Author: Paola Pérez

Welcome to Saturday. We’re promised a nice day out with temps in the 70s.

As summer fades away, a reader decided to stuff his freezer with water ice. Was it a smart move? His wife doesn’t think so. Here’s what Inquirer staffers had to say.

Plus, we cover a rabies warning for South Jersey residents, Eagles fans landing “a seat at the table” to negotiate changes to tailgating, and our report card for this week in Philly news.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What you should know today

• A former supervisor took bribes to approve $139,000 in fake overtime for a colleague at the Philadelphia Fire Department, federal prosecutors say.
• A section of University City will now officially be called Black Bottom, again.
• Democratic State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta has called for Republican Rep. Aaron Bernstine to resign from the Pennsylvania House after he reportedly used a homophobic slur against Kenyatta, who is gay, earlier this week.
• A Philadelphia man was charged with killing his two brothers in 2024. Last week, that case fell apart, and prosecutors dropped the charges, but it’s still unclear who was responsible for the slayings.
• The Gaudreau brothers will be honored on Sunday with the dedication of life-saving equipment made available to the public at Washington Lake Park.
• Three animals in Gloucester County have tested positive for rabies this week. Public health officials are advising residents to avoid contact with wild animals.
• With impending tailgate restrictions on the horizon, a coalition of fans fought to keep Eagles tailgate culture familiar. Some of their complaints were heard Friday, but they say there’s still work to be done.
• From the Phillies’ October run ending earlier than ever to holding out hope in saving the Academy of Natural Sciences, catch up on the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of Philly.

Water ice hoarding

A reader asked: John’s Water Ice just closed for the season, so I decided to do something smart this year: I stocked up. Almost half our freezer is filled with it.

But, my wife says it’s too much, that we have to have people over soon to eat through it so we actually have freezer space, and that it won’t even taste as good a month from now. But I say: Some John’s is better than no John’s. Did I go too far? Or not far enough?

Life and culture reporters Mike Newall and Abigail Covington duked this one out in the group chat. “It’ll be gone before Halloween,” Newall said, pitching in favor of preserving the seasonal treat.

But Newall got cold feet when Covington reminded him that “freezer burn fuzzies” exist. (I also shuddered at the thought.)

Read their full conversation here. And if you need advice, or want to share your thoughts, we want to hear it. Email us here.

One viewpoint

This week, Cherelle L. Parker capped her 1,000th day as mayor of Philadelphia by breaking ground on a big renovation project at McPherson Square Library in Kensington.

In this week’s Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson unpacks this mayoral milestone, and why he considers Kensington to be a microcosm of Parker’s tenure.

“If the mayor intends to reach 2,000 days in office without becoming yet another tired and unpopular chief executive, she’ll have to step up her game,” Pearson writes.

Read on for Pearson’s perspective on Parker’s mixed record, along with thoughts on neighbors fighting historic district designation, and the push for a district Council member to retire.

❓Pop quiz

Abbott Elementary is nearly back in session.

In the new season 6 trailer, it’s revealed that first-grade teacher Gregory, played by Tyler James Williams, will now also serve as what?

A) The school’s assistant principal

B) A custodian apprentice to Mr. Johnson

C) A teachers’ union representative

D) All of the above

Think you know? Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: This historic building in Center City will soon be home to a new $4 million event space.

KARMA WANE

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

Cheers to John McKeever, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Philadelphia Museum of Art. Earlier this year, a peregrine falcon with lead poisoning was recovered from the Philly landmark and rehabilitated by the Schuylkill Center.

We were there

Fringe Fest marked its 30th year with more than 338 bold productions across Philly. A variety of delightfully strange shows moved our team of reporters to tears, confusion, and amazement.

From solo shows to interactive experiences, here are some of their favorites from this year’s big, bizarre, and bold festival.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

🏒 Phoebe Bridgers’ dog Maxine 🧡’s Gritty.

📺 LeBron James’ first photo shoot as a Sixer + the Action News Theme = golden video.

🧀 On Reddit and beyond, people are talking about the influencer who hurled a cheesesteak at the general manager of Pat’s King of Steaks. The suspect turned himself in, but not before his behavior — which police charged as harassment — birthed new clapbacks. That’s how you internet in Philly.

