Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardThe unlikely story of Philadelphia’s Golden Age golf architects as the PGA Tour visits Philadelphia Cricket ClubFor the first half of the 20th century the city was a mecca of golf course design A group of Hall of Fame architects brought us the Wissahickon Course “Let me quote a very prominent Philadelphia golfer Let us build permanent courses that are up to the standard of the best.’” From Brookline to Balustrol to Los Angeles Country Club Like a lot of stories about personal shame, this one begins on a Saturday morning in Atlantic City A couple of distinguished gentlemen and competitive golfers — A.W Crump — had taken the train from Philadelphia to Pleasantville for their weekly round a member of their group’s derby hat blew off in the ocean wind as Tillinghast recounted in his monthly column in the American Golfer magazine » READ MORE: The raucous life and times of A.W. Tillinghast, the father of Philadelphia Cricket Club’s masterpiece Tillinghast began using his column for more serious matters He and Crump were part of a contingent of Philly golfers who annually competed against teams from New York and Boston in the Lesley Cup The Philly group had lost four straight as of 1909 “Philadelphia must forget the convenience of links within her walls; she must be content to range a bit for her play,” Tillinghast wrote “Does New York grumble because of the time it takes to go to Garden City Chicago makes light of the runs to Glen View and Wheaton So my dear old Quaker town I believe that you too must make up your mind to leave the city behind when you play even though you have to take to the sands of Jersey.” Thus were laid the intellectual seeds for a movement that would help to define an era and give Philadelphia one of its most impressive — and least heralded — sporting achievements and three other local golfers shared their vision for Philadelphia and scaled it nationally Their portfolio includes some of the most recognizable courses in golf — Riviera Los Angeles Country Club — as well as the familiar local heavyweights that helped lessen the need for those Saturday morning trips to Atlantic City A remarkable nine of Golf Course Architect magazine’s most recent World Top 100 are credited in full or in part to Tillinghast and four of his contemporaries — three of them Philly-area natives “All of these guys were really good players,” said modern-day architect Keith Foster, who oversaw the 2013 restoration of Cricket‘s Wissahickon Course to Tillinghast‘s original design the PGA Tour’s decision to relocate this year’s Truist Invitational to Philadelphia Cricket‘s Wissahickon Course is a nod to a city that sits at the foundation of modern championship golf The tour long ago stopped regularly swinging through places like Flourtown not the least of which was the lack of protest from members of old-money clubs like Philadelphia Cricket You’ll understand if you head north on the Blue Route and pull into the gravel auxiliary parking lot There is a tiny sign for deliveries — and giant portable aluminum grandstands rising in the background The dramatic tension of this week’s Truist is more ethereal than your typical PGA Tour stop It will be billed as a showcase of new-school players against an old-school course But it will be just as much a competition between the modern era of made-for-TV golf and the sport as it was intended It will be interesting to see whether the cameras can capture it “It‘s probably something people in the area don’t appreciate — they think of Augusta places they see on television,” said Tom Coyne editor of The Golfer’s Journal and an architect who grew up caddying at William Flynn-designed Rolling Green in Springfield “The thing about golf in Philadelphia is our great courses are golden-age 1920s golf courses that aren’t really suited to professional events It is easy to forget that the story of golf is a story of time and place of man’s incessant desire to accomplish something rather than simply being present within his environment Mark Twain’s famous quip about golf being a good walk spoiled has gotten funnier over time precisely because the walking is now more of a consequence than an objective Only then did you figure you might as well spice it up by trying to hit a ball at a target In order to understand the Philadelphia School and the context of the courses these architects created » READ MORE: Xander Schauffele and most players will be flying blind at Philadelphia Cricket Club an elegance to the land that isn’t overly aggressive,” Foster said “You’ll go to places where the topography is really dramatic the land really rests within one’s hand comfortably you are one side of the property and you see all the way across to the other.” This was not a revolutionary concept in early 20th century America There also weren’t mechanized earth movers or large-scale nurseries or self-driving lawn mowers Not long after Tillinghast used his column to bemoan the state of Philly golf courses a group of amateur golfers in New Jersey purchased 187 acres of pine land and hired Crump to design a world-class golf course Crump enlisted the help of a number of Philly golfers That group — along with the Boston transplant Flynn — would spend the next 30 years designing courses locally and nationally that today are some of the most recognizable in the country would eventually boast a portfolio that includes Los Angeles Country Club who would go on to design Rolling Green and Huntingdon Valley locally before opening his masterpiece But it is Tillinghast‘s narrative arc that will take center stage this week as Philadelphia Cricket Club hosts its first modern-day PGA Tour event on a course that might best be interpreted as a theoretical blueprint for what historians would come to regard as the Golden Age of American golf Tillinghast had established himself as the highest-profile and most prolific member of group of golfers-turned-designers now known as “The Philadelphia School.” His first course opened at Shawnee-on-Delaware in the Poconos in 1911 which is routinely ranked on Top 100 lists he would design courses at Winged Foot and Balustrol that continue to be heralded as marvels But it was a commission he received in 1920 that was his most personal hired him to design a new championship 18-hole course in Flourtown Thomas was a member of the Greens Committee Flynn later assisted with turf conditions and bunker placement according to the club’s Heritage Committee “Cricket and the club were really important to him,” Foster said routing a golf course through the land seamlessly It is the tie that binds the designers of that era A classic golf course is a course that adapts its challenge to its canvas the satisfaction lies in: Can I look at the work I’ve done and can I not even tell I did anything?” Foster said “Can it fit the land so seamlessly that it seems like it was meant to be there?” the PGA Tour will be encountering a course that is the encapsulation of an era .css-s4id4f{font-family:Suisse Intl,"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:1.9rem;line-height:2.2rem;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:-0.01em;}Official Money Drone flyover of The Philadelphia Cricket Club ahead of Truist Championship When the PGA TOUR sets up shop in Philadelphia for this week’s Truist Championship, the Signature Event will occupy sacred golf ground. Yet it’s also new ground, as The Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course will host the PGA TOUR for the first time. It also marks the TOUR’s first trip to Philadelphia since the 2018 BMW Championship at Aronimink Golf Club, won by Keegan Bradley. Here’s all you need to know about the 1922 A.W. Tillinghast design that takes center stage for this week’s Truist Championship. In 1922, the club opened its Wissahickon Course, designed by A.W. Tillinghast, on a (then) remote 321-acre parcel four miles further northwest of town in the adjoining suburb of Flourtown. This will be the site of the Truist Championship. A look at The Philadelphia Cricket Club, host of the 2025 Truist Championship. (Credit: The Philadelphia Cricket Club) There was enough unused land on that Flourtown site for a third course, Militia Hill, designed by Michael J. Hurdzan and Dana Fry and opened in 2002. The Wissahickon Course has hosted the 2015 PGA Professional National Championship (won by Matt Dobyns), PGA TOUR Champions’ 2016 Kaulig Companies Championship (won by Bernhard Langer) and the 2024 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship (won by Brian Blanchard and Sam Engel). A keen writer and golf editorialist with strong opinions, Tillinghast made his mark on design through distinctive greens, dramatic greenside bunkering, and a penchant for such trademark holes as the drop-shot par 3 (Wissahickon’s 14th) and the mid-fairway “Great Hazard” at a par 5 (Wissahickon’s 15th). Tillinghast was a golf partner and occasional advisor to such native Philadelphia design innovators as Hugh Wilson, George A. Crump, William Flynn and George C. Thomas. Their cultivation of a heathland look and adaptation of links features to sandy sites (including Pine Valley Golf Club) formed one of the more influential design trends that comprised the “Golden Age” in the period between the two world wars. For all his success as a golf architect, Tillinghast fell victim to the Great Depression and a series of failed investments that nearly bankrupted him, and he moved in with a daughter in his final years. Today, his artistic genius is enshrined through his status as a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Veteran course designer Keith Foster has increasingly focused his practice on restoration. Among his other Tillinghast reclamations are Sand Point Golf Club on Long Island, Baltimore Country Club - Five Farms, and Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas. A greenside view of the fifth hole at The Philadelphia Cricket Club. (Credit: The Philadelphia Cricket Club) Foster’s restoration enhanced many distinct aspects of Tillinghast’s course. They include side-by-side par 3s running in opposite directions (third and 14th holes); a greenside bunker on the par-4 13th with a corner of the locker room building touching upon the hazard; an elevated railway line coming into play on the slice side of two long par 4s (fourth and 17th); and vast tracts of wavy, tawny fescue grass on the outside of holes to provide a native textural framing. That routing, starting on the members’ eighth hole and ending on the fourth, created the routing that will be used for the Truist Championship: Nos. 8-18, 1-3, 7-5-6-4. It sounds confusing but works well on the ground, with short green-to-tee walks and a crescendo of a golf course that starts with back-to-back par 4s and builds to a “hold on for dear life” finish The dramatic finish at the Wissahickon Course is actually set up by a vexing little par 3, the 14th hole, only 122 yards to the most tightly bunkered green on the course. From there, it’s as if the grounds suddenly open up and all hell breaks loose. No. 16, 215 yards, par 3: Slightly downhill, to a green protected up front by a tiny stream. The putting surface here, according to The Philadelphia Cricket Club Director of Golf Jim Smith Jr., “Doesn't offer a flat putt anywhere, least of all inside 5 feet.” No. 17, 498 yards, par 4: A slightly elevated railway line down the entire right side of the hole looms as an ominous obstacle and subliminally leads players to favor the left side on the drive and approach shot. No. 18, 517 yards, par 4: The narrowest landing area off the tee on the course thanks to three flanking fairway bunkers and a green whose entrance is pinched on both sides by sand. When Langer won the 2016 Kaulig Companies Championship in windy conditions, he had to pitch out from a fairway bunker and ultimately made a difficult 10-footer for par for a one-stroke victory over Joe Durant and Miguel Angel Jiménez. A greenside view of the 18th hole at The Philadelphia Cricket Club. (Credit: The Philadelphia Cricket Club) Back in 2016, the average driving distance on PGA TOUR Champions was 275 yards. On the 2025 PGA TOUR through April 25, the average drive is 300 yards. While the Wissahickon Course is only 101 yards longer now from 2016, the Truist Championship competitors will have gained on average, 350 yards (25 yards x 14 drives). How will the course hold up – even those last four holes? “The greens,” Smith said. “It’s all in the greens. There isn’t a straight putt to be found, especially if the greens are running at Stimpmeter speeds of 12-plus.” The Philadelphia Cricket Club – Wissahickon Course Copyright © 2025 PGA TOUR, Inc. All rights reserved. and the Swinging Golfer design are registered trademarks The Korn Ferry trademark is also a registered trademark and is used in the Korn Ferry Tour logo with permission hosted by acclaimed journalist Krys Boyd and produced by KERA — North Texas’ PBS and NPR member station listeners across the country tune in to the program to hear thought-provoking in-depth conversations with newsmakers from across the globe Somewhere behind the bruises and collisions Chester and Montgomery counties find acceptance in the full-contact sport Born during the Great Depression, roller derby is nearly a century old Event promoter Leo Seltzer read in a magazine article that more than 90% of Americans had roller skated at some point in their lives in which teams of male and female skaters circled a flat track ticking off laps until the first team to skate the approximately 2,700 miles from the East to the West Coast claimed victory Seltzer and sportswriter Damon Runyon had refashioned roller derby into something faster implementing the rules and regulations that remain the backbone of roller derby today “The basic appeal,” Seltzer told The New York Times in 1971 body contact … The underground press calls us ‘the people’s game.’ We’ve gotten a kind of ‘in’ following as an outlaw thing.” The sport rode a wave of popularity in the 1940s, with some bouts even broadcast nationally on ABC. In 1959 Seltzer’s son, Jerry Seltzer, took over running the league as the sport experienced a dip in attention. The younger Seltzer brought more fans to the sport by seeking to heighten the drama and theatrics: The show was just as important as who won or lost the bout, which, in some cases, may have been rigged. more than 27,000 fans filled Shea Stadium in New York City to watch the world championships But the sport’s popularity started to decline by the mid-70s after Jerry Seltzer sold the league rights to a different league The sport’s latest comeback wave sprung up in Austin, Texas, in the early aughts. The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association was founded as the United Leagues Coalition in 2004 WFTDA now serves as the international governing body for women’s flat track roller derby and counts more than 400 member leagues on six continents The main objective of roller derby is to score points, explained Jennifer Ratkowski, derby name “Emma Degenerate,” known as “Rat,” of Brandywine Roller Derby in Exton five players from each team are on the track who are tasked with blocking the opponent’s jammer and also trying to make way for their own jammer to get through A jammer scores a point each time they get their hips past the hips of one of the opposing blockers you have the possibility of scoring four points,” Ratkowski said with both teams’ jammers trying to get out in front once it starts to be named as lead jammer Blockers have to both help their jammer and prevent the opponent’s jammer from breaking through their wall of bodies “We’re playing offense and defense at the very same time which is different from a lot of sports,” Ratkowski said roller derby is like “a game of Red Rover while on wheels,” or even “a mosh pit,” said Connie Przeslawski whose derby name is “Iron Butterfly,” or “Butters,” for short It’s kind of like watching football for the first time,” she said other layers of the game soon become clear “As you spend more and more time immersed in the sport a very advanced sport that requires a lot of thought and a lot of strategy,” she said Certain rules and regulations have changed since roller derby first started: Punching and kicking are banned and contact with the helmet or below the knee is not permitted with players and other members and fans pouring in hours of their time to organize bouts The latest roller derby resurgence has also brought with it a new twist: Players now create a “derby name” using puns and cultural references, a tradition that has its roots in Austin’s punk and drag scenes.  But the sport’s tough-minded ethos remains “The love that you get playing other teams Ratkowski recalled watching the movie “Whip It” with her husband in their home in Mont Clare The film showcases a fictional roller derby team ‘I could totally do that,’” Ratkowski said The mother of two and health care claim analytics worker immediately started Googling leagues near her something that I could kind of carve out into the world,” she said and I felt like that was kind of my only identity And when I found this and started doing this it really was like a love-at-first-go kind of thing and I was skating around with these people who are super encouraging because they know what it’s like to do well and that’s what drew me to it initially — and what keeps me coming back.” Ratkowski joined Brandywine Roller Derby in 2011 The league currently boasts 12 dues-paying members and even more people in its new skater program Their temporary practice space is tucked away behind Collegium Charter School in Exton tent-like structure nearly two dozen people skate across 425 black panels The track is outlined in red and yellow tape who goes by the derby name Starchild and is president of the club went to an open skate in Pottstown two years ago and decided to check out Brandywine Roller Derby “Showed up and just immediately fell in love with every aspect of it,” they said I feel more comfortable on skates than I do on my feet.” They want to foster a welcoming environment for everybody at Brandywine or in any roller derby league for players to clap when new members fall down as they wobble around their first trips around the track “So it doesn’t matter that you’re not doing perfect,” they said and you’re clearly putting the effort in And there’s just so much of that energy of like we don’t care if you’re the best we don’t even care if you’re good and it’s just such a great environment to grow and exist in.” Ratkowski said the sport is also a welcoming space for a wide range of body types and athleticism “What I consider to be special about the sport is that you can be any type of person,” she said You can be a little person and play derby … If you have skills and you work hard And I think that’s what’s really great about it is that you’re sitting at home and you’re thinking to yourself I can totally do that.’ You can totally do that The pandemic put the growth of Brandywine Roller Derby on hold for three years stunting membership and leaving the club stranded Brandywine Roller Derby is on an upwards trajectory as they look for a permanent home And so I think if you’re here to have a good time and that’s what you want to do I think that you’ll find a community you guys can grow together,” Ratkowski said Brandywine wasn’t the only roller derby league hit hard by the pandemic which has between 40 and 45 active skaters ranked in the top 100 of WFTDA teams in the northeast region this is a sport that absolutely could have been completely decimated and not have come back but it’s a real testament to the leagues that found ways to stay together and stay connected and as soon as it was safe to come back and do contact again they did it and we’re seeing a another growth post-COVID within the sport overall,” she said Experts offer up the best routes — and some hidden gems — for a run alone or with a group From the beginning, roller derby included co-ed teams, and creator Leo Seltzer billed it as a sport with gender parity. While men and women only played against each other in jams, they competed by the same rules and for the same amount of time. Women’s salaries still lagged behind their male counterparts, but women roller derby players were among the highest paid female athletes in the sport’s heyday “This is the only American sport ever created where men and women are equal,” Seltzer told The New York Times in 1971 “The women can see themselves in the roller derby If she’s got resentments against her father she can get rid of them at the roller derby.” the focus on gender equality and inclusion remains Brandywine Roller Derby first began as the Brandywine Roller Girls in 2010 but the club changed its name to Brandywine Roller Derby to be more inclusive to all members the league opened up its doors to all genders A commitment to be “accepting of queer communities” is a core part of the league’s identity said Brandywine Roller Derby player Rachael Gable “We are going to provide that safe space for people to improve their athleticism there’s other things that you can do in derby.” Bux-Mont is not open to all genders, but it is a part of WTFDA, whose gender statement says “​​any individual of a Marginalized Gender regardless of presentation or the gender they were assigned at birth is welcomed and encouraged to participate in the WFTDA in any capacity.” Marginalized genders, according to WTFDA’s website, include women, inclusive of trans, cis, intersex and gender-expansive women; anyone with “gender identities belong to the trans umbrella”; genderqueer, agender, genderfluid and/or nonbinary people; individuals with culturally-specific genders such as Two-Spirit, and intersex individuals. The league also has a statement on diversity derby name “Speed Bump,” vice president of Bux-Mont Roller Derby said WFTDA is always changing their gender statement in order to be inclusive and up to date Merkel said that commitment is all the more important amid threats to diversity equity and inclusion and anti-LGBTQ actions at the federal level under President Donald Trump’s administration “Everybody wants to have a safe space,” she said “They still want to have a place where they feel like they belong and they can come to and not have to fear or worry And that’s the most beautiful thing about roller derby We just want to play the sport and enjoy it and support everybody that comes to be a part of it.” the sport provides them with a community and a sense of self that spills into their lives off the track derby name “Razzle Dazzle Bazzle,” of Bux-Mont said she came to the league eight years ago because she was “looking for a sport that gave me that sense of community.” “I didn’t know anything about the sport and this team taught me everything I knew,” she said they built up my own confidence to leave this track and go into my personal life way more prepared to handle anything else that came at me her derby team members are a “dysfunctional built-in family.” “They’re there to support you anytime on and off the track current have been there for me in some of the toughest moments of my life and some of the happiest moments of my life,” she said “And I wouldn’t trade that for the world.” The free WHYY News Daily newsletter delivers the most important local stories to your inbox WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today. says it will cost $20 to $30 million to close the two hospitals Gumbel was the studio host for CBS since returning to the network from NBC in 1998 The center plans to offer programming for immigrant communities in Chester and Montgomery counties as well as other parts of the commonwealth Kenny Cooper is WHYY’s suburban reporter covering Chester and Delaware counties Emily Neil is a WHYY News reporter covering Bucks and Montgomery counties Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyone’s stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY NEW YORK – The National Hockey League announced today that the broadcast of the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery on Monday allowing viewers to follow along and learn the results at the same time as the Draft Lottery participants The Draft Lottery will be conducted at NHL Network’s Secaucus The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery will determine the order of selection for the first 16 picks in the first round of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft Participants are all teams that did not qualify for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs (or the teams that have acquired the first-round drafting positions of those non-playoff teams) * The NHL has produced this animated explanatory video as a viewers' guide to the live draw process * The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery will be conducted in two phases the first to determine the first overall pick in the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft and the second to determine the second overall pick will be placed into a lottery machine with four drawn The resulting four-digit series is matched against a look-up table that lists the 1,000 possible combinations to determine which team was assigned the winning combination * The look-up table of the 1,000 four-digit combinations assigned to each team participating in the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery is available on NHL.com. The table also lists combinations by team The viewing audience will learn who is still in the running in real time * There is a limit on the total number of selections (10) a team participating in the Draft Lottery can “move up” in the event it wins one of the Lottery Draws only the top 11 seeds will be eligible to receive the first overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft * The 14 teams not selected in the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery will be assigned the remaining 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft