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Author: Ellen Dunkel

  • From Indian classical to some patriotic ballet, here are the 9 best dance shows coming to Philadelphia this fall

    From Indian classical to some patriotic ballet, here are the 9 best dance shows coming to Philadelphia this fall

    If you like your dance with a good soundtrack, there are a lot of fun options in Philly this fall.

    Philadelphia Ballet will open its season with a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, with its orchestra playing “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and other patriotic music and American classics. Philadanco will be dancing to the Sound of Philadelphia at the Kimmel Center in December. Ballets Jazz Montréal will visit the Annenberg with an homage to Leonard Cohen.

    And, of course, holiday music will be back with the dance in December when Philadelphia Ballet brings back George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. Plus, A Very SW!NG OUT Holiday is coming to the Annenberg, with a live band playing holiday favorites to the dance.

    Philadelphia Ballet in George Balanchine’s “Stars and Stripes.”Arian Molina Soca / Philadelphia Ballet

    ‘Stars and Stripes Forever!’ Philadelphia Ballet

    Oct. 8-11, Academy of Music

    Most of the Semiquincentennial celebrations happened around July Fourth. But Philadelphia Ballet is continuing the party with its season-opening program. It will be dancing Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free, George Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes and a concert version of Who Cares?, and Eliot Feld’s Variations on “America.” philadelphiaballet.org

    Philadelphia Ballet dancers Dayesi Torriente and Sterling Baca in Christopher Wheeldon’s “DGV.”Alexander Iziliaev

    ‘Dance at Great Velocity,’ Philadelphia Ballet

    Oct. 15-18, Academy of Music

    Just days after its season opener, Philadelphia Ballet returns to the Academy of Music for its second program, one that focuses on the power and speed of a ballet dancer. Of course, the challenge is not only to make it athletic, but to bring great artistry, as well. For this program, the ballet is bringing back Wayne McGregor’s Chroma, Christopher Wheeldon’s DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse, and Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room. philadelphiaballet.org

    Ballets Jazz Montréal in “Dance Me – The Music of Leonard Cohen.”Rolando Paulo Guerzoni / Ballets Jazz Montreal

    Ballets Jazz Montréal

    Oct. 23-24, Zellerbach Theatre

    This Canadian company is stopping in Philly for the final tour of Dance Me, an homage to the late singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen, who had authorized the work. The work includes choreography by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa (a frequent BalletX collaborator), Andonis Foniadakis, and Ihsan Rustem. pennlivearts.org

    Nrityagram Dance Ensemble in “KHANKHANĀ, The Sound of Dancing Feet.”Rajesh Krishna / Nrityagram Dance Ensemble

    Nrityagram Dance Ensemble

    Nov. 5-7, Zellerbach Theatre

    This classical Indian dance company is returning to the Annenberg with the Philadelphia premiere of KHANKHANĀ, The Sound of Dancing Feet. It features three decades of works by artistic director and choreographer Surupa Sen, who specializes in Odissi, one of the nine Indian classical dance styles. pennlivearts.org

    Compagnie Hervé Koubi in “Sol Invictus.”Mélanie Lhôte / Compagnie Hervé Koubi

    Compagnie Hervé Koubi

    Nov. 20-21, Zellerbach Theatre

    This French company is returning to Philadelphia with Sol Invictus, a work that focuses on love and peace. The style is a combination of contemporary dance, hip-hop, capoeira, and martial arts, and it is set to music by Mikael Karlsson, Steve Reich, and Maxime Bodson. pennlivearts.org

    BalletX dancers Jared Kelly and Ashley Simpson in Amy Hall Garner’s “Switching The Groove.”Christopher Duggan / BalletX

    BalletX fall series

    Nov. 4-15, Suzanne Roberts Theatre

    BalletX is revisiting Prohibition-era Philadelphia in its fall series, with a world premiere from New Zealand choreographer Loughlan Prior. The company mentions jazz, glamour, and danger. Sounds fun! It will also include the return of 2023’s Switching the Groove by Amy Hall Garner and last year’s In the Wake by Christian Denice. balletx.org

    Philadanco will be performing “Sweet Agony” by Gene Hill Sagan in its December program.Philadanco

    ‘For the Love of Philly,’ Philadanco

    Dec. 4-6, Perelman Theater

    This season, Philadanco will be celebrating Philly’s Black culture legacy two ways: via its own history and through the Sound of Philadelphia. The program looks meaningful and highly entertaining, featuring world premieres by Rennie Harris and Dawn Marie Bazemore, as well as Sweet Agony by Gene Hill Sagan, Promise Me You Won’t Call by company co-artistic director Tommie-Waheed Evans, and a reimagined version of Dwight Rhoden’s Tribute. The music will be from the Philadelphia International Records catalog and include songs from Patti LaBelle, Teddy Pendergrass, the O’Jays, and others. On opening night, the company will celebrate founder and artistic adviser Joan Myers Brown’s 95th birthday. ensembleartsphilly.org

