Next year’s Met Gala will not spotlight controversial fashion designer John Galliano after all.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Galliano announced in a joint statement that the museum would not move forward with John Galliano: Horizons. Galliano, 65, is a British designer who has worked for some of the industry’s top fashion houses, including Christian Dior, Givenchy, and Oscar de la Renta.
At the peak of his career, he served as Dior’s creative director for nearly 15 years. But in 2011, he was infamously canceled after his conviction in a Parisian court over a series of racist and antisemitic comments. It cost him his job leading Dior. At the time, Galliano said his alcohol abuse sparked the outburst.
The museum’s retrospective was reportedly going to highlight the fashion director’s portfolio while also addressing his personal life, including his public exile and the work he later did to atone and get sober.
“Following thoughtful discussions with many stakeholders and with John Galliano, we together have decided not to proceed with the exhibition,” said Metropolitan Museum of Art director Max Hollein.
The announcement came exactly one month after the initial Met Gala theme reveal. Galliano’s exhibit would have only been the third retrospective for a living designer in the Costume Institute’s history.
While fashion experts largely agreed the fashion director’s work is seminal, critics said the exhibit’s timing — which coincides with a global surge in antisemitism — was cause for concern.
Professional thrifter and fashion writer Virginia Chamlee previously told The Inquirer that while the Met was equipped to accurately cover the designer’s checkered past, she was concerned about whether the storytelling would resonate with the average Met Gala consumer.
The annual exhibit’s largest publicity draw is a televised red carpet where celebrities invited often wear pieces by or paying tribute to the spotlighted designer — not the exhibit itself.
“Even if the museum intends to offer a complete examination of Galliano’s complicated legacy, it may come off as a straightforward celebration of someone who said things so heinous and racist that they were charged and fired for them.”
In the joint statement, Galliano himself said he requested not to move forward with the exhibit.
“After much reflection and discussion with The Met and all those involved, I have decided, with great sadness, that it is best for the exhibition not to take place at this time,” Galliano said. “I remain fully accountable for the pain caused by my words in the past, particularly the hurt I caused to the Jewish and Asian communities, and I remain deeply sorry for it. I understand that meaningful atonement is not achieved through an exhibition, institutional recognition or a single public gesture. It is a continuing responsibility, demonstrated through listening, learning and one’s conduct over time.”
Galliano went on to thank Anna Wintour, a longtime champion of Galliano’s and the global editorial director of Vogue, chief content officer of Condé Nast, and Met Gala chairperson responsible for the event’s programming.
In her extended statement to Vogue, Wintour framed Horizons’ cancellation as a “postponement.”
“John’s decision to ask the Museum to postpone the exhibition devoted to his work is very courageous and a measure of the man he is,” she said. “I believe this is the right decision, and both he and the Museum have my full support.” The Met’s version of Wintour’s statement does not use that phrasing.
Information on a new Spring Costume Institute exhibition and the 2027 Met Gala will be announced later, the museum said. The Gala itself was initially scheduled to take place May 3, though it’s unclear if that date would shift in light of the exhibit change.
It’s summer and that means I have one goal at basically all times: to be lounging in a pool. It’s the Florida girl in me, what can I say?
So when my boyfriend, Mark, and I decided to take some days off together for a staycation, Fishtown’s Hotel Anna & Bel immediately came to mind. The boutique hotel, in a historic property that once served as a women’s home, opened in 2024 with a heated pool in its luxe open-air courtyard. A stay at the 50-room hotel guarantees exclusive poolside service, enjoyed while lounging on a cozy recliner. (Sorry, no day passes here.)
We kicked off our first night as tourists in our own city with a meal at Bastia, the in-hotel restaurant with a Sardinian- and Corsican-inspired menu. Many excellent bites were had: skate cheeks over white polenta and sweet peppers that transported me back to the South, a bright artichoke salad with shaved Parmesan, and a morel tart that inspired at least one limerick about how good morels are.
But one special in particular really sang.
Mark loves eating fish and is an excellent cook, but he’s a hamachi collar skeptic, having tried so many that have been underseasoned, uninspiring, and so tough you have to scrape the should-be fatty meat off the bone.
He had all but written off the cut —until executive chef Michael McDonough’s hamachi collar with grilled fioretto cauliflower, beldi olive agrodolce, and golden raisin glaze hit the table. One bite and Mark was sold. “It’s as if they cooked hamachi collars like they were sweet barbecue ribs,” he said.
The grilled hamachi collar, Calabrian chili agrodolce, garlic scape salsa verde, and fines herbs at Bastia in Fishtown. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
The fish itself was blackened and tender, lacquered with a complex glaze, and brightened by a spritz of grilled lemon wedge. Its meat fell right off the bone and melted in our mouths.
This special frequently appears on Bastia’s menu because the hamachi collar is leftover after the kitchen team preps the amberjack crudo that lives on the menu at Caletta, the restaurant’s moodier, more playful cocktail lounge sister. (Hamachi is the Japanese name for amberjack, aka yellowtail.)
McDonough said the accompanying components came together out of seasonality and theme. Fioretto cauliflower — whose heads are nuttier and less dense than standard cauliflower — is at its peak. Beldi olives (Moroccan cured black olives) and golden raisins are crossover ingredients in the Sardinian, Corsican, and neighboring North African trade hub.
My other favorite bite was good enough to order twice.