selections (among 1 through 16 in the first round) * The complete rules governing the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery can be found here * To see a recording of the drawings from the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery, conducted under the same format, click here * A full account of the history of the NHL Draft Lottery since its inception in 1995 is available in the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery Interactive Information Guide The allocation of odds for the 1st Lottery Draw of the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery is as follows: * Under the terms of a Jan. 31, 2025 trade between NY Rangers and Vancouver NY Rangers will transfer their 1st-round pick in either the 2025 or 2026 NHL Draft to Vancouver \\ Under the terms of a Aug. 18, 2022 trade between Calgary and Montreal if Calgary's 1st-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft becomes a top 10 pick as a result of the Draft Lottery Calgary will instead transfer Florida's 1st-round pick (previously acquired by Calgary) to Montreal If Calgary's 1st-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft is not a top 10 pick following the Draft Lottery Calgary will transfer that pick to Montreal NHL Central Scouting has released its final rankings for the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft where Erie Otters (OHL) defenseman Matthew Schaefer tops the list of North America-based skaters and Djurgarden (Sweden 2nd Division) forward Anton Frondell leads all international-based skaters The 2025 NHL Scouting Combine presented by Fanatics showcasing the top draft-eligible North American and international prospects will be held from June 1-7 at KeyBank Center and LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo The 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft™ at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater will be held over two days: Friday, June 27, at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET (Round 1, live on ESPN, ESPN+, Sportsnet, TVA Sports) and Saturday, June 28, at 9 a.m. PT / noon ET (Rounds 2-7, live on NHL Network, ESPN+, Sportsnet and SN1). Tickets to the event will be available for purchase at www.axs.com/series/27389/nhl-draft-tickets starting Monday The Philadelphia Union won its third consecutive match with a 2-1 victory against CF Montréal at Stade Saputo on Saturday night The win marked the first time since September 2020 that the Union earned a road victory in Montréal Midfielder Indiana Vassilev put Philadelphia on the board first with his first Union goal in the second minute of the match CF Montréal found a late first half equalizer off a goal from Giacomo Vrioni forward Mikael Uhre scored his second goal of the season to secure the Union’s 2-1 victory on the road The Union will return to Subaru Park to host Indy Eleven in the Lamar Hunt U.S CF Montréal: Jonathan Sirois; Tom Pearce (Kwadwo Opoku 83’) Joel Waterman; Fabian Herbers ( Luca Petrasso 57’) Dante Sealy; Giacomo Vrioni (Caden Clark 57’) Philadelphia is on a three-game win streak for the second time this season Tonight’s victory moves the Union into second place in the Eastern Conference The win also marked the Union’s first road victory in Montréal since 2020 Midfielder Indiana Vassilev scored his first goal for the Union Forward Chris Donovan earned his first start of the 2025 season The start gave Donovan his 50th career MLS appearance Forward Mikael Uhre scored his second goal of the season tonight to tie Julián Carranza for the fifth-most MLS goals (34) in club history Midfielder Danley Jean Jacques tallied an assist tonight to contribute a goal or an assist in three consecutive games The Union struck early through a sweet strike off the boot of Indiana Vassilev Time will tell if he can truly fill the shoes of Daniel Gazdag but tonight’s goal got the Union off the mark in a major way Brilliant timing for his first goal of the season Montréal took control after the Vassilev goal in the 2nd minute and maintained that momentum until the Mikkel Uhre goal in the 84th minute The Union managed to hang on thanks to a few saves by Andre Blake that he did not know much about A strong start and a strong finish was all that was needed tonight against an underwhelming Montréal side that struggled to find clinical finishing but it was the two deep lying playmakers that ran the midfield tonight Danley Jean Jacques was the catalyst for the first goal while Jovan Lukic stepped in front of a misplaced place and slipped Uhre through on goal for the winner The Union got exposed at times on the wings but the two in the middle held it down and created the offense when needed On a side note …this year the Union are undefeated when Blake and Wagner both played This was by far the worst looking game they played this year Uhre steals a win for the team and let’s get out of Montreal It’s hard to watch Montreal and understand how they haven’t won a game this year as they fought for 90 minutes Blake with some big saves tonight but it sure seemed like he was just lucky a few times A third of the way through the season and you get the feeling this team can still play a lot better coming down the stretch I scratched my head at the lineup but I’ll give the coach credit of rotating players and getting ready for a compact schedule coming up with U.S But it was surely one of their worst-looking matches of the season I don’t see this system working against better teams Completed more passes by heading to each other We just need to be better than the 8 teams worse than us during the regular season and be fresh at the end This game was simply proof of the old adage: winning teams win the games that they are supposed to win Top of the table teams should continue to hold bottom of the table teams in the bottom of the table they were as unlucky as the Union was lucky They looked like the second goal by the Union was almost expected Their faces after that goal was scored showed resignation here we go again.” Playing deep and in a counterattack plan makes for unattractive play but leads to beautiful series we fans might have said that a road point was acceptable; yesterday’s game showed that this team is capable of finishing the job on teams that have little confidence however poor the middle of the game may have looked +1 — And that series leading to the first goal really was beautiful To so visibly show the world his lack of confidence and then to just hold it until the U were able to take it back If Cavan had gotten the ball where Nate ended his run with the dive there would have at least been a shot if not a Doop You can argue that the “real” midfielders may not of intercepted the ball but one can hope that we don’t see more of the Harriel at AM unless there are availability issues Don’t care how bad a team is: you win on the road in MLS Donovan had like a hundred bad bad bad giveaways He was played into a chance and sent it back towards the passer The shades of despair post 3 wins in a row feel almost mitochondrial It’s been great to see DJJ grow in confidence The two goals were incisive and showed what this team can do with just glimmers of daylight He and Lukic both make me miss Brujo less- and that one’s still personal My daughter’s formative moments as a fan were bringing drawings to leave for him at the customer service office and she (age 9) is lobbying for us to go thousands of miles to see Corinthians sometime There was something about the fluidity of Montreal’s play and passing for long stretches that it would be nice to see the Union pull off more consistently My eye craves some of those Medunjanin/McGlynn type passes… and it feels ugly… then that Lukic through ball to Uhre just when one thought There was also something nice about the improvisational firefighting defense Did Glesnes really boot it over his goal from close range on purpose They have this find-ways-to-win thing going that feels like it… won’t be a boring season I refuse to be depressed by this team this year (eyes the open cup warily) I like that they are winning the games that they should. A team at the bottom of the conference should get beat by a team at or near the top Yes the beautiful game was nearly completely missing from this game If they beat Columbus this weekend and it’s 2-1 and it’s ugly and it’s hard to be mad when your team wins… at least it should be never take three points on the road for granted Just like many others already said in this thread the Union had no idea what to do with the ball Thank goodness Montreal is so toothless inside their attacking box How was their #9 ever signed to a major league team I’d like to mark that guy as he doesn’t move much and never seems to even try to beat the center back to the space to make the play Montreal has a mid level MLS level starter at defensive center mid in Piette They didn’t have any difference makers going forward at all they were coached to go over the top of the predictable press The Union started to fall back to prevent getting chipped then their press started to fall apart and Montreal broke it at will It’s lucky that they had no shooters and their in-the-box forward is slow and predictable I hate to be negative after a road win but I’m still concerned about the Union’s game plan getting figured out and them getting injured down the stretch just like what happened with Coach Carnell at St I also am biased as I don’t like that one dimensional pressing style When I first saw it in my rec league days I was an older player in a high division as a center back so everyone was younger I never saw it before so I kind of panicked for the first couple of games I figured it out… just chip the ball past the pressure up to the forward they do a quick pass back to an attacking center mid or outside mid then send a runner down the flank into all that space that’s vacant because the press sends the outside backs forward leaving it open as well as what Union teams under Coach Curtain did all the time That is the fundamental risk/reward profile of the high midfield press It’s supposed to play psychological games by going against everything players are coached to do and incentivize things that have been coached out of them players are coached to keep possession and distribute to their mids rather than trying to send the ball long speculatively That’s because under a traditional possession-based 4-4-2 that’s how to best play against it as they’ll cede the space in the midfield in exchange for making it hard to get from the middle third to the final third Same with keeping possession… you want possession against a possession oriented team that counters out of its own third The high midfield press turns this on its head where you don’t want possession against Carnell’s system because it’s built on turning it over and countering from the middle third This is at a cost of leaving the defensive third open Hence why an opponent wants to cede possession and play over the top quickly They put our CBs under pressure by playing the ball forward quickly Surridge or mukhtar would pull either glesnes or Makhanya out of position by dropping in underneath Part of it is because our “6’s” are not really playing as true 6’s They are both box to box midfielders who can get caught out of position when transition is turned quickly against us it can be catastrophic with how high our line is set in the mid block Without a ball winning 6 sitting in front of our defense consistently and teams are taking advantage of it by targeting them directly in transition It’s definitely something that needs to be cleaned up I’m just not sure how you do it without sacrificing compact shape Blake you’re right that our 6s are not playing as true 6s… but the reason for that is that our 10s are not playing as true 10s Carnell’s system tries to account for the lack of width in the usual 4-2-2-2 box formation by sending the attacking midfielders out wide is really more like a hexagon with a hole in the middle That hole in the middle gets filled variously by any of the front 6 and it requires that Danley and Lukic have a good understanding of who’s staying back and who’s pushing up But mostly they do a very good job of this + 1 BETTER TEAMS WILL FIGURE THIS OUT 2ND TIME AROUND You have described exactly how Union II play — and try to play — when Korzeniowski or Anderson are on the pitch Here is an example of how to beat a press: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zatSVXbXpM0&pp=ygUZRGMgdW5pdGVkIHZzIGF0bGFudGEgMjAxOA%3D%3D That was a very talented possession team just pounding one of the best pressing teams the league has ever seen that United team had some real stars on it include Wayne Rooney and Luciano Acosta but that Atlanta team won MLS Cup that year I worry about the Union’s back line being so exposed and website in this browser for the next time I comment Philadelphia has experienced an unprecedented surge in cargo theft one that flooded nightly newscasts and social media accounts until Philly police and the Department of Justice cracked the case Inside Philly’s biggest cargo theft ring in modern history Lieutenant George Ackerman didn’t know who was causing it and Ackerman was a detective lieutenant with the Philadelphia Police Department working the Northeast zone that includes the 8th District a sprawling and hodgepodge expanse of postwar housing and industrial lands at the farthest northeastern edge of the city This was two years into the pandemic, a moment when every crime statistic looked like a visit to the Upside Down. Shoplifting got organized. Center City Wawas closed in spite Men too young to rent a car might hijack one instead only to ditch it and then lift two more the same night Beef had begun to vanish by the literal ton tree-lined warehouse lands of far Northeast Philly where the blank wall of a distribution hub can seem to extend beyond the vanishing point someone had begun using the truck-lined streets as a shopping mall where everything was free Ackerman hadn’t seen theft anywhere near this scale in 20 years on the job A long-haul trucker would drive into Philly to drop off a load safe-looking stretch and take a moment’s rest before the assigned drop-off The beef and the seafood were parked on quiet stretches near Quaker Valley Foods a sprawling complex of big-box refrigeration with a fleet of trucks adorned with familiar buckle-capped Q’s The truckers weren’t all choosing the same spot how did the thieves know where to find them It wasn’t just happening in Ackerman’s district Cargo thefts had begun to fan out across the city and to New Jersey rest stops named for poets and heroes: Walt Whitman and Molly Pitcher the contents simply disappeared into thin air Cargo theft rose by nearly 60 percent in Pennsylvania from 2022 to 2023 and remained steady over the next year, according to data from Jersey-based cargo theft tracking service Verisk CargoNet The biggest share of that happened in Philly [thousands of] pounds of beef,” Ackerman says remembering a more recent case in the Northeast Philly district surrounding Bustleton Avenue trying to account for the thieves’ uncanny ability to show up in the right place at the right time it was just scattered men with bolt cutters This cargo theft felt worse than a pandemic anomaly; it was starting to look like a conspiracy scores of cargo thefts emptied trucks across the city and region more than 180 cargo theft cases would turn up in Philly’s 8th District alone more than 40 trucks were emptied in the 8th District three times a week — in multiple different locations,” Ackerman says For months they didn’t know how to get a handle on it how thousands of pounds of food or hundreds of cases of liquor could simply vanish into the ether It’s unclear how many of these cargo thefts are linked But it took a year for police to get their first big break: a misbegotten money heist that would bust open what investigators and prosecutors call the biggest and most savvy cargo ring Philadelphia has seen in modern memory The operation to take it down would eventually involve the FBI and state investigators in Pennsylvania and New Jersey The code name for the effort? Operation Beef Bandit But Philly cops have their own name for it There’s a picture Ackerman keeps tacked to the wall of his small second-floor office at the Northeast Detectives office on Levick Street an otherwise spartan white box whose window overlooks a roof full of condensers and vents The image shows a man in shorts and a hoodie craning his neck to smile awkwardly at the camera whom prosecutors identified as Malik “Stacks” Palmer of Philadelphia appears to be doing a Scrooge McDuck impression — he’s swimming in his money bin The bin in question is the bed of a black and burgundy pickup filled to its wheel wells with thousands of shiny new dimes “Don’t take a picture of that,” Ackerman says as I wheel up my phone but it’s also a trophy — a totem of the breakthrough case Ackerman caught by chance on a windy and unseasonably hot Thursday an affable and bald-pated man with a habit of stuffing his ID lanyard in his front left pocket was a truck driver in the Philly area before taking the cop exam The beat-up Igloo lunch cooler in his office still sports a Teamsters sticker from those days Ackerman’s been on the wrong side of a cargo theft case and to this day he doesn’t carry a wallet when he drives a precaution he started taking after another truck driver in Jersey was threatened by hijackers with the oldest threat in the book: We know where you live He caught this case by chance; every detective in the Northeast Division has worked cargo theft The parking lot of the Walmart on Franklin Mills Circle held yet another burgled truck trailer pried open with tire irons in the night while its driver caught some shut-eye But when officers arrived a bit after sunrise they found a wild scene: a truck hemorrhaging money dimes spilling out like a stain across the blacktop The thieves had burgled a truck that had departed from the U.S It had been a massive and somewhat sloppy haul and in the end they made off with more than two million newly pressed dimes bound for Miami The dimes amounted to literal tons of money “I’ve never seen anything like this,” Philadelphia Police spokesperson Miguel Torres told the New York Times News of the dime heist traveled across the country and as far away as England where tabloids had to explain that a dime is a tenth of a dollar But what impressed Ackerman wasn’t just the size of the heist Parking lot surveillance footage later revealed scouts and lookouts a network of thieves ready to pounce at a moment’s notice “They scout out these trucks that are parked in either parking lots or on the street or whatever they go in and start taking stuff and see if anybody notices,” Ackerman says a rented Dodge pickup with counterfeit paper tags Six hoodied men unloading the truck into containers This pattern played out over and over in later footage found by police But the Dimes Caper was the first time police knew what they had on their hands: This rash of cargo thefts wasn’t just some pandemic artifact or nationwide trend — although cargo theft has indeed spiraled up nationwide since the pandemic threading through the surge in cargo thefts all over the region Philly is not generally considered a hotbed of cargo theft a vice president at Verisk CargoNet who worked for years as a cargo theft investigator in Georgia Not like the sprawling port complex of New York or even the myriad truck stops and rest stops along I-95 in Jersey where state police have formed a task force “so I know you’ve heard this phrase: ‘Where’d you get that it fell off a truck.’” On Abbott Elementary stuff that fell off a truck is the only thing the school can afford you hear tales of minor larceny best at bars There’s that one Pennsport bar where a nearby bartender swears regulars can sometimes walk back into the kitchen to procure fine steaks of unknown origin But when he went down there to get rib eye There’s the yarn about the bar in Oxford Circle that used to let neighborhood thieves hold a flea market for hot goods — as long as the bar owner got a cut And the one about the former Acme warehouse in Brewerytown where local kids would pop the doors on meat trucks when they took a slow Meat Packers in Kensington somehow apparently showed up like clockwork at a specified street corner that was an open neighborhood secret “Oh yeah,” says a Jeff-capped native of Northeast Philly’s Irish neighborhoods whose current job is too respectable for him to cop to teenage beef larceny they’d log a skid of eye round but never unload it You’d show up and get your meal.” His neighbor on the next stool confirms these details without admitting complicity If it’s not an inside job it’s often an unplanned snip and grab Ackerman tells a story from back in his truck driver days He didn’t even get to a full stop at an intersection before he saw his truck’s door swing open behind him Thieves had popped the seal on the door while the truck was still moving And they’re taking the street lamps,” Ackerman remembers Philly’s recent rash of thefts is in part a function of truck drivers being more vulnerable since the pandemic says Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association CEO Rebecca Oyler more and more trucks are hauling goods across the country And more and more truckers find themselves on the trucker equivalent of a layover waiting for a loading bay berth with a full load This is a problem especially in Pennsylvania “Our infrastructure hasn’t caught up,” Oyler says “Our research shows there’s only one parking space for every 11 trucks on the road right now.” So truckers are stuck parking where they can What was vexing about this new rash of big trailer thefts was that the goods never turned up for sale That or a pallet of spoiled crab might turn up in an alleyway in South Philly Police found cases of pilfered booze on an apartment search warrant but multiple times the cargo thieves burned the police tail and tried to walk away from the merchandise before making a sale a national hotbed of cargo theft: Had they dealt with anything like this Old-school cargo theft rings are tough to crack Think Vin Diesel in The Fast and the Furious: all about the family Cargo gangs have followed this pattern for most of his career a national cargo theft expert who heads the transportation unit at Travelers Insurance Countless past cases have involved a small group of players “There were usually somewhere between eight and 15 people,” he tells me “Either they had grown up together or they were related Law enforcement really couldn’t get undercovers in those groups because if they didn’t know you A California ring might fan out over the Southwest A Chicago crew might range as far as Pittsburgh Philly was traditionally more often a target for New Jersey theft rings than a home to its own rings Cargo theft is a “learned behavior,” says Captain Jack Ryan commander of Philly police’s Northeast Detectives I can look and see who you’ve been arrested with and get those people and see who they’ve been arrested with and stopped with It was the coins that provided the first real leads Walk in somewhere with 10,000 dimes and you tend to get noticed Police were able to log large deposits of dimes at locations from the Philly suburbs to the edge of Baltimore federal prosecutors say in charging documents opened multiple bank accounts with more than 10,000 dimes each Others rolled up to supermarkets near Baltimore That’s when the driver of a truck hauling Continental fridges heard noises in the back of the truck and went back to investigate Local cops can have trouble making big cases out of cargo theft The truck driver victims drive in and out of town and they might be thousands of miles away a week later or even working for a different company altogether Logistics companies that get hit often aren’t local either police to this day don’t know who was buying the hot beef and crabs But robbery on an interstate truck escalated the case Philly’s cases caught interest from multiple federal agencies Ackerman tracked the refrigerator truck driver to his next job in Michigan and had the local police show him a lineup of suspects The loose threads had begun to weave together The FBI didn’t answer emailed inquiries about this case Search warrants and probable cause affidavits remain sealed And in Philadelphia neither Ackerman nor Ryan is eager to talk about the technology they used to pinpoint the identities of the thieves whether through warrants or with the help of the feds that talking about the tech they use to identify suspects will lead to “hardened targets.” Which is to say has started to reveal some of these missing pieces The most revealing is a memorandum opinion handed down by U.S district judge Wendy Beetlestone in July of last year after a constitutional challenge to the use of evidence obtained from broad swaths of cell-phone data Philly police applied for a search warrant asking T-Mobile for what’s called “tower dump”: a list of all the phones that accessed cell towers in the area of the dime heist during the time period of the robbery: “April 13 This apparently included a bunch of phones calling and texting each other in an otherwise empty Walmart parking lot at Franklin Mall in the middle of the night Judge Beetlestone ruled the phone evidence admissible in a technical argument that sidestepped the question of whether such tower dumps legally constitute “searches,” or whether cell-phone users consent to having such data used the first federal indictment was already moving through the system five months after the decision was handed down the original October 2023 indictment had swelled to 29 pages and 10 defendants federal prosecutors laid out accusations whose evidence all played out on the screens of a few phones A daisy chain of information and communications kept coming back to one intersection investigators now say: 19th and Wingohocking Nicetown is a neighborhood