VENTNOR, N.J. — They demolished the existing boardwalk from the tennis courts to the fishing pier, north to south, and now they are building their way back up.
Financed mostly with federal funds granted to New Jersey from the COVID American Rescue Plan, Ventnor and other Shore towns like Ocean City, North Wildwood, Atlantic City, and Wildwood have set out to redo or upgrade their iconic pathways.
Ventnor is using $7 million in federal funds and bonded for about $4 million more, officials said.
Will this stretch of boardwalk reconstruction be done by Memorial Day?
Construction continues on the boardwalk on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Ventnor City, N.J.
“It’s always a worry,” Ed Stinson, the Ventnor city engineer, said in an interview late last month. “We’ve had multiple meetings with the contractor [Schiavone Construction], one as recent as three weeks ago. In all the meetings, he’s said it’ll be complete and open before Memorial Day.”
The reconstruction has delivered a seven-block offseason interruption in a walkway that is popular year-round.
Work will stop for the summer, city officials say. In the fall, a second 13-block section, from Suffolk Avenue to the Atlantic City border at Jackson Avenue, will begin. There is currently no funding or plan for the boardwalk from Cambridge south to the Margate border, said Stinson.
The biggest change people will notice is that the original and distinctive angled herringbone decking pattern of the boardwalk is being replaced with a straight board decking. Ultimately, it came down to cost over tradition.
“There was discussion about it,” said Stinson. “There’s additional lumber that’s wasted when you do the herringbone, and the labor to cut that material. The additional material costs were significant. It’s a waste of tropical lumber. The only reason to go herringbone is tradition and appearance.”
The reconstruction has delivered a seven-block offseason interruption in a walkway that is popular year-round. Work will stop for the summer, city officials say.
Other differences are changes in lighting (lower, more frequent light poles) and some enhancements of accessible ramps. The existing benches, with their memorial plaques, will be back.
To demolish the boardwalk, the contractor cut the joist and the decking in 14-foot sections, “swung it around, carried it over to the volleyball court,” Stinson said, on Suffolk Avenue.
“That’s where they did their crushing and loading into the dumpsters. They worked their way down and followed that with the pile removing.”
The original herringbone pattern can be seen on the left, compared with the new straight decking pattern on the new construction side.
The other massive job was excavating the sand that had accumulated under the boardwalk. “They screened it, cleaned it, and put it down there,” on the beach in piles. It will be spread around above the tide line, Stinson said.
Once the excavation was down, the pile driving crew set out beginning at the south end and working their way toward Suffolk Avenue. “Then the framing crew came in and started framing,” Stinson said. On Feb. 2, the third team began its work: the decking crew.
The weather has slowed the pace, Stinson said. “They were doing about 20 to 24 piles a day,” he said, a pace that dropped to about nine piles a day after the snowstorm and ice buildup.
The framing crew installs pile caps, 8-by-14 beams that run across the boardwalk atop the pilings. The decking crew follows behind them, installing the wood, a tropical wood known as Cumaru. The use of Brazilian rainforest lumber at one time inspired protests, but that has not been an issue this time.
Construction continues on the boardwalk on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Ventnor City, N.J.
Ventnor’s boardwalk, which links to Atlantic City’s famous walkway, dates to 1910. It was rebuilt twice before: once after the hurricane of 1944 and again after the March storm of 1962. Margate, on the southern end, never rebuilt its boardwalk after 1944.
Stinson said the tropical wood is noted for its “denseness and durability. It does not last forever.”
In all, $100 million of American Rescue funds was set aside by Gov. Phil Murphy for a Boardwalk Fund and awarded to 18 municipalities, including, as Stinson said, “anybody who has anything close to a boardwalk.”
Brigantine, with its promenade, received $1.18 million. Ocean City, in the process of rebuilding a portion of its north end boardwalk, received $4.85 million.
The two biggest recipients were Asbury Park and Atlantic City, each receiving $20 million. Atlantic City has completed a rebuilding of its Boardwalk to stretch all the way around the inlet to Gardner’s Basin. Wildwood, with $8.2 million, has undertaken a boardwalk reconstruction project, and North Wildwood, receiving $10.2 million, is rebuilding its boardwalk between 24th and 26th Streets, combining the herringbone pattern with a straight board lane for the tram car.
Although the timing of the reconstruction was no doubt prompted by the availability of the federal funds, Stinson said Ventnor’s boardwalk had shown signs of age.
“We’ve been into some significant repairs on the boardwalk,” Stinson said. “Those have increased every year. We were getting into pile failures. It was due. I don’t know if the city would have tackled it without the [federal] money.”
Ventnor’s boardwalk, which links to Atlantic City’s famous walkway, dates to 1910. It was rebuilt twice before: once after the hurricane of 1944 and again after the March storm of 1962.
DEAR ABBY: My husband is 76 but doesn’t look a day over 60. He has a full head of hair with little graying, no facial wrinkles, and he’s fairly fit. I’m 71 and look every day my age, probably older. I have graying hair — lots of it — but I like the color and will never dye it. I am fit, but the deep facial wrinkles and turkey neck emphasize my age. I “thank” my husband, a man I’ve lived with for 40 years, for this. He has given me years of stress and disappointment.
My issue: When we are out together, strangers inevitably tell him how shocked or surprised they are at how he “doesn’t look how old he is.” I’m left sitting right there feeling as if they think I’m his mother. Every time this happens, for days and sometimes weeks, he will spend time staring at himself in the mirror and reminding me how lucky I am to have such a handsome husband. He has always had an ego problem, but it is getting worse. Is there a response to get him to get over himself?
— MR. HANDSOME’S WIFE
DEAR WIFE: It is my observation that people who compulsively stare into mirrors do it not out of ego but because of insecurity. When your husband does this, does he actually TELL you how lucky you are to have such a handsome husband, or is that something you think he is thinking? He is the way his genetics have made him, and the same is true of you.
If you feel bad about yourself because you think people are making unflattering comparisons between the two of you, consider discussing it with your dermatologist to see if there are some simple procedures that might make you feel better about yourself.
** ** **
DEAR ABBY: My husband is in his 60s. His brother, “Al,” (two years younger) has been living in their mother’s house for the last 35 years. Before she died seven years ago, she put her house in my husband’s name. For all those seven years, Al has been lying to him, promising he’s going to move out “any day now.” If I try to tell my husband Al may have squatter’s rights and is never going to move, my husband becomes verbally abusive and threatens me.
Now that my husband is starting to face the fact that his brother will never move, he has become even more abusive toward me and is trying to drive me out of my own home. He knows I will get half of everything in a divorce because we have been married 31 years. When I suggested mediation, he kicked our dog. We also have loaded weapons in the house. He says he wants a divorce but can’t afford one.
— UNEASY IN THE EAST
DEAR UNEASY: You need more help than anyone can give you in a letter. Because your husband’s behavior is escalating, you need to get out of there. The next time he becomes violent, instead of kicking the dog, he may hurt you.
Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) and talk with an advocate who can help you escape safely. You should also consult an attorney about how to protect yourself and file a police report about your husband’s threatening behavior. He may not be able to afford a divorce, but you can’t afford not to get one.
Swiped right on a hottie — or two? Looking to celebrate 10 years together? Need to convince your latest situationship to stay? No matter the romantic situation you’re in, there’s one question on every Philly lover’s mind: In a city teeming with incredible restaurants and bars, what’s the best date-night pick? The answer isn’t always so simple.
Luckily, you have the Inquirer’s date-night matchmaker in your back pocket. We’ve plumbed the food team’s deep well of Philly restaurant knowledge to offer you the best recommendations and swoop you (and your date) off your feet.
Answer these five questions and we'll match you with the perfect date-night spot.
