The Sixers Are Back

The Sixers Are Back

No Victor today, as he takes Fridays off, but I did want to mention the Sixers’ Game 3 playoff match against the Knicks. First off, we learned that Kelly Oubre Jr. ran a red light in Center City in the wee hours after Tuesday’s Game 2 loss in NYC and crashed his purple Lamborghini. He started anyway, along with the aforementioned Embiid, Tobias Harris, Kyle Lowry and Tyrese Maxey. Joel picked up an early second foul — a flagrant — and Philly crossed its fingers, praying he’d keep his temper in check.

Joel Embiid complains to ref then flagrant fouls Mitchell Robinson. Donte has a word pic.twitter.com/GLv7S4eJ3t

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 26, 2024

At least Mitchell Robinson blew both the foul shots. He then wound up on his ass on the court. Tempers were hot, and the game was physical. Embiid sat down to cool off for the rest of the first quarter, which ended with the Knicks up 29-27.

Cam Payne gave us back the lead early in the second with a trey, and in a nice twist of fate, Isaiah Hartenstein, whom I’ve come to hate, notched his third foul just three minutes in, on Joel. Unfortunately, Joel soon picked up his third, too. And we’d apparently forgotten that one has to rebound.

At the half: 58-55 Knicks. Joel and Jalen Brunson each had 17 points; Tyrese and OG Anunoby were in second place with 11 apiece. (Speaking of Maxey, here’s a lovely story on Andscape.com about him and his grandma.) There sure were a lot of Knicks fans in our house.

Charles Barkley is "disgusted" at "all those Knicks fans there" pic.twitter.com/CFQHz05D8x

— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) April 26, 2024

The third quarter was back-and-forth, back-and-forth until Tyrese did that thing where he warms up late and sparked a 12-0 Sixers run halfway through. Robinson left the court for the rest of the game with an ankle sprain. What a pity. Embiid nailed three straight threes right in Hartenstein’s face. We were up 98-85 at the start of the fourth after a 43-point third quarter.

Hartenstein racked up his fifth foul with 7:33 to go — on Joel, natch. And Joel was feelin’ it. But toward the end, Anunoby hit a pair of threes to bring the Knicks within eight, and it was nervous time, even though Joel was up to 45 points. In the final minutes, Kyle Lowry came through big-time, and Brunson was mightily frustrated. Again, what a pity. (Sports don’t bring out the best in me.)

The usual late-game foul fest, a 50-point total for Joel, and that’s the 125-114 win. Not bad for a guy who’s just been reported to have Bell’s palsy.

Centers with 50+ points in an NBA playoff game:

Wilt Chamberlain 56, 1962
Wilt Chamberlain 53, 1960
Nikola Jokic 53, 2023
Wilt Chamberlain 50, 1964
Wilt Chamberlain 50, 1960
Joel Embiid 50 tonight

— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) April 26, 2024

See you on Sunday, on our court, 1 p.m. start.

How’d the Phils Do?

They kept up their series of swift starts in Thursday’s wrap-up of their series with the Reds, getting four runs in the third on a Nick Castellanos single, a Bryson Stott triple (!), a Kyle Schwarber sac fly, a Trea Turner double and a Bryce Harper homer. Phew!

https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/1783552893087354885

Oh, Alec Bohm doubled in the midst of all that, too. With Zack Wheeler on the mound for us, fans could hope there wouldn’t be another bullpen breakdown. He loaded the bases in the bottom of the third but worked out of the jam. Brandon Marsh singled, stole second (!!), and scored another in the sixth.

Orion Kerkering came in for Wheeler to close out the seventh, and Jeff Hoffman came in for him in the eighth and finished things up in the 5-0 win. They’ll play an away game vs. the Padres tonight, starting at 9:40.

What About the Eagles?

It’s nights like these where you think “Huh, maybe I should add a second TV to my living room.” As the Sixers rolled, the Eagles waited and waited for their spot at the NFL Draft, eventually picking Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. There’s a lot to like here, but one thing especially: he didn’t commit a single penalty last season and had just one pass interference call over the past two years, according to The Athletic.

For a defense that gave up the fourth-most penalty yards in the NFL last season — plus the second-most passing yards — Mitchell can’t suit up fast enough.

Marc Summers Explains Why Reality TV Sucks

Longtime Double Dare host and Food Network personality Marc Summers has plenty of connections to Philadelphia. He lived here for twelve years. Double Dare got its start here. And, well, he just loves the place. We caught up with Summers in New York, where he’s currently in his own off-Broadway show, The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers.

The name on my birth certificate is actually … Marc Berkowitz. But very early on in my showbiz career, I turned on Good Morning America one day and saw that they identified the Son of Sam as David Berkowitz. My agent called me and made me change my name immediately. He said, “I’ll never be able to get you a gig otherwise.” And I simply became Marc Summers.

I lived in Philly … for 12 years. I used to live at that big pink building on Broad Street. The Symphony House? I left five years ago. Also, when we first started Double Dare, we filmed at WHYY in Philadelphia because Nickelodeon didn’t have money. We shot in Philly for $9,000 an episode, compared to $25,000 in New York.

The TV shows I grew up watching were … Johnny Carson and Ed Sullivan. I would sneak into the den after bedtime to watch Johnny.

My first job in TV was … as one of those kids on Romper Room. I was the standby kid for when other kids would get sick. They’d call my parents and say that so-and-so was sick. “Can you get Mark down here right away?” I just loved being in the studio, watching the crew. the magic of television is just something I always connected with.

These days, I live in … airplanes. I have two homes in California. One in Santa Barbara. One in L.A. And I also live in a hotel in New York.

Reality TV … sucks.So many shiny floors. So many bright lights. No real people. Everyone is so phony. And what’s with these shows like America’s Got Talent and their “contestants”? Unless you’ve had some tragedy in your life that they can make a five-minute segment about, you’re not getting on the show. Why does everybody need a backstory?

When they offered me the job on Double Dare … I immediately accepted. But they actually didn’t tell me about the huge vats of chocolate syrup and slime until I showed up on set. I have OCD and am a neatness fanatic. With Double Dare, I had to talk myself through that show every day.

I got my start in stand-up … at the Comedy Store in 1976, alongside Dave Letterman, Jay Leno and Robin Williams. And I became a warmup guy for lots of shows like Soap, Star Search, What’s Happening Now, Donny & Marie. I was the guy who would go out to get people hyped up before the shoot. I’d tell them when to laugh and when to applaud, The idea was to get them to feel like they were on speed. It’s all about the energy in the room.

If somebody sees me on the street and says, “Hey, you’re the guy from that slime show” … I’m just glad somebody remembers. There’s a whole generation of people who only know me from my Food Network show, Unwrapped, and never heard of Double Dare.

After I learned that Double Dare was canceled … I was okay. I had a love-hate relationship with it, and I also didn’t want to be a kid-show host forever. We did something like 500 episodes. Sometimes you want things to go on forever. Sometimes you don’t.

When people ask me what Philly is like … I tell them it’s historically brilliant, culinarily amazing, and that the people are the best.