in North Philly whose name can sometimes seem like a citywide wink reputedly named long ago after a Mennonite immigrant named Hans de Neues but more recently home to some of the city’s lowest property values and the neighborhood smelled sweetly of train diesel and pungent weed plus the occasional waft of frying fish from the halal hoagie spot at the top of the hill A police cruiser idled with two wheels on the sidewalk across from a vacant patch of land strewn with paper There’s nothing all that special happening at 19th and Wingohocking amid a tight crew who lived in the neighborhood’s narrow rowhomes the long line of eaves can make it seem like the whole neighborhood shares the same long porch cluttered with couches and half-barrel smokers The phone data surfaced by investigators led to four Each is listed with a raft of nicknames and aliases: Lew knew each other from time spent on the blocks near 19th and Wingo The allegations include thefts wandering from beef and crab to nightclub liquor brands to refrigerators and TVs one heist after another after another is documented with text messages prosecutors say were lifted from the defendants’ phones and correspond with the timeline of each crime the texts laid out by prosecutors make it look like the alleged beef thieves were having a lot of fun “It was like a game to them,” Assistant U.S Attorney Alexander Bowerman said in a hearing in February The phone chats detailed in the most recent superseding indictment, from December 2024, look at times shockingly unguarded, especially for crimes whose organization Philly police have sometimes described as sophisticated. Snow crabs yet more wings: The prosecuting document reads like one long joyful smorgasbord “Who need some big ass TVs” reads a text prosecutors say defendant Douglas “Ppg” Mathis sent to Saikeen “Killa” Dixon and others in January 2023 alongside photos of a label showing the model of an LG television that had been lifted off a truck in Northeast Philly the same day “Just hit another truck shooter” says another text in March the day 49 cases of bright blue Hpnotiq liquor disappeared from a truck the group proposed a meal of “liquor n cow feet.” On March 7th the alleged haul was 10,000 pounds of turkey wings and on March 10th it was nearly a dozen pallets of frozen beef Prosecutors say some of the crew took pictures of themselves with the goods posing not just with dimes but with allegedly pilfered vodka and seafood The 16 heists detailed in that federal indictment each accompanied by text messages as corroboration That case is scheduled to go to trial in August of this year But some of the same names in that federal report also show up in a 2024 New Jersey arrest report over rest stop thefts up and down I-95 That sting ended with a state trooper treated in the hospital for minor injuries after police said two of the suspects rammed an unmarked police car and two marked cruisers Other cases are pending across Pennsylvania Some of the defendants from the dimes case are also wrapped up in a 2023 carjacking case involving a FedEx truck and nine kilos of cocaine “We’re not talking about a plumber moonlighting in cargo theft,” says Ryan who details a laundry list of even more suspected crimes not included in the indictment But there’s one name at the center of it all say federal prosecutors and Philly police: Rakeim Savage The federal indictment from 2023 showed an excited text sent from Savage’s phone after the Walmart dime heist showed up in the news Savage is hardly a secretive figure. On an Instagram account prosecutors linked to him, @zoogang_24 Savage can be seen swimming with dolphins in Cancun and holding up a middle finger beneath the street sign at 19th and Wingo a month or so after the truck full of dimes was robbed the Zoo Gang 24 account posted a picture of Savage riding a horse in a bright blue Jamaican sea “Some times I think why God keep blessing me and im committing sins!” reads the caption Savage seems to be hanging with local rap star OT7 Quanny at his birthday party in June of 2024 a fellow attendee with a diamond necklace and what appears to be a giant bag of weed proclaims that “longevity and regeneration of wealth” would soon flow from “the biggest cannabis company in the world.” say prosecutors in a separate indictment from July 2024 is a key figure in an interlocking group of North Philly crime families called Zoo Gang and Omerta — groups linked to seemingly every money-making endeavor on the books Savage and seven others are wrapped up in a federal RICO case that alleges assault with a deadly weapon and a bungled murder-for-hire plan that left a 24-year-old woman dead and two other women injured — not to mention $2 million in financial fraud schemes Much of that alleged fraud centered around passing counterfeit bills and intimidating retail shop owners who didn’t want to take the money Other parts of the indictment claim a scheme to file fraudulent pandemic assistance applications The most recent Instagram post on the Zoo Gang 24 account seems to show Savage in lockup LOCKED UP NOT FUCKED UP!” reads the November 11 which received more than a thousand likes and comment after comment declaring “free 24.” “Free my great nephew,” wrote an Instagram account named Wanda’s Soul Food Catering the biggest and most successful cargo ring Philly has seen in modern memory may have been just a “sideline thing” to a far vaster enterprise says Ryan: “It was low-hanging fruit.” In part what may have made them so successful was their network of contacts all over the city both for scouting loads worth stealing and for unloading goods after the fact the millions of dollars in trailer burglary may have been the last gasp of the old ways a modern wave of international thieves have invented crafty new ways to steal cargo that don’t involve a set of bolt cutters This “strategic theft” keeps him up at night This new school of thieves might lift an entire cargo load by forging papers and impersonating legitimate trucking companies on online job boards These outfits might take a short-haul job in the guise of being a real company then subcontract it out to another trucker That trucker probably isn’t even a criminal they might think they’re doing a legitimate job The cargo is then directed to the wrong place Entire trailers might end up on shipping containers sent to prearranged buyers overseas before anyone even knows they’re gone But it’s shot up by nearly 1,500 percent in the past few years now accounting for a third of all reported thefts Philly’s most recent round of beef banditry appears to have subsided for now Most of the cargo theft cases are still awaiting trial Ackerman said Philly police hadn’t had a single cargo theft report in the 8th District this year The beef heists have mostly moved out to the suburbs “The city just got too hot for them,” he says police say it’s just a matter of time until another theft ring crops up in Philadelphia police thwarted the attempted theft of $55,000 in beef from a truck parked in South Philly Published as “The Beef Bandits of Nicetown” in the May 2025 issue of Philadelphia magazine Everything You Need to Know About the Eagles Super Bowl LIX Parade The Grammy Awards: A Philadelphia Timeline of Winners and Memorable Moments 30 Must-Visit Pennsylvania State Historical Markers “Do you think I’m gonna put up with this s--- in my bar?” the Barstool Sports founder angrily said in a video Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 5/5/25 If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links .. the 62-year-old wore a head-to-toe Eagles “Flysuit” with his name and number on the back Randall Cunningham cheered like a Philly diehard while his old team thumped the Chiefs for the franchise’s second Super Bowl he pulled out his phone and fired off a text “What I didn’t fulfill,” he wrote to Jalen Hurts Eagles sign rookie minicamp tryout wide receiver/returner - BGNJackson is signing with the Eagles as an undrafted rookie free agent after not being selected in the 2025 NFL Draft The 23-year-old attended Philly’s rookie minicamp on a tryout basis and apparently impressed the team enough to warrant a roster spot Jackson attended Michigan from 2019-2020 before transferring to Washington The majority of the super senior’s production came last year when he had 85 receptions for 893 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns He also logged 33 rushing attempts over six years for 183 rushing yards (5.5 average) and two rushing scores Jackson also brings returning experience to the table He returned 71 kickoffs for a 24.4 average and two touchdowns The Eagles have a simple-but-smart approach on Day 3 of the draft - PhillyVoiceThe Eagles made eight picks on Day 3 of the 2025 draft They understand that their batting average isn’t going to be high on Day 3 prospects Maybe two or three of those guys will eventually become starters Maybe they won’t find any starters among those eight guys But if you draft a prospect to be a backup and that’s exactly what you get then you basically just wasted a pick on a player you could have found in any number of other ways that would’ve cost you nothing A.J. Brown proposes to girlfriend with the help of John Legend - ESPNA.J. Brown announced his proposal to his girlfriend Kelsey Riley on Saturday — with the help of none other than John Legend. It’s been a ring-filled few months for the wide receiver, who helped the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX in February Brown will add a ring for his personal life to one earned in his professional one The elegant proposal featured the award-winning musician Legend serenading the couple as he played a piano Why Eagles rookie doesn’t care if you think he’s too small - NBCSPMac McWilliams heard it a lot during his pre-draft process “I try really not to think about it,” McWilliams said on Friday as the Eagles kicked off their rookie minicamp at the NovaCare Complex I really feel like it takes me (far).” The Eagles used a fifth-round pick (No 145 overall) on McWilliams a week ago on Day 3 of the NFL draft he transferred to UCF in 2024 and had a strong enough season to get drafted The Eagles needed depth on their defensive line after finishing 2005 with the sixth-fewest sacks in the NFL Future two-time first-team All-Pro Elvis Dumervil would’ve provided that Dumervil finished his career with 105.5 sacks and posted an elite 90.2 PFF pass-rush grade from 2006 to 2014 Report: New Packers tush push proposal will ban all pushing - PFTMark Maske of the Washington Post reports that when the owners meet in Minneapolis on May 20 and 21 they are “expected to consider a revised proposal that would prohibit a teammate from pushing or pulling a ballcarrier anywhere on the field.” [...] Two the Eagles will still run the quarterback sneak on a regular basis but for the mini-cluster of players around and behind quarterback Jalen Hurts And it will still be effective — because it’s far more about the push that happens at the front of the play and less about the push that happens behind it The whole thing makes the league look petty One team has cracked the code on how to get an easy yard or two the league is sounding a safety alarm and/or citing aesthetics and trying to level the playing field by taking away the Eagles’ signature play Here’s hoping that the likely change won’t change anything and that the best strategy will be to tell the other teams to: (1) come up with a way to stop it; and/or (2) figure out how to use it Report: Washington D.C. will host 2027 NFL draft - Hogs HavenReports came out last night the Washington Commanders had won the bid to host the 2027 NFL draft This has been a goal of managing partner Josh Harris; in fact he talked about the prospect of eventually hosting the draft on the National Mall That is the plan for the event that is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of fans to the city Harris is also planning to bring the team back to D.C by building a new stadium on the site of the former RFK Stadium Legion of Blueprint: Brian Schottenheimer taking familiar approach to building Cowboys - Blogging The BoysBrian Schottenheimer may not have been there for the Seahawks’ peak but he saw what a championship culture looks like By the time Schottenheimer arrived in Seattle following the 2017 season the Seahawks had already won a Super Bowl after appearing in the big game two straight years They had also just missed the playoffs for the first time in six seasons Pete Carroll had quickly turned the organization around after posting losing records his first two years He did it with a combination of fundamentally sound schemes strong personalities with a knack for leadership handling success can also be just as much of a challenge And the Seahawks team that Schottenheimer joined was experiencing that ‘One of one’: Cam Skattebo brings unique running style to New York Giants - Big Blue ViewLance Zierlein of NFL.com called Skattebo a “carnage creator” in a pre-draft scouting report “I think that describes him very well,” Bourguet said “There’s so many words you can try to describe him with — tough “He’s going to give you everything he’s got every single play You saw him throwing up in games just from everything he was pouring out onto the field.” Bourguet calls Skattebo “one of one” and says his patience as a runner and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield are attributes that make him more than just a power back Bourguet believes these under-appreciated characteristics will help Skattebo succeed He can catch the ball out of the backfield,” Bourguet said to be able to put your running back one-on-one with a linebacker or safety in space.” Patience to allow blocks to develop is another trait Bourguet believes Skattebo has worked hard to develop 49ers turned down enticing trade offer for George Kittle before NFL Draft, per report - SB NationMonths of negotiation ended shortly after the draft when All-Pro tight end George Kittle signed a 5-year before that deal was cemented there was a stunning deal on the table the 49ers passed on — one that perhaps they should have thought about Diana Russini of The Athletic is reporting that prior to the NFL Draft the 49ers were offered a second round pick for Kittle BGN Facebook Page: Click here to like our page BGN Twitter: Follow @BleedingGreen BGN Bluesky: Follow @bleedgreennation.bsky.social BGN Instagram: Follow @BleedingGreenInsta BGN Manager: Brandon Lee Gowton: Follow @BrandonGowton BGN Radio Twitter: Follow @BGN_Radio At least one tryout participant from this weekend's Rookie Minicamp will get an extended look with the Eagles The Eagles announced on Sunday that they have signed rookie wide receiver Giles Jackson the Eagles waived running back Tyrion Davis-Price 187 pounds) led the Huskies with 85 receptions in 13 games in 2024 leading to 893 yards and seven touchdowns in the team's first season in the Big Ten It was not Jackson's first season in the conference as he spent his first two seasons in Michigan where he was Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in 2019 as a return specialist Davis-Price was a third-round pick of the 49ers in 2022 out of LSU He spent this past season with the Super Bowl Champions as a member of the practice squad How did Howie Roseman execute the trade to get linebacker Jihaad Campbell Why was Andrew Mukuba such a highly sought-after target in the second round What did the Eagles want to accomplish on the final day of the 2025 NFL Draft It's all here in the post-draft episode of Unscripted Here are the jersey numbers for the new veterans Chris and Michelle Britton honor the memory of their youngest son by raising thousands of dollars each year for the Eagles Autism Foundation The Britton family was chosen to represent the Foundation at the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay The cornerback becomes the fifth draft pick to sign his rookie contract the first-year players got back to football at the NovaCare Complex The Eagles kick off Rookie Camp by getting Smael Mondon Jr. and Antwaun Powell-Ryland to ink their four-year rookie deals a travel football club for boys and girls from New Jersey After adding 10 draft picks to an already strong roster the Eagles will have ample ammunition to continue to bolster the team in the 2026 NFL Draft The 6-foot-6 defensive tackle has started every game over the last two seasons for the Eagles Robinson was the last first-round linebacker picked by the team back in 1979 The organization honored the men and women who have served the country during the time in Washington with a trip to Arlington National Cemetery Ahead of their first official practice as Philadelphia Eagles and outside linebacker Antwaun Powell-Ryland Join first-round pick Jihaad Campbell in his first 24 hours as an Eagle From the moment he gets selected to his tour of the facilities in Philadelphia every moment of Campbell's first day as an Eagle is right here for your viewing pleasure JC Reporter 2 min readThe Jewish owner of a nightclub in Philadelphia has promised to take action after members of his staff held up an antisemitic sign on the dance floor of his bar Footage posted on social media showed waitresses at the Barstool Sansom Street bar in Philadelphia holding an illuminated antisemitic statement on a giant board on the club’s dancefloor which was originally posted to an Instagram story was picked up by prominent Jewish social media accounts a social media company that owns several bars across the US addressed the incident in a video on his X account said that the staff members who allowed a sign saying ‘f**k the Jews’ to be displayed had already been fired and that he was “shaking” with rage over the incident 📍Barstool Sports Philly last night - @stoolpresidente needs your attention. pic.twitter.com/P4hfbrTjZQ "I'm going to make it my life’s mission to ruin these people,” said Portnoy Portnoy also said: “You think I'm going to put up with this s**t at my bar and everything you can name because I want consequences for f***ing actions.” Emergency Press Conference - There was a “Fuck the Jews” sign at our Philly bar last night. I am shaking I’m so mad pic.twitter.com/DRlQc9woiA who has been an advocate against antisemitism since October 7 said that he would find out who was responsible for the sign and force them to “do antisemitism classes” or “whatever it takes to make this right." The Barstool Sports founder also said that he had spoken to the staff members responsible for the sign calling them “one of the dumbest f***ing humans I've ever talked to.” Portnoy said that he had tracked down the culprits and was sending them to Auschwitz to learn about the Holocaust more antisemitism in the last year and a half than I've ever had before I'm going to burn these people to the ground Maybe that's not the best course of action Maybe I can use this as a teaching moment and like before turn a hideous incident into maybe a learning experience.” "We're going to send these kids to Auschwitz and they're going to do a tour of the concentration camps and hopefully learn something and maybe their lives aren't ruined and they think twice.” the president of Temple University in Philadelphia John Fry that that the college would be investigating the incident and had suspended a student believed to have been involved the university became aware of reports that Temple students were involved in an antisemitic incident at an off-campus location last night and it is with profound regret that I must share this news with our community let me be clear: antisemitism is abhorrent It has no place at Temple and acts of hatred and discrimination against any person or persons are not tolerated at this university “Our Division of Student Affairs is conducting an investigation related to last night’s incident and they have identified one Temple student who is believed to have been involved This individual has already been placed on interim suspension.” Barstool Sansom Street and Dave Portnoy have been approached for comment Media Philadelphia USA It came on the back of Aaron Nola's spectacular start that resulted in him winning his first game of the season The high-priced ace has not had a great beginning to the campaign, entering this past outing with an 0-5 record and 5.40 ERA. However, there were some signs that he was trending in the right direction after pitching a gem in the finale against the Chicago Cubs where he allowed just one earned run on three hits across seven innings Nola almost wasn't able to build on that performance The Phillies needed to get a good outing from Nola and he delivered his best of the year thus far Despite dealing with some command issues, he threw six scoreless innings where he gave up four hits and struck out eight, allowing Philadelphia to cruise to a comfortable win over the Arizona Diamondbacks Nola also doesn't feel like this will be something that affects him going forward I felt it a little bit but it didn't get any worse during the game I don't think it's gonna be any long-term "Felt like it needed to pop and wouldn't pop." Realmuto said he was a little worried before the game started and wasn't sure how much Nola would be able to give And Nola himself said that if the issue was in the left side of his neck then things might have played out differently With Suarez back, they finally are getting a look at how their rotation was supposed to look coming into the year, and with Taijuan Walker having good outings when he's been starting, that could help this relief staff improve with his move to the bullpen. It's also a good sign that Nola is performing well. Over his last two starts, he's allowed just one run in 13 innings pitched, striking out 14 and walking just two. If Philadelphia gets that version of Nola going forward, this will be the best rotation in the MLB. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER An official website of the United States government Watch Live at 11:30 a.m. ET: Results of Nationwide Law Enforcement Effort Press Conference View the latest ICE guidance on COVID-19 Get information about how to check in with your local ICE Office here Reportándose con ICE: Obtenga información sobre cómo reportarse a su oficina local de ICE aquí View in other languages Call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE to report suspicious activityReport Crime Learn More About ICE ICE's ERO officers uphold United States immigration laws by focusing on individuals who present the greatest risk to national security View the annual report Media Inquiries Immigration and Customs Enforcement Philadelphia removed 90 Central Asian illegal aliens April 29 as part of a greater mission that ultimately involved more than 130 aliens The repatriation flight joined with the final group in New York and continued its trip to Uzbekistan on April 30 The aliens on board came from across the country “The Department of Homeland Security’s coordination with the government of Uzbekistan was instrumental in the successful removal of these individuals this operation not only reinforced our strong international partnerships but also strengthened national security,” said ERO Philadelphia acting Field Office Director Brian McShane “It is precisely this kind of leadership that enables ICE to continue to fulfill its mission of protecting the American public by ensuring that our immigration enforcement efforts uphold safety and security for communities across the country.” the Department of Homeland Security partnered with the government of Uzbekistan to successfully deport over 100 illegal aliens from Uzbekistan in which Uzbekistan fully funded the deportation of its own nationals underscores the deep security cooperation between the U.S and Uzbekistan and sets a standard for U.S ICE arrests aliens who commit crimes and other individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws ICE has significantly increased its immigration enforcement activities with additional support from other federal law enforcement and DOD partners In an effort to keep the American people informed about the results of the agency’s efforts with only the most accurate information ICE is compiling and validating the data and is working toward updating its enforcement statistics statistics are three months in arrears and published on a quarterly basis Members of the public with information can report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing ICE’s online tip form Learn more about ICE Philadelphia’s mission to increase public safety in our Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia communities on X at @EROPhiladelphia For media inquiries about ICE activities, operations, or policies, contact the ICE Office of Public Affairs at ICEMedia@ice.dhs.gov Dave Portnoy has responded to the alleged act of antisemitism at his Bartsool Philadelphia location and took to social media to both respond to the incident and publicize punishment and corrective measures for all staffers involved Here's what happened at Bartool's Philadelphia location a group of customers ordered bottle service at Barstool Philadelphia The bottle service typically comes with a custom light-up sign the patrons asked for the sign to make an antisemetic remark and the waitstaff complied David Portnoy responded to the hate act through several expletive-laden posts on social media platform X people usually buy drinks and you get a sign," Portnoy says in the first of several responses "There was a sign yesterday that (made an antisemetic remark) I have been shaking because I have been so .. I have been on the trail; you think I'm going to put up with this (expletive) at my bar because I want consequences for (expletive) actions "I believe the two waitresses who were responsible for the table have already been fired." Portnoy released a second video post on X later after he took a moment to calm down In that video, Portnoy said he's decided to use this as a teaching moment, and is sending the waitstaff to Auschwitz to tour the concentration camps Portnoy didn't specify if the staffers would be retained Dave Portnoy is often referred to as El Presidente; he created Barstool Sports in 2003 Portnoy turned Barstool from a local gambling page into a multimedia empire that covers sports Portnoy is also know for his “One Bite” pizza reviews where he rates pizza slices on a scale of 0-10 while filming on the street Portnoy's catalog also included the Barstool Sportsbook betting app Portnoy has a huge following on social media like raising millions for small businesses during COVID via the Barstool Fund Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region That sane army doesn’t especially want to see the erratic 5-time Pro Bowler get a job with Dallas’ most hated rival Meanwhile, while Philly has two studs in that receivers room, Dallas has only CeeDee Lamb And amid gossip about Dallas reuniting with Amari NFL.com’s Kevin Patra recently floated the idea of Philadelphia as a top landing spot for Cooper.  