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  • 🩅 Mighty Mitchell | Sports Daily Newsletter

    🩅 Mighty Mitchell | Sports Daily Newsletter

    Quinyon Mitchell is one of the least-tested cornerbacks in the league this season.

    Whether he’s traveling with opponents’ top receivers or lining up on the boundary, the second-year pro has managed to lock down his side.

    That accomplishment doesn’t come as a surprise to Vic Fangio, who said Mitchell “hasn’t deviated from his process.” And the 2024 first-round pick out of Toledo isn’t cocky about his success, either.

    But how can a cornerback improve when quarterbacks aren’t throwing the ball his way? In the last two games, Mitchell has been targeted just four times, conceding one catch for seven yards.

    Here’s how the 24-year-old would answer that: “I always expect every play, every down, that the ball’s going to come my way.”

    And on the other side of the ball, Saquon Barkley may have had a disappointing statistical year after last season’s heroics, where he became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season.

    No one has ever done it twice, so repeating those numbers were going to be a stretch. But who could have seen this coming? It’s Week 15, and Barkley still is 60 yards shy of reaching 1,000 on the season. Said Barkley: “Sometimes that’s how the game goes.”

    However, the running back believes he can still make a big impact when the games matter most.

    Maybe that’ll come in Week 16, with the NFC East title and a playoff berth on the line.

    — Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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    What we’re 


    đŸ€” Wondering: What the Commanders are saying about the Eagles ahead of Saturday’s matchup.

    💾 Wagering: The Eagles are a near-touchdown favorite against Washington. Here’s a look at other player props.

    📖 Reading: The Eagles fan who is tracking every team’s Tush Push success — and whether or not they voted to ban it.

    ‘It humbles you’

    Sixers’ Jared McCain spoke with student about mental health and the challenges he faced recovering from a past his injuries at Level Up Philly on Wednesday.

    Since high school, Jared McCain has shared his life on TikTok for his fans, but he didn’t expect just how many haters would also come his way. On Wednesday, in partnership with Penn Medicine and the Sixers’ Assists for Safe Communities initiative, McCain spoke with over 40 students at Level Up Philly about protecting his own mental health.

    McCain has experienced the highs and lows since entering the NBA in 2024. As he worked his way back into the lineup, McCain said there’s a huge mental aspect to his recovery that fans may not see, and one of the biggest lessons he’s learned is not to judge, because everyone is going through something on their own that he might not see.

    Why Michkov is playing less

    Flyers winger Matvei Michkov has made recent progress after a tough start to the season.

    Matvei Michkov’s season started slowly, but his game has certainly picked up as the schedule builds. Rick Tocchet said he’s seen an improvement in the young Russian’s game, but fans are angry with Michkov’s lack of ice time, as he ranks ninth among the team’s forwards. Part of that is due to his play, but Michkov is also taking a lot of penalties and short shifts on his own. The Flyers need Michkov to drive play, and thus far, he has looked better as he gets back into shape and builds his game.

    And on Thursday, the Flyers placed defenseman Egor Zamula on waivers. Zamula, who has been with the organization since 2018, has played in 13 games this season and was expendable given Rasmus Ristolainen’s return. If unclaimed, he’ll report to Lehigh Valley.

    The Flyers saw their five-game point streak come to an end with a 5-3 loss at the Buffalo Sabres.

    Making his name known

    Freshman Braden Reed is carving out a role for himself in Villanova’s receiver room.

    Villanova freshman receiver Braden Reed has been a standout on special teams and on offense recently. For a majority of the season, he led the FCS in average punt return yards. In the last two games, he has caught game-winning touchdowns against Lehigh and Tarleton State. The Pope John Paul II graduate could play a larger role for Villanova in the FCS semifinals on Saturday against Illinois State.

    The Wildcats haven’t played a home game in the semifinals since they won their only FCS championship in 2009. Many former players recall having fond memories from that run, which included a season-opening victory against Temple, and believe this year’s team has the pieces to earn another national title.

    Sports snapshot

    From left: Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion, and Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa.
    • Draft targets: We’ve rounded up eight prospects who are playing in the College Football Playoff that the Eagles could target in the draft.
    • What to know: With Illinois State coming to the Main Line, the unseeded Redbirds are making their first semifinal appearance since 2014.
    • New additions: Penn State hired two Iowa State offensive coaches to Matt Campbell’s staff.

    Who said it?

    The Eagles have a chance to clinch the NFC East title on Saturday.

    Who said this as the Eagles get ready for Saturday’s matchup against the Commanders? Think you know? Check your answer here.

    Join us before kickoff

    Gameday Central: Eagles at Commanders:

    Live from Northwest Stadium: Beat writers Jeff McLane and Olivia Reiner will preview the Eagles game against the Washington Commanders at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Tune in to Gameday Central.

    What you’re saying about Phillies’ bullpen

    We asked: Now that the Phillies are adding Brad Keller, how do you feel about their bullpen? Among your responses:

    On paper the Fightins’ have one of the top 2026 bullpens in both leagues, if not the best. You still can’t play this game without a great centerfielder. For whatever the reason, they’ve lost complete interest in resigning Harrison Bater. Big mistake! — Ronald R.

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Ariel Simpson, Jackie Spiegel, Gabriela Carroll, Devin Jackson, Dylan Johnson, Greg Finberg, Katie Lewis, and Ethan Kopelman.

    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 reading. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Jim will catch back up with you on Monday. — Bella

  • ❄ Holiday markets, Dickens classics, and winter lights | Things to do

    ❄ Holiday markets, Dickens classics, and winter lights | Things to do

    Days after the year’s first snowstorm in Philly, there seems to be a clearer and sunnier path toward the holidays.

    While there’s less snow and slush than in previous years, the Christmas spirit is still filling the air. There’s also a bevy of holiday-themed events worth adding to your to-do list, too.

    For the final newsletter entry of 2025, I wanted to leave you with a thoughtful gift. Untie the invisible bow that adorns this week’s edition of Things to Do, and feast your eyes on the musicals, concerts, and pop-ups happening this weekend. I hope you enjoy.

    — Earl Hopkins (@earlhopkins_, Email me at thingstodo@inquirer.com)

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    Cody Lewandowski, Michael Covel, and the cast of Walnut Street Theatre’s ‘A Christmas Carol’

    The many versions of ‘A Christmas Carol’ you can watch in the region

    Since Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was first published on Dec. 19, 1843, the story of three ghosts haunting the wealthy Ebenezer Scrooge to save his soul has remained a Christmas classic.

    The book was so popular, the first printing sold out before Christmas Eve, and the haunting narrative was adapted for the stage just a year after its release.

    The work of the English novelist has drawn countless theater productions, and there are currently several actively running in the Philadelphia region. There are productions at Walnut Street Theatre, New Hope Arts Center, the Lantern Theater Company, and at People’s Light in Malvern running until Jan. 4.