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Staff Contributors
Design: Jasen Lo
Development: Jasen Lo, Garland Fordice
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Chef Nich Bazik blends classic French cuisine with subtle Korean influences into tasting menus with over 20 courses.”},{name:”Chateau Rouge”,place_slug:”chateau-rouge-restaurant”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/VUENWF7VGJEDBLFKE7Q5RKGQ3A/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”West African, French”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/chateau-rouge-restaurant/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”formal”,description:”ChxE2teau Rouge is a BYOB in Graduate Hospital that blends Cameroonian heritage with French technique in lively, soulful dishes. The menu features peppery suya wings, tender lamb skewers, grilled fish, and sides like plantains or rich stews. The flavors are bold and expansive, carried by a warm hospitality from the staff.”},{name:”Ground Provisons “,place_slug:”ground-provisions”,location:”other”,region:”Chester County”,price_range:”$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/KOKYXPDG6ZDWNOUKFFWDT4OS6A/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Vegetarian, Tasting Menu”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/ground-provisions/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”cocktails, wine”,vibe:”semi-casual, formal”,description:”Ground Provisions in West Chester is an all plant-based restaurant built around a multi-course tasting menu that changes regularly. The bar keeps things lively with natural wines, craft cocktails, and local brews, making the pairings part of an immersive experience. Meanwhile, a more casual lounge area offers walk-in snacks and smaller plates for those not doing the full tasting.”},{name:”Ginger”,place_slug:”ginger-restaurant”,location:”philly”,region:”Northeast Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/65I6EUM5HZGVHO5FP2K6OPYFWY/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Central Asian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/ginger-restaurant/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Northeast Philadelphia is crowded with kitchens representing the cuisines of the post-Soviet diaspora, from Uzbek plov houses to Georgian bakeries and Uyhgur noodles. But Temir Satybaldievu2019s Ginger is a rare bridge between traditional foodways and the modern ambitions of contemporary fine dining. Plus, the owner/chef is skilled with pastry. The creamy flow of his Basque-style u201CSan Sebastianu201D cheesecake is worth the trip alone. “},{name:”Pho 75″,place_slug:”pho-75″,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/T4TXQQOSNJHWVIUT7ESU76SC2M/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Pho, Vietnamese”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/pho-75/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”casual”,description:”There are many fragrant, beefy, spiced bowls of pho to be slurped around Philly, served in restaurants that often have enormous, almost unwieldy menus. Pho 75 only does pho. It harnesses all its excellence and focus on a single dish, the hallmark of this bare-bones operation out of the D.C. area that has nevertheless wound its way into the hearts of most Philadelphia chefs. Bring cash.”},{name:”Dara”,place_slug:”dara-philly”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/E3QPXD3DCFBIBNMMU5X65GELEE/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Thai”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/dara-philly/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails, byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Dara brings Thai flavors to the heart of Philly with a menu that balances bold spice and richness. From stir-fries to curries, every plate is lively and thoughtfully made. Itu2019s a BYOB spot that feels laid-back and full of flavor, with dishes like the drunken noodles and crispy duck curry standing out among other favorites”},{name:”Geronimo’s Peruvian Cuisine”,place_slug:”geronimos-peruvian-cuisine”,location:”other”,region:”Montgomery County”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/JISLUDL4YJHQZOCLHYKMKKVZ54/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”South American”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/geronimos-peruvian-cuisine/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Geronimou2019s Peruvian Cuisine in Ambler serves bold, flavorful dishes inspired by traditional Peruvian cooking. Favorites include the pollo a la brasa, made with fresh ingredients and bright seasonings. Itu2019s a cozy spot where every plate feels vibrant and full of character.”},{name:”Dolsan Korean BBQ”,place_slug:”dolsan-korean-bbq-and-sushi”,location:”other”,region:”Burlington County”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/OA5LQFFPJVFCDHN54C6BI73TEY/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Korean, Sushi”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/dolsan-korean-bbq-and-sushi/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Dolsan KBBQ and Sushi combines the energy of a Korean barbecue house with the precision of a sushi bar under one roof. Guests can grill meats like ribeye, galbi, and pork belly at the table, then mix it up with fresh rolls and sashimi. Add in classic banchan and sides, and itu2019s a spot made for big, shareable meals.”},{name:”Oba Mediterranean Grill”,place_slug:”oba-mediterranean-grill”,location:”other”,region:”Camden County”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/QR6POOR6DZAYVB7DIEC7QV7IHI/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Mediterranean, Turkish”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/oba-mediterranean-grill/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual, formal”,description:”Oba Mediterranean Grill in Collingswood serves Turkish cooking thatu2019s vibrant and full of character. The kitchen dishes out smoky kebabs, crisp pide, fresh salads, and spreads like hummus and baba ghanoush that are meant for sharing. Itu2019s a spot where bright flavors meet a relaxed table, making every meal feel both abundant and inviting. “},{name:”Yanaga Kappo Izakaya”,place_slug:”yanaga-kappo-izakaya”,location:”philly”,region:”River Wards”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/EHYIHNRTRNC2TJULSKK372OAOA/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Japanese, Sushi”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/yanaga-kappo-izakaya/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails , beer”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”This is restaurant veteran Kevin Yanagau2019s stealth transformation of what was once the Abbaye in Northern Liberties. The decor remains virtually unchanged from its divey predecessor, but the menu now features a large array of casually presented handrolls, maki rolls, fries with mayo-heavy dips, little rice bowls, and wagyu hot dogs cut into segments to be shared. Thereu2019s an excellent happy hour that includes food specials and drinks, mostly under $10. Behind a bookcase, youu2019ll also find Yanagau2019s far more elevated omakase, where a plethora of ultra-fine ingredients are manipulated into singularly spectacular bites.”},{name:”Roxanne”,place_slug:”roxanne”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/WVLZ4GMQINCIDCT2XDTEMMLTXM/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”American, Tasting Menu”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/roxanne/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”formal”,description:”In Queen Village, Roxanne turns dinner into a playful experiment where flavor and presentation are unpredictable. Chef Alexandra Holt leans into unexpected pairings and daring ideas, from inventive riffs on Philly classics to desserts that flip form from sweet to savory. The result is a restaurant that mixes refined cooking with a fearless, boundary-pushing energy.”},{name:”Parc”,place_slug:”parc”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/5OR35C67B5HSHNFWH5O7TWRUIY/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”French”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/parc/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails, wine , beer”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”In a city with a vibrant but restless food scene, Stephen Starru2019s mega-brasserie on Rittenhouse Square has remained relevant by doing what it does really, really well. With its mosaic-tiled floors, pewter-topped bar, and patina mirrors, the perpetually busy and bustling Parc exudes authentic Parisian energy. “},{name:”Le Virtu”,place_slug:”le-virtu”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/EYEMS2JXWFAFPNWWYAUWNFGLAU/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Italian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/le-virtu/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”wine”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Le Virtu is a South Philly restaurant focused on rustic cooking inspired by Italyu2019s Abruzzo region. The menu highlights handmade pasta, house-cured meats, and dishes made with local ingredients. Itu2019s a steady spot that keeps things traditional without feeling dated. Seasonal specials and a robust selection from the grill round out a menu that leans on the heartier side.”},{name:”Superette “,place_slug:”superette”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$, $$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/TJXDNSK4QFC35KYEJPOJBQOFHM/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”French, Bar, Market”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/superette/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”cocktails, wine”,vibe:”casual”,description:”Superette is a cozy corner spot on East Passyunk combining a small market and bottle shop with a laid-back wine bar. The menu leans into light bites, refreshing sandwiches, and playful desserts. Itu2019s a chill neighborhood place that gives off a relaxed vibe while staying thoughtfully curated.”},{name:”Poison Heart”,place_slug:”poison-heart”,location:”philly”,region:”North Philadelphia”,price_range:”$, $$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/ZJ4OL5SUFZE45PN33ILECXRKWA/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Bar, American”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/poison-heart/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”cocktails, beer”,vibe:”casual”,description:”Low-lit and loud, Poison Heart has a small, impeccably curated menu of good food and drinks u2014 just what you’d expect from an alum of Le Caveau and Good King Tavern. Light bites (oysters, olives, shrimp cocktail, fried pickles) counterbalance an excellent patty melt and grilled cheese. Don’t skip best-selling the freezer cocktails.”