    Philadelphia Ballet rehearsal director Charles Askegard, as Drosselmeier, along with students from the School of Philadelphia Ballet in the party scene in “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.”Alexander Iziliaev / Philadelphia Ballet

    ‘George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker,’ Philadelphia Ballet

    Dec. 4-31, Academy of Music

    If you’ve ever seen one ballet, chances are it’s The Nutcracker. If you’ve ever performed in a ballet, it’s likely The Nutcracker. If you ever felt like there’s one performance that really makes it feel like Christmas, it’s likely The Nutcracker. Philadelphia Ballet offers many chances to get that holiday spirit, with performances throughout most of December. The delightful children, Sugar Plum Fairy, snow on stage, and red-coated Philadelphia Boys Choir are fun to see every year. philadelphiaballet.org

    “A Very SW!NG OUT Holiday.”Steven Pisano / Sw!ng Out

    ‘A Very SW!NG OUT Holiday’

    Dec. 11-12, Zellerbach Theatre

    If you’d like a different type of Christmas dance show, choreographer Caleb Teicher is bringing some holiday Lindy Hop, based on the show SW!NG OUT, which visited the Annenberg in 2023. The show also features holiday music played live by the Eyal Vilner Big Band. pennlivearts.org

  • ⛽ Freedom Fuel fines | Inquirer South Jersey

    Good morning, South Jersey. Parts of Gloucester County got more than 5 inches of rain in Thursday’s storms. More thunderstorms are possible today before the skies clear for the weekend. (Assuming the skies get the clearing-out memo.)

    Before Freedom Fuel stations were being touted by the White House, six South Jersey locations were fined over environmental transgressions.

    Sen. Cory Booker talked healthcare and food during stops in Camden and Mount Laurel on Thursday.

    Plus, apple picking is back in South Jersey, and more news of the day.

    — Ellen Dunkel (southjersey@inquirer.com)

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    N.J. Freedom Fuel stations racked up big fines

    Freedom Fuel stations quietly popped up in South Jersey earlier this summer — and then were less quietly touted by the White House for prices that were lower than other gas stations.

    In early July, gas at some Freedom Fuel stations was $3.47 a gallon. The 47 was a nod to President Donald Trump.

    But it turns out before the White House shouted them out, the owners of six South Jersey Freedom Fuel locations had been fined hundreds of thousands of dollars for a variety of environmental violations.

    Along with the six Freedom Fuel stations, those fined include 11 others, all owned by asset manager Blue Owl Capital and operated by a Cherry Hill developer and his brother.

    Reporters Ximena Conde and Rob Tornoe have the details.

    Healthcare should start with better food, Booker says

    The United States needs a “food revolution,” Sen. Cory Booker said during a swing through South Jersey Thursday.

    “What’s stupid is that we’re sitting here talking about the cost of healthcare and how to pay for it, but not why we need so much healthcare in the first place,” the New Jersey Democrat said during a speech for a Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey luncheon at the Westin Mount Laurel.

    The country should better support small farmers, Booker said, while he decried that the majority of agricultural subsidies go toward crops that are turned into ultra-processed foods, rather than fruits and vegetables.

    He also visited Cathedral Kitchen in Camden, where he packed sandwiches alongside the nonprofit community kitchen’s volunteers.

    The Inquirer’s Aliya Schneider has more on Booker’s visits.

    What to know today

    🧠 Trivia time

    Which Phillies player holds batting practices in hotel rooms?

    A) Luis Arraez

    B) Bryce Harper

    C) Trea Turner

    D) Kyle Schwarber

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re …

    🌊 Planning: A weekend trip to Ocean City.

    🍴 Sharing: A gluten-free guide of where to eat while you’re at the Shore.

    🍿 Rewatching: Hulu’s Deli Boys amid its recent cancellation.

    🏖️ Down the Shore

    This “Ask Down the Shore” feature appears as part of our weekly summertime series from Shore reporter Amy S. Rosenberg. Subscribe to her free Down the Shore newsletter here.

    Should Ocean City remain dry? We asked our Shore Line texters.

    Not many advocated bringing bars or liquor stores to Ocean City, but there was some sentiment for BYOB.

    The best case for remaining dry: For years I wanted BYOs but lately the old charm of this town seems to be drifting away. I have little doubt that the OC would lose its unique identity. It should remain a dry town.

    The best case for BYOB: I think it would be nice if Ocean City was at least a BYOB. So many wonderful restaurants, but we just don’t go for that exact reason.

    What do you think? Do you prefer it to stay as is or do you wish you could at least bring a bottle of wine to a restaurant? Let us know what you think by replying to Down the Shore.

