The entirety of the 83-acre St. Peter’s Village will be sold at auction this September.
The future of St. Peter’s Village hangs on the auction block, where it will be sold this September to the highest bidder.
The entirety of the 83-acre historic village in the northwest of Chester County is up for sale in what is a decidedly unusual offering. That includes 121 homes and 13 historic and commercial village buildings.
As the bidding nears, some are expressing concerns over its future, while others are hopeful for revitalization.
The dining room at Bluebird Distilling and Dough House was expanded as part of a larger renovation.
Popular Phoenixville distillery Bluebird Distilling reopened yesterday with a new look and fresh menu items following a $2.2 million renovation.
Now known as Bluebird Distilling & Dough House, the concept offers a “neo-Neopolitan” pizzeria and restaurant, in addition to an expanded bar, dining room, and bottle shop.
The idea to add pizza came after owner Jared Adkins started taking classes to learn the art.
Two county residents were recently diagnosed with measles, marking the first cases in the Philadelphia area this season. There’s been an uptick in cases statewide, which is at a three-decade high.
In case you missed it, last week the developer of a proposed East Whiteland data center was ordered to temporarily stop work that disturbs the soil. Here’s why.
North Coventry Township’s zoning board is scheduled to discuss an application for a Sheetz at 1395 S. Hanover St. and several neighboring parcels tomorrow at 7 p.m.
Oxford Borough council is hosting a meeting tonight at 7 p.m. to discuss potential changes to its police services as it weighs its finances.
In other higher-ed news, longtime Immaculata University president Barbara Lettiere plans to retire next summer after leading the school for a decade.
Spring City is relocating its borough hall and police department to temporary offices today as work continues on the new municipal building. The borough office will temporarily be located at 2 Riverside Dr., with borough meetings taking place at Liberty Fire Company’s social building, while the police will temporarily be at 7 Riverside Dr.
Lit Fitness is taking over the former ImpactFit in Exton at 35 E. Uwchlan Ave. There’s no timeline yet for the official transition.
Ash Park reopened yesterday in Coatesville after undergoing a yearlong overhaul. The updated 9.3-acre park has a new pavilion, an expanded playground, new water fountains and lighting, an expanded basketball area, and meadows.
French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust has preserved 34.9 acres in North Coventry Township, adding to the 13,700 acres it’s conserved nearby.
🏫 Schools Briefing
Octorara Area School District has named Nancy Young as its director of special education and student wellness.
🍽️ On our Plate
Longwood Garden’s 1906 is the lone Chester County restaurant to earn honors in this year’s Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards. The magazine recognizes establishments with wine lists offering what it deems interesting selections that are “appropriate to their cuisine” and “appeal to a wide range of wine lovers.” It recognized 1906 — which Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan recently called one of the best restaurants in the suburbs — for its selection of wines from California and France.
🎳 Things to Do
🎙️ Sound of Summer Free Concert Series: Pop-rock artist Olivia Rubini headlines this week’s show. ⏰ Wednesday, July 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Anson B. Nixon Park, Kennett Square
🎭Ain’t Misbehavin’:This summer musical will transport audiences back to the Harlem Renaissance. ⏰ Select days from Wednesday, July 8-Sunday, Aug. 16, times vary 💵 Prices vary 📍 People’s Light, Malvern
🎹 Tredyffrin Township Summer Concert Series: Hear party music from the ‘60s through the ‘90s when The O’Fenders takes the stage. ⏰ Thursday, July 9, 7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Wilson Farm Park, Wayne
📽️ Blobfest: This year’s three-day festival is circus-themed and kicks off with a screening of the film and the run-out. Other events include a ball, “dinner en blob,” and screenings of other films. ⏰ Friday, July 10-Sunday, July 12, times vary 💵 Prices vary 📍 The Colonial Theatre, Phoenixville
🍖 KS-Que BBQ Festival: Sample local barbecue as teams compete for bragging rights. ⏰ Saturday, July 11, noon-5 p.m. 💵 $25 📍 The Creamery, Kennett Square
🎶 Eagleview Summer Concert Series: American rocker Sophie Gault will headline the upcoming show. Local Americana band Lazy Villains will also perform. ⏰ Tuesday, July 14, 7-9 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Eagleview Town Center, Exton
Dating back to the late 18th century, this updated five-bedroom Phoenixville home is replete with preserved period elements like millwork and fireplaces. The first floor has a family room, living room, office, and a kitchen with an exposed stone wall and radiant heated brick floors. It opens onto a sunroom with space for dining and lounging that overlooks the woods of Pickering Creek Preserve. The primary suite features exposed beams, its own sitting room, and a bright bathroom with skylights. There’s an open house Saturday from noon to 2 p.m.
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.
This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
A handful of new stores are expected to open in the Cherry Hill Mall in the coming months.
The Cherry Hill Mall’s slate of stores continues to evolve, with new retailers planning to set up shop in the coming months.
Popular footwear brand Crocs opened a 2,000-square-foot space last month, DoneRight Doner Kebab is expected to open in the food court later this summer, and a massive Dick’s House of Sport is on track to debut this year.
They’ll be joined by several other concepts, including viral women’s clothing brand Aritzia.
The storms that started rolling in late Sunday resulted in widespread floodingon Monday throughout Camden County, where several inches of rain fell. Cherry Hill saw 3.44 inches, which resulted in flash flooding. (NJ.com)
Cherry Hill alum and three-time Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award-winning film and TV critic Bill Wine died last month at the age of 81 of complications from Parkinson’s disease. Raised in Philadelphia and Cherry Hill, where he graduated from the old Cherry Hill High School, Wine was a longtime film critic at WTXF-TV, Channel 29, and KYW radio and known for his pithy, witty, and acerbic reviews.
Heads up for drivers: Work continues on Kresson Road this week, which will have altered traffic patterns between Springdale Road and Ravenswoods Way from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. through tomorrow; a detour between Harrowgate Drive and Cropwell Road from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday; and altered traffic patterns between Marlkress Road and Browning Lane from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday. Ongoing work will result in a road closure on Kenilworth Avenue between Route 38 and Helena Avenue from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through Friday.
Cherry Hill resident and youth soccer coach Brian Epstein, 43, has been charged with lewdness and sexual contact after an April incident during which he allegedly exposed his genitals to two girls while scouting players at Brian Bende Park in Medford. (Courier Post)
Friends of Cherry Hill Public Library’s book sale continues today, when it’s open to all Friends members. The sale opens to the public tomorrow and continues through Saturday.