Patra writes that Eagles GM Howie Roseman “deserves the ‘Dynasty Patriots Treatment,’ wherein every available free agent or trade target is linked to his Eagles,” citing the team's Super Bowl window Of course, around here, it's "every available free agent or trade target is linked to Jerry Jones' Cowboys,'' but that's another story Cooper, 30, is coming off his worst-ever statistical year, totaling 44 catches for 547 yards and four touchdowns while splitting time between the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills.  Does the five-time Pro Bowler still carry value even after having been trade-dumped out of here in 2022 Eagles fans remember this Cooper: In six games against the Eagles Amari averaged 81.6 receiving yards and scored three touchdowns—including all three in a 2018 Dallas win Philadelphia fans can think that a low-risk one-year deal with Cooper could offer similar upside in the passing game Dallas fans may or may not think the same about Cooper as a Cowboy But there is no arguing that Amari - erratic with that infamous "shrinkage'' as he can be - can still make that one play that beats you there is an army of worried Cowboys lovers who wish Amari would sign somewhere other than Philly own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment Temple University provides funding as a member of The Conversation US View all partners President Donald Trump signed an executive order on April 28 in coordination with the secretary of Homeland Security publish a list of cities and states that obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws with the purpose of protecting Americans from “criminal aliens.” Philadelphia will likely end up on the list Philadelphia is what’s known as a sanctuary city it usually refers to a city that has declared its refusal to cooperate – or even works at odds – with federal immigration enforcement As a law professor at Temple University in Philadelphia, where I supervise students who represent low-wage immigrant workers I know that sanctuary policies can slow the federal immigration enforcement system But the bottom line is that federal immigration officers – usually U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement – can still carry out deportations in a sanctuary city Further, there is no question that localities such as Philadelphia can legally decide not to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Cities, like states, have constitutional protections against being forced to administer or enforce federal programs The Trump administration cannot force any state or local official to assist in enforcing federal immigration law action the administration will take against those jurisdictions that end up on their list of sanctuary cities My work has involved researching sanctuary policies as well as how often ICE relies on local law enforcement to help identify and turn over immigrants Philadelphia’s various sanctuary policies break that connection and leave ICE to its own devices. They also signal to immigrants that the city is not in the business of federal immigration enforcement. Research shows this helps immigrants feel safer to access public benefits and services such as getting care at a community health center or calling the police without fear of immigration consequences Philadelphia’s most notable sanctuary policy, an executive order signed by then-Mayor Jim Kenney in January 2016, is its refusal to have its jails honor ICE detainers or requests for release dates. An ICE detainer is a voluntary request asking local officials to hold an immigrant for an additional 48 hours so ICE can pick them up Failing to honor ICE detainers disrupts the deportation pipeline and makes ICE’s job more difficult Another key Philadelphia sanctuary policy dates back to 2009 and was signed by then-Mayor Michael Nutter. It makes clear that city officials do not police immigration Not only are all city workers – including police firefighters and behavioral health workers – prohibited from asking about immigration status in most situations but police are specifically directed not to stop arrest or detain a person “solely because of perceived immigration status.” Yet there is no way to enforce these sanctuary policies. Under these laws, city officials who violate them do not face consequences Compliance relies on a commitment from officials who believe that following these policies is the right thing to do Philadelphia has also acted in other ways to break the link between the city and immigration enforcement Since 2017, Philadelphia jails have had a protocol that discourages ICE from interviewing immigrants held in jail Prior to providing ICE with access to such individuals the jails must first send a consent form to an immigrant to inform them of their right to decline an ICE interview In 2018, Philadelphia ended ICE’s access to the city’s preliminary arraignment reporting system used by the Philadelphia Police Department and district attorney’s office The city said it terminated its database-sharing contract with ICE given the “unacceptable” way the agency used the system which “could result in immigration enforcement action against Philadelphians who haven’t been arrested other public and private institutions within Philadelphia have created sanctuary spaces Under the first Trump presidency, religious institutions, such as the Germantown Mennonite Church in Northwest Philly and the Tabernacle United Church in West Philly provided sanctuary inside their churches to immigrants who had received final orders of deportation from ICE The University of Pennsylvania declared itself a sanctuary campus in 2016 but is currently shying away from that label while faculty staff and students demand that the university clarify its policies on immigration enforcement From the viewpoint of the Trump administration, state and local officials who defy the enforcement of immigration law are engaged in “a lawless insurrection” that creates public safety and national security risks Despite the administration’s strong rhetoric about the “criminal alien,” 46% of people currently held in immigration detention have no criminal record according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University The executive order vows to terminate federal grants and pursue all enforcement measures to bring such jurisdictions “into compliance with the laws of the United States.” On April 24, 2025, a federal judge enjoined language in an earlier executive order directing the government to take action against sanctuary cities to ensure that they do not receive access to federal funds Past instances to pull federal funding from Philadelphia because of its sanctuary city status have also failed. The first Trump administration was unsuccessful at terminating a US$1 million federal grant to Philadelphia after the city sued and won in federal court in 2017 According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the same day Trump signed the executive order, Parker reiterated that Philadelphia still operates under its 2016 sanctuary policy she did not use the term “sanctuary city,” the Inquirer noted and she “said she would not comment in more detail until Trump makes concrete moves that affect Philadelphia.” This is an updated version of a story originally published on December 18 Read more of our stories about Philadelphia The Best New Restaurants in Philly, May 2025 The Best Restaurants in Fishtown The Best Tacos in Philly The best Philly restaurants for a variety of standout meals a seasonally updated map of places that have opened in the last six months or so we’ve added: pierogi-favorite Little Walter’s Chinatown mainstay Sang Kee Peking Duck House we’ve said farewell to Kampar (which remains temporarily closed) Did we miss your favorite restaurant? Reach us via the tipline or email us at philly@eater.com. For all the latest Philly dining intel, subscribe to Eater Philly’s newsletter By now, one has likely heard word of the Detroit-style square pies, spicy chicken wings, and flavored lemonades at Down North Pizza in Strawberry Mansion. The admirable mission of the place — to hire formerly incarcerated workers at fair wages — goes hand in hand with crispy Whether you end up there to support the mission or to get a taste of the signature “Norf Sauce,” expect to leave satisfied Note it’s open Thursday through Sunday until sold out including a recent version overflowing with wild mushrooms Hearty fare like sausages and schnitzel-like chicken cutlets are well-executed but the kitchen also has a way with lighter more intricate dishes like the smoked fish wedzona reba and cocktails feature Eastern European touches like caraway and Polish bitters; the pickle juice martini is a winner Meetinghouse is the kind of place that can be malleable to any occasion: It’s a bar Drippy candlelighting helps this neighborhood spot feel extra cozy at night and that’s worth celebrating in a sea of overly precious new openings like miang pla phao — a whole grilled branzino served with pineapple and rice noodles — or a towering tom yum kalaya with giant river prawns emerging from the fragrant broth The chic restaurant has lunch service on weekends and small groups can usually find a spot at the bar Best Philly Restaurants Serving Gluten-Free Food made with spicy whitefish and finished with a fried egg and pickled peppers is a piquant treat — get the appetizer portion to save room for other dishes a $75-per-person experience you could really only find in Philly Philadelphia’s love of sandwiches may be confusing to outsiders, but everyone loves Middle Child. And at Middle Child Clubhouse — the second, much bigger restaurant from sandwich legend Matt Cahn — one can still get all the sandwich hits from the first shop like imaginative cocktails from Brandon Thrash a house Caesar decked out with Old Bay shrimp The restaurant itself (with its retro decor campy back dining room) is a great place to hang out Jim’s West is a spot that both locals and tourists should revisit immediately The Essential Black-Owned Restaurants of Philadelphia Brothers Ben and Robert Bynum have been influential forces in Philly’s entertainment scene since 1990, when they opened their first jazz club. Their biggest restaurant, South brought live jazz and Southern staples to Spring Garden in 2015 The jazz shows are a great complement to comfort food highlights like macaroni and cheese Top Philly Clubs and Lounges to Dine and Drink One of the most innovative restaurants in the city is unapologetically vegan Chef Ian Graye and his culinary team have reimagined what vegetables can and should taste like with produce sourced predominantly from Pennsylvania farms Whether it’s the comb tooth mushrooms (with aged pinto bean miso and heirloom polenta) this charming spot is fine plant-based dining done right There’s an emphasis on listing where the restaurant sources ingredients from on its menu which extends even to local wine purveyors offered at Pietramala This memorable Italian restaurant from chef Tony Andiario and Maria van Schaijik was once nominated for the New York Times’s best restaurants of the year for its Italian fare with a clear point of view it remains a destination for dishes like ricotta tortelloni with chanterelles Sang Kee has been around since 1980, but remains as vibrant a part of Philly’s Chinatown restaurant scene than ever (there’s also a stall at Reading Terminal Market) It’s no surprise that roast meats like pork and are a standout — while going for the whole duck dinner ($80 for two; $152 for four) experience is worthwhile the bird can also found making its way into everything from barbecue rice platters to pineapple fried rice to spring rolls Hong Kong standards like sauteed Chinese broccoli and beef chow fun are first-rate and it’s hard to go wrong with any egg noodle soup order; additions from the chef’s recommendations like walnut shrimp or clams with black bean sauce can bring further range to the table The Best Restaurants of Chinatown in Philly The Best Restaurants in Philadelphia’s Center City an egg and cheese riff on a Jerusalem bagel complemented by spicy schug and Philly’s signature Cooper Sharp cheese Wash it all down with an assertively spiced Yemenite iced coffee My Loup is what happens when you allow an emerging husband-and-wife chef duo like Alex Kemp and Amanda Shulman (known for Her Place Supper Club nearby) to do their thing this Rittenhouse restaurant serves an ever-changing modern French menu that’s hip without stuffiness The appetizers section has the most fun with options on a recent visit including Boudin noir apple pie and pastrami beef tartare atop a latke with a pickle It’s a rare restaurant where solo diners can taste a bunch of things as half orders are available for certain dishes noted by the helpful staff There’s also a $125 per person “let us cook” option which requires you to relinquish control to the kitchen (don’t worry Best Philly Restaurants to Order or Dine for Thanksgiving This culinary Rittenhouse institution is the definition of wine and dine. A 2024 James Beard semifinalist for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages program, this New American restaurant led by acclaimed chef Eli Collins is serving oyster mushrooms with black truffle smoked duck breast with roasted stone fruit and other impressive seasonal dishes that compliment the tastes of the moment This impressive spot in West Philly is serving up hot, crunchy, Ethiopian fried chicken that’s remarkably tasty Come here for the juicy chicken dredged in a teff flour and buttermilk batter and served with a side of spicy cabbage slaw It serves some of the best cocktails in town French cuisine is both traditional and experimental at chef and owner Christopher Kearse’s cozy restaurant in Old City and the city’s most scrumptious crepes can be found on Forsythia’s self-proclaimed “French AF” menu Legendary chef Marc Vetri’s renowned restaurant on Spruce Street is a culinary gem The tasting menu offered at two tiers (either $165 or $215 per person) is the only option and has been impressing diners for 25 years with its contemporary Italian offerings South Street hasn’t been the same since this Southern coastal-influenced cuisine restaurant hit the block There’s a lot to appreciate about Rex at the Royal: the New Orleans vibe of the venue and the exceptional entrees (such as the seafood gumbo and oyster selections) that will make one a fan Over the course of a two-year closure, Marina de Oliveira and Chris D’Ambro reimagined their high-end Italian restaurant to bring Philadelphia something totally new. Ambra, next to sibling Southwark welcomes groups of two or four diners into the kitchen for a tasting menu that examines the cuisine from intriguing angles Dishes have included a house-made crab pasta based on D’Ambro’s family’s summer traditions or a carta di musica inspired by the Queen Village neighborhood’s musical history At $300 a person in the dining room or $350 per person at the chef’s counter (including a wine pairing) it’s a splurge that will stay with you long after you leave Larger groups can also book the entire dining room for eight to 12 people It’s the most entertaining dinner party in town Philly’s Best Prix Fixe Menus to Splurge On While there’s been a rise in grand seafood hot spots with massive towers of crab legs and oysters, the refined seafood at Little Fish is about more than just the spectacle and mixes seafood into Asian-inflected dishes 9 Lobster Rolls and Other Seafood Sandwiches to Order Before Summer Ends where the kitchen will send out a few items from each section of the menu It’s actually a very good deal given how much food is included Consistent Filipino cuisine is hard to find in Philly, but at Tabachoy — it’s a treasure to behold chef and owner Chance Anies is fierce with the range of flavors he serves diners or nutty and floral slow-braised beef shank These are dishes meant to be enjoyed by all of your senses at this very casual El Chingon has been heaped with both local and national praise for its outstanding Mexican cooking in a kitchen led by Juan Carlos Aparicio and dinner — and keep in mind that it’s BYOB only Randy and Amanda Rucker’s New American restaurant River Twice features a four-course seasonal tasting menu that offers the full spectrum of chef Randy’s repertoire (see: charred Caraflex cabbage or soft-shell crab in koji butter) and the restaurant itself is just a lovely place at which to dine Food editor-turned-restaurateur Alex Tewfik’s Mediterranean restaurant isn’t institutionally fussy (it’s a cozy spot with minimalist vibes) but it still takes its cuisine seriously With a vibrant menu that serves pomegranate-lacquered grilled chicken it’s hard not to appreciate the ambition and creativity behind each dish The Essential Restaurants of East Passyunk Avenue Top Restaurants to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Philly Critically acclaimed restauranter Nicholas Elmi partnered with general manager Jane Fryer and chef Kevin McWilliams to transform his once French tasting menu-only extravaganza into a more creative pork au poivre pairs with quince; monkfish joins turnips and sorrel; and corn mousse is dressed blackberries for dessert Top Philly Restaurants That Would Likely Earn Michelin Stars If Eligible After opening her Vietnamese and Thai grill restaurant in Ambler in 2019, chef Thanh Nguyen expanded into the former Saté Kampar space in East Passyunk to serve Vietnamese street food of the highest order The bánh bèo quảng nam — open-faced dumplings that come served in small decorative bowls — are unreal from the half-chicken platter to Vietnamese fried winter flounder The Best Vietnamese Restaurants in Philly At Irwin’s upscale yet down-to-earth Sicilian fare meets a very pleasant vibe and an amazing view from the sky-high patio atop the Bok Building Chef Michael Ferreri’s house-made pastas arrive on cute vintage plates and appetizers like eggplant caponata and bowls of mixed seafood are perfect companions to larger-format dishes Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby, behind vegan restaurant Vedge have opened another plant-based culinary experience in West Chester this intimate nine-table restaurant serves a multicourse “farmers feast” menu that offers charred pole bean salads Yes, it’s out out in South Jersey, but this American BYOB restaurant by chef Dane DeMarco is a gorgeous marriage between rustic cooking and fine dining and wild boar meatloaf embody how this restaurant masters both the cuisine from the land and sea remarkably well All Elite ExperienceAEW All In TexasAEW on PPV AEW TogetherHeelsWatch & Listen Shop AEWAEW Amazon StoreAEW Games 2025 – All Elite Wrestling today announced that the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia will host an exclusive multi-week residency of AEW Dynamite and AEW Collision marking the first time in history that AEW events have been held at the historic venue   These events are in addition to the previously announced ROH Death Before Dishonor event on Friday September 11 – Special Taping of AEW Collision “We are thrilled to bring AEW Dynamite and AEW Collision to the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia from August 27 – September 11,” said AEW CEO “This residency has been years in the making highlighted by an overwhelming demand from both fans and media alike for this legendary venue to host AEW events I look forward to returning to the 2300 Arena for the first time since I was 13 years old and bring our passionate fans in Philadelphia an incredible few weeks of AEW shows this summer.” Ticket information for AEW Dynamite, AEW Collision and ROH Death Before Dishonor at 2300 Arena will be announced in the near future.  Fans interested in early access presale opportunities can register to become an AEW Insider by visiting allelitewrestling.com/aew-insider Note: Survey responses were collected from April 7 to April 14 Manufacturing activity in the region declined this month according to the firms responding to the April Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey The survey’s indicators for general activity and shipments all fell and turned negative The employment index registered a near-zero reading Both price indexes continue to suggest overall price increases The future activity indicators continue to suggest subdued expectations for growth over the next six months The diffusion index for current general activity dropped 39 points to -26.4 in April its lowest reading since April 2023 (see Chart 1) Nearly 39 percent of the firms reported decreases in general activity this month while 13 percent reported increases; 41 percent reported no change The index for new orders also fell sharply The current shipments index decreased 11 points to -9.1 this month The firms reported mostly steady employment overall as the employment index fell 20 points to 0.2 in April Most firms (84 percent) reported no change in employment nearly identical shares reported increases and decreases (6 percent) The prices paid index edged up from 48.3 to 51.0 its highest reading since July 2022 (see Chart 2) Almost 54 percent of the firms reported increases in input prices while 3 percent reported decreases; 36 percent reported no change The current prices received index ticked up 1 point to 30.7 Almost 31 percent of the firms reported increases in the prices of their own goods In this month’s special questions the firms were asked about changes in wages and compensation over the past three months as well as their updated expectations for changes in various input and labor costs for the current year More than 38 percent of the firms indicated wages and compensation costs had increased over the past three months Over half of the firms (53 percent) reported not having made changes to their 2025 plan for wages and compensation since the beginning of the year; 41 percent indicated they plan to increase wages and compensation while 6 percent indicated they plan to decrease wages and compensation The firms still expect cost increases across most categories of expenses in 2025 The responses indicate a median expected increase of 3 to 4 percent for wages unchanged from when this question was last asked in January and an increase of 4 to 5 percent for total compensation (wages plus benefits) the firms’ median expected change in costs for other raw materials and intermediate goods both rose relative to January The diffusion index for future general activity ticked up 1 point to 6.9 in April after declining 22 points in March (see Chart 1) Nearly 36 percent of the firms expect an increase in activity over the next six months exceeding the 29 percent that expect a decrease; 25 percent expect no change The future new orders index increased 4 points to 6.6 and the future shipments index decreased 6 points to 5.0 The firms expect mostly steady employment over the next six months: The future employment index fell 18 points to -0.6 The firms were roughly evenly split between expecting increases and decreases in future employment (22 percent) The future prices paid index climbed to 63.1 and the future prices received index jumped 28 points to 67.7 The index for future capital expenditures fell 11 points to 2.0 Nearly three-quarters of the firms expect no change in capital spending View a complete list of upcoming release dates on the Economic Release Calendar Sign up to receive e-mail notifications with the latest news and information from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Monthly survey of nonmanufacturing businesses in the Third District Quarterly survey of business establishments in the South Jersey region Qualitative assessment of economic conditions in the Third District released prior to each FOMC meeting (215) 574-6000 “We're not going to let him disappear people and make him feel like he's winning,” said one protester The crowd erupted into cheers of “Bring him home” as Cathryn Miller-Wilson, executive director of HIAS Pennsylvania, spoke about Abrego Garcia, the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil and the shuttering of the country’s refugee resettlement program which stands for “Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society,” was founded more than 100 years ago to aid Jewish refugees and now helps refugees of all backgrounds and then the White House has the nerve to just continue the lie,” she said Protesters marched from City Hall to Independence Hall voicing concerns about cuts to social services a green card holder who participated in pro-Palestinian protests is also a violation of due process and First Amendment rights This is not done to protect Jews,” she said Other key issues speakers touched on included racial justice the administration’s inaction on climate change cuts spurred by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency and a call for “hands off” Social Security and other government programs “I believe this is nothing but the start of Nazi Germany,” said Linda Briggs the only option to change the administration’s course is