},{name:”La Jefa”,place_slug:”la-jefa”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$, $$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/QCO7RSW4VVBYPI2QIWK33WNSP4/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Mexican, Bar, Cafe”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/la-jefa/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”La Jefa is a Mexican-inspired all-day cafe and nightlife spot in Philly that bridges flavors from Guadalajara and local flare. The menu ranges from chilaquiles to aguachile, with plenty of bold, regional flavors. Drinks lean toward agave spirits with creative twists, while the Milpa lounge in the back offers a more intimate space for cocktails.”},{name:”Suraya”,place_slug:”suraya”,location:”philly”,region:”Fishtown”,price_range:”$, $$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/URTITURTJJHUXJJXNDBZOR2GIE/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Levantine, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Lebanese”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/suraya/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:””,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”The menu at this sprawling and beautiful Fishtown destination for Lebanese food from the Defined Hospitality restaurant group is 90% gluten-free. It offers cruditxE9 in lieu of pita for the mezza (including the intensely smoky baba ghanoush) and nothing with gluten touches the live fire grill that produces some of the restaurantu2019s most memorable flavors, from the various kebabs to the head-on prawns and samke harra branzino.”},{name:”Mary”,place_slug:”mary”,location:”other”,region:”Montgomery County”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/EMAR6EIMLFDCNLLWOIXCOB6FMU/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”American, Modern American”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/mary/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs, cocktails”,vibe:”formal, surprising”,description:”Mary is a cozy, dimly lit BYOB in Ambler from chef Chad Rosenthal, offering a small menu built around well-executed comfort food. Dishes are prepared in an open kitchen, with an emphasis on high-quality, local ingredients, and layered flavors. Whether itu2019s the pepper-crusted steak or a slice of warm apple cake, you can be sure the food is carefully crafted.”},{name:”Hearthside”,place_slug:”hearthside”,location:”other”,region:”Camden County”,price_range:”$$, $$$, $$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/EWQJW76Q4JC2FDW6ECGQOBFPDI/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”BYOB, American, Steakhouse”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/hearthside/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual, surprising”,description:”Hearthside in Collingswood is a modern American BYOB with an open kitchen and wood-fired grill at the heart of its space. The menu changes seasonally and focuses on local ingredients, offering dishes like dry-aged steaks, handmade pastas, and seafood cooked over an open flame. With its warm interior and focus on well-executed food, itu2019s a popular choice for both special occasions and casual nights out.”},{name:”Palizzi Social Club”,place_slug:”palizzi-social-club”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/TJS6KVCLVVDYLODM7XDRARCZFE/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Italian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/palizzi-social-club/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”wine , cocktails”,vibe:”formal”,description:”Every once in a while, this kitschy, century-old speakeasy in South Philly opens its rolls up to new members, but not many and not often. Your best bet is to buddy up to somebody whou2019s already got a gold seal to flash at the peephole, and play it cool. The main dining room seats about 45 people, while the upstairs cocktail lounge can squeeze in maybe 20, plus five at the bar. “},{name:”Barclay Prime”,place_slug:”barclay-prime”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$$, $$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/XMWQX65E6VFDTODE6PY4H42ZEA/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Steakhouse”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/barclay-prime/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”formal”,description:”With a reputation for dining excellence among athletes, dignitaries, and visiting celebs, this busy boutique steakhouse in Rittenhouse Square has been in the u201CBest Philly Steaku201D conversation going on two decades. Barclay Prime serves the cityu2019s gold standard for dry-aged luxe prime rib eye, and its other meats, fishes, sides and desserts ainu2019t half bad either. “},{name:”Irwin’s”,place_slug:”irwins”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/J6DBG4R3AFD7ZB7NHEG4QLNHOU/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Italian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/irwins/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”High in the hive of creativity that is South Phillyu2019s Bok Building sits one of the most distinctive and edgy dining rooms in Philadelphia. Led by chef Michael Vincent Ferreri, Irwinu2019s is a magnetic dinner destination, offering stellar views of the city and a menu inspired by modern Sicilian flavors u2014 fish, lamb, agrodolce chicken u2014 but shaped by local seasonality. “},{name:”Fiorella”,place_slug:”fiorella”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/F32U3RJM5JGWFAKZHU7DBTBMCY/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Italian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/fiorella/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails, wine”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Named for the landmark butcher shop that occupied the space for 125 years, Marc Vetriu2019s bustling pasta bar fits right into its Italian Market neighborhood. With its tin ceiling, tiled walls, and behemoth brass cash register circa 1901, Fiorella exudes antique vibes while swiftly serving up fresh linguini, gnocchi, ravioli, etc. “},{name:”Meetinghouse”,place_slug:”meetinghouse”,location:”philly”,region:”River Wards”,price_range:”$, $$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/CD3VTCDV6FAAVAJYGCAITDUF4E/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Gastropub, American, Bar”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/meetinghouse/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails, wine”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Sometimes you need a break from all the innovating and experimenting in the restaurant scene. Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows the names of everything on the menu: beer, burger, crab dip, grilled pork and beans. Chef-partner Drew DiTomo and his crew at this Kensington gastropub focus on warmth, preparation and polished nostalgia. “},{name:”Laser Wolf”,place_slug:”laser-wolf”,location:”philly”,region:”North Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/J6ZWKLA5ONBLXJTAOYWNABEI3Y/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Middle Eastern, Israeli”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/laser-wolf/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”With its roll-up doors, picnic tables and breezy dining area, Michael Solomonov’s wildly in-demand Kensington hotspot has the casual feel of neighborhood eatery. Reservations are recommended but hard to come by. Still, critic Craig LaBan says you have options: u201CWith 20 seats around the bar and chefu2019s counter for walk-ins (try early, late or midweek), chances of sating a craving for an arak-spiked cocktail with a koobideh kebab and hummus ringed by seasonal salatim are strong.u201D”},{name:”Ogawa”,place_slug:”ogawa-sushi-kappo”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/QSKFHZDFCZFMDBPXLD3BWKXADY/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Japanese, Sushi”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/ogawa-sushi-kappo/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”formal”,description:”Led by young but skilled head chef Carlos Wills, the $200 omakase experience at Ogawa is top-notch, offering 23 ever-changing courses of raw and rare delicacies served in a traditional, minimalist style. This includes food cooked (like the Wagyu torched before your eyes until it glistens with fat) and otherwise (i.e. the pristinely cut sashimi plate and nigiri draped over vinegar-tanged rice). This Old City spot represents a down-to-earth Philly rebuke to the obnoxious u201Cbromakaseu201D clichxE9: relaxed, convivial and full of colorful surprises in the form of seasonal catches from Tokyo Bay.”},{name:”Southwark”,place_slug:”southwark”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/HX7TVPINFBAJTEGAVGSQ5KLEB4/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Modern American, Italian, Bar”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/southwark/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”It was a tall order, taking over the handsome Queen Village bar-restaurant credited with leading the cityu2019s cocktail revival, but husband and wife duo Marina de Oliveira and chef Chris D’Ambro have by all accounts passed the test with flying colors over the past decade. In addition to its classy, eye-catching cocktails u2014 with names like u201CLawyers, Guns & Money,u201D u201CHouse Of Jealous Lovers,u201D and u201CMariah Carey Can’t Danceu201D u2014 Southwark continues to impress with its appetizers, entrees, and desserts. “},{name:”Alice”,place_slug:”alice-restaurant”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$$, $$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/JJKERXCG35DYRHQSKAFFYZFEAY/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Modern American, Tasting Menu”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/alice-restaurant/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”formal”,description:”Chef Dave Conn’s casually elegant modern American bistro in the Italian Market is more than a smoke show. Itu2019s a date night destination with an intimate, cozy banquettes, an open kitchen, and a lively bar.”