Bastia’s swordfish skewers are a mainstay on its menu. They start with a center-cut loin that’s diced and marinated in an herb blend of parsley and marjoram. McDonough preserves the herbs’ vibrant green color by emulsifying them in oil with a little bit of ice. From there, the kebabs are grilled and finished with Sicilian olive oil, fresh lemon juice, French sea salt, and walnut pesto. The set of emerald green kabobs are served atop a bed of black rice with citrus labneh.
Emily Bloch enjoyed Bastia’s swordfish skewers so much, she ordered them the following day in their lunch format: swapping black rice for a bed of traditional-cut fries.Emily Bloch
We enjoyed the skewers so much, we ordered them the next day from Anna & Bel’s poolside menu, which pairs them with golden, traditional-cut fries. After a few bites washed down with Caletta’s dirty martini and tonic (a best-of-both-worlds drink off the bar’s aperitivo hour menu),we determined our future pool days have been ruined forever.
Think you know your news? There’s only one way to find out. Welcome back to our weekly News Quiz — a quick way to see if your reading habits are sinking in and to put your local news knowledge to the test.
Question 1 of 10
What city was the 22-year-old man accused of menacing pedestrians near City Hall while wearing a Halloween mask earlier this month arrested in this week?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Zymire Hughes was being held at the Clark County Detention Center awaiting extradition proceedings after being arrested Tuesday in Las Vegas, the U.S. Marshals Service said.
Question 2 of 10
Pennsylvania Attorney General David Sunday announced this week that he’s suing the parent company of this social media platform for allegedly failing to protect children from addiction:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The suit alleges that Snap Inc., owner-operator of Snapchat, does not properly warn users of the addictiveness of its features and does not protect children properly from compulsive use. This comes after Sunday announced a lawsuit against TikTok over the same issue earlier this month.
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Question 3 of 10
On Dec. 6, the Keswick Theater will host a large-scale holiday charity concert to honor this late musician:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
On Dec. 6, at the Keswick, Philly musicians will host the Philly Busk — a holiday concert inspired by Glen Hansard’s beloved Christmas Eve busking in Dublin to help unhoused people. Ticket information and a lineup for the event have yet to be announced. All of the proceeds from the Philly Busk will benefit Project HOME — one of the city’s largest nonprofit housing agencies — and the Irish Center of Philadelphia, a Mount Airy cultural hub founded in 1958 to preserve Irish heritage, music, and dance.
Question 4 of 10
Last weekend’s Naked Bike Ride coincided with the inaugural observation of another event in Philly:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
It was a pure coincidence that the Naked Bike Ride aligned with the inaugural “Go Topless Day” in Philly earlier that day. Go Topless Day had a clear agenda: Roughly a dozen bare-chested picketers gathered in LOVE Park at noon, before marching around City Hall with a police escort, chanting, “free your breasts, free your mind,” to stir action around what protesters described as the legal hypocrisy that allows men to be shirtless in public but not women.
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Question 5 of 10
This common allergen source is expected to peak in Philly next week:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The recent rain rally has been a boon to the Philadelphia region’s plant life and, unfortunately for the legions of the allergic, the beneficiaries include the homely and ubiquitous tormentor commonly known as ragweed.
Question 6 of 10
Which two Philly restaurants landed on Bon Appétit’s Best New Restaurant list?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Honeysuckle, Omar Tate and Cybille St. Aude-Tate’s fine-dining restaurant in North Philadelphia, and Sao, Phila and Rachel Lorn’s East Passyunk oyster bar, were among the 19 establishments that made the cut. They joined restaurants in New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, Nashville, and Birmingham, Ala., and more.
Question 7 of 10
Food reporter Mike Klein noted in a recent article that a certain type of food is booming across Philly — and the rest of the country. What is it?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Since the beginning of 2025, nearly a dozen bagel shops have opened or leased space in Philadelphia and its suburbs, bringing new locations from local operators as well as fast-growing out-of-town brands that see the region as fertile ground for expansion.
Question 8 of 10
Why is the Landmark Ritz Five closed?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The theater at 214 Walnut St. was found in violation of several city codes in March, and the theater failed a follow-up inspection on Aug. 11, according to a city online portal. A city notice posted to the theater doors on Wednesday said the theater needed to obtain an electrical permit and install a fire alarm system.
Question 9 of 10
Olivia Li is one of the Curtis Institute’s most promising new students — and she’s quite young. How old is she?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Li is 7 years old. Only 13 other students in Curtis' century-plus existence have been under the age of 10. Li is believed to be the youngest student to study there since 1950.
Question 10 of 10
National Treasure director Jon Turteltaub stopped by Philly’s screening and celebration of the film. While there, Turteltaub revealed a scene inside this venue was cut from the film’s final version:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
A scene that didn’t make the cut took place when Abigail and Riley are chased through Center City. “As Riley’s being chased, he cuts into a strip club and he runs through the strip club to get away,” Turteltaub said. “So my idea was he runs in and no one’s in there and it’s just some guy vacuuming and [Riley] says, ‘Well, that was disappointing,’ and keeps going.”
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Seems like you’ve been skimming more than reading there, buddy. There’s always next week.
You’ve read some articles (or made some educated guesses) but we wouldn’t come to you first for our local news recaps. Better luck next week!
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Think you know your news? There’s only one way to find out. Welcome back to our weekly News Quiz — a quick way to see if your reading habits are sinking in and to put your local news knowledge to the test.
