With the nation’s 250th birthday fast approaching, the New York Times named Philadelphia as the number one travel destination in the world for 2026.
While noting that there will be no shortage of celebrations for the Semiquincentennial, as the national milestone is known, Philly landed the top spot on the paper’s annual “52 Places to Go” list published each January. Because where else would you want to be this year than the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence?
“Celebrate the Semiquincentennial with fireworks and themed balls,” the paper wrote, before mentioning just a few of the slew of major events Philly has planned for America’s yearlong birthday bash, including a Red, White & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade, two new galleries at the National Constitution Center, a grand exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and a World Cup match on Independence Day.
That’s not to mention other big-ticket events coming our way in 2026, like the MLB All-Star Game, a pumped Fourth of July concert with soon-to-be-announced special guests, and TED Democracy talks, plus a host of neighborhood programming.
With its unmatched Revolutionary bona fides, Philly edged out global travel destinations for the top spot. Like Warsaw, with its gleaming new Museum of Modern Art, and a greener-than-ever Bangkok. Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula and India’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve rounded out the paper’s top global spots worth visiting in 2026.
Compiled yearly by Times editors and reporters, the exhaustive listnoted that other original colonies — Massachusetts, Virginia, New York, and New Jersey — will also have stacked Semiquincentennial calendars.
Lower Merion swore in five new commissioners on Monday, kicking off the board’s 126th year of governing the Montgomery County township.
Between rounds of applause and family photos, commissioners outlined the major challenges, and opportunities, the body will face in 2026. Board members highlighted recent accomplishments — creating a process for establishing board priorities, restricting gas-powered leaf blowers and plastic bags, advancing capital projects, hiring a police superintendent, supporting the development of affordable housing, and reversing the post-pandemic decline in police staffing levels.
“We’re solving problems, we’re moving forward, and we’re even having a little fun,” said commissioner V. Scott Zelov, who was sworn in for his sixth term.
Zelov on Monday night became the eighth commissioner in Lower Merion history to serve for at least 20 years, board President Todd Sinai said.
Sinai, who was first elected to the board in 2017, was unanimously reelected board president. Incumbent commissioner Sean Whalen called Sinai a “stalwart leader of this board,” praising Sinai’s leadership througheconomic ups and downs.
Jeremiah Woodring, also an incumbent commissioner, was unanimously elected vice president. Sinai described Woodring as “thoughtful and inquisitive,” “balanced,” and “diplomatic.”
Jana Lunger was sworn in as Lower Merion tax collector.
Here’s a who’s who of the five newly elected Lower Merion commissioners, all of whom replaced outgoing commissioners who chose not to run again in 2025.
Michael Daly, an attorney and the former president of the Gladwyne Civic Association, was sworn in to represent Ward 2, which includes Gladwyne and Penn Valley. Daly has lived in Lower Merion for around 15 years with his wife and three children, all of whom are products of the Lower Merion School District. In his law practice, he focuses on defending class action lawsuits and complex litigation. In a candidate interview earlier this fall, Daly said he’s focused on quality of life issues, including walkability, public parks, and safe streets. He replaced outgoing commissioner Joshua Grimes.
Charles Gregory, a longtime township employee, will represent Ward 4, which encompasses Ardmore and Haverford. Gregory, who was born and raised in Ardmore, worked for Lower Merion Township for 23 years until 2024. He’s the former president of the Lower Merion Workers Association and a Boy Scout troop leader. During a candidate forum, Gregory said he believed he could “make a difference from a blue collar aspect.” Gregory replaced outgoing commissioner Anthony Stevenson.
Christine McGuire is a forensic psychologist and business owner who will serve Rosemont and Villanova in Ward 6. McGuire lived in Gladwyne for nine years before moving to Villanova around three years ago. In a candidate forum, McGuire said she has been active in the Gladwyne Civic Association and in the parent group that studied Lower Merion’s school start time change. As the owner of a psychology practice, she said she understands “what a budget is and that you have to work within the budget and not look at it like a blank check.” She replaced outgoing commissioner Andrew Gavrin.
Craig Timberlake, an Ardmore resident who was instrumental in the 2025 redevelopment at Schauffele Plaza, will represent Ward 8’s South Wynnewood and East Ardmore. Timberlake moved to Ardmore around 15 years ago from Maine. He says he was drawn to Ardmore’s high-quality schools, walkable neighborhoods, and transit options. He believes the township should incentivize “smaller,” “incremental,” and locally funded development and decrease speed limits to protect pedestrians. Timberlake is a project manager at OnCourse, an education technology platform. He replaced Shawn Kraemer, the board’s outgoing vice president.
