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  • The Eagles whiffed on Maxx Crosby. It should remind them of what they stand to lose with A.J. Brown.

    The Eagles whiffed on Maxx Crosby. It should remind them of what they stand to lose with A.J. Brown.

    Lane Johnson let it be known Feb. 19 that he would return for a 14th season with the Eagles.

    Johnson let it be known Thursday afternoon whom he wanted on his team: five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders.

    Johnson tweeted an eyes-alerted emoji and tagged Crosby, who was on the trade block. It was a clear indication of what Johnson thought Howie Roseman should do.

    The general manager should’ve heeded his best player’s advice, especially because it might be his best player’s last season. The Eagles have a one-year Lane Johnson window, and they would be foolish to not take advantage of it. When Johnson quits, the offensive line will implode. It no longer will mask the shortcomings of quarterback Jalen Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni.

    As things stand, assuming their offensive line returns healthier — left guard Landon Dickerson and center Cam Jurgens have injury issues as well — and assuming they don’t do something stupid, like trade star receiver A.J. Brown, then the Eagles will be the best team in the NFC East, again.

    If they’d somehow managed to land Crosby, then they might have been able to offset the talent deficit left by trading Brown. As it stands, Brown remains as precious as ever.

    The move also seems to take one of the most likely suitors for Brown off the table. The Ravens just spent their trade capital on Crosby, which leaves the Patriots and Broncos as the Eagles’ most likely trade partners.

    A.J. Brown’s pool of trade suitors is smaller after the Bills’ D.J. Moore move. The Eagles must demand a first-round pick for Brown.

    Howie, don’t even pick up the phone.

    False alarm

    Nobody who’s been around Johnson for more than a minute believed that he was seriously considering retirement after the 2025 season. Johnson will be 36 when the season starts, he remains a superior right tackle, and, despite missing eight games with a foot injury last season (including playoffs), he has been remarkably durable. Also, he absolutely loves being Lane Johnson.

    Beyond next season? That’s a different story.

    A team source told me last month that he believes Johnson’s career beyond 2026 depends on how 2026 goes. It depends on how much Johnson likes new offensive line coach Chris Kuper, who replaced legendary Jeff Stoutland, who quit. It depends on how much Johnson likes new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who will replace foundations of Sirianni’s basic offensive tenets. And, more than anything, it will depend on how much success the Eagles have after their massive Super Bowl hangover season of frustration and malcontent.

    Johnson wants to go out on top. He knew that Crosby would immediately have made the Eagles the league’s top dog.

    Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson dons a dog mask as he walks off the field following the team’s 15-10 playoff win over the Atlanta Falcons on Jan. 13, 2018.

    The Price

    It would’ve been expensive.

    A deal for Crosby cost the Ravens this year’s first-round pick and next year’s first-round pick, and first-round picks in Philly are golden. With DeVonta Smith, Jordan Davis, Carter, and Quinyon Mitchell, Howie’s been on a first-round roll.

    Crosby also makes about $30 million each of the next two seasons.

    It would have been worth it. If they’re considering giving Jaelan Phillips $25 million per season — they shouldn’t, but they are — then they shouldn’t have blinked at Crosby’s price tag.

    ‘Don’t take the easy way out.’ A.J. Brown’s plea to struggling NFL players reveals compassion, maturity.

    The disappointment resonates louder because the Birds considered adding costly edge talent before.

    They pursued Micah Parsons last offseason, but the Cowboys, wary of reinforcing their chief rival, refused to trade him to the Eagles. They instead traded Parsons to the Packers, who sent Dallas two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark.

    Why fret over a deal that didn’t get done? Because Crosby is great.

    Since 2022, only five players have more than his 44½ sacks. No one has more than his 90 tackles for loss, and he led all edge players with 186 solo tackles.

    He is great, and he would make the D-Line great again. Don’t forget that it was a monster D-line that took the Birds to their second title two years ago.

    Saquon Barkley might have set a rushing record, but the Eagles’ top-ranked defense was the top-ranked defense because it had the top-ranked pass defense, and that was predicated on a dominant defensive line. Free agency cost that line Josh Sweat and Milton Williams. Injury cost Carter three games and diminished him for several others. The defense dipped from No. 1 to No. 13.

    A deal for Maxx Crosby (98), now a Raven, might have helped Lane Johnson land his third Super Bowl title as an Eagle.

    Too good to be gone

    There is no argument that Johnson is an all-time Eagles great, and by far the best Bird during the current nine-year Golden Era. In fact, considering his consistent excellence over these nine seasons, there’s an argument that Johnson might be the best Eagle ever. Johnson might at least be the third-best Eagle in history, after Chuck Bednarik and Reggie White.

    A third Super Bowl title would cement Johnson’s status as an all-timer not just in Philadelphia but in the NFL. It would help folks forget his two PED suspensions. It would help ease his path to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as the best player on a dynastic team that won three Super Bowls in 10 years.

    But, as Johnson knows, he can’t do it by himself. As Johnson knows, there may be no tomorrow. That’s why he wanted Crosby.