Question 1 of 10
What’s SEPTA’s name for its new bus route changes and updates?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
This weekend, the region’s transit agency will roll out the first phase of its New Bus Network, the bus system’s first significant update since the agency was formed in the 1960s. Once dubbed Bus Revolution, the project began in 2021 after transit agencies around the country saw massive declines in ridership. SEPTA’s Bus Revolution was set to launch in 2025 but faced significant community pushback and coincided with the state funding crisis that halted many planned transit initiatives. Two years after being shelved, a slimmed-down version of the plan has a new name and a new approach.
Question 2 of 10
In an interview with Kevin and Michael Bacon about their Philly roots, Kevin revealed he indulges in this treat, which he’ll snag at Wawa, every time he’s in town.
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
“I go to Wawa and get a Tastykake Jelly Krimpet,” Kevin said. “The secret to eating a Jelly Krimpet is you delicately peel back the cookie dough, and extract a jelly ball. You actually hold the jelly ball in your hand, and pop it in your mouth. And then you can eat the rest of it.”
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Question 3 of 10
A small town in this state will attempt to break Philly’s record for the world’s longest cheesesteak on Sunday:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The bad news: Lewiston, Idaho, is coming for Philly’s newly established “longest cheesesteak” world record. The good news: It’s an unofficial attempt — preserving Philly’s Guinness honor — and the proceeds are going to charity, which is kind of hard to bash.
Question 4 of 10
Viral French musician Plumes, known for serenading wild animals around the world, took his talents to the Philadelphia Zoo. When he first arrived in the city on Tuesday, he greeted these animals first with a tune:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
He visited the zoo Tuesday — after running up the Rocky steps — and serenaded the tortoises ahead of sessions on Thursday and Friday, where he played for other animals.
Question 5 of 10
Crossing Broad reported that this store was keeping LeBron James jerseys behind the counter to avoid theft. But store managers told The Inquirer that wasn’t the case:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
A representative from the Dick’s Sporting Goods corporate offices, located in Coraopolis, Pa., confirmed that no jerseys were reported stolen. Jerseys were initially kept behind the checkout to boost sales, but are in the process of being moved to the floor. Some stores already have them on the floor.
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What is being proposed to replace the current site of the Walnut Gardens beer garden on Walnut Street and the previous site of three historic buildings demolished after fire damage?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The proposed building is a two-story retail site with a roof deck. The property is owned by the Gridmark Group, which was founded by Ari Weber, a Brooklyn-based real estate investor. The building is being designed by Philadelphia-based JKRP Architects. After Weber acquired the property, he said he eventually planned to build a 30-story apartment building on the site. Now he has decided that conditions are not favorable for such a large-scale project.
Question 7 of 10
This local journalist’s likeness is at the center of an ongoing catfishing scheme, emailing authors and other personalities about being interviewed on their show — for a fee:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
A recent string of scams and catfish-style attempts, targeting stars and other media personalities, are using Philly’s own Terry Gross as the bait. Writer Bruce Vilanch says he was the latest victim. WHYY says it’s investigating.
Question 8 of 10
Philly is one of three finalist cities to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention. What are the other two?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
In addition to Philadelphia, the Democratic National Committee said it is also considering Denver and Boston on its narrowed short list of cities to hold the next presidential nominating convention. The announcement means that Atlanta and Chicago, which were on a previous list of five potential host cities, have been eliminated from contention.
Question 9 of 10
A new food vendor is replacing Poe’s at Human Robot’s Kensington and Brewerytown locations. Who is it?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Poe’s will be replaced by Cantina La Martina, the acclaimed Mexican restaurant from James Beard-nominated chef Dionicio Jimenez and his wife, Mariangeli Alicea Saez. The move is both an expansion of the couple’s relationship with Human Robot — Cantina La Martina has been serving brunch, tacos, and enchiladas at the brewer’s Jenkintown location since 2024 — and a homecoming.
Question 10 of 10
Which local university will, for the first time, require most freshmen students to live on campus for the 2027-28 school year?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Temple University will require freshmen under the age of 21 to live on campus, with certain exceptions for students living locally with parents or guardians and others facing financial hardship. The university’s decision comes as the school makes an effort to improve the first-year experience and stem a declining retention rate. It’s a significant change for a university that for much of its history was largely a commuter school and only transitioned to a major research university with an on-campus living community in recent decades.
Your Results
You have skipped .
You scored XX out of 10.
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Seems like you’ve been skimming more than reading there, buddy. There’s always next week.
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Do you work here? You’re a local news stan with the latest updates on Philly happenings. Your friends definitely ask you for summaries on what’s going on and it shows.
He had received an email from WHYY’s Terry Gross, herself, asking to be interviewed on NPR’s Fresh Air.
“It was so articulate and so like her,” the writer told the Hollywood Reporter. She laid out talking points and a run of show, according to Vilanch. “It felt real.”
But when Vilanch jumped on their scheduled video call, Gross was nowhere to be found. It finally dawned on Vilanch: He had been scammed. And he was not alone.
A recent string of scams and catfish-style attempts targeting stars and other media personalities are using Philly’s own Gross as the bait. Vilanch says he was the latest victim.
“If somebody claiming to be Terry Gross contacts you for an interview, it is a scam,” the comedian said in a Facebook post last week. He encouraged other potential victims to contact NPR and WHYY.
Online forums reveal a number of recent catfishing attempts involving someone purporting to be Gross.