},{name:”River Twice”,place_slug:”river-twice”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/3JJZIWSM4JDRNIDLHO6AD4KV2Y/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”American, Modern American, Seafood”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/river-twice/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails, wine”,vibe:”formal”,description:”Known for its harmonious blend of gastronomic preciousness and rustic oomph, this modern American fine-dining spot on East Passyunk earned a semifinalistu2019s nod from the James Beard Foundation in 2024. The menu at River Twice is seasonal and subject to the whims of restless (some have said u201Cmercurialu201D) chef Randy Rucker, who favors upscale, strikingly plated reimaginings of downhome dishes. From a perch at the chefu2019s counter, you may observe him and his crew performing feats of molecular modernism, or arranging sprouts with tweezers, to a Southern rock soundtrack. “},{name:”Her Place Supper Club”,place_slug:”her-place”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/N56DZRFTTBEP5FSPAKQUF6ZWNA/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Modern American, Tasting Menu”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/her-place/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”formal”,description:”Itu2019s hard to overstate the broader influence of Her Place Supper Club, with its frequently changing tasting menus, TED Talk-like course narrations, and Instagram-stoked reservation scrambles that’s led Amanda Shulman to a Michelin star. Her original 24-seat gem is one of Phillyu2019s most exquisitely polished dining experiences, with a thoughtfully concise drink program, an ever-whimsical vibe, and hyper-seasonal menus with French, Italian, and nostalgic Jewish influences. The dishes here are a pitch-perfect collaboration of an all-female kitchen locked in sync.”},{name:”White Yak”,place_slug:”royal-sushi-and-izakaya”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/FDYSRBOBURGDBGN6UVRYTEETSM/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Japanese, Sushi, Tasting Menu”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/royal-sushi-and-izakaya/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”casual”,description:`The momos u2014 whether they’re the tongue-tingling chili variety, the carefully pleated Himalayan dumplings, or the moneybag-shaped fried firecrackers dressed in a tangy sauce u2014 merit a trek to this Tibetan BYOB, appropriately nestled high on the hills of Roxborough. Chef-owner Treley Parshingtsang has many other tricks up her sleeve, including a spicy glass noodle salad, coins of handmade Tibetan sausage that melt in your mouth, “Shangri-La style” zucchini in a sweet-and-sour sauce, and thenthuk: hand-pulled noodles swimming in a gingery, tomato-infused beef broth. The experience is enriched by the soft-spoken, attentive service in the cozy golden dining room adorned with candle-lit windows.`},{name:”Andiario “,place_slug:”andiario”,location:”other”,region:”Chester County”,price_range:”$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/T2DYTLFBQNEHLFPXJMMMVERIXM/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Italian, American”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/andiario/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails, wine”,vibe:”formal”,description:”In West Chester, thereu2019s one place for fine dining, complete with white tablecloths and a careful wine list u2014xA0and thatu2019s chef Anthony Andiariou2019s Italian American gem. The hour-plus drive is worth it with whole animal butchery, handmade pastas, and fresh bread at the end. “},{name:”Pera Turkish Restaurant”,place_slug:”pera-turkish-cuisine”,location:”philly”,region:”Northern Liberties”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/DKL2P554IJFD5PVTAJ7AQXSQ4U/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Turkish, BYOB, Halal, Middle Eastern”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/pera-turkish-cuisine/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”This walk-in-only BYOB, its boisterous brick walls festooned with ceramic plates looking out onto a prime Northern Liberties corner, is always packed. Chef Mehmet Erginu2019s menu is the areau2019s finest example of classic Turkish cooking, distinguished by the chefu2019s touch and close attention to techniques that render dishes with extra depth and flavor.”},{name:”Villa di Roma”,place_slug:”villa-di-roma”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/UOMPPN3NQRBBHEXUFA3DSXUW6Y/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Italian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/villa-di-roma/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”wine , beer”,vibe:”casual”,description:”Smack in the middle of the Italian Market, Villa di Roma is the eternal answer to u201Cwhere should we take these out-of-towners to dinner?u201D Itu2019s also a favorite of locals thanks to its red-sauce charms and a relaxed atmosphere where getting a little rowdy is encouraged. Come here not for frills u2014 the menus are paper and oft tomato-spattered, and the wine is an afterthought u2014 but for the feeling that not much has changed in this joint since it arrived in Philly in the 1960s. “},{name:”Li Beirut”,place_slug:”li-beirut”,location:”other”,region:”Camden County”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/F3EXKIIIMVANPAUYP3VQL65QH4/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Middle Eastern, BYOB, Halal, Mediterranean, Levantine, Lebanese”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/li-beirut/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Genial host and owner Tony Massoud works every table in Li Beirut’s breezy dining room while wife Patricia Massoud cooks the cuisine of her youth at their bustling Lebanese BYOB on the ground floor of a century-old house in Collingswood. Itu2019s impossible to order incorrectly here, no matter whatu2019s in the colorful ceramic bowls of mezze or on the platters of charcoal-grilled dishes u2014 but youu2019d be ordering especially right if you wind up with the lamb chops or kafta kebab sausages. Or, instead of having to choose at all, you could just get the Taste of Lebanon, a prix-fixe extravaganza that allows you to run the menu and enjoy one of the best values in the region.”},{name:”El Chingon”,place_slug:”el-chingon”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/IHHY5MXYDZBXVBDAACJ43I4O2M/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Mexican, BYOB”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/el-chingon/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Baking has always powered El ChingxF3n, from the swirl-topped sesame cemita rolls that help Carlos Aparicio recreate his favorite overstuffed Puebla sandwiches (get the clxE1sica with Milanesa), to the daily concha roll flavors stuffed with ganache for dessert (love the canela-scented corn pinole!), or even the sourdough tang that infuses flour tortillas for the fantastic xC1rabes tacos sliced off a trompo spit. It is Apariciou2019s creative spirit, however, that makes this cheerful all-day cafe and BYOB Phillyu2019s most exhilarating Mexican kitchen.”},{name:”My Loup”,place_slug:”my-loup”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$$, $$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/FAS3FTDGHZGFVK42VASEJQCTEA/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”French, Seafood, Modern American”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/my-loup/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails, wine”,vibe:”formal”,description:”There can be any number of hot restaurants in a given moment, but if there is a restaurant of this particular moment, it is My Loup from chefs Alex Kemp and Amanda Shulman. The dining room thrums with the exuberance of a restaurant that hasn’t just hit its stride, but knows it. Sibling restaurant and perpetual dinner party Her Place may feel more special or even more uniquely Philly, but this is the room you want to be in right now, week after week u2014 at least, if you can afford it.”},{name:”Lark”,place_slug:”lark”,location:”other”,region:”Montgomery County”,price_range:”$$$, $$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/EUUQ2VJUUNFMDHHB4R4G6CF5HM/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Mediterranean, Seafood, Modern American”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/lark/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails, wine”,vibe:”formal”,description:”Taking in a sunset from the rooftop terrace while cozying up by a fire with a nightcap u2014 say, the Outdoorsman, with mushroom-infused rye and oolong tea u2014 is reason enough to visit this Main Line gem overlooking the banks of the Schuylkill. But the vivid cooking from Top Chef alum Nicholas Elmi and chef Michael Millon would be a powerful lure in even the dreariest setting. The Mediterranean-leaning menu, which u201Ccoaxes big flavors from seemingly minimalist presentations,u201D highlights fastidiously prepared seafood and lush pastas u2014 think ricotta cavatelli with yellow corn, forest mushrooms, and serrano chili u2014 in equal measure in one of the regionu2019s most stunning spaces.”},{name:”Mawn”,place_slug:”mawn”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/H67VBNIEMJFPTC5NPGLHCPARRQ/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Cambodian, BYOB, Southeast Asian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/mawn/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”One of the hottest reservations in town, Phila and Rachel Lornu2019s intimate Bella Vista BYOB is a tribute to Cambodian cooking. The most exciting dishes on the pan-Asian menu highlight Philau2019s Khmer roots, from the banh chow crepe salad with u201CSunday fish sauceu201D to steak and prahok,”},{name:”Heavy Metal Sausage Co. (trattoria)”,place_slug:”heavy-metal-sausage”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$, $$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/SW6WNC5YMRC2ZPZBI5QSQ3R3PQ/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Modern American, BYOB, Sandwich, Tasting Menu, Italian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/heavy-metal-sausage/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual, surprising”,description:”Whether you crave a lieberwurst sandwich on housemade bread, fresh country pxE2txE9 to go, or a blowout multicourse dinner, Heavy Metal Sausage Co. has you covered. No culinary corner handcrafts more u2014 or with nerdier ambition u2014 than this South Philly storefront run by chef Patrick Alfiero and Melissa Pellegrino. “},{name:”Amma’s South Indian Cuisine”,place_slug:”ammas-south-indian-kitchen”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$, $$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/O2Q662MVBRH5BNEPSWGKU3V4VE/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Indian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/ammas-south-indian-kitchen/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”cocktails, wine , beer”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”The towering dosa u2014 that tawny cone of parchment-thin crepe drizzled with ghee sailing through the dining room to virtually every table u2014 is a tribute to Mama, for whom Sathish Varadhan and Balakrishnan