When I visit, I go to … Campo’s for a cheesesteak, Butcher & Singer for anything, and wherever Marc Vetri is.

People may be surprised to know that I am … a cancer survivor. Dr. Stadtmauer at Penn saved my life after a doctor in Chicago gave me six months.

My current projects include … my off-Broadway show, The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers, which runs through early June, and my podcast, Marc Summers Unwraps. Both are essentially about overcoming obstacles. People see you on TV and think everything is good. There are ups but also many downs.

Next up, I hope to … do more theater. I want to land a minor role in a Broadway show.

The best game show was … Pyramid. Any version of it.

The worst was … The Gong Show. I actually had an interesting interaction with Gong Show host Chuck Barris about that show. You see, he really broke the fourth wall with that show, where he encouraged the audience to interact with people on the show. And what happened after that was that sometimes, because that fourth wall had been broken by The Gong Show, you’d have people in live studio audiences trying to interact with the performers while they were shooting the show. You can’t do that! I reprimanded Chuck. I really did.
.
One of my more famous friends is … Dennis Miller. We do lunch once a week.

My relationship status is … that I’ll be married 50 years as of June 16th. We’re going on an Alaskan cruise. I’m not a cruise guy, but when you’ve been with a woman for 50 years and she says she wants to go on an Alaskan cruise, guess where you’re going?



Published as “One of Us: Marc Summers” in the May 2024 issue of Philadelphia magazine.

Philly Real Estate Showdown: A Baker Townhouse vs. A Trumbauer Estate

You could have an architect design your dream home — or you could probably save a bundle by buying one already designed by a noted architect, like the now-owners of these houses did.

The Wash West townhouse is one of a trio completed by starchitect Cecil Baker in 1995, and he made this one his place of residence.

It has several elements intended to unify diverse spaces, like the pass-through windows on either side of the kitchen that serve the living and dining rooms.

The back portion of the ground floor was his wife’s office; a door at the top of the stairs to the upper floors keeps the family areas private.

And there’s plenty of outdoor space: a rear patio on the ground floor and balconies overlooking it.

The Rydal house is a Cotswold classic designed by Horace Trumbauer in 1925. It’s been well maintained over the decades and has several elegant features on its main floor.

The chandelier in the center-hall foyer sets the tone; it’s flanked by a living room with built-in bookcases, a coffered­ ceiling, and a wood-framed fireplace on one side and a sunny dining room on the other.

The hallway­ leading to the kitchen has a window that’s open to a renovated breakfast room. Upstairs, what had been a (petite) fourth bedroom now functions as a home office, while the three en-suite­ bedrooms­ have baths that combine mid-century tile and vintage-looking modern vanities.­

The basement rec room is the most recently updated space in the home, with a full wet bar that includes a wine fridge. There’s also an outdoor fireplace on the rear patio. Design dreams do come true.

Published as “A Baker Townhouse vs. A Trumbauer Estate” in the May 2024 issue of Philadelphia magazine.

The Big Winners and Losers in Philadelphia’s 2024 Primary Election

Philadelphia’s primary election on Tuesday was historic for a number of reasons. For the first time ever, an LGBTQ candidate won a statewide primary. A second openly gay Black candidate is going to the State House. There was a shocking upset in the race for treasurer.

Elsewhere, a familiar face in statewide politics is one step closer to Attorney General, while the Working Families Party fell short in West Philly once again. Here’s our full list of the winners and losers in Philly’s primary election.

The Primary-Election Winners …

1. Democratic Party-Endorsed Candidates

In almost every race this primary-election cycle, if you were endorsed by the Democratic Party, you won. Even in races with first-time endorsees, such as State Rep candidates Andre Carroll and Sean Dougherty, the endorsement was worth its weight. Despite a growing number of progressive challengers and third-party influences, Philadelphia and Pennsylvania remained true to the party.

2. Black Queer Candidates

Something unprecedented happened on Tuesday night that was a win for both younger candidates and those who are Black and queer: Andre D. Carroll, a 33-year-old Germantown native, became the second openly queer Black candidate to win a seat in the Pennsylvania state House. The first to ever do so was 34-year-old State Rep Malcolm Kenyatta, who on the same election night became the first LGBTQIA candidate to win a statewide primary — he’s the Democratic nominee for auditor general. Kenyatta, a North Philly native who was first elected in 2018, also won his contested State Rep primary.

3. Eugene DePasquale

The seasoned politico has succeeded in yet another statewide primary. After previously serving as a State Rep and more recently as Auditor General, DePasquale is now the Democratic nominee for Attorney General. It was a crowded five-candidate race — one in which he had neither the most money nor prosecutorial experience, but name recognition likely gave him the advantage as he earned an impressive 15-point victory over runner-up Jack Stollsteimer.

4. Erin McClelland

Perhaps the biggest shocker of the night came in the race for treasurer. Erin McClelland had no major endorsements and no perceived momentum. Her now-defeated opponent, Ryan Bizzaro, was seen by most as the front-runner in this race, having been backed by the Democratic State Committee, major unions, and influential party leaders. McClelland, notably, will be the only woman on the Democrats’ statewide ticket in November.

5. Nikki Haley

Yes, Nikki Haley, the onetime GOP presidential candidate who gave it her all against Donald Trump (but came up very short), is still getting votes. Despite dropping out of the race a month ago, Haley — who still hasn’t endorsed Trump’s reelection bid — garnered 17 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s primary. That Trump’s non-competing opponent got close to 20 percent of the GOP vote in a swing state like Pennsylvania can’t be good news in Trump World. Throughout her campaign, Haley made the case for a base of Republican voters who wouldn’t vote for Trump even if he earned their party’s nomination. Tuesday’s results seem to confirm that — and the GOP has its work cut out.

… and the Losers

1. Sajda Blackwell

Right now, incumbent Amen Brown and Working Families Party-backed Cass Green are in a tight race (once again) for State Rep of West Philly’s 10th District. As of the time of this posting, Brown, a more moderate Democrat, had a mere 50-vote lead on Green, a progressive. Mail-in votes are still being counted to determine the ultimate winner in the days to come. With 20 percent of the vote tallied so far, the third candidate in the race is radio personality Sajda “Purple” Blackwell, who also took third when Brown and Green went neck-and-neck in the 2022 primary and is once again being cast as the spoiler in this race. Last primary, some political pundits argued that since Brown won by less than 200 votes, Blackwell’s presence in the race hurt Green’s chances. With the race this cycle even closer, some are drawing the same conclusion. My theory is that Blackwell likely siphoned more support from the moderate Brown than from the progressive Green. But regardless, Blackwell is third yet again.

2. Staunch Progressives

Cass Green’s race in West Philly is still TBD, but progressives didn’t fare too well in other races. In the Attorney General race, Keir Bradford-Gray didn’t even crack the top three; some progressives were leaning toward Joe Khan, who also fared poorly. This primary was a revelation that progressives’ grassroots efforts need to focus more on citywide races if they plan to eventually win more seats. Sure, State Senator Nikil Saval and State Reps Rick Krajewski and Liz Fiedler won in 2020, when progressives were having a moment, and have benefited from incumbency. But it’s proven harder for new progressive candidates to win in some of these districts, despite the citywide success of several at-large members of City Council. As the saying goes, go where you’re celebrated. The city at large is calling.

