Category: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Local News

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Before Thursday night, Madonna hadn’t performed in Philadelphia since way back in 2019. That’s when she brought her oh-so-problematic “Madame X” show to the Met on North Broad Street. In a review titled “A Beautiful Failure,” I rightfully savaged that Madonna show, and Madonna troll-fans savaged me for weeks on social media. She brings quite an army.

Then, last January, Madonna announced a slew of dates for a new tour, the “Celebration Tour,” which was positioned, essentially, as a greatest hits tour. And in the case of Madonna and based on what she did with “Madame X,” a greatest-hits tour was exactly what Madonna needed.

The only problem was, Philly wasn’t on the list of stops for Madonna’s “Celebration Tour.” It appeared that she snubbed us. But then in March 2023, Madonna decided to add a show at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, scheduled for December 20th. Except then she postponed her tour, which was supposed to start over the summer, due to illness. And so December 20th became January 25th, a.k.a. Thursday night.

But even then, it was a little bit unclear when Madonna would actually perform. She’s notoriously late to take the stage. People are, believe it or not, suing her over this. Printing an 8 p.m. showtime on the ticket was kind of a joke. She went on around 9:30 p.m. at a recent New York show. 9:45 p.m. in Montreal. But would she push even later for Philly? In fact, she did.

Just after 4:35 p.m. on Thursday, Madonna took to Facebook with this curious message: “Philly! Due to the current weather conditions, please note that tonight’s show may start slightly later than originally scheduled to make sure you can be all on time for the Celebration. See you there!!” Naturally, this message resulted in a lot of questions to the effect of Wait, what weather?

In any event, 9 p.m. came and went. Then came 9:30. At 9:45 p.m., a friend from Delco told me via text, “If she goes on after 10, I’m leaving and never coming to see her again.” Well, the clock struck 10. A rumor started spreading that the show wasn’t going to start until 11 p.m. But then … it happened. At 10:06 p.m. on the dot, out came Madonna.

And what came next was a whirlwind performance involving countless special effects, wild stagecraft, and superhuman dancers. The show was Madonna’s attempt to tell her life story through her music and lots and lots of video. She paid tribute to many icons, including Michael Jackson (some have questioned the appropriateness of this due to the pedophilia allegations), Nina Simone, David Bowie, and Freddie Mercury, among others. The performance is segmented into seven — yes, seven! — acts. And she includes plenty of hits. There are also some B-sides for the true Madonna nerds.

So what did the people who attended the Madonna “Celebration Tour” show in Philly actually think? I surveyed a range to get an idea.

South Street tattoo artist Noah Webster has seen more concerts than most people, here and the world over. But this was actually his first Madonna show. He took his significant other. “We loved it,” Webster told me after the show had ended. “We kept saying it was like a flawless illusion produced by Salvador Dali and David Copperfield. Costume changes just happened. Scene changes were seamless. At the end, you could tell she was a little tired, along with the audience. But it was an impressive production, and we were very happy to see a retrospective of her life as our first Madonna concert.”

Webster snagged this video of “Like a Prayer” that shows off some of the stagecraft spectacles involved during the evening:

Graduate Hospital painter and author Jenny Laden brought her teenage daughter Izzy to Thursday night’s Madonna concert. “I found it astonishing,” Laden told me. “At times moving and sometimes confounding. A whole tribute to people who died from AIDS, while she sang ‘Live to Tell.’ Gorgeous. She’s still raunchy as hell and fearless… She’s such an icon, and it’s hard to believe how much ground she broke. At one point, she said something along the lines of, ‘No one is more surprised than me that I’m still here.’” Izzy said the concert made her want to learn more about Madonna and her work and history.

“I think I got my money’s worth,” said Jawnville.com publisher Greg Caputo, who paid $220 for club box tickets earlier this week. “I will say that she was having a hard time with some of the dancing due to an apparent leg injury. [She suffered similar problems in the “Madame X” tour.] She originally had that tape on her leg, but by the end of the show, it was a neoprene brace. But the other dancers and the choreographers do a good job of covering up for her. I’ve never been to a Broadway show, but this was what I’d imagine a Broadway show to be. But with great music by Madonna. If I had to sum it up in three thoughts: lots of leather pants. Lots of lace. And lots of moms drinking hard seltzer.”

“I’ve caught every tour except for the one in ’87 at the Vet,” longtime South Philly Madonna fan Peter Kourahanis told me. “I bought nosebleed tickets for $90 for this one, and I snuck down closer to the stage. And for some reason, the row I sat, there were six empty seats. Third row … Last night was amazing. I got emotional. She wasn’t as high-energy as before, but who is? The production was just wow.”

Talk about close. This video — which appears to show Madonna spitting into the crowd before dousing them with beer — shows you just how close Kourahanis was:

“A love letter to the gay community” is how Philly artist Natalie Hope McDonald described it. “A performance-art piece. It’s as much a look back at her life as it is an ongoing commentary about the world. One of the best shows I have ever seen. She’s incredible. … The most powerful moment went from the early days in NYC through the AIDS crisis. Friends of friends who died that multiplied into so many faces projected onto screens. Tears were running down my face. It brought that time back.”

If you missed Madonna’s show in Philadelphia, all hope is not lost. The real fans among you might want to get up to Madison Square Garden on Monday, where tickets start at around $250. That’s the closest location for the remaining dates on the tour, which runs through April.

Denver officials forced to set wanted man free after Arkansas sheriff refused to pick him up

A man wanted in Arkansas for allegedly violating his probation in a 2017 murder case has twice been arrested and jailed in Denver since 2021, and both times, Denver authorities have had to release him from custody. In the most recent case in 2023, an Arkansas sheriff refused to have Raffiel Walker, 35, extradited to his state.

