Michael Horrocks’ former West Chester University teammates continue to pay tribute to their late friend, who died co-piloting United Airlines Flight 175 on Sept. 11, 2001. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
In the years after the 9/11 attacks, football players at West Chester University didnât know Michael Horrocksâ name. That didnât sit right with his former teammate Tom Schafer, who, after learning the former quarterback died while co-piloting the ill-fated United Airlines Flight 175 that day, made sure that wouldnât be the case any longer.
Despite battling cancer, Schafer, along with other former teammates, set out to honor Horrocks with a scholarship endowment and a statue at the Golden Ramsâ stadium, which was unveiled in 2010.
For every practice and game since, players tap Horrocksâ left foot before taking the field, keeping alive the legacy of a man â an illustrious football player, a Marine, and a commercial pilot â none of them would ever know, but who theyâd likely never forget.
Chester County and Paoli Hospitals earned high marks in the latest U.S. News Best Hospitals by Specialty rankings. Chester County was recognized in 13 categories, including colon cancer and gynecological cancer surgeries, while Paoli scored top marks in 12 categories such as lung and colon cancer surgeries.
Have an unwanted bike or sewing machine? Chester County Solid Waste Authority is collecting used goods Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the West Goshen Municipal Complex. Items will be sent to developing nations and a $20 donation is requested to offset shipping costs.
A number of new roadwork projects are getting underway. Hereâs where.
A nearly 5,400-square-foot West Chester home made of locally quarried stone and complete with a two-story wine cellar and tasting room inside a former ice house is on the market for $3.3 million. Take a peek inside.
Two women died after a single-vehicle crash on East Lancaster Avenue in Downingtown on Sunday. The driver died at the scene and the passenger died later at the hospital.
On Saturday, West WhitelandTownship police arrested 23-year-oldJordan Uriah Jones, who had been wanted for the statutory rape of a child, corruption of a minor, and unlawful sexual contact with a minor. After an eight-month investigation, police found that he fathered a child with a young girl.
Downingtown has named a new borough manager, elevating assistant borough manager and interim manager Corinne J. Badman to the role on a permanent basis. She succeeds Jeffrey A. Smith, who stepped down this summer.
A developer is looking to build two industrial flex warehouses on the roughly 15.5-acre property at 979 Octorara Trail in Parkesburg, where there are future plans for a hotel, restaurant, and street extension. West Sadsbury Townshipâs board of supervisors will hold a public hearing about the proposal at tonightâs 7 p.m. meeting.
East Bradford Townshipâs board of supervisors is expected to discuss an ordinance regarding data centers at tomorrowâs 6:30 p.m. meeting.
Work is slated to get underway this week on a monthslong sidewalk project in Toughkenamon. The $782,300 grant-funded project will rehabilitate a portion of sidewalk along Main Street.
Discount retailer Ocean State Job Lot, which is known for its selection of household goods and apparel, is grand opening its newest location at the Shoppes at Valley Forge in Phoenixville on Saturday.
đŤ Schools Briefing
Two Chester County high school football programs â Malvern Prep and Downingtown High School East â are among the top 10 to watch this season, according to a new ranking from The Inquirer.
đ˝ď¸ On our Plate
The Drift Seafood Kitchen and Raw Bar is now open in Phoenixville. Located at 231 Bridge St., it dishes up a seafood-forward menu of shareable plates, soups, salads, and entrees, in addition to steaks.
Victory Brewing is releasing its newest beer tomorrow. The malty, dry-hopped Borough Brew, a tribute to Kennett Square, has notes of berry, melon, and pear. Itâll be exclusively on tap at Victoryâs Kennett location, with $1 from each pour benefiting nonprofit Kennett Collaborative.
đł Things to Do
đ West Chester Comedy Festival: Dozens of comedians will perform stand-up at several venues over the course of three days. â° Thursday, Sept. 10-Saturday, Sept. 12, times vary đľ Prices vary đ Various venues throughout West Chester
đ Devon Fall Classic: See equestrian events and explore the country fair, complete with rides and vendors, at this annual event. â° Thursday, Sept. 10-Sunday, Sept. 13, times vary đľ $10-$20 general admission, $20-$35 for reserved seating đ Devon Horse Show and Country Fair grounds
đ Glass Pumpkin Festival: Explore glass-blown works of art, see demonstrations, or make your own. There will also be live music, food trucks, drinks, and an artist market. â° Friday, Sept. 11-Sunday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. đľ $7.18 admission đ WGK Glass Art, Toughkenamon
đď¸ Radnor Hunt Concours dâElegance: The three-day event includes a barbecue, a road rally, a gala, and a car show. â° Friday, Sept. 11-Sunday, Sept. 13, times vary đľ Prices vary đ Radnor Hunt grounds, Malvern
đ The Mushroom Festival: The annual staple returns, showcasing all things mushroom. There will also be music, cooking demonstrations, and a fire truck show. â° Saturday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. đľ $5 admission đ Kennett Square
An aerial view of the home, which has a pool and spa and backs up to nearly 30 acres of protected open space.Keith Conrey/Tohickon Media | Courtesy of Cary Simons/Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty
Situated in a cul-de-sac in the Chester Springs neighborhood Haverhill Estates, this four-bedroom Colonial backs up to a large swath of protected open land, giving it extra privacy. Among the homeâs features are several living areas with fireplaces: a great room with a bar area and vaulted ceilings; a two-story family room; and a basement family room. The walk-out lower level also has a wine cellar, a gym, space for a fifth bedroom, and a theater room, complete with reclining chairs. Outside, the home has a deck, screened-in porch, a heated pool and spa, plus a cabana with a bar.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirerâs 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 Inquirerâs high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
Schoolâs back in session and Labor Day is in the rearview mirror (though if youâre still rocking white in your wardrobe, we wonât tell). Those are two strong indicators that fall and all of its festivities are upon us.
The Cherry Hill Harvest Festival is among the canât-miss seasonal offerings in greater Philadelphia this year, The Inquirerâs Dugan Arnett reports. The family-friendly fete returns to Croft Farm on Oct. 18, bringing free pumpkins, a petting zoo, and upward of 100 vendors to the community.
Canât wait to get started on fall activities? We bring you our comprehensive guide on where to go apple picking nearby, including Duffieldâs Farm in Sewell.
Happy fall-ing. đ
đĄ Community News
Members of the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey, the South Jersey Menâs Club, and Jewish War Veterans Post 126 of Cherry Hill lined the perimeter of the Katz Jewish Community Center with nearly 3,000 American flagslast week to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Roadwork will cause a few closures through Friday: a full road closure on Kenilworth Avenue between Jerome and Chapel Avenues from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., an overnight full closure on Cropwell Road between Marlowe and Kresson Roads from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., and a partial westbound closure on Kresson Road between Imperial Drive and Springdale Road from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
New business alert: A few South Jersey residents opened a Cherry Hill location of Hounds Town USA, a franchise specializing in dog daycare, boarding, and pet spa services.
Meet stained glass artist and instructor Risa Dera, who works out of her home studio in Cherry Hill and aims to make artwork affordable for the local community and beyond. South Jersey Local News has the story.
đŤ Schools Briefing
The eight candidates for the Cherry Hill Board of Education will answer community questions Tuesday evening at the first in-person forum since the pandemic. Residents can also tune in remotely to the 6:30 p.m. meeting via Zoom. Submit questions until 9 p.m. on Friday.
Two Cherry Hill eateries are among the best Chinese restaurants in the state, according to NJ.com. The outlet gave nods to Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, which has an outpost at Towne Place at Garden State, and Han Dynasty, the Route 70 spot with âirresistibleâ dumplings.
đł Things to Do
đˇ Singles Mixer: Meeting new friends or romantic interests in person can be hard as an adult. Consider taking a trip to nearby Mount Laurel to grow your social circle. â° Thursday, Sept. 10, 7-10 p.m. đľ $49.74 đ Carlucciâs Waterfront
đŻď¸ We Will Never Forget: Join first responders, Mayor Dave Fleisher, and township officials for a remembrance ceremony on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. â° Friday, Sept. 11, 8:30 a.m. đľ Free đ Cherry Hill Fire Department
đź South Jersey Job Fair: Hunt for your next gig by meeting with representatives of companies such as Cooper University Health and New Jersey Youth Justice Commission. â° Friday, Sept. 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. đľ Free đ Cherry Hill Mall
This five-bedroom, three-bathroom abode features a unique layout. The house was built in 1978 as a standard bi-level and has since been updated into three individual living spaces, each equipped with its own laundry machines and kitchen or kitchenette. A shared HVAC system and two water heaters unite the three distinct areas of the home, which has a fire pit, deck, patio, and storage shed out back.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirerâs 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 Inquirerâs high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
The Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, N.J., has been a research and education stalwart for decades, instructing thousands of visitors annually on the importance of salt marshes and the marine world.
