PARIS — Coco Gauff finally met a player in Paris who could match her court coverage in long baseline rallies.
Anastasia Potapova ended Gauff’s French Open title defense in the third round with a 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4 victory over the American on Saturday.
“Coco is such a champion. I respect her so much,” Potapova said. “I’m unbelievably proud of myself as well that I stayed there, that I’ve been fighting for the last point, and here I am.”
The match was played before mostly empty stands inside Court Philippe-Chatrier as French fans stayed away to watch the Champions League soccer final.
Gauff’s second Grand Slam title came with a victory over top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the final at Roland Garros a year ago.
The 30th-ranked Potapova, who was born in Russia but now represents Austria, improved to 3-2 in her career against Gauff. She’s having quite a clay season after reaching a final in Linz, Austria, and the semifinals of the Madrid Open as a qualifier.
Anastasia Potapova of Austria returns to Coco Gauff of the U.S. during their match on Saturday in Paris.
The fourth-ranked Gauff was coming off a run to the Italian Open final.
When Gauff shanked a forehand wide on Potapova’s first match point, Potapova fell on her back and covered her eyes as she stuck her feet up in the air in celebration.
Gauff waved to the crowd and quickly walked off court when the match was finished.
It wasn’t a matter of mistakes for Gauff — she hit three double-faults to her opponent’s eight and had 46 unforced errors to Potapova’s 56. It was more that Potapova controlled more in the longer rallies and wore Gauff out.
Gauff ran a total of 2,309 meters to Potapova’s 2,090.
Anastasia Potapova reacts after beating Coco Gauff at the French Open.
Osaka’s fashion statement
Earlier, Naomi Osaka beat 18-year-old American opponent Iva Jovic, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-4, after nearly three hours — in her 100th Grand Slam match — to set up a round of 16 meeting with top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka beat Daria Kasatkina, 6-0, 7-5.
For her second-straight match, Osaka wore a metallic gold bomber jacket over a sequined gold playing dress during her walk-on. But this time her outfit was offset by a tan train that stretched to the red clay on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
Naomi Osaka enters the court for her third-round match against Iva Jovic on Saturday.
For her opening match, Osaka walked on in a ceremonial black skirt and sleeveless beaded bodice before revealing her gold dress, which she said reminded her of the Eiffel Tower sparkling at night. Then, she had on the bomber jacket and an ivory-colored train for her second match.
“It’s a surprise every time,” Osaka said of her fashion choices.
“For me, it would be weirder to wear a normal tennis kit, almost, at this point. It’s the fun of it. For a long time, I didn’t have fun for a little bit. And you guys know that period of time in my life,” Osaka added, referring to how in 2021 she withdrew from the French Open because of issues with anxiety and depression. “Now, I just want things to be fun, and I want to make it exciting for myself.”
Osaka’s outfits are planned a year and a half in advance and require at least four fittings.
“We have so many fittings throughout the year because your weight can fluctuate or the fabric can change a little bit,” she said. “There is a lot of effort that goes into it.”
For the seventh straight day of the tournament, it was hot and humid, with the temperature rising to 93 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat is expected to break for Sunday and the second week.
Midway through Osaka’s victory, a spectator was carried out of the stadium on a stretcher because of an apparent illness.
On the court, French player Diane Parry beat 2019 semifinalist Amdanda Anisimova, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (3), and Diana Shnaider of Russia defeated Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine, 7-5, 6-1, after Oliynykova accused her of liking Russian propaganda posts on social media amid the war between their countries.
In men’s action, Alejandro Tabilo ended the run of 17-year-old Frenchman Moise Kouame with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (9) victory, and 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini required 5 hours, 13 minutes to defeat Francisco Comesana, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (13).
Berrettini banged his chest after winning on his fourth match point when Comesana’s shot landed long. Then he cried.
Flavio Cobolli beat Learner Tien, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3, and will next meet American Zachary Svajda, who defeated Francisco Cerundolo, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3.
There are fire bowls ablaze atop the columns flanking the front door of Mi Vida. At our table, a steak is, too, as the server who delivered the big chop known as “El Chingón” lit a cup of Mexican whiskey, then poured its blue flames up and down the arching bone of this 40-ounce mega-steak. The fire wasn’t hot enough to risk igniting the faux branches of the “tree of life” that rises over the tables near the bar — nor did it spark extra flavor on the steak. But pyrotechnics and dramatic decor are as much a part of the experience as the food at this ambitious newcomer in National Real Estate Development’s $400 million East Market development.
Mi Vida, which opened in March as the first Philly project from Knead Hospitality + Design, a James Beard-nominated restaurant group based in Washington, aims to conjure Mexico through splashydesign, the accents of hot pink lava meant to evoke the volcanic landscape, the tree rising from the ashes with branches dangling folk art flowers a symbol of resilience (and cue for Instagram selfies). Even the big bar that lines this theatrically lit 286-seat spacetucked off Ludlow Street is fringed with a tassel-like rope sculpture woven from agave fibers, appropriate for a bar offering more than 150 tequilas and mezcals.
The entrance to Mi Vida in Philadelphia, Pa., on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.A 40-ounce ribeye, dubbed “El Chingón” is doused tableside with flaming Mexican whiskey at Mi Vida in East Market.
I only wish the food was as richly nuanced as the restaurant’s moody design. The menu of classic Mexican flavors with modern touches, designed in part by Knead’s culinary director, Roberto Santibañez, and recently updated by corporate chef (and current Top Chef contestant) Jonathan Dearden, is the same produced at all three other Mi Vida locations spread between D.C. and Virginia Beach.
But this crew cannot even make a decent guacamole. Every order I scooped into over multiple visits was half-mashed into spoon-size chunks of unripe avocados so pale and lacking in natural creamy sweetness, it was like eating a bowl of slippery green potatoes.