As a result of Walker remaining free in Denver, a mother believes Walker sold her son fentanyl in 2023, contributing to her son’s overdose death.

“If Mr. Walker had been extradited to Arkansas and given the sentence they’re requesting, he would not have been trolling the streets of Denver passing out poison,” said the mother, who asked that her name not be used.

According to Arkansas records, Raffiel Walker was arrested in 2016 for residential burglary and terroristic threatening in Marianna, Arkansas. He allegedly robbed a woman in her home and brandished a weapon during the robbery.

The following year, Walker was arrested and initially charged with capital murder for participating in a Jan. 30, 2017 robbery and murder. Court documents indicate Walker later agreed to a plea bargain, pleading guilty in 2018 to second-degree murder and accepting a sentence of 20 years probation.

But in 2019, in Phillips County Arkansas, Walker was charged with allegedly dealing methamphetamines and cocaine and brandishing weapons. In 2021, Prosecutors in Arkansas’ First Judicial District sought and obtained a nationwide warrant for Walker’s arrest for violating the terms of his probation. According to court documents, they said his violating probation should result in him being sent to prison.

Arkansas authorities said they believed Walker had fled their state.

But in April of 2021, Denver police arrested Walker after he allegedly pointed a gun at another man during a drug sale. Police located Walker in a car at Colfax and Josephine and “Officers discovered that Walker had an outstanding nationwide full extradition warrant out of Arkansas for a parole violation from a capital murder/robbery case,” according to police documents. They say at that point, Walker ran from them but he was located hiding on the roof of a nearby building and was taken into custody.

Police say they found a loaded handgun in Walker’s car. They say Walker’s backpack contained a large amount of methamphetamine and other drugs. He was charged with drug possession with intent to distribute, possession of a weapon by a previous offender along with his nationwide parole violation for capital murder/robbery. 

Denver District Attorney Beth McCann told CBS News Colorado that Arkansas authorities were notified that their wanted fugitive was being held in Denver. But she said Arkansas authorities failed to meet a legal deadline to file paperwork to extradite Walker to Arkansas.

“They were too late so we couldn’t process the extradition,” said McCann. “Obviously, we felt this is a person who should not be out in public. We felt he was a dangerous person.” 

Denver prosecutors agreed to a plea bargain with Walker on his Denver charges, but say they asked that he be imprisoned for three years. Instead, court records show a judge gave Walker three years of probation and no additional jail time. Walker was a free man.

In 2023, Walker again got on the radar screen of Colorado law enforcement authorities following the April death of Calvin Grace from a drug overdose. Grace was found dead in his Englewood home. When police searched Grace’s cellphone, they found before his death, he had exchanged text messages with a suspected drug dealer. Englewood police said the cellphone texting with Grace was linked to Raffiel Walker. 

Arapahoe County District Attorney John Kellner said, “This case is part of an active, ongoing criminal investigation. I currently have a dedicated criminal investigator reviewing the facts surrounding Calvin’s death.”  

Walker has not been charged in connection with  Calvin Grace’s death and Kellner said he would provide additional information at the end of his office’s review of the case.

Grace’s mother is convinced Walker sold her son the fentanyl that contributed to his death. She says the fact Walker was not extradited to Arkansas after his 2021 Denver arrest is “absolutely unacceptable. I’m just at a loss and mind blown by what is happening.”

That was not the end of the attempts to have Walker extradited to Arkansas.

In September 2023, Denver police again arrested Walker according to police and court records on his fugitive warrant. The Denver District Attorney’s Office says it again contacted the Lee County sheriff to come get Raffiel Walker. This time, they say current Lee County Sheriff Corey Wilson, refused. Wilson did not respond to numerous phone calls and emails from CBS News Colorado asking why he would not pick up Walker. Denver authorities say they had no choice but to release Walker from jail.

“What kind of message does this send to Mr. Walker?” asked Grace’s mother. “That he can just run away, he can just hide in another state and he’s safe and never going to jail and never being held accountable for his prior crimes?”

“It’s unfortunate Arkansas decided not to extradite him given the seriousness of their case. I can say it is unusual and our expectation was that they would pursue extradition,” said McCann.

Walker isn’t exactly hiding in Denver. CBS News Colorado found him living in a house just south of downtown Denver. He has lived in the home for nearly a year and even registered a catering business with the Colorado Secretary of State using his name and his home address.

In a phone call with CBS News Colorado, Walker said, “I got in a little trouble. I know that.” But he said it was “none of your business. I don’t have to explain it to you. I’m in trouble already.” He went on to say he did not consent to having his name and picture on TV. “Do what you’re gonna do bro,” said Walker.

Calvin Grace’s mother said what happened with Raffiel Walker is “an absolute failure of our system, an absolute failure. Apprehending him and putting him in custody will not bring my son back but it will save other lives.”

Opinion

Our city remains one of the world’s most dynamic and productive hubs for healthcare innovation. We have a concentration of world-class healthcare systems, life sciences companies and research institutions committed to supporting the next generation of healthcare solutions being developed by local healthcare startups and entrepreneurs. So much so that the city has been named one of Brookings’ leading ‘Innovation Districts and a Top 30 Global Startup Ecosystem.

Yet, there is still a divide between our healthcare innovation ecosystem and the people who live and work in Philadelphia. The success of our life sciences sector is juxtaposed against vast racial, economic, and health disparities that divide our neighborhoods. While our life sciences industry is world-renowned, the relationship between that economy and local, homegrown talent is too distant.

The city should have a role to play in supporting the inclusive growth of our local life sciences economy. And while it’s been addressed in the agendas of administrations past, there are too many well-intentioned, but disjointed efforts to make a widespread, meaningful impact.