Shelby Sparrow, the former president of the Penn Wynne Civic Association and a longtime community organizer, will represent Penn Wynne and Wynnewood in Ward 14. Sparrow’s priorities include ensuring the community is engaged in Main Line Health’s redevelopment of the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary property; addressing pedestrian safety; and encouraging sustainability and park stewardship. She was previously the director of development for St. Peter’s Independent School in Center City. She replaced outgoing commissioner Rick Churchill.
Sinai and Zelov, who were reelected in November, were sworn in, and sitting commissioners Woodring, Whalen, Daniel Bernheim, Louis Rossman, Ray Courtney, Maggie Harper Epstein, and Gilda Kramer were welcomed back.
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It’s hard to miss Brynn McCurry when she takes the floor at the Finneran Pavilion. The Villanova forward has two large, bulky braces on the right side of her body. One brace supports her knee, where she tore her anterior cruciate ligament before last season. The other is on her elbow, protecting a torn ulnar collateral ligament, an injury typically associated with baseball.
After McCurry missed all of last season with the ACL injury, she suffered the torn UCL just before this season started. But she knew she was not going to sit out another full year.
So McCurry strapped on the braces and embraced a look she calls “bionic.” Despite the injuries, McCurry, who’s averaging 11.8 points in 11 games this season, has blossomed into an integral part of the Wildcats’ roster, helping them to a 12-3 record as their second-leading scorer and leading rebounder.
Despite mobility being limited due to braces on her elbow and knee, Villanova’s Brynn McCurry (left) has emerged as the leading rebounder and second-leading scorer for the Wildcats.
“It’s a great feeling just to be out there in itself, but also being on a team that’s been so successful,” McCurry said. “… And just being able to be back playing with people that I’ve never gotten to play with. So it’s a great feeling to be out there, and an even better feeling to be winning.”
Injury issues first popped up for McCurry during her senior season at Sparta (N.J.) High School in 2022-23, when she suffered a torn left ACL in mid-December, ending her high school career.
McCurry enrolled at Villanova but spent most of her freshman year playing sparingly off the bench. However, her role increased near the end of the season. She played double-digit minutes in seven of the Wildcats’ final nine games, which helped her confidence grow.
That confidence continued to rise when the team traveled to Italy for exhibition games in the summer of 2024. McCurry looked like the best player on a team full of newcomers to coach Denise Dillon, and her sophomore leap seemed inevitable.
“A lot of our team had left in [the] transfer portal or graduated, so that was a great experience,” McCurry said. “[But] the momentum kind of just stopped once I tore my ACL.”
Brynn McCurry battles St. Joseph’s forward Faith Stinson during the clash in the Big 5 women’s basketball championship in December.
Just as the team began ramping up its preseason in September 2024, McCurry suffered a torn right ACL.
The injury set up another nine-month recovery period as she was finding her role on the court. However, with the help of her support system, McCurry attacked her rehab to return to the court as soon as possible.
“Once you have surgery, it’s done; you’ve got to start rehabbing again,” McCurry said. “So just having a good support system around me, my family came down and was with me for the first week after surgery because you can’t do a lot by yourself. But after that, Villanova, my teammates, and the coaches took great care of me.”
That setback meant McCurry had to spend another season watching from the sidelines. She remained positive in her year off, motivated to get back to the court and compete.
She was healthy for Villanova’s preseason this fall, albeit supported by a large knee brace. Then, more bad news struck following a seemingly normal practice.
Brynn McCurry’s brace protects what she discovered was a torn ligament in her right elbow. She’ll look to undergo Tommy John surgery in the offseason.
McCurry was playing defense and had her right arm caught in a screen, leaving a tingly feeling in her arm, almost as if she hit her funny bone. Initially, she wasn’t too concerned, but she discovered the next day she could not turn doorknobs with her right hand. Scans revealed a torn UCL. She’ll need to undergo Tommy John surgery, but she has put that off.
“I’m just trying to push through this season without having to get that done, and wearing that big brace is how I can do it,” McCurry said. “So I look a little bit bionic out there on my right side, but whatever keeps me out there, as long as the doctors say I can just wear the brace, that’s what I’ll do.”
The elbow brace has affected McCurry’s shooting ability, but she has still developed into one of the Wildcats’ crucial players this season — braces and all.
She came off the bench in the first four games and didn’t score more than seven points. McCurry entered the starting lineup against James Madison on Nov. 16 and scored a then-career-high 18 points with seven assists.
McCurry has been on a tear since that breakout performance. She scored in double figures in the next five games, including three straight games with 20 or more points. McCurry put up 21 points in an 81-59 upset of then-No. 25 West Virginia on Dec. 1. She scored another 21 points six days later to beat St. Joseph’s, 76-70, in the Big 5 Classic championship on Dec. 7.
“She picked up right where she had left off [in freshman year],” Dillon said. “She’s a consistent worker, and she understands the game so well. She knows what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and I’m super proud of her for continuing. Her resilience is amazing, and she’s getting results that are working in favor of this team’s success.”