The inside of Mi Vida in Philadelphia, Pa., on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.Guacamole with blue cheese, grapes, and smoked almonds at Mi Vida in Philadelphia, Pa., on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
I’d normally resist a seemingly random topping like blue cheese, grapes, and smoked almonds, but it was an admittedly tasty distraction from the guacamole travesty lurking below.
“Is everything yum, yum, yummy?” said our server, with perfect timing and an earnest chain restaurant perkiness I could not bring myself to disappoint with the truth.
Fresh guacamole is obviously basic, but it’s also something that relies on finesse and a consistent touch. A bad miss on something so elemental is a red flag. Jason Berry, Knead’s principal and cofounder, surely knows this, having previously been the chief operating officer of Rosa Mexicano, the tableside guac-pioneering restaurant group that, beginning in the 1980s, helped redirect Mexican chain culture away from the Tex-Mex clichés of Chi-Chi’s to more elegant spaces showcasing regional dishes such as mole. Mi Vida has successfully built on that model in the past with its own spin, albeit skipping the tableside show for kitchen-made guacamole, ironically, in the service of consistency.
Booth seating with mural paintings on the walls at Mi Vida in Philadelphia, Pa., on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
Berry launched Knead 11 years ago with his husband, designer Michael Reginbogin. They now have 17 restaurants in all, a diverse concept portfolio including Southern/Korean (Succotash), an American diner (Gatsby), and a Jewish deli (Beresovsky’s). The duo have Philly history, as Berry graduated from Wharton in 2002 and Reginbogin worked for Stephen Starr at Washington Square. This sprawling new, L-shaped space with a 50-seat enclosed patio nestled inside the ambitious East Market development logically offered a tempting opportunity for this expansion-minded duo to return, especially with its close proximity to visitors from the Convention Center and several nearby hotels.
Much has also changed in Philly since the pair left nearly a quarter century ago. In particular, we’ve seen a dramatic growth in quality Mexican options driven by immigration, from the many Poblano taquerias of South Philly to creative BYOBs like El Chingón and El Mictlan, and thrilling new modern Mexican fine-dining destinations such as Amà and Tequilas-La Jefa. I don’t see Mi Vida competing directly with those places so much as a more mass-market concept like Starr’s El Vez less than three blocks away, which, based on a recent revisit, has held up remarkably well over its 23 years.
Mi Vida has a darker, sexier vibe, and the virtue of a large space that can handle groups. But its kitchen has a way to go before it can compete.
A platter of taco dorados, huevos rellenos, croquetas, naranjas enchiladas, empanadas de mariscos, and chicarrones at Mi Vida in Philadelphia, Pa., on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.Seafood Empanadas at Mi Vida in Philadelphia, Pa., on Thursday., May 21, 2026.
There were some bright spots. The appetizer sampler brought an appealing platter of deviled eggs piped with fillings turned nutty green by pumpkin seed pipián, esquites croquettes, and seafood empanadas that were delicately crisped and bursting with a stuffing of sweet lump crab, ideal against the fruity heat of a mango-habanero salsa. A generous helping of chicharrónes piled overtop like crunchy clouds gave me hope this kitchen was ready to dive deep into true Mexican street food.
It’s clear this kitchen is capable. The carnitas tacos were a vision of simplicity perfected, stuffed with juicy shreds of slow-braised pork, dusted with cilantro and onions, topped with a pale green drizzle of avocado salsa and the snap of more crushed chicharrónes. The beer-battered cod tacos were solid, though overwhelmed by an unwieldy slaw cut into chunky ribbons bigger than the tortillas themselves. A plate of chicken-stuffed tacos dorados was more successful, showcasing the contrasting salsas of a bracingly tart verde blending tomatillos and serranos and the smoky brown spice drawn from earthy pasilla de Oaxaca chilies.
Tacos Dorados at Mi Vida in Philadelphia, Pa., on Thursday., May 21, 2026.
But then came the gimmick of a smash cheeseburger taco, an overcooked patty welded to its tortilla on the plancha before it’s dressed in shredduce and a “pickle de gallo.” I went in hopeful, as someone passionate about both burgers and tacos, but the burger was so dry and overcooked it was a loveless marriage.
There were some creative ideas that were absolutely delicious, especially those with vegetarian alternatives on traditionally meaty dishes, like the enchiladas stuffed with a coriander-scented mushroom, kale, and cauliflower blend that was complemented by a tomatoey salsa ranchera vibrant with ginger, guajillo chilies, and herbal epazote. The aguachiles, however, seemed to be driven more by the impact of colors than flavor, the strikingly black broth for one aguachile opting for the bland shortcut of activated charcoal for its pigment rather than the more traditional recipe of charred chilies and onions. The choice of beets in another aguachile overshadowed the taste of tuna.
Aguachile tropical at Mi Vida in Philadelphia, Pa., on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
Mi Vida’s version of Oaxacan mole negro hit all the right notes — spicy, rich, subtly sweet, and layered with complexity. But why go to the trouble to make one of the world’s most time-consuming preparations only to pair it with enchiladas stuffed with brisket braised in smoky chipotle tinga sauce, a completely different and competing flavor? A great mole should be the star of the show.
It wasn’t the only time this kitchen outsmarted itself with presentation. Covering the entire fajita skillet with molten cheese might sound novel, but the pasilla-marinated rib eye reposing atop that queso was robbed of the honor of arriving to our table with the ASMR sizzle of meat on metal. The steak itself was also a letdown, too fatty and with too little meat for $69. For that matter, the big tomahawk chop that arrived at our table as a flaming centerpiece for four was plentiful, but at $149, did not deliver a deep and lasting savor compared to other large format steak splurges I’ve ordered recently.