New leadership, however, begets new energy, new ideas, and new beginnings. It is incumbent upon Mayor Cherelle Parker and her leadership team to bridge the chasm between our two greatest assets — diversity and innovation — by cementing the city’s role in driving inclusive growth in our life sciences economy.

Workforce diversity and DEI measurement have been popular talking points. These efforts, however, don’t always have a direct correlation to neighborhoods that have been historically left behind. There are three areas of opportunity where the city can help realize a future of healthcare innovation where all are welcome, at every level: improving STEM education, supporting industry workforce initiatives, and reducing barriers to entry for entrepreneurs.

1. Building an Inclusive Economy Starts Early

Building an inclusive and robust economy must start in our schools by ensuring all students have the resources and exposure they need to pursue rewarding careers in Philadelphia. While working with Harrisburg to shore up funding for our schools is the Mayor’s primary role in supporting our school district, there is opportunity to expand that support by making additional out-of-school time (OST) programming widely accessible. OST education fills the gap between classroom and industry, providing exposure and access to creative topics and a diverse array of careers. Many schools that would benefit most from additional out-of-school time programs are so vastly under-resourced that they don’t have the capacity to identify and cultivate external partnerships.

Mayor Parker understands that the city has untapped resources when it comes to unilaterally serving schools. Her administration can create efficiencies within the system to improve support for youth interested in STEM, and can do so by aligning out-of-school time K-12 offerings to local economic opportunities (outlined in the Mayor’s 100-Day Action Plan). Expanding access to Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs would be a strategic place to start, as currently, there are only two programs for life sciences.

2. Shoring Up the Life Sciences Talent Pipeline

Beyond K-12, there is no shortage of opportunities for the new administration to create and support workforce pathways into the life sciences industry, including careers with life sciences and healthcare companies of all sizes.

Every talent pipeline has a “push” (programs and initiatives to fuel workforce growth) and a “pull” (the ability and willingness for employers to tap into that talent pool). It should be as easy as possible for people who are looking for career opportunities in STEM to find a program or resource that is a fit for their skills, ability, and family life, regardless of who they are. Similarly, we need to make it as easy as possible for employers to find qualified candidates.

Mayor Parker’s administration should consider harnessing the city’s Department of Commerce as a two-way street — a convening hub for both training workers and engaging employers. The city can leverage its EDA Good Jobs Challenge award, and the resulting Keystone LifeSci Collaborative, to fully engage the life sciences industry, working hand-in-hand with the sector to implement industry-informed workforce training curricula and design match-making initiatives that pair job seekers with employers. The administration should wave this flag proudly, and sing the praises of industry partners that prioritize hiring Philadelphians.

3. Creating a Culture of Homegrown Entrepreneurship

Finally, so much more can be done to support and encourage local, diverse entrepreneurs in the life sciences. Past administrations have been consistent in their support of the startup economy, but efforts to attract business — particularly out-of-market venture and institutional investors — have been flat. The city needs to shed the stigma of not being a “business-friendly” city and can do so by borrowing strategies from emerging economic hubs like Charlotte, North Carolina, to prosper in a post-pandemic economy that has become digital-first. Charlotte’s model, for example, streamlines regulatory processes for entrepreneurs and places a premium on recruiting in-state talent from North Carolina to the city.

Philadelphia deserves a celebrator-in-chief for our successes — someone who will go beyond the pomp of ribbon-cutting ceremonies to serve as a facilitator and national advocate. Mayor Parker has begun building a solid foundation for supporting and celebrating the efforts of local entrepreneurs by organizing the Minority Business Success team and Business Roundtable within her first 100 days. That work should continue by showcasing the work of our city’s Small Business Development Centers and innovative programs like Venture Café that lower barriers to entrepreneurship and highlight startup success stories.

Bridging the Life Sciences Chasm

These areas of opportunity, if seized by the new administration, will form a bedrock for inclusive economic growth in life sciences and beyond. A public sector that understands its role in fostering inclusive economic growth and is prepared to do it well is the first step toward bridging the chasms that fracture our city.

Tiffany Wilson is the president and CEO of the University City Science Center, Philadelphia’s premier catalyst of entrepreneurial activity, healthcare innovation, and economic growth. She brings nearly two decades of leadership transitioning innovative medical technologies from benchtop to bedside, building partnerships across academia, industry and economic development organizations.

News

There came a time in early July when I was desperately trying to organize a photo shoot with drag queen Sapphira Cristál for our annual Best of Philly issue, in which she was a winner. We confirmed a session with our photographers. But Sapphira suddenly dropped off the face of the earth. She sent me a very rushed DM saying she had an emergency and would be unable to participate. We never took a photo. We didn’t receive any further messages. Zilch.

Fast-forward several months, and we now know why. Sapphira — known as Sapphi to her friends — had just found out she’d been chosen as a contestant for the 16th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, which premiered on January 5th. She couldn’t tell a soul. She had to upend her life at B and Allegheny. Shapphira jetted out to Los Angeles to begin taping at Sunset Las Palmas Studios.

“I couldn’t believe it,” says Sapphira, 35. “This was my 11th audition for RuPaul.” She’s not exactly sure what set her audition video apart this time around. She submitted her first for Season­ ­5, in 2012. “I was told that I just seemed really comfortable in my own skin and that I offered something, well, different.”

That’s an understatement. Your average nightclub drag queen does a splendid job twirling around while lip-synching to Madonna and Taylor Swift. But Sapphira is not just a real live singer. She’s a bona fide opera singer with a six-octave range — a talent like no other in the history of the show.

