Yesterday in Philly — March 21, 2026
City Stuff
Benjamin Franklin Bridge: Summer Shutdown Coming
A heads up for anyone crossing the Delaware — the Ben Franklin Bridge is shutting down to cars in July for its 100th birthday bash. That's right, no traffic allowed during the big celebration weekend. Expect detours, pack extra patience, and start plotting your alternate routes now.
School Land Grab? City Council’s Trying to Stop It
With a bunch of Philly schools closing, there’s a move in City Council to rezone those juicy properties so developers can’t swoop in and go wild. The goal: make sure these spaces don’t just become more luxury condos.
Temple Goes Big in North Philly
Temple University just joined a big plan to create a major transit-oriented district around Amtrak’s North Philadelphia station. Translation: New apartments, shops, maybe even some upgrades to your SEPTA experience (a miracle?).
Transit & Commute
World Cup Hotel Mess
If you’ve been planning to make some extra cash renting a spare room for the World Cup, check again: FIFA just canceled 2,000 hotel reservations in Philly. No word if this means more or less tourist chaos for Center City.
Sports
Eagles Reshuffle the Secondary
It’s been a day: The Eagles traded safety Sydney Brown to Atlanta, then added J.T. Gray and re-signed Marcus Epps. If you’re keeping track at home, the secondary is officially in flux (full tracker here).
Surprise in Phillies’ Starting Rotation
No Nola, no Wheeler: Cristopher Sánchez is getting the Opening Day start. Even more drama: rookie Andrew Painter snags the No. 5 spot. Welcome to a whole new Phillies pitching era.
Sixers Update
Joel Embiid will sit out Saturday vs. the Jazz (again), but Justin Edwards and VJ Edgecombe looked sharp in a blowout win over Sacramento.
Quick Hits
- The Roots Picnic lineup is crazy this year — Jay-Z, Erykah Badu, Brandy & Kehlani are all in. Summer in Fairmount Park is gonna be wild.
- Forgotten Philly: Ever heard of the DeBenneville family burial ground? Turns out, some old cemeteries really do just get paved over and lost.
- Parks & Rec made a fake Sarah McLachlan ad to plea for more lifeguards. It’s very Philly, very funny, and yes, they’re still hiring.
- Random but true: A peacock named Flappy Gilmore is on the loose in South Jersey. We are rooting for Flappy.
See you Monday. Don’t let the dirty snow piles win.