    📸 Photo of the week

    Chef Liz Grothe of Scampi returns to the dock in Sea Isle City after an afternoon of crabbing at the Jersey Shore on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    🦀 One last crabby thing: Philly chef Liz Grothe goes crabbing in Sea Isle City every year with family. “I’m in it for the love of the game, not the catch,” she says. Go behind the scenes of this summer’s trip, from skiff to kitchen to table.

    Hope the weekend brings beautiful weather. But any sort of weekend is nice. Enjoy yours!

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • Meet Soupy Island’s longtime caretaker | Inquirer South Jersey

    Good morning, South Jersey. It’s Friday! It looks like a mixed bag in the weather department this weekend. Saturday seems promising, but storms (potentially severe) are forecast for Sunday.

    Have you heard of Soupy Island? It’s a fun, quirky play spot for kids in West Deptford that is open only about one month a year. One man has been running it for nearly 30 years.

    Speaking of children, young athletes will participate next week in an international baseball tournament in Marlton.

    Plus, nearly 30 dead sharks washed ashore in Sea Isle City, and more news of the day.

    — Ellen Dunkel (southjersey@inquirer.com)

    P.S. Thank you for your continuing support. We want your thoughts! Tell us your opinion of the newsletter by taking our survey or replying to this email.

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    A quirky hidden oasis for children

    Armando Roberto Perez, 70, is the caretaker for Soupy Island, a public pool and park in West Deptford. It is known for its century-old carousel, free soup, and the tall, enclosed slide guests glide down on wax paper, crashing into sand.

    Perez, fondly called Mr. Soupy, has been running Soupy Island for 28 years. It’s a family calling. His father-in-law was the previous caretaker and his grandfather-in-law before that.

    Part of Soupy Island’s appeal is that it’s open only about one month a year, three days a week from July to mid-August. Admission is free. Not surprisingly, soup is on the menu.

    Inquirer reporter Sarah Nicell explored Soupy Island with Perez.

    Very young international athletes

    International competition doesn’t usually involve 8-year-olds, most of whom are prepping for second or third grade.

    But next week, young athletes will be playing in an international youth baseball tournament in Marlton.

    The field in the 2026 Cal Ripken 8U World Series will include 11 U.S. teams as well as teams from Mexico, Curaçao, Bonaire, and Latin America.

    Inquirer reporter Becca O’Reilly has the details.

    What to know today

    🧠 Trivia time

    Where is Michelin headed for its 2026 award ceremony?

    Hint: Sorry to say, but it’s not near us

    A) Chicago

    B) New York City

    C) Baltimore

    D) Los Angeles

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re …

    🏠 Touring: The Underground Railroad Museum of Burlington County.

    🛍️ Shopping for: Unique decor at Clutter Vintage in Collingswood.

    🏺 Exploring: Cafes and cozy inns in Lambertville and Stockton.

    🏖️ Down the Shore

    This “Ask Down the Shore” feature appears as part of our weekly summertime series from Shore reporter Amy S. Rosenberg. Subscribe to her free Down the Shore newsletter here.

    A reader asked what effect all the teardowns of smaller cottages were having on the Shore. We asked our Shore Line texters. Here’s a sampling of the replies, lightly edited.

    1. The classic old shore homes are disappearing. It is sad. Most of the new homes look alike. We should try to protect the old charm. It can’t be replicated.
    2. The shore is already overbuilt and has been for years. Adding ginormous sized houses only depletes the natural resources that make the shore unique. When my family drove to the shore when I was a kid in the ’60s you could smell the sea air before you could see anything that looked like the shore on the Expressway. I remember that smell fondly (mostly) and miss it greatly. I can’t pinpoint when it stopped. It gradually decreased in the ’90s and now it no longer exists.
    3. It is unrealistic to expect people not to tear down older homes. Yes there will be more traffic but maybe that will be self limiting.

    What do you think? Do you like the look of the old homes? Do you prefer the newer houses? Is it realistic to ask homeowners to update older homes? Be part of conversation and email Rosenberg at downtheshore@inquirer.com.

    📸 Photo of the week

    Teacher Grey Hamilton (on his back) instructs students in the Cooper River Yacht Club’s summer Learn-to-Sail program on the Cooper River in Collingswood. Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    Enjoy your weekend!

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • A big upgrade for Big J | Inquirer South Jersey

    Good morning, South Jersey. I’m with you for a few days from my little corner of our region. I’ve been a New Jersey resident almost all my life, and I can’t help but notice that even critics of our state like to visit our Shore towns. 🤷‍♀️

    In Camden, Battleship New Jersey will be getting a two-year, $24.25 million upgrade. Some will be on the vessel itself, while other work will improve the visitor’s experience.

    And New Jersey — along with Pennsylvania and Delaware — had more deportation orders issued in June than in any other month since 1997.

    Plus, food insecurity is way up in New Jersey, and more news of the day.