Two other potential showstopping dishes stumbled on execution. A huge red snapper was deboned and cubed into masa-crisped nuggets that arrived cradled in the curve of its deep-fried skeleton beside a sweet-and-sour tamarind chili dip. The risky move of a double-fry method, however, left the fish overcooked. And “chewy” does not even begin to describe the texture of the big chamorro, a 1½ pound mallet of pork shank slow-braised in adobo broth then dropped in the fryer to crisp on the pickup. What finally arrived was so leathery and dark, I can’t even imagine what the first attempt looked like, given the chef had abandoned it for a second try, according to a manager who explained our plate’s delay.
The bar at Mi Vida in Philadelphia, Pa., on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.The Piñada at Mi Vida in Philadelphia, Pa., on Thursday., May 21, 2026.
We used that time to explore the drink list, which ably quenches any margarita cravings (try the apricot-tamarind variation called La Fiesta Dorada), and resort vibes cocktails such as the rummy Piñada in a pineapple-shaped glass. The impressive agave spirits list offers copitas for the serious sipper, such as my favorite, Fortaleza, or smoky Siembra Ancestral Blanco produced by Philly’s Suro family, along with several excellent mezcales, raicillas, sotol, and bacanora.
By the time you get to dessert, tres leches and churros hit all the usual sweet notes. One pleasant surprise is the volcán de helados, Mi Vida’s take on the now trending sundae, covering cajeta, chocolate, and vanilla ice creams with guava sauce, pecan brownie bits, and pumpkin seed brittle that was a festive way to finish off an otherwise mundane meal.
Based on Knead’s well-established success and significant investment, I can only hope this Mi Vida is just going through the growing pains of building a team in a new city. I have little doubt it will eventually find its niche as an easy destination for visitors and business groups. But with a Mexican dining scene in Philly that demands more than corporate flash to be impressed, this kitchen will need to level up considerably before it can become more than that.
The Volcan de helados sundae with ice cream and pepita brittle at Mi Vida in Philadelphia, Pa., on Thursday., May 21, 2026.
Lunch Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Dinner Sunday through Thursday, 4-10 p.m.; Friday, 4-11 p.m.; Saturday, 3-11 p.m. Brunch Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Tacos and enchiladas, $13.75-$21; entrees, $19.50-$69.
Wheelchair accessible.
About 80% of menu is gluten-free. There is also a dedicated gluten-free fryer to avoid cross contamination.
Menu Highlights “Un Poco de Todo” app sampler (deviled eggs; esquites croquetas, chicharrones); crab empanadas; enchiladas rancheras and suizas; carnitas tacos; volcán de helados.
Drinks An array of the usual margarita variations and colorful cocktails with a Mexican twist keep the meal festive. Check out the collection of 100-plus tequilas and nearly 50 mezcales.
A dining table at Mi Vida in Philadelphia, Pa., on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
Three men who spent nearly three decades in prison for the 1997 stabbing death of a Northwest Philadelphia woman had their murder convictions overturned Tuesday after prosecutors, defense attorneys, and a judge agreed that key evidence in the case against them was unreliable.
Marc Brittingham, Rasheed Turner, and Jermal Shuler will be set free after a Common Pleas Court judge vacated their convictions and life sentences, dismantling a prosecution that relied heavily on a timeline of the victim’s death that prosecutors now say can no longer be trusted.
At trial in 1998, Bennett Preston, an assistant medical examiner, told jurors Essie Mae Thomas had likely died on the evening of Nov. 8, 1997 — a time frame prosecutors used to bolster the testimony of a sole witness who provided a direct link between the men and the killing.
But the Conviction Integrity Unit of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office later determined that Preston’s findings and testimony were not reliable. Experts tapped by both defense attorneys and prosecutors found that Thomas died at least a day later than Preston said she did.
Common Pleas Court Judge Jennifer Schultz said that information would likely have changed the outcome of the trial had jurors heard it at the time.
After Schultz vacated the convictions and sentences, prosecutors withdrew the charges, clearing the way for the men’s release after nearly 28 years in prison.
The case marks the first triple exoneration secured by the conviction integrity unit, which since its creation in 2018 has helped overturn a growing number of convictions tied to flawed forensic testimony, withheld evidence, and other investigative failures.
Inside the courtroom Tuesday, relatives and supporters wept quietly as Schultz delivered her ruling. One woman rocked back and forth in her seat, sobbing. Others embraced and cheered after the judge formally dismissed the case.
Family members declined to comment afterward.
The attorneys — from the Innocence Project, DLA Piper, Pennsylvania Innocence Project, and the Exoneration Project — released a joint statement after the hearing, saying the three men had “maintained their innocence while serving time for a crime they did not commit.
“The absence of physical evidence, along with new evidence discovered during the joint investigation, makes clear that this wrongful conviction should never have occurred,” the statement said.
District Attorney Larry Krasner, who addressed reporters outside the courthouse, said the men had been “robbed of a fair trial, simply put.”
He added that while the men’s convictions had been vacated, “that does not necessarily mean they are innocent. It means their convictions lacked integrity.”
Thomas was found dead inside her home. Prosecutors contended at trial that Brittingham, Turner, and Shuler went to her house to rob her and ended up killing her.
The prosecution’s case, led by Assistant District Attorney Carlos Vega, depended heavily on establishing when Thomas died. Vega could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday.
Preston testified that her injuries and condition indicated she was likely killed on Nov. 8 — a timeline prosecutors said matched the account of a witness who placed the three men at the house that day.
But according to reviews by two forensic pathologists, Preston failed to account for several things that contradicted his conclusion, including evidence that rigor mortis may still have been developing — not disappearing — when Thomas’ body was examined. The experts concluded it was extremely unlikely Thomas died on Nov. 8.
Defense attorneys argued in court filings that without Preston’s testimony, the case against the men largely unraveled. There was little physical evidence tying them to the killing, the lawyers said, and no DNA evidence linked them to the crime scene. Preston’s testimony about the timing of her death, they said, was used to prop up prosecutors’ otherwise unstable sole eyewitness, Wadia Brown, who admitted she was high on crack cocaine on the night she said she saw the three men on Thomas’ porch around that time.