🍽️ On our Plate
Three former Cherry Hill staples are among the most iconic New Jersey restaurants to close too soon, according to a list from NJ.com. The outlet lamented the closing of beloved mall eatery The Bistro at Cherry Hill, which shuttered abruptly about a year ago amid bankruptcy proceedings. Other restaurants the outlet says are gone too soon? The Cherry Hill Diner, which has been demolished to make way for a car wash, and Latin Casino, which was torn down in 1982.
🎳 Things to Do
🎶 Twilight Music Series: Oklahoma R&B outfit Color Me Badd headlines this week’s event. ⏰ Thursday, July 9, 8-11 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Cooper River Park Jack Curtis Stadium
🃏 Cherry Hill Card Expo: Browse over 300 vendor tables featuring trading cards, memorabilia, art, and more. ⏰ Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, July 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 💵 $10-$25 📍 DoubleTree by Hilton
🕹️ Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Tournament: Test your skills head-to-head. Advanced registration is required. ⏰ Saturday, July 11, 1-3 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Cherry Hill Public Library
💫 Music Under the Stars: Taylor Swift cover band Fearless will perform. There will also be food trucks and a beer garden. ⏰ Tuesday, July 14, 7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Barclay Farmstead
The home combines brick and glass and has a number of patios.
Located in the Voken Tract in Springdale, this five-bedroom contemporary is striking inside and out. It features a distinct architectural design that blends brick and glass. The home has a two-story living room, complete with numerous windows and a wood-burning fireplace, that opens onto a contemporary kitchen. Other features include a dining room, an office, and a family room. There are several patios outside, including one with a built-in kitchen, all overlooking a wooded lot with a private walking loop. There’s an open house Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m.
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.
This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
Meg Kane, the president and CEO of Signature 57, a strategic communications firm, has been the driving force behind Philadelphia’s World Cup bid.
In November 2019, she was told by the city’s convention and visitors bureau that they were going to bid on the World Cup — and needed her help. Kane knew this would be the project of a lifetime, and she was put front and center as the captain of the city’s World Cup cheerleading squad.
It also has been a round-the-clock operation: From constant interviews to riding the Amtrak to New York or taking a 14-hour flight to Doha, Qatar, to see what she could learn, then debriefing with her colleagues at Philadelphia Soccer 2026.
But two years before she welcomed the World Cup, Kane faced an unimaginable family tragedy when her parents died in a house fire. Since then, a simple message from her father has guided her.
Christian Pulisic (second from right) on the U.S. bench after being subbed out injured in the second half.
By the time this summer arrived, there was a bar set for the U.S. to make history — and it felt like they could. The program had just one knockout game win in its history. Winning two would mean a quarterfinal berth. It also meant toppling a giant somewhere along the way.
In the round of 16, that giant was Belgium. The U.S. needed its big players to deliver, but they didn’t. Now, what’s next for this “golden generation” of players and their $6 million coach?
And don’t blame Folarin Balogun for the global fallout over whether his red card was justified. It did, however, give Belgium the motivation it needed to win.
What we’re …
👟 Donning: Bryce Harper pays tribute to SEPTA in his new line of Under Armour cleats.
🏀 Learning: The fifth annual Cathedral Classic will return to the Palestra with an expanded five-team field.
👀 Watching: World Series MVP Cole Hamels is joining MLB Network’s draft coverage in Philly this weekend.
👏 Applauding: This Hill School graduate started playing lacrosse six years ago. Now he’s preparing to play at Notre Dame this fall.
🏈 Evaluating: Stone Smartt and Deontae Lawson will have some work to do to make the Eagles’ roster.
Phillies pitcher Jesús Luzardo has a 3.75 ERA in 18 starts this season.
For the first time in his career, Jesús Luzardo was named an All-Star. He was added to the National League roster on Tuesday as a replacement. The news of his selection took him completely by surprise.
The Phillies also did some bullpen shuffling ahead of their series opener against the Reds. Right-hander Max Lazar was recalled from triple-A Lehigh Valley, while lefty Kyle Backhus was optioned. Plus, Brandon Marsh had the day off.
Despite being left off the National League roster, Zack Wheeler put on an All-Star performance by dominating the Reds in the Phillies’ 4-1 win. He tied a career-high with 14 strikeouts.
Noel Acciari skates into Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round Stanley Cup playoffs on April 18.
Noel Acciari checked a lot of boxes, including playoff experience, the fourth-line role, and face-offs, that general manager Danny Brière was looking for from a free agent.
The veteran forward, who was on the Penguins team that lost in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs to the Flyers, inked a two-year deal in Philly and says he’s happy to be on the other side of the Battle of Pennsylvania.
Anfernee Simons and Jaylen Brown, who are now both Sixers, spoke glowingly about their time as teammates with the Boston Celtics.
Mike Gansey was focused on building a deeper lineup in his first Sixers offseason as president of basketball operations. This past season, Tyrese Maxey averaged the most minutes in the NBA, and VJ Edgecombe wasn’t far behind.
Bringing in Anfernee Simons to serve as the third guard off the bench should lighten their workload. He also has history with new Sixer Jaylen Brown.
And speaking of depth, Dean Wade, who signed a four-year contract worth almost $39 million, believes his self-made defense and ready-made shooting will make a great fit with the Sixers.
What you’re saying about the World Cup
We asked: Are you still going to watch the World Cup with the U.S. out? Among your responses:
Of course. If you follow the Premier League or La Liga or any of the top leagues in Europe you know the players on the remaining teams better than you know the USA players. And many of the “other” (non USA team) games have been fantastic. — Richard V.
Sure why not. Most of the best teams are still in. I’m rooting for Norway. — Bill M.
Actually NO! I found watching a soccer game almost as boring as watching grass grow. Mary and Ron tried our best last night but flipped it off 20 minutes into the game. — Ronald R.
I’m done watching soccer for four years. I find the sport incredibly boring and was only watching because it was the United States. — Stiles B.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Mike Sielski, Jonathan Tannenwald, Rob Tornoe, Gabriela Carroll, Devin Jackson, Conor Smith, Lochlahn March, Jeff Neiburg, Gina Mizell, Jackie Spiegel, and Becca O’Reilly.
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.