    It’s why the Eagles must retain Brown, warts and all.

    Brown has complained about the passing game’s inefficiency in each of the past two seasons. Last season, Brown even reportedly asked to be traded, multiple times.

    Eagles free agency roundtable: Who are some realistic targets — and bigger targets — for the Birds?

    Deal with it.

    In his four seasons as an Eagle, Brown ranks fifth in the NFL in total yards, and his 14.8 yards-per-catch average is better than any of the four players ahead of him. He’s also sixth in touchdown catches. This, despite ranking 10th among wide receivers in total catches — a byproduct of Hurts’ reluctance to pass in general, and his reluctance to pass into the tight windows of coverage Brown’s excellence attracts.

    Brown already is the best receiver in franchise history. He’s an all-timer, just like Johnson.

    If the Eagles had added Crosby, 2026 would have been theirs.

    Now that he’s gone, they cannot afford to lose what they’ve got.

  • How do I trim my neighbor’s tree without starting another feud?

    How do I trim my neighbor’s tree without starting another feud?

    This week’s question is… My neighbor and I don’t get along. A tree from her yard is starting to brush up against my house. I know I’m allowed to trim it, but how do I go about doing it without starting another feud?

    Elizabeth Wellington, Features Columnist

    Start with asking her. Politely, of course.

    Abigail Covington, Life & Culture Reporter

    But what if she says you can’t? As a non-confrontational person, I would simply melt.

    Elizabeth Wellington

    I would melt, too. But she can’t tell me that I can’t. Right? Because it is on my property. If she says that I can’t, I guess it’s time to play hard ball. I’d have to break out the law that says, “I can.”

    Abigail Covington

    Evidently, under Pennsylvania law, you can trim any part of a neighbor’s tree or shrub that crosses your property line. But you must stay on your side of the property line and trimming must not kill the tree or bush, or you could be liable for damages.

    Evan Weiss, Deputy Features Editor

    So are you asking the neighbor or telling?

    Elizabeth Wellington

    I’d start by asking if they minded. And then I’d have to tell them what’s happening as nicely as I could, of course.

    Abigail Covington

    Would you ask them to trim it or would you offer to do it for them?

    Elizabeth Wellington

    So maybe we ask them if they can trim their tree back first. And if they say no, then perhaps we offer to do it for them?

    Evan Weiss

    And if they say they don’t want it either way, you just do it anyway, right?

    Elizabeth Wellington

    I guess so. But also I need to know how much this foliage is disrupting my life. Like, is it messing up my view? Is it ruining my swimming pool activity? Are me and my kids brushing up against it and it’s scratching me? Or is this just a run-of-the-mill aesthetic thing?

    I would need to weigh these things and then figure or not whether it’s worth raising heck. Having an angry neighbor can ruin a homeowning experience. But if Pennsylvania law is on my side and this is really working my nerves, I’ll just have to snip, snip, snip.

    Abigail Covington

    I’m with you. Having an actively angry neighbor is more unpleasant than a tree branch dangling in your yard. At some point, the city will step in if it gets to be too much.

    But if it’s really bothering you, the law is on your side.

    Elizabeth Wellington

    The question is, do we do the hacking in the middle of the night? Or boldly in broad open daylight?

    Abigail Covington

    Dressed in all black. Middle of the night. Like it never happened. Repeat after me: You were never there.

    Elizabeth Wellington

    Hahaha. You mean like, “Oops… How did this ever happen?”

    Evan Weiss

    “Wow, I can’t believe someone did that! I loved that tree!”

    Elizabeth Wellington

    Hahaha. Right.

    That’s kind of taking a punk’s way out. We should say it with our chest. (Sheepishly…)

    Abigail Covington

    100%. “Must’ve been that darn barn owl I’ve seen flying around here!”

    Elizabeth Wellington

    An owl, Abigail? Really.

    Go with a raccoon. Blame everything on raccoons.

    Evan Weiss

    Start by being straightforward.

    “This tree is hitting my house and I don’t like it because of XYZ, so I’m going to trim it. Thank you for understanding.”

    Abigail Covington

    “Thank you for understanding” is what you say when you know someone is mad, but you don’t want them to be mad. I get it.

    Elizabeth Wellington

    Would bringing a tiny gift make things better? Like a bottle of wine, a gift card to Starbucks? Sweeten the deal. Let them know it’s not personal?

    Abigail Covington

    Tiny little treats make everything better. Something for their garden? A small plant?

    Evan Weiss

    A bouquet of freshly-cut branches.

    Abigail Covington

    Hahahaha.

    “Thank you for understanding.”

    Elizabeth Wellington

    Now, Evan. You are cruising for a bruising.

    Evan Weiss

    I kid, I kid.

    I don’t think a gift is necessary, but it wouldn’t hurt if that eases the asker’s anxiety.

    Elizabeth Wellington

    It’s kind of like you have to ask them, and already know what you plan to do anyway.

    Evan Weiss

    Any last words of advice for the asker?