👋🏽 Thanks for reading. Take care, and I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow.

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Good morning. It’s another soggy day in Philly and the Jersey Shore is reeling from a nor’easter battering the region this weekend.

As the fall season sets in, plenty of must-see theatrical performances are in store. We rounded up the ones we want to see that are coming to the region, complete with places to grab a bite before or after curtain call.

And a new poll reveals how Pa. voters feel about whether Gov. Josh Shapiro should pursue a bid for the White House.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Your theatergoing plans, dinner and drinks included

A variety of exciting productions are set to take center stage this autumn across the Philadelphia region.

As part of our fall arts guide, arts and culture reporters Rosa Cartagena and Jenn Ladd picked 10 shows, along with options to sip and dine nearby to help you plan your experience.

Here’s a preview of the pairings:

🎭 With “The Addams Family: The Musical” at the Walnut Street Theatre, consider tasty tacos and margs at Hi-Lo Taco Co. for a family- (and budget-) friendly option, or go for funky Thai dishes at Dara.

🎭 After “Horsegirl & Cowdaddy” at the Wilma Theater, stop by Kitchen & Kocktails for a Southern-tinged feast with favorites like fried green tomatoes and peach cobbler.

🎭 And “Mamma Mia!” at the Academy of Music may compel you to keep the dazzling night going at Mr. Edison in the Bellevue Hotel. Look out for Craig LaBan-approved items.

See The Inquirer’s list of 10 shows to look forward to, plus our recommendations for pre- or postshow dining near each respective theater.

Keep going: Classical music is pitching a bigger tent than ever this fall. Here are the best offerings.

A nearly even split

As Gov. Josh Shapiro tries to stay “laser-focused” on winning reelection this year, voters in the nation’s most contested swing state are weighing their interest in his presidential prospects.

A poll of likely voters by The Inquirer, the New York Times, and Siena University found:

Voters overall are just about evenly torn on personally wanting the first-term Democrat to run for president — 43% to 44%.

Almost two-thirds of Democrats support the governor seeking higher office.

More than one in five Republicans also support a potential run by Shapiro, a sign of his moderate appeal in a key battleground.

Michelle Baruchman, who reports on campaigns and elections, breaks down the data and explores the key issues that poll respondents said influenced their answers.

What you should know today

• A man was arrested and charged with ethnic intimidation after he allegedly trespassed at a Philadelphia synagogue, tried to open its doors, and made antisemitic statements.
• The Save the Academy Coalition hosted a protest Saturday to bolster efforts to save the Academy of Natural Sciences. Sunday may be the public’s last chance to visit the nearly 200-year-old museum.
• A Germantown housing and community center has begun to receive support it has long needed, but the building’s daily financial challenges remain.
• Delaware County launched a new initiative to provide women with support during and after pregnancy. It’s part of a network expanding patient resources in the Philly suburbs, where prenatal care options have dwindled since last year’s closure of Crozer Health.
• President Donald Trump said Saturday that he rejected Iran’s latest ceasefire proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart talks on the country’s nuclear program.
• Atlantic City’s top cannabis official is facing federal charges for a scheme to solicit cash bribes from a dispensary owner in exchange for fast-tracking their license and avoiding city fees.
• Two days before his 17th birthday, Union phenom Cavan Sullivan started for the U.S. men’s soccer team in his first game with the senior squad on Saturday. He’s now the second-youngest starter in USMNT history.

This week in history

🎤 Here’s Tommy Rowan with a look back at Pope Francis’ visit in 2015.

For the roughly 1 million people who descended upon Philly to try to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis over his two-day visit in September 2015, there was an unprecedented level of security.

Center City was wrapped in a safety cocoon. Vehicles were kept out, and pedestrians were ushered through serious-looking metal detectors.

Despite the restrictions, an overwhelming sense of joy permeated the city, as more than a million people united in celebration of a 78-year-old man and his relentless pursuit of a better world.

Read on for the full story.

❓Pop quiz

A Philly woman won a NASA competition to design what for astronauts on Mars?