As always, thanks for getting your morning started with me — I’ll certainly be tuned into the rest of the World Cup. Maria will be back in your inbox tomorrow. — Bella
Over the last decade, I’ve grown used to waking up before dawn and writing about a soul-crushing defeat from the night before. Usually it’s on a Wednesday, but somehow Donald Trump is always involved. Monday’s 4-1 demolition of the U.S. men’s national soccer team by Belgium pretty much confirmed that I won’t live to see Americans win the World Cup in my lifetime, so it’s time for acceptance. But these last three weeks have been a blast, and the party isn’t over. Sometimes the tritest words are also the truest: Maybe the real World Cup was the friends we made along the way.
Future generations will remember America’s 250th for its state of denial
Visitors experiencing excessive heat sit on the ground at the National Mall in Washington during Independence Day events honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary on Saturday.
The long-awaited arrival of the 250th birthday of the United States inspired a lot of talk about everything that’s changed since July 4, 1776, especially as “the man on a hobby horse” sinks to the founders’ worst fears about democracy and demagoguery.
But historians of the future may dwell on another huge difference between the day the ink started drying on the American Declaration of Independence and July 4, 2026.
Thomas Jefferson — his work as chief author of the nation’s founding document wrapped up — bought a new thermometer that morning and recorded the temperature in Philadelphia three times in his diaries that day, including a temperate 1 p.m. reading of 76 degrees.
Jefferson’s thermometer might not have been up to the task of keeping up with Philadelphia’s climate 250 years later. On Saturday’s Semiquincentennial, temperatures maxed out at 101 degrees — the third straight day that the mercury reached that mark, which had never happened since records began in 1870. But with the fetid, humid air, it felt more like 110 degrees for anyone brave enough to celebrate America’s birthday outside.
Philly should have seen this train coming. I mean, literally. Two days earlier, officials just outside of Reading, nearly two hours northwest of America’s founding city, plowed ahead with a welcoming party for Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014, the world’s largest operating steam locomotive — even as the railway relic ran an hour late, with some thermometers posting 106 degrees.
The result was what local officials called “a mass casualty event” — no one died, but rescue teams were summoned from neighboring counties to help revive more than 100 people suffering from heat exhaustion, in desperate need of water or an IV. Some 35 of the would-be train spotters were rushed to the hospital.
“It was a little bit chaotic,” an EMS director told the local TV station in Reading. “I don’t think anyone anticipated the weather or the volume of crowds.”
The scientific group World Weather Attribution, which tracks the impact of human-made global warming, said last week’s heat dome over the Eastern Seaboard was indeed a rare event, yet — without the contribution of burning fossil fuels to a warming planet — it “would have been so extreme as to be virtually impossible.”
Heat waves aren’t new. I was just 7 but still remember the July Fourth week of 1966 — exactly six decades ago — when it also topped 100 degrees. It’s one of the few things I remember from that grade-school time because it was so incredibly rare. Today, “once-in-a-century” heat waves are routine all over the planet. In June and looming again this week, Western Europe — where few homes are air-conditioned — has sweltered under temperatures that climate scientists weren’t expecting until around 2050.
This suffocating July Fourth could have been — to steal a phrase from the multiplex marquee — America’s “disclosure day,” exposing the truth of a threat to humankind that’s been hiding in plain sight. Instead, it was our “denial day,” led by our planet’s denier-in-chief, Donald Trump, whose 250th birthday card to America only read: “Don’t look up.”
The denial was immediate, as the president insisted — ignoring the experts who warned that the triple-digit temperatures and intense, gathering thunderstorms might spark a much bigger “mass casualty event” in Washington, D.C. — on going ahead with his bombastic and self-serving speech and a fireworks show that lasted well into the early morning hours of July 5.
Our modern-day seersucker-wearing mayor of Jaws might as well have told the broiled holiday weekend throng, “But, as you see, it’s a beautiful day, the beaches are open, and people are having a wonderful time” — as ominous John Williams music swelled in the background.
The denial was also metaphorical to the max — and not just when those predicted storms arrived and panicked MAGA Trump supporters were forced to take refuge at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the history and culture their movement is so eager to erase.
In New York Harbor, U.S. Coast Guard vessels forced the storied environmental sloop Clearwater — which took part in the historic Bicentennial tall ships parade back in 1976 — to leave the July 4 Parade of Ships because of two anodyne political banners taped to its sails: “Save the Clean Water Act” and “Indigenous Rights, Racial Justice, Climate Solutions.” Don’t look up, not even at a tall ship.
Hours later, during the fireworks show, the Brooklyn Bridge caught fire, which had nothing to do with climate change, yet felt like a coded message from the overheated planet nonetheless.
But maybe we shouldn’t wade too deeply into the metaphors when the worst denial is the all-too-real policy stuff. Every day, some nightmare headline about killer floods or disappearing glaciers is met with some nonsensical action from the U.S. government based on Earth 2, where none of this is happening.
As the climate-change-intensified heat dome settled in over the Eastern United States, Trump issued pardons for nine people — and you really can’t make this stuff up — who’d been convicted of felony violations of the Clean Air Act by selling or installing devices for diesel trucks that defeated their emissions controls, because polluting our spacious skies is no longer a crime in Trump’s America.
America continues to get a whopping 82% of its energy from polluting fossil fuels, and that’s unlikely to drop over the next 30 months, regardless of how many Trump voters can cheat death on looming “mass casualty events.” But POTUS 47 warned voters he planned to set the world on fire if he returned to the White House.
What’s harder to understand, frankly, is why the people who should be fighting Trump on climate change are running away from the front lines. Yes, I’m talking about Democratic Party leaders who’ve tossed climate action down the memory hole in the 2026 campaign — either terrified that any mention of climate will undercut their single-minded focus on affordability, or distract from fighting Trump’s brand of autocracy.
And ditto for newsroom leaders who seem to have decided that environmental journalists are the first people to lay off, not to mention the other world chieftains who ought to be challenging Trump’s destructive policies, but are meeting the moment with a shrug. Even Canada’s center-left prime minister, Mark Carney, is now backing away from the aggressive climate action he once supported, claiming, “It’s too expensive.”
That’s a lot of malarkey, as the president who just four years ago passed the largest climate action bill in U.S. history might say. Clean energy continues to rise elsewhere in the world because the alternatives, like wind and solar, are ultimately cheaper and also a source of desperately needed job creation. The fossil-fuel-boosted heat wave of July 4, 2026, proved that inaction is a threat not only to our lives and our liberty but also to the pursuit of happiness. It’s hard to celebrate 250 years of American democracy when climate denial is exposing that system as so badly broken.
Yo, do this!