    Elizabeth Wellington

    Be sheepish on the outside. But know what you are going to do on the inside. It’s easy to be swayed in these situations. Stand your ground. With a gift.

    Abigail Covington

    Be polite but bold. You got this.

    Have a question of your own about a relationship? Philly life? Annoying neighbors? Or an opinion? Email me.

  • The Penn vs. Penn State mix-up, cheesesteak diplomacy, and a very good boy | Weekly Report Card

    The Penn vs. Penn State mix-up, cheesesteak diplomacy, and a very good boy | Weekly Report Card

    The cheesesteak diplomacy phase of the DNC bid: B+

    Philadelphia is once again trying to convince a room full of national political operatives that we are the perfect place to host their giant televised event.

    The pitch is familiar: plenty of hotel rooms, an arena in South Philly, SEPTA ready to move thousands of delegates around, and a city that knows how to handle the logistical chaos of a major convention. We did it in 2016, after all. And these days, we’re basically hosting everything. World Cup matches. The MLB All-Star Game. The country’s 250th birthday.

    But the real strategy is the soft sell. When the selection committee visits, they’ll get the full Philly treatment: Reading Terminal, skyline views, maybe a rooftop party, definitely a cheesesteak.

    And that’s not a guess. That was pretty much the marketing strategy when DNC officials toured Philly ahead of the 2016 convention.

    Because every big event bid in this city eventually comes down to the same argument: Look how fun we are.

    And clearly, it’s been working.

    Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Johan Rojas takes the field before the game against the Washington Nationals at BayCare Ballpark on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 in Clearwater, Fla. The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals 7 to 3.

    Losing Johan Rojas (and his walk-up song): C

    Johan Rojas potentially missing 80 games for a failed PED test is frustrating for the Phillies in a specific way: They don’t really have another center fielder.

    Rojas isn’t exactly an offensive powerhouse, but he plays defense in a spot where the roster is otherwise thin. Take him out of the mix and the Phillies are left juggling a few spring-training options and hoping someone looks like a center fielder by opening day.

    That’s the baseball problem.

    The smaller but still tragic loss is the walk-up song. Every time Rojas stepped to the plate, Citizens Bank Park got “Oh Oh Oh (Veo Veo),” which was extremely fun and made you want to shimmy on a random Tuesday night.

    The Phillies will figure out center field eventually, but the stadium is at risk of losing one of its best vibes.

    Jeffrey Epstein vs. the Penn vs. Penn State mix-up: A

    Newly released emails show the disgraced financier repeatedly claimed he funded a “Quantum Gravity Program” at Penn. The problem: The research program he actually helped fund was at Penn State.

    To outsiders, that might sound like a harmless mix-up. Technically both are universities, sure. But socially it lands closer to mixing up Wawa and Sheetz. People will notice.

    Few things irritate University of Pennsylvania alumni more than being mistaken for Penn State. The Ivy League school has spent decades correcting people on this, to the point that alumni sell novelty shirts that read, “Not Penn State.”

    Apparently, Epstein missed the memo.

    My Philly experience as a Midwesterner and suggestions for future revisits
    by
    u/zhdat in
    philly

    Reddit planning a Philly itinerary for a Midwesterner: B+

    A visitor from Columbus popped into Reddit after a first trip to Philadelphia to rave about the walkability, Chinatown food, and an Angelo’s cheesesteak — and ask locals what to do next time.

    Naturally, the internet responded by assembling a pretty respectable itinerary.

    One commenter suggested the Barnes: Another recommended the Schuylkill River Trail and neighborhood hopping through Fishtown, Manayunk, and the Italian Market. A third pushed the visitor farther west for food: “Some great Ethiopian and other African restaurants.”

    There was also the very Philly observation that the tourist somehow skipped the city’s most predictable cheesesteak stop. “It is so rare when a tourist does not stop at a Pats or Genos. They can’t help themselves.”

    The thread is mostly right. But if you want the full Philly experience, we’d add a few more essentials: a Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park, a wander down the Italian Market, and a long, aimless walk through one of the city’s rowhouse neighborhoods where every block looks a little different.

    Also, credit where it’s due. The guy went to Angelo’s on his first trip. Some visitors take years to figure that one out.

    Johnny Garbarino hitting his opponent Apostle Spencer with an overhand right at the Wells Fargo Center during BKFC’s KnuckleMania V event.

    A Flyers fight coach starting a fight outside Barstool: F

    The Flyers once brought Johnny “Cannoli” Garbarino, an undefeated bare-knuckle boxer, in to teach players how to handle themselves in hockey fights.

    So it’s not ideal that he’s now at the center of a late-night brawl outside Barstool Sansom Street.

    Video shows Garbarino punching the bar’s plexiglass vestibule, threatening onlookers, and setting off a multiperson street fight after destroying someone’s phone. Police are investigating an assault complaint.

    Hiring a professional fighter to teach hockey players how to fight makes a certain kind of sense. Being surprised when that same fighter gets into a fight outside a bar at 2 a.m. makes a little less.

