Good morning.
A wintry mix of snow and sand-like sleet was forecast for the region through Saturday morning. Check Inquirer.com for updates.
Should you stash or trash a present that missed the mark? We helped a reader navigate what to do with a very Philly gift they did not like.
But first, let’s cover why some residents say they are dissatisfied with living in Philadelphia, what we know about the first tenant coming to the Bellwether District, and our report card for this week in Philly news.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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What you should know today
- Philadelphia nearly ranked last in a recent survey that asked residents of 65 large cities how satisfied they were with where they lived. Some neighborhood leaders shared what they believe it would take to change that.
- The 10-year-old boy who was severely burned when a jet crashed in Northeast Philly reunited with the bystander who saved him. They hadn’t seen each other since that night in January.
- Two brothers and their nephew nearly died in the fatal explosion that rocked a Lower Bucks County nursing home facility on Tuesday. From the hospital on Christmas, they shared how they survived.
- The story behind New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill’s landslide victory last month can be understood by looking at her strong performance in the city of Camden. Dive into an Inquirer analysis of municipal-level data.
- Big Charlie’s Saloon, a haven for Kansas City Chiefs fans in South Philly, has permanently closed after the recent death of owner Paul Staico.
- The site of the shuttered Iron Hill Brewery in West Chester is officially seeking a new tenant. The building owner said the goal is to “find something similar,” though not necessarily a brewery.
- A Powerball ticket purchased in Northeast Pennsylvania netted a $1 million prize in the lottery’s Christmas Eve drawing.
- A California-based canned beverage company is expanding operations to the East Coast. Here’s why it picked Philadelphia for its new factory.
- From Primo Hoagies covering big-dog adoption fees to Philly’s ever-lengthening commute, catch up on the good, bad, and weird in the region’s latest stories.
Go Birds … but not on my table
What’s the polite thing to do after receiving a gift you didn’t want? Things can get dicey when you add in-laws into the mix.
Someone asked The Inquirer: My mother-in-law gifted me an ugly Eagles table runner. Do I have to keep it? My first thought was that any superstitious fan may feel it’s bad luck to hide or get rid of it. But let’s be real: Other Philly teams could use a miracle right now.
To help this reader out, Inquirer editor Evan Weiss recruited life and culture reporter Zoe Greenberg and senior video editor and producer Astrid Rodrigues. They debated whether it’s worth putting it out just once or even holding onto it at all. You just might need it for an Eagles-themed party.
I’m partial to Rodrigues’ take: give a polite “thank you,” then do as you wish with it. If it wasn’t my style, I’d try to regift it to someone I know would love it. Greenberg made this timeless point of one man’s trash being another’s treasure: “Someone might love to find an ugly Eagles table runner on the street, so it’s like a beautiful gift you’re passing along.”
But what if the mother-in-law comes over one Sunday and asks about the gift? Read on for my colleagues’ full conversation. And if you have a pressing Philly issue you need advice on, we’re happy to help. Send in your questions here.
One viewpoint
Despite growing anti-consumerist sentiment toward the holidays, the National Retail Federation expected a record-setting $1 trillion to be spent nationwide on consumer goods this season.
In a column for The Inquirer, B.G. White argues in favor of holiday shopping as an extension of the spirit of giving, even though critics say it can conflict with some religious values.
“Rather than dismissing holiday shopping as a symbol of materialism and excess, I have come to view it as an expression of generosity that captures the purpose of the season,” White writes.
Read on for his perspective on liking the commercialization of Christmas.
📍 Find the location
Think you know where this photo was taken? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly locations to the test. Try your best guess here.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: This holiday song was composed in a Philadelphia church for the Christmas season in 1868
BOLT HOLE ONE TIME TWELFTH
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Michaelene Fanelli, who correctly guessed Wednesday’s answer: The End of an Era. We tracked all the Philly connections in Berks County native Taylor Swift’s new docuseries.
We were there
Thousands crowded into the Grand Court of the Wanamaker Building on Christmas Eve for what could be the last chance to behold the light show. Mike Newall and Tyger Williams captured the beloved holiday tradition in this story.
Somewhere on the internet in Philly
Local hiker Walter Zolna shared some incredible sights of Wissahickon Valley Park blanketed in snow last Sunday, paired with the sound of “nature’s perfect silence.”
No Shorts and ChaseU came together to bring us “A Very Philly Christmas Song.”
And the Phillies’ holiday offering adds a Great Christmas Tree Adventure to the Phanatic’s lore.
👋🏽 Thanks for stopping by. Stay warm, and I’ll catch you here again tomorrow.
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