Efforts to reach Preston were unsuccessful Tuesday.
Over the years, questions emerged about Preston’s work in multiple criminal cases, prompting renewed scrutiny from defense attorneys and prosecutors. In recent years, the conviction integrity unit began reexamining cases in which his testimony played a significant role, said unit supervisor Matthew Stiegler.
Many of the specifics underlying the questions about Preston’s findings remain unclear. Court filings in the case were heavily redacted. Stiegler said Tuesday “what broke the case open” was the discovery that disciplinary action had previously been taken against Preston, but did not provide further details.
Schultz concluded that the evidence uncovered by prosecutors and defense attorneys was crucial to the outcome of the trial and warranted a new one — a prosecution the district attorney’s office said it would no longer pursue.
The pass allowed the fan entrance into a party Philadelphia thought it would never see: a World Series celebration in the Phillies clubhouse at Veterans Stadium. And he left the champagne-soaked room with a one-of-a-kind souvenir: the jersey of the pitcher who threw the clinching pitch.
Tug McGraw simply handed the 19-year-old fan his jersey that night in 1980, shortly after he struck out Kansas City’s Willie Wilson to clinch the Phillies’ elusive crown. The fan kept the jersey in his dresser drawer, removing it only to show friends or bring to his children’s schools for show-and-tell.
It will soon find a new home as the white jersey with No. 45 on the back will be up for bidding in July at a live auction during the MLB All-Star Village at the Convention Center.
“That was the first moment of its type in the city’s history,” said Dave Hunt, the president of Hunt Auctions. “There were championships before that but not like that one. I think the Flyers would be right before it but I feel like that moment was a different type of celebration and what it did for the city. And what moment do you think of? You close your eyes and that’s it. That’s the one.”
The fan, who is remaining anonymous, was the son of an acquaintance to Ruly Carpenter, who owned the Phillies in 1980 when they won it all. He suffered a knee injury in 1978 as “a young athlete” and the Carpenters invited him to rehab at Veterans Stadium under the tutelage of Phillies trainer Gus Hoefling.
He spent time around the Phillies and became close with some of the players, allowing him to score a pass to enter the clubhouse after Game 6 of the World Series.
“He goes down into the celebration and obviously, it’s chaotic,” Hunt said. “But it settles down and Tug is one of the people he got acquainted with. He’s like ‘Here. This is for you.’”
Tug McGraw’s jersey from Game 6 of the 1980 World Series is being auctioned off in July by Hunt Auctions.
A few months ago, the man brought the jersey to Hunt Auctions, which is based in Exton. He expects the jersey to bring more than $300,000. The jersey passed the eye test as it had all the stitches and tags to match other game-worn Phillies jerseys from that era.
But they needed to make sure this was the jersey. They used a third-party photo matching company that “definitively” ruled that the jersey was worn by McGraw in Game 6. The authentication company, MeiGray, studied the alignment of the pinstripes under the left arm of McGraw’s jersey in photos and videos before ruling that images from Game 6 matched the jersey but Game 1 did not.
Tug McGraw gave his jersey to a teenager after the Phillies won the 1980 World Series. It’ll be auctioned off in July.
McGraw’s jersey is still in great condition as it rarely left the fan’s drawer.
“Frankly, thankfully,” Hunt said. “That is one unfortunate part of the world that we’re in. Many times, we’ll be presented with incredible pieces that have since deteriorated because they weren’t taken care of. This was just indiscriminately stored safely in a drawer for all these years. It’s beautiful. The condition is what you want to see. It’s not cleaned. It’s not altered. It’s not changed. But it’s also not abused or damaged.”
The jersey has been in the fan’s possession for nearly 46 years, but Hunt said the fan is not sad to part with something he cherished.
“Having worked with so many different players and their families, it’s a natural course of life that we all go through,” Hunt said. “You decide, ‘How do I want to make sure these things survive going into the future?’ This wasn’t a case of needing to sell it or anything. It just sort of naturally came to be, and here we are.”
I’ve been thinking a lot about the speech Frederick Douglass gave on the 76th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Posed as a question, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” the answer written in commentary form hasn’t lost its power or relevance in Philadelphia in 2026: “What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.”
This summer will place Philadelphia in the spotlight not only with the celebration of America’s Semiquincentennial, but also as a host city for the FIFA World Cup, the PGA Championship, and the MLB All-Star Game.
Frederick Douglass, ca. 1847-1852.
Just as Douglass decried our delusions of progress and challenged why victims of a broken system would celebrate their own oppression, we see that patterns repeat.
Soccer jerseys on exhibit at at the National Liberty Museum.
The events themselves will serve as an excuse for an influx of federal security agents — and there is nothing that makes me feel safe about them coming to Philadelphia this summer to keep us “safe.”
And we continue to ignore our broken carceral system, which hungrily awaits the failures of everything listed above.
As Douglass wrote in his famous speech: “I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common.”
We hold these truths …
This summer is not just about the nation, but about Philadelphia trying to put its best foot forward to show the few gleaming spots in our house, while keeping visitors from seeing the dirt inside the closet or under the couch.
As Douglass likely experienced in 1852, I can already see the faces of some reading this and thinking, This is not the time for all your talk. We cannot allow Philadelphia to be disparaged.
I am not disparaging Philadelphia — I am holding onto the city’s multiple truths.
This is a great city and is the birthplace of independence for some — but instead of serving as the cheerleaders for despots and a city that submits to our nation’s current “king,” we should be the city that serves as the vanguard of resistance. Our city cannot stand on both sides of history and hold hands with our oppressors simply because we are desperate to be noticed.
As it was with Douglass 175 years ago, where we stand today will be remembered tomorrow.
