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  • Collingswood’s historic theater debate | Inquirer South Jersey

    Collingswood’s historic theater debate | Inquirer South Jersey

    Good morning, South Jersey. More rain is expected to arrive, most likely in the afternoon.

    The finances of a historic Collingswood theater have led to a heated conflict over who runs it and who’s responsible for footing the bill.

    And in November, the residents of the same borough will settle a separate debate: Lift its liquor ban or keep its longstanding status as a dry town.

    Plus, the U.S. Justice Department is accusing a New Jersey family of using several hotels that are in poor condition to fraudulently obtain loans in a $100 million Ponzi scheme, and more news of the day.

    — Taylor Allen (southjersey@inquirer.com)

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    Deficits and debate

    There’s a chaotic debate in Collingswood with the Scottish Rite Theater at the center.

    Collingswood is looking to transfer management of the theater to Camden County after paying millions in expenses to keep it afloat in recent years, particularly since the pandemic.

    Commissioner Jim Maley, a former mayor, cofounded the nonprofit that manages the Scottish Rite property, Collingswood Foundation for the Arts, in 1999. The foundation, according to Maley, was created to secure arts grants for the borough.

    It has routinely received funds without pushback.

    But now, the public is demanding answers. They want to know who actually runs it, if it’s even part of the borough, and why taxpayers are paying for it if it’s not.

    Reporter Sarah Nicell explains what led to this moment.

    🗳️ Voters will get the final say

    This November, Collingswood voters will decide if the borough will lift its ban on alcohol sales.

    The borough’s board of commissioners passed a resolution Wednesday to add the question to the general election ballot after years of debate over its long-standing dry-town status.

    If voters lift the ban, that means Collingswood could either:

    🍷 Award licenses in a bidding process, which would mean onetime revenue for the borough’s budget.

    Or:

    🍷 Enact an application and review process that would require annual fees and prospective licensees to make public presentations.

    How much could this generate for the borough?

    The Inquirer’s Lacey Latch has that answer and more.

    What to know today

    • The Justice Department is accusing a New Jersey-based father, son, and other family members who own several hotels of a $100 million Ponzi scheme that lasted more than 30 years. The lawsuit alleges they used hotels in chronic disrepair and various business entities to fraudulently obtain government-secured loans.
    • A skunk found in Cherry Hill has tested positive for rabies, according to Camden County officials and the state health department. Officials advise residents to avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals and to make sure pets are up to date on vaccinations.
    • According to a Morning Consult poll, Gov. Mikie Sherrill is one of the country’s most popular governors: She is in a four-way tie for 12th with a 55% approval rating versus a 30% disapproval. South Jersey Democrat U.S. Sen. Andy Kim has a 49% approval versus a 27% disapproval.
    • Evesham Road will be closed between Black Horse Pike and Schubert Avenue from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Friday, according to Gloucester Township Police.
    • A proposed plan for a Royal Greens Mini Golf in Barrington would include the demolition of a dilapidated building, 42 Freeway reports.
    • Yhanne’s House of Cheesecakes is set to open a second location in Mount Laurel this fall, according to South Jersey Food Scene.

    🗓️ The best things to do this week

    😂 Laugh at Your Expense with Joe Bartnick: Joe Bartnick headlines this comedy show fresh off appearances on Netflix’s Old Dads and Bill Burr: Friends Who Kill. Other performers include Steve Trevelise from New Jersey 101.5 and rising comic Andy Picarro. ⏰ Thursday, Aug. 20, 7:30-9:30 p.m. 💵 $30 📍 The Broadway Theatre of Pitman, 43 S. Broadway, Pitman.

    📚 Philly Bookstore Crawl: The annual book crawl is back. More than 50 participating independent bookstores in the Greater Philadelphia area, including Kiss & Tale in Collingswood, will host special events with discounted sales, giveaways, author signings, and more. ⏰ Saturday, Aug. 22, various times 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Kiss & Tale, 688 Haddon Ave. Floor 1, Collingswood and Inkwood Books, 106 Kings Hwy. E, Haddonfield.

    🎉 Women’s Equality Day Festival: The fest is back for its fifth year featuring craft vendors, live music, performances, and family-friendly activities. The Alice Paul Center for Gender Justice hosts at historic Paulsdale, the birthplace of the women’s rights activist and suffragist. ⏰ Saturday, Aug 22, 1-5 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Paulsdale, 128 Hooton Rd., Mount Laurel.

    See more event listings here.

    🧠 Trivia time

    Actress Cristin Milioti from Cherry Hill won her first Emmy for what role?

    A) Sofia Falcone in The Penguin

    B) Tracy McConnell in How I Met Your Mother

    C) Teresa Petrillo in The Wolf of Wall Street

    D) Catherine Sacrimoni in The Sopranos

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re …

    🍿 Playing: 76 seconds with Mark Wahlberg and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II from the movie By Any Means.

    🏠 Ogling: A brick twin with a century-old boxwood hedge in Burlington City. (Is your house a Haven? Nominate your home by email — and send some digital photographs — via properties@inquirer.com.)

    📺 Setting up: Outdoor TV entertainment for viewing parties.

    Stay cool out there. I’ll catch you tomorrow. 👋🏽

    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 weekend of mysteries awaits | Things to do

    🔍 A weekend of mysteries awaits | Things to do

    You’re in for a mystery this weekend.

    I’m talking three days of movies, history, and adventure in honor of National Treasure, the 2004 blockbuster that has Nicholas Cage stealing one of the nations’ most prized founding documents.

    I won’t tell you what, when, or where just yet. You will have to scroll down and find out about the details.

    Your search may open up other interesting attractions — like Pirate Day at Fort Mifflin, for example.

    That’s enough hints. Read below to find a treasure trove of events and attractions happening this week:

    — Earl Hopkins (@earlhopkins_, Email me at thingstodo@inquirer.com)

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

    ‘National Treasure’ Weekend at Independence Mall

    “Movies on the Mall” event where National Treasure was screened outdoors in front of Independence Hall, September 22, 2025, in Philadelphia,Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    No, it doesn’t involve stealing the Declaration of Independence. But this weekend, the Independence Visitor Center is dedicating an entire weekend to National Treasure, the 2004 blockbuster starring Nicholas Cage.

    The three-day celebration kicks off with Heist Night on Thursday. Guests will team up at Carpenters’ Hall to solve clues, crack ciphers, and locate missing pieces of history.