“These impersonation scams are increasingly common,” said Siwei Lyu, digital media forensics expert and director of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. “Authors are a particularly attractive target because an unexpected invitation from a prominent host or podcast can seem both flattering and plausible.”
It is unclear if one person is behind all of the Fresh Air-centered fraud or if multiple impostors are responsible. Lyu says scam scripts and techniques are easily shared, adapted, and copied, “so the same premise can be used by many unrelated actors.”
On a Facebook group for authors, a writer posted in July about being approached by Fresh Air and asked to donate money. Months earlier, psychologist Steven Pinker, author of The Better Angels of Our Nature, said he was similarly approached by “Terry Gross” via a fake Gmail account as part of a scam targeting authors.
I am targeted by several publishing scams a week, promoting book clubs, reading groups, influencers, publicity campaigns, list placers… all using AI-generated bullet points flattering my books. Yesterday it was "Terry Gross" (with a gmail, not https://t.co/5mhqQcYHlC email… https://t.co/uBFuvSQ5Wi
In Vilanch’s case, he said “Gross” asked him for money to support NPR’s nonprofit public radio efforts amid government cuts. He told the Hollywood Reporter that he thought the request was odd, but that enough credibility within the email chain had been established. So he went for it.
From there, the scammers prepped him for Fresh Air, sending interview questions and scheduling their virtual interview. When the big day arrived, Vilanch was greeted by two video boxes: a screen that read “NPR,” and one with a man who identified himself as “Mike,” the new interviewer. When Vilanch eventually bailed, he sent a final message, according to the Hollywood Reporter: “Whoever you are, I hope you enjoy the paltry sum that I sent.”
Then he reached out to NPR and WHYY. WHYY confirmed it was aware of the scams and investigating.
“WHYY, NPR and Fresh Air with Terry Gross & Tonya Mosley are aware of fraudulent emails in which individuals have impersonated Terry and members of the Fresh Air team attempting to deceive potential guests,” the news organization said in a statement. “As the article in The Hollywood Reporter mentions, other programs and podcasts have also been the subject of these scams.”
The Fresh Air situation is one of several podcast/radio scams targeting Hollywood. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Broadway actor Seth Rudetsky was targeted by a scammer posing as Nikki Glaser who solicited a podcast interview in exchange for a fee. Later, Rudetsky also received an invitation from someone supposedly working on Amy Poehler’s podcast, Good Hang.
In addition to money, some of the scams also target the victim’s social media accounts or login credentials.
Sportswriter Jemele Hill said someone once lied and claimed to be booking her for a new Facebook show hosted by Rob Dyrdek of Ridiculousness. She handed over her Facebook credentials. It took weeks to get them back, she wrote in an X post. “It’s a very sophisticated operation.”
In April, figure skater and personality Adam Rippon told a story on his podcast about being similarly catfished by someone purporting to be on Katie Couric’s podcast via Facebook Live. The follow-through scammed him out of his own Facebook credentials.
“I know I made a grave error,” he said. His Facebook account was ultimately suspended.
A spokesperson for WHYY added that Fresh Air cohost Tonya Mosley has been the named catfish in similar scams, imploring would-be guests to send money in exchange for a radio slot. As a nonprofit organization, WHYY says, it never requests payment for interviews, nor does it pay guests to be interviewed on any of its programs.
“Any communication asking a prospective guest to pay a fee — or offering payment for an interview while claiming to represent WHYY or Fresh Air — should be treated as suspicious,” the statement said.
It is unclear if any of the scams are connected. What they all have in common, though, is their apparent leverage of a celebrity figure along with heavy use of AI to capture the alleged host’s voice and flatter victims with deep-cut knowledge about their work. Lyu said generative AI’s rise in popularity and usage makes hoaxes like this even easier, allowing scammers to quickly personalize messages and operate at a greater scale.
“The technology is new, but the underlying strategy is classic social engineering,” Lyu said. “Establish trust through a recognizable identity, then use that trust to obtain money or account credentials.”
WHYY said it is concerned about its own brand and credibility being used in this case.
“We take the misuse of our journalists’ and programs’ names seriously and are concerned that scammers are exploiting the trust audiences and guests place in Fresh Air,”WHYY said. “We are working with law enforcement to address the situation.”
A restaurant group in Idaho is determined to reclaim what it insists was theirs to begin with: a world record involving cheesesteaks.
On Sunday, Happy Day Restaurants — a company with a slate of eateries across the Gem State — is hosting an event where they’ll attempt to assemble the longest cheesesteak.
It was only earlier this year that Philadelphia claimed that record with a massive event at Philadelphia International Airport, piling nearly 1,000 pounds of rib-eye atop Amoroso rolls as far as the eye could see.
Philly ended up setting an official Guinness World Record that fateful March day, with about 1,291 cheesesteaks stretching out about 1,271 feet. It’s worth noting that Philly’s cheesesteak line was the inaugural record for that category, according to a Guinness World Records adjudicator who spoke with The Inquirer.
But, over the years, others have attempted unofficial cheesesteak records — including Idaho.
Main Street Grill in Lewiston, Idaho, made a 700-foot cheesesteak on August 26, 2023. Until March, it held the unofficial world record for the longest cheesesteak.Frank Webster
In 2023, the Main Street Grill in Lewiston, Idaho, (operated by Happy Day Restaurants) completed a 722-foot line of cheesesteaks as part of a fundraiser event for the regional Boys and Girls Club. Locals took bragging rights and observers (including The Inquirer) admitted at the time that the sandwich line appeared to be a record-holder. But it was all under “unofficial” terms.