    — Ellen Dunkel (southjersey@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    New-look battleship

    Battleship New Jersey is about to get another facelift, this one costing $24.25 million and involving work on and off the ship.

    The project could take about two years to complete and will make it more visitor friendly, with an expanded visitor center, double the parking, and a new event space.

    Big J, as it is known, is nearly 2½ football fields long. The World War II-era ship returned to the Camden waterfront in June 2024 after being dry-docked in Philadelphia for 78 days. At that time, it got a paint job for the first time in three decades, as well as multimillion-dollar routine maintenance and repairs.

    The Inquirer’s Sarah Nicell has more details.

    Record deportations from New Jersey

    Immigration courts in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware are ordering people removed from the country in numbers not seen since at least 1997.

    In New Jersey’s courts, orders of removal or voluntary departure rose 47%, from 2,348 in May to 3,446 in June. (At the Philadelphia immigration court — which hears cases for most Pennsylvania and Delaware residents — orders rose 71%, from 1,230 in May to 2,105 in June.)

    The figures are the highest since at least late 1997.

    More than 46,000 removal and voluntary deportation orders have been issued in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware since President Donald Trump’s return to office, slightly more than the total issued over former President Joe Biden’s entire term.

    Inquirer reporter Joe Yerardi has the story.

    What to know today

    • Food insecurity in N.J. has nearly doubled over four years, New Jersey Monitor reports.
    • A New Jersey resident won $500,000 in a Powerball Double Play drawing, the Courier Post reports. The person’s name and location have not yet been released.
    • This North Wildwood cottage was too small for a big family. The owner rebuilt it from scratch with the home’s history in mind.
    • The owner of Chicken or the Egg in Marlton and Beach Haven and LaScala’s Fire in Marlton and other locations has bought a Bucks County restaurant to add to his LaScala’s Fire collection. He also plans to expand the concept in Jersey.
    • A Voorhees seafood restaurant is closing after 35 years, NJ.com reports.

    🗓️ The best things to do this week

    🌭 The Glizzy Gauntlet: The hot dog eating competition is back for its third year at the board game café pdk. NINE. The contest will test both speed and endurance as contestants compete in multiple rounds to claim the title of the Glizzy Gladiator. ⏰ Saturday, Aug. 15, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.💵 Free for spectators, $20 for participants 📍 pdk. NINE, Mount Laurel.

    🎨 Collingswood Crafts & Fine Art Festival: The annual festival is back for its 20th year. The two-day event highlights the work of more than 190 artists mostly from across the tristate area. There will also be live music, various dining options, and family craft activities. ⏰ Saturday, Aug. 15, and Sunday, Aug. 16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍Haddon Avenue, Downtown Collingswood.

    🎉 Dominican Restoration Day Parade and Concert: Celebrate Dominican culture with a parade that kicks off at noon at Market and Fifth Streets with floats, music, and community pride. At 3 p.m., the party shifts to Wiggins Waterfront Park for live music, cultural performances, and various vendors. ⏰ Saturday, Aug. 15, and Sunday, Aug. 16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍Wiggins Park, Camden.

    See more event listings here.

    🧠 Trivia time

    Swedesboro was established in what year?

    A) 1638

    B) 1738

    C) 1842

    D) 2005

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re …

    🪐 Anticipating: The forthcoming world premiere exhibit, Star Wars: The Experience, coming to the Franklin Institute.

    🎶 Considering: An appreciation for country music.

    🏀 Hunting for: Tickets for the Sixers’ season opener.

    Enjoy your Thursday!

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • Scamming NFL players and regular people | Morning Newsletter

    Good morning! Looks like we’re in for another hot day, with maybe some thunderstorms in the late afternoon. Translation: It’s August in Philly.

    This morning, we have the story of a man who allegedly bilked NFL players and others out of money in a scam involving fake Shopify stores.

    We also have details about Gov. Josh Shapiro’s early days in office when he welcomed businesses into Pennsylvania — including data centers, which are decidedly unpopular now.

    Plus, some members of Congress want FanDuel to eliminate its VIP program in light of the Bryce Harper controversy. The Portal is going to move away from City Hall — and could leave Philly altogether. — Ellen Dunkel

    (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Football, Shopify, and an alleged Ponzi scheme

    Hours before they found him dead in his Gloucester County home, one of Mohamed Coulibaly’s alleged victims said the 23-year-old entrepreneur had been desperately seeking a $75,000 loan.

    A recent Barron’s investigation alleged Coulibaly defrauded three former NFL players out of $1 million in an e-commerce scheme involving fake Shopify stores.

    Now others who invested in the venture or lent Coulibaly money, were blowing up his phone. They wanted to know if Eagles Jalen Carter and several former members of the team, including Nakobe Dean and Terrell Edmunds, were even real clients, a claim Coulibaly made on promotional materials.