Starting this week, though, the nonprofitâs staff will pack up and move to a temporary headquarters, so its main trail can be raised to stave off sea-level rise.
The existing headquarters will ultimately be razed, with a new, elevated building rising in its place. The current wooden headquarters was built in 1972 and was originally intended for short-term seasonal use.
Sea levelâis rising fast enough that itâs outpacing the ability of the marshes to keep up,â said Lenore Tedesco, executive director of the Wetlands Institute. âTheyâre starting to drown.â
âYou can see that even right at the institute, where there are more open-water pockets and mud flats, instead of the grasses,â she added.
Much of the instituteâs 34-acre campus sits on low marsh and has become increasingly at risk due to flooding.
In 2000, the Salt Marsh Trail flooded twice a year. Now, it is flooding up to 70 times a year, Tedesco said.
For now, staff will move from the Stone Harbor Boulevard location to the New Jersey Coastal Conservation Center on North Delsea Drive in Cape May Court House.
All programs have been paused as of Tuesday, but the Wetlands Institute will reopen Nov. 7 at the temporary location.
The Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor plans to raze its existing building and replace it with a larger, more resilient, expansive structure big enough to house growing levels of research, conservation, and education. This is a rendering of the back of the structure.The Wetlands Institute
Salt Marsh Trail
Most of the 31,000 annual visitors to the Wetlands Institute walk the quarter-mile Salt Marsh Trail looking at the bountiful birds and wildlife.
About half of it and the surrounding ecosystem will be considered unstable low marsh by 2030 if nothing is done. The surrounding marsh sits at about two feet of elevation, while the Salt Marsh Trail, built on an old 1950s road, ranges from three to four feet.
Tedesco said dredge material from Avalon will be spread on the trail to raise it and surrounding land to create a new high marsh. It will have more vegetation to help buttress the area from storm-driven waves and provide habitat for diamondback terrapins and at-risk coastal birds.
Tedesco expects trail work to start in October. It will be paid for through a $3 million grant from New Jerseyâs Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Natural Climate Solutions program.
The work will not affect the existing elevated metal boardwalk, which will remain as is.
The institute undertook a similar project last year with state and federal officials to save the adjacent Scotch Bonnet Island, which was drowning.
About five acres of Scotch Bonnet Island was raised with dredge material to keep it above rising seas.
The island is situated in Scotch Bonnet Channel, a waterway that cuts through the bay to connect the barrier island to the mainland. The channel has widened by 70 feet since 1970.
Scientists say sea-level rise in New Jersey is running at twice the global average. They estimate the sea could rise 2 to 5 feet along the coast by 2100.
New Jersey has 200,000 acres of tidal wetlands, valuable habitat used by shore birds and other wildlife. The Wetlands Institute abuts those tidal wetlands.
Tedesco said the lessons learned on Scotch Bonnet Island are being used to reimagine the instituteâs campus.
Construction on the Salt Marsh Trail is expected to continue through spring before sensitive wildlife returns.
File: A snowy egret flies over the salt marsh at the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor where dredged material was used to raise the height of the marsh at Scotch Bonnet Island.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
A new building
Tedesco said architects and engineers are working with the instituteâs board of trustees on a proposed new building.
Those plans call for both the building and grounds to be elevated, while maintaining the âcoastal characterâ of the current institute.
She said federal, state, and local permits are needed given the sensitive area.
The Wetlands Institute is getting construction bids for the new building but does not have a final estimated cost or timeline. Tedesco said the institute is still raising money.
The new headquarters would be built using sustainable methods, such as mass timber construction that uses engineered wood panels, columns, or beams.
The facility would have more indoor and outdoor classroom space for educational programs, a new lecture hall, modern labs with twice the space, outdoor decks, an aquarium enlarged by 50%, and new exhibits.
Tedesco said the institute worked with experts to explore keeping the existing building, which was designed by Malcolm Wells, a mid-20th-century designer famed for his âgentle architecture.â
The structure was used as a biological research station by Lehigh University from 1972 to 1986. It has been expanded multiple times over decades.
Tedesco said it became clear that it is not feasible to continue using the building because it is so outdated and cannot be raised. She said the institute has expanded into âworld-classâ research and the facilities are at capacity.
âWeâre in a 55-year-old wooden building in the marsh that was built to residential standards for seasonal use,â Tedesco said. âBut you have to give kudos to the building. Nobody expected that a wooden building in a marsh in 1972 would still be functional today.â
Twenty-five years ago on Sept. 7, David Hale Sylvester hung out with his friend Kevin Bowser in their South Philly neighborhood. They didnât share a parting hug.
Four days later, on Sept. 11, Sylvester would wrestle with that moment as he anxiously waited to hear from Bowser, who worked in the World Trade Center complex.
Bowser perished in the terror attacks on the twin towers that day along with thousands of others.
For Sylvester, that missed opportunity to embrace his beloved friend one last time pushed him to create a movement of hope and hugs.
This week, on Friday, as Americans once again gather to remember the victims of 9/11, Sylvester will hold space at the Philadelphia Film Society Center with a Hug Hub, a photo installation featuring strangers embracing each other through tragedy and loss. He will also be there waiting, arms wide open, for anyone who needs a hug.
âItâs a space where people can come as strangers and leave with a hug,â Sylvester said.
How a missed embrace became a manâs mission
As Sylvester mourned his friend, he said he realized he was not alone in his journey of grief.
âEvery American felt vulnerable during that time and wanted to connect in some way,â Sylvester said. âI have never seen a time like that where everybody in the country, no matter the race, no matter if you are a Democrat or Republican, we all just needed to be connected.â
Carrying that loss and that last missing hug, Sylvester in 2002 mounted his pain on a bicycle and rode through 50 states, hugging strangers in small towns and big cities.
As the years went by, and despite the pandemic, Sylvester continued his mission, eventually riding his bike through 42 countries, hugging over a million people, he said.
Through it all, he remembered Bowser â who, despite being 10 years his senior â always made time to teach and mentor him.
âKevin helped me with driving lessons, helped me with school, with sports, with everything,â Sylvester said. âEverybody needs a big brother or a big somebody in their life, and he was my big.â
The last time the pair hung out, Bowser told Sylvester he was âbeyond himâ and that he was extremely proud of him and the man he had become, Sylvester said. Hearing his friendâs words, Sylvester said that he was overcome with emotions, which prevented him from hugging Bowser one last time.
âI should have hugged Kevin, but I didnât, so when I did not have the opportunity to do it anymore, that sort of guided me,â Sylvester said.
âI choose to hugâ
Sylvester has dedicated his life to offering hugs to strangers and loved ones in the hopes that people feel less alone, he said. That feeling further deepened when another friend, Scott, died by suicide in 2022, on the anniversary of Sept. 11.
âPeople need to see hope; they need to see goodness in action,â Sylvester said. âMaybe that will stop people from being so violent, maybe that will stop somebody from taking their own life.â
Through his journeys, Sylvester has collected more than 3,000 pictures; 2,000 of those will be featured on Friday at the Philadelphia Film Society Center along with portraits of Bowser and Scott.
He said he has no idea how many people will attend the free event, between 8:30 a.m. and noon. He just wants to make sure that those in attendance feel they have company as they commemorate a day that marked a before and after in his life and the life of a nation.
âWe all experience loss, but itâs what you do with that feeling that counts. How do you say thank you to somebody who is not there anymore? Maybe there is another way, but I choose to hug,â he said.
According to assistant general manager Brent Flahr, Brek Liske, the Flyersâ first of two second-round picks in the 2026 NHL draft, has some âswagger.â
Maybe that swagger rubbed off on Luke Vlooswyk because, as the defenseman spoke to The Inquirer in late June at development camp, he made a bit of a guarantee.
âI think weâll be the best D pair in the league next year,â the Flyersâ 2025 fifth-rounder confidently told The Inquirer at development camp.
Acquired by Everett of the Western Hockey League from Red Deer last January, Vlooswyk, 19, linked up with Liske until the first round of the WHL playoffs when Liske was bumped up to the top pair. Liske, 18, impressed there while slotted alongside projected 2027 No. 1 pick Landon Dupont as the Silvertips made a run to the Memorial Cup final.
With Dupont now teammates with Flyers center prospect Jack Nesbitt at the University of Michigan, Vlooswyk and Liske, who both will participate in Flyers rookie camp this week, are expected to be Everettâs top defensive duo.
âReally well,â Everett coach Steve Hamilton said when asked how they played together after Vlooswyk was traded to the Washington State-based team.