Speaking of firsts, Sapphira is also the first queen repping Philly on the show since its inception in 2009, back before drag went totally and utterly mainstream.

I was told that I just seemed really comfortable in my own skin and that I offered something, well, different.”

A native of Houston, Texas, where her family attended the same church as Beyoncé’s, Sapphira got her start in the performing arts at the age of six, when she began taking ballet. Voice lessons followed. She later studied music composition and vocal performance at New York’s rigorous Eastman School of Music, alma mater of such opera stars as Renée Fleming, and found her spot in the sequined drag spotlight when she was 20.

In 2014, romance brought Sapphira to our town, where she has graced the stages at Woody’s, Franky Bradley’s, Voyeur and Fabrika, among many others. Sapphira says she has no plans to give up Philadelphia as her home base anytime soon regardless of what happens with the show. So far, she’s doing quite well. Some favor her to win the whole thing. But Sapphira does have an ambitious goal for the not-too-distant future: “I want to tour the world with a real orchestra.” (Note to Yannick: Invite Sapphira to perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra at June’s pride concert!)

Sapphira realizes touring the globe with a full symphony orchestra is a lofty pursuit, but it’s one she sees within reach. She learned how to produce large spectacles while working for her late father, a UFC fight promoter and MMA trainer. She clearly has the required talent. And now, Sapphira has in front of her a worldwide stage.

“It wasn’t meant to be before, but now, it’s exactly what is meant to be,” Sapphira observes. “And now is my time. Being part of something like RuPaul can really change my life. It already has.”

Published as “From Woody’s to RuPaul” in the February 2024 issue of Philadelphia magazine.

News

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How Do You Steal $1,700 Worth of Gas at a Wawa?

I know we all long for the days when you could pull up to a Wawa or any other gas station and fill ‘er up for $2 a gallon. Times sure have changed. But one area man allegedly figured out a way to save just a bit of money at Wawa.

According to Delaware state police, troopers arrested a New Jersey man at a Wawa gas station in New Castle, Delaware, for allegedly stealing gas earlier this week. Lots of gas. We’re talking about $1,700 worth of Wawa gas.

Troopers say the suspect had some sort of device he attached to the gas pump that tricked the pump into giving out gas for pennies on the dollar. Here’s a photo of the device:

In all, the suspected gas thief is accused of paying less than $20 for $1,700 worth of Wawa gas. Quite a discount! If you’re wondering where all this gas was stored, troopers say the man had large containers inside the Ford work van he was driving.

Plus, say the state police, they’ve since learned that a bunch of Wawas have been experiencing gas thefts. And the investigation continues.

As for the suspect in this particular Wawa gas theft, he’s been charged with felony theft, possession of burglary tools (also a felony), and conspiracy. No word on if he had the chance to enjoy a Shorti before being carted off to jail.

Local Wendy’s Shops Hit With Child Labor Law Violations

On Wednesday, Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor & Industry announced $300,000 in fines against a Horsham-based company that owns a bunch of Wendy’s in the Philadelphia suburbs.

The investigation involved 21 Wendy’s locations in Bucks, Montgomery and Chester counties. The biggest violation was failing to provide the legally required breaks to the child employees. The law says that businesses must provide a break on or before the fifth hour of work, and the state says these Wendy’s stores weren’t doing that. The Wendy’s shops also scheduled some children to work more hours than they’re legally allowed to work. Plus, says the state, some kids were working without permits or parental authorization; the latter is required for any worker under the age of 16.

If you have teens who work (good for them!), this may be a good time to acquaint them (and yourself) with their rights and protections under the law. You can file a complaint with the state here.

Local Talent

Big congrats are in order for all the local James Beard semifinalists, of which there are 10. The nominee list just came out yesterday. There weren’t many surprises, but it was nice to see Isgro honored for its 120 years of cannoli brilliance. (Better luck next year, Termini.) For a complete rundown from Philly Mag restaurant critic Jason Sheehan, read this.

By the Numbers

17: Age of the defendant in a murder case who somehow managed to escape custody on Wednesday. Is it just me, or are a lot of people escaping these days? Staffing issues?

500: Local folks sought to jump into an ice-cold John B. Kelly Pool (that’s the public pool right near the Please Touch Museum) in February as part of a fund-raiser for lifeguard recruitment. I think I know some area women who would be very into this.

$2,704: What a pair of fifth-row tickets to see Madonna at the Wells Fargo Center tonight will cost you on StubHub. They’re advertised as $999 each. And you have to buy both. But once you add in all the fees, you’re up to $2,704. That’s not counting your drinks, food, Ubers. Have fun!

And from the Not-Great Sports Desk …

The Athletic has a lovely piece on what advocacy by Rhys Hoskins and his wife, Jayme, for those with muscular dystrophy has meant to some local families. He signed with the Brewers and is moving on, but his Philly fam will always remember him.

There’s news about Flyers goalie Carter Hart’s abrupt and mysterious leave of absence from the team, and it’s not good.

In happier news, Joel Embiid got himself a new winter coat just in time for the Sixers to start a busy road trip.

name this aesthetic…😂😂 pic.twitter.com/ZBSm35aIEm

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 24, 2024

They play the Pacers tonight at 7 in Indianapolis, the first of four straight away games. Tobias Harris looks dubious; should be interesting.

The Flyers also play.

Any College Hoops News?

Oh yeah. Temple’s Owls got off to a hot start against South Florida at the Liacouras Center last night despite their rocky 8-11 record this season under first-year coach Adam Fisher. They had an eight-point lead on the Bulls with three minutes to go and led 35-31 at the half. Temple held on through most of the second half, barely, until the Bulls went ahead with four minutes to go, 64-63. All the Owls’ prowess went for naught, including Matteo Picarelli’s 23-point showing.