3. Ryan Bizzaro

Bizzaro had it all until he didn’t. In a baffling upset, Bizzaro lost what many political analysts predicted would be a cakewalk for treasurer. A previously elected candidate backed by the state’s Democratic Party losing to someone who’s never been in office and appears to have less name recognition? It seemed unthinkable. One theory to consider is that because the Pennsylvania Democratic Committee didn’t endorse a single woman on its primary ballot, voters chose this race to rectify the omission.

4. Kevin Boyle

The party can make you, and the party can break you. That was the case for now-defeated State Rep Kevin Boyle, whose slew of recent bad press presaged a rocky primary. Boyle, the brother of U.S. Congressman Brendan Boyle, didn’t get the Democratic Party’s endorsement this go-around — it instead backed Sean Dougherty, the son of State Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty (and, yes, the nephew of disgraced union boss Johnny Doc). This strategic endorsement could work well for the Democrats in their quest to keep their razor-thin control of the state House; this is one of the few Philly state House districts that include a Republican challenger in November.

This Philly Neighborhood Had the Highest Voter Turnout

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This Philly Neighborhood Had the Highest Voter Turnout

I’m pretty sure I know more people who didn’t vote than who did in Tuesday’s Pennsylvania primary. That’s just based on casual conversations.

There were some truly important races to consider, as we explained on Monday. But this wasn’t some presidential primary where we actually have any kind of choice as to who we want the nominee to be.

It’s either Joe Biden or Donald Trump. Yawn. And I think it’s fair to say that people are more enthused about which one of them doesn’t become president than which does … no matter which side of the political chasm you’re on. If I had to guess, you’re more likely voting against someone than for someone, or at least against an agenda or political ideology than in favor of one.

So, yeah. Voter turnout was low. In fact, only 18.92 percent of registered voters actually voted in Philly. About 34 percent of those who did vote opted for mail-in ballots.

Actually, though, while citywide turnout was downright dismal, some areas of the city came through with much better voter turnout than others.

Winning the ribbon for Best Civic Engagement (or at least Best Voter Turnout) would have to be Ward 9 in Northwest Philadelphia. That ward includes Chestnut Hill and parts of Mount Airy. Turnout in Ward 9 was 38.65 percent; it was one of only four of the city’s 66 wards to crack 30 percent.

Meanwhile, behind Ward 9 was Ward 22, which, probably not coincidentally, is the ward immediately to the east of Ward 9. (These areas tend to be among the most politically active.) Ward 22 makes up much of the rest of the Mount Airy area and came in at 33.7 percent. After Ward 22, there was Ward 15 — think Fairmount and the immediately surrounding area. Voters in Ward 15 hit 31.54 percent. And finally, there’s Ward 50, just edging in at 30.72 percent. Where’s Ward 50? West Oak Lane and the neighborhood some call Cedarbrook fall within its boundaries.

As for the wards that didn’t make it out of the single digits, we have Ward 7 (5.82 percent), Ward 33 (6.66 percent), and Ward 43 (8.86 percent), all in North Philadelphia, and Ward 19 (9.03 percent), which includes parts of West Kensington. Now it’s time for organizations to engage with these disenfranchised voters to make sure they get the vote out in November.

Looking to Buy a Home?

It sounds like this might not be the best time. Good luck! (And, hey, if you’ve got $2.6 mil sitting around, this renewed Federal townhouse in Society Hill ain’t too shabby!)

By the Numbers

9.6 percent: Of the Democrats who voted in the presidential primary on Tuesday, this is the percentage that cast write-in votes for that office. It’s unclear right now what they wrote in on their ballots, but it’s expected that many of these will be voters participating in the “uncommitted” campaign against Biden’s stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

18 percent: Of the Republicans who voted in the presidential primary on Tuesday, this is the percentage that voted not for Donald Trump but for Nikki Haley, who dropped out of the race a while back. Haley actually beat Trump in several wards, including, but not limited to, those that include Grad Hospital, Ogontz, and the Cedar Park section of West Philadelphia.

0: Number of independent voters who were able to cast a vote for any office in Tuesday’s primary. Why? Because of Pennsylvania’s antiquated closed primary system, which really needs to change.

Local Talent

We all love Eagles legend Jason Kelce. And a lot of us love Berks County gal Taylor Swift, who just released her latest album. Could it be that some of the lyrics on Swift’s album are actually about Jason? This is the relatively believable theory that one of my colleagues is working with. Thoughts?

And remember Philly’s Chicken Man? (If not, a brief review of the fowl situation.) Well, now there’s New York Cheese Ball Guy, who is like Chicken Guy but with cheese balls. I’m not sure which is more disgusting. Anyway, some locals are crying, well, foul.

And From the Mo’-Woe Sports Desk …

The Phils’ penultimate match-up with the Reds last night got off to a good start, as Trea Turner got thunked by Cincinnati starting pitcher Nick Lodolo and then stole second. Alec Bohm singled him home, and we were off to the races! Spencer Turnbull took the mound for us, and he was solid. In the second, Edmundo Sosa doubled and Cristian Pache walked, but it went for naught. We did pick up another run in the third, on a Turner walk and a Bohm double, but the Reds got that one back in their half, on a Will Benson homer that made Spencer mad.

A lot of heart shown from Spencer Turnbull after giving up a home run in the 3rd: pic.twitter.com/hyxZRgLOkD

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 24, 2024

In the fifth, Kyle Schwarber singled, Trea Turner reached on a ground-out, and Bohm walked, but Turner got picked off to end that rally. Turnbull was peerless, meantime. Whit Merrifield led off the sixth with a single and stole second, and after Sosa singled, the Reds brought in Lucas Sims for Lodolo with Phils on first and third and no outs. Sims struck Pache out, but a Johan Rojas single brought Merrifield in.

JOHAN “EL GENERAL” ROJAS DELIVERS#Phillies 3 #Reds 1 Top 6th#RingTheBell #Phillies #MLB pic.twitter.com/PtbR9cCYo7

— Oscar Budejen (@OscarBudejen) April 25, 2024

Seranthony Domínguez came on for Turnbull in the seventh, gave up a walk, and then dished out a ground-rule double to Tyler Stephenson, putting men at second and third. Santiago Espinal singled to right field and brought both runners home: tie game. After Espinal stole second, Seranthony walked Stuart Fairchild, and that was it for him. Matt Strahm to the rescue! Uh, no. He gave up a single for a 4-3 Reds lead, then a ground-rule double: 5-3. Sigh.

The Phils fought back with singles by Turner and Bohm in the seventh; a Castellanos grounder got Bohm, but Merrifield doubled one run in. Fernando Cruz struck out Sosa, bringing Brandon Marsh in to pinch-hit a long fly … that was caught. It was Gregory Soto for us in the seventh, and he gave up another run on two singles, a walk, and a long fly. In the eighth, Elly De La Cruz got a single, stole second, stole third, and came home on a fly ball off Jose Alvarado: 7-4. Last chance for the Phils … After Turner popped out, red-hot Bohm singled, but Castellanos hit into a double play.