âWeâre very fast [in] the way we play, in the way we pressure, the way we transition, defend,â he added. âWe expect our guys to close quickly, and just try to apply the pressure to get the puck back right away, and both of those guys just have an aggressive mindset, and they move pucks well. ⌠We want to transition right away, and anytime we get a change of possession, we want our defensemen to be involved, and both of those guys appreciate that style of play.â
Brek Liske (left) and Luke Vlooswyk (right) celebrate after winning the Western Hockey League championship last season.Courtesy Luke Vlooswyk
The pairing is prototypical. At 6-foot-5, Vlooswyk is the big, stay-at-home, shutdown defenseman with a long reach. The smaller Liske, at 6-1, likes to have the puck on his stick and has a little more offensive pop in his game â he had seven goals and 24 points in 52 games last season.
But the pairing is also unorthodox. It is not a righty-lefty combination, which is what Flyers coach Rick Tocchet typically likes.
Liske and Vlooswyk are akin to Travis Sanheim and Cam York, two lefties who played together under ex-coach John Tortorella, except Liske and Vlooswyk are both righties. Liske is the one playing the off-side, increasing his versatility Ă la Sanheim.
âYeah, it is a big difference, right?â he said at development camp. âA lot of stuff on the backhand. The biggest thing was I just had to learn how to place the puck better, if that makes sense, have it at my hip more. Youâre ready to open up instead of being able to just snap it. Itâs a little harder, but probably took a couple of games of adjustment and [I] figured it out.â
âI think his defensive identity is helpful,â noted Hamilton about Liske during a phone interview in late June. âHeâs very subtle. Heâs physical in his own way, but very effective, great stick. And I think ultimately, going forward as an NHL player, thatâs probably more going to be his strength. ⌠But, I think heâs got a really good understanding that he can bring things in all areas.
âSo, honestly, self-assessment is a skill in itself these days, and heâs got a very good handle on who he is. In terms of growth, as a young player ⌠heâs going to need to continue to work on his skating, and the NHL is the best of the best. I feel like he really moves well at our level, and I know with time and training, and continuing to get stronger, that his skating will be NHL caliber.â
Hamilton sees Liske as a middle-pair blueliner in the NHL, and the kid from Manitoba has a lot of motivation to reach that level â especially with the Flyers. His father, Lonnie, is a massive fan of the Orange and Black, and when the 18-year-old spoke to the media via Zoom after hearing his name called, he was already donning a Flyers jersey.
Flyers second-round pick Brek Liske grew up a Flyers fan due to his dad’s love for the Broad Street Bullies.Jackie Spiegel
âFirst time I ever met his dad, Lonnie, he said to me, âOh my gosh, I canât believe my son is D partners with a future Philadelphia Flyer. Like, this is unbelievable,ââ Vlooswyk recalled. âAnd for him to be drafted here now, I canât even imagine what emotions are running through that family. Itâs pretty cool.â
Merrill Reese will begin his 50th season on Sunday as the voice of the Eagles.
The longtime broadcaster has voiced two Super Bowl wins, told you the Eagles stopped âem again, and made the word âgoodâ sound great.
After turning 84 earlier this month, Reese has no plans of retiring. So donât call 2026 a farewell tour because he says he isnât going anywhere.
Through it all, his wife of 47 years, Cindy, has been by his side, making sure her husband stays sharp for game days, and she may be the secret to Reeseâs longevity.
One legend, however, is hanging up the cleats â for a second time. Brandon Graham announced on Tuesday he was âofficially doneâplaying football.
From his strip sack against Tom Brady in the Eaglesâ first-ever Super Bowl victory to becoming the franchiseâs all-time leader in games played, Grahamâs had quite the NFL career. He â and his trash talk â will be missed.
Aidan Miller was batting third and playing shortstop for double-A Reading on Tuesday night.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Aidan Miller took another step forward. His rehab assignment was transferred from single-A Clearwater to double-A Reading, where he was scheduled to play seven innings on Tuesday night. Reading has a week remaining before its postseason begins on Sept. 15, allowing for more regular game action after Millerâs return from injury.
Andrew Painterâs struggles through five innings and baserunning miscues contributed to the Philliesâ series opening loss to the Astros. The setback prevented the Phillies from gaining ground in both the division and wild-card races.
And stay up to date with the National League East and wild-card standings through our MLB playoff tracker.
What weâre …
đ Reminiscing: Brandon Graham says heâs done with football. Letâs relive some of his most memorable moments.
đ¤ Wondering: With Week 1 of the NFL season kicking off today, we found an Eagles or Philly connection on the 31 other teams.
đ Learning: Brynn McCurry will miss Villanovaâs 2026-27 season after having surgery to repair a torn ACL and meniscus.
đ Praising: This Penn State defensive tackle is using his name, image, and likeness earnings to help his family.
Eagles coaches have praised DeVonta Smith’s offseason and training camp presence, as he prepares for an even more prominent role in 2026.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
For the first time since his rookie season, DeVonta Smith is a No. 1 wide receiver. He excelled in that role in college and had a record-breaking first season, but heâs lived in the shadow of A.J. Brown for the last four years.
And the man seeking to help Saquon Barkley elevate his game is a quarterback by trade. But Sean Mannionâs expertise isnât limited to the passing game. Olivia Reiner gives us an inside look on how Mannion intends to revive the run game.
Want to play a game? We took six preseason photos and made one change: the ball is missing. Guess where you think it is.
The Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey (left) and Jaylen Brown will play a big part in making their star-studded roster work. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The 76ers have a lot of talent on their roster, but it raises a question about roles since thereâs only one ball to go around. However, most teams would be lucky to have this as one of its main issues heading into training camp.
And âto win, you got to be able to sacrifice,â says Jaylen Brown. So letâs look at this from the lens of statistics. Chris Hine evaluates how often a player consumes his teamâs possessions, usage rate, and more.
Luke Vlooswyk (right) was watching the draft in Voorhees when his Everett teammate and defensive partner Brek Liske was drafted by the Flyers.Courtesy of Luke Vlooswyk
When the Flyers get together this week for the commencement of rookie camp, there will be a lot of introductions and first-day-of-school vibes.
But that wonât be the case for defensemen Brek Liske and Luke Vlooswyk. Why? Liske and Vlooswyk are teammates with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League, and will be partnered up this season once they return to juniors.
After a stretch together last season, the tandem will take on a larger role in 2026-27 and letâs just say they have high expectations.
đ§ Trivia time
Which Phillies player hit the longest recorded home run in franchise history at Citizens Bank Park?
A) Kyle Schwarber
B) Ryan Howard
C) Bryce Harper
D) Jim Thome
We compiled todayâs newsletter using reporting from Matt Breen, Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Chris Hine, Ryan Novozinsky, Jackie Spiegel, Lochlahn March, Scott Lauber, Charmaine Runes, Garland Fordice, Mia Messina, Conor Smith, Finn Courtney, and Lexie Linderman.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirerâs Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Hope you had a restful holiday weekend. Thanks for reading, and Maria will be back in your inbox tomorrow. â Bella
Diving deep into the data to look at three trends that will help determine the Eaglesâ fate in 2026 (with an assist from pro-football-reference.com and nflfastR).
23rd
Thatâs the average ranking from last season of the 14 pass defenses the Eagles will face in 2026. It is the softest schedule in the league by a wide, wide margin. The Eagles couldnât have handpicked a better setup for Jalen Hurts and first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. Right out of the gate, theyâll face a Commanders defense that finished tied for 30th in yards per pass attempt allowed, then a Titans defense that finished dead last. In fact, nine of their 14 opponents finished lower than 20th in yards per attempt.
A big factor in the Eaglesâ good fortune is a division that includes two of the three worst pass defenses from a year ago in Dallas and Washington, plus a Giants team that finished in the bottom half of the league. The Cowboys also finished in the bottom 10 in sack rate while ranking 27th in their rate of passing plays of 20 or more yards, two categories in which the Eagles schedule also ranks among the most favorable.
The nondivision slate will likely play a little tougher than it looks on paper. The Rams (tied for 11th in YPA) rebuilt their secondary while adding Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald to the pass rush. The Colts could be better in their first full season of cornerbacks Charvarius Ward and midseason trade acquisition Sauce Gardner. That said, no team in the NFL has a more favorable schedule top to bottom. The Eaglesâ opponents had an average rank of 22.9 in passing yards per game and 20.2 in yards per attempt allowed last season. Both are the highest in the NFL.
The sequencing is as beneficial as the actual opponents. The two toughest defenses on their schedule donât come until Weeks 15 and 16, with just five days separating the Seahawks on Dec. 19 and the Texans on Christmas Eve. Both games are at home.
The early-season schedule is soft enough to counteract whatever learning curve that will exist for Hurts and the rest of the offense in Mannionâs scheme. The expectations should be high.