Did I mention the World Cup isn’t over? If you are a true fan of the Beautiful Game, you’ll brush off the quadrennial disappointment of the U.S. men’s team and get excited to watch one of the greatest generations of international soccer superstars we’ve ever seen. One of the more intriguing of the four quarterfinal matchups this weekend will occur when Harry Kane and his English squad face Erling Haaland and his Norwegian upstarts in the Miami heat. The match kicks off at 5 p.m. Saturday on Fox.
The new movie scene for the July Fourth holiday was a disappointment, so the heat wave was a perfect opportunity for revisiting the classics of the 1970s and ’80s with the generation that had not been born yet. We went back to the late Rob Reiner’s first great serious film, the coming-of-age saga Stand By Me. It’s hard not to feel nostalgia today for a time when 12-year-olds had to entertain themselves without iPhones and could disappear into the woods overnight, which felt less strange in 1986 when the movie was first released. It felt truly like a faint signal from a lost planet.
Ask me anything
Question: Talk about Mitch McConnell’s demise. — Wendy (@wensilver.bsky.social) via Bluesky
Answer: Well, Wendy, that’s not exactly a question, and while the New York Times is reporting that the Kentucky senator and former majority leader was unconscious and in cardiac arrest when paramedics found him on June 14, his staff insists McConnell is still alive. That hasn’t stopped conspiracy theories that McConnell is on life support until August, when his replacement, named by GOP lawmakers, could avoid a messy November election. I don’t know about that, and I agree that it’s very poor form to speak ill of the dead. So the fact that he’s still alive is an ideal moment to remind everyone that his hijacking of the U.S. Supreme Court and his cowardice during Donald Trump’s second impeachment both started America on the path toward tyranny. So get well soon, senator. You still have a lot to answer for.
What you’re saying about …
Last week’s question about whether you are happy or concerned about progressive Democrats doing well in the 2026 primaries brought a mix of interesting responses that aren’t easy to categorize. Most of you want Dems who will fight harder than the current crew. “I have been voting since 1968, always for Democrats, but seldom with enthusiasm,” wrote Stephen Boone. “Finally, in my old age, there are a few decent politicians. I want more AOCs! More Zohran Mamdanis! …” Others felt more cautious. Wrote Thomas Desmond: “I think the progressive candidates are fine in deep blue seats, but may not be a great idea in purple or light-red seats that could prove winnable this year.”
📮 This week’s question: It may be water under the bridge next week, but Donald Trump’s personal role in overturning the arguably wrongly given red card to U.S. star Folarin Balogun has sparked a heated debate. Was the red card an injustice to be reversed by any means necessary? Or did Trump’s involvement ruin the World Cup? Please email me your answer and put the exact phrase “Trump Balogun” in the subject line.
Backstory on Trump ruining the World Cup like everything else
President Donald Trump holds up a red card during a meeting with FIFA president Gianni Infantino in the Oval Office of the White House in August 2018.
If the big-screen tragedy of the U.S. men’s soccer team’s same-as-it-ever-was Round of 16 exit from the 2026 World Cup on Monday night had a theme song, it should have been John Lennon’s “Instant Karma.” For its first four (mostly) exhilarating matches, the USMNT gave a nation that was desperate for both an escape from relentless bad news — but also a connection to a wider world — the good vibes it desired. It truly felt like the Americans could go further than ever before (in modern times) in the planet’s greatest sporting event. TV ratings soared. Watch parties were packed. A broken land was coming together.
To longtime soccer fans, the red card handed out last Wednesday to the U.S.’s top goal scorer, Folarin Balogun, for stepping (seemingly unintentionally) on the ankle of a Bosnian player during a 2-0 victory — a harsh punishment that meant not only his ejection from the pitch but a suspension for the upcoming Belgium match — was the essence of our love/hate relationship with soccer. It may be a beautiful game, but it’s the ugly calls that we debate for decades. For a non-soccer fan and malignant narcissist like Trump, for whom anything that goes against his desired outcome is proof of the world’s unfairness toward him, the looming loss of America’s star striker was an opportunity to act like the strutting strongman of a personalist dictatorship.
There were too many ironies to bear — especially the fact that Trump had just gone all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to fight to strip U.S. citizenship from people like Balogun, who was born to British-Nigerian parents in 2001 during an American visit, and millions of other immigrants who aren’t as talented with their feet. But the other irony was that — like so many corrupt schemes, whether from the mafia or the Trump White House — the president’s soccer coup failed. It felt like Trump had attacked the positive zeitgeist around U.S. men’s soccer with a neutron bomb. Balogun rarely even touched the ball. We’ll never know how much of Belgium’s 4-1 rout of the mistake-prone U.S. was simply a European powerhouse outclassing the Americans, as has happened so many times before, and how much was Trump destroying the juju.
It did seem fitting that this sordid affair played out over the weekend of America’s 250th birthday, as it was more confirmation that Trump, in spite of what the hat says, actually has no clue what makes America great. If any one principle stood out from the founders’ 1776 and 1787 experiments, it is that the United States was to be based on fairness and following the rules, with no king imposing his will. The single greatest thing about America’s presidential elections was not who won, but the fact that the loser accepted the results, and there was a peaceful transfer of power — until Jan. 6, 2021. Likewise, nothing could ruin the often unbridled joy of the World Cup faster than a rigged competition.
I’m still looking forward to the next 12 days, to watching the pinpoint passing of Argentina’s Lionel Messi or the raw power of Norway’s Erling Haaland, and to seeing who can actually win the World Cup on the pitch, and not in a back room. We already know the tournament’s biggest loser: Donald Trump.
What I wrote on this date in 2014
Looking back on this Attytood blog post from 12 years ago today is a reminder of how debates can evolve over time. My short piece on July 7, 2014, was a riff on an op-ed that called newspapers’ online comment sections in those early internet years “a hate crime” that should be cordoned off because of the vitriol spewed at immigrants or others outside the traditional American hierarchies. Back then, I disagreed, taking the side of free speech absolutism. “These are people who shouldn’t be censored … just set straight,” I argued. “The one true powerful weapon against offensive free speech … is your free speech, and mine.” Time proved me wrong: The Inquirer now avoids comments on most articles, including my columns. It turned out that “the wisdom of the crowd” that newsroom reformers once hailed was fatally infected with racism, sexism, and other forms of hate.
