Pear trees may be the sour smell you’ve noticed around Philly

Love Philly? So do we. Let’s be friends. Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today. Philly is, by nature, a city full of smells (and oftentimes, unpleasant ones). But you may have noticed a new smell in the mix this week. It could be Bradford Pear trees in the city, said Pamela Morris Olshefski, the […]

Philly-based artist wants your toenails to make a replica FIFA World Cup trophy

Love Philly? So do we. Let’s be friends. Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today. Philly-based artist and mental health advocate Clancy Philbrick wants to make a replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy … using fingernails and toenails. Let’s pause for a moment to let everyone’s stomachs get back into the right shape. Philbrick […]

How Philly Trinket Trove is inspiring joy one swap at at time

Love Philly? So do we. Let’s be friends. Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today. Elana Flehinger wants to spread joy, with a waterproof junction box on the corner of 15th and South Street. Since she put it up last September, Philly Trinket Trove has been up on a street sign outside of Sonny’s Cocktail […]

Revitalizing Philadelphia’s Market East with new retail, murals and more

Love Philly? So do we. Let’s be friends. Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today. What’s the best way to revive Market East? A 20-year tax abatement? Narrowing Market Street?  Maybe a Las Vegas-style Sphere covered with screens? Business and political leaders held a lively discussion this week of some of those options and revealed a […]

Why Zitner’s chocolate eggs aren’t on shelves this Easter

Love Philly? So do we. Let’s be friends. The Billy Penn newsletter keeps you informed about everything Philly, with a quirky vibe of healthy skepticism and persistent optimism. Join us and sign up today. Does anything say Easter in Philadelphia more than the coconutty, buttercream center of a chocolate coated Butter Krak Egg? Or the […]

What to know before 2026’s MLS home opener

The Philadelphia Union defense of its Major League Soccer Supporters’ Shield began with a stumble last weekend, losing 1-0 to rivals D.C. United, thanks to a goal from the star striker they just sold.  The team will hope to bounce back this Sunday in the home opener at Subaru Park against New York City F.C. […]

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 […]

Skip to content