3.98
That was the average yards per carry of Eagles running backs when they had multiple tight ends on the field last season in neutral game script situations. That ranked in the bottom half of the league and well behind the teams that made it to their conference championships.
A sampling âŚ
Running-back yards per carry in multi-tight-end sets (first and second down outside the 10-yard line)
Bills: 5.25 (4th in NFL)
Rams: 5.23 (5th)
Seahawks: 4.56 (9th)
Bears: 4.52 (10th)
Broncos: 4.44 (11th)
Patriots: 4.30 (17th)
Eagles: 3.98 (20th)
Johnny Mundt (center) was brought in to help the Eagles’ blocking in multiple tight end sets.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
Johnny Mundt didnât get a ton of coverage in training camp. Blocking tight ends rarely do. But the Eagles signed the 31-year-old veteran for a reason. With Cameron Latu lost to waivers and Grant Calcaterra on injured reserve, the Eagles will enter the season without two of their top three tight ends from last year. Add to that the steep learning curve awaiting rookie second-round draft pick Eli Stowers and tight end is one of the bigger question marks on this 2026 roster.
The question is especially relevant given the leaguewide paradigm shift. Teams like the Rams and Seahawks have spent considerable resources accumulating talent at the tight end position in recent seasons. Seattle drafted AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo in the fourth and second rounds in back-to-back seasons, while the Rams just added second-round pick Max Klare to a stable of tight ends that already included 2025 second-rounder Terrance Ferguson, high-priced free agent Colby Parkinson, 2023 fifth-rounder Davis Allen and veteran Tyler Higbee.
It remains to be seen how central a role multi-tight-end sets will have in Mannionâs offense. Last year, his Packers team finished in the top half of the league in both RB yards per carry and pass yards per attempt.
Thatâs how many quarterbacks rushed for 600-plus yards last season. The last time the NFL had a regular season where no quarterbacks reached 600 yards was 2017. At least two had done it in each of the previous five seasons.
Hurtsâ rushing production has garnered plenty of attention, and deservedly so. The Eagles were a dramatically different offense in 2022 when he averaged 50.7 rushing yards per game compared to the one theyâve been over the last three seasons, when Hurts has averaged just 34.5 yards. Itâs certainly reasonable to think that he can and should be well north of the 26.5 yards he averaged last season. But it isnât all on him.
The natural trajectory of a dual-threat quarterback is to see a year-to-year decline in rushing production. It has happened to virtually every quarterback who has done the things Hurts did early in his career. The league adjusts quickly. Itâs no coincidence that virtually every scrambling quarterback saw a significant decline in his rushing production last season.
New Eagles OC Sean Mannion could utilize Jalen Hurts’ running ability more in 2026.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Jayden Daniels missed 10 games, but in the seven games he played, he averaged just 39.7 yards, down from 52.4 the year before. Lamar Jacksonâs 26.8 yards per game was barely half of the 52.6 he averaged over the two years prior. Bo Nixâs per-game rushing yardage fell by more than 20% (25.3 yards to 20.9). Drake Mayeâs was down 18.5%. Josh Allen has averaged 32 yards per game over the last three seasons after averaging 46.2 yards per game in 2021 and 2022.
âI think [Hurts has] really operated through all facets of the offense comfortably,â Mannion said earlier this summer. âBut the piece of him as an athlete in the running game is something unique. Those are elements we can lean into a little bit as well.â
Mannion should be thinking that way. But quarterbacks who have running ability will almost always see that running ability limited by defensive coordinatorsâ awareness of said running ability. The league has seen enough of it in recent years that it is getting better at stopping it.
This fallâs restaurant openings reflect an industry hedging its bets: established operators expanding into the suburbs and repurposing familiar spaces, and newcomers pursuing narrowly drawn concepts built around omakase, caviar, Korean barbecue, cocktails, and live-fire cooking.
I count about five dozen restaurants in the regionâs pipeline, with Italian concepts (no surprise), all-day service, and experience-driven dining recurring throughout the list. In addition to 60 restaurants opening between now and late December, two other restaurants are expanding: Lovat Square in Chestnut Hill is adding dinners and Palm Vintage across from City Hall is adding nighttime sushi service.
By comparison, last yearâs fall roundup covered 53 restaurants. All of those opened except for three that are now a full year behind schedule: Adda in Fishtown is shooting for October, Ayat near Rittenhouse Square is aiming for November, and Brunch Bulls in Point Breeze is targeted for December. (Although this year has seen its share of closings, especially among longstanding restaurants, each of last fallâs restaurants is still open.)
Brand new and notable
Aogami (4343 Main St.): Underground sushi is coming to Manayunk as chef Tom LoMonte joins chef Moon Krapukthong to offer a 16-course omakase in a 20-seat BYOB setting beneath Krapukthongâs Yanako and neighboring Chabaa Thai Bistro, starting Sept. 25. LoMonte â a veteran of Zama, Izakaya by Yanaga, Pod, and Yanaga Kappo Izakaya â will lead the omakases at 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; reserved sushi-bar seatings will run Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays alongside hand rolls and Ă la carte service. LoMonte describes the atmosphere as energetic and less formal than typical omakase counters. Upstairs, Yanako will continue serving rolls, sushi platters, udon, tempura, and yakitori.
The Buttery (1099 Germantown Ave.): Malvern-based bakery and cafe the Buttery is preparing a Philadelphia location at Piazza Alta in Northern Liberties, near Scusi and Terra Grill. It recently opened a Bryn Mawr location and expanded its original Malvern operation into dinner service with Neapolitan pizza and shareable plates. An opening date has not yet been shared.
Nick & Noraâs Oyster Dive (560 Stokes Rd., Medford): Michael and Jeniphur Pasquarello (La Chinesca, Piccolina) are bringing a raw bar and American kitchen to a corner space with a large deck at Ironstone Village. The broader menu will include steak frites, burgers, fish, vegetables, and small plates, says Michael Pasquarello, who hopes to open in 60 to 90 days.
Chef Chaz Brown (left) is partnered with his brother Clifford Brown (center) and John Skeele in Rumblefish, 1700 N. Third St.Mike Prince
Rumblefish(1700 N. Third St.): Chef Chaz Brown is targeting November for this 900-square-foot, fast-casual Caribbean fish-fry restaurant at Third Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue. Brown â a Trinidadian American chef whose resumĂŠ includes Nobu, Le Bec-Fin, Fatty Crab, and televisionâs Top Chef â will focus on invasive species such as lionfish, snakehead, green crab, and Chesapeake Bay blue catfish when available. (The catfish turned heads at the recent Oxtail Exchange at Forman Arts Initiative.) Brown uses gluten-free corn flour with Trinidadian spice blends and serves the fish on poâboy-style rolls baked by Angeloâs Bakery in Conshohocken. The mostly takeout operation will have counter seating, a 25-seat covered patio, slaws, fries, sea-moss drinks, and Solo Kola Champagne.
Pennsylvania suburbs
Alessandroâs Enoteca (915 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr): Alex Fiorelloâs third restaurant will bring a bar-focused Italian concept to the former Enoteca Tredici space in Bryn Mawr Village in mid-to-late October. Fiorello and culinary director Matt Arcomone, whose resumĂŠ includes Osteria, Vetri, and Palladinoâs, are planning house-made pastas, wood-fired pizzas, live-fire cooking, and dry-aged meats. Itâs intended to have a stronger evening and bar scene than Fiorelloâs Wayne restaurants.
Bruzi (281 Montgomery Ave., Bala Cynwyd): Two couples with Calabrian roots plan to open this Southern Italian restaurant in the former Aldar Bistro in late fall. Expect house-made pastas and Calabrian dishes such as fusilli with slow-cooked meat sauce, baked lamb, and grilled tuna, plus cocktails and an opening list of about 100 Italian wines.
Capperini (137 S. Easton Rd., Glenside): Eastern Montco will get an upscale Italian-Mediterranean destination with a liquor license from Ilya Vorobey and partners including members of the team behind Capri in Queen Village. Vorobey is aiming for October or November.
Casa de Fehu, 482 Jacksonville Rd., Hatboro.Michael Klein / Staff
Casa de Fehu (482 Jacksonville Rd., Hatboro): Hatboro couple Anthony Shalamov and Anastasia De Roy are developing this polished restaurant with European-inspired cooking and an upscale atmosphere, possibly with a tie-in to a local brewery that would allow alcoholic drinks. Shalamov is targeting an October soft opening.
Cecilia (266 E. Fourth St., Bridgeport): The team behind Blue Bell Inn and the Copper Crow is just about ready to open this contemporary American bar-restaurant in the extensively renovated former Taphouse 23. The roomy property includes a large patio and a wood-burning oven. The menu emphasizes familiar American dishes, positioning this as an all-purpose neighborhood destination.