to continue to attend protests and speak out “I think that if we sit at home and do nothing it’s like a sign of it’s okay and it’s not okay,” she said more people will know we’re not okay with this we’re not going to let him disappear people and make him feel like he’s winning and we’re going to show him that he’s going to lose.” stressed the importance of continued protest to really make sure that we’re getting our voices heard and we’re getting the things that we need done in government,” he said we’re just going to be stuck scrolling forever.” said Saturday’s turnout was “fabulous.” She hopes this protest “moves the needle.” get him to give in on some things,” she said Other protesters said they hope the turnout also makes an impact on Democratic Party leaders Organizers of Saturday’s events say they’re protesting against what they view as the Republican administration’s constitutional and civil rights violations said her neighbors tell her that “they feel that the party is not listening to them.” “I’m not sure why they seem to be so slow to act and so confused because there was literally a plan published about all of these things that are happening there was a playbook that we knew was going to get put into place so they had a whole laundry list of things that they could know about and have prepared to talk about,” she said Chris Rabb was the only local elected official invited to speak at the Philly protest Saturday “I haven’t heard anything from the city Democratic Party,” Jordan said Cory Booker did his record-breaking speech and then they went around and they voted for another Trump nominee Why do you try to tell us this is a catastrophe and then you just don’t do everything you can to stop it There are things that they could be doing and they’re not doing Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that HIAS which stands for “Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society,” was founded more than 100 years ago “News of these revocations is unsettling not just for the impacted individuals but for our entire community,” University President John Fry said President Donald Trump proposed cuts to gun violence research that some experts say could cost lives Labor data shows the federal workforce shrunk across the Greater Philadelphia area and there could be more layoffs at the local Internal Revenue Service hub Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardTwo West Philly children hospitalized for gunshot wounds in separate incidentsThe shootings occurred within a few hours of and less than a mile away from one another Two young West Philadelphia children were hospitalized Monday afternoon after suffering separate gunshot wounds in unrelated incidents The shootings occurred within a few hours of and less than a mile away from one another Philadelphia Police said it was investigating both incidents a 2-year-old boy reportedly shot himself in the stomach inside his home on the 5200 block of Delancey Street He was transported by police to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia where he was listed as in critical condition a 5- or 6-year-old girl was struck in the leg by gunfire while on the front porch of a home on the 5900 block of Pine Street Police took her to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as well No arrests have been made regarding either incident “The Philadelphia Police Department is currently investigating two separate and tragic shooting incidents involving young children that occurred in the 18th District,” police said in a statement Monday afternoon “All information provided is preliminary and subject to change as the investigations develop.” Tips can be called in or texted to the Philadelphia police at 215-686-TIPS (8477). Anonymous tips can also be submitted online Staff writer Ellie Rushing contributed to this report Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboard‘A hideous incident’: Temple student suspended over antisemitic sign at Barstool PhiladelphiaThe student was among a group that ordered a light-up bottle service sign at Barstool Sansom Street Saturday which included an antisemitic message Barstool Sports is used to courting controversy but an antisemitic sign displayed within its Philadelphia bar over the weekend drew widespread condemnation and multiple responses from its outspoken CEO Dave Portnoy when a group of patrons ordered a light-up bottle service sign at Barstool Sansom Street that included an antisemitic message that read “F — the Jews." A video featuring the sign being paraded around the bar by a server was shared widely on social media Among the people involved was a Temple student who has been placed on interim suspension according to a statement from the university’s president Temple has not publicly identified the student let me be clear: Antisemitism is abhorrent,” Fry said and acts of hatred and discrimination against any person or persons are not tolerated at this university.” Portnoy, who is Jewish, said he was “shaking” after being informed about the incident and offered an emotional, profane rebuke to the hate speech delivered within his bar than I’ve ever had doing it,” Portnoy said in a video shared on social media to his more than 9 million combined followers “For everyone who wants these kids’ lives to be ruined saying that he had another conversation with the suspended Temple student Portnoy said he saw the student post on Instagram about the incident apologizing but taking less accountability for what happened than when having spoken to Portnoy earlier “I sincerely regret any hurt or ill feelings this caused nor anyone whose username was tagged in the video I posted I do not support the awful message contained in that sign I made the poor decision to record and upload it which has been overwhelming,” said a statement posted to a now-hidden Instagram account believed to belong to the student “It is a 180 from my convo with him yesterday his trip to Poland has been revoked,” Portnoy said on X Portnoy did not respond to a request for further comment Two servers involved in the incident were fired immediately and frustrated by the deplorable actions of a customer and misguided staff acting outside the scope of their duties,” the restaurant said in a statement “This unfortunate incident is the opposite of what we stand for and we will be doubling down on efforts to prevent such actions in the future.” senior vice president of the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association said he had never heard of a bottle service sign being used in such a harmful way Both in hospitality and morality,” he said One of the servers also worked as an instructor at DanceXpress in Narberth The company said in a statement that it had decided “to terminate her employment immediately.” we uphold a zero-tolerance policy for hate in any form,” the company said “It is important that our studio remains a safe and welcoming space for all dancers and their families … She will never teach at DanceXpress again.” » READ MORE: Barstool’s Dave Portnoy attacks 6abc during interview about antisemitic incident Portnoy founded Barstool Sports as a free weekly newspaper in 2003 and has grown it into one of the most popular sports media brands in the country  The company also owns a sports bar in Chicago It’s unclear whether other Temple students were involved in the incident Fry said that an investigation is ongoing and that anyone with information could contact the Office of the Dean of Students “Any additional students who are found to be involved will face strict disciplinary action under the Student Conduct Code according to Gaza’s Health Ministry and numbers provided by the United Nations the organization tracked 114 incidents across the state the regional director of the organization’s Philadelphia branch one of which included a weapon,” Goretsky said in a statement who suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder called 911 moments after the fire started and called Shapiro a “monster” while referencing the plight of the “Palestinian people.” “This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society,” Shapiro said a day after the fire Inquirer staff writer Bill Bender contributed to this article Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardHow many meetings does it take in Philadelphia to build 57 affordable homes A lot.The Philadelphia Housing Authority and developer Pennrose have been trying to get project approval since 2019 The Philadelphia Housing Authority has been trying to build dozens of affordable homes and apartments in Strawberry Mansion since 2019 The project spans 14 city-owned lots in the neighborhood and is backed by federal But because the project has taken so long to break ground — unfolding over three presidential administrations — some of the funding may now be in peril told the zoning board on April 22 that inflation had caused a $5 million increase in the project’s budget we’re going to lose the $13 million Low Income Housing Tax Credit that we’ve been awarded,” he said “And in light of some administrative changes that we’ve seen we don’t know that this funding will ever come back.” Pennrose and PHA’s plans have been subject to intensive neighborhood scrutiny the clashing priorities of two successive City Council members and multiple Zoning Board of Adjustment hearings Even with all that vetting and the support of most local political actors and community groups the project has not received final approval the project’s cost has ballooned even as the number of units has shrunk Political and regulatory hurdles created with good intentions have repeatedly stymied the project Academic research on public engagement has found that participants in meetings generally aren’t representative of their larger communities: They are older Gathering of input also eats up a lot of time as the development process drags on to that point where “we’re also not getting housing that the city of Philadelphia desperately needs,” said Einstein The struggles of this project point to the larger barriers that face Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration and the Philadelphia Housing Authority which both have ambitious plans to expand the city’s housing options in coming years Multiply this experience across the city’s housing industry and the scale of the challenge becomes clear PHA issued a request for proposals on the site in early 2019 and selected Pennrose as its development partner later that year Because the project is being built on city-owned land the district Council member is required to introduce legislation to move property from the city’s control to the developers That meant they had to first meet the requirements of former City Council President Darrell L and his chosen Registered Community Organization (RCO) the Strawberry Mansion Community Development Corp Those priorities were hashed out over the course of multiple neighborhood meetings between 2020 and 2024 and negotiations with the Strawberry Mansion Community Development Corp To win support of Clarke and the community they agreed to restrict the scope of the project the number of units was reduced from 77 to 57 plans for duplexes were scrapped in favor of single-family townhomes and the size of a senior apartment building was reduced while moving it from 33rd and York Streets to 3230-38 Diamond St a resolution introduced by Clarke was sent to City Council to transfer the city-owned land to the housing authority when Clarke was succeeded by Jeffery “Jay” Young the main hurdle left for the developers was minor approvals from the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) the new Council member also made his displeasure with the project known Young chose a new group to replace Strawberry Mansion Community Development Corp as the coordinating Registered Community Organization That group is Strawberry Mansion Community Concern which is led by Young’s staffer Bonita Cummings and is known for opposing most new housing in the neighborhood The developers unsuccessfully sought to meet with Cummings delaying the zoning board meetings further When the hearing was finally held, the board heard supportive testimony from a variety of neighborhood groups, labor leader Ryan Boyer and letters from the area’s state representative and senator as we need more units in Philadelphia,” Boyer said and I’m firmly in support of all 14 parcels.” But Young contends there is widespread opposition to the proposal although when asked on April 22 to name other opponents “At every meeting that I went to talk about this project there was opposition to this project at open public community meetings,” Young said at the hearing Young specifically alleges there haven’t been public meetings on the proposed location for a 21-unit senior apartment building on Diamond Street which was moved from York Street in response to earlier feedback from Clarke’s favored neighborhood groups Young did not respond to a request for comment who is also a special-projects liaison in Young’s office like the high-rise public housing experiment you’re being asked today to allow us to be an experiment of low rises that will have us on top of each other in terms of the number of units that some of these locations are asking you to approve,” Cummings said at the April 22 meeting the zoning board approved many of the variances the developers needed to move forward with the project But when the hearing stretched on so long that they were forced out of the meeting room board members delayed approving the Diamond Street project for another week The project narrowly avoided being detained by yet more public engagement April 22 when the Planning Commission’s David Fecteau suggested he could postpone his testimony — and the Diamond Street project’s consideration by the ZBA — until Young and Cummings held another community meeting many attempts to have open public community meetings and they’ve all been ignored,” said Alex Goldberg “We’ve gotten to a point where this doesn’t move forward and the Diamond Street project was approved April 30 although the ZBA will not address the project’s final permissions until June the process will have taken over 6½ years from PHA’s request for proposals and the project breaking ground But that’s assuming no federal funding cuts Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardA golf ball once exploded at the U.S The club’s history gets the national spotlight this week.Philadelphia Cricket Club hosted two U.S The PGA pays a visit in 2025 with the Truist Championship Martin’s Course at the Philadelphia Cricket Club the first of two in four years hosted at Cricket the oldest country club in the United States Campbell was an early adopter of the silk pneumatic golf ball The ball was inflated with air pressure and wrapped in silk which enabled it to be inflated to a pressure of more pounds per square inch than the previous cotton wrapping and had outperformed the more standard rubber-cored Haskell balls used by the masses That is until Campbell stepped to the fourth tee in third round A sound that mimicked the recoil of a rifle shot The ball had exploded and lost its pressure and the rules of golf at the time stated that Campbell had to finish the hole with the largest portion of the ball The detonation cost him about three strokes and he eventually lost the tournament by that same margin The silk pneumatic golf ball died at the Cricket Club a little-known historical anecdote for a club founded in 1854 that first hosted golfers in 1895 The golf course had a big part in golf’s origin story in the U.S. it was advances in golf clubs and golf balls that rendered it relatively obsolete and forced the club to acquire 375 acres of land in Flourtown in 1920 it gives you a pulpit to share the Cricket Club with the world,” said Jim Smith Jr. the quality of the golf course is important to share the uniqueness of the club and how historic it is.” When the famous courses of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic are discussed There are Pine Valley and Merion and Aronimink Pine Valley has been consistently ranked as one of the best courses in the world Aronimink has next year’s PGA Championship and has previously hosted PGA Tour events The Wissahickon Course has hosted its share of top events post-renovation The PGA Professional National Championship was there in 2015 The Constellation Senior Players Championship came to town the following year when Bernhard Langer walked away with a trophy Then came the Big Ten tournament in 2019 and the U.S None of those will bring the bodies through the gates and the viewers on television the way this week’s Truist and its $20 million purse will And so the television broadcast and national golf media will give Cricket’s long history its largest audience yet This is where the club’s heritage committee shines Cricket produced a hardback book for the club’s sesquicentennial Powell Arms joined the club a year later and got his hands on the book Arms was intrigued by the place’s history and its part in laying the groundwork for the sport’s growth in Philadelphia and Rob Nydick make up part of the club’s heritage committee formed in the last decade with a mission of telling the story of Cricket’s history who has been at Cricket for more than 20 years The club knew it had great history but needed to tell it better and I want it to live on for generations,” Kallmeyer said Kallmeyer said he had a “eureka moment” early in his time digging into the club’s history He was at the home of longtime Philly-area golf historian Pete Trenham when Trenham showed him a book that featured some of the golf courses in the Philadelphia area in the late 1800s In it was a pencil sketch of the original 1895 layout Kallmeyer digitally reproduced the sketch and laid it on top of a Google map of the area to figure out where the original holes were routed They ran across properties that are now homes behind the club in Chestnut Hill “You feel like you’ve discovered something that’s been lost to history,” said Kallmeyer Like the story of Campbell and the pressurized golf ball. With the help of golf historian David Mackesey Kallmeyer brought golf ball history back to life » READ MORE: Xander Schauffele and most players will be flying blind at Philadelphia Cricket Club, an A.W. Tillinghast masterpiece Golf and its famed courses are unique in the way words and pictures and television broadcasts bring to life the places where the average person will never place a tee in the ground The golf-watching world will learn a lot about Cricket this week but the place has 1,500 members and a long waiting list So what’s the benefit of nailing this pulpit “It’s our chance to be a great host and have people just get a glimpse of one of the great golf courses that we get to enjoy,” Arms said “The number-one way to perpetuate the quality of this club is to do a phenomenal job for the existing membership,” Smith said The club’s heritage committee is trying to add value creating a connection to Tillinghast and the club’s past and preserving its legacy long after the committee’s members are gone “You sort of forget history happens every day,” Arms said The Philadelphia school of golf architecture … you can make the argument that the Philadelphia school one of its central places was the Philadelphia Cricket Club “Now we’re playing a signature event on a golf course designed by a member who happens to be a prolific designer of championship golf courses We’re thrilled to be able to showcase that little part of the lineage of our golf course.” “It’s about building on our existing legacy and continue to build on that heritage,” Kallmeyer said was capable of hosting the best players in the world Perhaps the Truist restores Cricket to its place as one of the top courses in the sport capable of hosting major events with the best players in the world One thing’s for sure: The pressurized golf ball won’t be resurrected at its place of death Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardStephen J passionate Philadelphian and history lover who helped shape Center City Harmelin had a hand in creating the Barnes Foundation When the White House called a Harvard fraternity looking for Stephen J his frat brothers assumed it had to be a practical joke President Lyndon Baines Johnson needed a director of speechwriting then a Harvard Law student in his mid-20s and a Philadelphia native he would help found the White House Fellows program But he would return home to become a towering figure in corporate law and later used his stature as an attorney to leave an imprint on a hometown that he loved dearly A history lover and a passionate Philadelphian Harmelin died at his home in Society Hill on Saturday and after a battle with Parkinson’s disease Nearby were many physical monuments to his life — the Barnes Foundation the National Constitution Center — and other iconic institutions that Mr “He quietly built Philadelphia,” his daughter Alison said “He believed in his heart that Philadelphia was a world-class city.” His daughter Melina said: “His legacy lies both in his astounding achievements as well as within the people he leaves behind who loved him immensely.” Harmelin helped orchestrate the Bicenntenial Celebrations displays of the Magna Carta in Philadelphia and showed off his home to European royalty while rubbing elbows with senators and governors “And he lived 100% of his life here in Philadelphia Harmelin attended Central High School and later the University of Pennsylvania and completion of his degree — with honors — at Harvard the young lawyer went to work straight away at Dilworth Paxson under former Mayor Richardson Dilworth in 1965 he would leave the firm only briefly: In 1970 he went to work under Philadelphia District Attorney Arlen Specter as a special prosecutor To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the U.S Harmelin helped bring an original copy of the Magna Carta to Philadelphia in 1987 “This will be an excellent opportunity to remind people of the great gift that English-speaking people gave to the world: the supremacy of the law,” Mr Harmelin said in a 1987 interview with The Inquirer “We’re talking about two documents that made the most profound change in the lives of people since As a trustee of the Magna Carta Foundation of Philadelphia Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit secured the exhibit of the 13th-century document which ensured English rulers’ power no longer went unchecked The ceremonies were attended by Queen Elizabeth’s cousin Princess Alexandra and the attorneys general of the United States and Britain The same copy returned to Philadelphia in 2001 for a display at the newly formed Independence Visitor Center as a commissioner on the board of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority He went on to become a founding board member of the National Constitution Center Harmelin was a “towering figure,” whose contributions to the history museum and the city of Philadelphia will continue to “endure.” Harmelin helped recover and restore North Carolina’s missing copy of the Bill of Rights which was stolen from a Union soldier in the waning days of the Civil War After a dealer reached out to the Constitution Center Harmelin determined it was a 138-year-old handwritten copy that was swiped from the North Carolina statehouse He arranged a sting operation led by the FBI to retrieve and restore the document “It was an incredible act of detective work and bravery and he was absolutely central to that,” Rosen said Harmelin was instrumental in recognizing Pennsylvania’s original copy of the Bill of Rights was being held at the New York Public Library He arranged a historic agreement with the library allowing the document to be shared with the state of Pennsylvania for the next 100 years The Bill of Rights copy was displayed at the Constitution Center between 2015 and 2017 thanks to Mr “There’s no one else in American history who’s responsible for restoring two original copies of the Bill of Rights to their owners Along with his public service and dedication to American history Harmelin joined The Inquirer’s board of directors after Gerry Lenfest acquired the news organization in 2014 CEO of the Lenfest Institute for Journalism said his same passion for education and community engagement carried over into service journalism Steve Harmelin was a founding father of a new legal structure to ensure the health and independence of a great American newspaper,” Friedlich said in a written statement Sunday and a handful of other Philadelphia visionaries.” “There is no level of pain in his loss that compares to the privilege of having known him,” his daughter Alison said of her father His daughter Melina said: “As a husband and a father he was no less than our knight in shining armor Harmelin is survived by his wife of 30 years A memorial service is tentatively planned at the Barnes Foundation at the end of May A specific date has not yet been confirmed From linebacker Jihaad Campbell in the first round all the way to outside linebacker Antwaun Powell-Ryland in the sixth round check out the phone calls and college highlights for all 10 members of the Eagles Draft Class of 2025 which means it's Howie Roseman's time to shine The two-time Super Bowl Champion General Manager answers YOUR questions in this exclusive feature take a look at the best Mic'd Up moments from the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX winning season the preparation for the 2025 season begin quickly for the Super Bowl LIX Champions Take an exclusive look inside the Eagles' 2025 offseason on the latest episode of Unscripted the Eagles hosted their annual Huddle Up for Autism to raise critical funds for autism research at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Check out a recap of this fun-filled day and be on the lookout for next year's date Get a behind-the-scenes look at the Philadelphia Eagles' 2024 Championship season From Brazil to Bourbon Street to Broad