Category: Newsletters

Welcome to Sunday. The clouds should part for some sunshine today.

Philadelphia’s ramen power couple are getting ready to reboot their noodle game in Japan. They took restaurant critic Craig LaBan on a slurping tour of their favorites abroad.

And anti-ICE protesters swept onto the streets of Philadelphia on Saturday, with more demonstrations expected today. Clips of Sheriff Rochelle Bilal calling the agency “fake, wannabe law enforcement” went viral over the weekend.

Scroll along for these stories and more.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

Thriving in noodle paradise

They set the gold standard for ramen in Philadelphia at Neighborhood Ramen in Queen Village, which closed at the end of 2024. Now, Lindsay Mariko Steigerwald and Jesse Pryor are living their best lives in the ramen capital of the world.

🍜 Their move was driven by a desire to make their famed noodles alongside the best, as well as to explore and enjoy the upper echelons of Tokyo’s artisan ramen.

🍜 It will likely take many more months before they can open up shop there. In the meantime, the duo have launched ramen tours, which map out a taste of their favorite spots.

🍜 Pryor told Craig LaBan: “I want to eat ramen every day. I want to go to different shops all the time, be inspired and just soak it up. It’s hard to do that in Philadelphia.”

Join LaBan for a taste of their fledgling ramen tour.

‘ICE out’ protests

Demonstrators took to Philadelphia’s streets and those of other cities across the country on Saturday in response to the killing of Renee Good by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis this week.

Activists have condemned the fatal shooting as evidence of a violent federal agency, while Trump administration officials insist the agent who shot Good three times had fired out of self-defense.

More rallies are planned on Sunday in communities including Trenton, Abington, Cherry Hill, Ardmore, and Ambler.

Read more in Michelle Myers and Jeff Gammage’s dispatch from Philly’s Saturday protest.

In related news:

• As the Trump administration sends more federal officers to U.S. cities, a local resurgence of the Black Panthers militant group is making its presence known in Philly.
• Sheriff Rochelle Bilal has made headlines and invoked criticism for sending a blunt warning to immigration officers who commit crimes in the city.

What you should know today

• A man was charged with stealing skulls and bones from a Philly cemetery. Police say he may have tried to sell them on Instagram.
• A Philadelphia man who went by the alias “YP SlumBoy” was arrested Thursday by U.S. Marshals and charged with killing the mother of his child, tampering with evidence, and other crimes.
• Investors have turned vacant Exton office buildings into a suburban rarity: 24 studio and 8 single-bedroom apartments.
• It’s no secret that Philly has an action-packed year ahead, but there’s more happening beyond the FIFA World Cup and America’s 250th birthday celebrations. Inquirer columnist Stephanie Farr lists 14 other events to look forward to.
• The playoffs are finally here, as the Eagles officially kick off their quest to repeat as Super Bowl champions on Sunday at the Linc against the 49ers. Use our quick viewer’s guide to get ready for the game.
• When we debated the best ways to snuff out bad SEPTA etiquette, you responded with your own ideas. Here are our favorite suggestions from Inquirer readers on how to handle subpar public transit manners.

❓Pop quiz

Which billionaire is behind a plan to redevelop much of downtown Gladwyne?

A) John Mars

B) Jeff Bezos

C) Jeff Yass

D) Elon Musk

Think you know? Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: This New-York born author “took to Philly like a fish to water” 15 years ago.

CAMERA SADE

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

Cheers to Bernice Kaplan who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: East Falls. Crust Vegan Bakery has relocated to a larger location in the Northwest Philadelphia neighborhood.

🦅 Photo of the day

This Birds devotee has made a name for himself on social media through his Eagles-centric parodies, to the tune of popular songs by Billy Joel and Hall & Oates. His many fans include the famously estranged duo, as well as Questlove and State Rep. Joanna McClinton.

⚽ One more sports item to go: England’s famed Premier League gets a lot of coverage in the United States. But there’s nothing like seeing the spectacle in London, especially as races for World Cup squads play out on PL stages. Soccer reporter Jonathan Tannenwald has the story from the capital city.

🎶 Today’s track goes like this: “The thrill, unknown, you will or you won’t / A dream to try for, hope that you’d like more.”

👋🏽 Thanks for spending part of your morning with us. Go Birds.

Good morning. Grab an umbrella on your way out — Saturday’s forecast calls for showers throughout the day.

Today, I’m talking about bars swapping liquor displays for vinyl records.

