & Technical Education High School Sept. 2, 2025.
But since 2022, Watlington has been a Philadelphian — a distinction he’s now proud to claim. (He’s staying around, too — the school board just extended Watlington’s contract through 2030.)
While most Philadelphians describe their perfect day away from work, Watlington couldn’t help himself.
5:45 a.m.
I’m up early, and I’m either out early getting a run on the Schuylkill or doing an indoor CrossFit workout. I work out for one hour — and I make sure to spend plenty of time stretching.
8 a.m.
I walk into my office, and it is clutter-free. All my emails are responded to from the evening before — though some come in overnight. All of my phone calls are returned from the previous day, so I get to hit the ground running, ahead and not behind. That is really important to me.
After I get a cup of coffee and look at that nice email inbox, I meet with the chief financial officer [Mike Herbstman] if it’s a Monday. He’s the first person I meet with every single week — we talk about district finances.
Philadelphia School District superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. (left) stops to talk with Marie Williams, the grandparent of a Building 21 High School student as he leaves a meeting with families, students and staff of the school at Strawberry Mansion High School Sunday Mar. 5, 2023.
Then I’m ready to gear up and hit the trail with district spokesperson Monique Braxton, or Deputy Chief [of Government and Community Relations Edwin] Santana, and we’re out and about. My perfect day would be to spend more than 50% of the day in schools, with teachers, principals, and students.
Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. eats lunch with students at Hunter Elementary in North Philadelphia: pizza, carrots and green beans, fruit cup. Watlington also drank chocolate milk and chatted with kids about the first day of school of the 2025-26 school year.
When I’m not in schools, during that 50% of the day that I’m out of the office, I’m engaging with other external stakeholders — everything from grassroots organizations, elected officials at the city and state level, and with our federally elected officials, and also with members of the philanthropic community. I believe strongly in this notion of “nothing for us without us.”
I want to see how well things are going, and get some real-time feedback. One thing I love about Philadelphia: you don’t have to guess what people think. We are a frank city.
Philadelphia Eagles’ Jason Kelce shares a laugh with School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, during Operation Snowball Media Day at Shipmates in Philadelphia, Pa.The team is giving gifts to Philly school children with the money raised from the Eagles holiday album A Philly Specials Christmas Party.
3-5:30 p.m.
On Mondays, myself, the deputy, and associate superintendents spend the latter part of the day into the evening in a cabinet meeting. I never get home in time for the 6:30 p.m. news, which I used to like to see as a teacher sometimes.
Evening
I try to eat a healthy dinner, get a good night’s sleep, and drink plenty of water.
Even though I’m an empty nester at this point, that’s the time to either get a quick phone call or check in with my family, including my three sons Tony Jr., Aaron, and Caleb, who love coming to Philadelphia.
By the time I get to the end of the week or the weekend, I’m ready for more of the robust things in Philadelphia, like cheesesteaks.
Superintendent Tony B. Watlington, Ed.D, during State-of-the-schools address, High School of the Future, Philadelphia, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. .
I have found so many places in Philadelphia for good food. Today, I had a chicken gyro from the Reading Terminal Market.
The other day, I went back to the first restaurant where my predecessor in Philly [William R. Hite Jr.] first took me to lunch, Talula’s Garden.
Dr. William Hite (foreground) listens to Tony Watlington Sr., the Philadelphia Public School districts new superintendent. Photograph taken on the morning of his announcement at the School District Headquarters at 440 N. Broad Street in Philadelphia on Friday morning April 1, 2022.
Now I’ve learned here in year four to just kind of wander around the city and so I’ve got a two-page list of restaurants. Everywhere I go, I’m always adding something new.
If there’s time, I try to be very intentional about being able to get out and cheer for the teams here. I am a frequent visitor to the stadiums, to see the Eagles, the Phillies, and the 76ers. The only team I’ve not actually been to a sporting event for yet is the Flyers. That’s on my list for year four.
Dr. Tony Watlington Sr. Ed.D, Superintendent of Philadelphia schools helps kick off the Ring the Bell PHL campaign at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, August 13, 2024. This kick off starts the community thinking about upcoming school year.
Philly’s favorite running path is at it again. A “chasm”-sized sinkhole has swallowed part of the Schuylkill River Trail between Race and JFK — big enough, officials say, that you could almost park a car in it. (“Almost” feels like a challenge.)
