Yesterday in Philly
Summer Staffing, World Cup Headaches, and Jamel’s Hats
Big events, tight schedules, some classic city headaches—but also, a fresh lounge, new hat culture, and Philly stars on Netflix. Here’s what you missed:
World Cup Watch: Crowd Control Edition
Philly’s big World Cup moment is going strong, but you might want to double-check your parking spot. The PPA dropped over 3,100 tickets in the first five days of FIFA Fan Fest—173 of which went to Lemon Hill residents by mistake (PPA says “whoops” and will void/refund them). Meanwhile, police are sweating staffing shortages as major summer events stack up. On the bright side: over 13,000 volunteers are helping visitors get where they need to go, and the city’s flexing its preparedness numbers. More on what that means for the next few weeks.
Need to chill? There’s finally a free indoor Fan Lounge in the Fashion District—which, honestly, is a gift for tourists and anyone melting in the heat downtown.
Transit & City Moves
SEPTA and transit police have a tentative contract deal—which means we probably avoided a strike during peak World Cup madness. Also, SEPTA announced next steps for a Germantown Station redevelopment, with mixed-use plans finally inching forward.
On the Culture Side
More local flavor: Jamel Workman is reviving high-fashion hat-making in Philly. Seriously, his custom pieces might just bring a little old-school flair—worth a look (and maybe a splurge if you’re feeling yourself).
Streaming at home? Both Kevin Hart and Tina Fey scored renewals for their Netflix shows. Philly keeps on feeding the pop culture machine.
Sports Shorts
The Phillies finished off the Marlins with a lefty-heavy lineup (big series win, but Andrew Painter flamed out). For the Eagles fans: debates are heating up over best 2026 season: DeVonta Smith vs. A.J. Brown (let the arguments begin). And the Sixers are hustling ahead of the draft with six in-person prospect visits lined up this week.
ICYMI – Quick Hits
- Mount Holly canceled its Fourth of July festival due to "alarming violence" at recent events. Don’t drive out expecting fireworks.
- Delco wastewater tested positive for measles (but no confirmed cases yet). Stay tuned, maybe double-check those vax records.
- Benadryl ‘challenges’ are landing more teens in the ER, per poison control. Yes, that’s a real sentence in 2026.
- Fishtown Taps is back—Tuesday drink specials all summer at 20+ spots.
That’s the whirlwind for yesterday. Forward to a friend who missed it—or just meet them at the new lounge and fill them in yourself.