The need for plain speaking
Forty years after Douglass shared his words about the Fourth of July, America had once again chosen to celebrate its history and place in the world — this time through the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, which marked the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ landing in the Americas.
Program from the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.Program from the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.
Just four years earlier, the event had been held in Paris, and marvels such as the Eiffel Tower were shared with the world, showing the importance and ingenuity of the host nation.
This era is often referred to as the “Gilded Age,” a time our current president fondly looks back on and wishes we would return to. “We were at our richest from 1870 to 1913. That’s when we were a tariff country,” President Donald Trump said in March. But it was also a time defined by government corruption, inequality, and exploitation, and it took place only 28 years after the end of slavery in America.
While Paris gave the world the Eiffel Tower, the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago introduced the world to Cracker Jack, the first dishwasher, and the first Ferris wheel — which stood 264 feet tall and carried 2,000 passengers — a monument to America’s greatness!
While the fair was about all of America, the only space for Indigenous peoples was in the exotic exhibits of peoples from around the world. While the fair was about all of America, white women asked for their place within the fair and, after initially being denied a role, were eventually granted one through the creation of the World’s Congress of Representative Women.
Aunt Jemima in ads at the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey.
While the fair was about all of America, African American luminaries such as Douglass and Ida B. Wells were denied any formal space or role. Instead, it was determined by organizers that participation of African Americans would be marked by introduction to the character Aunt Jemima — a fictional depiction playing to all fantasies of the happy slave and the way of life lost after emancipation — and through Negro Day, during which the organizers of the fair gave away 2,000 free watermelons to visitors.
After being denied any real role within the fair, African American leaders appealed for sponsorship to the newly recognized World’s Congress of Representative Women, and that group said no — foreshadowing the next 150 years of American politics. With that denial, African American leadership turned to the Haitian delegation and received support from the only country that successfully established a new government from a slave revolt.
The pamphlet distributed from the Haitian exhibition space at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.Ida B. Wells Barnett, c. 1893.
It was from the Haitian exhibition space that an alternative conversation took place, one that started with “The Reason Why: The Colored American is not in the World’s Columbia Exhibition,” a pamphlet which explained the current condition of the American Negro, but also spoke to the history, the successes, and a vision for the future.
In it, Douglass wrote that “it involves the necessity of plain speaking of wrongs and outrages endured, and of rights withheld, and withheld in flagrant contradiction to boasted American Republican liberty and civilization. It is always more agreeable to speak well of one’s country and its institutions than to speak otherwise; to tell of their good qualities rather than of their evil ones.”
I live and work in Kensington, an area of Philadelphia built during the Gilded Age to create wealth for a few. Our community is literally still trying to recover from that era; we have no interest in bringing it back or celebrating the destruction it caused.
Just as during the Gilded Age — when a false history was celebrated in order to justify and whitewash the failures of America — we are walking into the trap of reproducing our mistakes without recognizing the current conditions, or centering the voices of those most affected by them.
The 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago promotional flier.“A People’s Exposition” 2026 promotional flier.
Welcome to ‘A People’s Exposition’
In the spirit of Douglass and Wells, and the ways they challenged “the celebration of oppression,” New Kensington Community Development Corp., along with partners throughout the city, invite you to participate in “A People’s Exposition” at the Kensington Engagement Center — to take a critical and honest look at our city’s challenges, to envision a just and equitable future, and to act on cocreated solutions.
Opening on May 20 and running through October, partners from across the city will collectively create a welcoming space where we can learn about the status of Philadelphia’s most pressing issues, including the housing crisis, poverty and workforce development, the criminal justice system, youth and education, and community food systems and transportation.
We invite you into a space of the curious and the committed, to learn and connect to current efforts and campaigns that are working toward addressing our city’s greatest needs.
Leaving off with hope
We all need and deserve celebration and joy. Philly has many things to be proud of — be it housing wins, Chinatown wins, or the daily wins of just making it another day on the right side of the grass — but we can and should hold two truths at once.
While many in our city will only want to take part in performative displays of national and civic pride without facing the true underbelly of our nation and city, I encourage us all to resist whitewashing and to support participatory processes to fight the oppressive and exploitative machine that continues to be built and executed 250 years after independence. As a true patriot would.
Participants in a teen town hall at the Kensington Engagement Center.
And as Frederick Douglass did on the Fourth of July.
He challenged us to remember that for many, there is very little, if anything, to celebrate, and we should instead be engaged in reflection and organizing to put into action what is necessary to create a just society for all.
“I do not despair of this country,” he wrote. “There are forces in operation, which must inevitably, work the downfall of slavery … I, therefore, leave off where I began, with hope.”
Bill McKinney is a Kensington resident and the executive director of the New Kensington Community Development Corp.
All images courtesy of the New Kensington Community Development Corp., except where noted.
People have been bragging about their trips to the Outer Banks since I moved to the Shore three decades ago. Quieter, cheaper, more laid back, more of a relaxing vacation than anything you’ll find in, say, Sea Isle.
Last summer, with an increasingly unaffordable Jersey Shore spawning a subculture of people swearing by other places, we looked at the cost of vacationing in Hawaii and Paris, along with Margate. Deals could be had.
This summer, as gas prices are on the rise, the appeal of an eight-hour drive to North Carolina might give even a priced-out Margatian pause.
Is it worth the drive to get to Duck, N.C.? What about flying to Dublin? Has the “We’re going to Europe instead” crowd thinned out?
We priced options for a family of four and targeted a week in July, the 11th to the 18th.
Rental inventory at the Jersey Shore is rapidly depleting, said Duane Watlington, the CEO and founder of Vacation Rentals Jersey Shore LLC. As of April 1, Long Beach Island is 83% booked for the eight summer weeks, June 27-Aug. 22, he said.