Now, let’s fast-forward to this week.
The bad news: Lewiston, Idaho, is coming for Philly’s newly established “longest cheesesteak” world record. The good news: It’s still unofficial and the proceeds are going to charity — which is kind of hard to bash.
According to a statement from Happy Day Restaurants, participants are aiming to break Philly’s record with an attempt of a 1,350-foot Philadelphia cheesesteak (notably, not called an Idaho or Lewiston cheesesteak).
The event will again benefit the local Boys and Girls Club with $10 sandwich tickets. In 2023, the fundraiser raised more than $10,000 for the organization.
This year’s attempt is also an effort to showcase local agriculture and food production infrastructure.
All of the cheesesteak ingredients, from the beef and veggies (including — gasp — peppers!!!) to the rolls, are being sourced locally for Sunday’s installation.
“It’s a demonstration of what our local food system can do,” the restaurant group said in a statement. “The hardest part of farming isn’t always growing the food. For small and medium-sized farms, one of the biggest challenges isn’t necessarily production. It’s finding someone who will reliably buy what they grow.”
The Lewiston cheesesteak line will include:
1,350 rolls with regenerative grain from Cottonwood, Idaho.
720 pounds of beef processed at a local USDA butcher shop (a 50/50 blend of Idaho beef and supplemental supply, citing summer heat impacting processing capacity).
275-plus pounds of onions and peppers grown regionally in Lewis-Clark Valley.
64 gallons of “cheese sauce” (their words not ours).
From left: Clarence LeJeune, Dana Krawchuk, marketing and guest experience manager for Marketplace PHL, and Mel Hannah, vice president and general manager of Marketplace PHL, with the award from Guinness World Records for a record-setting cheesesteak assembled at Philadelphia International Airport on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer
Asked for comment on Lewiston’s attempt to break Philly’s record, PHL sends its regards.
“As the first and current official Guinness World Record holder for ‘Longest Line of Cheesesteaks,’ MarketPlace PHL and the 18 restaurants serving cheesesteaks at Philadelphia International Airport send our very best wishes to Lewiston, Idaho,” Dana Krawchuk, MarketPlace PHL’s marketing manager who organized the airport’s spring record-breaker, said. “In partnership with all the Philly purveyors who supplied ingredients for 2026’s National Cheesesteak Day celebration honoring TSA workers at PHL and making Philly history … We just gotta ask the people of Lewiston, wit or witout?”
Think you know your news? There’s only one way to find out. Welcome back to our weekly News Quiz — a quick way to see if your reading habits are sinking in and to put your local news knowledge to the test.
Question 1 of 10
Bryson Stott’s custom “Field of Dreams” cleats feature Phillies legends emerging from a cornfield. They were designed by NXT LVL Customs, based out of where in Pennsylvania?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Ryan Stevens and his company, NXT LVL Customs, are based out of Downington. Stevens collaborated with a Bucks County illustrator to do the portrait work on the shoes.
Question 2 of 10
Philadelphia is the latest locale for vigilante Jack Reacher's shadowy dealings in season four of Reacher, streaming now on Amazon Video. The show, which stars actor Alan Ritchson as the hulking retired Army investigator, was spotted filming around town last year. What location has NOT been spotted in a season four episode?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Parc briefly plays host to Reacher, Lila Hoth (Agnez Mo), and Jacob Merrick (Christopher Rodriguez-Marquette) as the trio settles in at an outdoor table to evade police. But they haven’t been spotted at a cheesesteak spot, like Pat’s, so far.
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Question 3 of 10
What did 12-year-old Sam Okyere choose for his Make-A-Wish “Perfect Day?”
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Sam, who has sickle cell disease, wanted to help the homeless as his Make-A-Wish gift. The organization hosted a carnival-style extravaganza for the West Philly homeless shelter, Families Forward Philadelphia.
Question 4 of 10
A new LeBron James mural takes inspiration from an iconic photo from the basketball player’s Miami Heat days — where he and Dwyane Wade nailed an alley-oop. In the Chinatown mural, however, James is seen wearing a Sixers uniform and Wade is swapped out for this figure:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
In the mural, Wade is swapped for a bronze Billy Penn, a nod to the statue atop City Hall. Artist Chenlin Cai painted the mural.
Question 5 of 10
A corner store in Point Breeze, on the corner of 17th and Wharton Streets, is being praised for having the best:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The spot is praised for its fried chicken sandwich, which costs $9 and consists of two chicken breast cutlets, thickly breaded with a super crunchy exterior. Ordering it “with everything” means that it comes with pickles, mayo, onion, tomato, and lettuce; laid on two slices of potato bread.
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This sweet treat first originated in Philadelphia, according to a 19th-century cookbook:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The first known American cookbook author, Amelia Simmons, included a “light cake to bake in small cups” in her 1796 American Cookery. Another book from 1828 was the first to call the petite cake a cupcake. Not only is her recipe titled “cup cake,” but she also includes specific instructions to bake in “small tins.” Cupcake history thus begins here, in this printed record of the name and form recognized today.
Question 7 of 10
As its permit nears expiration, this attraction by City Hall is looking to relocate soon:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The Portal — the video installation that accesses live feeds to other countries — and its permit is set to expire on Oct. 31. Portals.org is looking for a sponsor that can help house and relocate it. If it doesn’t find one in time, officials say the exhibit will move on.
