Slavery exhibit restored; Climbing gym union fight; More snow?

#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY Capturing Geno’s orange motif(Photo by _mtkrupka) “It feels like history being made again,” said one man watching Thursday morning as workers replaced the signs the exhibit that tells the story of nine people enslaved by George Washington while he lived in Philadelphia as president. The federal government has appealed a judge’s ruling this week […]

Mother Bethel to celebrate first African Methodist Episcopal congregation

The Philadelphia Historic District’s “52 Weeks of Firsts” begins its second month of historical highlights with Mother Bethel AME Church, the African Methodist Episcopal congregation created back in 1794. “You can’t talk about the story of the birth of America without recognizing and uplifting the contributions of people of African descent,” said Rev. Carolyn C. […]

How Philly residents feel about saving parking spots

If you worked hard to shovel a parking spot in Philly or to find one that wasn’t entombed in snow and ice, are you entitled to it? That’s the eternal question of the “Savesies” debate — ie, the practice of putting an object like a chair or cone in a spot to save it.  The […]

Philly restaurateurs face snowpocalypse — but some will carry on

Restaurateurs around the city are making game plans on how to handle the possibility of 20 inches of snow falling on Philly this weekend, potentially impacting service well into early next week.  “It’s devastating for most restaurants,” said Ben Fileccia, senior vice president of strategy and engagement for the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association. “I […]

Ben Franklin’s volunteer fire company next on show

The Philadelphia Historic District’s “52 Weeks of Firsts”  continues this weekend with a Saturday “Firstival” at the Fireman’s Hall Museum, commemorating the city and nation’s first volunteer fire company, formed in 1736. The weekly celebrations highlighting America’s 250th birthday showcase a variety of marvels, inventions and events that first happened right here in Philly. The […]

This Philly 9-year-old is holding healing art classes for other kids

Like many 9-year-olds, Kalie Mapp-Hayes has always enjoyed art, fashion and creativity. Through drawing, Mapp-Hayes said, she has been able to process her own feelings.  “When I was 7 years old and in first grade, I got bullied about my natural hair and the moles on my face,” she said. “I used drawing to calm […]

South Philadelphia’s El Carnaval de Puebla cancelled for second straight year

El Carnaval de Puebla, the annual celebration of Mexican culture in South Philadelphia, has been cancelled for a second straight year over concerns that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could use the event as an opportunity to detain participants who are undocumented. “The people are being cautious … we don’t want to have one incident […]

38 ways to ring in 2026; dining’s ‘Super Bowl’; Nursing explosion update

#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY Art is everywhere(Photo by @karenbenson.eyeful) The new year is coming in with something special — an inaugural concert on the Parkway, featuring LL Cool J, and the biggest fireworks show ever in Philly. But it’s far from the only way to ring in the new year. From fireworks to family-friendly “ball drops,” Billy […]

‘Meet me at the Troc’; Squash studies; FBI plans

#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY Traffic light palette(Photo by @_mtkrupka) There’s a massive new installation on the facade of the former Trocadero Theatre at 10th and Arch streets in Chinatown that celebrates the building’s rich past, as an opera house, a movie theater for kung fu movies, a music venue that hosted everything from punk acts to Bob Dylan.  […]

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