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## Former Eagles chef offers a bit of tailgate heaven: classic recipes from every NFL city

The cookbook is “Kickoff Kitchen,” by Tim Lopez, who fed the Birds for over a decade. It includes 64 classic regional recipes.

## Latest news

### Kensington library offers alternative while public libraries are closed

The Simple Library gives Kensington residents a space to read and gather, with plans for student book clubs during school year.

### Artistic drones are headed to Philly on August 29-30 … and they dance to Vivaldi

Fever, the company behind the Immersive Van Gogh and Banksy experiences, is putting on a drone light show, packed with thousands of candles and a string quartet.

### A week out, SEPTA cuts loom: Will they affect you?

Transit service riders face reduced service, higher fares and the elimination of dozens of routes just as school and work pick up again in late August.

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## “We can never say we cannot do anything”: Lessons from the North Philadelphia Historical Festival

The three-day event celebrated African American and Puerto Rican culture in various locations.

## Fiesta Futbolera returns to Ninth Street with expanded lineup this weekend

The Sunday event serves as a celebration of the city’s Latino community — and a warmup for World Cup 2026.

## ‘Looking … to build relationships’: This year’s Fringe blurs lines between artists, audience

With more than 300 productions, there’s a Fringe Festival event for you. Here’s how to find it.

* * *

## MORNING ROUNDUP: BILLY PENN’S DAILY NEWSLETTER

### Kensington nonprofit’s library; Tailgate cookbook from former Eagles chef | Morning roundup

August 19, 2025August 19, 2025

### SEPTA cuts a week away; Drone art show coming; City and police union reach deal | Morning roundup

August 18, 2025August 18, 2025

### ICE mask protests; How to Fringe; FDR Park reno fight continues | Morning roundup

August 15, 2025August 15, 2025

* * *

## More Philly news

### A Philly guide to watching the English Premier League

The world’s most popular soccer league returns this weekend, and here are the local fan groups and bars to catch (almost) all of the action with.

### Chinatown Stitch design advances despite funding cancellation

City seeking $200 million for highway cap after federal budget bill rescinds grant.

### Philly’s Bookstore Crawl returns Aug. 23, bigger and better than ever

The event offers discounts, giveaways and book signings in and around the city. This year’s crawl will host a variety of authors and parties/events.

### FIFA is looking for 2026 World Cup volunteers, with first chance for tickets coming in September

Philly plans to have at least 3,000 volunteers helping around key venues like the Linc, Lemon Hill and Philadelphia International Airport.

### Is this real? Yes, Jason Kelce is helping Taylor Swift announce the arrival of her new album

The NFL/Swiftie universe has officially reached its apex. The Kelce brothers will have Swift on the New Heights podcast Wednesday at 7 p.m. to chat all about her newest album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”

### ‘Ripple effect’: SNAP cuts to affect local healthy-living programs

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education programs in the city will lose funding Oct. 1. Decades-long programs are expected to go away.

### Why this South Philly Barbacoa co-founder opened a taco spot in Poland

Ben Corn Miller, known for creating what’s arguably Philly’s most famous tacos, is doing it again in Warsaw — thanks to a decades-long friendship.

### ‘Comedy … in question marks’: Gen Z standup acts draw a crowd in Philly

Three TikTok comedians brought their unpolished, unpredictable humor to The Performance Garage, drawing a full house of Gen Z fans.

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## Headlines of Yore

### A 19th century Philly civic leader’s legacy includes this pop culture icon

C.C.A. Baldi was a major figure in Philadelphia’s Italian American community. His family would go on to lead in both politics and pop culture.

## The 18th-century instrument founded by a Founding Father

## Author Jessie Redmon Fauset helped champion Black literary voices

## Food & Drink Scene

### How an Albanian cafe in Point Breeze became a neighborhood favorite

Two Eagles Cafe is a family-run gem that serves up fresh and delicious brunch, treating neighbors with warmth and care.

## Kensington’s new cafe, board game and community space, BUBS, is a ‘living room for the neighborhood’

## Tired of the trash and heat this summer? Philly’s community gardeners are cultivating fresh alternative spaces

## Neighborhoods

### Philly homeowners push back against a wave of new historic districts

Critics argue the Historical Commission’s work harms economic development, increases home upkeep costs.

## Fab Youth Philly brings playful learning to city’s Playstreets

## We’re already halfway through summer. Here are some Philly events you shouldn’t miss



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## Power & Politics

### Hundreds rally at City Hall as SEPTA service cuts draw nearer

On a day when SEPTA officials said they need a resolution by Aug. 14, public transit advocates, union leaders and state lawmakers gathered to demand the Pa. Senate fund the transit agency.

### As back-to-school season nears, Philly teacher shortages remain

Philly has a need for more certified teachers. Experts say a solution is multifaceted.