Duraisamyu2019s restaurant is also named: Amma is the Tamil word for u201Cmother.u201D That dedication to the flavors of home has driven the pair to expand across the Philly area, with four locations and more to come. “},{name:”Friday Saturday Sunday”,place_slug:”friday-saturday-sunday”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$$, $$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/4RRPTZR62NHX5OHBAUJMUBMD24/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Modern American, Tasting Menu”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/friday-saturday-sunday/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”formal”,description:”This intimate townhouse restaurant off Rittenhouse Square is still basking in the glow of earning a Michelin star. But with one astounding bite after another on their tasting menu Chad and Hanna Williams are clearly not resting on any laurels. Their townhouse oasis off Rittenhouse Square, already the most exciting fine dining experience in Philly, only continues to get better. The hype for Friday Saturday Sunday is absolutely legit. “},{name:”Zeppoli”,place_slug:”zeppoli”,location:”other”,region:”Camden County”,price_range:”$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/OUYPDLC5QNDGRDLUVNEZUXBFHA/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Italian, BYOB, Tasting Menu”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/zeppoli/”,booking:”walk-in”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”This 35-seat Sicilian-focused BYOB in Collingswood is run by chef-owner Joey Baldino, the force behind the food at Palizzi Social Club. Where the Palizzi feels, well, clubby, thanks to its checkerboard tile floors, leather bar seats, and members-only rule, Zeppoli is brighter and more spare, though often equally packed. The $55 prix fixe has to be one of the best deals in the greater Philadelphia area, with three dishes included, but add-ons allowed u2014 encouraged, even. “},{name:”Gabriella’s Vietnam”,place_slug:”gabriellas-vietnam”,location:”philly”,region:”South Philadelphia”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/JPM7L7Y6LBA7FB4CCXHAMLAS3A/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Vietnamese, Southeast Asian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/gabriellas-vietnam/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”In a city filled with excellent Vietnamese food, Gabriellau2019s Vietnamu2019s star still shines brightly. Chef Thanh Nguyen doesnu2019t just serve dishes that hew to the classic street foods or hot pots of Southern Vietnam, she makes them sensational. Dinner at Gabriellau2019s u2014 especially when Nguyen puts sporadic specials on the menu, like a recent addition of clams simmered in a clear lemongrass and mushroom broth u2014 is a spectacular parade of Vietnamese classics, but made better than anywhere else in Philadelphia.”},{name:”Bolo”,place_slug:”bolo”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/U7SN2RMYMRDY7EI3GRFT76XYWE/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Puerto Rican, Caribbean, Tasting Menu, Latin American”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/bolo/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Philly has one of the largest and longest-established Puerto Rican communities outside of San Juan and plenty of neighborhood places for a traditional meal of chuletas, mofongo, and chicharrxF3n. Nowhere puts Boricua flavors on a pedestal quite like Bolo. In a beautiful bi-level space in Rittenhouse Square filled with Puerto Rican art, chef Yun Fuentes celebrates his San Juan roots and Latinx cooking from across the Caribbean with polished takes on everything from bacalaitos to ceviche and vaca frita.”},{name:”Vedge”,place_slug:”vedge”,location:”philly”,region:”Center City”,price_range:”$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/2VAN3HKGJBBZDLGURVMHNYSWY4/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Vegetarian, Modern American”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/vedge/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails, wine , beer”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”A place that will make your guests ask, as mine did, u201CWait … all this is vegan?u201D you don’t need a plant-based diet to appreciate the restaurant’s many charms. Some of the stars on Vedge’s menu u2014 the smoky campfire carrot, the subtly spicy dan dan noodles, or the rutabaga fondue with perfectly tart-and-snappy pickles u2014 have been there for years, but they’re welcome sights every time you encounter this menu full of vegetable-based innovations. This restaurant’s combination of consistency and delight over more than a decade in operation is especially impressive given the ownersu2019 other ventures u2014 most recently, the charming West Chester market & prix fixe Ground Provisions. “},{name:”June BYOB”,place_slug:”june-byob”,location:”other”,region:”Camden County”,price_range:”$$$, $$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/L3CA3K3KDZF5TFB7BA2OA7ICVA/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”French, BYOB”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/june-byob/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:””,vibe:”formal”,description:”The elegance of classic French cuisine shines on at this Collingswood BYOB, where Richard u201CToddu201D Cusack draws diners with the turning crank of his duck press and the three-course u201Cvoyageu201D tasting for two, which includes the tableside flambxE9e theatrics of crxEApes Suzette. This is the regionu2019s most faithful descendant of the Le Bec-Fin lineage (where Calmels was one of the final chefs and Cusack also worked), but Juneu2019s menu isnu2019t stuck in the Escoffier past, with modern expressions like crudos, vegan dishes, and summer scallops with Jersey corn risotto. Along with gracious service, this intimate gem has evolved into one of the areau2019s loveliest restaurants for a celebratory meal rooted in classic Gallic style.”},{name:”Pietramala”,place_slug:”pietramala”,location:”philly”,region:”Northern Liberties”,price_range:”$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/YTNW4LVL6NC3ZABVWXREFLYLMQ/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Vegetarian, Modern American, Italian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/pietramala/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”byobs”,vibe:”semi-casual”,description:”Pietramala is a cozy vegan spot, with such a tight menu u2014 usually no more than 10 plates u2014 that you can comfortably order the whole thing with a group of four and not feel overwhelmed. Yet you’ll never have the same meal twice: Chef Ian Grayeu2019s incredibly inventive cooking, which treats produce with the full range of culinary techniques (charring, fermenting, compressing) pushes vegetables to acrobatic heights, and heu2019s always attempting new feats. It’s what’s led him to secure a Mitchelin Green star.”},{name:”Kalaya”,place_slug:”kalaya”,location:”philly”,region:”Fishtown”,price_range:”$$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/VFWGHFQCL5HXNJUZXV6OZN3KP4/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Thai, Southeast Asian”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/kalaya/”,booking:”months-ahead”,drinks:”cocktails, wine”,vibe:”formal”,description:”Is there a more exciting restaurant in Philadelphia than Kalaya? Chutatip u201CNoku201D Suntaranon, the James Beard-winning chef, cookbook author, and Chefu2019s Table subject, makes the case for Southern Thai flavors in the soaring, palm-fringed space of a converted Fishtown warehouse that she opened with the partners behind Suraya and Pizzeria Beddia. There are new tasting menu options now, too, that provide perfect examples of how to order a balanced Kalaya meal.”},{name:”Middle Child Clubhouse”,place_slug:”middle-child-clubhouse”,location:”philly”,region:”River Wards”,price_range:”$, $$$”,src:”https://interactives.inquirer.com/secondbank/arc/F2K6JIRYUJCZJMNFXL6KVG6CC4/1500×1000.webp”,cuisine_name:”Modern American, American, Gastropub, Breakfast, Sandwich”,more:”https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/middle-child-clubhouse/”,booking:”within-the-week”,drinks:”cocktails, beer, wine”,vibe:”semi-casual, casual”,description:”A blinking neon martini glass and coffee mug sign, a poster of Princess Diana in her iconic Eagles varsity jacket, and a conspicuously positioned pool table lean into ad-man-turned-sandwich-guy Matt Cahnu2019s penchant for inventive twists on classics and aspirations to create a timeless brand. 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McGillin’s Olde Ale House, the 166-year-old pub in Center City long owned by the same family, has determined that being a matchmaker is a strategic advantage in a crowded industry.
Of course they serve draft beer, Philly cheesesteaks, and wings — but the bar has leaned especially hard into being, in its own description, the place where more couples have met than anywhere else in Philadelphia.
At McGillin’s first reunion for such couples this month, attendees seemed less like regulars at a bar and more like alumni of the same beloved college club, touched by those who came before and rooting for those to follow.
Everyone wore red-and-white name tags with the year their significant McGillin’s romantic event had taken place. The upstairs bar, where couples sat under tinsel hearts and drank from frosted glasses, was warm and close. There was merch; the crowd clapped especially hard for long marriages.
Merch on display at McGillin’s, including a snow globe that says “where it all began.”
It was also a media event: four TV news stations, as well as the Philadelphia Citizen and The Philadelphia Inquirer, came to capture the famous McGillin’s couples. Irene Levy Baker, the bar’s longtime publicist and author of the new book Cheers to McGillin’s, Philly’s Oldest Bar‚ which has its own chapter devoted to “mating magic,” is clearly good at her job.
She is in touch with more than 200 couples who found love at the bar, and McGillin’s has so far filled up four guestbooks of signatures and anecdotes: Met New Year’s Day 2002. Engaged 9/22/12. Met here in 1996 when I was waitressing. Still together in 2024!
“We actually met for the first time one bar stool over. I was eating a grilled cheese sandwich,” said Emily Dowling, 28, sitting beside her husband, Giacomo Trevisan, after a keynote presentation of McGillin’s love stories. Dowling and Trevisan’s name tags were marked 2022.
On the fateful night that year, Dowling was out with a friend and Trevisan was visiting for the first time, having just arrived in the United States on an extended work trip from Italy. Hearing him speaking Italian, Dowling asked what had brought him to town.