Donatelliâs (1 Washington Ave., Newtown): Restaurateur Habib Troudi, who owns Panache and Ristorante Castelloin Blue Bell, is behind a top-to-bottom overhaul of the former Roccoâs at the Brick in downtown Newtown. He said he is hoping to open the Italian steakhouse in October.
Rendering of the Garden by Pieri Winery, 127 E. Elm St., in Conshohocken.Courtesy of Christina Pieri
The Garden by Pieri Winery (127 E. Elm St., Conshohocken): Winery owner Christina Pieri and restaurateur Brian Pieri (StoneRose, Bar Lucca, Cerdo) are targeting a mid-October opening of their year-round indoor-outdoor restaurant beside the Schuylkill River Trail, an offshoot of Christinaâs Coopersburg winery. A wood-fired kitchen will serve seasonal American food, including brick-oven pizzas, focaccia sandwiches, salads, steaks, and fish, at lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. The property will include a covered patio, fire tables, a turf area, and pickleball and bocce courts.
The Hungry Hub (11 S. Orange St., Media): Media native Cassidy Moretti and her mother, Glenda, are taking over the former Rivalry Cafe with a family-run breakfast and lunch operation. The Hungry Hub also plans later hours and a late-night menu, broadening its role beyond that of a conventional daytime cafe. An Oct. 1 opening has been announced.
The Iron Oven (58 S. York Rd., Hatboro): Alex Nalbandianâs Southampton bar-restaurant â known for an expansive American menu, cocktails, craft beer, brunch, and dishes ranging from wings and burgers to flatbreads and entrees â is adding a second location in eastern Montco: the former Ross & Co. Heâs aiming at November.
Lazy Dog(160 N. Gulph Rd., King of Prussia): The California-based bar, known for Rocky Mountain lodge imagery and a broad American menu, is targeting late 2026 at the King of Prussia Mall.
Luna (129 E. Butler Ave., Ambler): FineLine Hospitality, which recently opened Academy Grill in Fort Washington, is behind a stylish revamp of Dettera in downtown Ambler. Chef Marie Lavizzo-Mourey will base her menu on the 20-plus countries bordering the Mediterranean. The project is on track for fall.
Martini & Roz(523 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne): Fearless Restaurants is turning Wayneâs former Bertucciâs into an ambitious, 300-seat Southern Italian restaurant named for founder Marty Grimsâ parents, Martin and Roslyn. Menu will include crudo, oysters, steaks and chops, wood-fired pizzas, house-made pastas, and charcuterie. It will feature two open kitchens, a cheese cave, a tasting counter, and extensive outdoor seating.
Maru (2922 Conestoga Rd., Glenmoore): David Backhus and the team behind the former Oori restaurants are in the early days of a fast-casual Korean-inspired restaurant at their former Collective Coffee & Bakery. Think Korean fried chicken sandwiches, wings, and tenders, supplemented by mochi doughnuts and specialty Collective coffee.
Nudyâs Cafe (122 Park Ave., Willow Grove): Prolific suburban breakfast-and-lunch operator Ray Nudy hopes for late September for his latest diner, across from Marshalls in Willow Grove.
Old Friend (166 E. Lancaster Ave., Wayne): Childhood friends Larry Kagan and Chas McFeely are behind this contemporary American grill, with former Fork executive chef Sam Henzy leading the kitchen. The 86-seat restaurant will center on live-fire cooking in a Josper oven, with dry-aged fish, poultry, and larger proteins intended for sharing. Its compact wine list will be closely tied to the food. A late-fall opening is planned in the Apartments at Wayne Station.
Opus (201 Birch St., Kennett Square): Square Roots Collective will open this 125-seat New American restaurant Sept. 11 in the former temporary home of Hankâs Place, next to the Artelo hotel. Executive chef Matthew Anderson, formerly of Longwood Gardens and Winterthur, plans seasonal dishes, such as Kennett Square mushroom bisque, butternut squash agnolotti, herb gnocchi, and dayboat scallops. The two-story space includes a cocktail lounge, terraces, and work by local artists. Profits will support community projects and nonprofits.
Salt (840 W. Lancaster Ave., Devon): Rich Kim of North Walesâ acclaimed Salt predicts late December for his redevelopment of Devonâs former La Jonquille and Shiraz property into a second Korean barbecue concept, followed in 2027 by Yugo, a carousel sushi restaurant, upstairs.
The Still on State (18 W. State St., Doylestown): Only days open at the Doylestown Inn, this Irish pub-inspired bar/restaurant fills the former Hattery Stove & Still space; itâs paired with an on-site microdistillery called the Tilted Brim.
Taco Heart (120 Coulter Ave., Ardmore): Nano Wheedan is bringing his South Philadelphia breakfast-taco shop to the Ardmore Farmers Market, its first expansion beyond its East Passyunk-area home. Expect Austin-style flour tortillas and breakfast tacos built around eggs, potatoes, beans, bacon, brisket, and house salsas. Opening is set for Oct. 5.
Top Dog Cocktails (110 E. State St., Kennett Square, and 2012 Frankford Ave., Fishtown): Ken Smucklerâs cocktail company plans two vinyl listening rooms this fall inspired by Japanese jazz kissas. Kennett Squareâs 750-square-foot space partners with local music venue Kennett Flash, while Fishtownâs 350-square-foot flagship â arguably the neighborhoodâs smallest bar â will feature a 15-seat bar, two-turntable DJ station, and retail.
Tusk (50 N. Main St., Doylestown): Mike and Joy Grafenstine, owners of Roberts Block in Glenside and Bonnet Lane Family Restaurant in Abington, are taking over the former Waterâs Edge wine bar, combining the martini-and-wine-bar airs of Roberts Block with approachable upscale American comfort food. Target is October.
Vintnerâs Table (24 Cricket Ave., Ardmore): Andrea and Marco Folino, behind Kutztownâs Folino Estate Winery, are opening a third location of their Italian-inspired wine bar, salumeria, and lifestyle boutique in downtown Ardmore in October.
New Jersey suburbs
Akira 70 Omakase (249 Marlton Pike, Cherry Hill): Ming âFrankâ Zheng is expanding his Japanese holdings â he owns Akira Sushi in Voorhees and Moorestown â with an omakase experience in a former fur salon.
Banjara Indian Bistro (687-689 Berlin-Cross Keys Rd., Sicklerville): Vaneet Chopra, whose family operates Cross Culture in Haddonfield and previously ran Banjara in Chestnut Hill, is bringing the Banjara name to Sicklerville; its dine-in starts Thursday.
Freckled Jawn Brewing(1003 N. Evergreen Ave., Woodbury): Woodbury residents John Wagner and Colleen Gibson are taking over the former Eight & Sand Beer Co., which closed in June after 10 years. Targeting the first week of October, the brewery will introduce new branding and a fresh lineup of approachable beers, emphasizing natural and locally sourced ingredients when possible.
Irishtown Steaks (155 S. Burlington St., Gloucester City): Donkeyâs Placealumnus Dave Murphy is targeting Halloween for his steak shop, joining recent Gloucester City entries Lilloâs and Pudgeâs Pub. Murphy will use rolls from Boaggioâs, which has a bakery in town.
Pennyâs Bagels (212 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield): Chris Fetfatzes and the Happy Monday Hospitality Group (Wine Dive, Grace & Proper) are developing this long-delayed bagel shop in downtown Haddonfield, now with an October target.
Pizzeria Cusumano (872 Haddon Ave., Collingswood): Announced back in September 2021, this passion project from South Jerseyâs Sal Cusumano is finally about to start offering his Roman-inspired squares and neo-New York rounds, but âI donât want to box myself into a certain style.â Cusumano, a third-generation pizzaiolo, is planning a small shop with limited seating. This week, he said it will open in October for sure.
Philadelphia
Adda (1700 Frankford Ave.): New Yorkâs Unapologetic Foods â behind Dhamaka, Semma, and the original Adda â is bringing its energetic Indian cooking to Fishtown, across from the 19125 post office. Expect regional dishes in an informal setting, continuing the restaurant groupâs practice of pushing beyond familiar Indian American standards. Originally expected in fall 2025, the Philadelphia location is now targeting an October opening.
Ayat (2021 Sansom St.): Abdul Elenaniâs New York-based Palestinian restaurant â first announced in spring 2024 â is looking at a November opening in the former Roxy Theater near Rittenhouse Square. Ayat is known for generous portions of mansaf, maklouba, mezze, grilled meats, and other homestyle Palestinian dishes.