    Above all, these people wanted their money back.

    Reporter Ximena Conde digs into the case.

    Data centers are weighing on Shapiro’s popularity

    Gov. Josh Shapiro made a declaration in the early days of his administration: Pennsylvania is open for business.

    The move would ultimately include promises to slash bureaucratic red tape, cut permit wait times, and offer a new direct line to Shapiro’s office for major corporations hoping to set up shop in Pennsylvania.

    It was with this same spirit last summer that Shapiro announced the largest single private sector investment in Pennsylvania history: Amazon committed $20 billion in Pennsylvania that included two data center campuses in Luzerne and Bucks Counties.

    But in a year’s time, the politics — and public opinion on both sides of the aisle — have dramatically shifted on data center development.

    Reporters Michelle Baruchman and Gillian McGoldrick have the details.

    What you should know today

    Quote of the day

    “Baby boomers like me vividly remember the towering, then-state-of-the-art right field scoreboard at Connie Mack Stadium,” Dave Caldwell writes, “topped by a gigantic advertisement for Ballantine Beer. Well, that scoreboard was erected in 1956, five years before beer was sold there.”

    🧠 Trivia time

    Which South Jersey town recently celebrated its 100th anniversary of incorporation?

    A) Haddonfield

    B) Lawnside

    C) Merchantville

    D) Glassboro

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re …

    🍕Eating: Pizza topped with oxtail and collard greens, jerk chicken, and shrimp and grits.

    🌱 Planting: Native vegetation. Here’s how Jersey Shore gardeners do it.

    🧰 Borrowing: Tools from the Northwest Tool Library. After all, not everyone has a leaf blower.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: People are stocking up on this dish since the Northeast Philly restaurant that specializes in it announced that it’s closing.

    PAPERS PUN SO

    Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

    Cheers to Gary Bolton, who solved Monday’s anagram: Lane Johnson. The six-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro said 2026 will “probably” be his final season.

    Photo of the day

    A rainbow sits over Citizens Bank Park before the Chase Utley Wall of Fame ceremony and the Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays game on Friday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Chase Utley’s path to the Phillies Wall of Fame was forged with hours in the video room.

    Enjoy your Tuesday!

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • Why Pa. repealed a 100-year-old midwife law | Morning Newsletter

    Good morning, newsletter friends. The weather is looking much better today 🤞.

    Pennsylvania lawmakers last month quietly repealed an unenforced 1929 law that allowed the main group of midwives delivering home births, to practice.

    A Gilded Age village in Chester County is up for auction. Yes, an entire village.

    Plus, the case of a fugitive pornographer, his troubled son, and missing women; the question of where to display the repaired Frank Rizzo statue; and more news of the day.

    — Ellen Dunkel (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Midwife-assisted home births at risk

    Pennsylvania lawmakers last month quietly repealed an unenforced 1929 law that allowed traditional midwives, the main group of midwives delivering home births, to practice.

    Now, traditional midwives — who differ from midwives usually found in hospitals, are not medically trained and often serve religious minorities like the Amish — are worried they have no legal standing to work in Pennsylvania, and are challenging the repeal in state court.

    Other forms of midwifery — such as nurse midwives and certified midwives, who are medically trained and are formally affiliated with a doctor or health system — are highly regulated by the state and its medical board.

    But these affiliations often prevent nurse midwives and certified midwives from offering home births, as the health systems see them as possible risks for medical malpractice lawsuits.

    Reporter Gillian McGoldrick has more details.

    Gilded age village for sale

    A historic destination in Chester County will be sold at an absolute public auction to the highest bidder.

    Nestled in Warwick Township, St. Peter’s Village could see a bump in residences if initial development visions are executed.

    But this small village’s scenic, rural location is a bit out of the way.

    At the auction, scheduled for Sept. 30 at the Desmond Hotel Malvern, up for sale will be roughly 83 acres of the historic 19th-century village that sprung up in the Gilded Age, thanks to its rich mineral resources and its proximity to French Creek.

    Reporter Brooke Shultz explains what happens when a village goes on the block.

    What you should know today

    Quote of the day

    Spirit Halloween, the retailer best known for its costumes, animatronics, and creepy dolls, hosted the annual grand opening of its 20,000-square-foot flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, N.J. Preregistration for the event was capped at 2,000 people, but about 1,000 more people showed up for general admission.

    Reporter Sarah Nicell and photographer Tyger Williams checked out the scene.

    🧠 Trivia time

    Which Philadelphia-area artist turned medical history into high art?

    A) N.C. Wyeth

    B) Thomas Eakins

    C) Man Ray

    D) Maxfield Parrish

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re…

    👀 Eyeing: Two new dessert cafés that opened in Ardmore.

    👟 Planning: A “Neighborhood Jawnts” tour that visit various pockets of Philadelphia.