Street relive this 52-minute reflection of one of the most magical seasons in Philadelphia sports history One of the franchise's all-time greats both on and off the field Brandon Graham announced his retirement on Tuesday Relive the future Eagles Hall of Famer's career through his perspective the Eagles' nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award is surprised by some of the people outside of the football world who have been touched by his kindness and generosity. but the Eagles had something special in store for Brandon Graham Brandon Graham set the Eagles' record for most regular-season games played last Sunday during the thrilling overtime win against the Bills Graham reflects on his journey from a first-round draft pick in 2010 to now and how his family has supported him to become one of the most beloved players in franchise history on the latest Eagles Unscripted Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham will set the record for the most regular-season games played in team history so let's relive the most iconic highlights from his career on the newest episode of Eagles React From his very first sack in the NFL to his iconic strip-sack against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII don't miss the best plays from his time in Philadelphia! This is the Mic'd Up you've all been waiting for and Head Coach Nick Sirianni in the biggest game of the season Watch the Eagles as they put on a DOMINANT performance against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX and listen in on everything these World Champions had to say What happens during a team interview at the NFL Scouting Combine check out this exclusive look at the Eagles' meeting with Jalen Hurts at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine and the franchise quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles Join the Philadelphia Eagles as they prepare for Super Bowl LIX versus the Kansas City Chiefs Get an inside look at how the players prepared themselves both physically and mentally to face the Chiefs in the biggest game of the season and celebrate their World Championship All this and more on this episode of Unscripted Check out this incredible drone footage of the Eagles Championship Parade The Hype Video for Super Bowl LIX narrated by Bradley Cooper brings all the fire just ahead of the big game Ross Tucker previews Super Bowl LIX. Order Little Caesars online today for 15% off your order of $15+ using code EAGLES15 at checkout Nick Murray Willis illustrates how the Eagles won the NFC Championship. Relive the journey before Sunday's Super Bowl Kickoff! Is the answer for Cooper DeJean's favorite play (so far) from his rookie season an obvious one? Also, LeBron James responds to not giving Cooper DeJean his props at a recent Sixers-Lakers game. Who knew that if you wanted to get people in Philadelphia to be more engaged in reading, you just needed A.J. Brown to experience Inner Excellence on the sideline during a game? The cameos in this are fantastic, but you MUST stay all the way until the end! There is NO better person to take you through the hilarity of Super Bowl Opening Night than C.J. Gardner-Johnson. From the bus ride to Caesars Superdome to the hour entertaining the media, you won't believe what the starting safety has in store for you. What does it take to perform like an All-Pro wide receiver? A.J. Brown takes you through his workout as the team prepares for Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs. Having Eagles Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio answer your questions went exactly as expected, which makes this feature hilarious. How did Howie Roseman execute the trade to get linebacker Jihaad Campbell? Why was Andrew Mukuba such a highly sought-after target in the second round? What did the Eagles want to accomplish on the final day of the 2025 NFL Draft? It's all here in the post-draft episode of Unscripted, presented by Lincoln Financial. Join first-round pick Jihaad Campbell in his first 24 hours as an Eagle. From the moment he gets selected to his tour of the facilities in Philadelphia, every moment of Campbell's first day as an Eagle is right here for your viewing pleasure! All this and more in an exclusive feature, presented by Firstrust Bank. From linebacker Jihaad Campbell in the first round all the way to outside linebacker Antwaun Powell-Ryland in the sixth round, check out the phone calls and college highlights for all 10 members of the Eagles Draft Class of 2025. The 2025 NFL Draft is just days away, which means it's Howie Roseman's time to shine. Which GM is always up for doing a deal? Who is his favorite all-time draft pick? The two-time Super Bowl Champion General Manager answers YOUR questions in this exclusive feature. From DeVonta Smith to Cooper DeJean, take a look at the best Mic'd Up moments from the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX winning season. After all of the celebrations, the preparation for the 2025 season begin quickly for the Super Bowl LIX Champions. Take an exclusive look inside the Eagles' 2025 offseason on the latest episode of Unscripted, presented by Lincoln Financial. To kick off Autism Acceptance Month, the Eagles hosted their annual Huddle Up for Autism to raise critical funds for autism research at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Check out a recap of this fun-filled day and be on the lookout for next year's date. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the Philadelphia Eagles' 2024 Championship season. From Brazil to Bourbon Street to Broad Street, relive this 52-minute reflection of one of the most magical seasons in Philadelphia sports history! One of the franchise's all-time greats both on and off the field, Brandon Graham announced his retirement on Tuesday. Relive the future Eagles Hall of Famer's career through his perspective. Brandon Graham, the Eagles' nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, presented by Nationwide, is surprised by some of the people outside of the football world who have been touched by his kindness and generosity.. It seemed like a typical end of practice, but the Eagles had something special in store for Brandon Graham. You won't want to miss this!! Brandon Graham set the Eagles' record for most regular-season games played last Sunday during the thrilling overtime win against the Bills. Graham reflects on his journey from a first-round draft pick in 2010 to now and how his family has supported him to become one of the most beloved players in franchise history on the latest Eagles Unscripted, presented by Lincoln Financial Group. Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham will set the record for the most regular-season games played in team history so let's relive the most iconic highlights from his career on the newest episode of Eagles React. From his very first sack in the NFL to his iconic strip-sack against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII don't miss the best plays from his time in Philadelphia!! This is the Mic'd Up you've all been waiting for! Join Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, Zack Baun, and Head Coach Nick Sirianni in the biggest game of the season. Watch the Eagles as they put on a DOMINANT performance against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, and listen in on everything these World Champions had to say! What happens during a team interview at the NFL Scouting Combine? Well, check out this exclusive look at the Eagles' meeting with Jalen Hurts at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. Five years later, Hurts is a Super Bowl MVP, two-time NFC Champion, two-time Pro Bowl selection, and the franchise quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. Join the Philadelphia Eagles as they prepare for Super Bowl LIX versus the Kansas City Chiefs. Get an inside look at how the players prepared themselves both physically and mentally to face the Chiefs in the biggest game of the season and celebrate their World Championship. All this and more on this episode of Unscripted, presented by Lincoln Financial. Check out this incredible drone footage of the Eagles Championship Parade, presented by Bud Light. It all comes down to this. The Hype Video for Super Bowl LIX narrated by Bradley Cooper brings all the fire just ahead of the big game. Ross Tucker previews Super Bowl LIX. Order Little Caesars online today for 15% off your order of $15+ using code EAGLES15 at checkout. Excludes taxes and fees. Nick Murray Willis illustrates how the Eagles won the NFC Championship. Relive the journey before Sunday's Super Bowl Kickoff! Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardPhiladelphia won’t have a cardinal elector in the conclave deciding the next pope is outside the age cutoff for the conclave to select Pope Francis' successor the Catholic Church’s cardinals will meet Wednesday in Vatican City to decide the next pontiff through a long-standing tradition known as the papal conclave But for the first time in nearly half a century Philadelphia will not have a cardinal casting a vote to decide the future bishop of Rome Following custom that dates back to the 13th century the papal conclave will see cardinals from around the world travel to Rome to cast their votes for Francis’ successor — who will be the Catholic Church’s first new leader in more than a decade The church’s College of Cardinals currently has 252 members but only slightly more than half of them — 135 — are eligible to vote in this conclave Eligibility for voting cardinals — or cardinal electors Cardinals must be younger than 80 to participate in a conclave which is a relatively new rule in the Catholic Church A vast majority of cardinal electors in this conclave were appointed by Pope Francis, and come from roughly 70 countries around the world, according to data from the Vatican Only 10 cardinal electors come from the United States Rigali is well outside of the age cutoff for cardinal electors about two years after Pope Francis was elected to lead the Catholic Church did participate in the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis as well as the 2005 conclave that resulted in Pope Benedict XVI’s eight-year run as pontiff Pope John Paul II made Rigali a cardinal in 2003 the same year he began serving as archbishop of Philadelphia Rigali remained in that position until 2011 when he retired amid the fallout of a second grand jury report on clergy sex abuse in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as he submitted his resignation in 2010 when he turned 75 Pope Benedict XVI named Archbishop Charles Chaput as Rigali’s successor and Chaput held that position until his own retirement in 2020 Prior orders from the Vatican addressed other age limits including the requirement for leaders to tender their resignation at age 75 Pope Paul VI’s 1971 decree extended similar rules to the church’s cardinals noting that “the good of the Church demands that the increasing burden of age should be taken into consideration also for the illustrious office of the cardinalate.” If a cardinal’s 80th birthday happens during a conclave they don’t have to leave in the middle of voting they can continue to “enjoy the right of electing the pope on that occasion.” The rule, according to National Catholic Reporter has to do with easing travel burdens for older cardinals as they must travel to Rome to participate in person starting with Archbishop Dennis Joseph Dougherty whom Pope Benedict XV made a cardinal in 1921 may recognize the name from Cardinal Dougherty High School a former Archdiocese of Philadelphia school that closed in 2010 other pontiffs have appointed four more Philadelphia cardinals: Archbishop Emeritus John Joseph Krol (1967) Archbishop Emeritus Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua (1991) Archbishop Emeritus Justin Francis Rigali (2003) While five cardinals in more than a century may appear to be low for a highly Catholic region like Philadelphia Philly has the third most cardinals of any U.S Philly has historically been known as something of a feeder city for bishops being elevated to cardinals — though Pope Francis notably avoided choosing new cardinals from traditional cities during his time as pontiff Since Philly’s first cardinal in 1921, there have been nine papal conclaves — including the one starting Wednesday. Philadelphia cardinals participated in five of them, according to data from Catholic-Hierarchy.org Rigali becomes the latest Philly cardinal to miss out Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardLarry Krasner for Philadelphia district attorney | EndorsementKrasner has shown signs that while he remains a reformer intent on reducing incarcerations and bringing accountability to law enforcement and other jurisdictions — reform-minded district attorneys have fallen out of fashion many of them scapegoated as their policies meant to curb mass incarceration ran headlong into a rise of homicides and retail theft during the pandemic one of the country’s original progressive prosecutors deserves a third term Larry Krasner has earned the Editorial Board’s endorsement the district attorney race will likely be decided in the Democratic primary » READ MORE: The high cost of police misconduct | Editorial While police unions and their allies have complained about a so-called chilling effect from Krasner’s zealous prosecution of officer misconduct the prospect of being held to the same laws they are sworn to uphold shouldn’t merit a second thought from the upstanding officers who make up the overwhelming majority of Philadelphia’s law enforcement community In addition to keeping the current roster of police honest His department’s Conviction Integrity Unit which has successfully overturned the convictions of more than 40 people is another effort Philadelphians should be proud of No one should spend their life sitting in prison for an offense they did not commit. As Philadelphia’s own Benjamin Franklin said nearly 250 years ago, it is better that a “hundred guilty persons go free than that one innocent should suffer.” The district attorney should be mindful of those perceptions and work scrupulously to avoid any bouts of pertinacity that could undermine what he has accomplished Krasner has also been criticized for being prickly and hard to work with and that he thinks too much like the defense attorney he was Those qualities — and his policy choices — make Krasner an easy target for those looking to assign blame for the surge in crime during his tenure there are certainly echoes of Krasner’s previous life in his decision-making it would be just as difficult to single out the district attorney as the cause of pandemic-era spikes in crime as it would be to fully credit him for recent reductions in homicides and shootings across the city There were 171 homicides in the first four months of the year in 2021; this year there were 63 — a decline that is among the sharpest in the nation Krasner has shown signs that while he remains a reformer Krasner was heavily focused on his plans to hold bad police officers accountable and change the culture of the office and he had much less to say about his office’s role in reducing and preventing crime Krasner acknowledged that sometimes penalties need to be imposed for behaviors to change Whether or not he understood that balance eight years ago matters much less than the fact that he clearly does now » READ MORE: Circumventing DA Larry Krasner is not the answer to city’s gun woes | Editorial former President Judge of the Municipal Court Patrick Dugan he would strive to hold police accountable and invest in diversionary programs while focusing on violent and repeat offenders He would also devote more attention and staff to work with families of crime victims which has been a recurring critique of the district attorney’s office under Krasner “We got enough profiles and cowardice out there right now that we are going to need some fighters in every major city,” Krasner said about standing up to the Trump administration. “I am happy to volunteer to be a fighter in Philadelphia if I get another term.” Voters should ensure they have Krasner fighting on their side. The Barstool president said he would send students to Auschwitz for a ‘learning experience’ after an antisemitic sign was held up in his bar I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Dave Portnoy shared footage of his “screaming match” with an ABC journalist after the pair clashed over a recent incident in which an antisemitic sign was held up by two college students at the Barstool Sports founder’s Philadelphia bar. The incident occurred when patrons ordered bottle service at Barstool Sansom Street a service which includes a personalized sign that was shown and displayed The customers in question chose to show a sign reading “F*** the Jews.” The Barstool president said Sunday he would be paying to send the pair involved to the Auschwitz concentration camp so they can learn from their behavior said he wanted to turn the “hideous” incident into a learning experience admitting it was “cliche and very unlike me.” In a follow-up post on his X account, Portnoy wrote: “I just got in a screaming match with ABC Philadelphia scumbag reporter who tried to blame me and Barstool and white men for the ‘F*** the Jews’ sign.” he claimed that ABC Philadelphia had “begged” him to do an interview on the subject He went on to say that the reporter assigned to the interview changed at the last minute and that after a few introductory questions she did “what a media scumbag does.” He claimed she quoted a professor writing in a “made-up journal” to make the case that “Barstool Sports creates a culture of harassment and that basically I’m responsible for this happening at my own bar.” The Independent has contacted ABC 6 for comment you’re saying some liberal college professor said they don’t like Barstool?” If you sign up to this service we will earn commission This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent He then cut to footage shot during the interview itself in which he hit back at the reporter by claiming that the real responsibility for creating hatred lies with “all these colleges who let Jewish kids get harassed on campuses 24/7 I’ve been speaking out about this since it started.” He asked the journalist: “Who would you say is creating more hate right now in the world: Barstool Sports and white men Portnoy angrily closed his laptop to end the interview Temple University in Philadelphia has acknowledged that their students were involved in the incident In a statement, the University’s President John Fry said: “In the strongest terms possible, let me be clear: antisemitism is abhorrent. It has no place at Temple and acts of hatred and discrimination against any person or persons are not tolerated at this university. “Our Division of Student Affairs is conducting an investigation related to last night’s incident, and they have identified one Temple student who is believed to have been involved. This individual has already been placed on interim suspension.” Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies After Dave Dombrowski acquired Jesus Luzardo to shore up the fifth spot this past winter an injury suffered by Ranger Suarez in the spring prevented the Phillies from seeing what this group could do during the early going of the season and with a chance to secure a sweep for Philadelphia on Sunday the fan favorite took the mound for the first time in 2025 After recording four strikeouts in back-to-back three up, three down innings, Suarez was hammered by the Arizona Diamondbacks in innings three and four. He walked the second batter of the third frame and then gave up a single, an RBI double and a two-run RB single. Then in the fourth, he immediately recorded two outs before allowing a single and issuing a walk, setting up a two-run RBI double, an RBI infield single and an RBI single before he was pulled. On the day, Suarez was charged with seven earned runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings of work, striking out six and walking two. It wasn't quite the return he wanted, but his underlying statistics looked positive. Last year, Suarez averaged 91.9 mph on his four-seam fastball and 90.8 mph on his sinker, and in this one, his four-seamer sat at 91.5 mph with it peaking at 93.2, while his sinker was 91.8 mph on average with the fastest being 92.6. That's a good sign that he's healthy and has put his back stiffness behind him. The next step for Suarez is regaining his control and not allowing things to snowball on him, both things that will come with the more starts he gets. Overall, it was a disappointing outing for Suarez, but there was plenty to get excited about when it comes to how this rotation might look with the talented southpaw back in the mix. Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboard‘Ghosts’ of long-demolished Philly buildings have stories to tell "Building Ghosts," a recent book from Temple University Press suggests new ways to look at durable artifacts displayed on party walls across Philly All that’s left of 2716 N. 12th St. in North Philadelphia are sun-bleached rectangles of plaster clinging to the party wall of an adjacent house that still stands and tilework overlook demolition sites in the city’s older neighborhoods — like illustrations for a story about depopulation Cornog’s is among several dozen vignettes in the book about some of the people who lived in what are now empty spaces attest to “centuries of human life in Philadelphia.” Said Bixler, editorial director and chief photographer of Hidden City Philadelphia: “I sought to dignify the buildings and dignify the people who lived in them more compassionate approach when photographing these remains of people’s homes.” During an April interview on North Fourth Street in Northern Liberties at a “double ghost” — their term for a midblock demolition site with party walls on either side — Lester and Bixler said their book aims to spark public conversations about demolition in Philadelphia “People need to ask why there are so many ghosts in North Philadelphia and why are so many of them the results of [mass] demolition programs,” Lester said “We need to not treat demolition as the only option.” He said one of Whole Home’s goals is to stave off housing abandonment by helping property owners pay for essential repairs “We need to reflect on the historic loss of housing stock particularly where it is most prominent,” Saval said ”North Philadelphia and other neighborhoods have seen high levels of disinvestment and We need to think about what we can do differently." Bixler said he chose to take most of his photographs on sunny days to better capture the fossil-like traces on the party walls and to provide context by showing their surroundings Many of his images also suggest the resilience of the rowhouses and other structures whose companions have been amputated Bixler and Lester also said they were determined to avoid the voyeurism and melodrama associated with the “ruin porn” genre of urban photography that became a cliché in late 1990s “The book isn’t a study of decay,” Lester said “It’s about the homes people created for themselves and their families in these places.” Bixler and Lester separately became interested in what they chose to call building ghosts (also known as ghost buildings) They became acquainted after Lester wrote a piece for Hidden City and decided to do a joint project on the subject Lester received a seed grant for research from the Sachs Program for Arts Innovation at Penn and they began to survey the city for building ghosts on what turned out to be the eve of the pandemic They found 194 and opted to include 81 in the book and what Lester described as “registration cards issued during World War II” helped assemble the narratives “The traces of these lives require a different kind of investigation than buildings with famous names and famous architects,” Lester said “This kind of detective work is what I love the most Elizabeth Cornog was living in a rented room at 2716 N when a three-alarm fire broke out at the nearby Cookman United Methodist Church on the night of Aug Cookman ran inside the burning church and “rescued as many records as possible,” Lester wrote A rowhouse at 701 S. 19th St. in South Philadelphia that was constructed in 1866 housed a family-owned bakery for decades before becoming the headquarters of the National Baptist Convention’s international missionary operation for 105 years until it was demolished in 2019 gradually evolved from being the residence of an “undertaker” and his wife into a funeral parlor The book offers “a unique window into our city’s past through the lives of everyday people using tangible and very visible remnants of the buildings in which they were born the editor-in-chief of Temple University Press Some of the building ghosts documented in the book have disappeared since the authors did their field research five years ago due to new development building ghosts seem likely to linger for decades they can hasten the demise of an adjacent house and affect the quality of life in the neighborhood,” he said “They should be covered over with stucco to protect them.” is awash in natural light thanks to dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows that are nearly 11 feet tall ","type":"text"},{"_id":"XZIV4MQZUNFTROKGMA5EXAGOAM","referent":{"id":"XZIV4MQZUNFTROKGMA5EXAGOAM","provider":"","referent_properties":{},"type":"image"},"type":"reference","additional_properties":{"_do_not_inflate":true}},{"_id":"F2XASJGSQFB6NGG3HLLEYOQUZU","additional_properties":{},"content":"The primary bedroom is the home’s jewel ","type":"text"},{"_id":"6NXJLODVG5FD3KMO2NTW5HLHCU","additional_properties":{},"content":"“And you don’t have to worry about neighbors peering in your windows because no one else is up as high,” Bolaris said.","type":"text"},{"_id":"3DLNCDGMZZDRZA4BFV6IUXWDJM","additional_properties":{},"content":"The