Plus, there’s news on a convenience store chain officially encroaching into Wawa territory, a secret menu sandwich that’s making a Philly restaurant TikTok-famous, and our report card for this week in Philadelphia news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

What you should know today

• A $11.5 million beautification and anti-graffiti project to clean up Philly is underway ahead of an event-packed summer.
• A longtime Philadelphia resident who was arrested by ICE at a routine immigration appointment was deported to Indonesia, his family said, leaving behind his wife and two children who are American citizens.
• Sheetz is set to open its first Philly-area store next month — across the street from an existing Wawa.
• A New Jersey school resource officer faces charges of misconduct and child endangerment after an altercation with a juvenile in 2024.
• 72-year-old Marie Scott started her new life in Philadelphia this week, months after her life sentence for a murder was commuted.
• A Renoir painting was removed from the Barnes’ walls last year. Now it’s coming back with brighter colors.
• For the first time in the tournament’s history, cities are charging World Cup fans to attend FIFA fan festivals. Philly will not be one of them.
• A Scranton neighborhood group put up a “hometown hero” banner for Joe Biden outside of his childhood home. They expected a bit of blowback, but what was initially political has turned into a veterans’ issue.
• Grad Hospital takeout shop Falafel Time has long had a secret menu, but now that crispy shawarma has gone viral, one of its if-you-know-you-know sandwiches has become a hit.
• Between barrel fires resurfacing on Ninth Street and an “Avoid Philadelphia” road sign going viral, catch up on the good, bad, and weird in the latest stories out of Philly.

Immersive music experiences

This week, food writer Kiki Aranita put the spotlight on vinyl, hi-fi sound, and cocktails fueling a growing wave of listening bars in Philadelphia.

Heralded as the “antidote to the loneliness,” these immersive, sonic experiences are popping off here and across the country. They are places where shelves are stacked with less liquor and more records, your DJ might also be your bartender, and you might discover music for the first time.

Spots like 48 Record Bar in Old City and Solar Myth on South Broad are just two examples of participants of the listening room boom in Philly. They integrate music into drinking experiences beyond a run-of-the-mill playlist humming in the background of a typical bar. These lounges spin curated collections through high-fidelity sound systems, and put people onto everything from small, avant-garde artists to local musicians.

And while Aranita notes that “thoughtful, elevated beverages still reign,” I imagine bars swapping alcohol for vinyl can be an added benefit if you’re sober-curious this Dry January.

Is 2026 the year of the listening bar in Philly? Read on to learn how they operate here, and why Japanese “jazz kissas” cafes play an influential role.

One viewpoint

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier wants to produce more affordable housing. But her policy may be doing the opposite, argues Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson.

“When it comes to public policy, good intentions are not enough,” Pearson writes.

In this week’s Shackamaxon, Pearson tackles what happens when City Council members try to use a bad practice to serve the public good, and explores the kickoff of the race for Pennsylvania governor.

📍 Find the location

Think you know where this mural is located? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly places to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Northwest Philadelphia neighborhood

FALSE SALT

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

Cheers to Mary Liz Jones who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Petty’s Island. The 300-acre island in the Delaware River is now owned by Venezuela’s Citgo, but will soon likely belong to a major conservative donor’s firm.

We were there

Hundreds of fans attended the Flyers’ first-ever Phish Night at Stateside Live! on Thursday. Tribute band Rift performed a 90-minute pregame show as well as a postgame concert. Get a recap of the event from sports reporter Ariel Simpson and photographer Yong Kim.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

Shoutout to Tricia for this adorable art of Snoopy in a Phillie Phanatic suit.

Over on Facebook, Taqueria Amor patrons expressed appreciation for the Main Street restaurant. “We’re really excited for 2026 as we have an exciting announcement over the next few weeks,” chef Tim Spinner wrote on the post. We’ll be on the lookout for developments. 👀

And a Redditor flagged something weird going on with our mobile app: “Why does the Inquirer need 12 GB?” Rest assured, our next app update should fix the space-hogging problem. Senior software engineer Joe Russell’s theory for the bug made me lol: “Because we digitally encoded Gritty and now he lives in your phone.”

👋🏽 Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day, and I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

It’s Friday, Philly. Today may bring clouds and light wind, but Eagles fans and kickers should beware: Wind gusts of 40 mph are possible during Sunday’s playoff game.

In dozens of cases, federal judges in Philadelphia have ruled against a Trump administration policy that mandates detention for nearly all undocumented immigrants. The pushback has added to a chorus of similar decisions in federal courts nationwide.

And Regional Rail service is creeping back to normal. Still, packed trains and skipped stops persist on some lines, frustrating commuters.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

Philly judges push back on ICE

A mandatory detention policy rolled out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last summer has been found unlawful dozens of times by Philly-based federal judges, as well as in courts across the country.

The ICE directive has dramatically boosted the number of immigrants being held in detention — including those seeking to stay in the United States through legal channels — past 65,000, a two-thirds increase since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.