Sing it with me…TAY-OH! TAYYYYY-OH!! His FIFTH trey of the night!!#Team128 pic.twitter.com/tRr77zDwAe

— Temple Men’s Basketball (@TUMBBHoops) January 25, 2024

Final: 75-69 Bulls. Then, in the two teams’ 131st meeting — they first faced off in 1909 —  Villanova did not get off to a swift start on a trip to St. John’s. A lot of familiar faces were in the house, including Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Mikal Bridges and Ryan Arcidiacono. The Wildcats were down 21-11 halfway into the first, and the gap was the same at the half: 32-22 Red Storm. A 6-0 run early in the second brought ‘Nova within six, and they later closed it to five, but St. John’s was relentless, and things just got completely out of hand as it became a rout.

FINAL
St. John’s 70 – Villanova 50

First 20+ loss for Villanova under Kyle Neptune. Lost the rebound battle 37-22. Not much else to say. Gross. pic.twitter.com/zOaquqebT5

— Patrick Scanlon (@patscan52) January 25, 2024

Drexel, which has been on a tear — they’re 7-0 in conference and lead the Coastal Athletic Association — has tonight’s only game, at Towson starting at 7 p.m.

All Philly Today sports coverage is provided by Sandy Hingston.

News

Check phillymag.com each morning Monday through Thursday for the latest edition of Philly Today. And if you have a news tip for our hardworking Philly Mag reporters, please direct it here. You can also use that form to send us reader mail. We love reader mail!

Why Amanda Seyfried Is Hanging Out in Kensington

Lots of Philly-Hollywood news this week. Yesterday, we learned that three Philadelphians (or semi-Philadelphians) picked up some very big Oscar nominations. And then we found out that actress Amanda Seyfried has been hanging out in Kensington.

Okay, Seyfried isn’t that local. She’s from Allentown. But we sort of lay claim to Taylor Swift, who’s from Berks County. So we figure we can lay claim to Amanda Seyfried as well.

Seyfried, who became famous thanks to the original Mean Girls movie and has since gained acclaim for her work in Mank and Hulu’s The Dropout (she played Elizabeth Holmes), was hanging out in Kensington this week.

It turns out that she’s preparing for the in-development series Long Bright River. It’s based on the book by Philly novelist Liz Moore about a Philadelphia cop whose sister goes missing. Moore is also adapting the story for the screen. Seyfried reportedly did a ride-along with Philly cops earlier this week.

No word on if she turned up at the El Bar, clearly the best bar in the vicinity of Kensington.

Biden Pulls Ahead of Trump in Pennsylvania

By now, you know that Nikki Haley lost the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, meaning Donald Trump won it. Barring some sort of divine intervention, Trump will be the Republican nominee. And on Tuesday, November 5th, voters across the country will decide between Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and some inevitable third party candidate or candidates.

So how will Pennsylvania vote on November 5th? After all, we’re the most populous swing state, and a hugely pivotal one. Keep in mind that the 2016 race was called for Trump the moment he won Pennsylvania. Well, according to the latest poll, Biden has pulled ahead of Trump in Pennsylvania.

In December, Biden led Trump by just a point in a Muhlenberg College poll, one point being within the margin of error. So, a wash. Then earlier this month, Biden led Trump by three points in the Quinnipiac poll. Also within the margin of error.

But on Tuesday, the results of the Susquehanna Polling and Research survey came out, and that poll shows Biden holding a 7.5-point lead over Trump. Biden came in at 46.8 percent, while Trump saw 39.3. And since the margin of error is 3.7, we can call this an actual lead.

Don’t celebrate just yet, Dems. Let us not forget that some polls were massively wrong in both 2016 and 2020, leading many to question the value of polling to begin with.

Headline We Wish We Hadn’t Read

“Upper Darby Woman Charged with Torturing Animals for Likes on Social Media”

On a Decidedly Lighter Note

There’s a rare bird causing quite a stir at Bartram’s Garden.

By the Numbers

0: Days in the 14-day forecast that are currently predicted to see any significant snow. Sorry, kids. Then again, 14-day forecasts are about as reliable as those 2016 and 2020 polls.

5: Years since the founding of Philly’s Colored Girls Museum. And it looks like the museum can stay right where it is after finally winning zoning approval. Somebody had reported the museum to 311, because it was operating without the right variances. Ah, neighbors.

$45 to $60: Range in price for dinners at Center City’s Restaurant Week, which is happening now.

10: On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the worst, how bad your average server at a Restaurant Week spot would probably say Restaurant Week is for them.

And from the Doop-Time-Already? Sports Desk …

The Union played a preseason friendly against Austin FC last night in St. Petersburg, and first-goal-of-the-season honors went to …

Oh wait, just kidding; after video review, the goal went to forward Julián Carranza, for a shot between the Austin goalie’s legs. Austin’s Daniel Pereira tied it early in the second half, and the match wound up a 1-1 tie.

Brian Johnson is gone from the Eagles as part of the Great Coaching Purge of 2024. And there is, of course, drama. Speaking of drama, look who was on the bench — again — for the Nets/Knicks game last night:

The trim on Ben Simmons’ sweater makes him look like a hologram pic.twitter.com/I2QYl6JZUv

— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) January 24, 2024

The Flyers also played.

Any College Hoops News?

Last night at home, the La Salle Explorers fell behind 16th-ranked Dayton 36-23 at the half but came storming back early in the second before losing traction in what turned out to be a 66-54 loss. Andrés Marrero led the team with 15. And playing at UMass, St. Joe’s Hawks trailed by four at the half, 42-38, then overcame a 13-point deficit to pull within a point with just under two minutes left in an absolute thriller. OMG!!!