Only one column last week, as I enjoyed the July Fourth holiday by spending time with family and watching countless hours of soccer. In that piece, I wrote about an American 250th birthday that should have been a meditation on what makes our nation great, and where we so desperately need to improve — but which Donald Trump used as an excuse to rob the cash register when no one was looking. The president’s staggering $2.2 billion-plus payday during his first full year back in office — accomplished with a mix of crypto flimflammery, informed stock trading, and dealings with foreign dictators — is a five-alarm fire for the rule of law.
One final thought about the 250th birthday of the United States as the moment recedes into the rearview mirror. It’s true that 2026 has been a lousy year, economically, for newsrooms, but you would never know that from reading The Inquirer’s remarkable coverage of such an eventful time. I’ve already praised our world-class World Cup coverage, but our overworked staff also went out and covered a July Fourth party that happened despite killer heat, biblical storms, and a plague of locusts (not really, but it felt that way). This included some real accountability journalism, such as the Trump regime’s efforts to twist the truth around George Washington and slavery, as well as questioning the cost of the big day for city taxpayers. It was also a reminder that Philadelphia has been a hotbed for journalism and the rugged practice of bringing the First Amendment to life since the early days of the republic. Help keep it going another 250 years by subscribing to The Inquirer.
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Some workers say DA Larry Krasner has put up roadblocks to securing a union and taken positions that the workers see as at odds with his public image as a leader of the city’s progressive movement.
Philly chefs are taking brunch, once the most dreaded offering, seriously — but not too seriously. A handful of local restaurants have reimagined the genre and the results are delicious.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has long said he’s a friend to organized labor. As prosecutors in his office are gearing up for an election to authorize their union, Krasner has said their efforts could ensure his own legacy. But not everyone in his office is feeling the support.
More than 100 lower-level employees in the District Attorney’s Office, including paralegals and victim and witness coordinators, are separately trying to secure their own union— and some say they’re meeting resistance.
Several workers said that Krasner’s administration has put up roadblocks and taken positions that they see as at odds with his public image as a leader of the city’s progressive movement.
And meanwhile, the lower-level employees say there’s been a separate Wild West-style standoff between two unions, which are both vying to represent them.
🍳 The golden age of brunch has arrived in Philadelphia, borne on the menus of chefs who are reinventing the genre.
🥞 All over the city, chefs who had long focused on dinner are turning their attention to brunch-specific menus, some available just one day a week. The results are dazzling.
🥓 To many in the restaurant industry, the very word brunch conjures up feelings of dread. The stigma against the not-quite-breakfast, not-quite-lunch meal, often accompanied by endless mimosas, has endured. Until now.
☕ Rice & Sambal’s brunch-specific snacks, savory items, and sweet dishes are extensive. They range from crispy tofu to lumpia (vegetable and bamboo-stuffed spring rolls) to a Sumatran rendang. And La Jefa’s brunch features Guadalajaran twists on American brunch standards, like chilaquiles tucked into omelets.
What you should know today
Five people were arrested ahead of Philadelphia’s July Fourth celebration after protesters attempted to set an American flag on fire, according to police.
A Northeast Philadelphia mosque was damaged in an arson attack early Sunday morning, authorities said, rattling the city’s Islamic community.
The president and CEO of Welcome America Inc. has resigned, and while the reasons were unclear, the announcement followed the city’s decision to take over Philly’s Fourth of July concert and fireworks from the organization that has organized it since 1993.
Fresh off the first playoff berth of his career, Tyson Foerster locked in his future with the Flyers, last week signing an eight-year extension with $7.1 million average annual value.
Ring of Honor, a wrestling promotion under the AEW banner that was founded in Philadelphia, will return to the city on Aug. 21 to host its pay-per-view event, Death Before Dishonor, at the 2300 Arena for a second consecutive year.
Quote of the day
WeCanRow-Philadelphia is a rowing program through Whitemarsh Boat Club for breast cancer survivors. While the program focuses on mental and physical healing for those treated for breast cancer, the participants are competitors, too. From July 10 to 12, Whitemarsh Boat Club will have three boats compete at the Henley Masters Regatta in Henley-on-Thames, England.
🧠Trivia time
Which of these NBA players played for both the Sixers and the Celtics?
Cheers to Gerald Frank, who solved Monday’s anagram: Benjamin Franklin. Philly held a Ben Franklin look-alike contest on the eve of Independence Day. ‘Twas glorious.
Photo of the day
SEPTA workers clear a drain at the flooded intersection of Girard Avenue and 33rd Street on Monday, July 6, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pa.
👋 Have a great day, folks! Stay dry.
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In the spirit of not harping on last night’s World Cup round of 16 match between the United States and Belgium, we’re going to lead with all the good things Jaylen Brown said about being in Philadelphia, now that his trade to the Sixers became official yesterday …
… and then we’ll get into the U.S. game.
However, Brown is excited to be part of a “hungry, competitive” Sixers group that he says is “committed to winning.” He says he’s ready to go “chasing something special together” with this team, making this one of the more highly anticipated starts to a Sixers season in quite some time. Inquirer writer Gina Mizell takes a look at Brown and what he’s bringing to the table now that he’s official.
You’re looking at a high chance of rain today, with temperatures approaching the 80s.
U.S. goalkeeper and Wayne native Matt Freese (24) reacts after Belgium scores a third goal during Monday’s World Cup round of 16 soccer match in Seattle.
The United States had one of the better runs to the knockout rounds in recent memory, but mistakes and a Belgian side that played like a world top 10 ended with the Americans on the disappointing end of a 4-1 final.
Background noise aside, the U.S. came out intending to make it a match, leveling the match with another Malik Tillman free kick, but that was the only highlight in an otherwise systematic dismantling of the U.S., as Inquirer writer Jonathan reports from a rough night in Seattle.
And were you wondering what emotions were like at not one, but two fan festivals during the match last night? We captured it.
The stars will be on display a week from today when Citizens Bank Park hosts the 96th All-Star Game. From five Phillies to Millville’s Mike Trout to Kevin McGonigle, a Delco kid who has quickly emerged as a star with the Tigers, there are plenty of local storylines in the Midsummer Classic.
After being selected as an All-Star on Saturday, Cristopher Sánchez had two more starts to close his case to start the Midsummer Classic. The first one didn’t go so well.
Kyle Schwarber is an All-Star for the fourth time, but he’s not sure if he’s going to compete in the Home Run Derby.
Next: The Phillies open a three-game series tonight in Cincinnati (7:10 p.m., NBCSP). Zack Wheeler (8-1, 2.36 ERA) is scheduled to face Reds lefty Andrew Abbott (5-4, 3.88).