McCurry’s first start coincided with the beginning of a 10-game winning streak, Villanova’s longest since the 2017-18 season. McCurry’s impact does not just come from scoring. She takes pride in being an all-around player, averaging 5.6 rebounds, and is second on the Wildcats with 58 assists.
Villanova’s winning streak ended against Marquette on Sunday, but it is in the NCAA Tournament conversation with two months to play. McCurry has been critical to the Wildcats’ success, despite playing with two big braces and a torn UCL. She is aiming to remain confident to end the season and to help her team continue to pick up wins.
“Being out, I got to see what some great players are,” McCurry said. “There are so many people out there, and Maddy Siegrist is a big one that everyone from Villanova knows, but just modeling myself after other great players.
“Confidence is a huge thing. So just continuing to be confident in myself and my teammates. I think we can be really successful.”
This year’s Sing Us Home festival will feature founders Dave and Tim Hause, Scranton pop-punk band the Menzingers, prolific indie rockers the Mountain Goats, punk veteran Ted Leo, and a certain late night TV comedian and political commentator playing drums.
In its fourth year, Sing Us Home will be staged on Venice Island in Manayunk from May 1-3. It will again take its place as the opening event of Philadelphia’s outdoor music festival season.
Produced by Ardmore-based music promoters Rising Sun Presents, the fest will kick of on a Friday night with its traditional opening set billed as the Hause Family Campfire. That includes Roxborough-raised Dave Hause joined by Leo, Will Hoge, and Jenny Owen Youngs, with all four songwriters on stage at once, sharing songs and stories.
Along with the aforementioned headliners and Dave Hause & the Mermaid, the three-day fest also includes Tim Hause & the Pre-Existing Conditions, fronted by Hause’s younger brother and festival cofounder.
The lineup for the 2026 Sing Us Home Festival.
The lineup also features blues guitarist Emily Wolfe, Canadian punks the Flatliners, New York indie rockers Augustines, New Jersey band Church and State™, Philly singer Moustapha Noumbissi, Lancaster folk-punk band Apes of the State, singer-songwriters Katacombs and Laney Lebo, and horn happy outfit Big Boy Brass, who will parade the grounds.
The political pundit funnyman playing the drums will be Jon Stewart, who sits on the throne behind his kit with Church and State™, the new band with whom he has played only a handful of gigs.
Last month, he told the audience on the Daily Show that he picked up the stick after failing to master the guitar or piano, and that playing in his first band at age 63 was extremely fun.
Local fans have become used to traveling up to northern New Jersey to watch the U.S. women’s soccer team, and in a few months, they’ll get to do it again.
The Americans will play Colombia on March 7 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison as part of the annual SheBelieves Cup tournament. Canada and Argentina are the other teams in this year’s field, and they’ll play at 12:30 p.m. before the U.S.-Colombia game at 3:30 p.m.
It will be the last day of the round-robin, with Nashville hosting the opening doubleheader on March 1 and Columbus, Ohio, hosting the middle games on March 4. The day also will feature the retirement tribute for U.S. legend Tobin Heath, a North Jersey native who earned first-ballot induction into this year’s National Soccer Hall of Fame class.
The U.S. women have played nine times at the 25,000-seat venue formerly known as Red Bull Arena. Their last seven games there have drawn sellout crowds.
Tobin Heath playing in Philadelphia in 2019. She won two World Cups, two Olympic gold medals, and two NWSL championships in her career.
Unfortunately, the U.S. kickoff time means that fans here who also follow the Union will have to choose between going north and going down to Chester for the Union’s 7:30 p.m. game against the San Jose Earthquakes.
In theory, they could try to race out of Harrison to get on the New Jersey Turnpike, but traffic up there is almost certain to make that impossible.
As for the teams in the SheBelieves field, Canada is the best of them on paper at No. 10 in FIFA’s global rankings. But the Canucks have lost five straight games, a streak that started with a 3-0 rout by the U.S. in June. Since then, they have faced Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Japan twice.
Colombia is the most intriguing team of the bunch. Las Cafeteras are ranked No. 20, but have three superstars in their attack: the Washington Spirit’s Leicy Santos, Real Madrid’s Linda Caicedo, and Chelsea’s Mayra Ramírez. Colombia made the final of last year’s Copa América and lost on penalty kicks to Brazil after a wild 4-4 tie.
U.S. Soccer tends to put the best game for the U.S. on the tournament’s last day, so it says something that Colombia got the honor this time.
Argentina is ranked No. 30, and finished third at last year’s Copa. Forward Paulina Gramaglia used to play for the Houston Dash, and is now with Spain’s Tenerife.
These games will be the first of a year that builds up to Concacaf’s women’s championship in November. The tournament will serve as qualifying for the 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, though the U.S. doesn’t have to worry about the latter as the host.