    On Friday, fans can sit in on a live taping of the National Treasure Hunt podcast. Producer and director Jon Turteltaub will tell behind-the-scenes stories from the making of the high-action adventure.

    There will also be walking tours of the filming site, self-guided photo hunts, historic district activations, and outdoor screenings of the original movie on Friday and Saturday night.

    Click here to uncover everything happening at National Treasure Weekend.

    Members of the Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble perform during the Ukrainian Folk Festival 2023 at the Tryzub Ukrainian American Sport Center in Horsham, Pa., on Sunday, August 27, 2023.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    The best things to do this week

    📚 Grab a tote: Hey fellow book nerds — the annual Philly Bookstore Crawl is back. The celebration of the city’s vibrant bookstore scene will offer discounted titles, author signings, and giveaways.

    🕺🏽 Rave at Love City Gardens: On Saturday, break out into genre-fluid dance, techno, house, and global club fun at Love City Gardens. This nomadic party series, presented by Hospitality Haus, will feature artists such as Ariel Zatina, HVNLEE, and Sweater.

    🇺🇦 A taste of Ukrainian culture: The Ukrainian Independence Folk Festival returns for a celebration of traditional Ukrainian music, food, and crafts from noon to 8 p.m. Children 15 and under enter for free, and every $2 from admission supports humanitarian relief in Ukraine.

    🦐 Grab a bib: Who says crayfish (aka crawfish) parties only happened in the Louisiana bayou? Far from it. The Nordic tradition started back in the 1500s, and the American Swedish Historical Museum is putting on a full-on crawfish party this Friday.

    📅 My calendar picks this week: Wine and Gems, Lucky Girl Market, Hike at Lloyd Hall. Here’s our full list for the week.

    Rush takes over Xfinity Mobile Arena this weekend

    Rush performing at the LA Forum in California in June. The band plays Xfinity Mobile Arena on their Fifty Something Tour on Friday and Sunday.Richard Sibbald

    Canadian rock band Rush is on tour for the first time in 11 years, and the first without legendary drummer Neil Peart, who died in 2020.

    While there was cynicism about the prog-rock band’s return without Peart’s technical proficiency on the sticks, it has since evaporated, writes pop music critic Dan Deluca.

    That’s because the band found Anika Nilles, the woman who now sits atop the Rush drum throne.

    Nilles has received praise from Rush’s male-dominated audience on the band’s “Fifty Something Tour,” which kicked off at Inglewood’s Kia Forum on June 7.

    She and her band mates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson will play two shows at Xfinity Mobile Arena. One on Friday and another on Sunday before jetting to Detroit on Aug. 26.

    Grab your tickets to see the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band in action.

    Summer fun this week and beyond

    Avast, there be a “Pirate Day” at Fort Mifflin on Aug. 19.courtesy of the artists

    🏴‍☠️ Ayo, matey!: Apparently, English pirate Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, wrecked port cities along the Delaware River some 300 years ago. Fort Mifflin was built to safeguard 18th-century Philly, and now it’s the site of Pirate Day. Fans of centuries-old piracy can enjoy weapon demos, a treasure hunt, and historical re-enactments.

    🎭 A celebration and call to reflection: Stop by Malcolm X Park for a free staging of the play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs (BYOC) and soak up the pre-show block-party energy for the Theatre in the X show, running through Sunday.

    🥁 Thursdays aren’t so bad after all: It’s Third Thursday at the Navy Yard. The monthly series will once again take place at Chapel Plaza, a 35,000-square-foot outdoor space. This week’s lineup will feature floating food trucks, live music, drink vendors, and more. If you can’t make it on Thursday, don’t fret. The series runs through October.

    🎾 Rack up the competition: It may have taken on a new name, but the same top-end competition remains. Professional women’s tennis returns to Philadelphia for the inaugural Ennoble Care Philly Open. The weeklong tournament, formerly known as the Philadelphia Tennis Classic, will see competitors Liudmila Samsonova, Ashlyn Krueger, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, and others duke it out on the court.

    Staffer picks

    Here’s pop music critic Dan DeLuca’s list of the best concerts this weekend.

    🎤 Thursday: Isaiah Rashad is fresh off his fourth album, It’s Been Awful, and is back on the touring circuit. The Chattanooga-raised emcee will hit the Fillmore Philly stage on Thursday.

    🎷 Friday: Masego, a global maestro of trap house jazz best known for 2017’s “Tadow,” will perform at the Met Philadelphia in support of his newest album, Fix Your Face.

    🎶 Friday and Saturday: Motown queen Diana Ross, whose hits have endeared generations of music fans, is on her “Diana In Motion” tour. She will perform at Atlantic City’s Ocean Casino Resort on Friday, then hit the stage at the Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem on Saturday.

    🎸 Saturday: There will be a triple bill of melodic power pop bands, headlined by San Francisco’s Chime School. The group will be joined by Philly’s Hurry and South Jersey’s Te Vista. The show takes place at a South Philly typewriter shop. Yes, that’s right (or write?).

    🎼 Tuesday: Esperanza Spalding, the Grammy-winning jazz bassist and composer who bested Justin Bieber for best new artist at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, will perform back-to-back shows at City Winery starting Tuesday.

    Check out Dan’s full concert list here.

    ❓Pop quiz

    The 2004 blockbuster ‘Natural Treasure’ was filmed inside Independence Hall. But the film also filmed inside a replica of the landmark building — where?

    A) New York City

    B) Atlanta

    C) Los Angeles

    D) Washington DC

    Here’s the answer to last week’s question: The Philadelphia Folk Festival is one of the nation’s longest-running folk music festivals. What year did it start? Answer: 1962

    Ask Earl anything

    Many of you have questions about each week’s listings, and others about Philly’s arts, culture, and entertainment scene.

    I have you covered. Have a question? Email me for a chance to have it answered in an upcoming newsletter.

    As most fans of mystery and piracy know, “X marks the spot.” Now that you’re here, I hope you found all you need for another incredible summer weekend in Philly. I know I have.

    — Earl Hopkins

    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.

    Courtesy of Giphy.comCourtesy of Giphy.com
  • 🦈 Beach tags for cars? | Down the Shore

    🦈 Beach tags for cars? | Down the Shore

    How to fix the Shore?

    As we alluded to last week, we at Down the Shore are moving from complaints and pet peeves to soliciting solutions, including from our text group, The Shore Line.