Jesus Christ Phillies

— Bryson Stott Stan Account (@CapperMaron) April 25, 2024

The game also ended Turner’s streak of consecutive successful stolen-base attempts at 41, the longest since Ichiro Suzuki in the 2006-2007 season. One more game in the series, tomorrow at 1:10.

Any Sixers News?

Well, there’s Game 3 tonight in the playoff series with the Knicks, and this one’s in our house, start time 7:30. Oh, and there’s this fun feud going on between Howard Eskin and Kyle Neubeck.

In 20 years Howard will pretend he never said most of this stuff just like he did with Iverson, whose ass he now kisses because he’s a desperate clout chaser https://t.co/uVhSRT7O6u

— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) April 23, 2024

Boys, boys! Simmer down! Can’t we all just get along?

All Philly Today sports coverage is provided by Sandy Hingston.

Is This Delco Town Really One of the 50 Best Places to Live in the U.S.?

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Is Media Really One of the 50 Best Places to Live in the U.S.?

There probably haven’t been too many times when the quaintish Delco borough of Media has found itself in the same sentence as Kalamazoo and, oh, Buffalo. … But that’s just what has happened thanks to Money magazine’s latest list of the “50 Best Places to Live in the U.S.”

The editors at Money praised Media’s walkable streets, great schools, and proximity to lovely Ridley Creek State Park, where locals love to fish, hike and ride horses. Money also notes the restaurant scene in Media, which is certainly solid. (The Main Line should be taking notes here.) There’s also the fact that Media shuts down vehicular traffic on its main street once a month, so residents can party and eat and stroll down the middle of the street, something a lot of towns should be doing. (Remember when Philly shut down 13th Street during the pandemic? That was pretty magical, albeit also an unfortunate necessity.)

Media is great and all. But is it really one of the best places to live in all of these United States? When we tell you that Sangillo’s in Delco has one of the best damn hoagies in the region, we mean it, we tried it, along with all of the other hoagies that we’ll defend to our grave. But looking at the rest of Money‘s list of the best places to live in the United States might leave some readers scratching their heads.

I haven’t been to all of Money‘s 50 picks. Far from it. But I have been to some. And I’m here to tell you: I would never visit Richmond, Buffalo, or Cincinnati again. Let alone live there.

But, hey, these lists are made to argue about or at least promote discussion, and so this one shall.

I should also note that Lancaster, Pennsylvania, made an appearance on the list, and I would agree that the city has really turned itself around in the past couple of decades. It’s actually now a cool place to hang out for a weekend.

Perhaps the biggest surprise to many is the inclusion of Detroit. People love to diss and demean Detroit, just the way that people love to diss and demean Philadelphia. Bad things happen here! But I have friends who positively love living in Detroit, and seeing Detroit on the list of the best places to live has made me decide to finally schedule a trip out there. You can get nonstop round-trip flights for about $65. Granted, on the world’s worst airline. But still.

Some Election Notes

Turnout for Tuesday’s primary was reportedly way low. That’s not entirely unexpected, given the horrible weather on Tuesday. Oh, wait. It was literally a perfect day. Regardless, turnout will, no doubt, be huge — possibly historically so — come November, when the two guys nobody really wants battle it out for president. In any event, there are a few tidbits to report from Tuesday’s vote.

Disgraced State Representative Kevin Boyle was knocked out by Sean Dougherty. Some of you might be thinking, Yawn, State Rep, who cares? But the thing about this particular race is that the winner of the primary goes on to face the Republican candidate in the November election, and the result of that election could flip control of the state House in Harrisburg.

In less scandalous races, incumbent Pennsylvania Congressman Dwight Evans won in a veritable landslide over former Philadelphia Register of Wills Tracey Gordon. One of the main races to watch was for Attorney General, and Eugene DePasquale knocked out his four opponents, including Jared Solomon, the Northeast Philly State Rep who raised more money than any of the other candidates in the race. Familiar Philly face Malcolm Kenyatta moves on to the general to see if he can become Pennsylvania’s next Auditor General.

We’re still waiting on results from a West Philly Pennsylvania House race; incumbent Amen Brown holds a slim lead over progressive challenger Cass Green.

So now all eyes are on November 5th. Can’t come soon enough. Ugh.

By the Numbers

5: Philadelphia area Express stores closing amidst bankruptcy proceedings for the Ohio-headquartered company. Those locations include two in Center City: one at Fashion District, and another at 1521 Walnut Street. In better news, the Express pants I bought five years ago still fit me. Kinda.

$26,000: What these Delco parents are paying annually for day care for their two daughters, the cost of child care being the sole factor in their decision to have no more kids. Frankly, it could be worse. I know parents who are paying about that much per kid. When our son was born in 2006, we looked into the cost of child care and said screw it. My wife decided to become a stay-at-home mom and we quickly had another child, something we wouldn’t have done if she hadn’t made that decision. Worked out well for us. Bonus: never, ever an ear infection.

8: Dirt-bike-riding suspects police are looking for after said suspects allegedly tried to rob a teen of his scooter in South Philly early this morning. The teen wound up getting shot but is expected to be okay.

Local Talent

Jon Bon Jovi may be the Pride of New Jersey (or would that be Bruce Springsteen? Hmmm … ), but we still consider him local enough to fall under our Local Talent category. After all, we regularly cover Taylor Swift even though she’s from Berks County, a place we would never, ever write about otherwise. Anyway, thanks to the Wall Street Journal, we learned something new and unexpected about Bon Jovi: He is utterly obsessed with Philly’s own Ben Franklin, whom we’re a little obsessed with as well.

Where Are You Eating this Week?

Well, if all the tables at the best restaurants in Philadelphia are booked, might I suggest visiting Philadelphia first-ever 24-hour automated cheese dispensary and settling in at home with a lovely cheese board while you consume Baby Reindeer or whatever it is people are watching these days? I’m not generally a fan of food transactions that involve no humans (yes, I wait in the cashier line at Acme instead of using self-checkout), but a cheese machine works for me.

Where Are You Drinking this Week?

So many choices. But I suggest saddling up behind the bar of Philly’s longest-running bartender and downing a few pints while he bends your ear. He’s been at the same bar for 50 years, and you can meet him here.

And From the Air-of-Inevitability Sports Desk …

The Phils got on the board in the first inning last night in Cincinnati, on back-to-back doubles by J.T. Realmuto and Alec Bohm. Would starter Cristopher Sánchez keep up the amazing string of seven-plus-inning performances by Phillies pitchers of late? Well, in the Reds’ half of the first, there was an error, a walk, a double and a run: 1-1. Then they picked up another in the third, on a walk, a wild pitch, a single, a throwing error, another walk and a steal, two more singles and another error?! Oh, no — 5-1 Reds!

Through three innings, the Phillies have three errors. pic.twitter.com/q3qasIBLnU

— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) April 23, 2024

And then another wild pitch! A truly miserable outing for Sánchez, who came out for Yunior Marte for the fourth. And then this. Hoo-boy.