“These are three teams that will likely be in the World Cup in 2027 and of course we’ll likely see Canada in World Cup qualifying at the end of the year, so when focusing on our continued preparations and growth as a team, the SheBelieves Cup is of great value,” U.S. manager Emma Hayes said in a statement. “Each team brings different strengths and will challenge us to find success in all parts of the field, which is exactly what we need as we continue our process to build toward the big events on the horizon.”
Ticket presales for U.S. Soccer members start on Thursday, and the general public sale starts on Monday.
U.S. manager Emma Hayes overseeing a practice in Chester in October.
SheBelieves Cup schedule
Sunday, March 1: Canada vs. Colombia (2 p.m., truTV and Universo) and United States vs. Argentina (5 p.m., TNT, truTV, Universo) in Nashville.
Wednesday, March 4: Argentina vs. Colombia (3:30 p.m., truTV and Universo) and United States vs. Canada (6:45 p.m., TNT, truTV, Universo) in Columbus, Ohio
Saturday, March 7: Canada vs. Argentina, 12:30 p.m. (truTV, Universo) and United States vs. Colombia (3:30 p.m., TBS, truTV, Telemundo 62, Universo) in Harrison, N.J.
All games also are available via online streaming on HBO Max in English and Peacock in Spanish.
Hard Knocks ushered in the new year on Tuesday, with the HBO documentary series showcasing the Eagles’ preparations for both their Week 18 matchup against the Washington Commanders and the playoffs.
The sixth episode focused on Nick Sirianni’s field goal superstitions, Jordan Davis’ impact on the team, DeVonta Smith securing another 1,000-yard season, and more.
Here’s what you may have missed from this week’s episode of Hard Knocks: In Season with the NFC East …
Just like us
Many fans have their game-day traditions, especially when it comes to field goals. If you have ever been mocked for blowing on the screen in an attempt to disrupt an opposing player’s kick, don’t be ashamed — even Sirianni has his rituals.
The Eagles coach revealed that he asked special teams coordinator Michael Clay the same question before Davis’ game-winning field goal block against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3 and Jalen Carter’s consequential extra point block against the Buffalo Bills in Week 17.
“The last time I was superstitious was during the [expletive] Rams game,” Sirianni said. “I go, ‘Clay, can we block this?’ And that was actually the first time we blocked a kick … because we needed a big play right there. I did it again in the Buffalo game. And that’s why superstitions are stupid, because that had nothing to do with why we blocked the kick.”
Whether or not the question “Can we block this?” joins the pantheon of Eagles’ fans’ game-day superstitions is yet to be seen, but don’t be surprised if you hear them asking one another the same question this weekend.
Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean (left) and safety Reed Blankenship warm up before Sunday’s game against the Commanders, but neither saw the field.
Some rest for the weary
The talk of the town following Sunday’s loss was Sirianni’s decision to rest most of the Eagles’ starters against the Commanders — despite still having a chance to capture the NFC’s second seed by securing a win (thanks to the Chicago Bears’ loss).
While fans were able to see Sirianni’s explanation to the media before the game, Hard Knocks provided a glimpse into how the Eagles coach broke the news to his players. Sirianni said that some players would be fully off — like Jalaen Phillips, who hadn’t yet had a bye week after his in-season trade from the Miami Dolphins — while some might dress and play a little, or dress and be ready just in case. Others, however, would get a chance to shine in their place.
“Some guys are going to have a great opportunity to play more than you have,” Sirianni said. “And make no mistake about it, we are going out there to win this [expletive] game. We are going out there to win this [expletive] game.”
Several resting starters decided to flip to the other side of the ball while not getting their normal first-team reps in practice, including Jordan Mailata and Cooper DeJean, who were shown joining the Eagles’ scout team as a pass rusher and wide receiver, respectively.
“Look at all our guys that are on scout team,” Sirianni said to a smiling Connor Barwin. “It’s helping on defense. Look, the whole defense is in on it. [It’s] a sign of a good team.”
However, without their starters, the Birds lost to the Commanders, 24-17, forfeiting their shot at the No. 2 seed, which would have guaranteed a second home playoff game if they survive their first-round matchup against the Brock Purdy-led San Francisco 49ers.
The episode ends with Davis and right guard Tyler Steen walking off the field together while discussing the team’s next steps.
“We’ve got to make this run now,” Davis said following the game. “Its crunch time now, boy.”
“We would’ve had the two seed,” Steen said.
“As long as we get in and win every single one, that’s all that matters, bro,” Davis said. “Don’t matter if it be home or away.”
Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis got in much better shape this offseason.
Davis in the spotlight
Davis has had a stellar year at defensive tackle for the Eagles, ranking fourth in the league in combined tackles by a defensive lineman.
In the latest episode, the 6-foot-6 former Georgia star was open about his difficult first few years in the NFL, specifically his struggles with his weight and attitude.