The bar at Bar Caviar, 256 S. 16th St.Kenneth Schutz
Bar Caviar (256 S. 16th St.): Opening in early October in the Dwight D Hotel in Rittenhouse, this bar will pair caviar and seafood with 50 varieties of Champagne and a full wine program in a setting thatâs more neighborhood than hushed luxury lounge. Executive chef Greg Vassosâ contemporary American menu, informed by classical French technique and Japanese precision, will feature raw-bar selections, caviar-focused dishes, and seasonal small plates. The restaurant also will operate Parallel, a caviar program emphasizing careful sourcing and extended maturation. In 2027, Vassos plans to follow with Fall Line, a Mid-Atlantic-focused tasting-menu restaurant.
Brunch Bulls (1638 W. Passyunk Ave.): Brothers Derrick âDeeâ Long and Jarrick âJakkâ Long are behind this all-day brunch/dinner/dessert restaurant in Point Breeze. They say theyâll be open by December.
Call Your Mother (262 S. 19th St., 1500 Frankford Ave., 12th and Sansom Streets): The lively, Washington-based âJew-ishâ bagel chain is making a three-location push into Philadelphia, starting this week with its Fishtown debut. Menu includes bagel sandwiches, schmears, latkes, coffee, and deli-inspired specials.
Carolynâs Modern Vietnamese (2015 Walnut St.): This week, chef Carolyn Nguyen opens her deeply personal successor to Revolution Taco, which she co-owned in the space for a decade. Her menu brings together her familyâs Vietnamese cooking, the seafood boils and Southern food of her Louisiana childhood, French culinary technique, and the freewheeling flavor combinations that defined her earlier ventures. The 33-seat restaurant serves dinner, and alcohol, in a spare, contemporary dining room.
Corte (1175 Ludlow St.):Corio partners Ryan Mulholland, chef David Feola, and James Smith are taking over the former Mulherinâs Pizzeria at East Market, between Iron Hill Brewery and Mi Vida. Feola will lead a menu built around house-made pastas plus proteins, vegetables, and small plates cooked in the large Mugnaini wood-burning oven. Mulholland will oversee daily operations and oversee an Old World-leaning wine list and cocktails inspired partly by forgotten recipes from century-old books. The dark-wood, earth-toned restaurant is targeting a fall opening.
DiDi (3748 Lancaster Ave.): DanDan owners Kevin and Catherina âCatâ Huang say they are âwithin a month or twoâ of opening their fast-casual pan-Asian concept at the Triad apartment building in Powelton Village. DiDi will join Kabobeesh, Karak Cha House, Shibam Coffee, Two Locals Brewing, and other businesses in the growing complex at 38th and Lancaster.
Divers Club (733 S. Fourth St.): Queen Village is in line to get a neighborhood wine bar from Susan Freeman, Chris Fetfatzes, and Heather Annechiarico (Grace & Proper, Wine Dive) in a former hair salon that sits on the same stretch as Famous 4th Street, Southwark, Ambra, and Fitz on 4th. Fetfatzes describes the mood as âdark, scrappy, and European â somewhere between a Paris backstreet wine bar and a graffitied Berlin hangout.â
Eggcetera Haus (625 S. Sixth St.): Husband-and-wife team Rey Tamaka and Vina Kencana soon will turn the former Redcrest Kitchen into an all-day bar-restaurant. Tamaka, previously the chef at an Old City brunch restaurant, plans breakfast, lunch, and dinner, moving from specialty coffee and morning dishes into pastas, steaks, cocktails, and comfort food at night. The couple expects daily service, giving the Queen Village-Bella Vista border another full-day neighborhood option.
Field Day (923 N. Second St.): James Beard Award-winning bartender and author Danny Childs and his wife, Katie, have a fall opening targeted for their casual regional cocktail bar in Northern Liberties, next to Cescaphe Ballroom. Childsâ drinks will use locally farmed, foraged, and fermented ingredients. Executive chef Melissa McGrath, known for her work at the idled Sweet Amalia Market & Kitchen, will offer Pennsylvania Dutch-inspired snacks, sandwiches, and tomato pies. Highballs, house-made sodas, boozy gelati, and walk-in seating will help keep the mood informal.
Habibi Supper Club (1515 E. Passyunk Ave.): Miled Finianos is giving his itinerant Lebanese dinner series a permanent home on East Passyunk â possibly by the end of year â serving late breakfast and lunch before he offers ticketed, multicourse suppers.
HYO (1222 Walnut St.): Nightlife veteran Justin Jordan plans an October opening for this Korean tabletop barbecue restaurant behind Hearsay, his indoor-outdoor sidewalk bar and listening lounge. Guests will enter HYO through a phone booth inside Hearsay. The restaurant is part of Jordanâs multilevel entertainment complex, which also includes Celine and the forthcoming Chancellor Room event space and karaoke lounge.
Jean (161 W. Girard Ave.): Emmett chef Evan Snyder and partner Julian van der Tak are going upstairs with a 15-seat tasting menu restaurant opening this fall. Snyder and chef de cuisine Antonio Pizzo will prepare a 12-course menu centered on a 7-foot wood-burning hearth, drawing on Algeria, Tunisia, coastal Morocco, and the southern Mediterranean for culinary influences. A tagine will roast throughout dinner before being served family-style.
Kato (1832 Frankford Ave.): Mei Meichef-owner Jay Ho is taking over the former Izakaya Fishtown space for a restaurant inspired by his Taiwanese father and the food Ho grew up eating. Influences from Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese cooking will broaden the menu. Ho, who hopes to open in late fall, plans to retain the front bar while replacing the rear sushi counter with additional seating that can double as a private dining area.
Lovat Square(184 E. Evergreen Ave.): Former Four Seasons sommelier Damien Graef and journalist Robyn Semien opened this Chestnut Hill wine shop and tasting room in February, offering small-production bottles, wines by the glass, and light fare. The couple, who also own Brooklynâs Bibber & Bell wine shop, will debut a full dinner menu by the end of September.
Macalusoâs (3101 S. 13th St.): Realtor Joel Gruenke and restaurateur Mark DâAndrea, long-ago roommates at Valley Forge Military Academy, are looking at an early October opening of this white-tablecloth Italian restaurant at 13th Street and Packer Avenue, near the sports complex. DâAndreaâs family owns RoadHouse in Staten Island, N.Y. Gruenke says the moderately priced menu will stick to traditional Italian cooking and offer a full bar. Parking will be available across the street.
Mylar Bar (1636-38 S. Ninth St.): Hospitality veterans Liv Arterbridge and Gina Piccari are turning the former Dinoâs Party Center into a festive neighborhood bar inspired by the buildingâs history. They promise something nostalgic, playful, and deliberately unserious. Drinks will include martinis, punches, classics, and draft beer. Chef Colin White, formerly of Sally and Emmett, will oversee shareable âparty snacks,â larger plates, and desserts available late.
Nippyâs on South (1312 South St.): Nurse and first-time restaurateur Nikia Peterson has purchased the former Ms. Tootsieâs building for an ambitious restaurant and bar. Peterson plans a polished setting with seafood towers, steaks, Asian and Caribbean influences, a substantial happy hour, and weekend brunch. The project will revive a prominent South Street property that had remained closed since restaurateur KeVen Parkerâs death in 2021.
OâMorreyâs (1720 Sansom St.): Chefs Biff Gottehrer and Kenjiro Omori are developing a cocktail bar on the former site of Genji, the Japanese restaurant created by Omoriâs father. The name is a cheeky rendering of the Omori family name. Plans call for a comfortable neighborhood bar in the spirit of the Ripplewood, where both chefs work, with cocktails and a serious food component. Their second joint project, Tako Taco, is months away at the former Bing Bing Dim Sum in South Philadelphia.
Palm Vintage (1414 S. Penn Square): Houston Yang and Mike Beja, who opened this day-to-night cafe and cocktail bar across from City Hall in the Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, are close to expanding into a nighttime scene with cocktails, sushi, oysters, caviar, and light food in a lush, tropical-inspired room meant to offer an escape from Center City.
Panco (2300 S. Croskey St.): Chef Ryo Igarashi, whose background includes Tokio Global and Maru Global (noted for its takoyaki balls), is behind a corner shop in West Passyunk whose menu will focus on Japanese cutlets. He says itâs opening soon.
Philly Curio (2240 Frankford Ave.): Tattoo Arts Convention founder Troy Timpel is creating an intimate Kensington restaurant-bar around his private collection of curiosities (think tribal masks, skeletal displays, taxidermy, and glass-topped tables containing preserved animals). Inspired partly by Savannahâs Alligator Soul, Timpel has discussed a Cajun-Creole menu with small plates and unconventional proteins such as rattlesnake. Drinks are expected to include cocktails, wine, bottled beer, and limited drafts. Target is November.