    Not exactly the kind of player development the Flyers had in mind.

    One of the newly-installed signs for the recent old/new name change at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.

    Pay-what-you-wish Fridays at the PMA: A

    The Philadelphia Museum of Art is bringing back something locals have loved for years: pay-what-you-wish admission on Friday nights.

    Considering a full-price ticket can run up to $30, that’s not a small change. Museums love to talk about accessibility but removing the price barrier is one of the few ways to actually make that happen.

    The timing is also convenient. After months of headlines about leadership drama, rebrands, and legal disputes, the museum seems eager to remind people that the actual point of the place is, you know, art.

    And if letting people decide what to pay gets more Philadelphians wandering the galleries on a Friday night, that’s probably a pretty good reset.

    Ivan, a drug-sniffing K-9 dog working for the Pennsylvania State Police, made a 40-pound drug bust in Delaware County last month.

    K-9 Ivan doing police work: A

    A Pennsylvania State Police K-9 named Ivan helped troopers uncover 40 pounds of marijuana and $6,000 in cash during a traffic stop on I-95 in Ridley Township last month.

    From a law enforcement perspective, that’s a pretty significant drug bust.

    From a public relations perspective, it’s also a reminder that every police department should have at least one extremely good dog on staff.

    Ivan alerted troopers to the scent of narcotics in the vehicle, leading to a search warrant and the eventual discovery of boxes and buckets full of marijuana.

    Which means somewhere in Delaware County, a very good boy probably got a treat and a lot of praise — as he should.

  • Luke Gabrysh, who grew up in Wilmington and pitched for St. Joe’s, is a promising Phillies minor leaguer

    Luke Gabrysh, who grew up in Wilmington and pitched for St. Joe’s, is a promising Phillies minor leaguer

    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Luke Gabrysh has been to Citizens Bank Park dozens, maybe hundreds, of times. Growing up in Wilmington, Del., his father Gary was a Phillies season ticket holder.

    He was raised on the teams of Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, but living 30 minutes away, games were more of an occasional treat. That changed in 2022, when Gabrysh enrolled at St. Joseph’s University to play baseball.

    All of a sudden, the right-handed pitcher was a train and subway ride from his favorite squad. He and his Hawks teammates took advantage of it.

    After practice, they’d head to Overbrook Station, transfer to Suburban Station, and catch the Broad Street Line until the very last stop. They’d buy the cheapest ticket they could find — usually $30 — and roam around the upper deck, searching for the best vantage point.

    Philly’s Scott Bandura was teammates for a day with Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. It was ‘surreal.’

    “You can watch from anywhere,” Gabrysh said. “You don’t even need to sit down.”

    The pitcher and his St. Joe’s cohorts were constantly at the ballpark. They didn’t need a reason. They’d go when they had nothing better to do, because in their minds, there was no better place to be.

    But July 23, 2024, was a different kind of trip. Instead of walking through the first or third base gate, Gabrysh and his family were escorted into an employee entrance.

    A Phillies scout, Jeff Zona, and other executives were waiting in a conference room.

    “That was when it hit,” Gabrysh said. “I went there not to watch a baseball game. I went there to be part of the organization.”

    Luke Gabrysh, shown pitching for St. Joe’s in 2024, was drafted by the Phillies in the 15th round of the 2024 MLB draft.

    The 6-foot-3 right-handed reliever was selected by the Phillies in the 15th round of the 2024 MLB draft. He’s not a top prospect, but has piqued some interest internally.

    Most pitchers who transition roles switch from the rotation to the bullpen. But with Gabrysh, the Phillies proposed the opposite. They liked his stuff, and his arsenal, and his ability to throw strikes.

    And while the peripheral numbers in his first minor league season were average — a 3.33 ERA across low A and high A — he is trending in a promising direction.

    Gabrysh’s fastball averaged 94 mph last year. It’s already jumped up to 96 this spring, occasionally touching 98. He throws five pitches: a four-seam fastball with carry, a sinker, a hard slider, a sweeper, and a changeup.

    “Tons of strikes,” said director of pitching development Travis Hergert. “He can really spin the ball. And he can hold his [velocity] over the course of multiple innings, as well.”

    A leaner Andrew Painter is moving better than ever. One reason is ‘fewer trips to the Dairy Queen’

    Of course, there’s a chance Gabrysh ends up being a nice local story. But he could also be something more. And what a story that would be.

    ‘Just had a conversation with Nola’

    The last time Gabrysh started regularly was on the Concord High School baseball team.

    When he got to St. Joe’s, they needed bullpen help, so he began pitching in long relief. His surface-level numbers, again, were unremarkable: an 8.13 ERA across 68⅔ innings over three seasons.

    But in 2024, he played summer ball with the Trenton Thunder, and quickly got on a few scouts’ radars. Gabrysh, who was being used as a closer, threw to a 1.42 ERA across 12⅔ innings with 23 strikeouts and only five walks.

    His transition to a starting role in pro ball was difficult. Gabrysh liked showing up to the ballpark not knowing if he would pitch or not. He now needed a pregame routine, and a mindset better suited for long stints.