Hawks Win!#THWND pic.twitter.com/sWwMErJ8px

— SJU Hawks MBB (@SJUHawks_MBB) January 24, 2024

On tonight’s schedule: South Florida pays a call on Temple at 7 p.m., while Villanova visits St. John’s for an 8:30 tip-off.

All Philly Today sports coverage is provided by Sandy Hingston.

News

Check phillymag.com each morning Monday through Thursday for the latest edition of Philly Today. And if you have a news tip for our hardworking Philly Mag reporters, please direct it here. You can also use that form to send us reader mail. We love reader mail!

Philly Shows Up Strong In Oscar Nominations List, with Bradley Cooper, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Colman Domingo

On Tuesday morning, the Academy of whatever released its full list of Oscar nominations. And it’s hard to remember when Philadelphia had better representation than on this year’s Oscars list.

Maestro, the creation of Pride of Jenkintown/cheesesteak entrepreneur Bradley Cooper, made off with seven Oscar nominations, including Cooper himself for Best Actor as well as Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.

But for Best Actor, Bradley Cooper has some strong competition, with Overbrook High School alum Colman Domingo landing a Best Actor nomination for Rustin, the biopic about Bayard Rustin, the civil rights leader who hailed from West Chester.

Of course, both Bradley Cooper and Colman Domingo have some major competition. Paul Giamatti is also nominated for Best Actor for his work in The Holdovers. And then there’s Cillian Murphy from Oppenheimer. But don’t count out Jeffrey Wright, who has a lot of people talking about American Fiction, which you should definitely watch ASAP.

And getting back to The Holdovers for a second, Philly’s own Da’Vine Joy Randolph received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in that film. She’s already won the Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice award for the role. And now she’s staring down at the Oscars. So who is her Oscars competition? Emily Blunt in Oppenheimer, Danielle Brooks in The Color Purple, America Ferrera in Barbie, and Jodie Foster in Nyad.

If you’re going to place one and only one wager on the 2024 Oscars, lay that money down on Da’Vine Joy Randolph.

We’ll find out who wins when the Oscars air live on March 10th.

Go Philly!

Not Everybody Loves Jason Kelce

Lots of people seemed to love my story from Monday about Jason Kelce at the Kansas City Chiefs game. Yes, the game that Taylor Swift also showed up for. But not my friend Christine Flowers, the noted conservative columnist. Here’s what she had to say on the socials:

A lot of Philadelphians love Jason Kelce and think he’s the second coming. Whatever. My thought is that neither Bill Bergey, Howard Carmichael, Wilbert Montgomery, Tommy McDonald, Randall Cunningham or Reggie White would have celebrated the team who beat us in last year’s Super Bowl only a week after they disgraced themselves before our city. Who care’s if it’s his brother’s team. Show some respect. Just a thought.

She does have a point. But I’m more upset that Jason Kelce was seen chugging Bud Light. At least do a PBR, man.

By the Numbers

3rd: Ranking of Philadelphia on Orkin’s annual list of the cities with the worst bedbug problems. Ew.

35: Approximate number of still-operating pay phones in Philadelphia.

8 a.m.: Just in time for Dry January, the new time of day when you can order an alcoholic beverage at a bar or restaurant in Delaware thanks to a new law. It used to be 9 a.m. And if you’re wondering what time you can get a drink in Pennsylvania, that would be 7 a.m. If you’ve never been to Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar in the Italian Market when the legendary dive bar opens at 7 a.m., it’s definitely a scene!

And from the MVP Sports Desk …

It was a Showdown in the Land of Giants last night at the Wells Fargo Center, as 29-year-old MVP Joel Embiid and 20-year-old Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama faced off against each other for the first time ever. Wemby is seven-foot-four, people! Nick Nurse went with Nic Batum, Tobias Harris, Joel, Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. to start. Young Stud made two straight threes in the first three minutes, and San Antonio got out to a wild 14-5 lead. But we caught up quick with an 11-2 run of our own to tie it up at 16, and from there on, it was neck-and-neck.

#Spurs lead #76ers 35-34

Through one quarter:

Embiid – 24 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST
Wemby – 10 PTS, 2/2 3PT, 5 MIN

The #Sixers star had his most points in a quarter this season #BrotherlyLove pic.twitter.com/LUi844eVxB

— Philly Sports (@PhillyGameDay) January 23, 2024

In the second quarter, we reestablished dominance early, going up six with Paul Reed crashing the boards. Joel hit 30 points with almost four minutes left in the half! At the break? He already had his double-double. Um. The Spurs, who came into the game at 8-34, are not that good. All the same, Joel was having a game for the ages. The Sixers pulled ahead by 13 midway through the third.

When Joel Embiid passes you the ball. You temporarily transform into Lebron on the Cavs pic.twitter.com/cUuytV5mVW

— Fanimal (@Fanimal_) January 23, 2024

Embiid tied his career-high 59 with seconds left … before the fourth! He sat for the start of it — I mean, what did he have to prove? But he came back in halfway through for the chance to join A.I. and Wilt the Stilt as the only Sixers ever to score 60 in a game. That brought on the MVP chants as he stood at the foul line and did so. Could he beat Wilt’s all-time 68? And then, amid all the joy, the fucking refs reviewed him for a flop call. Lucky for them, they didn’t find he’d flopped, and he sank number 66 at the line — and missed 67. Then he tied the record – but the refs waved it off, saying he’d been fouled first. So he tied it at the foul line after all — and with a layup, became the team’s top scorer of all time.