    We received many ideas, mostly grouped around a few big problems: parking and cars, costs, public access, plus some thoughts on restaurants.

    Several proposed off-island parking and shuttles to reduce the number of cars on barrier islands. One suggested congestion pricing for cars on the islands, or beach tags for cars (oof). Another idea: beach tags that could be used in any town, like a museum pass.

    Keep scrolling for a roundup of more ways to fix the Shore, and please keep sending us your own ideas.

    We’ll be consulting with experts and wracking our own brains for a future story (my ideas will involve dogs and bicycles). Email us here.

    Meanwhile, a local paleontologist is debunking aspects of a widely reported story about a boy and his dad finding a prehistoric shark tooth dating back millions of years in the rocks near Townsend’s Inlet.

    Kenneth Lacovara, founding executive director of Rowan University’s Edelman Fossil Park & Museum, said in an interview that, while not questioning that the father-son team found the Megalodon tooth as they said, there is no chance the tooth originated in Sea Isle.

    “I don’t see how a Megalodon tooth could naturally occur on the coast of Sea Isle City.”

    Deposits from the Megalodon’s Miocene epoch would be 500 to 600 feet under the sea along this part of the coast, Lacovara said, as the cakelike geographic layers get deeper and deeper as you head from, say, Philadelphia, down to Sea Isle.

    Even with ocean dredging for beach replenishment, Megalodon shark teeth fossils from that depth would not surface.

    “That fossil didn’t come from Sea Isle City,” Lacovara said.

    Michael Bowers, 42, said he discovered the fossil while visiting Sea Isle City with Bo, 11, a dirt bike rider, who documented the find on his YouTube channel, Fastkid71. They sought out experts from the Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center and from the New Jersey State Museum, who validated the tooth’s authenticity.

    “I’m not suggesting they are faking it,” Lacovara said. “That Megalodon tooth is not there naturally. It was maybe dropped by somebody, or lost by somebody. It’s more like finding a treasure than a paleontological discovery.

    Mystery unlocked? Or deepened? I’m just the messenger!

    📮 Have ideas or news tips about the Shore or this newsletter? Thoughts about the Megalodon? More suggestions for improving the Shore experience? Send them to me here.

    🌧️ A little rain in the forecast but not a washout.

    — Amy S. Rosenberg (Find me at @amysrosenberg. 📷 Follow me on Instagram at @amysrosenberg. 📧 Email me here.)

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

    Shore talk

    🐟 Police in Bay Head are warning about drone fishing.

    🛟 Atlantic City’s Beach Patrol brings the South Jersey championship back to Absecon Island with a dramatic win in Avalon.

    ☕ The Landmark Cafe in Ocean City is getting a lot of attention on TikTok for its church ownership.

    🎸 Gully’s and Avalon reached an agreement to give the popular bar an extra hour of outdoor music, until 9 p.m.

    🚓 Cape May implemented curfews after incidents of juveniles drinking and fighting in public places.

    🏖️ Wildwood is reducing the number of guarded beaches for the remaining season.

    🤍 A Barnegat man whose two grandchildren were killed after the boat he was piloting struck a channel marker in Barnegat Bay was charged with operating a boat while intoxicated and two counts of death by vessel.

    What to eat/What to do

    💪 Downtown Wildwood is hosting Pilates on the plaza.

    🌳 Atlantic City has a new midtown park.

    💵 A.C.’s Black business expo returns Aug. 25.

    🧀 Inky food insider Michael Klein is recommending the Oui Oui Wee Wee (basically a cheesesteak topped with French onion soup, Gruyère, and crouton dust) at Tony Boloney’s. We also love the Tuscan mozzarella and those flatbreads sold at Shore Farmers markets.

    🎤 Diana Ross and Keith Urban are both performing Friday in Atlantic City, Ross at Ocean Casino and Urban at Hard Rock.

    ⛴️ Glass Onion will perform at sea on the Thursday Rock the Boat cruise at the Cape May Lewes Ferry.

    🥎 Brigantine is holding its fourth annual Wiffle Ball Home Run Derby.

    🔥 Long Beach Township continues its Firepit Friday concert series at the 68th Street beach with Karly C and the Rebel Y’all Band.

    Shore snapshot

    The wind shifted to a cool ocean breeze just before dusk on Aug. 17, 2026, in Ventnor, N.J.Amy S. Rosenberg / staff

    Your thoughts on: Shore fixes

    Jenifer Baldwin says towns should focus on sustainability and public access:

    Make townships responsible for providing public parking and public restrooms with outdoor showers and changing rooms. Start working toward zoning that requires new development to include affordable public accommodations (motels, campgrounds, public beach facilities). Get creative about linking our barrier islands with alternative modes of transportation. Go car free in designated areas.

    Kara Cumiskey says the problem is “cars, cars, cars.”

    I think that there should be a “beach tag” for cars. Or some type of “congestion pricing” for bringing your car onto the Island. I have a rental property that has 4 bedrooms. The tenants this week brought 7 cars.

    One texter thinks Shore towns need to add a golf cart lane.

    Maybe either a lane or certain streets to use golf carts. It is horrifying the way people pack kids in them and drive in traffic. Many do not drive safely either. Toddlers sitting on someone’s lap or just on a seat!

    Several texters, like this one, urged everyone to just … be nicer.

    It really comes down to respecting one another and that starts at home. I know I sound like an old head (I’m only 45) but it’s what is wrong with the world today.

    🧠 Trivia time

    Kevin Pellegrini was first with the answer to Avalon’s old white underaged drinker roundup bus, the Magic Bus.

    This week’s question:

    This beach town established its beach patrol in 1855, making it the oldest operational beach patrol in the country and the future home of an International Lifeguard Museum.

    Which town is it?

    A. Wildwood, N.J.

    B. Rehoboth Beach, Del.

    C. Atlantic City, N.J.

    D. Huntington Beach, Ca.

    If you think you know the answer, email us. First one gets a shout-out.

    Your Shore memory

    Not to shock everyone with a winter memory, but it’s almost Labor Day! This is from Lisa Guercio.

    The best off season Shore memory was a weekend special at the Bolero Hotel in Wildwood. It was a snowy weekend with my first walk on the beach with snow over the sand. We also got to swim in the indoor pool on the roof while the snow was falling, which was a thrill. There were also ice chunks in the ocean that were a wonderful sight. The shore in off season is better than summer, as far as I’m concerned. Especially now that it so unaffordable during the summer season anyway.