“I was impressed that a girl would just start talking to me. In Italy, it doesn’t work like that,” Trevisan, 32, said.
The two got married less than a year later. They closed out the night of their wedding with a drink at McGillin’s.
Irene Levy Baker, McGillin’s longtime publicist, and Chris Mullins Jr., co-owner of the bar, led a toast to couples who met there.
In a world of loneliness and dating app dread, in which people pay matchmakers and make PowerPoint presentations and even take out billboards looking for love, there is a certain nostalgia to the idea that a bar, with salvaged oak tables and framed liquor licenses dating back to1871, is the best place to find it. At some point, the legend probably becomes self-fulfilling.
During an interview, Baker googled “where do couples meet in Philadelphia,” and the AI summary dutifully reported that “couples in Philly meet in classic old spots like McGillin’s Olde Ale House.”
Diane and John Davison, for example, met in 1969: He was a regular, she was a first timer. The downstairs bar was smoky and packed. Patrons passed glasses of beer hand-to-hand above the crowd because no one could reach the bar.
“I remember the first time I saw her face,” John said. “Nice smile.”
“I remember the night,” Diane, 79, said. “John and I don’t exactly agree on some of the details.”
The two have been married for over 50 years, and the bar is an intimate part of their story. John’s brother, who has since passed away, also met his wife at McGillin’s. Just before Christmas, John celebrated his 80th birthday there, and the other diners sang to him.
At right, Diane and John Davison, who met at McGillin’s in 1969.
Both Baker and Christopher Mullins Jr., who co-owns the bar with his parents, have theories about why McGillin’s is a magnet for connection: it’s unpretentious, it’s approachable. The tables are close. The beer obviously helps.
At night it can get packed, but the atmosphere during the day is cozy; a fire crackles in the downstairs grate and patrons order soup for lunch.
“We don’t want to be old-fashioned and forgotten, but we want it to be the same kind of feel that people experienced 50 years ago,” Mullins said.
Kaitlynn and Amanda Capoferri laugh while telling their love story at the bar where they met.
Of course, there are some differences. Kaitlynn Capoferri, 32, mentioned wanting to get wings and beers at McGillin’s — on her Tinder profile. So Amanda Capoferri, 32, asked her on a date to the bar in 2017.
When Amanda proposed at the bar threeyears later, “All I could get out of my mouth after stumbling to pull the ring out of my pocket was, ‘I know how much you love McGillin’s, and I can only hope that you love me as much.’” (They’ve been married for four years).
It’s all part of the lore, carefully curated and growing by the day.
“There is one guy who sometimes comments on the Facebook page and he’ll say, ‘I met my wife there and we’re divorced now,’” Baker said. She wasn’t deterred. “I’m like, ‘Well, I’m glad you found love here once. Be sure to come back.’”
DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend of several years, “Guy,” often asks me to take a trip with him. I have researched accommodations at the suggested destinations, only to have him say they are too pricey. Thus, we never go anywhere, although he could easily afford it.
Now his brother (whom I’ve never met) has suggested a family cruise and suggested that Guy bring along his ex-wife, who is in the early stages of dementia. Guy has been divorced from her for decades. I haven’t said anything to him about this, though I am shocked and hurt that when a trip is finally planned, Guy thinks it’s fine to take her rather than me. I’d be OK with him not taking either of us, but not with choosing her over me. Am I the crazy one here?
P.S. Right now, I am dog-sitting for Guy for the second time in a month while he’s out of state for a week attending to his ex-wife’s legal matters, including her will.
— HOME ALONE IN FLORIDA
DEAR HOME ALONE: Something definitely seems out of focus in this family picture. Your boyfriend has been divorced from his ex for DECADES. Is his brother oblivious to the fact that you have been Guy’s companion for several years? If this is a question of money, it seems to me that a more practical solution than leaving you out would be for Guy to bring you along on the cruise and he and his brother split the cost of including his former wife.
** ** **
DEAR ABBY: My husband, “Dan,” and I are separated. Our children are ages 20 and 22. Dan has just been diagnosed with some type of serious medical issue (likely life-threatening). He has shared the information with our children but refuses to explain to me what is happening. I am not being nosy; I simply believe that I should be aware of what’s going on for the sake of our children.
Our kids are not currently on speaking terms, so they won’t discuss the issue with each other. One of them still lives at home and has been diagnosed with autism, ADHD, PTSD and major depressive disorder. They are not doing well and have been hospitalized multiple times over the past five years. They have no friends and no contact with extended family. The only people they interact with are me and their father.
I feel it is very important to keep me informed so I can offer support and help both of our children deal with whatever is happening. Am I wrong to ask my ex to explain to me what is going on?
— IN THE DARK IN VERMONT
DEAR IN THE DARK: You are not wrong to ask your estranged husband for that information, in light of the fact that one of the children you share has so many mental health challenges. However, if he refuses, you will have to accept it and deal with your children as best you can with limited information. Believe me, you have my sympathy.
By the time Taylor Schuler finally freed their car, they were exhausted. It had taken five hours across two days, hacking at the wall of ice encasing their Prius’ bumper, shoveling piles of frozen snow off the tires, to complete the job. As the sun set on their afternoon of labor, they were tempted to put a piece of furniture in their hard-earned spot, a practice sometimes known as “savesies” in Philadelphia.
But they knew better. Having just moved to Philly from Houston, the 28-year-old academic librarian wasn’t all that familiar with cold-weather etiquette, so they took to the internet ahead of January’s snowstorm to figure out what exactly Philly’s rules are. They gathered that people weren’t all that fond of the “savesies” practice, so, tempted as they were to hold onto their spot, they let it go.
Once the spot was cleared, theycircled the block, a quick trip to make sure their car was still working. Their internet research had also led them to believe no one would just take their spot immediately. As they rounded the corner toward their house, though, they saw another driver lurch into the spot they just spent hours digging out.
“Oh jeez,” Schuler thought to themselves. “It’s like the Wild West out here.”
In some snow-burdened cities, saving a shoveled-out parking spot is a deeply ingrained winter habit. Boston even formally acknowledges the practice by allowing residents to mark a spot they dug out for up to 48 hours after a storm. In Chicago, protecting your precious dug-out parking space with a lawn chair is called “dibs,” and it’s been a beloved and widely accepted tradition since the great blizzard of 1967.
But Philadelphia exists in a murkier middle ground. Until about two weeks ago, it snowed infrequently enough and melted fast enough that any theory about our collective approach to storm parking was never really put to the test. But the lingering snow has revealed a kind of civic chaos, with neighbors operating under wildly different assumptions and fights breaking out over who is entitled to snow-cleared parking spots.
The divide is often generational. Older residents, who experienced harsher winters, are more likely to embrace savesies as another classic Philly tradition while younger residents and transplants see it as territorial nonsense, out of step with the values of densely populated city life.
Schuler finds the entire debate exhausting. “I just want to be able to go to work and come home,” they said. “I didn’t ask for any of this.”
Connor Phan digs his car out after the recent snowstorm.
Jeff Martin, 43, who lives in South Philly, describes himself as firmly “no savesies” but with caveats. He won’t put out a chair. He won’t defend one. But he also won’t move someone else’s. “I don’t believe in the chair,” Martin said. “But I’m going to obey the chair.” His reasons are entirely practical. “I don’t want to get keyed,” he said.
Martin argues Philadelphia’s parking wars are a symptom of the changing climate. “The fact that over the last 20 years, we haven’t gotten as much snow as we did over the previous 20 years has made us forget how to deal with it,” he said, “and the city forget how to deal with it to the point where they don’t properly fund the removal of snow.”
For the record, the city is firmly in the “#nosavesies” camp, and the police routinely remind Philadelphians that saving parking spots is illegal. Of course, that doesn’t stop people from doing it — and other people complaining about it.
Lucas Tran didn’t see the cinderblock in the spot he parked in on Tuesday night. It wasn’t until another driver pulled up and told him that he was in her spot that he became aware of it. She said she had dug out the spot herself, saved it with the cinderblock, and that Tran had to move.
At first, he refused. But he backed down after she called him a liar and a “little b—.” He didn’t want things to escalate. The next day, she left a handwritten apology on his car. “Thank you for moving your car,” it read. “You are NOT a little b—.”