Johan Rojas makes an amazing catch in Center Field and is able to stay in the game after an injury scare. pic.twitter.com/dFHrTRxKb9

— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) April 23, 2024

The Phils looked to have something going in the fifth after walks by Reds starter Andrew Abbott to Cristian Pache, Edmundo Sosa and Rojas, bringing up Kyle Schwarber. But he struck out, Abbott came out, and reliever Fernando Cruz got Trea Turner on strikes, too. After that, Elly De La Cruz whacked a two-run homer. Boy, when it rains, it pours. Bohm led off the sixth with a double off new reliever Buck Farmer, and Whit Merrifield landed at first on what was dubbed an error but should have been a hit. Whereupon Pache hit into a double play. And in the eighth, Ricardo Pinto gave up a homer and whacked a batter, precipitating a conniption on the part of Reds manager (and former Phil) David Bell.

https://twitter.com/RedsDaily4/status/1782938921950683322

For some godforsaken reason, Rob Thomson challenged the call on the final out, a grounder by Rojas. Geez, man, just let this disaster end. But no — and the call was overturned. Thank heaven, Schwarbs struck out again. End of game, end of win streak. And another one against the Reds tomorrow, at 6:40.

Any Better Sixers News?

Um, yes, yes, there was this:

Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Tyrese Maxey has won the 2023-24 NBA Most Improved Player of the Year award. pic.twitter.com/gnAtw6ikHI

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 23, 2024

Well deserved, Tyrese! Oh, and there was a major mea culpa from the officials regarding the Sixers’ devastating Game 2 loss to the Knicks on Monday night. Not that that changes the outcome.

They’ll have a chance to make up for it on Thursday at the Wells Fargo Center. Also? The Wall Street Journal had a story on how the Knicks came to have all those Villanova Wildcats on their roster. After everything that Philly did for youse guys …

All Philly Today sports coverage is provided by Sandy Hingston.

Philly Gets Its First 24-Hour Cheese Vending Machine

Howdy, buckaroos! And welcome back to the Foobooz food news round-up. Just a few quick things to get to this week, including an update on the opening of that new Mulherin’s expansion, the debut of Black Hen, a cool collab dinner from Diana Widjojo, and a big new project from the Defined Hospitality crew. But let’s kick things off this week with the coolest food news I’ve heard in ages…

Perrystead Dairy’s Cheese Dispensary

This is, by far, the best possible use of modern technology I can think of.

Right on the southern edge of North Philly, in the wilds of Olde Kensington, Perrystead Dairy has installed Philly’s first-ever cashless, contactless, 24/7 self-serve cheese dispensary.

I am super psyched about this for a number of different reasons. First, because it’s a cheese vending machine, and how cool is that? Second, because Philly is the birthplace of the automat, but in the past 70-odd years, we have fallen woefully behind the curve when it comes to automatic food vending technology. China has live crab vending machines in the subway. In Rome, they have pizza vending machines that knead their own dough and bake the pie while you wait. There’s a champagne vending machine in London, and ones that dispense veal croquettes in Amsterdam. In Russia, they’ve got french fry vending machines that deliver the goods, hot and salty, in just 90 seconds, and in Germany, they’ve got machines that will sell you everything from potatoes and sausages to fresh eggs, farm produce, and stew.

But now Philly has joined the modern world, and at Perrystead they’re stocking their box with award-winning cheeses like their cave-aged cow’s milk “Intergalactic” (which placed 2nd in the world at the 2023-2024 World Cheese Awards), “Treehug,” their bronze-medalist spruce-strapped soft cheese, and their straw-aged spring cheese, “Field Day” — all of which are made just steps away.

And cheese isn’t the only thing going into (or coming out of) the machine:

“But wait… it’s more than just our internationally award-winning cheeses, (crafted and matured steps away). Treat yourself to an ever-changing assortment of hand-selected, crisps, crackers, jams, chutney, charcuterie, and even stylish serving essentials.”

So yeah, that’s a whole-ass cheese board, all coming out of one machine. If you check out the Instagram post that Perrystead put up over the weekend announcing the start of their Cheese Machine era, one of the commenters claims, “That’s it. We’ve reached the pinnacle of civilization.” And I could not agree more.

Of course, one of those french fry vending machines in my neighborhood wouldn’t hurt either…

Now what’s next?

Mulherin’s Pizzeria Opens their Doors in Midtown Village

After some pretty epic delays (something like 2 years, if I remember correctly), Method Co. has finally pulled the trigger on the pared-down sequel to Fishtown’s Wm. Mulherin’s Sons. Last Thursday, they officially opened the doors at 1175 Ludlow Street and introduced the neighborhood to this new, wood-fired, elegantly distressed, comfy-cool, Italian-inspired oasis with its gorgeous patio, white tile floors, and leather banquettes.

Where the original turned heads with its rustic comfort and lived-in feel (even on opening day), this new iteration leans more toward a movie set — something sunlit and languid, full of beautiful people doing shifty things in a dining room accented with soapstone and sage green and deco flourishes.

We’ve talked quite a bit about the place already. It’s got Sean McPaul in the open kitchen, overseeing those big wood-burning ovens and doling out the homemade soft-serve for dessert, a heavily Italian wine and bar program, a lunch and dinner schedule to start (Tuesdays through Saturdays), and a weekend brunch menu on the horizon. But what we didn’t have before were these lovely publicity snaps showing off the look of the place, or full details on the menu, which is interesting.

See, this new joint is operating like Mulherin’s lite. Rather than the heavy, serious grub done at the original, the board here is focused on pizza — eight of them, from the simplest Margherita to more involved creations like the Date Night with its gorgonzola, speck, radicchio jam, dates, and walnuts, or the ‘nduja, lemon, and olive tapenade Scarlet O’Hara. There’s also the Porco Dio (literally Pig God, though, in practice, simply a charmingly profane Italian exclamation along the lines of goddamn or holy shit), which deserves its own special mention because it’s topped with mozzarella, mortadella, prosciutto, arugula, and balsamic — which anyone who doesn’t want to be wrong will immediately agree is the best possible cinquain of pizza toppings.

But I digress…

McPaul’s menu does a kanpachi crudo, Sicilian-style chickpea fries, veal tartare, and some crispy octopus with pesto to start, offers a handful of simple, hand-made pastas (including a pea, lemon, and prosciutto strozzapretti that sounds almost poetically spring-like), and just three entrée plates (a hangar steak, a chicken Milanese, and a branzino Livornese with tomatoes, potatoes, capers, and olives which, again, is such a perfectly balanced and classic presentation that I just gotta respect the game). If the original Mulherin’s menu went heavy and serious as a match to the cool and heavy dark-wood rusticity of the room, then this one is a slick match to the new digs — lighter, easier, sunnier, but with a knowing nod to what makes non-red-sauce Italian food great. I like the way it looks. And I’m looking forward to seeing how it eats.

