Yesterday in Philly
Messy Streets, Zoning Beef, and a New Cheesesteak Milestone
What you missed around town:
City Life: Fires, Floods & Shaky Sidewalks
- Grays Ferry got smoky: Residents were told to stay inside after a big trash fire. Air tests now say there’s no toxins (Fox29), but between this and all the Ridge Ave. closures (hello, train car fire), commutes were rough and MLK was a mess.
- If your ride’s iced over in South Philly: That’s a water main break shellacking cars and trees (NBC10).
- Turns out, Philly's speed bumps kinda suck: A new city controller report says a bunch are too steep or the wrong size. No word yet on fixing them, but now you know why your coffee always spills (WHYY).
- Conshy sinkhole bonanza: Water and gas outages hit after infrastructure gave out (Fox29).
Politics & Power Moves
- Hot zoning watch: DHS (the Feds, not the city) leased some fancy Main Line office space in Berwyn—apparently to boost ICE operations (WHYY). Not great vibes for regional neighbors if you’re following the immigration stories popping up lately (see: protests in Lindenwold, NJ after ICE activity near a school bus stop, 6ABC).
- Pubs picking sides: Fergie’s Pub banned a conservative columnist after some “offensive” takes (Philly Mag). Welcome to 2026, I guess.
Neighborhood Culture Update
- Carter’s Cheesesteaks is making history: First Black-owned business ever to open in Chinatown (Fox29). Definitely worth a visit (and telling your out-of-town friends about).
- Museums pivot to career day: The Franklin Institute's new "Universal Parks" exhibit isn’t about rides or minions—it's about the jobs that keep theme parks running. Semi-meta, but could be a fun weekend hang (Philly Mag | PhillyVoice).
- Philly’s candy legacy: Why is this the place for Valentine’s sweets? Turns out, we basically invented the American chocolate scene (PhillyVoice).
Quick Hits
- Wine & Dine is coming: Philly Mag has a handy pairing guide if you want to eat fancy (Philly Mag), or meet the town’s coolest archeologist-slash-wine expert (Philly Mag).
- Alcohol delivery could get easier: PA lawmakers are (finally) talking about letting DoorDash/Uber Eats bring beer and wine (PhillyVoice), but don’t hold your breath—this is Harrisburg.
- Jigsaw puzzles, but Philly: If you need something cozy for Valentine's, check out Occasionette’s new line (Philly Mag).
- Jill Scott’s new album is a love letter to North Philly (PhillyVoice).
That’s the big stuff. More tomorrow!