Photo of Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr. The 18-year-old died in 2024 after collapsing on the first day of freshman football practice for Bucknell University.
A former strength coach at Bucknell University was charged Monday with criminal hazing in the 2024 death of Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr., an 18-year-old freshman football player with a known medical condition who collapsed after being required to perform drills until he passed out, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said.
Mark Kulbis, 34, who worked for Bucknell at the time, surrendered to authorities late Monday morning and was arraigned on the charges, Sunday said. Bail for Kulbis was set at $10,000 unsecured.
But the sticking point in this inquiry is that it’s alleged Kulbis “subjected Dickey to the hazing, even after being made aware of Dickey’s medical condition and receiving training from the university on sickle cell trait and state law and NCAA standards regarding hazing,” Sunday’s office said. Inquirer writer Robert Moran takes a look at the case and its implications.
On this date
July 7, 1912: Pennsylvania native Jim Thorpe wins the gold medal in the Pentathlon at the Summer Games in Stockholm, Sweden.
What could LeBron James accomplish in Denver, Golden State, or Boston? All have won championships within the last decade led by stars who’ve spent their entire careers with the organizations. Each has a significant edge over Philly if James’ goal is basketball nirvana. Playing alongside Steph Curry, Nikola Jokić, or Jayson Tatum would be a lot of fun, and any of the three could offer James a better chance at winning a title. But none of them offer him a chance to prove something one last time. — Murphy has a few good reasons the Sixers would favor James.
🧠 Trivia time
With all of this talk of whether Bryce Harper will play in the MLB Home Run Derby, this raises the question of who was the last Phillies player to win one?
A) Mike Schmidt
B) Kyle Schwarber
C) Ryan Howard
D) Bobby Abreu
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Robert Moran, Jeff Neiburg, Gina Mizell, Jonathan Tannenwald, Owen Hewitt, Scott Lauber, Conor Smith, Isabella DiAmore, Ariel Simpson, Lauren Jones, John Roberts, and David Murphy.
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.
Thanks for reading along! Bella will be back with more Philly sports stories tomorrow. — Kerith
Good morning, Philly! Welcome to the start of a new week.
While Philadelphia and school district officials have celebrated a deal to save 340 classroom jobs, teachers and staff members face continued uncertainties in an already tumultuous hiring season.
In other news, the newly elected sheriff of Delaware County, Siddiq Kamara said he was motivated to run after his cousin, Fanta Bility, was killed by Sharon Hill police while leaving a football game in August 2021. “The people in Delaware County, I’m here to work with them,” he said.
When a deal was struck to save 340 classroom-based jobs in the Philadelphia School District, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. declared it “Christmas in June.”
It’s July now, but staffers still don’t have clarity on exactly who’s allowed to come back to positions that were almost cut, and how that affects vacancies systemwide.
Monique Braxton, the school district spokesperson, said the system is “moving forward with restoring the approximately 340 school-based positions approved in the revised budget,” but that staffing the positions is separate from restoring them.
The complex process is causing additional uncertainty for teachers and staff members, and prolonging an already tumultuous hiring season as the district deals with fallout from 17 forthcoming school closings and the back-and-forth over millions in cuts stemming from a $300 million district budget deficit.
Siddiq Kamara remembers standing side by side with his aunt outside of the Delaware County courthouse and calling for changes in how police are trained, after a stray bullet fired by Sharon Hill police officers killed his cousin, Fanta Bility. Three years later, Kamara’s office is inside that same courthouse.
Kamara, 30, became the youngest sheriff in Delaware County history when he cruised to victory in November with 63% of the vote. He’s a born-and-raised Delco native who turned his family’s tragedy into a platform for improving the way community policing is carried out in his home county.
Notable quote: “This is the greatest country in the world. Being 30, being Muslim, being a first generation immigrant, and being the sheriff of one of the biggest counties in Pennsylvania, it’s unheard of. And I don’t take that lightly.”
In his first six months in office, Kamara has equipped all of his deputies with body cameras and beefed up recruiting efforts, including opening fitness tests throughout the county to help fill the 35 vacancies he inherited. He’s mandated de-escalation and regular firearms training for his deputies, in memory of his cousin.
Linemen, call center workers, and other Peco employees went on strike over the weekend. The roughly 1,500 unionized workers, part of IBEW Local 614, officially walked off the job, becoming the first employees to strike in Peco’s history.
U.S. men’s soccer team star striker Folarin Balogun will be available to play in Monday’s World Cup round of 16 game after all.
University of Pennsylvania physician Anuja Dokras spent the last 14 years working to rename a common medical condition that can impact fertility in women, called polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS.
City officials have estimated that hundreds of thousands of people have flocked to the monthlong World Cup watch party, which started in mid-June and is set to run through mid-July. But last week, some Brewerytown business owners said they had yet to reap the benefits.
The Trump administration will not seek new bids to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Sunday as he faced new questions about the troubled project and the taxpayer money involved.
Quote of the day
City officials originally planned for Fourth of July fireworks to go off around midnight, but because of weather delays, the show didn’t start until roughly 2:30 a.m. Some residents are questioning that choice, but the city said safety was a big factor.
🧠Trivia time
Which celebrity duo was just married at Madison Square Garden with actor Adam Sandler officiating?
Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if you’re not a lifer, something that made you fall in love with Philly all over again — or proud to be from here if you are. Then email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.
This “only in Philly” story comes from reader Gerard Letterie, who describes pretzels and politics:
Pretzel vendors and the occasional “pretzel boy” roving through neighborhoods in the summer were proudly part of the Philly scene in the 1960s and ’70s. My image of the average pretzel vendor changed with Frank Lomento, whose presence at his pretzel stand at the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Parkway Central Library was a familiar sight.
My Sunday afternoons were spent at the Central Library hammering out college writing assignments. The pretzels were a midafternoon incentive. As I learned while grabbing a pretzel, Lomento was a man of opinion. In 1971, he decided to run for mayor. He had no political background. No deep pocket sponsors. No super PAC. Just a pretzel vendor cart, a Squeeze Please yellow mustard dispenser, and an iconic presence at the curbside. He had a willingness to talk politics in addition to selling you a pretzel.
When he announced his candidacy, he propped up a cardboard sign with a handwritten message: “Frank Lomento for Mayor.” In Lomento’s opinion, what couldn’t be fixed with a pretzel (slathering of mustard optional) needed a political solution. So, he stepped up and in to the mayoral fray.