The Schuylkill Banks crew fenced it off and called in Parks & Rec, the Water Department, and engineers — basically the full Avengers lineup of Philly infrastructure — to figure out what caused the hole and how to patch it before joggers start treating it like a new obstacle course.
The Schuylkill Trail might be cursed. Every year it’s something — floods, fallen trees, now this. Until it’s fixed, cyclists and runners are being detoured, which in Philly terms means “good luck.”
In Task, Robbie (Tom Pelphrey) uses Sixpenny Creek Quarry as a meeting place.
Delco goes “rural”…at least according to the NYT — C-
Somehow, the New York Times looked at Delco — home of Villanova, Swarthmore, and approximately 47 Wawas — and decided, “Ah yes, rural America.” Because nothing says “farm country” like the Blue Route at rush hour and a Target every three miles.
To be fair, Task creator Brad Ingelsby does paint parts of Delco as working-class, gritty, and hollowed-out, which, yeah, that’s real. But “rural”? Come on. The county has fewer farms than vape shops. The only livestock most Delco residents see are on a roast pork sandwich.
Still, the show does get something right: that weird in-between space so many towns around Philly live in — not city, not country, just post-industrial limbo where people are hustling to hang on. It’s not the backwoods. It’s just… us. Blue-collar, blunt, and way too online to ever be called rural again.
Philly’s 52-week flex — A-
For America’s 250th, Philly’s not settling for a parade — we’re throwing a 52-week-long brag about how we basically invented everything. Every week in 2026 will spotlight something that started here: the first hospital, zoo, flag, computer, hot-air balloon, even the penitentiary (because nothing says “city of firsts” like also being the first to lock people up).
It’s peak Philly — proud, weird, and wildly specific. Some of these firsts are legitimately world-changing (first medical school, first abolitionist society), while others are pure “only in Philly” energy (first Slinky, first ice-cream soda). The lineup’s got range. We went from inventing democracy to inventing dessert.
The ‘Six-Seven’ confusion — C-
Philly might’ve given the world democracy, the cheesesteak, and now… “six-seven,” a phrase that means absolutely nothing and somehow everything to a generation of teens who can’t stop saying it. It possibly started with Kensington rapper Skrilla’s song “Doot Doot (6 7)” and spiraled into TikToks, classrooms, and apparently South Park.
It’s not code, it’s not deep — it’s just two numbers. Maybe it’s a street, maybe it’s a mindset, maybe it’s proof that the internet’s broken our brains. Teachers hate it, parents are confused, and kids are out here saying “six-seven” like it’s a personality trait.
Still, if you hear it echoing down Broad Street, just nod and say it back. Six-seven. Whatever that means.
Philly drama doesn’t get juicier than this. Someone plastered a flyer around Fishtown calling out Two Robbers for serving a sad, gray burger — complete with a date stamp and the caption, “This is literally the burger that came out.”Reddit, of course, lost its mind.
Comments ranged from pure joy (“I f***in love love love this level of petty”) to the perfectly Philly (“This is what you get for ordering a burger at a craft seltzeria”). One guy even chimed in with, “They got robbed — by two robbers.” Another declared the poster was “doing the Lord’s work.”
But plot twist: the burger wasn’t theirs. The photo was actually from 9GAG, posted seven years ago under the title “Nasty Burger.” The owner jumped into Reddit like a man defending his honor, posting receipts side-by-side — the fake, the meme, and their actual burger, which, to be fair, looks great — and calling the whole stunt “diabolical.”
Now the thread’s full of conspiracy theories that the whole thing was a genius marketing stunt (“If it is, it worked on me”) and locals promising to stop by just to try the burger. So whether this was sabotage, performance art, or Philly’s pettiest PR move — Burgergate proves one thing: in this town, we don’t do calm, we do chaos. And we’ll probably Yelp about it after.
Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham during practice at the NovaCare Complex on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025 in Philadelphia.
Brandon Graham’s encore — A+
Philly’s loudest legend just couldn’t stay away. After seven whole months of “retirement,” Brandon Graham is back in midnight green for his 16th season, saying he’s still got “juice left.” The Eagles desperately needed both sacks and smiles, and no one brings either like BG.
At 37, rookies call him “the OG,” veterans call him the engine, and everyone calls him the guy who won’t stop talking in practice. “You thought you wasn’t gonna have to deal with me?” he said on his podcast. That’s the guy who strip-sacked Brady — not a man easing into retirement.