Moving on…

Black Hen Hits Chestnut Street

Speaking of brand new openings that we’ve been keeping an eye out for, Felicia Wilson (of Amina, plus the upcoming Amina Ocean and Avana) got her 40-seat BYO fried chicken concept, Black Hen, off the ground over the weekend.

Opening this past Saturday at 120 Chestnut Street (just a few doors down from Amina at 104 Chestnut), Black Hen is doing fried chicken, sure. But it’s making it fun. Wilson’s partner and executive chef Darryl Harmon bumped up chef Isaaka Fofana (who he’s been working with for 2 years at Amina, and who he knew from when they both worked at Water Works previously) to run the line here. And between the two of them, they’re rocking a stand-out menu. We’re talking chicken and waffles with PA maple syrup, popcorn chicken served with actual popcorn (from out of an actual popcorn machine), buffalo chicken dip, deviled eggs with fried chicken skin, fried pickles, fried and smoked, pulled chicken sandwiches served on black charcoal rolls, vegan avocado, lettuce and tomato sandwiches stacked with hen-of-the-woods mushrooms (get it?), smoked turkey collards (yes, please), hand pies, banana pudding, fried apples, sweet potato hash, and soft-serve ice cream in black vanilla cones.

Honestly, I love everything about all of that. There are a ton of fried chicken joints in this city right now, so carving out some territory by having a sense of humor and having a little fun with the bar food, soul food, and picnic food staples? That’s just smart business. And anyway, there can never be too many places for fried chicken, so one more spot in town just puts us one more to the good.

Black Hen is up and running now. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. (yeah, you read that right) on Fridays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to midnight on Sundays, with a full-on fried chicken brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Instagram feed is just getting up and running, but if you need more info, check them out right here.

Coffee and Plants: The Coffee Shop With the Best of Both Worlds

Anyone who lives in or regularly frequents Kensington likely already knows The Ground — the combination coffee shop, boba spot, plant store, and gift shop on North 2nd Street that’s been keeping the neighbors caffeinated (and supplied with houseplants) since 2022.

Well, as of this week, The Ground now has a second, super-sized location at 120 South 18th Street, just a block off Rittenhouse Square, offering 1,500 square feet of Parisian-cafe-meets-crazy-plant-lady vibes. And also boba.

The new spot has been renovated from the floor up, and now features everything from a coffee program featuring exclusively locally-roasted beans, French pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and whimsical boba flavors to hundreds of house plants for sale, an actual dining room, and a “croffle,” which is a kind of viral South Korean hybrid of a croissant and a waffle that I have never heard of before just this minute and now want for breakfast every day of my life.

Owners Michelle Miller and Molly Kiriacoulacos soft-opened the new spot on Monday. Right now, they’re running 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends, but they are looking at expanding both the hours and the menu once they get their legs under them in the new digs — and are promising some dishes never before seen in Philly. Which, for a guy who’d never heard of a croffle before, sounds pretty exciting.

Anyway, I’ll be keeping an eye on things, so as soon as I know more, you’ll know more.

In the meantime, how about some leftovers?

The Leftovers

The Southeast Asian Market in FDR Park is officially back on! They’ll be kicking off another season of green papaya salads, lemongrass cheesesteaks, and sugarcane juice on Saturday, May 4th. Keep an eye on their website for more information on where to find your favorite vendors.

Diana Widjojo of Rice & Sambal (who threw in with Joncarl Lachman at Daankbar for an extended residency starting in March) is celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a killer Indonesian collab dinner on Sunday, May 5th.

It’ll be a one-night-only, 22-seat Kamayan/Liwetan style dinner, cooked in collaboration with chef Daps Manansala, and she’s calling it “Bajau Srivijaya.” The two Southeast Asian chefs will be doing an Indonesian/Filipino feast of heirloom family dishes, served communally and eaten with hands only (no forks or knives). There’ll be nasi bunga telang (steamed butterfly pea flower rice), chicken pyanggang with sofrito and coconut cream, lechon kawali, Indonesian goat stew, Singapore noodles, tempe goreng, salad with herbed peanut dressing, udang balado (shrimp with red pepper sauce), then durian and ube ice candy for dessert, alongside kalame nal—coconut milk-infused sweet rice cakes topped with coconut caramel.

It sounds like a fantastic party, but seating is extremely limited, so I’d make those reservations now. Tickets are $125 a head. Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m., and you can get your tickets right here.

Goat stew and durian ice cream not your thing? That’s cool. If you’re looking for something a bit more traditional, Pizzeria Stella is kicking off a new round of pizza-making classes this Thursday at 8 p.m. There’ll be snacks and drinks to start, a brief lecture on pizza history and technique courtesy of chef Allen Carringer, and then everybody gets to stretch their own dough and top their own pies before they get cooked, cut, and served. There’s gelato (and probably more drinks) for dessert, and everyone goes home with a dough-and-sauce care package so they can continue their studies at home. Tickets are $75 per person and are available here.

Two more big seasonal openings: Independence Beer Garden kicked off the season last Wednesday with some new seasonal additions — like more NA cocktails, more desserts, and, for those of you who like booze AND dessert together, Jell-O shots. Then, on Thursday, Morgan’s Pier lit up for the season. They’ve got a whole new menu again this year, with some nods to the classics (like the Pier Burger, cheesesteak egg rolls, and fish tacos), and some new additions like a Cuban sandwich, ricotta beignets, and a couple new pizzas. There’s a full entertainment schedule if you’re interested (spoiler alert: it’s mostly DJs), and some dog-friendly Mondays (on the first Monday of every month). All the details you could possibly want can be found right here.

And finally, this week, here’s something to look forward to: It looks like the team from Defined Hospitality (Kalaya, Suraya, Condesa, and Pizzeria Beddia) is at it again. They’ve picked up an enormous space at 2421 Martha Street — right in the middle of one of the boomingest few blocks in the city — and will be turning it into an easy-breezy, casual, wood-fired-oven-and-oyster-bar concept called Picnic that will seat a solid 225 and is looking at a summer opening.

The Inky has a bunch of details on the new spot if you’re interested — or just want something to look forward to as spring moves inexorably on toward another busy Philadelphia summer.

So Much for That Kevin Boyle Arrest Warrant

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!

So Much for that Kevin Boyle Arrest Warrant

You remember Kevin Boyle. He’s the Pennsylvania State Representative caught on video in a ridiculous tirade at a bar near his house. Boyle kind of vanished from public sight for a bit after that, while onlookers wondered if police would arrest him for that incident. No such arrest was made.

But we learned recently that Philadelphia authorities had issued an arrest warrant for Kevin Boyle in an unrelated matter. Boyle had allegedly violated the terms of a protection-from-abuse order against him. The State Rep faced similar charges a few years back, but those charges were later dropped. Now, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has actually withdrawn this latest arrest warrant against Kevin Boyle.

At a press conference on Monday, Krasner said he didn’t think there was anything “false” or “fake” in the investigatory details but that there were some “missing” pieces. In the end, said Krasner, “We do not find that there’s probable cause to justify a warrant for the arrest of Mr. Boyle for violating and protection from abuse order on the dates in question.”