Question 8 of 10
Which fruit flavor is trending across all Philly beverage menus — from bars to cafes — according to food reporter Kiki Aranita?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Banana’s popularity is suddenly booming. They’re trending everywhere, but especially at cocktail bars and cafes, which use fresh bananas, banana liqueur, banana extract, and even banana peel. Some are calling it "the next pumpkin spice."
Question 9 of 10
The alternative rock band, Dogstar, toured through the Philly region this week. The band features this famous actor on bass:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
“We’re coming to Philly! We’re gonna rock!” said actor and Dogstar bassist Keanu Reeves in an interview with music critic Dan DeLuca. The band discussed the actor’s winding career and how he came back around to playing bass.
Question 10 of 10
A Philly entrepreneur allegedly scammed Eagles players and people in multiple states with:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
A recent investigation claimed that Mohamed Coulibaly defrauded three former NFL players out of $1 million in an e-commerce scheme involving fake Shopify stores.
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Think you know your news? There’s only one way to find out. Welcome back to our weekly News Quiz — a quick way to see if your reading habits are sinking in and to put your local news knowledge to the test.
Question 1 of 10
Sixers fan Joey Abel went viral for sunburning his back down the Shore with a faux LeBron James jersey outlined with sunscreen. But for work, he actually lives here:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Abel works in insurance in New York. For the past few months, the 28-year-old has been surrounded by hordes of Knicks fans, reveling in their long-sought championship. It hasn’t been pleasant for the lifelong Philadelphia sports team fan. When James’ signing was announced, he took action the only way he knew how.
Question 2 of 10
Employees at this Philly museum adopted their first union contract this month:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Fabric Workshop and Museum employees are the latest museum workers to get a union contract. The 22 workers covered by the new contract are represented by the AFSCME District Council 47, Local 397, and work in visitor services, education, marketing, and communications roles, among other jobs.
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Question 3 of 10
Irish singer Glen Hansard was working on an album in Philadelphia before his death. Who was his producer and key collaborator on the unnamed project?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Beginning in 2025, and continuing this past winter, Hansard spent weeks working on an album with producer Charlie Hall of the War on Drugs. Hansard first came to Elm Street to work with Hall and his crew in March 2025 and then again in January this year.
Question 4 of 10
Who is the Met’s Costume Institute honoring and spotlighting for its 2027 exhibit?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
John Galliano, a lauded fashion designer with a checkered past, will be honored at next year’s Met Gala. The decision has sparked mixed reactions because of Galliano’s past, which includes a racist and antisemitic rant that ended his career at Dior.
Question 5 of 10
Relics from the now-closed Gillian’s Wonderland Pier are up for sale following the beloved attraction’s closure. They’re on the market at an antique shop here:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Nearly two years after the iconic Ocean City, N.J., boardwalk amusement park closed, and with the future of the site still uncertain, 20 of the kitschy and spooky disembodied artifacts from Wonderland remain unsold at Obnoxious Antiques in Burlington.
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A vast collection of 19th-century manuals focused on this topic has made its way into the Library Company of Philadelphia’s shelves:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Fruits of Philosophy is one of 1,500 19th-century clandestine hardcovers that are part of the Library Company’s most recent set of acquisitions from respected medical historian, author, and avid book collector Charles E. Rosenberg. The books focus on sex, sexual health, abortion, self-pleasure, birth control, and more — all of which were considered extremely taboo topics at the time.
Question 7 of 10
Local music producer Will Yip recently spoke with The Inquirer about one of his fandoms. The Grammy winner has an extensive collection of:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Yip became a part of what he calls an “underground market” of people who become friends as they help each other find game-used Phillies memorabilia. He has hundreds of jerseys that he keeps in storage and has lost track of how much money he’s spent over the years.
Question 8 of 10
Independence Mall is getting a new sculpture. What will the sculpture portray?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
A 46-foot-long sculpture of Benjamin Franklin’s “Join or Die” snake is set to be unveiled this fall on the Liberty Bell Center block of Independence Mall, near the corner of Fifth and Chestnut Streets. The sculpture will feature eight pieces that represent segments of the snake’s body. These will be carved out of granite, each marked with the initials of the respective colony it’s meant to represent.
Question 9 of 10
Which popular figure was seen across the Philly area sampling local pizza slices for future social media content?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Dave Portnoy, the Barstool Sports founder and “One Bite Pizza Reviews” host, made at least five stops in the region, leaving some pizzeria owners celebrating and others refreshing social media to learn their scores.
Question 10 of 10
Ellen Yin’s newest Philly restaurant, Bar Cicci, is promoting itself as an all-day:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Bar Cicci will bring Italy's slower-paced drinking culture to Rittenhouse Square as an all-day aperitivo bar, with a menu of small plates, old-school Italian pastries, and spritzes.
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The next Met Gala is nine months away, but it’s already sparking charged opinions. The controversy centers around the Costume Institute’s decision to honor one designer at its next exhibit: John Galliano, a lauded fashion designer with a checkered past.
Galliano’s exhibit at the Met will be significant, marking only the third solo show for a living designer in the gala’s history. (The others were Rei Kawakubo in 2017 and Yves Saint Laurent in 1983.)
But it’s not all pierced leather and newspaper print (just two of the designer’s many signature elements). In 2011, Galliano was infamously canceled after his conviction in a Parisian court over a series of racist and antisemitic comments.
It cost him his job leading Dior. At the time, Galliano said his alcohol abuse sparked the outburst.