    Still time to send us your Shore memory! Tell us how the Shore taps into something deep for you, and we will publish them in this space during the summer.

    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.

  • Backyards become watch party venues | Real Estate Newsletter

    Backyards become watch party venues | Real Estate Newsletter

    Watching movies outside is one of my favorite summer activities. It’s happening everywhere, from community viewings hosted by neighborhood groups to private backyard setups.

    Homeowners in the Philly area are part of a larger trend of folks adapting their properties for outdoor TV watching. For some people, that’s as simple as setting up a projector and a tarp. Others are spending a lot of money to turn their backyard into the ultimate watch party venue.

    This week, we have your guide to watching movies and TV in your backyard, just in time for Eagles season.

    Keep scrolling for that story and more in this week’s newsletter:

    — Michaelle Bond

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

    How to watch TV in your yard

    During the pandemic, I thought it would be fun to get a projector, hang a sheet on the side of the Center City rowhouse I was renting, and watch movies outside.

    I never did it, but if you’re more committed to the idea of hosting outdoor viewing parties, we’ve got tips from folks with experience.

    Kate Evans and her wife built a pergola behind their Roxborough rowhouse where they watch games and movies.

    Anthony Farina hauled a TV from his living room to his front porch almost every day for four years before his family gifted him a new TV and mounting system.

    Zach Kades in Bryn Mawr uses a projector and the back wall of his garage to create a “camplike feel.”

    Read on for their advice for watching TV and movies in your yard.

    Creating a home’s mural

    A couple months ago, I wrote about homeowners who put murals on the sides of their properties.

    I learned that these days, most murals are pieced together on special cloth and assembled later on a wall.

    I wanted to see the process in action and figured you all would too. So I asked the talented folks on our video team to show us.

    Gabe Coffey created a beautiful video that shows what goes into installing the art we see all over Philadelphia — including on more than 1,000 private homes.

    The mural he featured is called A Legacy of Dance Excellence and celebrates Black dancers and dance educators. Watch how the piece came together.

    And learn more about the mural’s inception here.

    The latest news to pay attention to

    Home tour: A Cherry Hill retreat

    We’ve written a lot about Plaza Grande, the 55+ housing complex in Cherry Hill that took almost two decades to complete.

    This week, we’re going inside one of the apartments there.

    Barbara Zucker was shopping at Nordstrom Rack when she saw a sign for an open house at the property. She and her husband, Fred, were looking to downsize from the Delran house where they raised their kids.

    They found that the Plaza Grande was the perfect new home.

    Their apartment is on the top floor, which means no noisy upstairs neighbors, and there’s enough closet space for Barbara’s shoe collection. One of the Zuckers’ favorite features is their balcony, where they drink coffee and people watch.

    They’ve become close friends with their neighbors and take advantage of the property’s amenities, which include:

    📽️ a moving theater

    🏋🏾‍♀️ a gym

    🎾 tennis and pickleball courts

    🏊🏾 indoor and outdoor pools

    Barbara said their home has become a retreat that feels “sort of like summer camp.”

    📷 Photo quiz

    Do you know where this photo was captured?

    📮 If you think you do, email me back.

    Last week’s quiz featured a mural by artist Paul Carpenter at 20th Street and Oregon Avenue.

    Shout-out to Bruce R. for knowing that.

    And enjoy the rest of your week.

    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.

  • High turnover at the top | Morning Newsletter

    Good morning. A flood watch is in effect for the Philadelphia region beginning at noon Thursday.

    To start, we examine the turnover of top appointees in Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration in comparison to her recent predecessors.

    And federal investigators have released new evidence from last year’s fatal medical jet crash in Northeast Philadelphia.

    Plus, our tool can help you navigate changes coming to SEPTA’s bus network, and more news of the day.

    — Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

    More than half have departed

    According to an Inquirer analysis of personnel moves, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has seen higher turnover among her top appointees than other recent mayors.

    By this point in their tenures, former Mayors Michael A. Nutter and Jim Kenney saw only a few appointees leave city government.

    Parker has lost six of her 11 original top appointees since taking office. The most recent departures, those of Managing Director Adam K. Thiel and City Solicitor Renee Garcia, were announced last month.

    The next two tiers of city government leaders under Parker have seen less churn.

    See the data in Sean Collins Walsh’s full story.

    Potential factors in fatal crash

    The National Transportation Safety Board filed documents revealing new details on the medical transport plane that crashed near the Roosevelt Mall just after takeoff in January 2025. All six people onboard and two others on the ground were killed.

    While a cause has not yet been determined, the federal agency found that both human and oversight failings preceded the incident.

    These include potentially fatigued pilots, training weaknesses, and a lack of safety checks by the Federal Aviation Administration as possible contributing factors.

    Henry Savage and Dylan Purcell report on what investigators have pieced together so far.

    What you should know today

    Quote of the day

    The Cannonball Club and its old cars on display are breathing new life into an empty Fishtown factory.

    The club will serve as a hangout spot for city-dwelling car enthusiasts, complete with a café and bar, and a social and coworking space. It opens for business on Sept. 10 and already has some members signed up.

    🧠 Trivia time

    Woodford Cedar Run in South Jersey cares for thousands of animals each year. For the first time, it now has a full-time vet.

    What year did the wildlife refuge first open?

    A) 1982

    B) 1999

    C) 1957

    D) 2000

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What (and whom) we’re …

    🎤 Stoked to see: The indomitable Motown queen Diana Ross and other acts around Philly this week.

    🧀 Flattered by: A small town in Idaho thinks it can beat our “longest cheesesteak” record. (It’s for a good cause, though, so we’re not too pressed about it.)

    🏅 ⚽ Highlighting: The Philly area’s 25 best athletes under 25.

    🎸 Chatting with: The Bacon Brothers on their Philly childhoods and the secret to eating Tastykake Jelly Krimpets.

    ☀️ Hyped for: The return of our favorite gang of morally bankrupt misfits on TV.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: Historic theater in Collingswood

    CHEST TITHE RIOTS

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

    Cheers to David Struck, who correctly guessed Wednesday’s answer: Taco Heart. The Texas-style taco spot has a new outpost coming to Ardmore in October.