primary suite comes with a custom dressing area and a large walk-in closet ","type":"text"},{"_id":"YWLRZGMZ35HVJF4JUFXUBNCMKU","additional_properties":{},"content":"The kitchen features luxe Miele appliances and sleek Italian 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Philadelphians went on to believe that William Penn had “cursed” the city for breaking the agreement barring any major sports team from winning a championship That “curse” held for more than two decades until the Phillies “broke” it in 2008 by winning the World Series.","type":"text"},{"_id":"PAQFJGT4ZRFITFTZGYHMGBDH4E","referent":{"id":"PAQFJGT4ZRFITFTZGYHMGBDH4E","provider":"","referent_properties":{},"type":"image"},"type":"reference","additional_properties":{"_do_not_inflate":true}},{"_id":"OEGTJJ6VX5H3XC64AFFKGTKHWA","additional_properties":{},"content":"Pitcher Cole Hamels later became one of Two Liberty‘s famous residents ","type":"text"},{"_id":"SXV6KQU7U5FOLK7VCGOVIL3YQQ","additional_properties":{},"content":"Other notable people who shared the address over the years include Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler reality star Kendra Wilkinson and Eagles player Hank Bassett and mega-millionaire-turned-political-hopeful Tom Knox ","type":"text"},{"_id":"C5IQLCOTOJARHCXMTXZY3DM2E4","additional_properties":{},"content":"Current residents of Two Liberty have access to a wide array of amenities: a 24-hour door attendant and daily breakfast and lunch service in an exclusive dining room The 37th floor was renovated a year ago to include an upgraded fitness center and a steam room.","type":"text"},{"_id":"C3DCECMJERHLFLHNALNSSYIZ4Y","referent":{"id":"C3DCECMJERHLFLHNALNSSYIZ4Y","provider":"","referent_properties":{},"type":"image"},"type":"reference","additional_properties":{"_do_not_inflate":true}},{"_id":"T3OFO4DY75H6PLTN7AJYMPB7W4","additional_properties":{},"content":"But the views are the biggest perk ","type":"text"},{"_id":"A4F6UY6OLZFU7O2HBFEBPGRGOE","additional_properties":{},"content":"“Every angle you have views 0) + 10px);margin:calc(0px - (var(--nav-height 0.8);background:var(--color-background);color:var(--color-text-primary)}.inno-mode--dark{--color-background: #222222;--color-background-secondary: #595760;--color-accent: #8dd7f7;--color-over-accent: #222222;--color-text-primary: #ffffff;--color-text-secondary: #dcdcdc;--color-text-tertiary: #808284;--color-text-link: #8dd7f7;--color-faint: #595760;--color-mask: rgba(255 #222222);line-height:1.5em;text-wrap-style:balance}.inno-byline__author{display:inline}.inno-byline__author-link,.inno-byline__authors a{color:var(--color-text-primary #222222);text-decoration:none;transition:color .4s ease-in-out}.inno-byline__author-link:hover,.inno-byline__authors a:hover{color:var(--color-text-link Take a home design quiz to see if you can spot recent trends in renovation.Quiz yourself on 2024 home renovation trends related to projects Maybe you’re not completely happy with your house but home prices are keeping you from buying something else Houzz surveyed more than 20,000 homeowners across the country who use its platform for its annual report about renovation trends Test how much you know about recent remodeling trends What is the median amount homeowners spent on renovations XX% of other readers got this question right Homeowners spent a median of $20,000 in 2024 Homeowners were most likely to use which method to pay for renovation projects Credit cardsCash from a home saleSavingsCorrectIncorrect Homeowners used an array of financial sources to cover renovation costs but most – 84% – tapped into their savings In what year did renovation spending hit a peak The median amount homeowners spent on renovations peaked in 2023 at $24,000 Homeowners in the top 90th percentile spent _____ or more on renovations These top spenders shelled out $140,000 or more on renovations Generation XMillennialsGeneration ZCorrectIncorrect Baby boomers accounted for 59% of homeowners who renovated Major remodels of two spaces drove the remodeling market: kitchens and ____ Dining roomsBathroomsBedroomsCorrectIncorrect Bathroom and kitchen remodels are most popular although spending on both was down in 2024 Kitchen renovations historically were most popular What was the most common outdoor structure project Decks were the most common outdoor structure with 14% of surveyed homeowners who renovated tackling this project What was homeowners’ top motivation for remodeling last year Wanting to sell their homeDeciding not to buy another homeFinally having the timeCorrectIncorrect 40% of surveyed homeowners who renovated last year said they did so because they finally have the time followed by 35% who said they finally have the financial resources What share of homeowners who renovated plan to stay in their home for at least another 11 years About 3 in 5 – or 61% – of homeowners plan to stay in their newly renovated home for a while Nice try, but you may want to watch some more HGTV. To learn more about real estate trends and news, read The Inquirer’s coverage. Not bad, but you’ll probably want to do some more research before you tackle any future home renovations. To learn more about real estate trends and news, read The Inquirer’s coverage. Good job! You now have permission to tell friends and family where they’re going wrong with their home renovations. To learn more about real estate trends and news, read The Inquirer’s coverage. Congrats! With your knowledge of renovation trends, you should feel comfortable yelling suggestions during home reno TV shows. To learn more about real estate trends and news, read The Inquirer’s coverage. Behind the Line is Foobooz’s interview series with the people who make up Philly’s dynamic bar and restaurant scene. For the complete archives, go here he poured a couple of the brand’s tequilas and mezcals for me to try pairing them unexpectedly with local cheeses creamy notes in the liquor — totally different than the smoke-dominant mezcal I was accustomed to he showed me something I’d never seen before: cooked pieces of agave from the very same plant that had produced the mezcal I was drinking It brought to life something I’d known but not understood so viscerally: that agave spirits are expressive of the plants that make them Dan’s ease with the topic and friendly knowledge made me want to learn (and drink!) more Not long after that, a kitchen fire ravaged Tequilas, forcing the family to close for more than two years as they rebuilt and reimagined the whole space Dan is now preparing to introduce Philadelphia to La Jefa which has transformed the back half of Tequilas’s building into an all-day cafe with natural wine and agave-focused cocktails We chatted about how he’s brought La Jefa to life the connections between Philadelphia and Guadalajara The idea for La Jefa came from … my mom’s nickname and everyone said “La Jefa!” at the same time And that’s kind of when it clicked for me that I wanted to open a restaurant or bar with that name I see it as the next evolution of Tequilas because … Tequilas needed to grow and it was pushing forward the conversation in Philadelphia about what Mexican food could be The whole thing is trying to do what Tequilas did in the beginning The process of rebuilding the restaurant has been … long It has taken so much longer than any of us thought but it also has given us the chance to really think about what matters to us in this space it all came from Mexico and I think you can feel that when you’re in here La Jefa will serve … a really amazing brunch every day we’re open which is like a carnitas sandwich kind of drowned in a tomato sauce with this idea of Guadaladelphia that we’re exploring rooted in traditional stuff but we’re serving it the way people are doing it now in Mexico My favorite dish is … the pastrami de lengua on the lunch menu We’re calling it Guadaladelphian food because … we want to represent what’s going on right now in Mexico and the connections between Mexico and Philly The coffee program is led by … Shakur Armstrong, our head of coffee and fermentation. We’re sourcing beans from Mexico through a partnership with Cafe Estelar which is this amazing coffee roaster in Guadalajara but also Mexican coffee drinks that you can’t really get anywhere else in Philly La Jefa will change into … two different bar programs while the back will be a more intimate space with a different menu we’re calling La Jefa Milpa The difference is … La Jefa Cafe will be more casual with amazing house-fermented high balls with things like an agave soda we’re fermenting ourselves out of cooked agave we’re importing from our distillers but Shakur is making this incredible ginger beer from scratch Milpa refers to the oldest style of farming in the world and the idea is that each cocktail is going to be symbolic of an ingredient that’s a part of that all ingredients that are important in Mexico My collaborator on this is … Danny Childs He and I have become friends and we went down to Mexico and brought back tons of ingredients that we’ve been using to develop the recipes and we’ve had a ton of fun working together on this cocktail program My favorite cocktail is … this masa Ramos that we’re doing pulling from a traditional Ramos gin fizz [which has egg white and heavy cream.] It’s a corn spirit base called pox and it kind of drinks like a masa milkshake Tequilas’s style is … educationally focused hospitality but the purpose for them is to kind of like be a window into what’s going on in Mexico and in the world I hope La Jefa will be … a space where people can come and have fun You can dance a little bit and have a great mezcal in your hand and also feel really connected to the story that we want to share I hope we do for cocktails what Tequilas did for Mexican food 16 Philly Restaurants Offering Passover and Easter Specials Philly’s Best Wine Clubs: Your Guide to Curated Bottles and Exclusive Sips Howie Roseman, who is considered among the best general manager's in the National Football League, made several calls to other teams in an effort to move up In a recently released behind the scenes video Roseman is seen trying multiple times unsuccessful to execute a trade up in the first-round Holmes expressed he received some interest in trading down, but did not feel compelled to execute a deal, due to their strong conviction in wanting to draft Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Tyleik Williams. "I appreciate the honesty. Detroit I just spoke to, they said no," Roseman explained in the Eagles war room. At one point, he turned to Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and expressed he was trying diligently to make a trade, but was finding it difficult. The Washington Commanders told him it would cost them an "in-division tax," meaning they would be asking for quite a bit more to trade out of the 29th spot. Washington ended up staying and selecting offensive lineman Josh Conerly Jr. Philadelphia finally found a trade partner, executing a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, sending a fifth-round pick to move up one spot from 32 to 31. The Eagles selected Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell, who Roseman said was worth losing a fifth-round pick for. Kansas City then selected Ohio State offensive lineman Josh Simmons with the 32nd pick, the final selection on the first day of the draft. Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardCommunity College of Philadelphia holds commencement amid leadership tumult1,800 students graduate as former president and board trade allegations in court Saturday was a birthday to remember for Fatoumata Sacko The Community College of Philadelphia mathematics major rang in her 22nd trip around the sun on the stage of Temple University’s Liacouras Center where she delivered the college’s commencement address to 1,800 fellow members of the school’s 2025 graduating class who moved to Philadelphia — and the United States — from the West African nation of Mali in November 2022 when she was 19 years old spoke of the community she found at the college as an immigrant and a new mother “This is what CCP gave us: the power to rise no matter where we started,” Sacko said “Each of us has overcome something and each of us is proof that the school’s leadership finds itself pushing through a mushrooming controversy over the dismissal of its former president The college’s board of trustees removed Generals from his position in April voting not to renew his contract and placing him on paid administrative leave until his term ends in June Generals, 69 and a former vice president for academic affairs at New Jersey’s Mercer County Community College, had led the school since 2014 In a lawsuit filed last week Generals alleged he was fired as retaliation for refusing to direct college contracts to individuals and businesses with personal connections to board chair Harold T the board of trustees called the allegations “frivolous and without merit,” and said it “intends to vigorously defend against them.” None of the commencement’s speakers addressed the swirling controversy on Saturday In introductory remarks, Alycia Marshall, a former provost and vice president for academic and student success whom the board had appointed interim president less than a week earlier relayed her story of overcoming challenges to become first a mathematics professor and department head at Maryland’s Anne Arundel Community College Lauding those graduates who had faced down challenges of their own — such as financial struggles or raising children — while attending classes Marshall referenced Maya Angelou’s poem “And Still I Rise.” “If you are proud of yourself today — and I want you to say it with me — and still Epps similarly avoided any mention of the dispute in which he figures prominently instead urging graduates to trust in their abilities as they go forth into the world of work and life “Let this ceremony be just the beginning — not the end — of occasions to celebrate your accomplishments,” Epps said the first Black lieutenant governor in Pennsylvania history and the youngest lieutenant governor in the country a first-generation college graduate and former state representative spoke of his working-class roots growing up in southwestern Pennsylvania and urged graduates to appreciate the trailblazers who came before them as he recalled his own family’s journey from the South as part of the Great Migration “I don’t think in my grandparents’ wildest dreams would they think their grandson would someday occupy the second highest office in this commonwealth,” he said And he exhorted the assembled graduates to embrace service to their communities work to serve the people in your life and in your community Help those who are less fortunate,” he said “Fight injustice wherever and whenever you see it.” a judge denied Generals’ request for an injunction to reinstate him as president among other “individuals and businesses with whom (Epps) had personal and professional ties.” called the claims in the new filing “patently false” and characterized them as an effort “to discredit and defame” Epps and the board after they refused Generals’ demand for an excessive severance package “This is a blatant and unscrupulous attempt to shake down the board and a publicly funded institution,” Anderson said The controversy burst into public view just a couple weeks after what was a triumph for the school’s administration: the settlement of a new contract with the college’s faculty and staff union The agreement was reached just hours before workers were set to strike potentially disrupting final exams and the commencement their futures bright even as the path forward for the university and its leadership is decidedly less clear Cloudy with more rounds of showers and possibly some downpours or a t-storm An Insomnia Cookies location operates in Center City Philadelphia Insomnia Cookies offers a wide variety of delicious cookies - A rapidly expanding late-night bakery concept freshly baked cookies" into the early morning hours is planning to open its first Lehigh Valley location mixed-use development – featuring more than 70 luxury apartments – on East Third Street between Buchanan and Pierce streets in south Bethlehem The new Insomnia Cookies location will operate in a space near the middle of Six 10 Flats' ground floor director of business development for Peron Development Building and electrical permits for the new Insomnia Cookies location are currently displayed in the 606 E with the building permit's description reading "interior fit-out of existing vacant commercial space (baker - Insomnia Cookes)." A target opening date for the Bethlehem location has not yet been announced and an Insomnia Cookies spokesperson did not return a message seeking more information Founded at the University of Pennsylvania by then-student Seth Berkowitz Insomnia Cookies has been "feeding the insatiable hunger of loyal Insomniacs" since 2003 "It starts as so many great stories do: a group of college friends up late in a dorm (we'll say they were studying.. use your imagination) with a craving for something delicious," a message on Insomnia Cookies' website reads "They wanted to satisfy not only their late-night cravings but their insatiable hunger for adventure; for those stories that can only happen when the sun goes down and the Insomniac comes out late-night food options weren't cutting it With eateries closed and spotty delivery options Seth took matters into his own hands (oven mitts?) imagining a business that catered to people just like him: Insomniacs." Insomnia Cookies' menu includes "classic cookies" such as chocolate chunk sugar and white chocolate macadamia; and "deluxe cookies" such as chocolate peanut butter cup Customers also can enjoy brownies such as chocolate chip brownies chocolate chunk brookies and chocolate chunk blondies; ice cream combined with warm cookies and brownies; and cookie cakes The new Bethlehem location of Insomnia Cookies will operate a few doors down from a new location of Wingstop a fast-casual chain specializing in cooked-to-order classic and boneless chicken wings The south Bethlehem Wingstop location opened in December Email notifications are only sent once a day Headlines and Weather delivered directly to your inbox Your source for important local government and business events delivered Tue to Sat Your daily headlines and complete forecast from 69 News meteorologists delivered every morning around 6am The latest headlines plus find out what's coming up tonight on 69News Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Kendrick Lamar and SZA are bringing the Grand National Tour to Philadelphia. It may only be early May, but things are heating up like it's the heart of the summer at the city's biggest venue... Lincoln Financial Field in South Philly we put together a list of EVERYTHING you need to know ahead of the show right here: The event time for tonight’s show is listed as 7:00 p.m we know that the headlining acts won’t come out for a bit longer we have more details on when you can expect to see these two superstars on stage posted for you below The concert is rain or shine at Lincoln Financial Field Yes, we've all seen the forecast. But a little rain won't affect the concert. You can click here to see the FULL Forecast from 94.5 PST's Chief Meteorologist Dan Zarrow. READ MORE: These Are The 27 Concerts You MUST See in Philly  Concerts are only delayed for severe weather (like lightning or heavy winds) that pose safety hazards you may very well be out enjoying the show during a downpour tonight Here's more info on the weather forecast, by the way Yes, there is an opening act on this tour. After months of fan speculation that it would be Doechii Instead, Mustard will be joining the duo as the opening act for the event for a DJ set each night on the tour (including in Philadelphia) SZA and Kendrick will take to the stager at 8:15, per our best guest-imates. We came to this conclusion based on the other stops on the tour (thanks to Setlist.fm!) PRO-TIP: If you’re tailgating in Lot K or at Xfinity Live because you don’t want to miss any of this show So traffic in South Philly will certainly be busy ahead of the event So it will likely take some time to enter the stadium and get into your seat Some tickets remain throughout the stadium for tonight's show You can click here to view the listing on Ticketmaster.com to grab your tickets. so be sure to check before purchasing your tickets You can also check resale websites (like Stubhub) but it's best to use safety when purchasing tickets online if you're looking for a discount PRO-TIP: Lot K is usually the first to open at Lincoln Financial Field That's where a good party usually happens before an Eagles game IMPORTANT UPDATE: Parking has increased from last year's concert season It'll be $40 for cars and $80 for oversized vehicles All the parking lots in the stadium complex are open for the shows READ MORE: Why Did Jalen Hurts REALLY Skip The White House Visit? this is the ONLY big event in the bustling stadium complex The Philadelphia Phillies are NOT playing at home either night and no major events are scheduled inside the Wells Fargo Center as well So that certainly helps with traffic flow as more than 60,000 people flood in for the show By the way, we've got a map posted for you here. Lots A-M are closest to the field. Remember, these are CASHLESS payments only at the Linc, so you need to use a digital payment (or credit card). We’ve got a sneak peek at the setlist from the music superstar, but of course, that contains spoilers. So you can click here to view it.But if you like to be surprised by the order of songs at a show However, if you’re like me… you may want to use this to plan a bathroom break (or two). The weather forecast is certainly looking wet this week, but unfortunately, umbrellas are NOT allowed in the venue.More prohibited items can be found on the Linc’s official website by clicking here The stadium follows the NFL Clear Bag policy at all concerts and events So you'll want to pack a poncho or raincoat as shows typically continue in the rain They usually only pause a concert for lightning or high winds — neither of which are too likely at this time Gallery Credit: Joe, 94.5 PST From setlist info to parking info and baggage policies and more, we put together a list of EVERYTHING you need to know ahead of the show right here.