Under Trump, it has also gotten harder for detainees to be released on bond, especially those without the money to hire a lawyer and sue.

Notable quote: “They are doing it because they can, and because the consequences are that most [immigrants] cannot fight this and will end up being deported,” a local immigration attorney told The Inquirer.

Reporters Chris Palmer and Jeff Gammage explain the dramatic change in precedent.

In other ICE news:

• Hundreds gathered at Philadelphia City Hall Thursday evening to protest the killing of a 37-year-old woman by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.
• District Attorney Larry Krasner on Thursday condemned the ICE shooting and vowed to prosecute law enforcement officers who commit crimes in Philly.
• The Trump administration is jailing migrant teens in a Berks County facility known for child abuse, a Washington Post investigation found.
• Avelo, the only commercial airline serving Wilmington’s airport, has ended its contract flights to carry foreign nationals detained by U.S. immigration agents.

Rebounding Regional Rail

Following a rough year for SEPTA and its riders, the transit agency reports improvements to its Regional Rail service, with more to come.

🚆 The big picture: Regional Rail trains are operating with fewer canceled trips and running with more cars.

🚆 By the numbers: As of Thursday, 180 of the 223 Silverliner IV cars the transit agency was mandated to inspect and repair have been cleared to return to service — though only 78 have actually returned.

🚆 On the way: Packed two-car trains and skipped stops persist on some lines during peak travel times as SEPTA continues to add cars, including 10 passenger coaches leased from Maryland’s commuter railroad.

Transportation reporter Tom Fitzgerald has more.

What you should know today

• U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Bucks County and two other Pennsylvania swing-district Republicans joined Democrats in voting for Affordable Care Act subsidies Thursday.
• Gov. Josh Shapiro kicked off his reelection campaign in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, asking voters to choose “getting stuff done” over “chaos.” Ahead of a likely matchup between Shapiro and State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, here’s what to know about the stakes.
• A former Philly fire deputy alleges he was framed for sexual harassment after he exposed overtime fraud — and that the city is hiding reports that show it.
• Another lawsuit has been filed on behalf of victims of the explosion at a Bucks County nursing home on Dec. 23 that left three dead and about 20 people injured.
• An Ephrata man has been charged with stealing more than a hundred skulls and bones from Mount Moriah Cemetery, which straddles Philadelphia and Yeadon.
• Abington Library has offered a safe space for LGBTQ+ kids for years. It’s now the subject of a far-right misinformation campaign on social media.
• Ocean City’s planning board unexpectedly deadlocked on a vote involving the defunct Wonderland Pier boardwalk property, another blow to a luxury hotel proposal.
• Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law banning cell phones in New Jersey public schools from “bell to bell” in an effort to help students focus on learning.
• Though it’s legal to buy cannabis in Delaware, you can still be arrested for smoking it in public. A new bill might change that.

Plus: What makes something a unit block in Philadelphia?

Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday. We’ll feature both new and timeless stories from our forum for readers to ask about the city’s quirks.

This week, we have an explainer from reporter Michelle Myers on an urban planning term you might have heard in news reports: “unit block,” used to describe certain addresses in cities that operate on a grid, as Philadelphia does.

The term might appear when a report wants to communicate where an incident happened without giving the exact address. Here’s the full story.

Have your own burning question about Philadelphia, its local oddities, or how the region works? Submit it here and you might find the answer featured in this space.

🦅 Heads up, Eagles fans: It’s playoff time in Philadelphia, which means you probably have a lot of questions about the Birds. Eagles beat reporter Olivia Reiner is ready to answer them during a Reddit AMA in r/Eagles today. Join the conversation at 9 a.m.

🧠 Trivia time

Which article of clothing or accessory did CBS Philadelphia anchor Jim Donovan set the Guinness record for having the largest collection of?

A) Socks

B) Beanies

C) Tie clips

D) Ties

Think you got it? Test your local news know-how and check your answer in our weekly quiz.

What we’re …

🥼 Heeding: Health officials’ call to get vaccinated as flu cases surge in Pennsylvania.

🏈 Delighted by: The history of the rowdy Eagles-49ers game that led to Eagles Court.

📺 Hoping for: A second season of Delco-set Mare of Easttown.

💻 Recycling: Old electronics the right way, according to e-waste experts.

🌈 Considering: How lies feed attacks on transgender and nonbinary people.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: 300 acres in the Delaware River

DENSITY SPLAT

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

Cheers to Steve Cameron, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Sing Us Home. Now in its fourth year, the music festival will be staged on Venice Island in Manayunk from May 1 to 3.