    Photo of the day

    People protest the expanded data center before the East Whiteland Planning Commission meeting held at Penn State Great Valley in March.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    East Whiteland residents were staunchly opposed to a controversial 1.5 million-square-foot data center project. That scrutiny propelled the community to gather support for a November ballot question that would expand the number of elected officials who represent them.

    👋🏽 The weekend is in sight! Thanks for stopping by. Have a good 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.

  • Banned by the school board | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Banned by the school board | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Hi, Lower Merion! 👋

    The school board recently told two parents they aren’t allowed to attend in-person meetings for the next year, raising questions about the legality of the decision. Also this week, a new taco joint is coming to Ardmore, we look back at basketball brand AND1’s locally rooted trash-talking legacy, plus everything you need to know about SEPTA’s bus route changes.

    Have a question about town? Submit it to Curious Lower Merion and one of our reporters might track down the answer.

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

    Did the school board violate these parents’ constitutional rights in banning them from meetings?

    The Lower Merion Board of School Directors recently banned two parents from attending meetings in-person for the next year.Joe Lamberti

    Two parents were recently banned from attending Lower Merion school board meetings in person for the next year, with the district saying one exhibited “bullying” and “disruptive” behavior.

    The parents, Rebecca Foscolo and David Smyth, are among those pushing for less screen time for their kids, a topic that Foscolo admits led to some “extra spicy” behavior at a recent meeting.

    But being banned from in-person attendance — both can submit written comments and watch live streams — could be violating their constitutional rights, according to the ACLU of Pennsylvania.

    The Inquirer’s Maddie Hanna delves into the details.

    ✏️ Plus: After holding a remote-only meeting Monday, the school board passed a new technology policy, which puts limits on district-issued devices for the youngest students.

    💡 Community News

    • In case you missed it, Bryn Mawr psychiatrist Amy Mazza MacIntyre has been allowed to continue practicing while she appeals the revocation of her medical license. It was stripped after an investigation found she had a yearslong sexual relationship with a young patient while prescribing him highly addictive psychotropic drugs.
    • West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes were recently found in the township. Officials suggest residents take precautions, including by reducing standing water on their properties and wearing protective clothing or repellent when outdoors.
    • SEPTA is rolling out the first phase of its bus network overhaul Sunday, impacting 30 routes, including along the Lancaster Avenue corridor. Here’s what to expect. See how your route is impacted with The Inquirer’s interactive map.
    • Wynnewood resident Albert James Mamary, attending physician and professor of thoracic medicine and surgery at Temple University, died last month at the age of 59 after battling a rare cancer. Throughout his career, Mamary treated thousands of patients and mentored hundreds of students and doctors.
    • Basketball brand AND1 may be synonymous with New York, but it’s rooted in the Main Line. The Inquirer’s Alex Coffey revisits the cheeky company’s early days, which included an inaugural location in Ardmore and later Rosemont.
    • Neighboring Upper Merion Township rejected a proposed 5-million-square-foot AI data center campus last week, the nearest of which would have been not far over the township line at 411 Swedeland Rd. in King of Prussia. Developer Brian O’Neill can still appeal the board’s denial.
    • Two ramps on I-476 will be closed Friday at 10 p.m. and reopen Saturday at 9 a.m. They are the the northbound I-476 ramp to westbound I-76 and the westbound I-76 ramp to southbound I-476.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎸 Classic Albums Live: Hear covers of the Rolling Stones, the Black Crowes, and Aerosmith. ⏰ Friday, Aug. 21, 8 p.m. 💵 $29.50-$71.42 📍 Ardmore Music Hall

    📚 Philadelphia Book Crawl: Several local bookshops — Mavey Books in Ardmore, Children’s Book World in Haverford, Narberth Bookshop, and Chapter Two Books in Wynnewood — are participating in the region-wide event. ⏰ Saturday, Aug. 22, times vary 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Locations vary

    🍬 End of Summer Camp: Kids can make edible crafts and play candy-themed games during each day session of this weeklong camp. ⏰ Monday, Aug. 24-Friday, Aug. 28, 10 a.m.-noon 💵 $42.40 per session 📍 The Candy Lab

    🎵 Music in the Park: The final concert of the season features a performance by folk duo The Mingo Creek Balladeers. ⏰ Wednesday, Aug. 26, 7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Narberth Park gazebo

    🏡 On the Market

    A fully renovated four-bedroom Ardmore home

    The home has been completely updated.Courtesy of Brian Griffin and Erica Deuschle/Keller Williams Main Line

    Spanning four bedrooms and four bathrooms, this Ardmore home has been completely updated, inside and out. Among its features are a first-floor office, a kitchen with a butler’s pantry, and a nearby mudroom. It also has a finished basement with a full bathroom that could serve multiple uses. Upstairs, the primary suite has a walk-in closet, while outside there’s a deck leading to the backyard. There’s an open house today from 5 to 7 p.m. and on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $1.295M | Size: 2,777 SF | Acreage: 0.14

    📈 Lower Merion market report

    • Median listing price: $657,500 (down $52,500 from June) 📉
    • Median sold price: $1.2M (up $200,000 from June) 📈
    • Median days on the market: 50 (up 12 days from June) 📈

    This Lower Merion market report is published on a monthly basis. Above is data for July from realtor.com.

    🗞️ What other Lower Merion residents are reading this week:

    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.

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

  • Wawa 🤝 Phanatic | Inquirer Greater Media

    Wawa 🤝 Phanatic | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media! 👋

    A new Phanatic-themed smoothie is the latest element of a Wawa-Phillies partnership. Here’s what it (unexpectedly) tastes like. Also this week, Wallingford residents helped lay to rest fellow veterans, a Strath Haven alum and former standout lacrosse player returned to Delco, plus, a wine tasting room marks its one-year anniversary in Media.

    Have a question about town? Submit it to Curious Greater Media and one of our reporters might track down the answer.

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

    Wawa stakes more home turf claim with a new Phillies-inspired smoothie

    The new Phanatic-inspired smoothie is made with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, whipped cream, salted caramel syrup, and sea salt pretzel pieces.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    It’s a big week for Wawa and Wawa fans as the locally rooted convenience chain rolls out a new element of its partnership with the Philadelphia Phillies — a sweet treat that “tastes like the tears of our rivals,” Inquirer columnist Stephanie Farr says.

    On Monday, the beloved store introduced the limited-edition Phanatic Caramel Curveball Cream Smoothie, a vanilla ice cream-based drink that’s “sweet, salty, and delicious,” according to Farr.