    Read more about the slew of productions here.

    The best things to do this week

    đŸŽ¶ An operatic return: Opera Philadelphia returns to the Kimmel Center from Friday to Sunday for three performances of The Seasons, a reimagining of Antonio Vivaldi’s string masterpiece, The Four Seasons.

    🎁From Center City’s Christmas Village and Dilworth Park’s Made in Philadelphia market to Bucks County’s Peddler’s Village and Bethlehem’s iconic Christkindlmarkt, these holiday markets are worth a look before they close.

    đŸŽ…đŸŒ Frightful festivities: Join the annual foray into Christmas fright at PhilaMOCA on Friday. The showroom will screen a 16 mm horror double feature and holiday-themed shorts, plus a potluck of assorted foods, snacks, beverages, and desserts.

    🎄 Let your creativity shine this Christmas: Get crafty in the days leading up to Christmas. Historic St. George’s Museum & Archives invites community members to make Victorian ornaments, wax seals, and holiday cards on Saturday.

    🎭 A momentous play at the Ardmore: The Mountain Top, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall, is a reimagining of the night Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famed (and final) speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” The play will be running at Ardmore through Sunday.

    📅 My calendar picks this week: Pancakes & Booze at Underground Arts and Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at the Walnut Street Theatre.

    Tyler Childers sings on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden.

    The take: Best pop music albums of 2025, according to our pop music critic

    Our pop music critic Dan DeLuca drops his 10 best pop albums of 2025, and it’s a list driven less by hype than by heart. From Tyler Childers’ soul-baring Snipe Hunter at No. 1 to bold turns by Rosalía, Geese, PinkPantheress, and Philly’s own Florry, these are records built on storytelling, risk-taking, and songs that reward close listening. Bonus: There’s a Spotify playlist at the bottom if you want to sample before committing.

    Winter fun this week and beyond

    🏼Don’t miss the Wanamaker Light Show: The holiday tradition, which dates back to 1956, will feature thousands of dancing snowmen, candy canes, and the incredible sounds of the Wanamaker Organ through Dec. 24.

    🚂 Holiday Garden Railway: The train displays at the Morris Arboretum will be filled with thousands of lights through Dec. 30. The glimmering G-scale mini locomotives will wind and loop throughout the garden, filling the space with the kind of holiday spirit fit for such a beautiful site.

    đŸ©° Philly’s Nutcracker season is in full swing: There are four versions to choose from — classic Balanchine, a new one-act for little kids, a tap-dancing trip through Paris, and a vibrant Chocolate Ballerina Company twist.

    🍿 A child-friendly rendition of a classic fairytale: The Curio Theatre Company invites kids to help shape the pint-sized retelling of Hansel & Gretel Brothers Grimm. Children aged 3—10 can help with pre-show prop-making and in-performance participation from now through Dec. 31.

    đŸš„ An immersive strand of lights: Otherworld Philadelphia’s annual “Magic of the Willow” is back with immersive sights and shows that incorporate 600 strands of LEDs and music from now through Jan. 4.

    Staffer picks

    While our good friend Dan Deluca is out this week for the holidays, here’s a short list of the top concerts this weekend.

    🎾 Thursday: Allen Stone and Ripe take the stage at the Filmore Philadelphia for the “Get Sweet Tour.”

    đŸŽ€ Friday: Rapper-singer Rod Wave brings his signature melodic heartbreak tunes to Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday for the “Redemption Experience Tour.”

    🎾 Saturday: The Front Bottoms, an alt-indie rock act out of Woodcliff Lake, NJ, will close out back-to-back “Champagne Jame Nights” at the Fillmore.

    đŸŽ€ Sunday: Trans-Siberian Orchestra will perform back-to-back shows on Sunday for the metal band’s “The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve” show at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

    Thanks for reading the final Things to Do entry of 2025. I can’t wait to kick things off in the new year, especially with everything transpiring for the semiquincentennial. Until then, enjoy the holiday with you and yours and see you back in inboxes on Jan. 8.

    — Earl

    Courtesy of Giphy.com
  • đŸ„¶ Winter solstice report card from the Shore | Down the Shore

    đŸ„¶ Winter solstice report card from the Shore | Down the Shore

    Hello from the Shore, currently the land of icy sidewalks, snow-dipped dunes, and pink sunsets. The December snow brought a couple of beautiful inches to most beach towns, where out-of-town homeowners rarely, if ever, think to get someone to shovel their sidewalks. Ah well. As a griper on Facebook noted, Ventnor doesn’t hesitate to cite you if your grass needs mowing (or, I might add, if you run with your dog on the boardwalk), but everyone’s looking the other way for the shoveling. It adds to the atmospheric beauty, maybe, and the roughing-it feel, but those sidewalks can be treacherous, especially for the mail carriers and dog walkers.

    Down the Shore is back for its solstice edition, in which we check in with your favorite beach towns and score how they’re doing.

    Atlantic City is top of mind, with its lovely holiday traditions like the elaborately decorated and festive iconic spots, from the Irish Pub to the Knife & Fork Inn, its new skate park and casino giveaways. But behind the salt air tinsel, A.C. is juggling some drama: Its mayor is on trial for alleged child abuse that could cause him to forfeit his office, three New York City casinos have been green lit, the state is moving to increase its authority over the city. A recent casino revenue report had good news for only three of the city’s nine casinos. A+ for its holiday sparkle and sunsets, C+ for the drama.

    In Ocean City, meanwhile, the identity crisis continues. The town did a complete turnaround earlier this month with respect to the former Wonderland Pier site, voting to ask the planning board whether the site is in need of rehabilitation as requested by developer Eustace Mita, who wants to build a luxury hotel. Meanwhile, its mayor declared bankruptcy and got sued by his stepmother. The iconic McDonald’s in town abruptly closed. Still, Playland’s Castaway Cove is offering its half-price ticket sale through New Year’s Day. B-

    Ventnor and Longport have both begun rebuilding work on their iconic spots, with a big chunk of Ventnor’s boardwalk, and Longport’s beautiful Point, a place of magical sunsets and long winter shadows, closed for construction. I knocked those places down to a B and let’s hope work is done by spring.

    Avalon, which came in for some summer criticism for its off-the-charts exclusivity, gets an A+ from me for its sensible and family-friendly 5:30 p.m. New Year’s Eve fireworks plan.

    My full Jersey Shore offseason report card, including Stone Harbor, Brigantine, LBI and Cape May, is here.

    📼 Should second-home owners be responsible for shoveling their sidewalks down the Shore? Let me know what you think by replying to this email.

    đŸ€” Have ideas or news tips about the Shore or this newsletter? Send them to me here.