    💰 Considering: Artifacts from Gillian’s Wonderland Pier that are still up for sale.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: This soccer team visited Philly recently from Europe but is partially owned by a Philadelphian.

    AC MEX WHARF

    Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

    Cheers to Mark Burgoyne, who solved Sunday’s anagram: THOMAS EAKINS. The painter and photographer turned Philadelphia’s medical history into high art. Two of his pieces are on display in the city.

    Photo of the day

    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts participates in an indoor practice at the Jefferson Health Training Complex in Philadelphia.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Enjoy your Tuesday.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • South Jersey figure skater Isabeau Levito teases two new programs — including a ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ theme

    South Jersey figure skater Isabeau Levito teases two new programs — including a ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ theme

    This season, South Jersey figure skater Isabeau Levito is branching out for her programs.

    Previously, her coach, Yulia Kuznetsova, would suggest the music and choreograph the programs for Levito, 19, who grew up in Mount Holly and lives in Mount Laurel.

    For the 2026-27 season, Levito announced on social media that three choreographers had created her programs. Her short program will be to the song “Memória” by Rosalia, choreographed by Lori Nichol and Carolina Kostner. Levito went to Canada to learn that program.

    Her free skate will be to the soundtrack from Pirates of the Caribbean, choreographed by Benoit Richaud.

    Skaters used to keep programs strictly under wraps until their first competitions in late summer or early fall. Sometimes, their final costumes wouldn’t be ready yet and they would skate in older costumes or elevated practice clothes.

    South Jersey figure skater Isabeau Levito reached the peak this year with the Olympics. She wants more.

    But now, program announcements are more like movie trailers, getting fans eager to see what’s coming. This has been especially true after the Olympics this past winter in Milan, Italy. Many skaters have retired — or in the case of pairs and ice dance, switched partners. Some talked about taking a year off. A small number of skaters, including Levito, toured in prominent shows such as Stars on Ice.

    But it was a big transition season and a time when many people forget about winter sports.

    Levito has said that she’s barely been home in months. Along with the tour and Canada, she returned to Italy to participate in Richaud’s Peak Ice Camp in Courmayeur.

    She also may start the season without her final costumes. Despite releasing a video on Instagram that includes a thumbnail of her in a pirate costume, that is not what she will be wearing. In an interview on Peak Ice Camp’s YouTube page, she said she called costume designer Lisa McKinnon to discuss her new programs and that it would be a minute before they could move forward.

    “Benoit proposed the idea of pants” for Pirates, Levito said, “and I was like, ‘No.’”

    She also suggested she might start the season later than usual because she still needs to heal from an injury she sustained in a bad fall during Stars on Ice.

    Levito released a portion of her free skate step sequence on Instagram, and her programs are the subject of much speculation on social media. She is known as an elegant, balletic skater with beautiful spins and a lot of personality.

    Pirates of the Caribbean music is considered overdone. There is a long list of skaters who performed to Pirates, including 2008 U.S. champion Mirai Nagasu, Spain’s Javier Fernandez (a two-time World champion and 2018 Olympic bronze medalist), eight-time Polish champion Ekaterina Kurakova.

    But certain pieces of music are used frequently in skating for a reason. In the case of Pirates, it is lively and fun. Richaud also is a popular choreographer for a reason, and there is room for him to have made Levito’s Pirates different and special.

    A look at Isabeau Levito’s costumes over the years

    Richaud, a French former ice dancer, is one of the hot choreographers of the moment. At February’s Olympics, he worked with 16 skaters from 13 countries and was frequently seen with them in the kiss and cry, wearing jackets from different countries. His skaters included American ice dancers Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik, French skater Adam Siao Him Fa, and Georgian skater Nika Egadze.

    Nichol, who is Canadian, also has been a hot choreographer. She created many fan-favorite programs for Michelle Kwan and more recently two-time Olympic silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama. She works often with Kostner, the 2014 Olympic bronze medalist from Italy.

    Levito has said that she wants to increase her difficulty and is eager to eventually land a triple axel and a quadruple jump, whether or not she does them in competition.

  • A psychiatrist’s sexual misconduct | Morning Newsletter

    Good morning! The weekend is in sight!

    A Main Line psychiatrist lost her license after a state investigation found her sessions with a young male patient turned sexual, even as she continued to treat him.

    Ten people — former coaches and players — were charged in two alleged assaults in a Cheltenham High School football scandal.

    The Trump administration wanted access to New Jersey’s voter records. First Gov. Mikie Sherrill said no. Then a federal judge dismissed the case.

    Plus, LeBron James breaks a record in jersey sales, Cecily Tynan explains why she’s retiring, and more news of the day.

    — Ellen Dunkel (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Crossing psychiatric boundaries

    A Main Line psychiatrist has lost her medical license after a state investigation found she had sex with a young patient for years, all while prescribing him a revolving mix of up to 12 medications, including highly addictive psychotropic drugs, without proper evaluations.