    As part of the rollout, mascot Wally Goose will throw the first pitch at tomorrow’s Phillies game.

    The new sip, in a limited-edition cup featuring the Phanatic’s eyes and the tip of his snout, comes just a couple of months after Wawa became the team’s official hoagie sponsor and has begun upping its presence at Citizens Bank Park.

    Here’s what to know about the new smoothie and the brands’ growing partnership.

    🎥 See Farr’s video from the unveiling earlier this week.

    💡 Community News

    • Fifteen local individuals with no known next of kin were laid to rest Friday after Delaware County officials helped identify them as military veterans. Among the volunteers were Wallingford residents and veterans LuAnn Jahnke and retired Army Col. Jeffery Jahnke.
    • The Philadelphia Union’s Subaru Park hosted the Women’s Lacrosse League inaugural championship last weekend and there were plenty of athletes and coaches with local ties, including Strath Haven High School alum and Philly Lacrosse’s 2009 Girls’ Player of the Year Emily Parros (formerly Emily Garrity). She may now be coaching the Maryland Charms, but she’s still a “Delco girl.”
    • The Delaware County District Attorney’s office is working to extradite Michelle Zajko, a member of extremist group the Zizians, from Maryland to prosecute her in the deaths of her parents, according to the Daily Times. In June, the DA charged Zajko with the 2022 execution-style deaths of her parents in their Chester Heights home after a yearslong investigation.
    • Swarthmore has launched its fall tree sale and borough residents can purchase one to be planted along their public curbs.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Rose Tree Media School District has been awarded over $2.5 million from the state to realign Rose Tree Road as part of its proposed K-1 Early Learning Center. The road alignment alone is expected to cost north of $3.3 million, according to the district.
    • Penncrest High School recently made updates to its track, which, along with the stadium, will be closed through Tuesday. The track will again close next Saturday and Sunday.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    John Robert Cellars produces red, white, sweet, and semi-sweet wines. Courtesy of John Robert Cellars

    🎳 Things to Do

    ❄️ The Winter’s Tale: See the William Shakespeare comedy performed live. ⏰ Select days from Friday, Aug. 21-Sunday, Aug. 30, times vary 💵 $13.50-$18.50 📍 Players Club of Swarthmore

    📚 Philadelphia Book Crawl: Two local bookstores — Celia Bookshop in Swarthmore and Bookish Notions in Media — are participating in the region-wide event. ⏰ Saturday, Aug. 22, times vary 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Locations vary

    🎶 Tribute to Queen and The Beatles: Hear covers of some of both bands’ most iconic songs. ⏰ Saturday, Aug. 22, 8:45 p.m. 💵 $43.20-$84.24 📍 Media Theatre

    🗓️ Swarthmore Showcase: The annual event welcomes newcomers, including Swarthmore College students and their families, to the borough, which will turn into an open-air market. ⏰ Tuesday, Aug. 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Swarthmore town center

    📈 Greater Media market report

    Media

    • Median listing price: $699,900 (down $7,600 from June) 📉
    • Median sold price: $620,000 (down $25,000 from June) 📉
    • Median days on the market: 27 (same as June)

    Swarthmore

    • Median listing price: $375,000 (down $160,000 from June) 📉
    • Median sold price: $365,000 (down $75,000 from June) 📉
    • Median days on the market: 42 (up 15 days from June) 📈

    Wallingford

    • Median listing price: $525,000 (down $57,500 from June) 📉
    • Median sold price: $366,500 (down $26,000 from June) 📉
    • Median days on the market: 25 (down two days from June) 📉

    This Greater Media market report is published on a monthly basis. Above is data for July from realtor.com.

    🗞️ What other Greater Media residents are reading this week:

    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.

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

  • Still friends? | Sports Daily Newsletter

    Still friends? | Sports Daily Newsletter

    We’re no stranger to dominant performances from A.J. Brown. But we’re used to him wearing Eagles green when he’s tearing up defenses.

    Sure, the breakup, er, trade, was more than two months ago, but it still feels fresh when you see him wearing a navy blue New England Patriots jersey for the first time.

    But Brown was upbeat about facing his former team in Wednesday’s joint practice, the first of two in Foxborough, Mass.

    “I know I’m on an opposing team right now, but I still felt some love,” he said.

    He may have felt love, but he didn’t go easy on the Eagles once practice began and hauled in all six of his targets.

    And here’s everything else our Jeff McLane saw at the Eagles’ joint practice on Wednesday.

    — Maria McIlwain, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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

    ❓Reader question here. Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

    Getting defensive

    Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean chats with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel before Wednesday’s joint practice at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    The NFL is a different game from when Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio first started coaching it 40 years ago, but count this week in New England as his favorite of the preseason.

    He wasn’t available for questions after Wednesday’s joint practice with the Patriots, but he surely learned plenty about his unit.

    From signature one-liners to more pressing matters like Jonathan Greenard’s status for Week 1, here are the biggest storylines on the defensive side of the ball.

    Speaking of Greenard, his availability remains one of the biggest concerns for an otherwise stout defense, David Murphy writes.

    Next: Joint practices continue today in Foxborough, Mass.

    Phils add a lefty

    Nestor Cortes last pitched on Sept. 3, 2025, before he was sidelined with a biceps tear that required surgery.Bruce Kluckhohn

    The Phillies have added a veteran reinforcement to their shallow pitching depth.

    The club signed Nestor Cortes to a major league deal Wednesday.

    Cortes, a 31-year-old left-hander, last pitched on Sept. 3, 2025, before he was sidelined with a biceps tear that required surgery. Before the injury, he had a 6.29 ERA in eight starts with the Brewers and Padres. In his eight-year career, five of which Cortes spent with the Yankees, he has a 3.94 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP.

    How will he fit with the Phillies? Don Mattingly couldn’t say much.

    Aaron Nola pitched seven innings for just the second time this season in the Phillies’ 4-1 win over the Marlins to sweep the series. Luis Arraez hit his second homer since joining the team.

    Next: After an off-day on Thursday, the Phillies will welcome the St. Louis Cardinals to Citizens Bank Park on Friday (6:40 p.m., NBCSP). Jesús Luzardo (11-5, 3.23 ERA) will start for the Phillies, while the Cardinals have not announced their starter yet.