After “two years of exile‚” the designer’s career bounced back. Now, it will be showcased at length. Still, the Met is working to emphasize that the exhibit would not shy away from the problematic aspects of Galliano’s history.
“His career isn’t defined by a moment — something that he will live with for the rest of his life. The exhibition won’t shy away from any of the darkness in John’s past,“ Anna Wintour told Vogue. Wintor is the global editorial director of Vogue, chief content officer of Condé Nast, and Met Gala chairperson responsible for the event’s programming. “It’s part of what has shaped him. The show will take in the full arc of his career and grapple with all of it.” Wintour is a longtime champion of Galliano and his work.
The exhibit’s announcement — and the rehashing of Galliano’s comments — come during a time when antisemitism is surging globally. Fashion expert and professional thrifter Virginia Chamlee says the Met is equipped to accurately cover an influential artist without sanitizing the ugly parts.
Still, Chamlee noted, the biggest publicity draw for the Met’s annual exhibit is the televised red carpet walks leading up to the gala itself — not the exhibition that follows. She’s concerned that whatever efforts the Met has devoted to accountability could be lost to the larger audience.
“So there’s a real risk here,” Chamlee said. “Even if the museum intends to offer a complete examination of Galliano’s complicated legacy, it may come off as a straightforward celebration of someone who said things so heinous and racist that they were charged and fired for them.”
Met Gala attendees often wear looks by or inspired by the artists being honored, meaning Galliano’s pieces will likely be worn on celebrities whose looks will be photographed and televised prominently.
Fashion influencer and writer Ashley Ballard has collected vintage Galliano Dior-era pieces for years.
“It’s undeniable that Galliano’s time at Dior had a ripple effect on fashion and greater culture,” she said. The designer’s work redefined haute couture with immersive fashion shows, used historical references in fashion, and often bled into pop culture, with top celebrities wearing his designs.
“It’s key for us to remember that pioneers from this time period [1996-2011] — particularly Galliano and Alexander McQueen — created pieces that challenged high fashion as an institution,” Ballard said.
Citing Galliano’s incorporation of subcultures into his art, breaking the traditional molds of luxury fashion, Ballard called the designer’s work art that “bridged the gap between traditional fashion houses and audiences that historically were considered an afterthought.”
Ballard said the controversy over honoring Galliano was valid.
“This doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and people have the right to be upset by what was said 15 years ago,” she said. “[But] as a culture, if we genuinely care about minimizing hatred and the effects of addiction, it’s imperative that we support rehabilitation and reconstruction, offering the possibility that change is possible and welcomed — otherwise we become participants in the continuity of harm.”
Here’s everything else you need to know.
Who is John Galliano?
Galliano, 65, is a British designer who has worked for some of the industry’s top fashion houses, including Christian Dior, Givenchy, and Oscar de la Renta.
At the peak of his career, he served as Dior’s creative director for nearly 15 years. Galliano went on to work for Maison Margiela from 2014 through 2024.
Earlier this year, Zara announced a two-year creative partnership with Galliano.
What work is John Galliano best known for?
While at Dior, Galliano’s haute couture and ready-to-wear collections were hailed as among the best of the best.
He designed the fashion house’s signature Saddle Bag, premiering in 2000 and remaining a staple shape.
He’s also responsible for iconic looks, including the newspaper dress worn by Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, and model Kate Moss’ 2011 wedding dress.
“Galliano’s work as a fashion designer is very highly regarded [and collectible],” Chamlee said. “Just look at the asking price [$375,500] of this Galliano for Dior Homme menswear leather skirt. The industry also largely welcomed him back years ago.”
Galliano was recorded at a Paris bar making drunken, antisemitic comments to a group of Jewish women.
The video recording surfaced in February 2011, just before Paris Fashion Week. Dior suspended and ultimately fired the creative director.
Galliano was tried by French authorities under national laws against antisemitic speech, where he was found guilty and ordered to pay €16,500 (about $19,000) in fines and damages. He also lost a compensation case against Dior in labor court.
What happened to Galliano after Dior fired him for his antisemitic comments?
Galliano spent years involved in public and private efforts to rehabilitate.
The 2024 documentary High & Low — John Galliano suggests Galliano was overworked and abusing alcohol and drugs when he made the disparaging comments. The documentary features interviews and analysis on Galliano’s efforts to repair the harm he’d done.
After a period of silence, alcohol rehabilitation, and outreach to Jewish organizations, some of the designer’s fashion peers and religious leaders began publicly forgiving him.
Notably, Anna Wintour has repeatedly championed Galliano’s work, both in the early days of his career and later, after his period of cancellation.
She reportedly helped the designer secure funding over the years, as well as his positions at Givenchy and Dior prior to his conviction and at Oscar de la Renta in 2013. In March, he announced his partnership with Zara.
Wintour and Galliano met with Jewish leaders to discuss the planned Met Gala showcase, according to the New York Times.
The Times quoted Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, as saying: “We believe John Galliano has genuinely worked through the issues that led to his antisemitic outburst years ago in Paris, and we have long since accepted his apology.”
Greenblatt added: “His efforts to repair the damage his words caused and to learn from that incident should be applauded.”
What has the Met said about the Galliano exhibit?
In a news release Friday, the museum promised John Galliano: Horizons would address the good, bad, and ugly of Galliano’s career.