    ☀ Look for a warming trend which I hope lasts until New Year’s Day’s polar bear plunges. But then more snow please.

    — Amy S. Rosenberg (Find me at @amysrosenberg. đŸ“· Follow me on Instagram at @amysrosenberg. 📧 Email me here.)

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    Shore talk

    🚹 El Pueblo Unido of Atlantic City reported the presence of federal immigration agents in both Atlantic City and Ventnor. The group was also collecting donations for an expectant mother whose husband was detained.

    🏠 Selling the family Shore house can be traumatic.

    🍔 The McDonald’s in Ocean City is closing, stunning its customers and employees alike. Here’s how you can help.

    đŸŒŹïž The land-based wind turbines in Atlantic City, which once vexed a casino owner who went on to become president, turned 20.

    ⚖ The jury in the Mayor Marty Small trial was deliberating.

    🚭 Atlantic City casino workers asked a judge to ban smoking in casinos.

    🎡 Diplo mused about filming the massive “Heartless” video with Morgan Wallen in Atlantic City for $10,000.

    đŸ–ïž Shore erosion funding was left out of the federal budget, then put back in. But is it enough? Here’s Frank Kummer’s analysis.

    🚹 Congressman Jeff Van Drew, meanwhile, called on Gov. Phil Murphy to declare a state of emergency for the state’s eroding beaches, which Murphy has declined to do. Brigantine, on its own, declared its own state of eroding emergency.

    What to eat/What to do

    💾 Buy a luxury condo in the heart of Atlantic City.

    đŸ»â€â„ïž Polar bear plunge on New Year’s Day at an ocean near you! Or, watch from this beach cam.

    🐟 Order your seven fishes from Atlantic City’s Barbera Fish Market.

    đŸ•Żïž Take a candlelight house tour in Cape May.

    🎰 Win a million dollars at the slots, like this guy.

    🎰 New Year’s Eve is a great time to hit up Atlantic City.

    🎣 Wildwood’s Fishing and Boating Expo beings Jan. 9.

    Shore snapshot

    The beach in Ventnor, N.J., after the snowfall on Dec. 14.

    🧠 Trivia time

    Its announced closing shook employees and customers alike. Just how long has the landmark McDonald’s in Ocean City been at 900 West Ave.?

    A. 47 years.

    B. 60 years.

    C. 25 years

    D. Since the town’s founding

    If you think you know the answer, click on this story to find out.

    Ask Down the Shore

    If we come visit in the winter, does this count against our time in the summer?

    Visitors in the offseason are most-welcome! It gets lonely down here. We get to show off how actually great it is to live here year-round, and sometimes how amazing the beach looks with snow on it. And listen, after entertaining guests in the winter, pulling out the board games, stoking the fire, hoping the heat actually works, a summer visit where everyone just goes to the beach all day is a snap. Come on down.

    Have a Shore etiquette question or sticky situation? Email us here.

    📖 Shore slam book: PJ Hondros

    PJ Hondros 23, lives in North Wildwood, and runs the North Wildwood Coastal Processes Facebook page that documents the erosion and sea level rise along the shore town’s fragile coast. Hondros is in grad school studying coastal zone management, and works part-time in the coastal sedimentology field. He says his research includes, “sea level rise/ coastal flooding risk, sediment (sand) fluxes along our coastline, and mapping suitable habitat along our back bays.” PJ answered our rapid-fire questions.

    Favorite beach/beach town: North Wildwood.

    Favorite Shore breakfast: Aloha bacon egg and cheese sandwich — nothing even comes close.

    Perfect beach day: A searing 90 degrees with minimal wind.

    Perfect night at the Shore: Hit the bars!

    Best season to be down the Shore? Late summer to early fall.

    Surfing or fishing or 
 Bodyboarding and swimming.

    Sunrise or sunset? Sunset.

    What’s the best Wildwood? All offer something unique.

    What’s one thing you wish people knew about the Shore? There’s more than the beach (e.g. zoos, campgrounds, state parks).

    What is the most critical issue facing Shore towns? Short-term: the lack of beach replenishment funds allocated for FY25 and 26. Long-term: accelerating coastal flooding.

    Your Shore memory

    Tom McCourt gave up the Shore for sunny Florida and Las Vegas. But the memories linger.

    Despite currently living in the desert, I am a Philly native. I grew up going to the shore. As a small child I went with family, then Senior Week, and later fishing as often as I possibly could. As a young adult, that morphed into an annual week in the Wildwoods, fishing nearly every day, spending some time on the beach, and enjoying life at the shore.

    Then the greed happened.

    Mom-and-Pop houses, apartments, and motels were bulldozed in favor of massive cookie-cutter condos, all of which have the character and personality of a trash bag. The owners now had large mortgages and construction bills to pay, and greed. They all had greed.

    As a solo fisherman, the Jersey Shore, as much as I loved it, priced itself out of my range. It was less expensive to fly to Fort Lauderdale, rent a convertible for the week (just because), stay along A1A, and enjoy the week than it was to drive to Wildwood for a week.

    Send us your Shore memory! In 200 words, tell us how the Shore taps into something deep for you, and we will publish them in this space.

    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.

  • Philly buildings to watch in 2026 | Real Estate Newsletter

    Philly buildings to watch in 2026 | Real Estate Newsletter

    In Philadelphia, developers who want to build big development projects need to submit their plans for public input.

    A board made up of architects, planners, and other experts give their two cents about projects that can change the look and feel of neighborhoods.

    The group is advisory only. But meetings of the Civic Design Review committee give neighbors a chance to voice their opinions and require developers to publicly answer questions.

    And the process offers a look at what’s coming down the pipeline.

    Learn about the 18 big projects across Philadelphia that came before the committee this year.

    Keep scrolling for that story and more in this week’s edition:

    — Michaelle Bond

    P.S. We’re taking a break next week for Christmas. The newsletter will return on Jan. 1.

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    18 big development projects planned

    This year, Philly’s Civic Design Review committee considered 18 projects that developers want to build across the city. Plans call for new homes, garages, a self-storage facility, and a hotel.

    We looked at the projects and laid out what’s coming where and from which developers. So when someone asks you what’s being built on some corner near you, you have an answer.

    Below is a taste of what’s to come.

    Senior housing in Sharswood

    • This development of 65 apartments is one of the last pieces of the Philadelphia Housing Authority’s 10-year plan to redevelop the North Philly neighborhood.

    Mount Airy apartment building

    • This five-story building will have 81 apartments and space for retail. The developer plans to offer all the homes for below-market-rate rents.

    Largest apartment building in recent memory in Roxborough

    • This building will have 384 apartments and almost as many parking spots.

    Keep reading to learn more about these and other projects and where they all stand.

    Selling for double

    Owners of rental properties around Temple University have been struggling. A bunch of apartments were built for students, but then enrollment dropped. Vacancies are up, and rents are down.