But Watlington said rental prices were looking better, with “Most listings … the same price or up to 10% lower for weekly rentals due to the soft market we had in 2025.”
Everything is relative, of course. Available rentals for that week on LBI can range from a four-bedroom Harvey Cedars charmer at $11,000 to a cozy two-bedroom Beach Haven duplex available Friday to Friday for just $3,000.
The real value, Watlington advised, is in September, with rentals as much as half the price of peak summer weeks, a warm ocean, and the joys of “locals summer.”
Data from HomeToGo showed that Sea Isle City rentals ranged from $6,745 to a whopping $18,828, with an average of $9,389.10 for available properties during that peak July week.
Bethany Beach, Del., ($5,537.59) and Duck, N.C., ($5,361.90) had similar average weekly rentals. Ocean City averaged $6,321.53 for that week, according to Berger Realty data.
Watlington said the median price on LBI for a July or August rental is $7,000 per week, with a range of $1,000 to (yikes) $55,000 week.
The sun peeks out from under the clouds as it sets in Mazatlan, Mexico (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
Looking abroad
Paul Ferdinand of Rainbow Voyages in Philadelphia found little available in Dublin during July, “regardless of price.”
He advised switching to early August, and came up with a very competitive trip, detailed below.
Mezgaron James of YouBeEverywhere Travel suggested Mazatlán, Mexico, which she said combines the charm of a Jersey Shore boardwalk with the luxury of a hotel on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
In the end, results were undeniable: The total cost of the more adventurous destinations like Ireland or Mexico was comparable, or even less, than a typical weekly rental at the Shore.
Here are the details.
In this Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010 photo, wild horses are seen in Corolla, N.C. A boom in vacation homes in the last 25 years in this remote place has seen the descendants of colonial Spanish mustangs confined to a 7,500-acre sanctuary on the northern tip of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, and now the herd itself may shrink along with its habitat. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Outer Banks: Linens included
Outer Banks rentals trend toward the larger side, so the trick might be to vacation with that other family whose kids like your kids.
Myles Wood, of Shoreline OBX, said his company includes a friendly $250 credit for beach gear rental during your stay.
Jersey Shore veteran renters, used to having to (literally) bring their own sheets, find this extremely attractive.
“One of the things we aim to do if someone comes down, everything’s taken care of,” Wood said.
Rental prices have crept up a bit, he notes, but said those priced out of buying a beach house in New Jersey will be pleasantly surprised to see a lower bar of entry, like this Duck beach cottage listed at $650,000.
Sample food: At Aqua, $34 gets you Chef Cory Bryant’s Shrimp and Grits, with smoked pork belly lardons, sun-dried tomatoes, and a creamy lobster sauce.
Vibe: Personal space-y. Says Wood: “Our beaches are wide enough and plentiful enough. You get a slice of personal heaven.”
What’s free? Beaches and parking, oh my.
Drawbacks: No true boardwalk scene. Long, and increasingly expensive, drive for a week’s vacation.
Drinkers and tourists visit the Temple Bar pub in the Temple Bar area of Dublin on September 15, 2024.
He found a “stylish one-bedroom apartment” for four at the Dublin City Center location of the Staycity chain that will rent for a week for $1,996. If it’s just for two, he recommends the Hoxton Hotel for its “tasteful decor and fawning service,” which will run about $2,029 mid-August, “a steal for that hotel group,” he said.
Airfare round-trip from Philly on Aer Lingus Irish Airlines will run you around $929 per person, including a seat assignment, checked bag, and in-flight meal.
Vibe: Sea Isle meets James Joyce. Cliffs!
Sample food: Three-course menu at Vintage Kitchen in Dublin for 72 euros features theSkeaghanore duck with miso, sprouting broccoli, sweet potato, and samphire (sea beans).
What’s free? At the Guinness Storehouse, take the basic tour where mom and dad get a free stout.
Drawbacks: Peak Dublin Bay temps are about 59 degrees.
Boardwalk near 6th Street, Ocean City, NJ.
Ocean City: Nostalgia — for a price
Brian Logue, of the Anchor Group in Ocean City, notes that Ocean City has had some record sale prices. But that hasn’t affected rental prices, he said. “The upside for tenants is that rental prices have not kept up with value.”
He’s not sold on the North Carolina alternative.
“From experience, I have clients who love the Outer Banks,” he said. “But unless you have your own plane, it’s eight hours in the car each way.”
He thinks people may think they want an alternative to their ancestral Shore destinations, but in the end, they really don’t.
“There’s not a boardwalk,” he said of the Outer Banks. “The things that make Ocean City ‘America’s Greatest Family Resort,’ it doesn’t exist there. It doesn’t have that nostalgic Jersey feel.”
Maria Sacco Handle, of the Shore House Team, said the snowy winter has spurred interest in Jersey Shore rentals. She said prices have stayed “fairly steady,” with some early booking incentives that will disappear as the season approaches.
“Believe it or not, we love a snowy winter at the Jersey Shore — it reminds everyone how amazing a week at the beach will feel,“ she said. “My advice to anyone thinking about renting this summer: Don’t sit on the fence — the best weeks always go first.”
A typical week in Brigantine in July comes out as about the same as the Outer Banks, minus the cost of driving and plus the cost of a beach tag ($15 per week per person).
In a time-honored Jersey Shore tradition, you’ll have to bring your own bed linens or rent them (no Outer Banks-y credit included).
A four-bedroom, two-bath charming blue rental house in Brigantine’s “A zone,” in the middle of the island, is listed for $5305, a bargain by current Jersey Shore standards.
Sample food: Spicy tuna with Caribbean jerk seasoning at La Scala Beach House will run you $25.
Vibe: With one way on and off, Brigantine is its own insular vibe. All-terrain vehicle holders can go tailgate at the cove.
What’s free?Hmm. An early morning around the island bike ride, as always.