The timing might seem a bit curious. The day before a primary election in which Boyle is a candidate, the district attorney withdraws an arrest warrant against him. But, says Krasner, there’s no funny business afoot here.

“If the question is whether somehow we’re doing this now because of an election, my office has been pretty clear that we try to operate in a way that is truly even-handed, that we try to treat unfamous people very much the way we might treat famous people,” Krasner said. “Regardless of what candidate I might like or might not like, I don’t think it’s right.”

Meanwhile, Boyle’s colleagues in Harrisburg, who have expressed concern over his mental health, have been trying to figure out what to do about him, including the possibility of removing him from power. Or they can just wait and see the results of today’s primary; the House Democratic Campaign Committee has given $72,000 to the campaign of Boyle’s opponent, Johnny Doc nephew Sean Dougherty.

Time to Add to Your “I Voted” Sticker Collection

Today is, of course, primary day in Philadelphia. What, you forgot? You have no idea who is running or even what offices are up for grabs? It’s okay. We’ve got you covered with this balanced guide to who’s up and what’s at stake.

By the Numbers

$29,995: What you’ll pay in rent — yes, that’s monthly rent — for this bi-level penthouse apartment in Center City. Yikes! It sounds like the luxury housing market in Center City might be trending upwards.

$74.81: What the typical Philadelphia household spent on its water bill each month in 2023, on average. But water and other utility rates in Philadelphia are on the rise.

$30,000: The worth of frozen snow crabs stolen in a recent heist. Is it just me, or has there been a lot more of this Goodfellas type of activity of late?

Local Talent

It’s college graduation season, which means we have some local notables addressing the future baristas — I’m sorry, future professionals — of the world. Top of the list is Abbott Elementary star and creator Quinta Brunson, who will tell the graduates at Temple, which she attended, a thing or two. Will be curious if she mentions the fact that she never actually, you know, finished a degree at Temple so she could ditch us for an actual career in L.A. Mayor Parker is doing the commencement thing at Moore College of Art & Design. Villanova coach Jay Wright is at PCOM. The Philadelphia Business Journal has a pretty comprehensive list here.

And From the Hail-Mary Sports Desk …

Despite rumors he was ill, Tyrese Maxey was part of the starting five for Game 2 of the Sixers’ playoff series against the Knicks, along with Kyle Lowry, Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris and Kelly Oubre Jr. Would our rebounding be better this game? Maxey hit three straight threes to start things off, and the Sixers stayed in front for the first quarter: 25-18.

.@JoelEmbiid in the first quarter:

12 PTS | 8 REB | 2 AST | 1 BLK pic.twitter.com/EFUdMSsvek

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

In the second quarter, Buddy Hield picked up his first-ever playoff points, per Kate Scott. Joel got socked with a T for shoving Donte DiVincenzo, but haven’t you always wanted to shove Donte DiVincenzo? Honestly, the officiating was terrible. Sixers up 53-49 at the break.

Villanova has 41 of the Knicks 49 first-half points. BRING BACK RYAN ARCIDIACONO.

— Steve Popper (@StevePopper) April 23, 2024

In the third quarter, the Knicks tied it up at 55, Joel fell on his tailbone, and with four minutes left, Jalen Brunson gave the enemy their first lead of the game, 68-67, after a 10-0 run. Not for long; Nico Batum, who’s been so hot from beyond the arc, tied it back up with a three. Joel was taking a breather, though, and he came back in to close the quarter out by hitting two foul shots to put us down 79-74. An agonizing final frame, in which every little advance seemed to be met with a foul call on a Sixer.

We fought back to within three twice, then to two with 4:21 to go, but Joel was limping like crazy. A wild Tyrese trey tied it at 94, and the Sixers actually won a challenge of a foul call on Lowry while down by one with 2:36 to go. A Maxey jumper for the lead! And this huge three “from downtown,” as Kate cried, to put us up 100-96 with a minute to go!

TYRESE MAXEY FOR THREEEEEEEEE#NBAPlayoffs2024 pic.twitter.com/IdYGntzo3O

— UnknownThoughts (@DixieNormys) April 23, 2024

But then the Knicks went up, 102-101, on a freaking DiVincenzo three with 13 seconds to go. Should have hit him harder, Joel. A missed Maxey shot, a foul under the basket, a three-point Knicks lead, and that’s where it landed: 104-101 Knicks. A moral victory, though, in my book. Game 3 is here on Thursday. Go Sixers!

How’d the Phillies Do?

They were on the road, but they kept up their recent habit of early scoring with a run in the second inning vs. the Reds, on singles by Alec Bohm and Nick Castellanos and a sac fly by Bryson Stott. And the hits kept coming, with a Johan Rojas triple in the third; he scored on a fly ball by Kyle Schwarber. In the fourth? A Bohm double and a Castellanos single: 3-0. And a Kody Clemens double — he was in for Bryce Harper, who’s on paternal leave, awaiting the arrival of his third.

Small ball Phillies pic.twitter.com/X2WWNRv0fi

— Crossing Broad (@CrossingBroad) April 22, 2024

Ranger Suárez was on the mound for us, meantime, and allowed one hit and one walk through four. In the fifth, a Schwarbs walk, a J.T. Realmuto double — ho-hum, 4-0. The Cincinnati crowd was not happy with starter Hunter Greene. Philly was very happy with Ranger, who mowed ’em down 1-2-3 in the seventh.

thats so many cookies https://t.co/trjBEvFzaU

— Momo save me (@HoodieXF) April 23, 2024

Both teams switched pitchers for the eighth: Casey Legumina for them and Gregory Soto for us. Didn’t help the Reds; in the ninth, Castellanos reached on an error, Bryson Stott walked, and Kody Clemens, bless his soul, hit a homer. Jeff Hoffman in the ninth, and three quick outs. That’s it!

The Phillies have won 7 straight games outscoring their opponents 43 to 13 with the best starting pitching in the National League https://t.co/FhiFNvbzxk

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) April 23, 2024

They’re up again tonight at 6:40.

All Philly Today sports coverage is provided by Sandy Hingston.

On the Auction Block: Hilltop Manor in Pipersville

I know that lots of you adore huge mansions filled with classical European detailing, elaborate lighting, huge rooms designed to entertain the multitudes, meticulously landscaped grounds, and over-the-top amenities and decor.

A few of you out there may also be just a little worried about current events, either at home or abroad. Maybe you fear that the current standoff in the Middle East may drag the nations of the world into all-out war, or maybe the Russian adventure in Ukraine will do that, or that global warming will lead to a global meltdown. Or maybe you simply want to protect your family against any possible intruders.

In which case, I have good news for all of you: This Pipersville hilltop mansion house for sale not only has all the bling you read these articles for, but also has features built so you can survive Armageddon.

Let’s start with the bling. It should be clear as you peruse these photos that the owners spared no expense in putting this house together. On the outside, this house would look right at home in Gladwyne or Villanova or Elkins Park or maybe even Haddonfield. (Not so much Ardmore or Collingswood.)