70-PIECE FOR EMBIID 😱

Spurs-Sixers | Live on NBA TV
📲 https://t.co/TJ4nCPRIJL pic.twitter.com/SR00f4VhHe

— NBA (@NBA) January 23, 2024

Did we mention his 18 rebounds? You gotta love the man. Fittingly, all this took place on the anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game.

pic.twitter.com/7L82c2Y7x5

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 23, 2024

Any College Hoops News?

Just tonight’s schedule. We’ve got 16th-ranked Dayton — they’ve won 20 games in a row — visiting La Salle at 6:30, and St. Joe’s at UMass with a 7 p.m. start.

The Flyers also play.

All Philly Today sports coverage is provided by Sandy Hingston.

News

Check phillymag.com each morning Monday through Thursday for the latest edition of Philly Today. And if you have a news tip for our hardworking Philly Mag reporters, please direct it here. You can also use that form to send us reader mail. We love reader mail!

Jason Kelce Gives Us More Great Jason Kelce Moments (and Taylor Swift Was There, Too)

Delco’s most famous resident and maybe-former Eagles player Jason Kelce added to his list of great Jason Kelce moments with some antics at Sunday night’s Kansas City Chiefs game in Buffalo.

After his brother Travis Kelce took in two touchdowns and won the game for the Chiefs, thereby bringing the team one step closer to the Super Bowl, Jason Kelce leaped out of the suite where he was watching the game. Shirtless. And we understand there was some beer-chugging that happened as well. (Love you, Jason, but Bud Light? Really?)

I could be wrong, but it seems like more people are talking about shirtless Jason Kelce jumping out of a suite into the stands than are talking about Taylor Swift being in the same suite.

Speaking of Pride of Berks County Taylor Swift, NFL broadcast veteran Tony Romo seems to be taking the talk of romance between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift fairly seriously. During the game, Romo called Jason Kelce Taylor Swift’s brother-in-law. Let’s not rush things, Tony!

And in what is hopefully the last thing I’ll be writing about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce this week, insufferable Philadelphia jeweler Steven Singer of “I Hate Steven Singer” fame has offered Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce a free engagement ring valued at $1 million. Pretty sure they can afford to actually buy a ring, Steven.

Local Talent

The latest season of The (ugh) Bachelor begins tonight, and apparently the latest chump to go on the show was raised in Montco but loves the Green Bay Packers. You can read the Inquirer‘s scintillating interview with this highly evolved creature here. Barf.

By the Numbers

$7,048: Amount raised online as of Monday morning for the owners of a beloved South Philly cafe who are being forced to vacate after 17 years.

$8,495,000: What it will cost you to live in this spectacular manor in Gladwyne. Well, in point of fact, that’s just what it will cost you to buy it. Then there are the taxes. You’ve gotta heat it. And don’t forget about the grounds upkeep. Those rear terrace bushes don’t trim themselves.

151: Age of a Catholic church in Delco that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia just announced is closing.

58: Predicted high for Friday.

And from the Five-in-a-Row Sports Desk …

The Sixers missed Friday’s snowstorm, seeing as they were in Orlando to play the Magic. Robert Covington and De’Anthony Melton were out sick, and Nick Nurse started Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Nic Batum. Former St. Joe’s star, current Blue Coats exec and local fave Jameer Nelson, who spent 10 years of his playing career with Orlando, was at the game. Joel and Co. got out to an early lead and stayed there through the first quarter, mainly due to Jo-Jo’s 15 points — until he fouled Cole Anthony on the final shot of the quarter and the Magic went up, 34-32. But a 14-2 run late in the second quarter put us up by 10 as Joel got creative.

JOEL HANS EMBIID WITH THE SELF ALLEY-OOP ‼ pic.twitter.com/TvAUme6eY6

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 20, 2024

The Magic closed it back up to 68-60 at the half; Joel had 28 points. The Sixers stretched that out a tad in the third, to 89-76 behind Joel’s 36 points in 31 minutes; Tyrese had 32. They stretched it way out in the fourth, to as much as a 20-point lead. Oh, and Ricky Council IV made his NBA debut and sank a free throw!

Terquavion Smith made his debut, too, and sank back-to-back threes: six points in two minutes! Final: 124-109. Play the song!

On Saturday night in Charlotte, the Sixers let the Hornets keep it close — we only led 46-45 at the half — then let them take the lead briefly in the fourth quarter before buckling down and getting serious in what turned out to be a solid 97-89 win. They outscored Charlotte 27-16 in that final quarter, and Joel got his 20th double/double.

Joel Embiid tonight:

33 points
10 rebounds
5 assists
3 blocks pic.twitter.com/SHOPpgI7T2

— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) January 21, 2024

They’ll host the Spurs tonight at 7 p..m.

The Inky’s Gabriela Carroll put together a fun retrospective of Philly-themed Sports Illustrated covers over the weekend, as news broke that the venerable sports magazine had laid off all its staff.

Any College Hoops News?

Oh yeah. Drexel kept its undefeated-in-conference streak going with a big come-from-behind home-court win over Monmouth on Thursday night, 78-74. And they kept the streak intact on Saturday with an authoritative 86-67 beatdown of the Delaware Blue Hens.

In other Saturday games, Rice’s Owls just squeaked past Temple’s Owls at the Liacouras Center despite Temple’s dogged second-half rally, 69-66; St. Joe’s chalked up a home win vs. Duquesne, 71-69; the Penn Quakers were crushed at home by Harvard, 70-61; and against top-ranked UConn, the Villanova Wildcats put on a clinic, keeping it close all the way through the first half and taking the lead early in the second, 39-38. They then fell behind, hung tough, came to within two points with five minutes left, tied it up, and lost despite a last-second half-court three-pointer by Mark Armstrong, 66-65. So close …

The Flyers also played.