    In spite of this rough real estate environment, some properties in the area have sold for about double their original listing price.

    And these sales are tied to one local real estate agent.

    In one example, an eight-bedroom rowhouse that was listed for $475,000 — $40,000 less than the owner paid for it two years before — sat on the market for a year.

    After Patrick C. Fay got involved as the buyer’s agent, the rowhouse was re-listed for $875,000 this April and went under contract the same day.

    My colleagues Ryan W. Briggs and William Bender looked at almost three dozen other sales that Fay handled over the last year and found a similar pattern.

    A small group of repeat buyers are involved in transactions. And some of them have been linked to a mortgage fraud scheme from the 2000s.

    Keep reading to learn more about these mysterious sales and see how they could affect the broader North Philly area around Temple.

    The latest news to pay attention to

    Home tour: Christmastime in Ocean City

    Ginny Chappell owns a century-old house on an Ocean City road known as Dollhouse Row.

    She’d been dreaming of owning a home on the road for years, but her real estate agent gave her a reality check: the properties stay within families and almost never sell.

    But five years after Chappell settled for another home in Ocean City, she got the call that a Dollhouse Row house was going on the market.

    Her home is now one of the stops on a holiday tour of houses in the city. Earlier this month, folks came through to see her blue and white decorations.

    Chappell has a white, pre-lit artificial tree in her front window and two mini versions on her front porch. She’s got a coffee and hot chocolate station with Christmas-themed mugs. Ornaments and little Christmas trees of blue, white, silver, and gray fill shelves above her fireplace.

    Peek inside Chappell’s home and find out why her street is nicknamed Dollhouse Row.

    📼Did you set your sights on a home or neighborhood that you thought you couldn’t have but ended up being able to live in? Give your fellow newsletter readers some hope by emailing me.

    đŸ“· Photo quiz

    Do you know the location this photo shows?

    📼 If you think you do, email me back.

    Last week’s quiz featured a photo taken at FDR Park in South Philly.

    Shout-out to Ron P. and Ralph Z. for getting that right.

    This September, I had two firsts at FDR Park: I took a kayak out onto the lake, and I stuffed my face at the Southeast Asian Market.

    I love kayaking and eating, so that was one of my favorite days of 2025.

    Enjoy the rest of your week. And see you in your inbox next year.

    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.

  • đŸ™ïž Philly rising | Morning Newsletter

    đŸ™ïž Philly rising | Morning Newsletter

    Thursday is here.

    Patchy fog should clear up by the afternoon, and windy showers are expected to roll through the region in the evening.

    From new homes to garages and a hotel, today’s top story touches on what we can expect from some of Philadelphia’s biggest development projects in the new year.

    And attention, SEPTA trolley riders: There won’t be a Christmas miracle for the Center City tunnel.

    Scroll along for these stories and more.

    — Paola PĂ©rez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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    Ones to watch

    Before developers are allowed to break ground on a major project on your neighborhood corner, you’ll want to know what’s going up and who’s behind it.

    Developers are required to submit their plans to the Planning Commission for public input through the Civic Design Review committee.

    đŸ™ïž It’s an advisory board of architects, planners, and other experts that gives residents an opportunity to speak directly to the developer. It also provides feedback to projects that will have an outsized impact on the city landscape.

    đŸ™ïž This year, the committee considered 18 projects. (But even projects that make it through review don’t necessarily get built. Remember the proposed Sixers arena?)

    đŸ™ïž Combined, these 18 developments could bring more than 2,500 new homes and apartments, 1,800 parking spaces, and 118,000 square feet of storage space to Philly.

    Commercial real estate reporter Jake Blumgart has the details on what’s coming from each project and where they stand.

    In other development news: Another former religious building is being redeveloped into apartments in South Philly, with an assist from a law that helps preserve large, historic buildings like churches.

    SEPTA’s slider saga

    The Center City trolley tunnel closed in November to repair its overhead wire system. Now, SEPTA says it will remain closed through the end of December.

    Some lawmakers are set to lead a canvass alongside SEPTA riders and advocates along part of the tunnel on Thursday morning.

    Officials are hopeful service can resume in January as it continues to replace sections of wiring. But even then, the quest to put in new brass slider parts may not be over.

    Nate File explains his latest report.

    What you should know today

    🧠 Trivia time

    A statue of Barbara Rose Johns, a civil rights activist who spent much of her life in Philly, now stands in the U.S. Capitol.

    Which area university did she graduate from?

    A) University of Pennsylvania

    B) Temple University

    C) Drexel University

    D) Villanova University

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re …

    ❄ Visiting: A winter wonderland home in Ocean City.

    đŸș Toasting to: A new Philly Pilsner celebrating women’s sports.

    đŸ„‹ Highlighting: The Fairmount resident behind a women’s fightwear apparel brand that won over Shark Tank.

    🩐 Hungry for: The reborn pil pil shrimp at the new Pine Street Grill.

    ☕ Curious about: A coffee shop and wine bar coming to the Navy Yard.

    đŸ§© Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: South Philly author

    LIME ORZO

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

    Cheers to Lars Weintraub, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Thomas Holme. Pennsylvania’s first surveyor general is the namesake of a new elementary school in Northeast Philadelphia. The $88 million building will open to students in January.

    🎄 Photo of the day

    The “Christmas Eve Room” at the Christmas House at Deptford Mall.

    Enter Deptford Mall’s Christmas House, a holiday attraction that skirts tradition and leans more into the humorous than the Yuletide.

    Thanks for starting your day with us. Take care.

    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.

  • 20 of the most iconic movies BMFI has shown | Inquirer Lower Merion

    20 of the most iconic movies BMFI has shown | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Hi, Lower Merion! 👋

    Planning a movie marathon this holiday season? We asked Bryn Mawr Film Institute’s staff to compile 20 of the most iconic films it’s screened since its founding two decades ago. Also this week, we delve into how Allen Iverson helped popularize a TGI Fridays on City Avenue, plus several new eateries, including a burger joint in Ardmore, are on their way.

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

    From ‘Rocky’ to ‘Barbie,’ these are the 20 most iconic movies Bryn Mawr Film Institute has shown

    The Bryn Mawr Film Institute marked its 20th anniversary this year.

    The Bryn Mawr Film Institute has screened countless films since the beloved institution opened its doors two decades ago. But what are the most memorable?

    The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner recently asked its staff to compile a list of what they believe are the 20 most iconic films BMFI has screened.

    Among them are cinematic classics like The Sound of Music and Casablanca, modern hits like Barbie, as well as movies with local ties such as Silver Linings Playbook and Rocky (you didn’t expect it to not make the list, right?).

    See all the movies the Bryn Mawr Film Institute named and learn more about its history here.