Tran takes a “special exception” approach to the savesies debate. If the woman had been elderly or a first responder, or if it had been two or three days after the storm rather than a full week later, he might have been more understanding. “But the roads are drivable now, he said. “There are more options to park. You can’t keep claiming a spot that’s public property.”
Back in West Philly, Schuler spent the week parking wherever they could. The spot they dug out remained occupied until one evening, when they pulled up, excited to reclaim what was once theirs — only to find a folding table balanced on two overturned pots in their way. Someone had “savesied” Schuler’s spot.
Schuler snapped a photo and uploaded it to Reddit, where the response was nearly unanimous. As one Redditor put it, “that’s diabolical.”
It was the one version of “savesies” Schuler had never seen defended. “If there’s anything people agree on,” they said, “it’s that you don’t do that.”
DEAR ABBY: My husband developed an addiction to slot machines, but I didn’t realize it. He would leave the house in the early morning before I woke up. Abby, he gambled away every single asset we had accumulated during our 58 years of marriage — somewhere around $600,000! I found out after he asked his grown children for “grocery money.”
We are now bankrupt and must rely on our son, who offered to bail us out if he could be the trustee of our land, home, everything. He takes our monthly pensions and gives us a tiny allowance when we beg for something, but we are so poor we can’t see a movie, eat out or go anywhere, including to visit our other kids.
I’m extremely depressed that nothing can solve this problem for the rest of my life. I’d find another job teaching, but I’m in my 80s and have limited mobility. At least I’m still in my home. I realize this is a dead-end street, but it helps to vent. Can you comment?
— LOST IT ALL IN TEXAS
DEAR LOST IT: Is your son giving you such a tiny allowance because that is what your finances dictate, or is he trying to punish his father for getting into the predicament in which you find yourselves? Talk to your son and explain that the little money he doles out does not allow you to go anywhere, eat out or even see a movie, and see if you, his mother, can convince him to relent so you are not being punished for something you had no part in.
** ** **
DEAR ABBY: I disagree with your response to “Dutiful Daughter in Alabama” (Nov. 10), who put a camera in her 80-year-old mom’s den in case of a fall and overheard Mom make negative comments about her. Installing a camera in someone’s home without their consent is disgusting and wrong, legally and morally. The elderly, in addition to the rest of the population, have a right to privacy in their own homes.
If “Dutiful Daughter” was really concerned about her mother falling, she should have considered a medical alert device, which would have notified family and summoned medical help the moment she fell. This is the safer, legal and common-sense solution.
It sounds like “Dutiful” had other undisclosed reasons for installing a camera. Why did she listen to a conversation that was clearly private? How would she know if her mother fell in another room of the house? If her mother was talking on the phone or visiting with her son, it should have been clear that she was OK and no additional spying was required.
After reading this letter, if children think it is OK to invade their parents’ privacy without their consent, I’m happier than ever to be child-free.
— ANNE P. IN MINNESOTA
DEAR ANNE: To put it mildly, you are not the only reader who disagreed with my answer to that letter. I confess, I didn’t consider the privacy issues that were ignored. Mea culpa.
DEAR ABBY: My wife and I are approaching our 40th anniversary. Friends and family have already begun to mention the upcoming milestone. While I politely acknowledge the event, I hide my indifference. You see, my wife has always been a serial cheater. It’s a secret I have kept from everyone, especially our children.
Because she has always been a wonderful mother, I would never do anything to tarnish their love and appreciation of her. The children are a large part of the reason I have remained married. Aside from her betrayal, she has been a good wife and companion, and I still love her.
During her affairs, I fought depression by submerging myself in work and crying when alone. Our children are grown and on their own now. We have a beautiful grandson. We both retired a couple of years ago, and that is when the reality of the past 40 years hit me. I no longer have the crutch of work to help me through.
Our marriage has been sexless since she went through menopause 15 years ago. I have been loyal to her all these years, but I still desire intimacy. I have a few female friends who, in the past, have shown an interest in more intimate relationships. Would it be wrong to rekindle and move forward with an old friend? I have no intention of leaving my wife, but I am so in need of something more.
— FORTY YEARS A FOOL
DEAR ‘FOOL’: Have you actually TALKED to your wife (whom you love) about this? Many postmenopausal women whose libidos have declined still enjoy sex. This is a subject she should have discussed with her gynecologist 15 years ago because this is not an insurmountable problem. If she refuses, you would be within your rights to tell her you want the same dispensation you have given her for 40 years of infidelity, because you still need and desire intimacy. Her response will tell you everything you need to know.
** ** **
DEAR ABBY: I have been eating dessert on days I have deemed “dessert-free.” I get to have dessert on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Can you please help me to stop my struggle on the days when I don’t get dessert?
— CRAVING IT IN WASHINGTON
DEAR CRAVING IT: I understand (only too well!) the mindset that a meal isn’t complete unless there’s something sweet at the end of the main course.
Years ago, a psychologist friend shared with me that she resolved her craving for something sweet by carrying a small bag containing a gingersnap cookie in her purse when she went to restaurants. When she was finished with her meal, she took the bag out of her purse and ate HALF of one. She said it satisfied her craving without sabotaging her diet. Try it. However, if it doesn’t work for you, consider substituting a piece of fresh fruit for the cookie.
The Super Bowl is Sunday, so I’ve asked two reporters — one vegetarian, one not — to help solve this dilemma.
Evan Weiss, Deputy Features Editor
The question is…
My friend assigned me to bring wings for our Super Bowl potluck, but I’m a vegetarian. Can I bring tofu wings?
Zoe Greenberg, Life & Culture Reporter
I want to start by saying I’m also a vegetarian, and the idea of tofu wings disturbs me deeply.
Abigail Covington, Life & Culture Reporter
Who asked the vegetarian to make the wings? Vegetarians should make nachos or dips.
Evan Weiss
Yeah, I think this is on the friend who asked. Why would you ask your vegetarian friend to make wings???
Zoe Greenberg
The problem with tofu for this is that the texture and the flavor (nothing) is completely wrong.
But I do love buffalo cauliflower wings. Personally I would say that’s OK to bring.
Abigail Covington
However, if you regularly eat chicken wings, you will be disappointed by cauliflower wings. So, if you can stand to make a batch of both, maybe consider it. The meat-eaters will be very grateful. Not that you owe them anything.
Zoe Greenberg
Ah, true. You don’t have to make the chicken wings from scratch do you?!
That’s a horrifying prospect, too.
Abigail Covington
Just buy them! But is that still asking too much of a vegetarian?
Evan Weiss
Yes!
I’m not a vegetarian, but I can’t imagine asking a vegetarian friend to bring meat! I would never ask a nondrinking friend to bring wine.
Zoe Greenberg
Maybe they truly meant, “Wings, as interpreted by a vegetarian.”
Abigail Covington
I think the vegetarian has every right to assume that’s what they meant. But please, like Zoe said, not tofu.
Dirty Franks says ’25 and up’ — and the regulars reclaim the bar: B+
Dirty Franks banning 24-year-olds and under sounds, on paper, like the plot of a generational culture war. In reality, it’s a dive bar doing what dive bars have always done: protecting the room.
The catalyst? A fake ID featuring Ben Franklin that successfully scanned. Over the past year, Franks has been overrun by increasingly bold fake IDs, TikTok-fueled crowds, and behavior that doesn’t match the unspoken social contract of a place where regulars expect to sit, talk, and not babysit a bar.
This isn’t about hating young people. It’s about a bar that has never been a college bar suddenly being treated like one. Quantity over quality, as owner Jody Sweitzer put it. More bodies, same money, harder nights.
The temporary 25-plus rule is blunt, maybe even unfair to the responsible 22-year-olds who just want a cheap beer and a dart board. But Philly bars have always operated on feel as much as fairness. When something’s off, you fix it first and argue about it later.
And by most accounts, it worked. The room is calmer. Regulars are back. People can sit again. Staff aren’t playing bouncer-scanner-detective every five minutes, trying to outsmart IDs that look like they came straight out of a CIA prop department.
Is it sustainable? Probably not. Is it extremely Philly to say “we’ll relax when the nonsense stops”? Absolutely.
Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil, the weather prognosticating groundhog, during the 140th celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. Phil’s handlers said that the groundhog has forecast six more weeks of winter. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, condemning Philly to six more weeks of this: D
Six more weeks of winter doesn’t mean snowflakes and cozy vibes in Philadelphia. It means gray piles of ice that never melt, sidewalks that double as obstacle courses, and that specific kind of cold that seeps through gloves.