### SNAP cuts have Philadelphia’s food banks nervous about increased needs

Billy Penn spoke with experts and food leaders about how recent legislation will worsen food insecurity in the region.

### Activists rally in Philadelphia following ICE arrest outside courthouse

Demonstrators called out local police cooperation with ICE after a recorded arrest outside the Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice.

* * *

## Gun violence prevention

### Krasner supports lawsuit against Trump’s $500 million cut to public safety programs

DA accuses president of wanting more urban violence and crime.

### Toll the Bell calls for action, awareness of gun violence

The two day event started with a citywide ringing of bells and set of speeches and performances to call for community action

### Kensington violence intervention program among projects hit by DOJ grant cuts

U.S. Department of Justice recently cut over $800 million in grants nationwide, including $1.5 million for the hoops league and anti-violence program here. Others in Philly are affected, too.

### Free basketball league in Kensington offers alternative to violence

A successful first season provided exercise and a social outlet for adult men under 40. A summer session is planned.

* * *

## Education

### New report shows struggles, successes of Philly area students

The Children First’s report highlights how mental health, violence, poverty and underfunding affects Philly schools and students.

### Inside the unraveling of one of Philadelphia’s most successful charter schools

In 25 years, there’s been mostly public praise for MCS — but its methodology is unusual, and some question the founder’s motives in shutting it down.

### How teaching in Philly district schools differs from charters: Three teachers share their stories

They each have their pros and cons, on issues ranging from resources to oversight.

### Why a Southwest Philly charter is refusing to close after the school board voted to shut it down

Parents had good things to say about the K-8 academy, which was founded in 2007 and, like its neighborhood, is majority Black.

* * *

## BP Quizzo

### Take our ‘History of Philly’s Thanksgiving Parade’ quiz

November 26, 2024November 25, 2024

### Monthly Philly news + history quiz: Can you beat the high score?

October 22, 2023October 22, 2023

### Philly news + history quiz: How well do you know this city?

September 10, 2023September 10, 2023

### Philly news & history trivia quiz: Test your local knowledge

August 6, 2023August 6, 2023

### Monthly trivia quiz: Test your knowledge of Philly news and history

July 9, 2023July 9, 2023

### Take the Philly trivia quiz and test your local knowledge

April 11, 2023April 11, 2023

* * *

💌*Love Philly? Sign up for the free Billy Penn newsletter and get a daily roundup of Philly news delivered to your inbox*

* * *

## secrets & Fun

### ‘Tiger Love Island’: Philly zoo’s new big cats arrive as part of breeding program

The Philadelphia Zoo has welcomed an Amur tiger and an Amur leopard as part of a coordinated conservation effort to protect two of the world’s most endangered big cat species.

### Earlybirds Club, a party for women who want to dance and get to bed on time, is headed to Philadelphia

Many describe the party – which ends at an appropriate 10 p.m. – as a form of therapy and a rare chance to exhale and reconnect.

### Sandbox VR’s virtual experiences bring on real-life laughs, teamwork — and betrayal! — to Rittenhouse

Your ever-curious Billy Penn team tested out the virtual “Squid Game” experience, and everyone made it out in one piece.

### ‘Love Is Blind’ is casting in Philly! Bring on the pods

The show is looking for singles in Philadelphia who are “READY for a committed relationship.” Before they head to the altar, we explore where they might head in the city.

* * *

## Sports Culture

### Philly Running Alliance looks to give running community a seat at the table

The newly-formed collective aims to follow a similar blueprint of groups advocating for cyclists and pedestrians. It hosts the Philly Mayor’s Cup this Saturday.

### Remembering Ryne Sandberg, the key player in possibly the worst trade in Phillies’ history

The onetime Phillies draft pick turned out to be one of the greatest players ever — after the team traded him away.

### Philly Mah-Jawn Mahjong opens new clubhouse in Old City

The club’s membership has grown with the rise in popularity of the tabletop game across the nation. It has a grand opening for the space planned for August and a tournament in November.

### U.S. Women’s National soccer team coming to Chester in October

The friendly match at Subaru Park will be one of two to honor retiring stars.

* * *

## Opinion

### Writing my way back home: Why Eric Smith’s YA novels are nearly all set in Philadelphia | Opinion

by Eric Smith

### Should a public school be a vanity project? MCS Charter shutdown raises concerning questions | Opinion

by Lisa Haver

### For kids with asthma, diesel buses chart a dangerous route back to school | Opinion

by Brooke Petry

* * *

## More Billy Penn

### DA candidate Dugan to run as a Republican, enraging Dems

### The lonely quest to commemorate Ben Franklin’s early home

### Cannonball’s fantastic, frenetic growth taught founders a lot — including a surprising lesson

### Trump administration bashes green technology while investigating SEPTA electric bus fires

### Looking for a public bathroom, a water fountain or free food in Philly? This website can help

### Parts of SS United States removed for future museum, as rest is prepped for its watery end

* * *

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