    And the initial outings were ugly, to put it mildly. He allowed five earned runs through 1⅔ innings in his first start last April, and three earned runs through two innings in his second.

    Luke Gabrysh had a 3.33 ERA across low A and high A in the Phillies’ minor league system last year.

    But eventually, things got easier. The Clearwater Threshers coaching staff helped him plan a routine, down to the minute, and added a hard slider to his arsenal.

    The pitch gave him a weapon against left-handed hitting, allowing him to induce more weak contact and more swing and miss

    “This year, it’s one of my bigger pitches,” he said. “It’s helped a lot.”

    Despite the positive impression he’s already made within the organization, none of this feels even remotely normal to Gabrysh.

    Four years ago, he was at Game 5 of the National League championship series, mere feet from catching Bryce Harper’s iconic home run. This spring, he’s seen the two-time MVP walking around the Carpenter Complex.

    “It’s crazy,” he said.

    In late January, Gabrysh was throwing a bullpen at BayCare Ballpark.

    The minor leaguer looked to the outfield and saw someone playing catch. A couple of minutes later, Aaron Nola walked over to introduce himself.

    How Brandon Marsh is helping Phillies rookie Justin Crawford, from gifting suit jackets to road game carpools

    (For a lifelong Phillies fan, this wasn’t necessary).

    “Of course, I knew who he was,” Gabrysh said.

    The two pitchers talked about where they went to school, and where they grew up. After Gabrysh got back to his locker, he texted his friends from home.

    “I was like, ‘Just had a full blown conversation with Nola,’” he recalled. “And they were all jealous.”

    Because Gabrysh is still on the minor league side, interactions with big leaguers are few and far between. But he has tried to savor these moments, and enjoy this experience, wherever it takes him.

    Not so long ago, the right-handed pitcher was tailgating Eagles games, and buying cheesesteaks at Dalessandro’s. He was spending his summers not at the shore, but at the beach (an important distinction for a Delaware kid).

    Now, he’s a few feet away from his baseball heroes. He hopes that one day, he can join them.

  • Chester County has more than 9,000 EVs. Now it wants to build more public electric vehicle charging stations

    Chester County has more than 9,000 EVs. Now it wants to build more public electric vehicle charging stations

    Chester County, home to one of the largest numbers of electric vehicles in the state, hopes to grow its footprint of public charging stations.

    Through the federally funded National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the county is looking to build up its community-based public EV charging stations for people who have or want an electric vehicle but do not have a charging station installed at home.

    Funding from the program flows directly to municipalities or other applicants for EV chargers. PennDot expects to fund more than 100 projects through the grant.

    It builds on an initial federally funded project under the same program, which sought to place charging stations every 50 miles along the major travel corridors to address long drives across the state. Through that program, Chester County projects received $3.2 million.

    Chester County’s proposal would increase the number of public chargers speckled around the county, from workplaces to businesses, giving drivers a place to charge their cars as part of their day-to-day routines.

    Chester County, which has both densely packed development and rolling agricultural pockets, saw its rates of EV ownership double between 2022 and 2024, with more than 9,000 EVs registered in the county in the state’s most recent data. The county is behind only Montgomery in overall EV registrations in the southeastern part of the state.

    “Things are pretty spread out, and with the infrastructure that we have in place right now, other modes of transportation that are carbon-free or less carbon intensive than single-occupancy vehicles are not as viable here as they are in other places that are more dense,” said Rachael Griffith, sustainability director for the Chester County Planning Commission. “If we’re looking at a lower carbon future for our transportation network, EVs are really a great option for that here in our land-use setting. Building out the network of EV chargers is really the way that we incentivize that.”

    EVs are expensive, but Chester County has the highest median income in the state, so it makes sense it would see the higher ownership rates, Griffith said.

    Under former President Joe Biden’s administration, there had been a broader push nationally for electric projects. But that shifted with President Donald Trump’s return to office, as the president slashed electric goals. Experts in clean transportation anticipated seeing more projects focused on propane and natural gas in response.

    Despite the policy shifts, “it’s very clear that the future of transportation is electric,” Griffith said.

    “The more that we can do to plan for that future, I think the better prepared we will be in the long term,” she said.

    The county’s planning commission is reaching out to municipalities and chambers of commerce to drive applications for the program, Griffith said. Applications are open until Aug. 21; any business registered in Pennsylvania is eligible for funds.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • Big pizza, skyline views, and waterfront strolls in Jersey City, N.J. | Field Trip

    Big pizza, skyline views, and waterfront strolls in Jersey City, N.J. | Field Trip

    Most Philadelphians’ experience with Jersey City begins and ends at the mouth of the Holland Tunnel on the way into Lower Manhattan. Except for those who know food.

    Jersey City is one of the state’s best towns for eating and drinking, supported by long-standing immigration and cross-river relocation from New York. Between meals, you’ll find a city that’s at turns gritty and lovely, neighborly and human-scale in a way that makes it feel, to Philadelphians, as warm and familiar as a Champion sweatsuit. (It also has a really nice waterfront from which we could learn a thing or two.)