Phil seeing his shadow wasn’t news. The snow is still here. The side streets are still a mess. The wind is still disrespectful. And now we’re being told to mentally prepare for another month and a half of bundling up just to take out the trash.
Phil’s track record doesn’t help his case. He’s been wrong more often than right, but somehow still gets the power to set the emotional tone for an entire region. And the tone this year is simple: exhausted, sore, and deeply over it.
We don’t hate Phil. We just resent him for reminding us that winter in Philadelphia isn’t a season: It’s a long, drawn-out test of patience, balance, and civic infrastructure.
Six more weeks? Fine. We’ll survive. But we’re not happy about it.
Heavy equipment clears snow and ice from South Broad Street near Tasker Street in South Philadelphia, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026.
Philly sends in ‘snow ambassadors’ because the cleanup still isn’t done: C
At this point, the storm itself is old news. What isn’t: frozen crosswalks, ice-packed corners, and a city that still feels stuck in cleanup mode.
So now comes the next phase of winter in Philadelphia: improvisation.
The city is deploying 300 “snow ambassadors” to manually chip away at ice piled up at crosswalks and corners. We’re well past the point where plows and salt were enough, and if the choice is between stubborn ice lingering for weeks or sending people out with tools to break it up, the latter is the only real answer.
But it also says a lot about how this cleanup has gone.
The city is now in hand-to-hand combat with the leftovers of a storm that dropped 9.3 inches and then immediately locked them in place with days of deep cold. The fact that crosswalks still need this level of attention, days later, underscores how uneven the original response was, especially on side streets and pedestrian infrastructure.
Calling them “ambassadors” doesn’t change the reality: This is a workaround. A necessary one but still a sign that the system didn’t fully deliver the first time around.
That said, credit where it’s due. The city didn’t just shrug and tell people to wait for a thaw. It adjusted. It added manpower. It acknowledged that what’s left isn’t just inconvenient but dangerous. And focusing on crosswalks and ADA ramps is exactly where the effort should be right now.
This isn’t a win. It’s a course correction.
Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber celebrates his solo home run with teammate J.T. Realmuto against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Philadelphia.
Phillies spring training hope (and the kids knocking): A
This is the part of the calendar where Philly collectively exhales.
Spring training is just getting started, and already the Phillies feel lighter. Not because anything’s been won. Not because the roster is flawless. But because February baseball is where optimism still gets the benefit of the doubt.
Clearwater represents a reset. New grass. Fresh routines. The annual illusion that this version of the team will be the one where everything clicks at the right time. It doesn’t matter how last season ended, spring training always feels like permission to believe again.
And for the first time in a while, the kids are actually coming. Justin Crawford looks like the opening-day center fielder. Andrew Painter is finally healthy enough to matter again. Aidan Miller is looming. The Phillies’ farm system has spent years as a drip-feed; now it feels like a faucet that might finally turn on.
That matters for a team that’s been built around a veteran core for so long. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber anchoring things in Clearwater feels familiar in the best way, but the real intrigue is whether the next wave can actually stick. Whether this spring is the start of something sustainable, not just another “run it back.”
Spring training is baseball’s softest sell. No standings. No scoreboard pressure. Just story lines, roster battles, and enough sun to trick you into thinking October is guaranteed. Philly knows better than to fully trust it, but we still show up every year.
Because hope is part of the ritual. And for now, it’s earned.
If nothing else, pitchers and catchers reporting means one undeniable thing: Winter is losing leverage, and baseball is back in the conversation. Around here, that’s worth an A all by itself.
A rolling video screen above the admissions counter at the West Entrance at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, features a “youse should visit” slide and a new logo. The name change was eventually reversed back to its original – Philadelphia Museum of Art – but the griffin was kept.
The Art Museum walks it back (somewhat): B+
Four months after trying to rename itself the Philadelphia Art Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art has decided to do what Philadelphians do best: Stop pretending and call it what everyone was calling it anyway.
But this wasn’t a full rewind. The museum kept the updated look — the bold fonts, the sharper visual identity, the griffin logo pulled from the building’s roofline. The feedback was clear and consistent: People who know the institution (members, donors, staff) felt alienated by the name change.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art isn’t just branding; it’s muscle memory. You don’t casually swap that out without expecting pushback. But surveys also showed that the broader public didn’t hate the new look itself. So the museum split the difference.
It kept the visual refresh. It dropped the name change, which felt unnecessary and confusing. And it signaled, intentionally or not, that listening matters more than doubling down.
Philly gets its own Monopoly board, and the arguments have already started: A
A Philadelphia edition of Monopoly is coming this fall, and honestly, the game itself almost feels beside the point. The real action is happening now, in the collective act of imagining what would, and absolutely would not, be allowed on a Philly board.
The gaming company behind the project is soliciting public nominations for landmarks, businesses, and nonprofits, which means we’re about two seconds away from the most Philly fight imaginable: not about what belongs on the board, but what deserves Boardwalk money and what gets stuck near Baltic Avenue out of spite.
Picture it. Pass GO at City Hall. Community Chest immediately fines you for blocking a crosswalk. Chance card sends you directly to SEPTA delays — do not collect $200. Jail is the Roundhouse. Free Parking is somehow still under construction.
Some squares feel obvious: the Art Museum steps, LOVE Park, Independence Hall. Others are going to be chaos picks. Wawa utilities. Delco railroads. A corner bar that hasn’t changed since 1987 somehow costing more than Center City. Someone will nominate their neighborhood dive and mean it sincerely. Someone else will nominate their rowhouse just to prove a point.
And that’s where this gets interesting. A Philly Monopoly board isn’t really about the game. It’s about which places people think matter, and which ones they’ll argue should’ve made the cut.
‘We’ll shew ya whereta gew in the snew’: Visit PA leans into accents — and Philly winter energy: B+
If you’re going to tell Philadelphians to leave the house in February, you’d better sound like someone we trust. Preferably someone who says “youse.”
The Pennsylvania Tourism Office seems to get that, according to WHYY. Its new winter “Snow Day Hotline” is staffed by prerecorded Philly and Pittsburgh accents, plus live comedians during select hours.
Call the number and you’re greeted by exaggerated but affectionate regional voices walking you through things to do around the state, from museums to indoor hangs. It’s intentionally old-school, phone only, no app.
The Philly side of the operation is handled by comedian Betsy Kenney, whose accent isn’t natural but feels familiar anyway: a composite of neighbors, aunts, and the person behind you in line at Wawa explaining why something is “not worth it, but also maybe worth it.” The advice isn’t groundbreaking. The delivery is the point.
So when a highly accomplished Jeopardy! champion (16-game winner, nearly half a million dollars in earnings) visibly struggled to pronounce “Schuylkill” on national television this week, Philly collectively leaned forward and went, here we go.
To Scott Riccardi’s credit, he got the answer right. The river that runs through Pottsville, Reading, and Philadelphia? Yes. Correct. No notes. But the pronunciation (Skol-kull) sent Ken Jennings into referee mode, which is never where you want to be when the clue involves Pennsylvania geography.
For the record (again): it’s Skoo-kl. Two syllables. No drama. No extra letters pronounced.
Riccardi walks away with a B: smart, successful, and close enough to get partial credit. But full points are reserved for anyone who can say Schuylkill on the first try without breaking eye contact.
Lou Turk’s, a Delaware County strip club with more than 50 years in business, announced it will change its name to the Carousel Delco.
Lou Turk’s rebrands, Delco shrugs: A
Only in Delco could a strip club rebrand spark genuine cultural concern. Not about the name, but about whether Mother’s Day flower sales would survive.
Lou Turk’s, Delaware County’s lone strip club and one of its most stubborn institutions, announced it’s changing its name to the Carousel Delco. The response was immediate disbelief, light outrage, and a collective understanding that no one is actually calling it that. Ever. This is Gallery/Fashion District math.
Stephanie Farr laid it out perfectly: Lou Turk’s isn’t just a business, it’s a landmark. A place that exists in the Delco imagination as much as it does off Route 291, wedged between a Wawa and an Irish pub like it was placed there by a zoning board with a sense of humor.
The new name raises questions (mostly “why?”), but Delco culture is resilient. The club can swap signage, management, and branding buzzwords all it wants. It will still be Lou Turk’s. And more importantly, it will still sell flowers on Mother’s Day, preserving one of the county’s most unhinged and beloved traditions.