A) their space station

B) their food systems

C) their space suits

D) all of the above

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🍝 Hungry for: Candy-shaped pasta from Fiorella.

🕳️ Finding joy in: The unsuspecting beauty of a metal manhole cover.

🏡 Learning: What Inquirer reporter Abigail Covington got wrong when purchasing a home, despite her own extensive reporting for “How I Bought This House.”

🎧 Mixing: Music with Philly’s most famous barista during her perfect day in the city.

🖼 Discovering: How the Philadelphia Museum of Art became home to the world’s largest Duchamp collection.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Philadelphia-born auto service chain

BYE POPS

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

Cheers to Kathy Wersinger, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Museum of the Philadelphian. This new micro museum in Fishtown celebrates quirky Philadelphia lore and the viral locals who embody the spirit of the city.

P.S. Kathy is also celebrating her 72nd birthday this weekend. Here’s to you! 🥳

Photo of the day

This is Zenos Frudakis, creator of one of Philly’s most beloved public artworks — and also its most divisive one. Inquirer columnist Stephanie Farr takes us inside his studio, where she spoke with him about his career.

🎶 Today’s track goes like this: “And the lady’s feeling like the moon that she loved / Don’t you know that the stars are a part of us?” I recently watched Practical Magic, so now this song is stuck in my head.

One more musical thing: Legends Willie Nelson, 93, and Neil Young, 80, rocked out in concert together to a packed house at the Mann this week. Read pop critic Dan DeLuca’s dispatch from what he dubbed a “one-of-a-kind evening.”

👋🏽 Thanks for reading. Have a great Sunday, and take care.

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Good morning, Philly. While the Eagles face the Titans and triple-digit heat in Nashville today, we’ve got showers with highs in the upper 70s.

Our main Sunday read highlights a surge in bookshops across the Philadelphia region.

Further on, learn about an expanding network of curbside composting.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Bookstores are so back

New bookstores are popping off from Fishtown to Manayunk and West Chester.

Books are flying off the shelves, even with the growing competition. The phenomenon mirrors a national trend of physical book sales outpacing online retail in the past five years. Libraries are seeing a resurgence in patronage, too.

Sellers told The Inquirer’s Jess Rohan that a hunger for community, a desire to support local businesses, and screen fatigue are fueling the boom. Books also offer an escape.

In their own words: “There is a bit of backlash to the doomscrolling,” Abington’s library director told Rohan. “People just want to tuck themselves into a different world,” said a Bordentown shop owner.

Hear from readers and bookstore owners alike on the return to print, and see a map of bookstore openings in the region since 2025.

📖 Plus: We asked local booksellers what they’re reading and enjoying. Here are their favorites.

‘A full-circle food system’

For many enthusiasts, what began as a backyard experiment to collect compostable material later grew into a way of life to reduce waste and improve food system circularity.

Curbside compost is trending in the Philly suburbs, as a growing system of providers and composters work together towards what one compost aficionado calls “a better, more sustainable future of a full-circle food system.”

♻️ Composting is a process that recycles and breaks down food and other organic matter into soil-like material. The brown stuff is then used in farms and gardens to fertilize soil for new crops.

🍎 In Delco, many residents’ scraps are ending up mixed into a five-acre site at Linvilla Orchards.

🗑️ As more municipalities adopt composting programs, purveyors say the practice is becoming a key part of the region’s waste management strategy.

Inquirer Local reporter Denali Sagner has the story.

What you should know today

• A group of clergy, political leaders, and activists gathered at the Philadelphia ICE office on Friday in the wake of a deportation officer’s suicide, condemning what they said was the agency’s destruction of lives both inside and outside its ranks.
• A police officer at Temple University is under internal investigation for allegedly making racist comments to young Black males riding dirt bikes on campus.
• Protesters gathered near Lincoln Financial Field ahead of Ed Sheeran’s concert on Saturday evening. It was his first show since Macklemore was dropped as an opener following the rapper’s pro-Palestinian remarks onstage.
• As measles cases spread in Pennsylvania, some Philadelphia-area parents are opting to vaccinate kids early, delay daycare, and avoid Lancaster County.
• A developer has sued the Upper Merion Township Board of Supervisors over its rejection of a proposed 4.6 million-square-foot data center campus.
• The Trump administration’s plan to overhaul SNAP would force Pennsylvania to pay more for the federal food program and jeopardize those in need, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office says. That’s a price the state is not ready to pay.
• Former Philadelphia labor leader and longtime Democratic power broker John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty has reportedly changed his party registration to Republican. President Donald Trump commuted his prison sentence for a corruption conviction earlier this month.
• A mixed-income apartment project in Center City received its final approval after almost 11 years of delays. Construction will begin in a matter of weeks.