    💡 Community News

    • Last month, a TGI Fridays on the Lower Merion-Philadelphia border launched a new membership program inspired in part by Allen Iverson. The Sixers legend frequently hung out at the restaurant on City Avenue, which became known as “Club Fridays.” The Inquirer’s Alex Coffey revisits how the chain became an NBA hangout and how its manager is paying homage through the new offer.
    • A police chase that ended in Lower Merion this fall led law enforcement officials to arrest a crew that allegedly attempted to rob five armored vehicles throughout the region this summer. The Inquirer’s David Gambacorta delves into how an anonymous tip, jokes, Cash App, and a car theft probe helped police and the FBI capture the suspects. You can also catch a video of Gambacorta discussing the story here.
    • Communities within Lower Merion reported between 5 and 5.8 inches of snow from Sunday’s storm, with Bryn Mawr recording the highest total and Penn Wynne the lowest. See a map of how much snow fell throughout the region here.
    • Chabad of Penn Wynne held a menorah lighting Sunday at the Penn Wynne Library to mark the first night of Hanukkah. The event was held on the same day that an attack during a Hanukkah celebration in Australia left at least 15 people dead, something that struck especially close to home for Rabbi Mendy Levin. An Australian native, Levin knew one of the rabbis killed, but like many others, turned out to celebrate the Jewish holiday. Local religious and elected leaders have called for resilience, a theme on display Sunday night as the celebration used flares to light the menorah after the oil had frozen. (Fox29)
    • The community is mourning the death of Bala Cynwyd resident Roberta Fallon, who died Dec. 5 from injuries suffered after being hit by a car late last month. Ms. Fallon was the cofounder and editor of theartblog.org, a freelance writer, artist, and adjunct professor. The crash that led to her death is being investigated and a memorial is expected at a later time.
    • Malik Syd Rashied, 55, of Philadelphia, who was involved in multiple carjacking attempts at Bryn Mawr College and Bryn Mawr Square shopping center earlier this year, has been sentenced to seven to 16 years in a state correctional institution after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including robbery of a motor vehicle and assault. (The Times Herald)
    • City Ave District is being recognized with a Main Street designation through Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Main Street Matters program. The designation will allow the district, which straddles Bala Cynwyd and Philadelphia, to apply for state funding and technical assistance as it implements its five-year strategy.
    • Bala Cynwyd on City Avenue is expected to welcome several new tenants next summer. The shopping center will add two fast-casual restaurants, salad-focused Chopt, and Lebanese concept NAYA, which offers pitas, shawarma, and build-your-own bowls, as well as Hammer & Nails Grooming Shop, which caters to men.

    đŸ« Schools Briefing

    • The Lower Merion School District is mourning the death of longtime physical education teacher Julie Bucher, who died last week. Ms. Bucher taught at Gladwyne Elementary from 1998 to 2024, before retiring at the start of this school year. She “knew every student’s name” and “cared deeply about their well-being,” Principal Veronica Ellers said in a message to the community.
    • Earlier this month, Lower Merion High School senior Nick Mazzeo took home first place in the New Balance RunningLane National Cross Country Championship’s overall competition, becoming the only athlete at the school or in the Central League to capture the honor.
    • Black Rock Middle School was recently recognized among the Pennsylvania Don Eichhorn Schools’ “Schools to Watch” for the 2025-26 academic year. The program selects schools based on a number of factors, including academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and organizational structures and processes.
    • Applications for the International Baccalaureate class of 2028 are open now through Jan. 14. The program is open to any township 10th grader.
    • Reminder for families: The district will be closed for winter break starting Wednesday. Classes will resume Jan. 5. See the district’s full calendar here.

    đŸœïž On our Plate

    🎳 Things to Do

    đŸŽ€ Dogs in a Pile: Tickets are going fast for the New Jersey band’s four-night stint at Ardmore Music Hall. Dogs in a Pile blends funk, jazz, rock and roll, and psychedelia. ⏰ Thursday, Dec. 18-Sunday, Dec. 21, times vary đŸ’” $39.85-$71.42 📍 Ardmore Music Hall

    ✹ Winter Solstice Celebration and Cookie Exchange: Celebrate the changing of the seasons at Linwood Park, which will be lined with luminaries. There will also be a cookie exchange. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 20, 4-6 p.m. đŸ’” Free 📍 Linwood Park

    âœĄïž Cirque du Chanukah: Celebrate Hanukkah by watching an acrobatic performance and enjoying dinner at this all-ages event. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 20, 5:45-8:30 p.m. đŸ’” $10-$60 📍 Kaiserman JCC

    🎄 Christmas Crafts: Make a one-of-a-kind gingerbread house during this workshop. ⏰ Sunday, Dec. 21, 4-5:30 p.m. đŸ’” $37.10 📍 The Candy Lab

    🍜 Laughter and Lo Mein: Enjoy a meal and a movie during this longtime tradition. There will be a family-friendly movie option (Happy Feet) as well as a dark comedy for adults (Bad Shabbos). ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 24, 3-6 p.m. đŸ’” $10-$18 📍 Kaiserman JCC

    🏡 On the Market

    A new four-bedroom twin in Narberth

    Each twin spans over 3,400 square feet.

    Part of a planned five-residence project, this newly built Narberth twin spans four levels. The main floor has a family room, dining room, and kitchen with a quartz island, high-end appliances, light and white wood cabinets, and a walk-in pantry. Its four bedrooms are spread across the second and third floors, including a primary suite with a walk-in closet and a double-sink vanity. It also has a finished lower level with a half bathroom, as well as a covered front porch. Its twin, which spans the same size, is also for sale.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $1,299,900 | Size: 3,440 SF | Acreage: .06

    đŸ—žïž What other Lower Merion residents are reading this week:

    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 new food hall brings over a dozen restaurants to Media | Inquirer Greater Media

    A new food hall brings over a dozen restaurants to Media | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media! 👋

    It’s a big week for a short stretch along Route 1, where two new businesses are opening. Food hall Wonder is hosting its grand opening today, and less than a mile down the road, Middletown Township has welcomed its first full-service hotel. Also this week, Nether Providence Township police are searching for the person who left a large amount of cash in a South Providence Road mailbox, plus Swarthmore College is mourning the death of a beloved former professor.

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

    Wonder food hall opens at Granite Run

    Eddie Jefferson is the operations leader at Wonder’s newest location, which opens today at the Promenade at Granite Run.

    Good news for parents of chronically picky eaters: Wonder, the fast-growing food hall chain, opens at the Promenade at Granite Run today.

    It will offer a wide-ranging array of foods from over a dozen restaurant brands, including Bobby Flay Steak, Detroit Brick Pizza Co., comfort food spot Bellies, and Burger Baby.