“It will directly address the rupture caused by his antisemitic, racist, and anti-Asian conduct in 2010 and 2011, which resulted in his dismissal from Christian Dior and his eponymous label and his conviction by a Paris court for public insults based on race, religion, ethnicity, or origin,” the release said. “It will also consider his subsequent treatment for substance addiction and his later public acknowledgment of his actions. Rather than presenting a conventional narrative of disgrace and redemption, the gallery will examine how memory, experience, cultural values, and historical circumstances continually reshape the reception of a designer’s work.”
Have other ‘canceled’ designers been honored at the Met Gala?
Several Met Gala showcases and exhibitions have been considered controversial over the years, but experts say this time is different.
The celebration for Yves Saint Laurent in 1983 was criticized for being the first to celebrate a living artist. Critics and art historians suggested the precedent could lead to a promotional advertorial-style treatment for an active brand.
“Lagerfeld had a long record of cruel and discriminatory public comments … But Galliano’s conduct was explicit enough to result in his firing and a criminal conviction,” said Chamlee. As a living designer, Galliano stands to benefit professionally and financially from the renewed attention, she added.
When is the 2027 Met Gala?
The Met Gala will take place May 3. John Galliano: Horizons will premiere to the public May 9 and be on display through Jan. 9, 2028.
Think you know your news? There’s only one way to find out. Welcome back to our weekly News Quiz — a quick way to see if your reading habits are sinking in and to put your local news knowledge to the test.
Question 1 of 10
Which top official resigned from Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration this week?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Philadelphia Managing Director Adam K. Thiel, a top appointee who supervises many of the government’s day-to-day operations, is resigning, the mayor announced Tuesday.
Question 2 of 10
A University of Pennsylvania professor has sold over a million copies of her highly praised translation of this story:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Professor Emily Wilson of West Philly thought she’d sell 1,000 copies of her Odyssey translation. She has sold more than a million, thanks to Christopher Nolan. Her translation was cited by Nolan as a reference for his blockbuster film version.
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Question 3 of 10
Philly band Snacktime performed at the Newport Folk Festival last week. While there, they also made a guest cameo, performing as the horn section for this popular singer:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The band — wearing their trademark black faux Sixers jerseys — joined Lauryn Hill as the Fugees singer’s horn section, on “Doo Wop (That Thing),” from her 1998 classic album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which was released on Conshohocken’s Ruffhouse Records.
Question 4 of 10
Philly’s Academy of Natural Sciences was the first public venue with a complete dinosaur skeleton on view. What kind of dinosaur is the 15-foot-tall skeleton of?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
In 1868, the Academy made paleontology history when Benjamin Waterhouse unveiled a complete dinosaur skeleton of Hadrosaurus foulkii built from bones of the plant-eating dinosaur excavated in Haddonfield 10 years before.
Question 5 of 10
A new art gallery at the vintage shop At My House features pieces all falling into this theme:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
All of the art on display at “Mini Mini” is about 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches — no larger than a postage stamp. On the wall are displays of tiny clothing items, makeshift houses and rooms, and some original drawings. The artwork is for sale, with items ranging from $60 to $300.
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Rising pop singer Audrey Hobert recently told a crowd at one of her shows that if she could haunt any place in the world, she’d select this Philly bar:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
“Such a great question,” responded Hobert, in a lime green zip-up and gym shorts. “I would probably haunt this bar in Philly which [inspired] my song ‘Silver Jubilee.’ … It’s the best bar I’ve ever been to.” A blog post on Hobert’s website detailing the backstory of “Silver Jubilee” explains it was inspired by a Halloween weekend in 2024 she spent at Drinker’s Pub.
Question 7 of 10
New details have been released about the Star Wars: The Experience exhibit, which is touring North America and launching at Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute next year. The experience will include a range of interactive displays and original artifacts used in the films. Which character’s original lightsaber has been confirmed as part of the exhibit?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
A variety of rare artifacts used in the films — like Darth Vader’s costume and Darth Maul’s lightsaber — will be on display, along with various robots and aliens from the universe, like R2-D2 and Grogu.
Question 8 of 10
Oroshi, a budget-friendly omakase, has opened on Broad Street. The restaurant still uses plenty of high-end ingredients and cuts. But it’s also playful at times, food writer Kiki Aranita noted. What unexpected ingredient was torched on top of a piece of salmon when she dined there?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
A nigiri on Oroshi’s opening menu that they’ve since phased out consisted of premium Bakkafrost salmon from Scotland, topped with mayonnaise and a tiny square of Kraft American cheese that was torched multiple times.
Question 9 of 10
LeBron James’ move to the Sixers sparked major jersey sales. According to Fanatics, the move marks the highest-selling jersey of a player joining a new team (across all sports). What player held that record until now?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
After James shocked the sports world, choosing the Sixers over Cleveland and Miami, the future Hall of Famer’s jersey has been the highest-selling of a player joining a new team across all sports — surpassing Shohei Ohtani’s move to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023, according to Fanatics.
Question 10 of 10
A rising senior at La Salle University built an app to help him and other athletes on his team excel in their sport, using a collection of stats and artificial intelligence. What sport is the app specialized for?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Will Tran, a rising senior rower and computer science major, created RowIQ, which provides an in-depth look at how rowers can improve with “data that’s never been seen before.”
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Seems like you’ve been skimming more than reading there, buddy. There’s always next week.
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Do you work here? You’re a local news stan with the latest updates on Philly happenings. Your friends definitely ask you for summaries on what’s going on and it shows.