This week in history

🎤 Here’s Tommy Rowan with a look back at Atlantic City crowning the first deaf Miss America.

Heather Whitestone was not the first deaf contestant, but she remains the only deaf woman to have won.

At 18 months old, she contracted a serious bacterial infection that damaged the nerves in her ears and led to a total loss of hearing.

A reporter would later ask Whitestone about the potential challenges she faced fulfilling such a public-facing role.

“I think I’m doing just fine,” she said with a wry smile. “I mean, look at us now.”

Read on for the full story.

❓Pop quiz

Despite rumors, Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books in Germantown clarified that it has no issues with this NFL player:

A) Micah Parsons

B) Colin Kaepernick

C) Jalen Hurts

D) Josh Allen

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🍕 Craving: Wood-fired Neapolitan pie from one of the Philly suburbs’ best shops.

🐦‍⬛ Wondering: When the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, now shuttered for two years, is expected to reopen.

🧠 Unlocking: The relationships between words to solve this week’s Pillars.

🧵 Admiring: A Bayeux Tapestry that has returned to public view for the first time in decades, among the best art we saw this week.

🏖️ Reviewing: The Inquirer’s Amy S. Rosenberg made 10 predictions on how the Shore summer would go. Here’s how she did.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Philly bandleader of Japanese Breakfast a.k.a….

CELLE HUMANIZER

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

Cheers to Beth Dombkowski who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: La Colombe. The Philly-founded coffee company is launching a canned matcha latte as the drink’s popularity grows.

Photo of the day

Years in the making, Philadelphia Ballet officially opened its sparkling new headquarters Friday morning. Culture writer Peter Dobrin reports.

🎶 Today’s song goes like this: “Is it for peace and plenty, or is it for the sacred face? / It’s all for the love of you.”

👋🏽 Thanks for starting your day here. Have a great one, and go Birds.

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Rise and shine, Philly. Saturday should be sunny, followed by clouds rolling in overnight.

A reader asked us for advice on dealing with an overly involved parent at school drop-off.

Plus, we’re talking about “Cybercabs” spotted in Philly, the closure of a Center City steak shop, and our report card for this week in local news.

Scroll along for these stories and more.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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What you should know today

• Philadelphia health officials warned that people may have been exposed to measles at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in West Philadelphia last week.
• City Councilmember Kendra Brooks is considering challenging Mayor Cherelle L. Parker in the spring Democratic primary election, sources tell The Inquirer.
• Popular DJ and radio show host Mike Bowe has died. He spent more than 40 years at Philadelphia stations. He was 76.
• Tesla’s gold, driverless Cybercabs seem to be testing on city streets. There’s no steering wheel, pedals, or mirrors, and it is piloted by AI.
• A longtime Rittenhouse Square grocery store is behind on its rent. Neighbors are stepping in to help.
• Shay’s Steaks, the Logan Square eatery connected to embattled city judge Scott DiClaudio, will close next week as part of a settlement of an eviction battle with its landlord.
• Society Hill neighbors will spend about $54,000 on a traffic study of neighborhood roads and the city’s proposal to enhance protections for bike lane users.
• A four-story, 35-unit apartment project is slated for East Germantown, part of a wave of development proposals in the area after decades of divestment.
• From PHL landing in last place for a sixth straight year to a 57-year-old typo that may be here to stay, catch up on the good, bad, and weird from recent stories out of Philly.

Helpful or hovering?