And honestly? The timing couldn’t be better. Missed tackles, blown assignments, no spark — the Eagles’ defense has been ugly. BG can’t fix everything, but he can sure as hell remind the Birds what fight looks like.
A rendering of the garage planned for Fishtown, looking west towards Center City.
Philly’s year of the parking garage — D+
In a city that loves to say it’s all about bikes, buses, and tree-lined streets, somehow 2025 has turned into the Year of the Parking Garage. Three new standalone garages are in the works — in Fishtown, University City, and Grays Ferry — because apparently we looked at the skyline and thought, “You know what’s missing? More concrete boxes for cars.”
Developers say people need somewhere to park near all the shiny new apartments, but urbanists are screaming into their reusable coffee cups. We’re talking a 1,000-car garage from CHOP (in a neighborhood already struggling with air quality), a 495-space one in University City (for a city lab and staff), and a Fishtown “garage-with-a-view” that’s trying to make rooftop parking sound sexy.
Parking pros say it’s a losing game — sky-high taxes, slim profits, and way too many empty spaces already. Even Parkway Corp. and E-Z Park, the kings of concrete, have looked at the numbers and said, “Good luck, you’ll need it.”
It’s the most Philly thing ever: everyone agrees it’s a bad idea, but someone’s still building it.
Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe shoots the basketball against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jaylen Clark during a preseason game on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 in Philadelphia.
Sixers start with a spark — B
Nobody in Philly was expecting the Sixers to look this good out the gate. Rookie VJ Edgecombe dropped 34 points in his debut — the third-highest in NBA history — and helped the Sixers steal a 117-116 win over the Celtics. That’s right: Wilt, LeBron, and now a 20-year-old kid who apparently sleeps like a baby before facing Boston in the Garden.
Edgecombe didn’t just show up — he looked like he’d been here for years. Calm, confident, and already saying the kind of humble stuff that makes you want to buy his jersey before Christmas. Tyrese Maxey poured in 40, and even his gentle clowning (“77 definitely got scared at the free-throw line”) couldn’t hide the fact that Philly might actually have a backcourt worth believing in.
It’s still early, but this team has something it hasn’t had in forever: fun. For once, the Sixers aren’t pretending to be contenders — they’re just hooping. No melodrama, no birthday banners about Daryl Morey being a liar, no Teletubby coats. Just fast breaks, fresh legs, and a rookie who already has his name next to Wilt’s.
We’ve been hurt before, so no one’s saying “This is the year.” But after one game, it’s hard not to feel a little something.
When you think of fall in the mountains, the quintessential image that probably comes to mind is of Jim Thorpe. Even if you’ve never set foot in this petite Pennsylvania town — wrapped like an amphitheater in a vertical forest that changes color by the day — photos of it have become the calling card of the Poconos, luring day-trippers and weekenders long before ski season begins.
Named for the multi-sport athlete and the first Native American to win Olympic gold, the town flares out on either side of the Lehigh River in checkerboards of boutiques, breweries and Victorian manors. There’s plenty to do within its small footprint, and the rest of the Poconos waits right at its doorstep.
The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway is known for its Autumn Leaf train excursion.
Ride: Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
Imagine gliding through a kaleidoscope of gold, russet and amber leaves. That’s why the ticket booth for the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway opens early — 7 a.m. on weekends, 9 a.m. on weekdays — for its wildly popular Autumn Leaf train excursion. Tickets are sold only in person, the day of, so plan ahead. The 45-minute round trip offers stunning views best seen (and photographed) from the open-air carriages.
A five-minute walk from the station, the Harry Packer Mansion counts quirky arched dormers, a copper-topped bell tower, and a grand sandstone veranda among its many eccentricities. Built in 1874 by railroad tycoon Asa Packer as a wedding gift for his son, Harry, the mansion (and adjacent carriage house) features eight rooms with ornate woodwork and vintage décor. Check in on the second or fourth weekend of each month for an immersive murder mystery, where costumed characters bring the mansion to life.
About 20 minutes east of Jim Thorpe sits Pocono Raceway, the legendary 2.5-mile track that’s hosted NASCAR races since 1971. For an adrenaline rush, hop into a Dodge Charger Hellcat for a ride-along with a professional driver around the “Tricky Triangle,” hitting 60 mph in just over three seconds.