“I want to genuinely be the best person I can be,” Davis said. “And that’s why I’m going so hard in terms of how my body is changing, and my weightlifting and my conditioning and stuff like that, because I want to do this for me. I want to look sexy. I want to be skinny, selfishly, but, at the same time, the more that I do that, and the more that I see progress and I see results, I’m even more motivated.”
Defensive line coach Clint Hurtt — who in a previous episode referred to Davis as a “big [expletive] Care Bear” — believes the 25-year-old lineman started this path to improvement during the team’s Super Bowl run last year, focusing on his sleep patterns, extra conditioning, including a healthy Peloton habit, and cutting out sweets. Davis went as far as saying that the biggest difference between the player he was two years ago in comparison to now is that he “learned how to say no.”
“You can’t be entitled,” Davis said. “Entitlement is like going through life thinking that you can do no wrong. Not that I was ever entitled, but there are definitely traits that I reflected a little bit and looked upon myself like, ‘Damn, that kind of sounds entitled.’ It’s just little small stuff like that that I want to change.”
Davis also plays an important role off the field for the Eagles, as he believes it’s his role to “keep things light.”
“JD is bigger than life, man,” edge rusher Nolan Smith said. “I call him the giant dancing bear. JD is just amazing. He’s fun, he’s energetic, he always makes you laugh, man. He’s one of those guys that just has a big presence.”
Pun intended or not, Davis’ cultural impact on the team can’t be overstated, from his joyful rendition of Rod Wave’s “Street Runner” during practice to inviting his fellow defensive linemen to South Philly restaurant Aliceto celebrate the new year.
Eagles edge rusher Jaelan Phillips (right) made sure to show off photos of his cats during the defensive line’s New Year’s dinner.
During dinner, the players were in high spirits, discussing everything from whether cats have souls to the questionable origins of Phillips’ favorite quote, before Davis officially rang in the new year for his teammates.
”To whom much is given, much is required,” Phillips said.
“Shout out, Uncle Ben,” Jaylx Hunt replied, in reference to the character from Marvel’s Spider-Man.
“Is that the Uncle Ben quote?” Phillips responded. “I thought Jesus said that, [expletive]. I’ve been telling my girl — I swear to God, I thought the bible said that [expletive].”
For those wondering, that is an actual bible quote — Luke 12:48 — and the Uncle Ben quote in question is just a little different, but it sends a similar message: “With great power comes great responsibility.”
“Man, Stan Lee was dropping bombs,” Phillips joked.
On Sunday, there was one major offensive starter still on the field for the Eagles: DeVonta Smith.
Smith, who reached 1,000 receiving yards in each of his previous two seasons with the Birds, entered the regular-season finale 44 yards away from reaching the mark for a third straight year.
The star receiver only needed the first quarter to get his yards, and finished the game with 52 total. Sirianni pulled the former Heisman Trophy winner early to help keep him ready for the playoffs — but not before jokingly criticizing Smith’s on field decision-making.
“You didn’t run out of bounds,” Sirianni said to Smith after being pulled from the game. “You took a hit and didn’t run out of bounds.”
“When?” Smith responded.
“On that first play,” Sirianni said. “You lying son of a …”
Over the past two years, the area has produced some of the best girls’ basketball talent in the nation. This season will be no different.
Other than Westtown School, which competes in the non-Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association-affiliated Friends Schools League, no team is dominant. In the Catholic League, the deepest, most talented league in the state, defending champion Neumann Goretti, will face challenges from Archbishop Carroll and a young, maturing Cardinal O’Hara team. In District 1, defending PIAA Class 6A champion Perkiomen Valley was hit hard by graduation, leaving the door open this season to Suburban One League powers Upper Dublin and Central Bucks East, along with Ches-Mont League stalwart Downingtown East.
In the Public League, rivals Universal Audenried Charter and Imhotep Charter will again be contenders. The Friends Schools League features two teams, Westtown and Friends Central, with national-level talent.
Here are some of the area’s top girls’ basketball teams to watch this season.
Archbishop Carroll
The Patriots finished 20-10 last season and return a loaded team that has been to the Philadelphia Catholic League championship the last two years. The last time Carroll won the PCL was 2019. Carroll is one of the best shooting teams in the area, with a nucleus led by Villanova-bound senior guard Alexis Eberz and her sophomore twin sisters. Kelsey Eberz is recovering from a season-ending knee injury suffered in December 2024, and Kayla Eberz is arguably one of the best players in the PCL. Carroll, which also features 6-foot senior Bridget Grant and junior guard Abbie McFillin, last won the PIAA Class 6A championship in 2023, and reached the state semifinals last year, losing to eventual state champion Perkiomen Valley.
Archbishop Carroll’s Abby McFillin shoots against Archbishop Wood in the Catholic League semifinals on Feb. 17.