    Marcus Hayes’ take

    Luis Arraez won batting titles in 2022, 2023, and 2024.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    On Aug. 3, the Phillies had a .305 on-base percentage, the third-worst in baseball. Between Aug. 3 and entering Wednesday, they were getting on base at a .367 clip, which was the best in baseball.

    What happened between Aug. 3 and Aug. 4?

    They traded for Arraez. You know, the guy who won batting titles in 2022, 2023, and 2024 and led the National League entering Wednesday at .317.

    Sure, he’s not exactly lighting it up since coming over from the San Francisco Giants, but that’s OK. His presence and what he does for the players around him is what matters, Marcus Hayes writes.

    Brawling to a tie

    Lionel Messi (center) on the ball in front of Kai Wagner during the first half.Steven M. Falk / For The Inquirer

    A standing-room-only crowd at Subaru Park with thousands of pink-clad fans rooting for Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami against the Union were treated to an entertaining 2-2 tie. Messi scored for Miami, but the game ended with a brawl that saw teen phenom Cavan Sullivan ejected.

    Next: The Union are heading down to the Lone Star State to face old friend Jim Curtin and his Austin FC squad on Saturday (8:30 p.m., Apple TV).

    On this date

    It’s not exactly a secret that the Phillies are the losingest franchise in MLB history, at least in terms of total losses. And the dog days of the 1961 season certainly didn’t help. Starting with a 4-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants on July 29, 1961, the Phils dropped 23 straight games, the longest regular-season losing streak since 1900, according to MLB.com. The misery didn’t end until the nightcap of a doubleheader on Aug. 20, 1961, when the Phillies beat the Milwaukee Braves, 7-4, at County Stadium in Milwaukee. The victory actually kick-started a four-game winning streak, but the Phillies finished the season 47-107-1.

    Kinda puts this season’s sporadic scuffles in perspective, doesn’t it?

    What you’re saying about college football

    We asked: What college football team do you root for and why?

    I root for Lehigh University. Why? It epitomizes what college football should be: a culture of high academic standards with a tradition of success. — Howard P.

    Notre Dame — you know how we do. — D. Stone

    Penn State all the way. First saw Lenny Moore on newsreels at the Saturday morning movies in Media PA in the early 1950s. We had no TV so I listened to the games on the radio. Have been a fan ever since and have met Joe Paterno and quite a few players including Capaletti etc and have a couple long time PS friends and a younger brother who graduated about the same time as Capaletti. — Everett S.

    Temple Owls all the way! As loyal alumni, my time began toward the end of the Wayne Harden era. Loved the games at the Vet with West Virginia, Syracuse, Delaware, Pitt and Penn State. Attended the Garden State Bowl in frigid Giants Stadium. After graduation, the Bruce Arians era featured visits by Alabama and BYU. Following a number of forgettable years, Al Golden and Matt Rhule arrived and injected Temple Tuff on North Broad Street. Loved 2015 with the win over Penn State and the narrow defeat to Notre Dame. My Penn State daughters are still in denial! Will be back at the Linc Sept. 12 for the return of PSU! Go Owls! — Bob C.

    i’ve been rooting for Penn State since the 60s … they became my favorite team because of the Sunday Bulletin and what at the time they called the machine gun camera … the Sunday Bulletin would show a series of photos of a play using the machine gun camera usually a running play featuring a back named Roger Kochman … they would show a photo of the camera in the top corner of the first photo … so i would wait every Sunday to be able to see the play they were featuring … I imagine the machine gun camera was a early version of a motor drive — W. M.

    I grew up in the 50s and 60s in Philly. My dad was a subway alumni of Notre Dame. It wasn’t hard back in those days to jump on the wagon. We identified as Catholic and Irish so that was good enough for me. Throughout the years my love of the Irish has never wavered. Good season or bad I watched or listened to each tussle. Even though I had never been to campus there was a mystique regarding her name. Eventually got to witness a few home games in the 80s and early 90s very few experiences like those. In the late nineties I went to work there for almost 20 years. Being on campus each day was joyful. Both my children are alumni and prospering, lived the full circle, Love thee Notre Dame! — Bill B.

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Olivia Reiner, Jeff McLane, Jeff Neiburg, David Murphy, Lochlahn March, Marcus, Hayes, and Jonathan Tannenwald.

    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.

    Thanks for reading! Kerith will be back tomorrow to close out the week. — Maria

  • End of a restaurant era | Let’s Eat

    End of a restaurant era | Let’s Eat

    Nothing lasts forever, friends. Including your favorite restaurants.

    Also in this edition:

    — Mike Klein and Kiki Aranita

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

    End of a restaurant era

    Nothing is forever, especially restaurants. This summer, a rash of restaurants are hitting the market or closing altogether, including some longtime favorites. Here’s what’s going on.

    💔 Northeast Philly will lose its last Jewish deli this weekend. We visited Steve Stein’s Famous Deli for a final slice or two of corned beef.

    🍝 After being closed for six years, Mamma Maria’s is on the market, with its three adjoining buildings on East Passyunk Avenue and Jessup Street listed separately.

    A perfect day with Philly’s cookbook maven

    An ideal day for Binding Agents owner Catie Gainor involves pastries, pilates, happy hour, and of course, cookbooks.

    Wawa debuts a Phanatic smoothie

    And interestingly, it’s not green. Stephanie Farr investigates the limited-edition Phanatic Caramel Curveball Cream Smoothie.

    Any cheesesteak will do, within reason

    Stephanie Farr and cheesesteak connoisseur Tommy Rowan debate where to take a visitor for a true Philly cheesesteak.

    The best thing Mike ate last week

    Chicken from a restaurant that turns out steaks, chops, and house-made pasta? At Academy Grill, chef Jeffrey Power turns out a roulade that’s a throwback to his Le Bec-Fin days.

    Scoop

    Fairmount’s London Grill, which has sat dark at 23rd Street and Fairmount Avenue since closing in May 2019, is being readied for a new tenant, building owner Jack McDavid told Mike this week. The concept, bearing a new name, has not been nailed down. McDavid, who with a partner bought the property from longtime owners Michael McNally and Terry Berch McNally in 2019, said he was overseeing a rehab. There’s no timeline. In 1991, the McNallys took over the mid-19th-century building — then known simply as London — and helped turn Fairmount into a dining destination. McDavid himself is a Fairmount pioneer, as he founded Jack’s Firehouse down the street in 1989, two years after he opened Down Home Diner at Reading Terminal Market.