A raceway and organic farm might seem like unlikely neighbors, but the Poconos are full of surprises. One of the largest regenerative agricultural projects in North America, Pocono Organics has a can’t-miss café with an epic grass-fed cheeseburger, a beet salad dressed with tahini, harissa and pistachios, and house-baked pastries worth saving for the morning drive home.
📍1015 Long Pond Rd., Blakeslee, Pa. 18610
Shop: Downtown Jim Thorpe
Back in town, stroll down Broadway, the main drag lined with boutiques that feel far more cosmopolitan than you’d expect in a mountain village. Browse plus-size consignment at BawdyPlus, bespoke stationery at Somersault, indie paperbacks at Sellers Books & Art, and 18th-century curiosities at Antiques on Broadway.
📍77 Broadway, Jim Thorpe, Pa. 18229 (BawdyPlus);📍65 Broadway, Jim Thorpe, Pa. 18229 (Sellers Books & Art);📍52 Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229 (Antiques on Broadway)
Drink: Bright Path Brewing
Cross the bridge over the Lehigh River to the east side of town for pre-dinner drinks at Bright Path Brewing, a relaxed taproom with forest-green walls and pipe-legged tables. Bright Path has been brewing German-accented beers since 2022; the smoked Maibock may be meant for spring (“Mai” = May), but its subtle smokiness pairs perfectly with crisp autumn air.
📍1215 North St., Jim Thorpe, Pa. 18229
Dine: Café Arielle at the Stabin Museum
End the evening with art and ambiance. Step into The Stabin Museum, where artist Victor Stabin’s genre-bending naturalist paintings line the walls, before dining at the adjacent Café Arielle. Red-curried salmon and roasted duck with blueberry gastrique fill the tables of this stone-and-wood hideaway, glowing like a lantern in the mountain night.
DEAR ABBY: I have been dating a man for 2 1/2 years. He’s divorced; I am a widow. We get along well and enjoy many activities together. The problem is his 31-year-old daughter. She is very rude and unkind to me. He tells me it is not me; she would treat any female companion of his this way.
With the holidays approaching, I spoke to him about what our plans will be. During the past two years, his ex-wife and daughter have controlled most of the get-togethers, saying that I was not invited to join them for a Christmas Eve dinner. I don’t want to be controlling like his ex and daughter, but I would like us to be part of the plans as a couple.
At this point, he’s unable to decide what we will do. He’s trying to mend the relationship with his daughter, but I’m pretty sure it won’t improve until she’s ready to accept her dad having another partner in his life.
I want this relationship to work out. We are talking about living together and possibly getting married, but I’m not sure if we should consider this until his situation with his daughter improves. Any advice?
— SEEKING INCLUSION IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR SEEKING: Your gentleman friend’s daughter should not have been allowed to treat any woman he was seeing disrespectfully. His mistake has been ceding his power to someone who is emotionally immature and unwilling to see her father in a happy, healthy relationship.
Give him a deadline to decide how he is going to spend the holidays. If it isn’t with you, take a vacation at that time. You are intelligent to put the brakes on living together until he resolves this issue, preferably with input from a licensed mental health professional.
** ** **
DEAR ABBY: While the saying goes “no man is an island,” I beg to differ, as I am married to one. My husband has little to no patience with anyone, family included. He has always been negative, and as he grows older, it has grown 10 times worse. Over the past 15 years, my husband has alienated most of his (our) friends to the point where he no longer has any contact with them. He literally walks away from them in public.
While I know a lot of people are super narcissistic today, I feel you have to put up with some of today’s BS. I’m not super social myself, but his rudeness has gotten out of hand. Our social life is nil. It may be a case of depression (he’s on a multitude of medications). It’s wearing me down, and I’m afraid I’m sinking down with him. Is there a solution?
— GOING DOWN, TOO
DEAR GOING: Because your husband has mental health issues, this should be discussed with a doctor. A different medication and talk therapy might help him if he would consent to it. Please consider consulting someone for yourself to help you decide if you want to spend the rest of your life being this isolated. Nothing will change if you don’t become proactive.
Virginia “Ginny” Smith tends to black-eyed susans in her East Falls garden for the annual fall cleanup.
Winter is less than two months out. As colder conditions creep over the region, your garden will have to cope with the chill.
Beyond removing leaves and branches, here are a couple other things to consider to keep your garden healthy:
🪴 Protect plants from frost: Use old blankets or bubble wrap to insulate containers and pots and keep root systems warm.