What’s not? Linens! BYO.
Perks: The Borgata is just a short hop over the bridge, and you can visit some stranded marine mammals at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center. Also, golf.
Frolicking in a beachside seawater pool in Mazatlán, Mexico.
Mazatlán, Mexico: 13-mile boardwalk
“This was the first thing that popped in my mind,” said Philadelphia travel agent Mezgaron James.
She’s referring to Mazlatán, Mexico, a resort town on Mexico’s Pacific coast. “A lot of people don’t know they have the longest boardwalk in the world, a 13-mile boardwalk. It’s a place that’s untouched.”
James priced out seven nights in our target week, July 11 to 18, at Costa de Oro Beach Hotel, including round-trip tickets on American Airlines from Philadelphia for … $4,000.
“It’s family-friendly,” James said. “There’s a lot of things to do. It’s still lively like the Jersey Shore, but you’ll see a nice mix of people, fishermen hauling the morning’s catch, people bicycling and jogging, catch a coffee and pastry. There’s zip-lining. There’s open air taxis.”
The hotel provides direct access to the beach at no extra cost.
“It’s actually a four-star hotel with a pool right by the beach,” she said.
Sample food: I’m ordering the Zarandeado fish, a whole grilled fish available at multiple places.
Vibe: The 13-mile boardwalk will meet all your Jersey needs.
What’s free? Beaches.
Drawbacks: Check with the U.S. Department of State’s travel advisory to see about impacts from any nearby (but not in tourist areas, typically) cartel violence.
Inquirer staff writer Chris A. Williams contributed to this article.
I am a Roman Catholic priest and a lifelong New York Knicks fan. I am a pastor of a church that is less than one block away from Madison Square Garden. We welcome fans from all different teams from the NBA, the NHL, and the Big East basketball conference to worship in our church before and after games. It does not matter what religion you are — we are all brothers and sisters of the same God.
I would like to publicly praise Nick Nurse, the coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. I met him after a weekday Mass before Game 2, and we had a brief chat. First of all, we Knick fans never expected the 76ers in the second round. We expected a tough playoff against the Boston Celtics, who were up 3-1 in the first round. Nurse motivated the 76ers to an outstanding comeback. The same Nurse motivated an amazing performance by the 76ers players who were without Joel Embiid in Game 2. Nick led this valiant effort while grieving for his older brother, Steve, who recently died. I am truly moved by Nurse’s leadership skills. You have a great coach.
The Knicks are playing at a level of confidence I have not seen since 1973, when they won their last NBA championship. I cannot guarantee a championship this year. What I can guarantee is that the city of Philadelphia is a great sports town, and I predict the 76ers will come back strong next season with Nick Nurse as their coach.
The Rev. Brian Jordan,pastor,Church of St. Francis of Assisi, New York
Great disappointment
I watched the Benjamin Netanyahu interview on 60 Minutesand came away with a lot of questions. The Israeli prime minister said Donald Trump had expressed to him a desire to have U.S. ground troops extract Iran’s enriched Uranium. Hmm, what happened to Trump’s promise to put America first in our foreign policy?
Other than Trump securing our country’s borders and trying to dismantle DEI, what else is there to like about the Trump presidency? I didn’t like computer geeks firing thousands of federal employees and canceling vital research grants to colleges and universities. I don’t like the Big Beautiful Bill tax cuts. I don’t like Trump’s proclivity for bypassing Congress and governing by executive order. And, sorry, but Trump’s braggadocious, demeaning, and insulting manner of speech doesn’t befit the leader of the free world. Sadly, the Trump presidency has been a great disappointment.
Fred Hearn,Turnersville
Oceans rise, empires fall
Recently, my local newspaper, the Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press Democrat, printed a column by Trudy Rubin regarding the recent visit to the U.S. by Britain’s King Charles III. Although I’ve never been that impressed by Charles, I was pleasantly surprised by his demeanor during the visit, and Rubin captured the essence of his speech to Congress exceptionally well. After the visit, one cartoonist — when comparing our president’s temperament and behavior to the king’s subtle performance — asked: Do you think England would take us back? Please extend my thanks and admiration to Rubin for her fine journalism. I do hope her piece has been widely circulated and widely read.
Norine Moses,Calistoga, Calif.
Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.
DEAR ABBY: My brother has found love again. His first wife passed away from cancer two years ago. He is getting married in two months. We were never super close but have always been civil to each other and spent an hour or two with each other during holiday meals or birthdays.
Our mother is 89 and lives at his home in an added-on apartment. She’s our common denominator. Because my brother is quick-tempered and short with me (and others), I’m afraid that after Mom is gone, he will have no use for me and I’ll never see him again.
I sent him an email stating my fear, and his reply was shocking. He said he didn’t like my facial expressions. He also said he doesn’t like my mannerisms and feels nothing I say is genuine, but very fake. He also told me he wasn’t alone in those thoughts. I felt like he had stuck a knife through my heart. He said he wished he had a video of me so I could see how fake I was. I cried and got physically ill.
I am so embarrassed that he and others see me that way that I have decided not to go to his wedding. I cannot be in a room full of people who have made these judgments about my integrity. Am I making the right choice? Should I go for my mother’s sake?
— STUNNED AND EMBARRASSED
DEAR STUNNED: Your brother may have found love again, but he has some real problems. That he would speak to you that way was cruel and deliberately hurtful. Could he have some unresolved sibling rivalry? If that’s the case, you cannot fix it for him.
Under the circumstances, not wanting to attend that wedding is understandable. However, just because your brother says something does not make it true. They may be his feelings, but he doesn’t have the right to speak for all your other relatives. That is why I hope you will maintain your relationships with the rest of the family and not allow him to drive you away.