    “I have children who never really could settle on the same food. So it was like, ‘Oh this makes sense,’” said Eddie Jefferson, the location’s operations leader.

    The Inquirer’s Torin Sweeney has details on all the food you can find at the latest location, along with grand opening plans.

    Middletown Township hopes to cash in on tourism with its first full-service hotel

    The new Hilton Garden Inn opened Tuesday in Middletown Township.

    Middletown Township’s first full-service hotel opened this week at the former Franklin Mint site.

    The long-planned 107-room Hilton Garden Inn opens at a fortuitous time for the region, with a swell of tourists expected in 2026 for FIFA World Cup matches, semiquincentennial celebrations, the MLB All-Star Game, and the PGA Championship, The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner reports.

    The new hotel also provides an additional option for local visitors, including those coming in for events at one of the county’s 12 colleges and universities or visiting major corporations like Wawa, which has its campus just a short drive down the road.

    Read more about the new hotel and its restaurant, which is open to the public.

    💡 Community News

    đŸ« Schools Briefing

    • Springton Lake Middle School was recently recognized among Pennsylvania Don Eichhorn Schools’ “Schools to Watch” for the 2025-26 academic year. This is the third time Springton Lake has been recognized since the program was launched during the 2006-07 school year. It recognizes schools based on a number of factors, including academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and organizational structures and processes.
    • In Wallingford-Swarthmore, there are fifth grade winter band and chorus concerts today, a school board meeting Monday at 7 p.m., and winter classroom parties on Tuesday. WSSD begins its winter break on Wednesday. See the district’s full calendar here.
    • In Rose Tree Media, winter parties kick off tomorrow and continue Monday, when there are also winter concerts. There are early dismissals Tuesday, and no afternoon kindergarten. RTMSD’s winter break begins Wednesday. See the district’s full calendar here.

    đŸœïž On our Plate

    • For those in search of Christmas Eve reservations, Fava Ristorante Italiano and Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar, both in Glen Mills, will be open. Prefer to dine in? White Dog CafĂ©, also in Glen Mills, is offering a “Christmas at Home” package with options for beef tenderloin, glazed ham, and beef lasagna. (Main Line Today)
    • If you’ve already got your eye on New Year’s Eve plans, Wallingford BYOB Fond is offering a five-course dinner for $135. It includes oysters, tuna tartare, seared foie gras, scallops, pork belly, and dessert.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎄 Lenora: A One-Woman Christmas Carol: Kate Brennan puts a modern twist on A Christmas Carol with this show centered on a woman who gets trapped in her apartment on Christmas Eve and ends up assessing how technology and devices both connect and disconnect us. ⏰ Thursday, Dec. 18, 12:30 p.m., and Friday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m. đŸ’” $21 📍Park Avenue Community Center, Swarthmore

    🎭 Hello, Dolly!: PCS Theater will put its spin on the hit musical. ⏰ Friday, Dec. 19-Sunday, Jan. 4, times vary đŸ’” $28.50-$30.50 📍PCS Theater, Swarthmore

    đŸȘ Teen Activity Days: Teens 13 to 18 can decorate holiday cookies at this month’s event. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 20, 1-3 p.m. đŸ’” Free 📍Rocky Run YMCA, Media

    đŸ’« Winter Solstice: Celebrate the darkest day of the year with luminary lights, poetry readings, and carolers. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 20, 5:30-8 p.m. đŸ’” Free 📍Plum and State Streets, Media

    đŸŽ™ïž Lights Out: A Very Valli Holiday: This tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons features classic hits and festive tunes, as well as audience participation. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 21, 7 p.m. đŸ’” $41 📍The Media Theatre

    🏡 On the Market

    A four-bedroom Media home with lots of natural light

    The family room has a stone accent wall with a fireplace, exposed wood beams, and a staircase leading to a loft.

    Located in Spring Oak Estates, this four-bedroom home feels light and bright thanks to a number of vaulted ceilings and skylights. The first floor features a two-story foyer, a living room with vaulted ceilings and a marble fireplace, a dining room, a kitchen with granite countertops, and a family room with exposed wood beams, vaulted ceilings, and a fireplace within a stone accent wall. It also has a spiral staircase leading to a loft. The primary suite, also with skylights, is on the first floor, while three additional bedrooms are upstairs. The home has a finished walk-out basement, a deck, and a fenced yard.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $1.049M | Size: 3,302 SF | Acreage: 1.1

    đŸ—žïž What other Greater Media residents are reading this week:

    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.

  • 🏀 Hoops on tape | Sports Daily Newsletter

    🏀 Hoops on tape | Sports Daily Newsletter

    We have news about the Phillies fortifying their bullpen and the Flyers losing a key player for the season, but let’s start today’s Sports Daily with something completely different.

    Billy Gordon was a basketball fanatic who connected with John Chaney when the Hall of Fame coach was at Cheyney State. Gordon had a deep love for the sport, and from 1986 to 2024 he recorded thousands of college basketball, NBA, and WNBA games on VHS tapes in his home.

    After Gordon died in May, his uncle, Ron Hall, marveled at the collection in Gordon’s Cobbs Creek bedroom. “The magnitude of what was here really hit me,” Hall said. “I was in disbelief that he had accumulated so much. That he had taken the time to collect so many things.”

    The question is what to do with the VHS collection now. Hall wants to find a buyer who will share the passion his nephew had for decades. Someone who will honor his hobby and preserve it. Alex Coffey has the story.

    — Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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

    ❓Now that the Phillies are adding Brad Keller, how do you feel about their bullpen? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

    Investing in the bullpen

    Brad Keller gives manager Rob Thomson another proven veteran arm in the Phillies bullpen.

    As recently as Tuesday, Phillies president Dave Dombrowski sounded like a man who didn’t feel much of a sense of urgency with regard to his bullpen.

    It was encouraging, then, when news leaked Wednesday that the Phillies were closing in on a two-year, $22 million contract for former Cubs setup man Brad Keller. Set aside the question of who Keller is and whether Rob Thomson can count on a repeat of the veteran righty’s breakout 2025 campaign. The mere fact that the Phillies saw a pressing enough need to spend this sort of money on another reliever is commendable.

    Injury blow

    Flyers right wing Tyson Foerster leaves the ice after being injured on Dec. 1.

    Wednesday brought a sobering blow to the Flyers, as the team announced that winger Tyson Foerster will miss the next five months after arm surgery, which will likely rule him out for the rest of the season.

    The 23-year-old, who was leading the team with 10 goals at the time of his injury on Dec. 1, was initially expected to avoid surgery and miss two to three months of action.

    In a positive for the Flyers, Rasmus Ristolainen came out of his first game action since March unscathed. The hulking defenseman said he felt good Tuesday night in his 19-plus minutes of action, while his physicality caught the eye of coach Rick Tocchet.