🚰 Not just plants: Freezing temps can also hurt your watering hoses. Remember to unhook and drain them to avoid damage.
✂️ Tool care is key: Give your shovels and other tools a proper clean before putting them away, and see if your snips and shears are due for a sharpening. (A local sharpener could help with that.)
🌱 Paola’s pro-tip: Gardening is a year-round effort, so this is the time of year when I like to reflect on what went right, and what I could improve on next year. Keeping a journal to document these developments can be fun.
Part of the Schuylkill River Trail in Center City is closed after a large sinkhole formed under the asphalt. A temporary detour route is available until repairs are made.
🎤 Now we’re passing the microphone to environmental reporter Frank Kummer.
Like many farmers, Patrick Giberson feels squeezed from many sides these days.
His family’s soybean and corn farm in Pemberton, Burlington County, has been flanked by a wave of development — new warehouses, shopping centers, and a Walmart.
Meanwhile, a Chinese soybean boycott continues in response to U.S.-imposed tariffs. Equipmentis expensive. And weather remains, as always, unpredictable.
Yet Giberson, 57, a fourth-generation farmer, says he’s determined to adapt and endure. The family’s 800-acre farm, owned by his parents, Jo and Pat Giberson, features a restored 18th-century farmhouse and designated wildlife preserve. — Frank Kummer
Outdoorsy readers submitted these awesome autumnal sights.
As the trees continue to transform, Outdoorsy readers sent in these stunning shots of fall foliage across our region.
Shoutout to Dorothy Stiles, who provided the gorgeous picture taken at Valley Forge National Historical Park (left), and to Joseph and Maria Hill, who captured the Blazing Maple showing off its bright colors (right). They told me they first planted it in their backyard five years ago in Media, Pa.: “We took it home from Home Depot in the back seat of my wife’s Mini Cooper Convertible and now it’s 40-50 feet tall!”
P.S. This Saturday, Oct. 25 and next Saturday, Nov. 1, fall foliage tree tours are taking place at the Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum. Get more details here.
🌳 Your foraging tales
Outdoorsy reader Jeff Laughead pictured with a pawpaw.
Dan Scholnick recommended going by the Cobbs Creek Environmental Center in West Philly. He also raved about the “outrageously good” fruit along S. Saint Bernard Street by a community garden, with this great tip to boot: “I’ve learned that the best ones are the ones you find on the ground having already fallen off the tree.”
And Jeff Laughead, pictured above, suggested we check out Ferncliff Wildflower Preserve out in Lancaster County, which he said has a great pawpaw grove: “A bit of an uphill hike to get there, but totally worth it!”
For yummy fruits, it’s always worth going the extra mile.
👋🏽 Take care out there, friends. Until next time.
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DEAR ABBY: A few years ago, my uncle made a controversial comment about a social issue in my mom’s family group text. The issue was important enough to my sister that she requested discussion about it cease because she didn’t agree with what they were saying. When the discussion continued, she decided to cut Mom’s family out of her life, taking a cue from my brother-in-law, who had made a similar decision about his own family.
My wife and I bought a house and decided to throw our first party there, inviting both sides of my family. My sister still refuses to be anywhere near Mom’s family. She said she wouldn’t be coming, even though I also invited Dad’s family, with whom she gets along well.
Although my political and social views align with my sister’s, I am also family-oriented, so this has been tough on me and my parents. I’m sad that Mom’s family may never see my sister again because one or two bad apples spoiled the barrel for her. I wish this could be resolved before it’s too late. Do you think that’s possible?
— FAMILY-ORIENTED IN ILLINOIS
DEAR FAMILY-ORIENTED: I don’t know why the offensive conversation didn’t stop when your sister asked. Clearly, the comments your uncle made were so deeply offensive to her that she no longer wishes to have any contact with him. Is this “fixable”? Only if one of them is willing to give, and from what you have written, that doesn’t seem likely. From now on, if you want a family gathering, be prepared to host one without Sis.
** ** **
DEAR ABBY: I’m a man who has worked for a large company for many years. I recently became acquainted with a newly hired woman who is beautiful, smart, funny and compassionate. We talk almost daily, and I’m becoming romantically interested in her. From her behavior, she may feel similarly. I’d like to take things to the next level by inviting her to lunch.