    It’s only 90 miles and about 90 minutes away, depending on traffic. And if you must, you can easily pair it with a visit to New York.

    Start the car.

    Stay: Hyatt House Jersey City

    A hotel with a story to tell — whether it’s luxurious or eccentric or charming — is always ideal for a weekend getaway. But when corporate keys are what’s available, you can do much worse than Hyatt’s Hyatt House sub-brand. Jersey City’s Hyatt House is relatively new and reliably clean, with great beds, a rooftop deck, and a modicum of style. What more could you ask for? How about a skyline view? Upgraded rooms facing Manhattan are bookable in April for under $300.

    📍 1 Exchange Pl., Jersey City, N.J. 07302

    Snack: Bread and Salt

    “Bakery” is a limiting descriptor for what Rick Easton does at Bread and Salt on Palisade Avenue, opposite the Hoboken border. Sugared bomboloni, esoteric Italian cookies and crostadas, suppli, thin-crusted pizzas, cups of stewy beans begging for a heel of crusty bread, curly punatarelle salad, Lent-friendly fish specials on Fridays. It’s an inspiring operation. Get more than you think you need. Then get more to bring home.

    📍 435 Palisade Ave., Jersey City, N.J. 07307

    Stroll: Liberty State Park

    Hemmed in by the NJ Turnpike extension and the Hudson River, Liberty State Park encompasses 1,200 acres of greenspace (about half under ongoing revitalization) and miles of scenic waterfront trails perfect for spring strolling. Pause at the 9/11 Empty Sky Memorial. If you’re traveling with kids (or adult dinosaur fans), check out the immersive T. Rex Experience at Liberty Science Center, whose planetarium dome you’ve probably seen from the Turnpike driving home from New York.

    📍 1 Audrey Zapp Dr., Jersey City, N.J. 07305

    Visit: Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island

    Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are typically associated with New York, not New Jersey, but the sites actually fall under an unusual joint-custody arrangement. It’s also much less of a headache to visit from Jersey City; no downtown traffic to get through, way thinner crowds. The ferry departs right from the Liberty State Park and visits both islands in a single ticketed experience.

    📍 1 Audrey Zapp Dr., Jersey City, N.J. 07305

    Drink: San Patricios

    No one: You know what we really need in Jersey City? An Irish-Mexican cocktail bar. The acclaimed Dead Rabbit crew: Bienvenidos a San Patricios. Open last year, the cantina/pub celebrates the little-known 19th-century brotherhood between Ireland and Mexico. Stop in before dinner for something thematic: a palmona spiked with Irish moonshine, frozen horchata café con leche with Lost Irish Whiskey, or the Countess, a rum-and-Guinness hibiscus mule.

    📍 8 Erie St. A, Jersey City, N.J. 07302

    Dine: Razza

    At Razza, Dan Richer makes some of the best pizzas in the county, a mix of reliables (the fermented chile-flamed Calabrese; the yellow-and-red tomato pie dusted in 36-month-old Parm-Reg) and hyperseasonal creations like last spring’s mosaic of mozzarella, asparagus, nettles, spinach, and ramp pesto. Bread and butter might seem redundant when you’re having pizza for dinner, but you cannot miss the tawny, crusty sourdough, served with tangy house-cultured butter made from grass-fed Pennsylvania cows.

    📍 275 Grove St., Jersey City, N.J. 07302

    Indulge: Torico Ice Cream

    Family-owned and spanning three generations, Torico Ice Cream is the charming scoop shop every neighborhood wishes it had. Towering atop house-made waffle cones, you’ll find classics like chocolate-marshmallow, mint-chip, and a notably excellent strawberry, but Torico’s secret sauce is the tropical ice creams and sorbet like passionfruit, guava, and soursop that nod to the Berrios clan’s native Puerto Rico.

    📍 20 Erie St., Jersey City, N.J. 07302

  • How to have a perfect Philly Day, according to Jill Scott

    How to have a perfect Philly Day, according to Jill Scott

    Jill Scott’s sixth studio album To Whom This May Concern is a tapestry of Scott’s familiar easy rhythms with lyrics equal parts sweet longing and self-love.

    But on this 19-track project — Scott’s first collection of new music in more than a decade — she isn’t just telling us she plans to live her life like it’s golden the way she did 22 years ago. She’s also telling us about the great life she has right now. And she’s urging us to join her in the present moment with funky beats, powerful lyrics, and tight rhymes.

    “You might as well go ahead and be great,” Scott said in a recent video chat. “There’s literally nothing stopping you from being all of yourself.”

    Album cover of Jill Scott’s sixth studio “To Whom This May Concern” is a portrait of Jill Scott by muralist Marcellous Lovelace

    To Whom This May Concern is Scott’s assertion of self-love especially evident in the album cover’s illustration — by Chicago-based muralist Marcellous Lovelace — of the 53-year-old multi-hyphenate wearing big gold earrings and her natural hair in a top knot. “I’m free” is written in block letters across her forehead.