    Amy Mazza MacIntyre, a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist in Bryn Mawr, started treating a then-17-year-old cancer survivor when he was a senior at Lower Merion High School.

    MacIntyre first had sex with him when he was 24 years old. She stopped billing him for treatment around the same time, though she continued to take patient notes for an additional 2½ years.

    She also prescribed medications to his parents, although they were not her patients, the board found.

    Reporter Wendy Ruderman has more details and spoke to the patient.

    Charges in alleged Cheltenham football assaults

    Four Cheltenham High School football coaches and six players have been charged in connection with two assaults in the school’s locker room that injured a 15-year-old player and led to the cancellation of two football seasons.

    Multiple football players attacked a sophomore on the team, District Attorney Kevin Steele said. They stomped on his chest and groin while wearing cleats and used a broomstick to poke at his buttocks.

    “The assaults on this victim were not typical goofing around by teammates, or horseplay, as some of the coaches in this case called it,“ Steele said. ”They were crimes.”

    Reporters Maddie Hanna and Vinny Vella have the details.

    What you should know today

    Quote of the day

    A refugee family found a new home and “the first step of hope” in Philly. Now, fewer may get that chance. Here’s the full story.

    🧠 Trivia time

    What does LeBron James like to do to calm down between lifting weights and playing a game?

    A) Practice yoga

    B) Meditate

    C) Listen to classical music

    D) Chat with family members

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re …

    🍕 Eating: Delicious Detroit-style gluten-free pizza.

    🧐 Spotting: Postage stamp-size art in the Mini Mini Art Show.

    🎵 Awaiting: Lyle Lovett, who is playing three solo concerts at City Winery.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: A Penn professor’s work was used as reference for this film. It didn’t impress her, though.

    DYE SHY TOES

    Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

    Cheers to Akili Z. Davis, who solved Monday’s anagram: SWISS FARMS. Like rival Wawa, the Delco fixture selling dairy, groceries, and convenience goods plans to add gas pumps under its latest owner.

    Photo of the day

    Excited Eagles fans, including Santa, wait for autographs during the first day of training camp at the Jefferson Health Training Complex in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Photographer Monica Herndon was at the first day of Eagles training camp.

    Enjoy your Thursday.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • 🏀 The Sixers’ summer revival | Morning Newsletter

    Happy Sunday! It looks like the start of another beautiful day in Philly.

    In today’s newsletter, now that we’ve caught our breath from the news that LeBron James would be joining the Sixers, we’re looking at 76ers president Mike Gansey’s first offseason as a whole.

    Also, Franklin Square is celebrating 20 years since its refurbishment from a dusty and dim outpost to a destination for family-friendly fun.

    — Ellen Dunkel (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    🏀 Grading Gansey’s choices

    The 76ers became the talk of the sports world Friday, when LeBron James announced he would sign with the team to finish out his illustrious NBA career.

    Some final roster tinkering still must occur before training camp begins in late September. But James’ addition means the bulk of business is finished. In short, it has been a heck of a first offseason for new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey.

    How does it all grade out, player-by-player? Reporter Gina Mizell breaks it down.

    A revitalized hub

    Franklin Square, the once-forgotten green space at Sixth and Race Streets, celebrated a milestone on Saturday: This July marks 20 years since the square’s dramatic revitalization, which transformed it from a dusty and dim outpost to a destination for family-friendly fun.

    Franklin Square (originally North East Publick Square and later renamed in honor of Benjamin Franklin) dates back to 1682, when William Penn designed Philadelphia. Penn anchored the city around a quintet of parks.

    Reporter Maggie Prosser explains its history and more recent status.

    What you should know today

    This week in history

    🎤 Now I’m passing the mic to Tommy Rowan with a look back at the first episodes of “Sesame Street,’ which were tested on Philly preschoolers in the 1960s.

    Sesame Street may be set in New York, but the iconic children’s show started in Philadelphia.

    Over five days in July 1969, producers of Sesame Street broadcast five hour-long test-pilot episodes on WHYY-TV’S UHF Channel 35 on televisions spread across 70 homes throughout Philly.

    The program, which can trace its roots to the mid-20th-century Civil Rights Movement, would go on to delight, instruct, and entertain, thanks to the worldview and genius of Jim Henson.

    But it wasn’t a complete home run.

    Read on for the full story.

    ❓Pop quiz

    Which of the following is not one of the cities where LeBron James played in the NBA on his path to Philadelphia?

    A) Los Angeles

    B) New York

    C) Miami

    D) Cleveland

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re …

    😋 Craving: Some of the airiest potato gnocchi Craig LaBan has eaten all year.

    🎨 Admiring: A shrine to the Wyeths that opened at the Brandywine Museum of Art.