There is one major issue: I’m in my mid-50s; she’s in her early 20s. I’m not sure if she’s aware of the large age difference, but I’m sure she realizes I’m considerably older. If we do decide to pursue a relationship, I know there will be comments and jokes from our co-workers, which I can deal with, but is a relationship wise considering our age difference? I have never been interested in a woman this young before. She is special to me. People say age is just a number. Is it?
— OLD ROMANTIC FOOL
DEAR OLD ROMANTIC: I am less concerned about the difference in your ages as I am the number of years you have been at your job and whether there may be an “imbalance of power” between yourself and the new hire. If there is a policy against fraternization in your workplace, your job or hers could be at risk. If there isn’t, then it wouldn’t be out of line to invite the young woman to lunch. If anything bothers her about the age difference (IF the relationship progresses), I’m sure it will come to light.
DEAR ABBY: I am pregnant with the first-born grandson on both sides. My husband and I plan to use my husband’s middle name for our son’s first name and my father’s middle name for his middle name. My father is “the III” but has no sons, so we thought this would be a way to honor him and represent my side of the family.
My sister is the first person we shared our son’s name with. The following day, she called me to express her displeasure, because she always planned to use our father’s middle name as a first name for a son. I knew this, but I didn’t think using it as a middle name would be an issue. Additionally, she’s younger than I am, unmarried and childless. She was so upset with me that I had to end the phone call because it escalated to yelling.
During the call, she suggested I forgo using the name but honor our father by changing the baby’s middle name to our father’s first name (which my husband and I don’t think flows well) or use my maiden name for my son’s middle name. Must I change my son’s intended name because my sister wants to be the first to use our father’s middle name for a potential future son?
— PICKING A NAME IN THE EAST
DEAR PICKING: How your sister got into the middle of what you and your husband decide about your baby’s name is beyond me. Of course you don’t have to alter your plans to suit your sister. Stop being a people-pleaser, particularly where your offspring is concerned. Name your baby boy what you think is best, and do not look back.
** ** **
DEAR ABBY: I am a 40-year-old woman dating a wonderful man my age. I purchased a house in my 20s, earned several degrees, own my own business and have achieved success. However, I haven’t had the best luck with the last few guys I’ve dated. The man I’m dating now doesn’t seem to grasp some of life’s necessities. He doesn’t shower often, wears the same attire several days in a row, drinks daily and stays out all night every weekend. When we met, he had no job and no car and was living with a friend.
It’s been three months, and he has secured a job. He has practically moved himself into my home and is helping with the finances, but he still doesn’t shower. (He does do housework, though.) I have had several conversations with him about his hygiene, and he makes promises but doesn’t deliver. My family thinks I’m desperate for love and that I should let this guy go. What do you think?
— LOSING HOPE IN PENNSYLVANIA
DEAR LOSING HOPE: More important than what your family thinks about this is what do YOU think? Because your wonderful man’s body odor is offensive, give him an ultimatum. Tell him that as much as you are beginning to care for him, this is a deal-breaker, and if he wants to continue living with you, he’ll have to shower regularly. Then give him a schedule or show him the door. (Whew!)
Clearing a golf ball past the 250-yard mark into the sunlit fairway of California’s Titleist Performance Institute is getting easier for a whole lot of people in the region.
All they have to do is stop by the virtual golf simulators at Cherry Hill’s PGA Tour Superstore. The Georgia-based chain is opening store No. 80 in South Jersey. It already has an outlet in the Metroplex Mall in Plymouth Meeting, and is looking to expand to Ocean Township, N.J., soon.
The company has undergone a significant growth spurt in the last six years with new brick-and-mortar locations and a 200% jump in e-commerce, a company spokesperson said.
The sprawling 40,000-square-foot superstore in Cherry Hill will open at 9 a.m. Saturday with $30,000 worth of giveaways, including a full set of iron golf clubs to the first two customers.
It will house dozens of aisles of the latest golf clubs, balls, apparel, and other gear, among six practice and play hitting bays, virtual golf simulation stations, and an expert club fitting area. Store sales manager Lexi Humbert, a golfer of 16 years, said she added 10 yards to her drive after a new club head suggestion.
Store general manager Lisa-Jo Donnelly reacts as she sinks a putt on the practice green at the PGA Superstore.
The real draw is the golf simulation bay, where customers can cycle through world-famous golf courses projected onto a screen, and drive balls nearly 100 mph into them, receiving analytics on each swing.