This week’s dilemma reads: At school drop off, a mother likes to hover around the kids and discipline all of them for every little thing. If there were any actual issues, we’d step in of course, but if they’re bumping into each other on purpose and laughing, for example, she tells them things like, “Stop doing that it’s almost school time!” or “Francesca doesn’t like that!” (Not the kid’s real name.) Also it’s very clear that Francesca does in fact like it, so we just tell our kids it’s fine. The mom stands right over her daughter and says things like, “We don’t do that, right?” It’s very performative and very annoying.

Now I respect that she can parent her kid however she wants to, but forcefully talking to our kids is driving some of us nuts. I believe kids usually can and should work out issues amongst themselves (again, though, we haven’t actually seen an issue!). She’s not only a helicopter parent, she’s a military-helicopter parent hovering over her kid and attacking the rest. Do we just keep telling our kids it’s fine and maybe, in private, tell them to not listen to her or do we take her aside and tell her what’s what?

This situation got the attention of life and culture reporters Zoe Greenberg and Mike Newall. They discussed what may motivate a “performative parent” and ways to set boundaries with kindness and compassion.

“You don’t parent other people’s kids,” Newall said. “Unless the kid is in danger or a danger to someone else.”

Jump into the group chat here. And if you need advice, or just want to share your thoughts, we want to hear it. Email us here.

One viewpoint

The Inquirer Editorial Board has endorsed Larry Krasner to lead the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office in previous elections.

But the board now writes that it believes Krasner “has created an untenable situation that could impact the treatment of crime victims and wrongdoers.”

“A series of legal setbacks has cast doubt on Krasner’s ability to administer fair and impartial justice, let alone manage his office,” the board argues.

Read on here.

❓Pop quiz

Superman star David Corenswet grew up in Philadelphia loving the Eagles, but that didn’t stop him from saying yes to donning a jersey for this team in the forthcoming biopic, Mr. Irrelevant.

A) New York Giants

B) Dallas Cowboys

C) Baltimore Ravens

D) Washington Commanders

Think you know? Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Philly-founded coffee company

ALEC BLOOM

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

Cheers to Melinda Williams, who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Independence Hall. The official naming of the United States will be remembered at a “firstival” there today.

We were there

A group of Philly-area women — many in their 70s and 80s — have banded together as the scrappiest dragon-boating team on the Schuylkill.

The Inquirer’s Dugan Arnett takes us along for a ride with the “renegades” of the river.

Somewhere on the internet in Philly

🎤 People are closely watching developments to Ed Sheeran’s tour stop in South Philadelphia on Saturday. As of Friday afternoon, his concert at the Linc is still on. It’s slated to start later (so perhaps there are no openers) and protesters plan to rally outside the stadium.

🤔 Redditors caught a now-deleted Facebook post by Visit Philly that featured a peculiar “Philadelphia” skyline.

🎟️ SEPTA is giving away two tickets to the Phillies’ Sept. 25 game. Fingers crossed for Red October.

👋🏽 That’s it for now. Thanks for reading, and I’ll catch up with you again tomorrow.

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It’s Friday, Philly. Expect mostly sunny skies and highs in the mid-80s.

What does it take for a restaurant to last in Philadelphia? An Inquirer analysis found that new food licenses are outpacing closures in the city.

We also dig into why Washington Square has a new surveillance camera.

Plus, Philly City Hall was evacuated due to a suspicious package, and more news to know before your weekend begins.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Chew on this churn

Philly is a foodie’s paradise with thousands of restaurants that call it home. But it’s a notoriously difficult business, and recent high-profile closures in the city reinforce that reality.

According to our analysis of business licenses since 2006, the median lifespan of a restaurant is seven and a half years.

To examine what has changed in that time frame, we looked into what happened in 2018. That year’s data shows:

✅ The city had a little more than 8,000 active licenses for food preparing and serving. (A new licensing process that year gave this figure a boost.)

⛔ Around 1,000 new licenses were issued throughout that year, but around 650 of those businesses have since closed.

That short forecast, coupled with the volatile dining scene, hasn’t deterred new places from opening up shop, though. And there’s one West Philly block in particular that represents this turnover trend.

Follow along with senior interactive designer Garland Fordice as she explains the data and takes us to the neighborhood.

👀 Who’s watching?