    “I’m pushing and supporting all of the art we have created as Black people in America,” Scott said. “I support that. [But this album is not for] limited ears. It’s definitely not limited music.”

    Jill Scott makes her Tiny Desk Concert debut

    But it’s definitely Philadelphia music.

    Scott, who lives in Nashville, Tenn., recorded most of the album in Philly with Grammy winning producer — and her cousin — Carvin Haggins. She has traveled all over the world and says there is no place like Philadelphia.

    “The people at home are so dear and warm,” Scott, who often goes by Jilly from Philly, said. “I was grateful to find that again.”

    Jill Scott performing on NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert series. The North Philly singer’s new album is ‘To Whom This May Concern.’

    Scott loves every nook and cranny of her hometown, but she still pours an extra bit of love for the “Norf Side,” to borrow from the lyrically sound rap she performs with Tierra Whack on the new album.

    “So often people have shunned me, making me feel less than because I come from North Philadelphia,” Scott said. “I wanted to shout out my area and remind [that people from] North Philly, we can do anything.”

    Here is the songstress’s idea of a perfect Philly day.

    7 a.m.

    If I lived in an apartment or condo in Philly near a park I’d get up and take a long walk, first thing.

    9:30 a.m.

    In the summer, I’d go over to the Blues Babe offices on North Broad and greet the kids at summer camp [Blues Babe is Scott’s nonprofit that sends children from Philadelphia and Camden to free summer camp]. The children gather there before taking trips all over the city. It’s important that I tell these kids that came from the same place I do, that they can do anything.

    12:30 p.m.

    I’d have lunch at Continental Midtown on Chestnut Street. (I’m really sad they closed the one in Old City.) I just love their turkey burger. Then I’d walk over to Rittenhouse Square and sit at the park. I love watching nature. On my perfect day, the artisans would be out selling jewelry and art and I’d find a good deal because you know I like to save money.

    2:30 p.m.

    From there, I’d go to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and maybe catch the Noah Davis show. Then, I’d go to the African American Museum of Art before making my way down to Ishkabibbles on South Street. There, I’d order a pizza steak with fried onions and mustard and pickles. (Nobody has to understand your cheesesteak.)

    “Untitled Girls” This painting by Noah Davis will be on display in the Philadelphia Art Museum’s 2026 exhibition named after the late artist

    5:30 p.m.

    I’d make my way back up to North Philly and visit my friend Syreeta Scott at the natural hair salon Duafe. She has such beautiful art work in there. It’s so peaceful. The energy is so good. We would go out, or she might cook something amazing. I would raid her closet and just chill.

    Inside Duafe Holistic Hair Care.

    7:30 p.m.

    If Syreeta isn’t cooking, we’d make our way to Sid Booker’s. I got to have it. Let me give you the deal: When you go to Sid Booker’s, you have to eat it in the car. There is no such thing as waiting until you get home. You are wasting it. You will ruin it. And if you like ketchup and hot sauce you have to get it on your shrimp, not on the side. But on your shrimp.

    Fried shrimp are pictured at Sid Booker’s Shrimp Corner in North Philadelphia on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018.

    10:30 p.m.

    I’d hope that Stacy “Flygirrl” Wilson is having a party with Mike Nyce, I would definitely go there. That is always a good time.

    Stacey “Flygrrl” Wilson and DJ Mike Nyce at the Kimmel Center during a summer happy hour.

  • Dear Abby | Co-workers putting out quite the vibe in the office

    DEAR ABBY: I work in an office with a man who has expressed an interest in me in various subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways, including winks. I have also caught him staring at me with intense longing. We communicate well, and he has told me I have influenced him. We are both disciplined, determined and accomplished men. I envy him for his easy smile, his self-confidence and his effortless, universal appeal.

    This man is married with grown children. I am a widower, 21 years his senior. I am prepared to say to him, “You are spoken for, and I’m not a homewrecker. If you are ever single again, you and I should have a serious conversation. But unless that day comes, much will remain unsaid.” I suspect the two of us would have a good life together. I do not believe I am misreading his intent. Have you any advice for me?

    — INTERESTED IN WASHINGTON

    DEAR INTERESTED: This younger colleague may be as attracted to you as you are to him. However, he could also consider you nothing more than a valued mentor. Because he is married, I’m concerned that if you say what you are thinking to him, it could disrupt your working relationship or even be considered harassment. Do not jeopardize your job by doing it.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: My husband vapes in our home, and I have run out of ways to get it through his thick skull that this is unhealthy, not only for his health, but for mine. Even more upsetting is that he vapes when our grandchildren are here and when he drives them in his truck.

    I have printed reliable scientific information for him, yet his response is always, “I know, I’m sorry, I need to stop.” It’s been seven years, so that’s how sincere his response is. He just continues trying to hide what he’s doing.

    I’m not wealthy enough to pack his bags and change the locks. But maybe someone will read this and smarten up before they damage their loved ones’ health. Do you have any advice?