Audenried
The Rockets will look to move forward without generational star Shayla Smith, now at Penn State after becoming the all-time scoring leader in the city, finishing with 2,690 points. Audenried ended last season 23-8, one game away from making history as the first girls’ Public League team to reach and win a state final. The three-time defending Public League champion Rockets were stopped by eventual PIAA Class 4A champion Neumann Goretti in the state semifinal. They return one of the nation’s top players in 6-foot-3 junior forward Nasiaah Russell, along with seniors Heaven Reese, Aniyah Cheesboro, and Raven Robinson.
Cardinal O’Hara
The traditional Catholic League powerhouse went 17-9 last season and reached the Catholic League semifinals along with the PIAA Class 6A state quarterfinals. The Lions are a young, evolving team centered on Drexel-bound Megan Rullo, a 5-8 point guard. Junior guards Brigidanne Donohue and Leah Hudak give the Lions depth and outside shooting, while 5-11 junior Carly Wakefield is an athletic inside presence. The Lions will be looking for the maturation of 6-3 freshman forward Olivia Craft, along with 6-1 sophomore guard Catie Doogan. Expect the Lions to be more dangerous in February.
2027 PG Brigidanne Donohue of Cardinal Ohara had it going against Nationally ranked Rutgers Prep which helped lead to a monster win‼️🔥 pic.twitter.com/1YvC7xFdx6
The Patriots have four of five starters from last season’s team that went 22-8 overall, won the Suburban One League Colonial Division, and reached the District 1 Class 6A semifinals, where they lost to eventual state champion Perkiomen Valley. Seniors Jess Lockwood, Natalie Berndt, and Emma Penecale, and junior point guardHaley Moran lead CB East, which lost to O’Hara in the first round of the PIAA 6A playoffs.
Downingtown East
This is a team that coach Darren Domsohn has been cultivating for the last few years. The Cougars went 24-6 last season and return every significant player from a team that reached the District 1 6A quarterfinals and the second round of the state playoffs. With a core group consisting of seniors in UTEP-bound Charlotte Aldridge, point guard Chloe Hunold, sharpshooter Grace Hodges, and talented 5-9 junior guard Kendall Chiavelli, the Cougars may be good enough to play into March.
The Phoenix are one of the best teams in the state, led by two national-level juniors in Zya Small, a 6-1 guard/forward, and Ryan Carter, a gifted 5-11 guard who transferred from Archbishop Wood after averaging 17 points last season. The problem Friends’ Central faces is that it also happens to be in the same Friends Schools League as Westtown, the best team in the state and among the top teams in the country. The Phoenix finished 21-9 last season and reached the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA) state championship, where they lost to rival Westtown.
A closer look at the Friends Central girls’ basketball team this preseason shows that ESPN’s #10 is a master at work . Carter’s contributions on every trip down the court are unparalleled. She’s undoubtedly the biggest addition any program has made for the upcoming season. Having… pic.twitter.com/JhS5D7MuqO
The Panthers went 23-7 overall before losing in the state semifinals, 65-46, to eventual PIAA Class 3A champion Loyalsock. Like Audenried, they, too, are aiming for history this season as the first girls’ Public League team to reach and win a state championship. They have some talent to do it in 5-11 senior twins Geren and Crystal Hawthorne and 5-7 sophomore guard Taylor Linton. Imhotep has been to the Public League finals the last 13 years — the last 10 under coach David Hargrove — with its last league title coming in 2022.
Neumann Goretti
The Saints are the defending Catholic League and PIAA Class 4A champions. They went 26-3 last season and will be moving forward without two generational players in four-year starters Carryn Easley (Fordham) and Amya Scott (Delaware State). Neumann Goretti does have a talented group back for coach Andrea Peterson, who has won six state titles and three Catholic League championships in 11 years. In 5-8 junior guard Reginna Baker, Peterson has one of the best players in the PCL, back with senior guards Kamora Berry and Zion Coston. The Saints also feature 6-foot sophomore forward Chrisette King, and 5-7 freshman guard Azzure O’Connor, the daughter of former Simon Gratz star Marvin O’Connor.
Neumann Goretti’s Kamora Berry shoots during the ’ Catholic League semifinal against Cardinal O’Hara on Feb. 17, 2025.
Upper Dublin
The Cardinals are one of the more dynamic teams to watch in District 1 6A. They finished 24-6 overall last season, reaching the district semifinals, before they were ousted in the opening round of the state playoffs. Upper Dublin is led by 5-4 Fairleigh Dickinson-bound Megan Ngo, La Salle-bound Emilia Coleman, and stellar 5-9 junior guard Tamia Clark. The Cardinals are among the favorites in District 1 and may arguably be the fastest team in the area.