Photo of the day

This good pup hopes you have a pleasant weekend (probably) and so do I. Paola has you covered with the news Saturday and Sunday, and I’ll be back with you Monday. Till then, be well.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Hi, Philly. After all that talk of snow in yesterday’s newsletter, we have more, despite this week’s near-balmy temperatures: A snow record is officially on the books in New Jersey, 30 years later after it was set.

Gov. Josh Shapiro will officially announce today that he is seeking reelection in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, speculation over a 2028 run for president continues to build.

And national attention on Philadelphia has been ramping up ahead of big events for the country’s 250th birthday. Below, learn the history of yet another notable first we can claim: a certain city-sponsored New Year’s Day procession.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

Ready to run

With expected stops in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh today, Gov. Shapiro is kicking off his campaign to be Pennsylvania’s chief executive for another four years.

Speculation over a potential run for president just two years from now is building, too.

Shapiro has been elusive when asked directly about plans for 2028. But he has made a number of big public moves to raise his national profile in the past year and change since he was on Vice President Kamala Harris’ short list of potential running mates.

If he does run parallel campaigns, the gubernatorial election must take precedence, observers say.

Notable quote: “The challenge, of course, is you have to take care of your next election first,” a polling expert told The Inquirer. “Of anything he does, he knows this is the most important thing for his potential success in 2028 if he was to run.”

Politics reporters Julia Terruso and Gillian McGoldrick have more.

Plus: State Sen. Doug Mastriano will not seek the GOP nomination for Pennsylvania’s governorship again this year, after months of teasing a potential run. Mastriano lost to Shapiro in the 2022 election by nearly 15 percentage points.

Philly’s year

Now that we’re officially in 2026, the year of the United States’ Semiquincentennial, the spotlight of the world’s attention on Philadelphia is getting brighter.

🔔 The New York Times just stuck Philly (and, yes, some nearby places in the original colonies) at the top of its popular annual “52 Places to Go” list. That distinction came two weeks after the Wall Street Journal named it the world’s top travel destination this year, too.

🔔 At home, we’ve already begun recognizing American milestones. Philadelphia Historic District Partners’ 52 Weeks of Firsts kicked off last week by celebrating the country’s first hydrogen-powered balloon ride.

🔔 This week, they’re honoring the first folk parade. You know the one — it involves sequins, feathers, and (probably) a hangover.

Columnist Elizabeth Wellington has the story on the event that was founded as a festive celebration of Philly’s immigrant communities.

Further reading: On this week in 1776, Thomas Paine published his 47-page pamphlet Common Sense — and helped ignite a revolution.

What you should know today

• Philadelphia violence prevention groups say they were flourishing. Then, President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice cut their funding.
• Two former Philly homicide detectives were sentenced to probation Wednesday for lying about DNA evidence during the retrial of a man they helped convict of murder 35 years ago.
• After an attempted package theft in Feltonville turned into a police shootout, officials are asking for the public’s help to find the alleged thief and shooter.
• Pennsylvania and New Jersey lost thousands of jobs after the Trump administration offered federal workers the opportunity to resign with months of pay last year.
• Councilmember Jeffery “Jay” Young introduced a bill at the last City Council meeting of 2025 to ban residential development from the area around the former Hahnemann University Hospital.
• Philadelphia will open two new public schools soon: a K-8 and a high school that will follow the acclaimed Harlem Children’s Zone model.
• Alfonso Q. Llano Jr., a veteran Vineland educator, has been named the state-appointed superintendent to oversee the Camden school system.
• After more than 40 years behind bars, reputed former Black Mafia leader Lonnie Dawson has been freed from prison. See how the Daily News and Inquirer covered his case.

Quote of the day

The third-generation owner of Donkey’s Place doesn’t know where the walrus penis bone came from, but he said it’s been with the bar since he was a kid. A patron was captured on video stealing the oddity on Dec. 29.

🧠 Trivia time

To prevent development, Radnor Township is moving to use eminent domain to take 14 acres owned by what?

A) Cabrini University

B) Penn Medicine Radnor

C) Willows Mansion

D) Valley Forge Military Academy

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

📺 Anticipating: Donna Kelce’s reality TV debut tonight on The Traitors.

🦅 Appreciating: Ladder 15’s response to the 49ers fans planning a playoff takeover.

🏘️ Ogling: This $9.9 million Lower Merion mansion with a bonus house next door.

🗞️ Mourning: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which will shut down May 3.

🗳️ Considering: Why Pennsylvania’s leaders are losing Gen Z.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Manayunk music festival (three words)

GNOME SUSHI

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

Cheers to Lee Narozanick, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Sheetz. Stephen G. Sheetz, the former president and CEO of the Altoona convenience store chain, died Sunday. His legacy — and the Wawa vs. Sheetz rivalry — lives on.

Photo of the day

Cheer up, buddy, the weekend’s almost here. See you tomorrow.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.