In an unusually crowded candidate field for the ’71 Democratic mayoral primary, Frank Lomento stood out as an independent and, by some counts, a “protest candidate” alongside William J. Green III, Ira Einhorn, James E. Poole, Albert Sprague, Frank Rizzo, and Hardy Williams. Rizzo ultimately won as the machine-backed candidate, known as “the toughest cop in America.”
Undaunted and after a time away from politics, Lomento entered the mayoral race again in 1983. He lost, but he also gathered 19,000 votes. He was a common, blue-collar guy with a presence and a message that resonated on several levels with Philly’s working-class crowd.
Where else other than Philadelphia would you find a pretzel vendor who leveraged (both figuratively and literally) a man-on-the-street presence into a mayoral candidacy? Not once, but twice in a major American city? A regular guy with the courage to run for office. Totally and uniquely Philly. And an abiding memory of Philadelphia for me, among so many others.
👋 Talk to you later, Philly!
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Today’s high temps could break records, and nightfall may not bring much relief. Experts tell us why warmer nights can be more dangerous than daytime heat.
With 20 million visitors projected to travel to the city, there were big dreams for projects to mark the major occasion, like a massive suspended platform at 30th Street Stationanda flower-focused theme park in Fairmount Park.
Instead, the birthplace of American democracy hosted an under-attended party, and was then caught in the grips of a disease outbreak.
It’s an understatement to say reality did not live up expectations of a Bicentennial boom, but it wasn’t a complete bust. In some ways, the nation’s 200th birthday gave us some of the Philadelphia we know today.
Those who live near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway are used to the sparks and blasts for July Fourth, but some aren’t particularly thrilled about their late start this year.
🎆 Fireworks will begin closer to midnight. The star-studded lineup for the One City: Unity Concert for America is bigger this year, so the show will also start earlier and end later.
🎆 The noise is not the problem. Some residents told The Inquirer the nuisance is the events’ timing competing with youngsters’ bedtimes, referring to the move as “not a family-friendly decision.”
🎆 Traffic will be a headache, too. With 300,000 people expected, there are concerns about how the city is handling traffic leaving the Parkway.
A teenager who police say killed a Penn State student from South Philly was captured in Colorado Thursday and will be charged with murder. A second teen suspect also surrendered to authorities.
Philadelphia can’t prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and other federal officers from concealing their identities, a federal judge ruled Thursday.
This week, we have an explainer from Michelle Myers on the logic behind SEPTA’s bus route numbers.
The transit system operates more than 120 routes, but its numbers don’t necessarily indicate where they go or what streets they operate on. It turns out the digits are a relic from the streetcar era. Here’s the full story.
A local ceramicist, whose dishware can be seen at restaurants ranging from Provenance to Zahav, is rebuilding following bankruptcy and a kiln disaster. What are they called?
Cheers to Tanya O’Neill, who solved Thursday’s anagram: Christina Aguilera. This singer has been recruiting Philly-area “soldiers” for her concert on the Fourth of July.
Photo of the day
Participants gather to create the Living Liberty Bell, gathering 250 people to form the shape of the famous bell on Independence Mall on Thursday.
🔔 One more Semiquincentennial thing: Members of Congress gathered in Philadelphia Thursday to commemorate the vote for independence 250 years ago. Their speeches reflected on historical struggles and present-day tensions.
👋🏽 This newsletter is taking a break in observance of the Fourth of July. We’ll be back on Monday. Until then, you can find all the latest news and our holiday weekend coverage at Inquirer.com. Take care!
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Hopefully, you’re in the midst of winding down for the week and getting ready for a relaxing weekend celebrating 250 years of American independence.
Before you check out, we have to tell you about this wild story that happened a little less than 50 years ago, when a group of rock stars tried to kickstart a professional soccer team in this town, which became the “poster child for what not to do,” according to those who were there and lived through its brief but memorable heyday.
Nestled in between the Atoms of the 1960s and the Union of today was the Philadelphia Fury, a pro soccer team owned by Peter Frampton that might be known more for the stories that transpired off the field and then on it. Stories that Inquirer writer Matt Breen collected for your reading pleasure.
It’s the perfect read as the final game of this World Cup in Philadelphia takes place on Saturday when France returns to face Paraguay in a round-of-16 knockout match (5 p.m., Fox29).
What’s the weather going to be like for that one? Not as steamy as today, which is expected to again reach over 100 degrees, but yeah, hot.
Phillies pitcher Kyle Backhus reacts after allowing a solo home run to the Pirates’ Nick Gonzales in the ninth inning on Thursday.
On a scorching afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, where the temperature at first pitch was 98 degrees and climbed to triple digits from there, the Phillies dropped the series finale to the Pirates, 6-1.
However, it was a loss that could’ve ended up worse, as Pittsburgh had plenty of opportunities to run up the score. So what was it? The heat played a role, sure, but the Phillies managed just four hits, while the Pirates rattled off 14.
Inquirer writer Lochlahn March has more and what’s next as the Phillies prepare to embark on a three-city road trip before the MLB All-Star break.
The Sixers won’t have to worry about former Celtics star Jaylen Brown taking flight on them anymore, as he was acquired in a free agency trade earlier this week.
From the fact that the Sixers could have had him over Ben Simmons in the 2016 NBA draft to the notion that he’s had beef with Joel Embiid for calling the big man a flopper, Philly is well acquainted with Jaylen Brown.
Brown is the latest marquee player in Philly named Jaylen (spelled differently than the Eagles’ QB variety), with a big spotlight as many hope he’s the game-changing presence the Sixers need to get over the hump.
It’ll be a wait before Sixers fans see him on the court. As we wait for his deal to be made official, get up to speed on Brown and what he brings not just on the court, but off of it.
Michael Jordan has 78 games of NFL experience, starting games with the Bengals, Panthers, Patriots and Bucs.
With Eagles training camp drawing nearer, The Inquirer is taking a closer look at the more than three dozen new faces who are expected to report along with the rest of the team on July 28.
From their previous experience to their honest path to a roster spot, we analyze the newcomers trying to make the 53-man roster later this summer, starting right now. Inquirer reporter Ryan Novozinsky takes a look at an offensive lineman and long snapper vying for a roster spot.
Join Inquirer reporter Jonathan Tannenwald and host Lisa Carlin for Soccer Extra on Gameday Central.
With the final World Cup game set for Philly, our pop-up streaming show Soccer Extra wraps up this week, looking at the knockout rounds and Philly’s place in all of it on July 4. Inquirer writer Jonathan Tannenwald and host Lisa Carlin take you through it all and what to expect. Watch here.