\nRead More Kendrick Lamar and SZA are bringing the Grand National Tour to Philadelphia. It may only be early May, but things are heating up like it's the heart of the summer at the city's biggest venue... Lincoln Financial Field in South Philly Yes, we've all seen the forecast. But a little rain won't affect the concert. You can click here to see the FULL Forecast from 94.5 PST's Chief Meteorologist Dan Zarrow. READ MORE: These Are The 27 Concerts You MUST See in Philly  Here's more info on the weather forecast, by the way Yes, there is an opening act on this tour. After months of fan speculation that it would be Doechii Instead, Mustard will be joining the duo as the opening act for the event for a DJ set each night on the tour (including in Philadelphia) SZA and Kendrick will take to the stager at 8:15, per our best guest-imates. We came to this conclusion based on the other stops on the tour (thanks to Setlist.fm!) You can click here to view the listing on Ticketmaster.com to grab your tickets. READ MORE: Why Did Jalen Hurts REALLY Skip The White House Visit? By the way, we've got a map posted for you here. Lots A-M are closest to the field. Remember, these are CASHLESS payments only at the Linc, so you need to use a digital payment (or credit card). We’ve got a sneak peek at the setlist from the music superstar, but of course, that contains spoilers. So you can click here to view it.But if you like to be surprised by the order of songs at a show However, if you’re like me… you may want to use this to plan a bathroom break (or two). The weather forecast is certainly looking wet this week, but unfortunately, umbrellas are NOT allowed in the venue.More prohibited items can be found on the Linc’s official website by clicking here On Saturday, the Eagles announced that they have signed cornerback Mac McWilliams to his four-year rookie contract. McWilliams joins linebacker Smael Mondon Jr., quarterback Kyle McCord, tackle Myles Hinton, and outside linebacker Antwaun Powell-Ryland, who inked their rookie contracts on Friday The Eagles selected McWilliams with the No. 145 pick in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft 191 pounds) started 11 games for Central Florida last season grading out as the team's best defender according to Pro Football Focus he was a team captain at UAB and also served as the primary punt returner along with 6.5 tackles for loss and a sack Assistant GM Alec Halaby's scouting report: "Some people see him outside, some people see him inside and I think the beauty of that is it often means you can play both inside and outside He has athletic and mental versatility where we've seen Mac play outside where he has the speed to carry verticals (routes) and he has a good feel at the top of the route he's a tough guy who can insert in the run game as need be I think Mac is going to find whatever spot is best for him We have a lot of belief that he can maximize what he can be." Jackson took part in this weekend's Rookie Minicamp on a tryout basis Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardXander Schauffele and most players will be flying blind at Philadelphia Cricket ClubSchauffele and Justin Thomas are three top players in the Truist Championship field But none of them will be the weekend’s biggest star who holds two major titles — the PGA Championship and the British Open — will be there who won the PGA Tour’s last “Signature Event,” the RBC Heritage They’re three of the top six golfers in the world It’s a 103-year-old masterpiece that combines architecture and artistry on the rolling hills of Southeastern Pennsylvania It will be the most significant event at the site since John Daly and the Senior Players Championship visited in 2016 The tournament, formerly — and most recently — known as the Wells Fargo before Truist became the title sponsor usually is held at Quail Hollow in North Carolina Not that the Truist is chopped liver; it’s the sixth of eight Signature Events on the PGA Tour so designated because of their $20 million purses (more than twice a regular nonmajor) Signature Events are part of the PGA Tour’s arsenal as it battles the riches and exclusivity of the rival LIV Tour almost none of the participants will be familiar with the course a big tournament with a lot of big players playing in it And I’ve heard really good things from people that live on the East Coast aboutthat property,” Schauffele said last month might be making an early scouting trip to Philly instead of Schauffele Most courses on the PGA Tour are annual stops but occasionally a major will intrude and push a tournament to another site That’s how Aronimink came to host the AT&T National in 2011 and 2012 as Congressional prepared for the 2012 U.S When Chambers Bay near Seattle hosted the 2015 U.S players visited early and consulted local caddies Officials say that no players have visited Cricket yet and none are expected until the week of the tournament None have even requested a meeting with any of Cricket’s caddies while Cricket is routinely ranked among the country’s top 100 courses it’s an out-of-the-way venue in a region that produces few professional golfers it’s unlikely that players would find themselves in any sort of amateur competition or even play a casual round at Cricket players didn’t know until last August where the event would be played the FedEx Cup playoffs were about to begin and most players were ready for some time off A particularly harsh spring in 2025 has made golfing in the Northeast especially unappealing and the Masters all falling before the Truist a trip to suburban Philadelphia to check out a course most of them will play only once in their careers just hasn’t been feasible The top 50 in the 2024 FedEx Cup standings through the second round of the playoffs automatically earn spots into 2025 Signature Event fields when the PGA Senior Tour visited Cricket in 2016 so won’t make it up there or anything,” said Cole “It’s good to have that in your back pocket.” There’s no institutional knowledge about Cricket on the PGA Tour, but a few players know what it’s like to play a big tournament in front of the country’s most rabid sports fans. Billy Horschel finished tied for fourth in the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore “The crowds have always been great in Philly They support golf very well,” Horschel began I’ll see the course the first time that Monday or Tuesday Kentucky-based golf architect Keith Foster completed the “redo” in 2014 but Foster does not presume to offer wisdom to the best players on the planet “They will look at it through their lens,” he said Cricket was not built with Xander and Rory in mind most players have developed games that begin with monster drives that leave short irons into greens Between the hickory-shafted clubs and the balata-sap balls and you had to use the foreground,” Foster said “Tillinghast believed the green actually started 30 to 40 yards out It starts on the fairway and blends seamlessly into the green-pad » READ MORE: Philadelphia Cricket Club and its final four holes a fine tribute to A.W. Tillinghast’s championship vision Foster compared the style to that of Winged Foot Golf Club where LIV Tour star Bryson DeChambeau won the 2020 U.S DeChambeau won’t be at Cricket — LIV players are banned from regular PGA Tour events — but McIlroy and Schauffele both finished in the top 10 at Winged Foot Will that experience give them an advantage next week Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardThe hidden history of Philadelphia’s window-box gardens and their role in urban reformDuring the 19th and 20th centuries female reformers promoted the plantings for charity and to spur urban renewal It’s that time of year when Philadelphia rowhouse owners with a green thumb fastidiously attend to their window boxes — selecting new plants to design an artful blend of colors Dümpelmann recently published an article on this history in the architectural journal Buildings & Landscapes When I first moved to Philadelphia from Cambridge I was immediately struck by the window boxes The lushness and freshness of the plants in many of the boxes made walking more pleasant and interesting This was especially the case in the hot summer months when I would often see plants from subtropical and tropical climates in the Rittenhouse Square I noticed that there were three categories of window boxes often freshly planted and decorated several times a year in accordance with the changing seasons Some were derelict and had spontaneous growth of saplings and different grasses And a third category were boxes outfitted with plastic plants perhaps signaling absentee owners or landlords who seek to simulate care Window boxes — especially the planted boxes but also painted boxes that are empty — change outdoor space and building exteriors They make them more colorful and interesting and they break up plain vertical walls by protruding from the facade You could say that the window boxes “greet” passersby. They connect private indoor space with the public realm of the street. As one early window-box promoter observed in 1903 “The man in the street gets as much enjoyment out of them as its owner.” “Gardens in a box,” as they were also referred to by early promoters can make homes and entire neighborhoods look and feel different They forge distinct identities with their plant selection and the style and color of the boxes Window gardening became a means of female social reform during the Progressive Era During this period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when industries and cities were growing fast especially for poor and immigrant communities the women supported homemakers of lesser means these boxes were also a way to make sure that order in and outside of homes was maintained Window gardens became cultural symbols of cleanliness and good housekeeping reformers considered window gardening as a practice that could help immigrants assimilate into American society In Philadelphia there were two big window-gardening movements The first occurred in the late 19th and early 20th centuries Window-box charity was carried out primarily by white philanthropists and social workers who would distribute plants and goods sent from outside the city to the urban poor and sick Sometimes the window boxes were ready to be installed outside the windows Other times recipients built and planted boxes themselves Several decades later, in the mid-20th century, plants became a vehicle for white suburban garden club ladies and Black inner-city residents to counter urban decay resulting from racism and public disinvestment the garden club ladies brought plants into the city and joined residents in planting and installing window boxes to brighten up their neighborhood blocks Plants were key in both window-box charity and window-box activism creating friendships among neighbors and ties between low-income and wealthy neighborhoods The women used plants and window boxes to protect private space and increase the safety of public space the Philadelphia police reported less crime on streets with window boxes Of course, window boxes and plants alone could not solve larger urban social problems such as poor housing conditions and racial discrimination. So while they could be catalysts of neighborhood change they also helped to camouflage and quite literally naturalize larger social problems that required political responses Like a smaller version of public parks, community gardens, and street trees, window gardens can contribute to green gentrification This occurs when the construction of parks or the planting of trees contributes to an increase in property values that leads to the displacement of long-term residents in low-income neighborhoods Window gardening did help save some of Philly’s old rowhouse neighborhoods from demolition during urban renewal beginning in the 1950s quite a few of these neighborhoods — such as Washington Square West and Graduate Hospital — have since been gentrified and families who once window gardened to turn their neighborhoods into more beautiful and safer places could no longer afford to live there Yet despite the movement’s good intentions and positive effects, racial segregation remains a persistent problem in Philadelphia In gentrified parts of Center City today, new and restored rowhouses often include fixtures and built-in irrigation pipes for window boxes. Many owners outsource window-box planting and maintenance to paid service providers the costs in both time and money to install and maintain window gardens can be prohibitive Go behind the headlines: From the economy and healthcare to politics and the environment - and so much more - On Point talks with newsmakers and real people about the issues that matter most The original “Cato” was a favorite play of George Washington Philadelphia Artists’ Collective reimagines it with a critical lens “Cato (Remixed)” is not the Founding Fathers’ “Cato.” Playwright Eli Lynn conflates the Roman senator and the rebel general into the same persona performed by Peter Schmitz wearing a costume that layers a toga over a colonial uniform Lynn also gives the surrounding characters far more agency in their decision-making than Addison ever allowed the Numidian prince Juba idolizes Cato to the point of squashing his own national heritage in favor of becoming more Roman The women are love interests only to the extent that love must be sacrificed for the good of the republic the characters begin to realize they are players trapped in a play One ancient Roman character spies an incongruous George Washington lurking in the shadows beyond the stage lights and wonders “Some begin to opt out of the story,” Bonetti said “Cato (Remixed)” will be performed at Carpenter’s Hall until March 18 The two actors playing brothers trying to bridge irreconcilable racial differences switch roles every night Chris Davis has turned his holiday comedy into a personal ballet journey Twenty regional theater companies have embraced the rush ticket seller’s new outpost in the Independence Visitor Center Many people and organizations, including Hidden City, are dedicated to preserving Philadelphia history through the lens of its built environment. Joel H. Spivak celebrated all the things that went on in those buildings and neighborhoods “Joel represented the best of Philadelphia culture,” his longtime friend Len Davidson stated he was a lifelong resident of Philadelphia residing in neighborhoods that included West Oak Lane He attended Philadelphia College of Art and Drexel University’s Architecture Department. Although he didn’t finish his architectural studies, in the early 1970s he went on to engage in the rehabbing of properties along South Street, after the plans for a cross-town expressway which caused a widespread abandonment of the corridor “Joel moved to 4th and South into a place with no plumbing or electricity,” recalled Davidson As part of the artistic community that revitalized the neighborhood, Spivak lent his woodworking talents to several of the independent shops and restaurants springing up on South Street at that time. Later, he became one of those merchants himself, when he opened Rocketships & Accessories a shop dedicated to space-themed toys and paraphernalia ranging from early Flash Gordon to then-current Star Wars furniture and other items from salvaged materials “The initial stuff that Joel used to do involved things he found on the street He’d take this stuff and make things out of it,” said Davidson he had made a totem pole around 20 feet high out of wood objects He also made decorative pieces of furniture out of pieces he’d found.” Spivak continued plying his woodworking and construction skills long after the renaissance of South Street while working for the non-profit Neighborhood Housing Services which won a “Best in American Living Platinum Award for Outstanding Home Design in Affordable Housing” from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development Spivak was on a mission to increase peoples’ appreciation of hot dogs by creating and promoting National Hot Dog Month “National Hot Dog Month was a lot of fun,” recalled his wife “Joel collected hot dog t-shirts from around the world he cooked and gave out hot dogs in front of Hahnemann Hospital where he was born.” “All things that kids did in the 50s and 60s,” explained Davidson but Joel and I were trying to bring them back.” they continued to organize games in different neighborhoods like within the City’s Free Streets program have a visceral reaction when they see us,” said Davidson but people who are five or ten or forty will try playing it.” But it wasn’t just whimsical fun and games for Spivak He had an encyclopedic knowledge of Philadelphia’s trains and trolleys which resulted in the co-authoring of books on the subject “He restored the Wanamaker Monorail that’s now at the Please Touch Museum,” noted Keller combining his fascination with trains with his building and repairing talents “These are the things that make a city,” said Davidson saving what makes Philadelphia what it is.” His wide-ranging interests also led to civic engagement. “He was involved in so many things,” said Kvn Josef Shapiro, director of community engagement at Congregation Shivtei Yeshuron Ezras Israel it is the last active rowhouse synagogue in South Philadelphia founded in 1876 at a time when there were more than 100 in the neighborhood the congregation got a notice from the City ordering it to repair the building or tear it down,” explained Shapiro “Joel was one of a handful of people who got it together to save it helping with fundraising and architectural designs.” He continued to serve on the board of directors until his passing “He got more involved in his Jewish heritage later in life,” but still combined some playful creativity with his serious interest in his faith “He had his second bar mitzvah at the age of 73 at the Little Shul,” added Shapiro “He made yarmulkes for everyone out of biodegradable paper He also served on the board of trustees of the Old Pine Conservancy, the non-profit that supports the preservation of Old Pine Street Church and cemetery Further afield from his Bella Vista neighborhood Spivak maintained three small memorial parks for military veterans at 31st Street and Girard Avenue and Cochran Triangle at 37th Street and Lancaster Avenue Throughout his life he enjoyed mentoring youth going back to the South Street revival days when he’d teach woodworking to neighborhood kids “In the 90s he sponsored a youth baseball team at Sacks Playground at 4th and Washington,” added Keller “One of Joel’s favorite things was to go into a party where he didn’t know anyone and he could strike up a conversation and hold forth,” Keller said “I was always so impressed when he talked with people Spivak engaged in all his interests and lived his life as the ultimate Philadelphia humanist Spivak had a stroke that left him mostly incapacitated until his death at age 85 on April 21 His family and friends are planning a celebration of his life on May 22nd from 4-7 p.m Another memorial is being planned for the Little Shul in October Tags:     Kimberly Haas is a staff writer for Hidden City Daily both nationally and locally with WHYY and WXPN she enjoys covering Philadelphia’s neighborhoods as well as urban sustainability and public policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. but there are still some concerns about the team moving forward After a tough stretch a couple of weeks ago the Phillies have won their last three series against some talented teams Philadelphia is still one of the best teams in the league despite some obvious issues but the franchise is once again proving to be a World Series contender This has been the area of the team that has cost them in the past and despite trying to address it over the winter Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report wrote about Phillies reliever Jordan Romano and the bullpen being the biggest weakness and that there is reason to panic about the situation saving 97 games en route to two All-Star Games but the Phillies bet on him bouncing back.” Philadelphia had some tough choices to make in regards to their bullpen Two key members of the unit from last year rather than trying to bring one or both of them back The two-time All-Star was coming off a poor campaign in 2024 in which he was injured and ineffective on the mound the hope was that the struggles on the mound were just injury related and that he would have a bounce back season Romano has totaled a 10.22 ERA in 12.1 innings pitched While the right-hander has been the main culprit for the struggles of the bullpen Orion Kerkering also hasn’t been nearly as good as the franchise would have hoped coming off a strong year in 2024 The 24-year-old has totaled a 4.85 ERA with three blown saves already this year he looked like he was going to be a major contributor going forward with multiple key members of the bullpen struggling after one month the Phillies once again will likely have to be aggressive at the trade deadline in order to help this unit out Romano and Kerkering can turn it around soon this is a team built to win now and must be aggressive to improve areas of need Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardPhilly law firm is closing after 40 years The lawyers of Lavin which also has offices in Mount Laurel and New York A law firm in Philadelphia is closing after 40 years Boyd & DiSipio will stop accepting new clients in June and wind down operations this year according to a layoff notice filed in Pennsylvania The firm has an office in Philadelphia at 190 N. Independence Mall West, as well as in Mount Laurel and New York Most of the firm’s employees — 49 out of 59 — were based in the Philadelphia office and it‘s “time to move on.” The firm’s office leases are up in June and 48 have already found jobs in Philadelphia according to the layoff notice issued by DiSipio Others are seeking different jobs or returning to school “We are pleased that everyone appears to have ‘landed on their feet,’” DiSipio wrote in the layoff notice He noted that the firm’s lawyers will join two separate existing law firms but declined to share what firms He says the firms have larger platforms with offices in several cities “It just gives us [the] opportunity to expand our representation of existing clients,” said DiSipio Boyd & DiSipio is a litigation firm that does work in the automobile industry and takes on toxic torts and consumer fraud cases user-friendly experience designed with our community in mind More content and resources are on the way as we continue to enhance the site so thank you for your understanding as we work to make it even better X The Philadelphia Police Department is seeking the public’s help in locating a missing juvenile Alexia Sanders The 14-year-old female was last seen on Wednesday She likes to frequent the area of  Broad Street and Olney Avenue If you have any information regarding Alexia’s whereabouts please contact Northwest Detectives at 215-686-3350 215.686.TIPS (8477) Police Headquarters400 N Broad StreetPhiladelphia we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site to improve your browsing experience please read our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy It's one of the biggest concert events of the year the weather will not be feeling too summer-like tonight So what will happen if it rains during tonight's Kendrick Lamar & SZA concert at Lincoln Financial Field n South Philly We've got it all posted for you below let's start with an actual look at the forecast – then we'll dig into if that means there are any possible affects on the show in short: rain is possible at any point during Monday evening in South Philly (and across our area as a whole) It's all part of the unsettled weather that has been affecting our area for the better part of the past few days READ MORE: Kendrick & SZA in Philly – Concert FAQ (Parking, Times & More)  We asked 94.5 PST (and Townsquare Media)'s Chief Meteorologist Dan Zarrow to clue us in a bit more for specifics "There is a good bet for some showers around Philadelphia Monday evening," Dan says So what time and where exactly will we see those showers it is impossible to pinpoint exactly when and where rain will show up," he says Outdoor concerts are typically held rain or shine concerts are only delayed (or postponed) in the event of severe weather (lightning or heavy winds) because of the safety hazards they pose inside a stadium READ MORE: Kendrick & SZA in Philly – Expected Setlist Secrets For tonight – we are NOT expecting ANY severe weather around the Linc tonight Neither lightning nor heavy winds are expected but it won't be anything that should stop the show "A localized downpour is possible," though so that would just mean some brief heavy rain SZA and Kendrick are well prepared for performing in the rain, by the way. The duo performed in the rain in Charlotte over the weekend. They'll basically be what they are right now – we think it'll be right around 60 degrees How bad will the rain be, and what happens to the show? We found out.\nRead More So what will happen if it rains during tonight's Kendrick Lamar & SZA concert at Lincoln Financial Field n South Philly READ MORE: Kendrick & SZA in Philly – Concert FAQ (Parking, Times & More)  We asked 94.5 PST (and Townsquare Media)'s Chief Meteorologist Dan Zarrow to clue us in a bit more for specifics READ MORE: Kendrick & SZA in Philly – Expected Setlist Secrets SZA and Kendrick are well prepared for performing in the rain, by the way. The duo performed in the rain in Charlotte over the weekend. Webinar: A Catholic Response to Ending Human Trafficking Delaware County’s 32nd Annual National Day of Prayer Delco Pastor to Discuss Book on Angels April 30 Cathedral Basilica to Screen ‘Cabrini’ on May 10 By CatholicPhilly Staff • Posted May 5 The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia will host “Planting Seeds of Faith: An Introduction to Planned Giving,” a free educational webinar on Wednesday The webinar, presented by Colin J. Devlin, Esq., will offer an overview of basic planned gift vehicles and will include a Q&A. Devlin is a member of The Foundation’s Professional Advisors Alliance The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia is an independent nonprofit community foundation committed to growing philanthropy according to the teachings of Jesus Christ Create Your Catholic Legacy is an initiative of The Catholic Foundation dedicated to promoting the power and purpose of planned giving in support of Catholic causes The Catholic Foundation will provide educational resources and share inspiring donor stories throughout May–all to showcase how planned gifts can transform lives and secure the future of our faith Create Your Catholic Legacy Month is sponsored by Platinum Sponsors James and Agnes Kim and Family, The Clark Family, McCloskey Financial Group, and The Rohr Group, Merrill Private Wealth Management– as well as our Gold Sponsor Alvin Clay Financial Advisors, LLC Those interested in attending the webinar can register here. CatholicPhilly.com works to strengthen the connections between people families and communities every day by delivering the news people need to know about the Catholic Church you and hundreds of other people become part of our mission to inform form in the Catholic faith and inspire the thousands of readers who visit every month Please join in the church's vital mission of communications by offering a gift in whatever amount that you can ― a single gift of $40 Your gift will strengthen the fabric of our entire Catholic community and sustain CatholicPhilly.com as your trusted news source PREVIOUS: Webinar: A Catholic Response to Ending Human Trafficking USCCB: Statement of USCCB on Vatican’s Document Addressing Pastoral Blessings Pope Francis’ May 2023 Prayer Intention | Watch Video Catholic Charities of Philadelphia Returns to Roots Dan Tarrant Brings God to the World Through Catholic Filmmaking May 5, 2025 10:04 AM EDTIn this story:Philadelphia Eagles NewsPhiladelphia Eagles 2025 fifth-round pick Mac McWilliams isn't the biggest cornerback out there at 5-foot-10 and 191 pounds but that doesn't mean he thinks small.  “I try really not to think about it,” McWilliams told reporters at rookie minicamp over the weekend “I go out there with the same mindset I really feel like it takes me (far).” McWilliams' smaller size did not keep him from having a successful college career.  In his lone season at UCF after transferring from UAB McWilliams made an immediate impact as a defensive standout The Pensacola native started 11 games during the 2024 season His strong performance earned him UCF’s highest defensive grade from Pro Football Focus he refuses to let his size or doubters hold him back.  “I have always been the littlest guy so just having the right mindset taking everything for what it is," McWilliams said "All my life I knew I was going to be undersized I knew I wasn’t going to grow as much as I wanted to It’s still too early to know exactly how the Eagles will use McWilliams but his ability to play both nickel and outside corner makes him an exciting player to watch That versatility gives him a real shot to push the vets and earn snaps during training camp.  “Whatever the team needs,” he said I’m just soaking it all in.” though you can find her chiming in on other teams as well She is a proud Coastal Carolina alum who has been covering a variety of sports since 2015 with previous stops at ESPN "Mac," or convincing a stranger that Sam's Club sells the world's best hot dog.