The putting green is lined with the most popular putters from classics like Taylor Made Spiders and Scotty Cameron Phantoms to the fresh lineup of L.A.B. brand putters. Golfers can explore clubs and then test them out in the golf simulation bays, or get hands-on fittings with the experts. Regripping and repair services are available, too.
Golf, historically associated with wealthier, white men, is a growing sport — especially “off-course golf.” It was made popular by TopGolf — a trend PGA Tour Superstore hopes to capitalize on with recurring Saturday events, inviting youth groups (like First Tee) in for lessons, and providing a social space for those looking to get some swings in outside of the green.
“The average golfer is now down to their early 40s‚” said the store’s general manager, Lisa-Jo Donnelly. The goal is to create a space that will become part of the Cherry Hill golfing community, within a region that is home to 70 courses and a local high school team that likes bringing home trophies, she said.
The store has an expansive women’s and juniors’ sections. Humbert, who said she has been to golf stores all over the country, said the selections will be refreshing for many, as stores tend to skimp on women’s and junior equipment.
“When I go to other stores, I already know that I’m not going to have nearly the selection that I need. I always get frustrated,” Humbert said. “The biggest thing for me is for those just wanting to get into golf and see a PGA shirt at other places for $150, whereas here you can go into the back of the store and find something for $20 to $30.”
Store sales manager Lexi Humbert reacts after a great drive on a virtual golf simulation at the PGA Superstore.
Saturday’s opening day is likely to lure hundreds to the store for giveaways, but they may have to contend with the dozens of people who will camp out for days to be first.
“These opening giveaways are so popular that we had, for quite a few openings, the same person in the front of the line. He was traveling around the country and getting there first,” Donnelly said.
The store will provide campers with pizza on Friday night and coffee and Krispy Kreme doughnuts on Saturday. The new PGA Tour Superstore CEO, Troy Rice, and Cherry Hill Mayor David Fleisher will also be in attendance Saturday, alongside members of the township council.
📅 Opening Oct. 25, at 9 a.m.📍2232 N.J. Route 70, Suite C, Cherry Hill Township, N.J. 08002, 🕒 Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 🌐 pgatoursuperstore.com
DEAR ABBY: I’m 22, and my boyfriend is 21. We’ve been dating for a few months. At a recent family dinner, his maternal grandfather hit on me. I was helping to clear the dinner table and leaned across the table to grab some dirty plates when Grandpa shoved his hand up my skirt. Then he leered at me, and my survival instincts kicked in. I slapped him across the face so hard he fell off his chair. It created a scene, and my boyfriend’s mother screamed at me.
My boyfriend’s sisters tried to downplay what he did, dismissing Grandpa’s behavior as “he’s just a scamp!” I left the house in a hurry, and the family is now talking about suing me for assault. I’m dumbfounded, and now I’m second-guessing myself. I have told my boyfriend we are over, and he’s upset because we had a nice relationship. I’m no longer sure I can go forward with it. Am I in the wrong here? Should I apologize?
— SHAKEN IN NEW JERSEY
DEAR SHAKEN: You have no reason to apologize. Your boyfriend’s family should apologize to you. Your boyfriend’s grandfather is not a “scamp.” He’s an old man who appears to be losing control of his faculties. You were not wrong to defend yourself. If there is any more talk of “suing you for assault” after what Gramps did, tell them you will file a police report about his inappropriate behavior, which was far from harmless. His next victim could be a minor.
** ** **
DEAR ABBY: In high school, I had a friend who constantly told me he loved me. I never returned the feelings. We remained friends through high school, college and early adulthood. We married others and had children, occasionally popping into each other’s lives.
Four years ago, we started texting a lot — probably 100 times a day. Two years ago, we met up (we live in different states now and met halfway) and started a sexual relationship. For 18 months we met once a month. The sex is awesome. Conversations are amazing. Then we stopped. For the next six months we both worked on our marriages. Neither of us is happy.
Two months ago, we started meeting again. I think I’m falling in love with him. I think he loves me, but I also don’t think he will leave his family. We have known each other for 40 years. We know the sex is so good, but we are also such good friends. What should I do?
— RECONNECTED IN THE MIDWEST
DEAR RECONNECTED: You and this man are mature adults. Ask him where he sees your love affair going. Does he plan to continue the status quo, or does he plan to leave his family? If he is as good a friend as you feel he is, he will give you an honest answer, and you will know what to do.