Also, just for kicks …
Free Folarin: Many are questioning if U.S. men’s national team forward Folarin Balogun’s red card was deserved, including his own teammates.
July 3, 2020: Major League Baseball announced the cancellation of its MLB All-Star weekend, including the game at Dodger Stadium, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
ROTEN SOFTERSY
This player just signed a massive eight-year deal with the Flyers that will begin during the 2027-28 season. Think you know? Take a guess and click here to see if you’re correct.
What you’re saying about the Sixers
We asked: Do you think Jaylen Brown will be a good fit with the Sixers? Why or why not?
David Murphy summed up the Brown deal much better than I can, but yes. The Embiid-George team was not going to win any NBA titles, but with the addition of Brown and Embiid being at least 75% present, I think they can do it. — Everett S.
Good fit? He’s a great fit and a big improvement over Paul George.— Richard V.
It’s hard to separate the on-court questions from my elation of seeing the final proof of how thoroughly Joel Embiid and the funky bunch ripped the heart out of the C’s this year. I’ve always seen Brown as the better and, just as importantly, more versatile and flexible of the “Jays,” and indeed, I think he should slide in neatly. I’ll also note that I believe his sour reputation (not to social outspokenness) was a significant factor both in why Boston (more the fanbase) never loved him and why his trade market wasn’t huge (more from an organization standpoint) — which means he’s got the makings of a classic Philly figure. — D.W. Stone
Jaylen Brown? Wow. How did [Sixers president Mike] Gansey pull this off? Now offload Embiid.— Bill M.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Gina Mizell, Lochlahn March, Jackie Spiegel, Ryan Novozinsky, Gabriela Carroll, Jonathan Tannenwald, Anthony R. Wood, Kerith Gabriel, and Owen Hewitt.
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.
Stay cool, Philly. We’re taking a brief break for the holiday weekend, but we will be back in your inboxes next week. — Kerith
Fireworks rise, shortly after midnight, from behind the Art Museum during the New Year’s Eve concert and fireworks display, at the Oval on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. The event, featuring LL COOL J, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Adam Blackstone, hard rockers Dorothy, and Technician The DJ was a first for the City of Philadelphia and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker.
As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, Philadelphia and the surrounding region are packed with celebrations, concerts, and fireworks displays.
Arts intern Morgan Ritter rounded up the best places to watch fireworks across Philadelphia, the suburbs, South Jersey, and the Shore, while I have everything you need to know before heading to the city’s free July 4 concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
This year’s One Philly: Unity Concert for America features Christina Aguilera, Jill Scott, Will Smith, Meek Mill, The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Seal, and more before the city’s official fireworks spectacular.
The interior of the First Bank of the United States is pictured on Monday, June 29, 2026 in Philadelphia. The bank reopens this week following a $27 million restoration project.
💸 Cha-ching!: Before the New York Stock Exchange was established, Philadelphia was the financial capital of the nation. This week, you can explore that history with the reopening of the First Bank of the United States. It’s open to the public for the first time in 50 years.
🖼️ A revolutionary time: Stop by the Museum of the American Revolution for guided gallery tours, reenactment performances, printmaking demos, and other fun activities through Sunday.
🎸 The sounds of freedom: Imagine Benjamin Franklin fronting a rock revolution. That’s the premise of The Sound of America, an electrifying musical that features 23 original songs, a walking tour, and a special remote cameo by Sir Roger Daltrey.
The biggest America 250 events from now through Independence Day
Members of the The Mattatuck Drum Band participate in the Salute to America Independence Day Parade, at Independence Hall, in Philadelphia, on the 4th of July, 2019. JESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer
The city has already been buzzing with activity this summer, and it’s about to get even busier for America’s 250th birthday.
Mr. Edison, the new restaurant at the Bellevue from Jeffrey Chodorow, in Philadelphia, June 23, 2026.
📽️ Latino film on display: A celebration of Latino filmmakers and creatives continues through Sunday, as part of the annual Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival. The event, now in its 15th year, includes a lineup of feature films, documentaries, shorts, online series, and more visual projects.
🎭 Dear, theater lovers: Sunday is your last chance to catch the six-time Tony Award winner, Dear Evan Hansen, at Arden Theater. Grab tickets while they last, or miss out on this emotional story about an anxious high schooler forced to confront a harrowing lie.
🍸 New restaurant opening at the Bellevue: Thomas Edison designed the original lighting inside the Bellevue, so it’s only fitting that the hotel’s newest culinary offering honors the inventor. The newly opened supper club-inspired restaurant, Mr. Edison, is worth exploring.
🥊 Philly’s true heavyweight champion: While fictional boxer Rocky Balboa has three statues in his honor, Philadelphia’s true undisputed heavyweight champion is finally getting his just due. A 12-foot bronze statue of boxing legend Joe Frazier was unveiled at the foot of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Staffer picks
Here’s a list of the best concerts happening this week.
Christina Aguilera performs “Cuando Me De la Gana” at the 23rd annual Latin Grammy Awards at the Mandalay Bay Michelob Ultra Arena on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
🎸 Thursday: Just before the July 4 weekend festivities kick into full gear, Old City will host the Red, White & Blue Music Series that includes 28 local bands and groups spread across 11 museums.
🎷 Friday: Saxophonist Ikechi Onyenaka will lead the Friday Night Jazz Series at Spruce Street Harbor Park.
🎤 Saturday: The One Philly: United Concert for America will be a star-studded affair, featuring performances from Christina Aguilera, Jill Scott, Will Smith, Meek Mill and other notable stars.
🎸 Sunday: Paul Simon is bringing his “A Quiet Celebration” tour to the TD Pavilion at Highmark Mann to close out the celebratory weekend.
❓Pop quiz
What year did the first Independence Day celebration take place in Philadelphia?
a) July 4, 1776?
b) July 4, 1777?
c) July 4, 1780?
d) July 4, 1781?
Here’s the answer to last week’s question: When did the Lit Brothers building first open? Answer:1871
Ask Earl anything
I’m starting something new for the newsletter, and I want your participation.
Many of you have questions about each week’s listings, and others about Philly’s arts, culture, and entertainment scene.
I have you covered. Have a question? Email me for a chance to have it answered in an upcoming newsletter.
Alright, folks! That’s all for this week’s edition of Things to Do. And if you couldn’t tell, it’s a celebratory moment — not only for the city, but for the nation. Enjoy this historical moment to the fullest.