Philly PoâBoy (102 W. Berks St.): Brothers Chris and Greg Lynch are bringing a taste of New Orleans to the storefront beneath the Berks station of the Market-Frankford Line. Chris spent years cooking in New Orleans, while Gregâs Philadelphia background includes Starr Restaurants and LMNO. Plans call for classic powdered-sugar-dusted beignets, gumbo, and a mix of classic and specialty poâboys like fried shrimp, oysters and roast beef âdebris,â plus fries, Creole potato salad, and cafĂŠ au lait from coffee roasted by Applied Arts in New Orleans.
SantĂŠ Social(1546 E. Passyunk Ave.): Sommelier Daniel Solway is giving his roving dinner series a permanent home across from the Singing Fountain. The approximately 30-seat space will function less like a conventional restaurant than a flexible hospitality venue, hosting wine dinners, tastings, classes, collaborations, private events, and some walk-in service. Cocktails are being developed with Danny Childs of Slow Drinks and Field Day, while changing chefs and collaborators may shape the food programming.
Somedays Bakery (1601 Walnut St.): Hand-laminated croissants are the foundation of this Queens-rooted bakery, which deals in sandwiches, salads, soft serve, and coffee. Itâs targeting the end of the month.
Thalassa (918 N. 28th St.): Matt Maltepes is looking at late October or early November for his Greek-inspired cafe in Fairmount that will serve baklava, croissants, and house-made ice cream in flavors that change weekly. Savory offerings will include small plates such as feta grilled cheese with honey, avocado toast, and bagels with cream cheese. The drinks menu will feature European-style coffee preparations, including frappes and Freddo espresso.
Looking ahead
Two major projects are now on the docket for January, as the owners donât want to compete with the holiday-season madness:the Pelican Club, Stephen Starrâs flashy Greek-themed restaurant taking shape in the former Devon Seafood Grill on Rittenhouse Square, and the yet-to-be-named âpunk Frenchâ restaurantthat chefs Justin Bogle and Arthur Cavaliere are creating at the former Winnieâs Manayunk.
The long-closed Mermaid Bar in Mount Airy will retain its name under the new ownership of pizzaiolo Dan Gutter and business partner Alex Carbonell of Circles & Squares and Pizza Plus. The project, announced earlier this year, is aiming at a summer 2027 rollout.
Find the football that Tanner McKee is throwing in this preseason game against the Patriots.
Click Tap on the photo to guess the location of the hidden ball
Click Tap again to change your guess or hit submit when you're happy
You will be scored at the end. The closer to the location, the better your score.
Garland Fordice / Staff Illustration / Photography by The Inquirer
Pretty good/Not bad/Way off! Your guess was the ball.Spot on! Your guess was exactly where the ball was. Here's also where a random selection of Inquirer readers guessed.
story continues after advertisement
Question 2
Find the removed football thrown by Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.
Garland Fordice / Staff Illustration / Photography by The Inquirer
Pretty good/Not bad/Way off! Your guess was the ball.Spot on! Your guess was exactly where the ball was. Here's also where a random selection of Inquirer readers guessed.
Question 3
Find the football that Michael Carter is trying to intercept against the Bengals.
Sam Morris / Staff Illustration / Photography by AP
Pretty good/Not bad/Way off! Your guess was the ball.Spot on! Your guess was exactly where the ball was. Here's also where a random selection of Inquirer readers guessed.
story continues after advertisement
Question 4
Find the removed football in this image of kicker Jake Elliot.
Garland Fordice / Staff Illustration / Photography by AP
Pretty good/Not bad/Way off! Your guess was the ball.Spot on! Your guess was exactly where the ball was. Here's also where a random selection of Inquirer readers guessed.
Question 5
Find the ball in this scramble against the Ravens.
Sam Morris / Staff Illustration / Photography by AP
Pretty good/Not bad/Way off! Your guess was the ball.Spot on! Your guess was exactly where the ball was. Here's also where a random selection of Inquirer readers guessed.
Question 6
Find the removed football in this image of Jalen Hurts.
Garland Fordice / Staff Illustration / Photography by The Inquirer
Pretty good/Not bad/Way off! Your guess was the ball.Spot on! Your guess was exactly where the ball was. Here's also where a random selection of Inquirer readers guessed.
Your Score
a
đŚ All right now, eagle eyes.
b
đWell done! Consider the ball spotted.
c
đYikes, you might want to get those eyes checked.
Just under a month into training camp, Lane Johnson outlined the best-case scenario for the Eagles offense in 2026.
It was a lofty aspiration â but not unrealistic, given the success of the offense just two years ago. It centered on its star running back, Saquon Barkley, who accumulated over 2,000 rushing yards in the 2024 regular season and broke Terrell Davisâ single-season rushing record (combined regular season and postseason) by Super Bowl LIX.
âI think all in all, the more productive we are in the run game and stuff feeds all of that, that weâll see the Saquon of two years ago,â Johnson said on Aug. 19.
That ideal wonât fall on Barkley alone. To recapture his productivity of two years ago, the Eagles are going back about 30, tapping an offshoot of an offensive scheme that rose to popularity around the time the running back was born.
Sean Mannion, the Eaglesâ first-time, 34-year-old offensive coordinator, spent most of his playing and coaching careers learning from pupils of the Shanahan/McVay tree. These days in the NFL, âShanahanâ refers to Kyle, the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, but he is preceded by his father Mike, the two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach with the Denver Broncos who helped Davis reach that record in 1998.
Kyle Shanahan (left) and father Mike (pictured in 2010 while with Washington) pointed the way to the current run-game concepts in vogue around the NFL. Alex Brandon
When Mike became Broncos head coach in 1995, he named Alex Gibbs offensive line coach. Gibbs, who died in 2021, was a proponent of the wide-zone blocking scheme in the run game that would go on to serve as the foundation for the modern West Coast offense.
His influence lives on in offshoots of the scheme around the league. Mannion called his first exposure to the system in 2017 under Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay âa very exciting point in my football life.â Now, Mannion has the opportunity to make it his own, all while helping breathe new life into an Eagles rushing attack that stagnated in 2025.
âIâve seen it from afar, but now, actually studying it and working it and trying to put myself in the system, I feel like itâs going to open up some things that I may not have been able to show as much in my career,â Barkley said.
The man seeking to help Barkley elevate his game is a quarterback by trade. But Mannionâs expertise isnât limited to the passing game. According to offensive line coach Chris Kuper, who played for Shanahan in Denver, the Eagles offensive coordinator âloves the run game,â too.
âThe run game is a big part of what weâre going to do,â Kuper said, âAnd [Mannionâs] got passion for it. And that makes me feel good as an O-line coach, because I think weâre going to be really good at running the ball.â
Todd Gurley thrived with wide-zone concepts while with the Rams. Tony Avelar
In the (wide) zone
When Barkley learned that the Eagles offensive scheme in 2026 would have Shanahan/McVay roots, he fired up Todd Gurleyâs film.
Gurley spent five of his six seasons in the NFL with the Rams, including two standout seasons in 2017 and 2018. He led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in both seasons, earning a pair of All-Pro honors and an NFL Offensive Player of the Year nod in 2017.
Dean Davidson, the author of the Wide Zone Warriors Substack, watched those years in real time. A native of St. Louis whose memories of the Rams commence with the collapse of the âGreatest Show on Turfâ era, Davidson was enthralled with the quick work McVay did to turn the team around. At the time, Davidson had just joined the staff of a struggling high school football team and was looking for inspiration.
âI was trying to figure out how [McVay] took that team from the dumps that they were in my entire life that I could remember to that point to Super Bowl favorites in what seemed like overnight,â said Davidson, who is now the offensive line coach at Obion County Central High School in Troy, Tenn.
At the core of the scheme that fascinated Davidson was the wide-zone run. Its intent is in its name. The blocking unit aims to stretch the defense on the front side of the run, while simultaneously cutting off defenders on the back side.
As Gibbs explained at his 2015 offensive line clinic in Cincinnati, the running backâs aiming point is the backside of the tight end â and if there is no tight end to the weak side of the formation, it would be to the imaginary backside of the tight end. After three steps, the running back would know whether he should hit the edge on the front side or make a single cut up the middle of the field. By the fifth step, he would make his cut.
One of the challenges of defending the wide zone run is the distance that defenders have to cover in order to maintain their gap integrity, Davidson explained.
âEverybodyâs moving so far in one direction that the gap that youâre responsible for as a defensive lineman or a linebacker, maybe even a safety, it might still be between the same two offensive linemen, but those two offensive linemen on a given snap could be like 10 yards laterally somewhere else,â Davidson said. âSo forcing them to maintain their gap integrity while moving so far laterally, itâs a very difficult challenge.â
Itâs a challenge the Eagles offensive line enjoyed creating throughout training camp. Cam Jurgens said the scheme âlets you be a little bit more of an athleteâ given how quickly the front side blocking unit must fire off the ball laterally toward the sideline.