Westtown School
The Moose are the area’s most dominant team, going 27-4 last year and winners of five straight Friends Schools League titles and four straight PAISAA championships. They are riding a five-year winning streak in the Friends Schools League. It is a fun, star-studded team led by Jordyn Palmer, a 6-1 junior guard, 6-foot Ohio State-bound point guard Atlee Vanesko, and 6-foot junior guard Jada Lynch. Inside help comes from a pair of 6-2 forwards, Lara Csaplár-Nagy, a junior, and senior Venessa Kaukenas.
Philadelphia police seek to identify the suspect responsible for recent vandalism at Roxborough High School.
A person painted racist and antisemitic slogans across the exterior walls of the school building Sunday, which included a swastika and racial epithets.
Surveillance video caught the suspect vandalizing the walls around 5:25 a.m. Police describe the suspect as a white male, wearing an orange scarf, a green and black winter hat, a gray hooded jacket, gray pants, and a gray and black backpack.
Cameras captured the person on Jan. 4 approaching the school on foot, coming eastbound from Fountain Street toward Pechin Street. The suspect was last seen heading toward Ridge Avenue
Police asked people to call 911 if the suspect is seen. Information about this crime or suspect can also be shared with Northwest Detective Division by calling 215-686-3353
The public can also submit tips by calling 215-686-8477 or using the online form. All tips remain confidential.
Members of the Roxborough High community chalked positive messages outside the school on Ridge Avenue after racist and antisemitic graffiti was scrawled at the school.
After officials painted over the vandalism over the weekend, Roxborough High School countered the hateful messaging with peaceful messages of their own, written in chalk.
Principal Kristin Williams Smalley said the act of hate didn’t represent the school body.
“We are deeply disappointed by these actions,” Williams Smalley wrote in a letter to the community. “We wish to remind everyone that we have a zero-tolerance policy for harassment or hate speech of any kind, and we will investigate all matters involving racist remarks and other hate speech.”
On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission condemned the “acts of hate and discrimination” and praised Roxborough’s respons as a testament to the community’s dignity, respect, and shared values.
“Racism and antisemitism are not isolated acts. These acts harm entire communities,” commission executive director Chad Dion Lassiter said. “The response at Roxborough High School shows what is possible when people refuse to be divided and instead stand together to affirm humanity, belonging, and respect. That solidarity is a powerful counter to hate.”
That was the message from Flyers fans for former top prospect Cutter Gauthier on Tuesday in his second career game in Philadelphia — at least on some of the pregame signs.
If fans had somewhat gotten over the whole ordeal in warmups, Tuesday’s game — a 5-2 Flyers win over the Anaheim Ducks — unfolded perfectly to hook them back in.
“The crowd was outstanding,” Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said. “I remember the days when I played, that’s a loud building tonight. They were awesome. I think they really gave our team some juice. Even when they scored the first goal, they didn’t let up.”
Colin Meehan, a 19-year-old St. Joseph’s student, came armed with a sign he made with a picture of Jamie Drysdale and a picture of Gauthier to support the player the Flyers received in the trade out of Philly that Gauthier forced nearly two years ago.
Drysdale is having the best season of his young career, but Meehan still wondered pregame what could have been if Gauthier hadn’t asked out.
“Imagine if we had Trevor Zegras, [Matvei] Michkov, Cutter, [Travis] Konecny, we would have been unstoppable,” Meehan said. “I feel like we would have been first in the league.
“Jamie, he’s not a quitter,” Meehan added. “I’ll tell you that. He tried with the Ducks. The Ducks didn’t want him. We’ll happily take him.”
St. Joseph’s student Colin Meehan yells at Anaheim’s Cutter Gauthier as he skates by during warmups before Tuesday’s game.
While Gauthier still got a healthy round of boos as the Ducks took the ice for warmups, most of the signs lining the glass weren’t about him at all. Many celebrated the addition of former Duck Trevor Zegras, who was playing his first game against his old team.
Gauthier did have a small group of supporters in the form of two Boston College students from Philadelphia who, for the second year in a row, made a sign supporting the player who’d brought their college hockey team to the national championship game.
“I think it’s a lot to put on someone who’s 21, 22 years old,” one of the students said. “It might be really loud in here and people are rooting against you, but there is someone in the building who’s rooting for you.”
Compared to his first game here last year, the proceedings in warmups were civil. Instead of a raucous crowd shouting expletives the entire warmup, fans mostly stayed quiet after the Ducks had taken the ice.
When the puck dropped, though, fans started chanting “We want Cutter!” Once Gauthier was on the ice, he was greeted by a loud chorus of boos.
But Gauthier quieted the crowd by scoring the first goal of the game to give Anaheim an early lead, and he gave it back to the crowd.
Not to be outdone, Zegras scored against his former team to tie it at 1 later in the first, and then hung up the phone on the Ducks, which he said postgame was meant to mimic the length of the phone call he got when he found out he was getting traded.
Zegras scored his second goal of the game from the same spot a few minutes later, pumping up the already-juiced crowd even more.