There’s a new fixture on Washington Square that doesn’t exactly obscure its presence.

The fenced off, solar-powered security camera has sparked questions about whether it was a Flock camera, a type of surveillance device that has raised privacy concerns.

But it’s not a Flock device, my colleague Abraham Gutman reports. He tracked down more information on the camera, including:

Who installed it. The National Park Service did so in July, according to City Councilmember Mark Squilla.

Why they put it there. A handful of vandalism incidents in the area prompted the additional surveillance measure.

Get the full story here.

What you should know today

• South Jersey power broker and former Inquirer co-owner George E. Norcross III on Thursday filed a $100 million defamation and conspiracy lawsuit against the newspaper and one of its editors.
• Sheriff’s deputies investigated a package found in Council chambers, Council President Kenyatta Johnson said. No injuries were reported and police have determined it was not a bomb.
• The cousin of a woman believed to have been killed by Raymond Horsch criticized police for sharing graphic details with the public before conferring with family.
• Upper Darby passed an ordinance this week aiming to restrict the township’s cooperation with federal immigration agents.
• The head of the Conviction Integrity Unit in the District Attorney’s Office has stepped down from his supervisory role, sources said, days after a federal judge said his actions in a contentious post-conviction case could amount to crimes.
• Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker ordered a task force to explore whether the city should place new regulations on the construction of data centers that power artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, Gov. Josh Shapiro called for the federal government to establish “strict rules of the road” to guide the AI industry.
• Atlantic City’s iconic Steel Pier, home to diving horses, Miss America pageants, and lately rides, has gone up for sale at $85 million.
• Old City is one of the few Philadelphia neighborhoods that still sees condo development. A new 43-unit project, which would preserve historic features, could become part of the trend.

Plus: Avenues in Philly begin at 64th. What happened to 1st through 63rd?

Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday. We’ll feature both new and timeless stories from our forum for readers to ask about the city’s quirks.

This week, we’re resurfacing an explainer on Philadelphia street nomenclature. A reader, self-described as obsessed with avenue numbers in Philadelphia, wanted to know why they start at 64th. And why 63rd Street, not 63rd Avenue?

We asked multiple city departments, but as it turns out, no one really knows why. Still, Inquirer reporter Michelle Myers uncovered some history of Philly’s street naming conventions, and how it may be related to the city’s addressing system. Here’s the full story.

Have your own burning question about Philadelphia, its local oddities, or how the region works? Submit it here and you might find the answer featured in this space.

🧠 Trivia time

Biology students at Stockton University are monitoring this Jersey Shore icon and say the species could be in danger:

A) Turtles

B) Horses

C) Horseshoe crabs

D) Ospreys

Think you know? Test your local news know-how and check your answer in our weekly quiz.

What we’re …

🌕 Highlighting: Philly’s most unique mooncakes, according to The Inquirer’s food writer Kiki Aranita.

⚽ Impressed by: Union phenom Cavan Sullivan, 16, and two other teammates got the call-up to play with the senior U.S. men’s national team.

🎸 Listing: Concerts to catch as we wrap up the last big weekend for outdoor shows in Philly.

⛳ Following: Why the plan to build a warehouse on a shuttered South Jersey golf course has yet to break ground.

☕ Curious about: A West Philly coffee shop’s new bagel-themed fall drink. The Inquirer’s Emily Bloch says it’s a “must-try.”

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: The United States got its name at this Philadelphia site on Sept. 9, 1776. (At the time, it was called the Pennsylvania State House.)

ENPLANED LICHENED

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

Cheers to Khalil Garriott, who correctly guessed Thursday’s answer: Reading Terminal Market. The beloved Center City institution recently tallied up its local economic impact, to the tune of $126 million last year.

Photo of the day

Thanks for starting your weekend with us. Have a great one.

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Welcome to Sunday. A flash-flood watch is in effect for the region through noon Sunday, but most of the afternoon should be dry.

Philadelphia Ballet will formally debut its new building to the public soon along the Avenue of the Arts. See why architecture critic Inga Saffron says it repeats “the architectural mistakes of an earlier generation of cultural venues.”