    Positive vibes

    Jordan Davis has stabilized the Eagles’ defensive line, especially with Jalen Carter out.

    Jordan Davis, who turns 26 next month, is having his best season with the Eagles. The defensive tackle’s weight loss and body change — Davis fell in love with Peloton workouts and lost 26 pounds in the offseason — has been well documented, but Davis also has found his voice as a positive force in the locker room.

    “I’ve always been happy-go-lucky, always been jovial,” he says. “It’s just now everyone is seeing it because I’m so confident in the person I am.”

    Also on the Eagles beat as they prepare to face the 4-10 Commanders:

    ‘We can be really good’

    Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey, who was out with an illness, liked what he saw from his team as he watched it play two games without him.

    In the midst of an All-Star-caliber season, Tyrese Maxey missed two games this weekend because of an illness. He watched the Sixers’ win over the Pacers and loss against the Hawks from home, posting enthusiastically on social media from his couch. Maxey returned to practice Wednesday and said he was pleased with the team’s performance during his absence.

    “When I said [before the season that] I wanted stuff to look the same,” Maxey said, “I just wanted us to go out there and compete every single night. I don’t want it to look like, ‘Oh, this guy’s out. That guy’s out. So we’re just going to lay down, and the other team’s going to beat us.’

    “I think we’ve kind of created that standard and done a good job of it. It’s kind of coming to light, and now we’ve got to keep doing it.”

    Sports snapshot

    Tyreek Chappell is a redshirt senior cornerback for the Texas A&M Aggies.

    Marcus Hayes’ take

    Dallas Goedert, A.J. Brown and the Eagles have suffered their share of frustrations in 2025, but there’s also been plenty of joy.

    Contrary to much of the commentary and punditry, the Eagles are nearing the end of a very good season. Saquon Barkley isn’t going to break rushing records this season, and the passing game hasn’t equaled its pedigree, and the defense won’t finish ranked No. 1, but none of that matters. What matters is who they beat, who they lost to, and where they stand.

    They’ve beaten the Rams, Packers, and Buccaneers, all playoff teams. The Eagles’ results through 15 weeks present a team that can become just the eighth franchise to win consecutive Lombardi Trophies, Marcus Hayes writes.

    Join us before kickoff

    Gameday Central: Eagles at Commanders

    Live from Northwest Stadium: Beat writers Jeff McLane and Olivia Reiner will preview the Eagles game against the Washington Commanders at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Tune in to Gameday Central.

    What you’re saying about Adolis García

    We asked: What are your thoughts on the Phillies’ new outfielder? Among your responses:

    Meh. We need Bader. This guy ain’t Bader. — Tony R.

    I’ll give him a chance, but it looks like replacing a guy on the downside of his career with a guy on the downside of his career, albeit a better fielder. — Joel G.

    Another right fielder that doesn’t hit consistently. Go for the gusto and not bandaids. — Tom G.

    I was hoping for a more powerful right-handed hitter, but they are probably in great demand and maybe beyond Mr. Middleton’s present budget. Adolis Garcia has had some really good years in the past so let’s hope for the best. I am really disappointed thus far to see that we have not re-signed Bader. — Everett S.

    Don’t quite understand why the Phillies don’t think that power hitting outfielders are a priority, since they really only have 2 power hitters in their lineup. — Bill M.

    Yawn. — Doug R.

    Nick Castellanos, left, and Adolis GarcĂ­a

    At $10 million, he may be a better bet than the late blooming Max Kepler or the moping Nick Castellanos. With Justin Crawford slated to start in center, looks like the Phillies are no longer interested in Harrison Bader, who is looking for a rich multi-year deal. I like the move, if Adolis return to form, the Phillies may be the “bash brothers” of 2026! — Bob C.

    … Meanwhile, back at the farm, Harrison Bader remains unsigned. The best center fielder we’ve had since the flyin’ Hawaiian. The good news is Jordan Romano is now a member of the Angels. Robbed the bank of $2 million. What great agents these players have. — Ronald R.

    In spite of all of the modern metrics I’m still a strong believer in batting average being a huge indicator of a player’s offensive success and .227 is very concerning. So… if Crawford isn’t expected to hit as well as he did in the minors and Marsh not yet proven to be a .300 hitter I would say that the outfield offensive production is going to be weak. — Bob A.

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Marcus Hayes, Alex Coffey, Devin Jackson, Olivia Reiner, Jeff Neiburg, Jeff McLane, Scott Lauber, David Murphy, Gina Mizell, Jackie Spiegel, Gustav Elvin, Dylan Johnson, and Sean McKeown.

    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.

    Thank you for reading Sports Daily. Bella will bring you the newsletter on Friday. — Jim

  • đŸ„ƒ What Craig LaBan is gifting this year | Let’s Eat

    đŸ„ƒ What Craig LaBan is gifting this year | Let’s Eat

    Tough job, evaluating nearly three dozen whiskies for gift-giving. Craig LaBan and friends went there.

    🔔 Note that this is the last “Let’s Eat” newsletter of 2025. I’ll be back in your inbox Jan. 7.

    Also in this edition:

    — Mike Klein

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

    Craig LaBan’s favorite gift bottles of whiskey

    Craig LaBan and his whiskey-loving friends sniffed and sipped their way through 33 bottles from across the world — even one from BeyoncĂ©. Here are 14 he’d be happy to give and get.

    đŸ· Also: Here are the best wine shops in the region.

    New restaurant from a Michelin-starred chef couple

    Fresh off their Michelin glory, chef couple Amanda Shulman and Alex Kemp have opened the casual Pine Street Grill. We took a first look.

    Pine Street Grill is on a former site of a Dmitri’s restaurant. In tribute, the couple is serving a riff on Dmitri Chimes’ popular shrimp pil pil appetizer.

    Shop at this honky-tonk bar

    Secondhand Ranch has a secondhand/vintage shop on one side, and a honky-tonk bar on the other, and it’s all deep in the heart of Fishtown.

    Kombucha for your face

    “Our skin is alive,” says Olga Sorzana, founder of Phoenixville’s popular Baba’s Brew. She’s infusing her kombucha into a line of skincare products.

    How a holiday bar has ruined the idea for one reporter

    Beatrice Forman says she went to Bucket Listers’ Emo Christmas bar in search of whimsy and holiday cheer — but “I left $139 poorer and feeling like a poser.” Bah, humbug.

    🎅 There is no shortage of holiday bars.

    The best things we ate last week

    On our plate this week: Tagliatelle at Alice, plus a burrata-topped brunch dish at the Love and our first bites of a PopUp bagel before the hyped chain comes to town.

    đŸ€€ Want more of this weekly feature? Get caught up here.