    Restaurant report

    What’s new can feel old. Craig LaBan finds South Philly nostalgia at Waltz, which opened five months ago at 2351 S. Front St. The menu was designed by Eric Leveillee, formerly of Lacroix at the Rittenhouse, and hits the right notes with sourdough pizzas, bouncy pastas, and a 14-ounce strip steak.

    Read Craig’s review of Waltz here.

    Craig also found delicious nostalgia of a different sort at Chinatown’s Lau Kee, a specialist in both Peking- and Cantonese-style roast ducks. The owners hail from Fujian, a completely different province than that of their succulent ducks.

    Read Craig’s review of Lau Kee here.

    Briefly noted

    Bridget Foy’s will turn Headhouse Plaza (Second Street north of South) into four pickleball courts Thursday for its third annual tournament, timed to National Pickleball Day. The 4-to-8 p.m. event includes a hospitality-industry tournament, free open play, a live DJ, pickled snacks, prizes for the best-dressed duo, and cocktails. Day-of registration at Bridget Foy’s, 200 South St. Rain date: Aug. 27.

    Philadelphia Zoo’s Summer Ale Festival, postponed due to severe weather, returns Aug. 22 with more than 100 beers, ciders, seltzers, meads, spirits, nonalcoholic drinks, food trucks, and live music. Early admission is 6 to 10 p.m.; general admission is 7 to 10 p.m. Taps close at 9:30. Tickets, which include zoo admission, are $75-$99 for early admission, $65-$85 for general admission, $45 for nondrinkers. Tickets must be purchased in advance through the zoo; the event is rain or shine and 21-plus.

    Honeysuckle, the North Philadelphia restaurant from James Beard finalist chef couple Omar Tate and Cybille St.Aude-Tate and a regular on The 76, will launch Honeysuckle Midday on Sept. 17, offering a pay-what-you-can, three-course lunch service Wednesday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Diners can choose to pay $20, $35, or $55 for a menu that includes Blackcaesar salad, epis-roasted chicken, BBQ sweet potato, escovitch mussels, and beef and broccoli, followed by bean pie or water ice. Honeysuckle favorites including the Goat Bun, Fish Hoagie, and McDonald’s Money burger will be available for an additional charge. Tables are up on OpenTable.

    Cannonball Club, a sort of members-only car museum, will have food and a bar when it opens next month in Fishtown. Our auto columnist, Scott Sturgis, takes you inside.

    ❓Pop quiz

    Kiki says she has found the best chicken sandwich in Philly. Where is it from?

    A) Raising Cane’s

    B) Jollibee

    C) Dave’s Hot Chicken

    D) a corner store with a mysterious name

    Find out if you know the answer.

    📮 Have a question about food in Philly? Email your questions to Mike at mklein@inquirer.com for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

    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.

  • Shapiro’s data center shift | Morning Newsletter

    Good morning, Philly.

    Today, we’re digging into Gov. Josh Shapiro’s new executive order restricting data center development in Pennsylvania. We also cover why a wave of longtime Philadelphia-area restaurateurs are calling it quits.

    Plus, someone in a Chucky-style mask is harassing pedestrians near City Hall, and more news of the day.

    Finally, a housekeeping note: I’m officially taking the helm of this newsletter most weekdays. My inbox is open if you ever feel moved to chat about something I write!

    — Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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

    Data center retreat

    Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a sweeping executive order imposing new regulations on data centers on Tuesday.

    The restrictions stop short of a full-blown moratorium, but they could effectively halt developments by requiring local approval before state permits are issued.

    The move represented a major pivot for Shapiro, who is up for reelection this year and long-rumored to be a Democratic presidential contender in 2028.

    Just last year, he touted helping Pennsylvania land a major Amazon project to build data centers in Bucks and Luzerne Counties.

    Since then, such developments have grown increasingly unpopular. In one recent poll by Quinnipiac University, 76% of registered Pennsylvania voters said they would oppose a data center in their communities.

    Reporter Gillian McGoldrick has the full story.

    A ‘gray wave’ for restaurants

    The Pub in Pennsauken. Kelly’s Seafood in Northeast Philly. Cherry Street Tavern in Logan Square. Around the region, a spate of decades-old bars and restaurants are either for sale or closing their doors for good.

    📊 The numbers: These high-profile changes don’t spell doom for the local food scene. The Inquirer counted 86 Philadelphia-area restaurant closings in 2025. A hundred are expected to open in 2026. Some churn is normal.

    🧑‍🍳 The reality: Often, generational turnover is driving the decision to sell or close up shop. “The parents retire and the children don’t want to get into the business — because it’s a hard business,” said one longtime liquor-licensing attorney.

    Food writer Mike Klein covers what’s next for these institutions.

    What you should know today

    Quote of the day

    Michella Crosby, a West Philly block captain, noticed that the kids on her street seemed hungry during summer break. So, she and her neighbors took matters into their own hands.

    Reporter Ximena Conde profiled community leaders providing an estimated one million free summer meals in Philadelphia this year.

    🧠 Trivia time

    What’s the name of Comcast’s new AI home security system?

    A) Comcast Guardian

    B) Xfinity Shield

    C) SpectacorAI

    D) Xfinity Defend

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What (or who) we’re …

    🎨 Watching: This video following a new mural celebrating Black dance pioneers as it takes shape in Grays Ferry.

    🍽️ Eating: Corned beef, smoked fish, and rye bread from Steve Stein’s Famous Deli, before it closes for good.

    💊 Researching: Whether GLP-1’s help with alcohol use disorder.

    ✍️ Congratulating: Mark Tatulli, the South Jersey cartoonist who just won the highest award in his field.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: This South Philly taqueria is adding a second location.

    OAT RACHET

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

    Cheers to Carol Basile, who correctly guessed Tuesday’s answer: Phanatic Smoothie. This new Wawa menu item tastes like a “World Series win with a sprinkling of Mets’ tears,” according to one customer.

    Photo of the day

    Viral French singer-songwriter and animal advocate Loris Assadian visits the Philadelphia Zoo on Tuesday with his signature flamingo-pink guitar to serenade the tortoises.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    Thank you for hanging with The Inquirer this morning. I’m off tomorrow but will be back in your inboxes on Friday. Cheers!

    A clarification: Yesterday’s newsletter unclearly characterized the affiliations of those accused in an alleged Penn State drug ring. All but one were students at the time the suspected ring was active.

    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.