** ** **
DEAR ABBY: My mother comes over to visit every single evening at 7:30. She knows that I must be up early and leave the house at 5:30 a.m. to go to work. I have dropped numerous hints, but she’s oblivious. This causes a lot of stress in my marriage. My partner thinks it’s ridiculous to visit someone at 7:30 every night, especially since I have two kids who need rides home from practices in the evenings. Please help.
— AT WITS’ END
DEAR WITS’ END: Because you have already tried talking to your mother about this but she doesn’t get the message, enlist the help of your partner and talk to her together. When you do, establish a realistic schedule for her visits — two days a week, perhaps — and how long they will last. Then, when the time is up, escort her to the door.
Your mother may do this because she has no life of her own. If that’s a contributing factor, start researching groups of seniors she might join for activities other than visiting her daughter every night. If you do, it may vastly improve the quality of her life and the lives of those in your household.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Organization is the name of the game today. You’ll decide what matters, then give each thing a place and a time. Scattered effort becomes directed movement. You begin to see more of your time as something you can arrange, not something that happens to you.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It is within your power to take a relationship somewhere it’s never been before. So lead the way. You can bring the magic by simply asking a deeper question, veering from the default plan or saying something more honest than usual.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Ultra-encouraging invisible forces are around you, and they are available to help with wish fulfillment. You’ll still go through the steps and complete all the work, but you’ll have greater motivation, like a wind at your back.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You not only share what inspires you but you add to it, give it a spin and move people with your fresh take. You’ll never know the extent to which your ideas connect and lead to real changes in the world.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You weren’t the problem, but you still want to be the solution. The world is changed by people who do more than their share. The trick is to find balance. Know and respect your limits to avoid burnout.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Intuition works best (SET ITAL)with(END ITAL) thinking, not (SET ITAL)instead(END ITAL) of it. You’ll get useful signals from your instincts. Pay attention to them, but check them against reality. The best choices come from using both your gut and your judgment.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You are in a position of leadership. Many will benefit from your organized, direct and efficient manner. There will also be those who are intimidated by this unless it is served up with great warmth and gentleness.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). When is neglect a good thing? When you’re neglecting what’s unhealthy or unhelpful. When you’re ignoring what’s no longer relevant or necessary. When you’re letting the husk fall away to the wind behind you, eyes ever-forward.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re safe to go with your feelings. Saying “no” is your prerogative. So many very successful plans include a whole lot of “no,” which puts you way ahead of anyone who said “yes” and didn’t follow through.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Knife makers spare their noses by sharpening the blade without getting too close to the grindstone. Likewise, you will avoid dangerous friction by getting a bit of distance from the work. Objectivity is the safest point of view.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It’s one thing to get advice you can act on, but it’s another to have the time, tools and support to follow through. Too much unused information can overwhelm. Start with one move you can complete today and build from there.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). It’s said that a lie told often enough becomes the truth. But of course, it doesn’t really. Real facts cannot be transformed by what people choose to believe. Insist on truth-telling today, especially from those who wrongly benefit from convenient lies.
TODAY’SBIRTHDAY (May 17). It’s a Year of Collecting. Objets d’art and curios, adventures and romantic moments, investments and skills — you decide what you want, focus and make it happen. You are especially drawn to what helps you appreciate time’s natural process and honors the beautiful fragility and strength inside you. More highlights: love expressed differently, histories discovered, and participation in fancy and memorable events. Pisces and Aries adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 12, 17, 30, 2 and 7.
That’s all it took for the Union to find itself on the back foot against the Columbus Crew at Subaru Park on Saturday night.
The goal, a whipping in-swinging shot from Crew forward Hugo Picard, found the upper 90 past an outstretched Andre Blake.
It was also completely avoidable.
That’s a point for down the line. The larger point is that the Union were able to salvage a point after a 69th-minute goal from forward Milan Iloski. Iloski buried a tap-in following a nice run and cross into the box from second-half substitute Augustín Anello.
It was a goal that helped to shroud an otherwise ineffective night for Iloski, whose efforts, by either poor decision making or attempted shots that were blocked in the final third, amounted to very little.
Besides Iloski’s goal, repeated dazzling runs from midfielder Cavan Sullivan — and a halftime light show — were the only points of note on what was an otherwise familiar run of form from a Union team that hasn’t celebrated a win in MLS play since April 11 against Montréal.
Speaking of Sulliva, the 16-year-old phenom was inches from becoming the hero with the last kick of the game. After lloski was fouled just outside of the box in stoppage time, Sullivan was given the free kick opportunity. He hit a rifle through Columbus’ wall but the shot was seen all the way from Crew goalkeeper — and U.S. national team World Cup hopeful — Patrick Schulte.
Union 1, Crew 1.
But back to the point from earlier about salvaging a point…
On a free kick for Columbus, Picard stood alone at the far post unmarked. Closest to him was defender Nathan Harriel, but Harriel already had a mark at the edge of the 18. Just before the kick, midfielder Indiana Vassilev ran into the same space as Harriel and the Crew player he was marking.
Ball comes in, finds a deflection off an attempted clearance, falls to an unmarked Picard, who doesn’t hesitate and, to his credit, hits a gem into Blake’s far post.
The play seemed like a microcosm of the Union’s woes this season, where one unfortunate error, one mistimed run — or, in this case, a missed assignment — finds them chasing the game. It was a game that marked the final home match before a seven-week league wide respite for the FIFA World Cup, which begins on June 11, with June 14 being Philly’s first foray into the tournament.
It was also the third match in the span of a week for the Union after a pair of one-goal losses to New England (3-2) last Saturday, and a late 4-3 loss to Orlando City on Wednesday. The club has only collected two points out of a possible 12 from matches in their May slate.
One game remains and it’s perhaps the biggest in this first half of play for the Union, a road test against Lionel Messi and a surging Inter Miami team next Saturday (7:30 p.m., Apple TV). Miami, winners of their last two, have scored a combined 12 goals in their last three matches.