The goal, according to Kuper, is for the defense to defend every blade of grass on the field. That task, ideally, would tire out the defense as the game wears on, Lane Johnson said. After Johnson, Jurgens, and Landon Dickerson had a full offseason to recover from the ailments that plagued them last year, they are up to the assignment.
âWeâre getting to really run, stretch the field, cover some yardage,â Johnson said. âSo in that way, it tires out defenses. Makes them cover each gap.â
Lane Johnson (65) and his fellow offensive line cohorts are getting behind the wide-zone scheme Sean Mannion has introduced in Philly.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
The wide zone could be at the foundation of the Eaglesâ rushing attack, but in all likelihood, it wonât be the only style of run in their playbook. When Gibbs was designing the Broncosâ run game 30 years ago, he only believed in coaching zone runs â primarily wide zone and some tight zone, in which the running backâs landmark is typically behind the center.
David Gibbs, his son and the secondary coach at Arizona State, explained that his father didnât believe teams could excel at executing both zone schemes (blocking a certain area of the field) and gap schemes (blocking a specific defender or gap). But the game has evolved, the younger Gibbs said.
âYou have to be able to do both, because the defensive linemen are so good,â he said. âTheyâre so big, athletic, strong, and the reality of it is defensive linemen are just more athletic than offensive linemen, in my opinion. And so you canât give them the same schemes all the time.â
Brett Kollmann, an NFL Media analyst, called the Ramsâ 15-6 loss to Vic Fangioâs Chicago Bears in 2018 âone of the defining games of the last decadeâ that prompted an evolution of McVayâs scheme. At the time, the Ramsâ rushing attack was wide-zone heavy. Fangioâs solution was to stack bodies on the line of scrimmage in a 6-1 âtilt front,â putting a body in every gap and forcing the running back to cut back into a defender.
Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots would follow the same blueprint to stop the Rams in the Super Bowl that season. To counteract the defenseâs penetration at the line of scrimmage, McVay would eventually introduce more âcounterâ runs, a gap scheme that calls for two pulling blockers to create a pair of gaps on the play side.
The incorporation of different types of runs gives defenses more to process, according to right guard Tyler Steen, which in turn forces them to slow down.
âOne minute youâre going wide zone and D-tackles and D-ends are running,â Steen said. âThe next minute, youâre going âduoâ and youâre going downhill. So I think that gives defenders a lot to think about. And so it kind of makes it easier on the O-linemen, because [the defense doesnât] know what to play.â
Saquon Barkley often found running room hard to come by for an Eagles offense that grew predictable in 2025. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Keeping defenses âon their toesâ
After the Eaglesâ 34-17 loss to the New York Giants in Week 6, Johnson tried to surmise the state of the Eagles offense.
As he spoke at his stall, he used some form of the word âpredictableâ three times.
âI donât know if weâre predictable, but it seems a lot harder than what it needs to be,â Johnson said. âMaybe moving forward have a little bit more variety, hitting the perimeter some and doing a little bit more of that.â
Johnson emphasized that he wasnât trying to point fingers, and at the end of the day, the Eagles needed to execute better. Still, his analysis was a harbinger of things to come for the shotgun-heavy offense that seldom disguised its intentions.
The Eagles are set to take a different direction under Mannion. Like other offshoots of the Shanahan/McVay tree, Mannion emphasizes the importance of the marriage between the run and the pass â more specifically, the play-action pass.
When runs look like passes, and vice versa, offenses are less predictable, Johnson said.
âI think setting up with the play action is just going to be a whole lot tougher to distinguish what weâre doing,â Johnson said during mandatory minicamp. âWhole lot harder to catch on [to] tells with stuff that weâre doing. So I think this stuff, we can disguise it more.â
The key to pulling that off is keeping the presentation the same. If the Eagles are running wide zone, for example, and building the play-action pass off of it, the blocking unit is executing the same assignment. Johnson stressed the importance of keeping a âlow hatâ to sell the run, and if the linebackers bite down, the quarterback can target the vacant middle of the field.
Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion (right) is introducing variety to an offense seeking to keep defenses off-guard. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Marry that with motions, and the defense is confronted with another layer of complexity to decipher. Even the quarterbackâs alignment under center can further disguise the intent of the offense on any given play, Jurgens explained.
âI feel like thatâs just another way to keep defenses on their toes,â Jurgens said during mandatory minicamp. âYou get a little less predictable. And so I feel like it kind of gives us a little better angles as well. Defenses canât cheat things, âcause they donât know where weâre going to go. You can set up a lot of your plays a lot better.â
Kollmann is aware of Jalen Hurtsâ historical lack of targeting the middle of the field. Dating back to his rookie season before he became the full-time starter, Hurts has targeted the short middle of the field (a maximum of nine yards from the line of scrimmage) on 8.3% of his pass attempts, according to an Inquirer analysis. The league average is 14.5%. From 10 to 19 yards beyond the line of scrimmage over the middle, Hurtsâ attempt rate drops to 4.6% (closer to the 7.4% league average).
But Kollmann said that conflating âhasnâtâ with âcanâtâ isnât necessarily fair. He said he believes that the Eagles lack of a wide-zone, play-action game in the past is to blame for not helping free up that area.
âWhen they are so shotgun heavy, and therefore when their play action game is really just kind of faking inside zone, thatâs the kind of run fake that doesnât really draw linebackers in, because they can see the ball the entire time,â Kollmann said.
The fake from under center requires a quarterback to turn his back to the defense, shielding the ball from the view of the linebackers. They canât see it, so they step up, theoretically giving the offense more room to operate over the middle.
Itâs easier said than done for any quarterback, as they must temporarily take their eyes off of the pass rushers seeking to take them down. But according to Josh Grizzard, the Eagles passing game coordinator, Hurts has been a ânaturalâ with turning his back to the defense and selling the fake.
âWhen you have the runs and they look like the keepers and they look like the play passes, then the goal would be for those guys to see the same thing,â Grizzard said. âAnd then if you can get that second level of the defense to step up, then you have an ability to now push the ball down the field and be able to marry the run and the pass as well as create explosive passes.â
How many runs are designed for Jalen Hurts in the new offense remains an open question. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The backside threat
Speaking of keepers, will the quarterback designed run game return to the Eagles offense in 2026?
By December of last year, Hurts was averaging 1.1 designed runs per game in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus. He averaged 3.6 designed runs per game in his first four seasons as the starter.
The modern West Coast offense hasnât necessarily needed a mobile quarterback to thrive, as evidenced by the success of Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford with the Rams. But the 2026 Eagles offense isnât going to be a carbon copy of other schemes around the league from the same tree, and Mannion is well-aware of Hurtsâ rushing ability.
âJalen has a unique skill set in that way,â Mannion said. âSo thatâll certainly be a part of what we do, but weâre looking again at all areas as an offense to really attack defenses on a weekly basis. He is uniquely skilled in that way. That will be a part of it, but it wonât be the only part of it.â
Zone reads arenât totally foreign to this coaching tree. In 2012, while Mike Shanahan was Washingtonâs head coach and Kyle was his offensive coordinator, the team drafted Robert Griffin III with the second overall pick.
The rookie quarterback would go on to rush for 815 yards and seven touchdowns, all while throwing for 3,200 yards. His production on the ground wouldnât persist far beyond 2012, though. Washington took a more conservative approach with Griffin III as a rusher, especially as he dealt with injuries that began during a rookie season that was ended by a serious knee injury.
Robert Griffin III (10) was a rushing threat in the Washington offense before injuries curtailed his effectiveness.
Still, Davidson said a backside threat is important in the run game, whether itâs a quarterback run or a bootleg. In the case of the bootleg, which the Eagles incorporated throughout training camp and the preseason, the quarterback exploits the unblocked defensive end who flows with the running back, rolling out unabated in the opposite direction and completing a pass on the move.
âIf youâre just under center or even the pistol, and you donât have anything that keeps the defense on the backside, then itâs a lot easier for them to chase [the ball] down [in wide zone],â Davidson said. âBut if they know that they have to defend boot on the other side of the field or defend a quarterback run on the other side of the field, it can really slow the defense down.â
Time will reveal the contents of Mannionâs playbook. While it may contain odes to his influences, it could also include all of the plays he wouldâve liked to run throughout his nine-year career as an NFL backup quarterback and two seasons as an assistant with the Green Bay Packers.
Whatever the offense becomes will be unique to the Eagles, Kuper said.
âThose webs of guys kind of break out, and they kind of make it their own, and thatâs what our goal is,â Kuper said. âThis is going to evolve into Sean Mannionâs offense. This is going to be a derivative, maybe.
âThereâs going to be flavors of what youâve seen throughout the league, and some of his mentors, but this will be our offense.â