    — THINKING ABOUT MY GRANDS

    DEAR THINKING: I do, actually. You imply that your husband is addicted to nicotine, which is why he is vaping. Tell him that you will quit nagging him about it on one condition: that when he vapes, he must step outside to do it, which will ensure that you are not affected by it. As to his vaping with the grands in the vehicle, how do their parents feel about it? Do they realize what Gramps is doing? Your next step should be to make sure they know exactly what is going on so they can put a stop to it.

    ** ** **

    DEAR READERS: This is my timely reminder for all of you who live where daylight saving time is observed: Don’t forget to turn your clocks forward one hour tonight at bedtime. Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday. I look forward to it each year because it signals longer, brighter days and warmer weather. I find the extra light to be a mood elevator and an energizer. Spring has almost sprung!

    — LOVE, ABBY

  • Horoscopes: Saturday, March 7, 2026

    ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’re attentive to the experience of others. Your awareness will be so strong that sometimes you feel you can hear what people are thinking. Even so, stay open and curious, setting assumptions aside as you gather more information.

    TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You don’t need to push today. Progress comes from staying in motion, not from forcing yourself to do things you don’t want to do. You can trust in the systems you already understand and maintain daily. Small actions compound.

    GEMINI (May 21-June 21). People are watching how you move through this chapter. Your progress will inspire them. But it’s your persistence that matters most. Stay in the story until things go your way. It’s the happy ending that decides the genre.

    CANCER (June 22-July 22). Variety isn’t chaos. It keeps things pliantly moving along. Today is like a well-paced exercise class: There’s a warmup, a high-energy burst and then a period of calm and appreciation for all that you were able to do with this day.

    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your good mood opens doors. Conversations flow easily, and useful tidbits effortlessly drift into your awareness. You become the one in the know! This is social momentum at its best — light, curious and advantageous to more than just you.

    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Cooperation is the smart strategy today. It actually gets you where you’re going. Swimming against the current, you will stay in one place at best; at worst, you will regress and tire yourself out to get to where you’ve already been.

    LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). People talk about “overthinking” as though it’s so easy to know when thinking goes “over.” Like overeating, the bad feeling usually comes about 20 minutes after it’s too late to do anything about it. Let it be an invitation to self-compassion.

    SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Duty will drag on and on if you let it. Meanwhile, you feel like you have to steal your brief moments of pleasure. Maybe this is a simple matter of prioritization. Make it a point to give yourself more time for delight.

    SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). It’s said that “all is fair in love.” If that’s true, perhaps it has something to do with love’s refusal to name one winner or one loser. If one person wins, so does the other. If one person loses, so does the other.

    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). No one is perfect. However, you have fallen short of your own expectations. It’s the most common and human thing in the world. The faster you can forgive yourself, the sooner you’ll move into your lighter, brighter tomorrow.

    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The powers that be don’t seem to be on your side, but it doesn’t mean you’re unlucky. In fact, this could be the luckiest day you’ve had in a while because the obstacles give you an idea. As the proverb goes, “When there is no wind, row.”

    PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You bring out the good. You can’t help it. You consistently resonate with people’s better angels. Because of this you’ll be met with generosity, trusted with the truth and invited to the most interesting places.

    TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (March 7). Welcome to your Year of Fortune’s Choreography. You leap; life catches you. You spin; life anchors the final loop, holds you tight, and a passionate dip emphasizes the point — you are so cherished, protected and adored. More highlights: You do your best work with new projects, and the financial end gets neatly handled. Contracts are fair and honored. Family sweetness and fulfillment. Taurus and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 31, 20, 5, 37 and 2.

  • La Salle eliminated from A-10 quarterfinals with 70-51 loss to Richmond

    La Salle eliminated from A-10 quarterfinals with 70-51 loss to Richmond

    La Salle limited Maggie Doogan to 13 points, but Richmond still routed the Explorers, 70-51, in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament at the Henrico Sports & Events center in Glen Allen, Va. on Friday.

    Doogan, the back-to-back A-10 Player of the Year and former Cardinal O’Hara graduate, rested during the fourth quarter. The third-seeded Spiders (26-6, 15-3 A-10) will face second-seeded George Mason in the tournament semifinal on Saturday.

    Davidson ousts St. Joe’s from the A-10 Tournament with 64-59 victory

    Ashleigh Connor led La Salle (18-13, 10-8) with 18 points and five rebounds on 6-of-14 shooting. Aryss Macktoon added 13 points and 13 rebounds, while Joan Quinn scored 12.

    Doogan led the Spiders with 13 points and eight rebounds and five assists in 28 minutes.

    Cardinal O’Hara graduate Maggie Doogan scored 13 points to help Richmond oust La Salle out of the A-10 conference tournament.

    Barring an invitation to a secondary postseason tournament, La Salle’s season ended with its loss on Friday.

    The Explorers won 18 games in 2025-26, the most in head coach Mountain MacGillivray‘s eight seasons as head coach. It is the most wins for the Explorers since a 19-win campaign in 2006-07.