All Philly Today sports coverage is provided by Sandy Hingston.

News

Check phillymag.com each morning Monday through Thursday for the latest edition of Philly Today. And if you have a news tip for our hardworking Philly Mag reporters, please direct it here. You can also use that form to send us reader mail. We love reader mail!

New Yorkers Rip Spike Eskin, Who’s Coming Home to WIP

Two years after Spike Eskin (son of the much-reviled Howard Eskin) defected to New York, we hear that he’s coming back. And that’s good news for us. The general consensus, at least here in Philly, is that Spike Eskin is “a really nice guy.”

Eskin is leaving his job as program director at sports talk station WFAN in New York to come to 94.1 WIP, where he used to work. That’s the radio station that used to play rock and then became all-sports-all-the-time. Eskin will be joining former Eagles player Ike Reese for the afternoon drive.

It sounds like New York isn’t exactly heartbroken over losing Eskin. In the wake of his announced departure, the New York Post ran a whole story about how man fans hated him. Some choice quotes from the Post article:

“Greatest news I’ve heard in a while. It is a disgrace what he has done to this station.”

“He was terrible. Thank God!”

“His work at destroying WFAN is complete!“

But from what we hear, Eskin actually did a good job at WFAN. So it sounds like New Yorkers are just being New Yorkers. Sort of the same way that Philly fans are just Philly fans.

Welcome back, Spike.

For more on Spike and his relationship with his dear old dad, check out the amusingly-titled profile “Jesus. What If Howard Eskin Was Your Dad?”

Antisemitism Watch

One of Philadelphia’s Holocaust memorials has been vandalized twice in a matter of days. First, somebody defaced the memorial near 16th and Arch with a swastika. Now, somebody threw trash all over it. Police have surveillance video of the suspect in the swastika incident.

Meanwhile, the United States Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights has dropped its investigation into antisemitism at Penn. No, Penn isn’t off the hook. Officials dropped the investigation because somebody is already suing Penn, making the same allegations. “The relief sought is the same as would be obtained if OCR were to find a violation regarding the allegation(s),” a department spokesperson said in a statement.

Penn may now be outside the scrutiny of the Department of Education’s investigation. But Temple University just got wrapped up in it. Officials are now investigating allegations of antisemitism and discrimination at the Broad Street institution.

About That Big Boat On the Delaware

If you’ve ever spent any time near the waterfront in South Philadelphia, you’ve no doubt noticed the huge boat that’s docked near the Ikea. That boat is the SS United States, and it’s been mired in controversy for a long, long time. The conservancy group for the boat is in the middle of a trial with the landlords. The SS United States could soon be evicted from its spot, which would result in the loss of a weird Philadelphia landmark.

Local Talent

Our Super Bowl dreams may be dashed (heck, we would’ve taken even a divisional round game!), but one local ballet dancer might bring us home a very different kind of trophy.

Philadelphia Ballet student Katie Cerny is headed to the Prix de Lausanne at the end of the month. And just what is the Prix de Lausanne, you ask? It’s only a competition featuring the 80 best ballet students in the entire world. Just ten American women were chosen.

Cerny is actually from North Carolina and only came to Philadelphia last year. So her status as a Philadelphian is tenuous at best. But given what just happened with the Eagles, we’ll take what we can get!

Break a leg, Katie. (I’m assuming that’s OK to say to ballet dancers, right?)

By the Numbers

8: Maximum inches of snow currently in the forecast for Friday. (Well, it depends on what forecast you look at. 6 ABC is going with 2 – 4 inches. Fox 29 is going with up to 8 inches. Higher numbers are more fun.) My kids want to know if they are going to have a two-snow-day week, keeping in mind they were off Monday for MLK Day, too. I’m saying no. But I was also wrong about Tuesday. So there’s hope.

9: Philly-area puppies headed to the big Puppy Bowl in February. My money is on “Small Ed”:

2: Summer months during which PECO couldn’t shut off your electricity if a new bill becomes law. There are already protections against shut-offs during winter, so people don’t lose their heat. And advocates are pointing out that not being able to run an air conditioner or fan in the hottest months can be dangerous.

And from the All’s-Quiet Sports Desk …

While you’re still licking your Eagles wounds — and while we wait for the final word on whether Jason Kelce is retiring or not — try this on for size: The Athletic has a heartwarming, stomach-turning story about the Kelce brothers in college (with plenty of incriminating photos).

Many may peg Travis as the more outgoing Kelce brother, but Jason’s tales date back to the University of Cincinnati too.

“He goes and gets a Gatorade bottle and fills it up with Jameson.”@Williams_Justin on the best stories as Jason debates retirement:https://t.co/npjH5rnuCK pic.twitter.com/PyoXgBnCLY

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 17, 2024

And Fox News reporter Laura Okmin has finally revealed what Jason yells before joining the pile on every Brotherly Shove:

My favorite quote of the season was one I couldn’t say on TV. Explaining the toll the tush push takes on you, @JasonKelce told me upon push, he yells, “FU@K MY LIFE!” (Jalen Hurts confirmed) Here’s to a man who also screams – and lives –
“I LOVE my life” just as passionately. pic.twitter.com/yd0g2az9bB

— Laura Okmin (@LauraOkmin) January 16, 2024

Finally, Wyomissing, PA’s second most famous former resident correctly sussed out Jason’s standard Mickey D’s order:

Why the internet was invented: pic.twitter.com/lFHss0dqKG

— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) January 17, 2024

The only game on the local ticket tonight is Monmouth visiting the hot-streak Drexel Dragons in City Six action, with tip-off at 7 p.m. Ah — the Flyers also play.

All Philly Today sports coverage is provided by Sandy Hingston.