** ** **
DEAR ABBY: When it’s hot, I like to take my shirt off in store parking lots and toss it into the cart while I unload. It gives me some relief from the scorching summer temperatures. This seems relatively harmless to me, but what do you think?
— BARE-CHESTED GUY
DEAR GUY: The answer depends upon how “hot” you are. If you’re a buff, furry-chested male, it’s fine with me as long as you’re wearing sunscreen.
The spirits of the pets come first, treading home on soft, shadowy paws, making their way by the light of altar candles and guided by the eternal tie of love.
They are welcomed with offerings of favorite treats and fresh water, and by the careful placement of old toys and worn collars that have become cherished mementos.
It’s a new tradition connected to the Day of the Dead, the ancient Mexican holiday where people honor and celebrate the lives of family members at a time when the wall between worlds melts.
Now, in Philadelphia and elsewhere, people have begun to recognize not just human relatives but those with wings and whiskers, the departed dogs, cats, birds, and other animals that enriched their lives. And who, like family, continue to be mourned and missed.
The souls of pets are said to return on Oct. 27, a few days before the Dia de Muertos on Nov. 1 and 2.
“The day,” said Gerardo Coronado Benitez, manager of the Association of Mexican Business Owners of Philadelphia, “is not about death, but about celebrating and remembering people, keeping memories alive. Of course many people want to keep alive the memories of their pets.”
He is helping organize a big Day of the Dead event at the Italian Market on Nov. 2, where people will be able to place photos of relatives and pets on a community ofrenda ― a decorated altar ― at Ninth Street and Washington Avenue.
A crowd gathers at last year’s Day of the Dead celebration at the Italian Market in South Philadelphia.
Others have set up altars in their homes. These ofrendas may be adorned with traditional marigolds, with candy skulls, paper skeletons, and photographs. But they may also feature a snatch of fur or a whisker left behind.
Genesis Pimentel-Howard created an ofrenda for her cat, Mobi, on a bedroom shelf of the West Philadelphia home she shares with her husband, Yaphet Howard.
It’s hard for her to talk about Mobi, who died suddenly in May at only 4 years old.
He was, she said, an adorable menace. Mobi loved to poke at and play with the couple’s other cat, Sannin, though Sannin didn’t always appreciate the attention.
Mobi sometimes stole food from the trash. And he managed to push over and break Pimentel-Howard’s flat-screen TV. Still, she said, he followed her everywhere. She couldn’t even use the bathroom without him trailing her inside.
“A sweet momma’s boy,” she said. “Always next to me.”
On the ofrenda, Pimentel-Howard placed her grandmother’s pearls. And photos of her family dogs, Ella and Red, and her hamster, Shia LaBeouf. She added a shadow box that holds Mobi’s collar and an impression of his paw.
“I’ll stay up as late as Ican to welcome him,” she said. “I like to think he’ll be around.”
Genesis Pimentel-Howard lights a candle for her late cat, Mobi, beside a lovingly crafted ofrenda in her Philadelphia home on Monday. The altar glows with candlelight, welcoming the spirits of her beloved departed pets. The ritual is part of a growing tradition tied to Día de los Muertos.
The roots of the Day of the Dead go back 3,000 years, to Aztec and Mayan traditions. It is celebrated not only in Mexico but also in wider Latin America and in communities across the United States.
Dogs have always played an important role. The ancients considered them sacred, guides that led souls through the afterlife. They revered the Mexican Hairless dog, the Xoloitzcuintle, or Xolo for short.
It’s a Xolo dog, Dante, that guides Miguel to meet his ancestors in Coco, the popular animated Disney movie. And it’s a song from the movie, “Remember Me,” that has become the soundtrack for countless social media posts about departed pets.
In Philadelphia, the Italian Market festival welcomes all who wish to take part in its Day of the Dead event to South Ninth Street between Federal and Christian Streets from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 2
The Fleisher Art Memorial in South Philadelphia also will hold a big Day of the Dead celebration. Everyone is invited to help with final preparations for the ofrenda from 2 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 31, and to come to the Day of the Dead event the next day.
“The animals, that’s family, too,” said María De Los Angeles Hernández Del Prado, the artist who led the creation of the Fleisher’s large, three-part ofrenda, which includes a section devoted to pets. “They’re the same as us, they just don’t talk the same language.”
Pimentel-Howard knew after Mobi died that she would find a way to honor him, along with the other animals she has loved.
“You don’t know what it’s like to lose an animal,” she said, “until you’ve lost one.”