Further on, learn about the only all-water cavern in the country and its last ditch effort to prevent it from being developed.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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A daunting facade

Philadelphia’s new eye-catching, four-story home for ballet is making a daring leap onto North Broad Street. It will officially open on Sept. 17.

But despite the cultural significance of its arrival on the corridor, architecture critic Inga Saffron argues that the ballet’s building has missed an opportunity to show, as well as tell, what’s going on inside.

Once the dazzle of its solid, pleated metal facade fades away, Saffron notes, the intent to mimic a theater curtain results in a blank, daunting wall. She makes the case that these shortcomings in design, including its lack of street-level windows and a door along Broad, risk isolating the public.

Will Philly embrace its new space for ballet? Read along in Saffron’s review of the building.

The cave’s last chance

Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park first opened in 1885. Located about 190 miles northwest of Philadelphia, it’s the site of a vast underground cave full of frigid water and mineral deposits, as well as a park with animals like bison and elk.

The Central Pennsylvania park, which has been run by the same family since 1908, is hoping to become the 126th state park by transferring stewardship of its acres to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Acquisition may require legislation, according to a DCNR spokesperson. Russ Schleiden, CEO of the attraction, called the decision “difficult,” but said it was the only way to avoid development of the property.

In Schleiden’s own words: “But we feel that it’s a very important part of not only Centre County, but the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and that it should be preserved in perpetuity.”

Get the full story from rural reporter Jason Nark.

What you should know today

• A new motion filed Friday in the controversial case that has roiled Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office argued that a federal judge should not overturn a man’s murder conviction.
• A man was sentenced to prison Friday for killing two teens in 2022 and 2023 — including firing dozens of bullets outside Roxborough High School in a shooting that left one teen dead and four others seriously wounded.
• A group of Southwest Philly residents are asking the city to act on a catalog of 50 examples of blight in the neighborhood.
• The Trump administration has blocked more than 130 projects in national parks across the country worth at least $25 million without providing a reason, according to internal documents reviewed by the Washington Post.
• Pennsylvania’s highest court struck down automatic life sentences for second-degree murder months ago. On Thursday, four prisoners asked the justices to extend that ruling to everyone still serving one — and to change how the state handles unconstitutional punishments going forward.

This week in history

🎤 Here’s Tommy Rowan with a look back at a fudge shop magnate who was killed outside a Jersey Shore nightclub.

Philadelphia native Harry Anglemyer made a name for himself at the Jersey Shore in the middle of the 20th century with his Copper Kettle fudge shop, which grew into a lucrative chain.

But he also became known for speaking out against the outdated blue laws, and for being gay.

And then on Sept. 7, 1964, Anglemyer was found dead.

Read on for the full story.

❓Pop quiz

After an 18-year push from advocates, Collingswood neighbors could soon seek licenses that would let them keep what in their backyards?

A) goats

B) chickens

C) propane grills

D) firepits

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🧠 Unlocking: The link between words in this week’s Pillars game.

🦅 Predicting: Can the Eagles get off to a flying start in their first game under a new offensive regime? Here’s how our writers see it playing out.

🍔 Hungry for: Flame-broiled retro burgers and fries.

🦴 Fascinated by: Delightfully spooky sculptures at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, among our favorite arts picks this week.

🤩 Scoping out: A “granny special” South Philly home’s old-school features in the latest edition of “How I Bought This House.”

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: This former linebacker now works for the Eagles as head of football development and strategy.

CROWBAR NINON

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

Cheers to Michaelene Fanelli who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Meek Mill. The North Philly native and rap star’s Dream Chasers Summit has returned to Temple University after 13 years.

Photo of the day

See more photos from the Philadelphia International Airport’s Sept. 11 commemoration in The Inquirer’s photo gallery.

🎶 Today’s track sounds like this: “But there’s truth and consolation in what I’m trying to say / Is that nobody ever had a rainbow, baby, until he had the rain.”

One more musical thing: British pop star Charli XCX opened her Music, Fashion, Film tour in South Philly on Friday night with an “electrifying, existential dance party.” Don’t miss pop critic Dan DeLuca’s dispatch from the show. (For what it’s worth, I have major FOMO.)

👋🏽 Thanks for reading, and take care.

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