    🗺️ Revisiting: Gettysburg, which offers loads of Civil War history, of course, but is not a one-trick pony.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: This broadcaster announced her retirement.

    ANY CYNIC LET

    Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

    Cheers to David Laderman, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: SHERMAN BROTHERS. Philadelphia shoe retailer Sherman Brothers is moving to the Main Line after 73 years in Center City.

    Photo of the day

    The City Hall Courtyard’s rendering of William Penn’s grid plan for his 1,200-acre “Greene Countrie Towne” between the Delaware River and the Schuylkill.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    Photographer Tom Gralish focuses his Scene Through the Lens photo essay on the beauty of walkable Philadelphia. “Center City is compact and easy to explore on foot,” Gralish writes, “with many stores, restaurants, museums, attractions, and parks all within a short walk.”

    Gralish is familiar with walks around Philly. In his early days at The Inquirer, Gralish spent weeks walking our streets, leading to this Pulitzer Prize-winning photo essay about how unhoused men survive.

    🎶 Today’s song: We’re enjoying “Here They Come” (because of course we are). We like this old-school video someone made years ago for a class.

    👋🏽 Enjoy your Sunday basking in the sun, the glow of the LeBron news, or whatever makes you happy.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • 🏀 The King is coming to Philly | Morning Newsletter

    Good morning! It looks like the start of a beautiful weekend.

    It’s also a beautiful time to be a Sixers fan, since LeBron James announced he would be bringing his talents to South Broad Street. It’s an exclamation point to what has been a transformational summer for the team.

    Also, a reader asked us what to do about a neighbor’s doorbell camera that shows both of their porches.

    Plus, we have cyclosporiasis in Pennsylvania, curious results of forensic testing in an Olney home, and our report card for this week in Philly news.

    — Ellen Dunkel (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    What you should know today

    LeBron signing gives the Sixers a transformative offseason

    The 76ers signing LeBron James is an exclamation point on the Sixers’ transformational summer.

    It is gargantuan. For the NBA. And for Philly.

    Now LeBron is a Sixer. So is Jaylen Brown. And Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe, for that matter. And it all brings together arguably the most improbable-yet-transformative offseason in franchise history under new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey.

    Reporter Gina Mizell explains how everything has changed for the Sixers.

    In case you missed the basics, James, a legendary player and one of the most famous humans on planet Earth, will join the team on a two-year, $8 million contract.

    Mizell has these details as well.

    A little privacy please

    This week’s question is: My neighbor installed a camera doorbell that can see my entire porch. We do have packages taken occasionally, so I get the desire to have one, but I don’t want to be constantly filmed when I’m on my steps. Our houses are so narrow that I don’t know if it would be possible for him to have one of those doorbells without filming my steps. How do I approach this with him?

    To help, Inquirer reporters Mike Newall and Earl Hopkins talked about the neighborhood, the dimensions of the porch, and whether the camera can be repositioned. They agreed it’s worth having a conversation with the neighbor.

    “At worst, there will be clarity from both sides,” Hopkins wrote.

    Worth noting regardless of outcome, Newall wrote, “if you live in the city, you’re on tape.”

    Read their full conversation here. Need advice, or want to share your thoughts? We want to hear it. Email us here.

    One viewpoint

    In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson unpacks a case going extremely slowly through the system about making bike lanes safer two years after a physician specializing in children’s cancer was killed riding her bicycle in Rittenhouse Square.

    “The blame for the holdup does not lie with City Hall,” Pearson writes. “Instead, it has been the courts that have stymied the proposal.”

    Read on for Pearson’s take, along with his perspectives on restrictions in a historic district vs. residents’ wishes to design their own homes, a series of housing projects in North Philadelphia, and the battle over the President’s House.

    📍 Find the location

    These moviegoers set up blankets for an outdoor screening in September.Kerry Hyland

    Think you know where to find this movie location? Our weekly game puts your knowledge of Philly’s streets and places to the test. Check your answer.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: This family-owned store is moving to the Main Line after decades in Center City.

    ARM HORN SHERBETS

    Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

    Cheers to Alexander Englert, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: HEIRLOOM TOMATO. Middle Child’s BLT season has arrived. This is how they prepare for the frenzy.

    We were there

    John Coltrane wasn’t born in Philadelphia, but we can claim him as the city where his musical identity was forged. His son, Ravi, performed Wednesday night in the Philadelphia Orchestra’s “Coltrane 100: Legacy″ concert at the Highmark Mann Center. Photographer Jose F. Moreno was there to capture the moment.

    Somewhere on the internet in Philly

    🏀 The King has spoken: It’s TIME, @lebron wrote.

    🇺🇸 Betsy Ross doesn’t usually welcome kings to Philly. But she’ll make an exception.

    🎶 Concert venues have set aside seats for the king.

    👋🏽 Enjoy your Saturday!

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.