Good morning. It’s set to be a mostly cloudy Saturday with a high near 33.
Today, we’re talking about the pure love that poured out from the Mummers Parade.
But first, we have updates on disruptions coming to SEPTA’S Fox Chase Line, another Philadelphia bar that has gone to the dogs, and the Philly area’s first babies of 2026.
Let’s get into it.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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What you should know today
- Expect service disruptions starting Monday on SEPTA Regional Rail’s Fox Chase Line as crews install new tracks. Shuttle buses will replace midday trains for several weeks.
- The Boozy Mutt, Fairmount’s pup-friendly pub, is closing its doors Saturday after just over two years in business. Its owners cited rising costs as a factor.
- Philadelphia recorded 222 homicides in 2025, which is the fewest in more than half a century. Officials caution that the improvements are fragile.
- Police have arrested a California man in connection with the hit-and-run death of a man who was riding an e-bike in South Jersey this week.
- Suraya, the Michelin-recognized Lebanese restaurant in Fishtown, closed temporarily after a nearby rooftop fire left the restaurant without gas.
- Henry Schamp was the Philadelphia area’s first baby of 2026, born at the stroke of midnight. Meet Henry and several others who were welcomed into the world with sparkling fireworks outside their window.
- Former Phillies star Lenny Dykstra was arrested for drug possession during a traffic stop just after midnight on New Year’s Day in Northeastern Pennsylvania, state police said.
- A lawsuit by a violinist accuses actor and musician Will Smith of sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation over the course of a 2024 tour.
- A shopping center near downtown Phoenixville recently sold for nearly $7.4 million. The fully occupied property is less than a mile from the borough’s bustling downtown.
- How much caring is too much caring? A reader asked The Inquirer for advice on keeping their New Year’s resolution to not let Philly team losses ruin their day. Here’s what we recommend.
A romantic Mummers
When considering the good, bad, and weird in the region’s latest happenings, editor Sam Ruland looked to two special stories out of the Mummers Parade that captured hearts across the city of Philadelphia.
The nation’s oldest folk parade drew thousands who braved the bitter cold and high winds to participate in the annual tradition. Unfortunately, those winds prevented the string bands from competing, marking the first time in Mummers history that was suspended.
But because this is Philadelphia, the show still went on, and we got to see uplifting things happen amid the dancing, sequins, and feathers: There was a couple who got married in the middle of the parade, and an adorable Mummers-obsessed 93-year-old Welsh grandma who flew here to finally see them in person. A uniquely Philly love was palpable at the event, now in its 125th anniversary.
“This New Year’s Day delivered a reminder of what this thing actually is: unshakable, irrational, deeply sincere devotion,” Ruland writes. Both stories earned an A+.
Catch up on these stories and more from this week in Philly news.
One viewpoint
In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson proposes some New Year’s resolutions for key players in City Hall, Harrisburg, and everywhere in between.
For instance, Pearson argued City Council should work toward eliminating micromanagement, and called on SEPTA “to stand and deliver.” Read his suggestions to state and local leaders, including a bonus resolution for everyday Philadelphians.
📍 Find the location
Think you know where this was taken? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly locations to the test. Check your answer.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Hollywood production designer from West Philly
MONTHS YAWN
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Melissa Pergine, who correctly guessed Wednesday’s answer: Manayunk. Acclaimed gluten-free bakery Flakely will move from an industrial kitchen in the Northwest Philadelphia neighborhood to a bigger storefront in Bryn Mawr by February 2026.
🎤 We were there
The free New Year’s Eve concert in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum was a frigid, fireworks-filled affair, kicking off the city’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday.
LL Cool J and DJ Jazzy Jeff headlined the show, with Philadelphia-based rapper Freeway making a surprise appearance just before midnight.
Somewhere on the internet in Philly
Why is Wawa called Wawa? There are degrees of knowledge to unpack here, so WHYY’s Avi Wofman-Arent walked us through the lore (with some Sheetz shade to boot).
Streets Dept posted a crabby art installation at Washington and Passyunk Avenues. The video title is timeless: “Philly is not a real place.”
Meanwhile, Philadelphians on Reddit are talking about Stranger Things apparently confirming “Philly is the center of the universe.” Spoilers ahead: This is why fans are buzzing about the finale.
One more thing: Before I let you go, allow me to congratulate my colleague Diane Mastrull on her retirement. She is a longtime editor of this newsletter and a titan of journalism and public service. This edition is the last to be expertly edited by her eagle eye. Thank you, Diane.
👋🏽 Thanks for stopping. See you again tomorrow morning.
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