“This is home for me,” Zegras said. “I love being here. These guys are amazing. I’m having a blast, but it’s always going to feel good playing them for sure.”
But the game took a more somber turn after Ross Johnston checked Drysdale behind the play. Drysdale was down on the ice for a long time and nearly left the game on a stretcher, but he ultimately stood up and left the ice on his skates with assistance. The crowd rang out with a supportive “Jamie’s better” chant.
Anaheim’s Cutter Gauthier carries the puck during second period while facing the Flyers on Tuesday.
Drysdale’s injury took some of the bite out of the crowd, but, as the game continued, Flyers fans got back in the hating spirit.
As the Flyers closed out their win, chants cursing Gauthier continued to ring out, and the team left the ice to a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd.
It wasn’t quite as raucous as a year ago, but the crowd still created a playoff-type atmosphere. Cam York said postgame that what’s important now is continuing to play meaningful games so that Xfinity Mobile Arena doesn’t get loud only once a year.
“Pretty crazy, great atmosphere, felt like a playoff game,” York said. “It was really cool, a little bit different when there’s so much noise during the play, but I think I’d probably rather have it that way.”
What’s hot in 2026: French bars, bagels, and the Main Line, to point out just a few observations from my rundown of the more than 100 restaurants due to open this year in Philadelphia and the area. Read on for more analysis of this year’s dining forecast.
🍴 Here is the full picture: New restaurants are coming from Ellen Yin, Greg Vernick, Teddy Sourias, and dozens more.
Welcome back from the holidays!
Let’s recap what The Inquirer’s food team has been up to over the last few weeks:
The hearty, body-warming stew/soup that is pozole comes in the colors of the Mexican flag: rojo, verde, and blanco, with regional variations of each. The good news, Kiki says, is that you don’t have to go all the way to Mexico City for excellent pozole. Here are her picks.
The baked potato is having its moment, Kiki says. The Idaho spud served at Wine Dive is no small potato. It’s roughly the size of her Chihuahua and comes topped with sour cream, cheddar, bits of bacon, and scallions.
The best things we ate last year
Best dishes of 2025
We all dined out a lot last year (perhaps so did you). Here are our 21 favorite dishes of 2025, including a Hyderabadi paneer curry so hot it made Craig LaBan’s ears ring and left his face temporarily numb. And that was one of his favorites?! Read on to see what else made an impression.
Restaurant report
Restaurateur Franco Borda (that’s him shown below) loves Italian food, opera and jazz music, and South Philly. So after he closed his High Note Caffe during the pandemic, he decided to turn the joint into a nightclub. Five years later, the High Note is back, with a stage. I stopped recently to catch crooner Harry Barlo’s act, and the experience was an old-time delight. Dinner and a show for 50 bucks?
Briefly noted
Center City District Restaurant Week returns Jan. 18-31 with 100-plus restaurants offering three-course, prix-fixe dinners for $45 or $60 and two-course lunches for $20. Here’s the rundown.
Yum Grills,opening this weekend at 1135 Vine St., comes from Shahezad “Shah” Contractor and the crew from Cousin’s Burger Co. The halal shop will sell smash burgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken over rice, and wings out of a Shell station; at the Jan. 10 grand opening (1 p.m.), the first 100 people will get a double smash burger, fries, and soda.
Gluten-free bakery Flakely is opening a proper storefront in Bryn Mawr.
Emmett in Kensington has secured a full liquor license, allowing it to broaden its wine and spirit list beyond Pennsylvania labels. The new era starts Thursday.
Why is the food sold at Pennsylvania Turnpike’s rest stops so … um … mid? Brett Sholtis found out.
❓Pop quiz
Why is McDonald’s being sued this time? Not over coffee, but…
A) The ice cream machine gave the plaintiff trust issues after being “temporarily unavailable” for the 400th consecutive visit.
B) The plaintiff alleges that the McRib sandwich is not made from pork rib meat.
C) A Happy Meal did not make the plaintiff happy. Just nostalgic and sad.
D) The “two all-beef patties” jingle has been stuck in the plaintiff’s head since 1994, causing permanent mental occupation.
I’m wondering if there is a list of restaurants that take reservations but aren’t on the two major services. I always feel like I’m missing some good places out there. — Chuck L.
You may also check Tock for restaurants not on OpenTable or Resy. For years, OpenTable was the big player. Then Resy came online and started cherry-picking popular newcomers. Then OpenTable sweetened the deals for restaurants and began to recapture the market. (My editor Jenn Ladd wrote a fascinating article about this a year ago.) Tock has been a solid No. 3, but that’s where you’ll find tables at such places as DanDan, Elwood, South, and Barcelona Wine Bar. Some restaurants — such as Uchi, Scarpetta, and Cuba Libre — use SevenRooms on their back end, so you must book through the restaurant’s individual websites.
📮 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.
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