    Scoops

    Greg Vernick has a fourth restaurant on the way, and he’s headed to Frankford Avenue in bustling Kensington. Emilia will feature the Italian stylings of longtime Vernick Food & Drink chef de cuisine Meredith Medoway in an unfussy setting.

    If you had your ear to the ground, you’d know that the bar set to replace Roxborough’s former Tavern on Ridge will be called Hop Lil Bunny. Prospective owner says it’s just a hare early to discuss specifics.

    Restaurant report

    Casa Oui. A French pastry chef and a Mexican restaurant manager fell in love, and the result is Queen Village’s newest all-day cafĂ©. You can get coffee and pastries in the daytime and cocktails and Mexican fare (like the aguachile shown above) at night.

    La Maison Jaune. Zahra Saeed’s cozy, new French-style cafe near Fitler Square combines her two passions: delicious food and beautiful design. She plans to expand, which would send her line of pastries, including macarons de Nancy, financiers, and madeleines, all around the city.

    Among the openings on tap: Side Eye, the neighborhood bar coming to the former Bistrot La Minette space at 623 S. Sixth St. in Queen Village, and Bikini Burger at 44 Rittenhouse Place in Ardmore.

    Briefly noted

    Nine categories, four nominees in each: It’s the 2026 edition of the Tasties, the Philly restaurant awards handed out by the “Delicious City” podcast. The gala will be Feb. 1 at Live Casino, and the nominees are here.

    Manny’s Restaurant’s eight-year run in Holland’s Gateway Center will end Jan. 4 as the partners focus on their smaller deli at Willow Grove Pointe Shopping Center in Horsham.

    Zsa’s Ice Cream marks its finale Sunday after 14 years in Mount Airy. A year ago, Danielle Jowdy announced the shop’s “grand closing” as she sought to find a buyer. Final hours will be 3 to 9 p.m. through Friday, and noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

    Hunger-relief group Sharing Excess estimates that one truckload of food costs $1,290 to deliver and can feed 80 families for a month. For each $1,290 sponsorship, Sharing Express gives the donor a branded toy truck (like those Hess trucks). Details are here.

    ❓Pop quiz

    The Pennsylvania Farm Show will have a special feature when it starts in early January. What is it?

    A) red, white, and blue milkshakes

    B) a butter sculpture shaped like Saquon Barkley

    C) cow-tipping contests

    D) mushroom cheesesteaks

    Find out if you know the answer.

    Ask Mike anything

    Is 333 Belrose in Radnor ever coming back? — Marty P.

    Opened in 1999, this bar and grill tucked off King of Prussia Road has been closed since June as owners majorly remodel not only the interior but the menu. Reopening is targeted for mid-January. I’ll have more info on this and dozens of other openings in my “what’s coming in 2026″ feature just after New Year’s.

    📼 Have a question about food in Philly? Email your questions to me at mklein@inquirer.com for a chance to be featured in my newsletter.

    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.

  • đŸ« When schools move ‘tough-to-teach’ kids | Morning Newsletter

    đŸ« When schools move ‘tough-to-teach’ kids | Morning Newsletter

    Wake up, it’s Wednesday.

    It may be slightly warmer out, but beware the icy glaze lurking on streets, sidewalks, and driveways.

    A Philly school principal told The Inquirer they’re experiencing what they call “the season when we get charter kids.” Today’s main story digs into a practice that several administrators claim drives troubled students from charters to district institutions.

    Also in this edition: We stop by a Christmas Village hut using the element of surprise to sell unclaimed mail packages.

    — Paola PĂ©rez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

    ‘It’s no secret’

    It’s not unusual for students to switch schools after the school year begins. However, some Philly principals point to one “concerning” trend behind a bump in transfers from charters.

    The Inquirer spoke with a dozen current and former district administrators who say some pupils with behavior problems are pushed by charters out to Philadelphia School District schools. Charter leaders dispute claims that kids are sent to district schools over disciplinary issues.

    Charter-to-district data: Over the past three years, the number of charter students transferring to district schools increases every month throughout the school year. “It’s not talked about, but in the schools, it’s no secret,” said one principal about the increase.

    Deep frustration: The bar is much higher for district administrators to remove students; they “can’t turn kids away,” another principal said. Making matters more difficult is a lack of additional funding to attend to more students.

    Notable quote: “It’s just not fair,” said a third principal. “We’re not getting their best kids.”

    Philly schools reporter Kristen Graham reports on the challenges district schools face as they take on charter school students.

    🎁 Mystery mail

    đŸŽ€ Now I’m passing the mic to columnist Stephanie Farr.

    Emma Zielinski wasn’t sure how her business selling unclaimed mystery mail would fare at the Christmas Village in Philadelphia this year, or if she’d even be accepted into the holiday market at all.

    “I didn’t think they’d take us because we’re not handmade, but when I picked up my vendor badge they were like, ‘We’ve been waiting for you to apply!’” she said.

    As it turns out, thousands of people from across the region have also been waiting for the chance to buy orphaned packages that never found their way home and nobody went to look for — the contents of which remain shrouded to both Zielinski and the buyers until after they are purchased.

    “The Christmas Village has really turned my business upside down,” she told me. “I don’t think anyone realized this was going to happen.” — Stephanie Farr

    See what’s inside the bags going from $10 to $40 a pop.

    What you should know today

    🧠 Trivia time

    In December of 2022, Jalen Hurts gave diehard Eagles fan Paul Hamilton a historic touchdown ball at MetLife Stadium.

    What happened next, according to a lawsuit?

    A) Hamilton tried to sell it on eBay for $1 billion

    B) Security officials accosted and detained Hamilton

    C) Hamilton hurled it at a Giants fan

    D) None of the above

    Think you got it? Check your answer.

    What (and whom) we’re 


    🎅 Riding along with: The Cherry Hill Santa tour bringing Christmas cheer around snow-dusted South Jersey.

    đŸ€« Ranking: The Philly region’s loudest and quietest hospitals.

    🎄 Learning: How Pennsylvania grows 720,000 Christmas trees a year.

    🎬 Watching: The first trailer for Disclosure Day, Steven Spielberg’s new movie filmed in New Jersey.

    🔬 Analyzing: Why Philadelphia loses promising biotech firms to Boston, San Francisco, and San Diego.

    đŸ§© Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: Pennsylvania’s first surveyor general, and namesake of a new elementary school in Northeast Philly

    HAMEL SMOOTH

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

    Cheers to Tracey Slobotkin, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Adolis García. The Phillies signed the free-agent outfielder to a one-year contract, which major league sources said is for $10 million. Here are five things to know about the newest Phillie.

    Photo of the day

    Saquon Barkley takes a photo with Emmanuel Nyanue (left), holding 3-month-old Salim Davis at Barkley’s toy drive at Chickie’s & Pete’s in South Philadelphia on Monday.

    Have a good one, and I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow.

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