Instead, it sits in upper Bucks County, in a place so small it doesn’t even show up on the map of Bucks County municipalities, which includes a bunch of unincorporated villages like Pipersville. And even then, this house is actually a ways from Pipersville proper; even though it’s in Pipersville’s zip code, it’s actually closer to Tinicum village in Tinicum Township.

Its 11-acre lot sits atop a hill overlooking the Delaware River. Two house lots and the River Road at the base of the hill separate this lot from the river itself, but the house is sited perfectly so that it looks like the river is your next-door neighbor.

On the outside, this house looks like any of dozens of Italianate houses built since 1980 or so. This one dates to 1986. As always, however, God is in the details, and both the little ones and the big ones set this house apart from all the others.

It departs from the norm in being T-shaped in form, for starters. That puts its foyer off center, just to the left (as you’re facing it) of the hinge of the house, where one might expect the foyer to sit.

Yet once inside, you will note that this house has two entrance halls, one in front and one in back.

The one in front features a two-story atrium ringed by a balcony. A huge chandelier fills the well.

The one in back has a large sculpture suspended from its second story along with an entrance topped by a fanlight window that rises almost the entire two stories. It sits in one crook of the T at a 45-degree angle to the rest of the house.

The first floor contains two traditional living spaces and one space that’s traditional only in its decor.

To the right of the foyer you will find a traditional living room and dining room. As in all the other rooms on the main floor, these have Brazilian cherry hardwood floors laid atop two cross-cutting layers of plywood. Clearly, these were built to last. And according to the property description, the five-foot-long Brazilian cherry boards found on the main floor are no longer available in the United States, so you will want to take good care of them. To keep them looking great, you will find a supply of tung oil in the basement.

Since the floors cover some 5,000 square feet of space, you may want to buy more, though.

Next to the dining room sit the kitchen and breakfast room.

These two rooms together form one single high-ceilinged space with a cathedral ceiling, split by a bridge that carries the second-floor hallway over it.

The kitchen has a counter-depth Sub-Zero refrigerator on one side of its island and a Sub-Zero freezer on the other. It also has both a conventional and a convection oven and a gas cooktop on its center island.

An island in the middle has bar seating for four, and beyond it, the breakfast room occupies a glass-topped solarium next to the dining room. The layout of these rooms makes it possible for you to throw a large dinner party utilizing all three seating areas.

On the other side of the foyers is a great room that’s definitely worthy of the name. Center columns define a corridor leading to the door to the pool.

A bar whose rear wall consists of matched slabs of green onyx sits right beside the door. The pendant lights hanging over it were fashioned from antique bronze and amber lamps.

The bar also ties into the game-room side of the great room.

The other side contains a lounge whose focal point is a limestone Rumsford fireplace. The great room also has two bathrooms, one for the guys and one for the gals.

On the second floor, a two-story-high study has windows looking out on the foyer chandelier and balcony.

Just past the study is the primary bedroom suite. An 18th-century buffet was installed in its vestibule and turned into a coffee bar with filtered water and Sub-Zero fridge and freezer drawers. The bedroom itself has a tray ceiling and a fireplace.

Beyond it are two large walk-in closets flanking a dressing room with an unusual feature: A balcony overlooking the pool.

The vanities in the primary bathroom are also fashioned from 18th-century buffets. It also has a fireplace next to its soaking tub. The fireplace, tub and vanities are all surrounded by green onyx (backlit around the tub). Four other bedrooms reside in the other wing on this floor, and there’s a sixth on the main floor.

The basement contains a rec room, a gym and a kitchenette.

It also has a deck with stairs leading to a terrace and the manicured backyard.

A deck and patio wrap around the back and one side of the main floor.

On its side you will find a sitting area with a fireplace.

Adjacent to the patio is a manicured terrace with a patio sporting a hammock.

And whether you are in the hammock or on that rear balcony, your view looks like this:

Thanks to the hilltop it sits on, the Delaware looks tantalizingly close.

This Pipersville hilltop mansion house for sale also has a two-bedroom guest house on the premises.

It’s also nicely done and comfortably outfitted.

It should be clear that this house was designed for someone who enjoys entertaining. The pool and spa provide a place for outdoor entertainment.

The spa has a hot tub, and the gazebo includes both a sitting area and an outdoor kitchen.

And you will also have space to hunker down in case the worst ever happens. This house has an underground safe room, and a 56-by-18-foot survival bunker is accessible from several places on the site. The bunker also has a six-by-eight-foot vault and its own control room for the house’s security system, which has more than 30 cameras trained on the house and its surroundings.

“Although the owner is not a survivalist, he has taken precautions to ensure his family’s safety,” says Erica Langendorff, the publicist promoting this property on behalf of auctioneer Elite Auctions. “He recognizes the current state of the world and has made the decision to prepare for any potential threats or emergencies that may arise.”

Those preparations also include the installation of a 125-kilowatt generator and three wells on the site. Filtration ensures that the well water will be fresh and pure. Put bluntly, whatever happens outside its gates, this house can support itself afterward.

Many more details, too many to list here, make this Pipersville hilltop mansion house for sale a true standout. And it’s being sold at auction to ensure a quick sale. You can get all the details I’ve left out when you register for the auction or tour it at one of the previews this weekend.

THE FINE PRINT

BEDS: 6 in the main house, 2 in the guest house

BATHS: 5 full, 4 half in the main house, 1 full in the guest house

SQUARE FEET: 15,000 (main house only)

SALE PRICE: This house is being sold at auction without reserve, which means that there is no minimum bid required to participate. However,  Caryn Black, the listing agent with B&B Luxury Properties, said that it would be worth about $15,000,000 priced according to square footage.

OTHER STUFF: This house also has two heated garages with tile floors, one of which contains a car lift. Between them, they can hold eight cars, making this house also great for a car collector. The lot actually consists of two parcels, 254 and 256 Cafferty Road, but the lots cannot be subdivided. You must make an appointment to tour the property, even at the weekend previews. The auction takes place at 11 a.m. on site on Monday, April 29th; online bidding will be available. Details about the auction can be found at the second link below.

254 Cafferty Rd., Pipersville, PA 18947 [Caryn Black | B&B Luxury Properties | The Black Group]
254 & 256 Cafferty Rd., Pipersville, PA 18947 [Tara McLean | Elite Auctions]

Meet Philly’s Longest-Running Bartender, Who’s Been at McGillin’s for 50 Years

In case you haven’t heard, 2024 is the 50th anniversary of Philly Mag’s Best of Philly issue. 2024 is also the 50th anniversary of Best of Philly-winning bartender John Doyle working at McGillin’s Olde Ale House, the oldest bar in Philadelphia. Coincidence? We think not. We caught up with Doyle, who shares his thoughts on rude customers, Fireball (blech!), and his surprising status as a Swiftie.

I was born in … the Grays Ferry section of South Philadelphia, in St. Gabriel’s parish. I grew up in the projects. These days, I live in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia, with my lovely wife Laura. We’ve been married for 53 years, and that’s how long we’ve been in Roxborough.

My first job in life was … being a huckster. I would go door to door selling tomatoes, oranges, all kinds of produce. After that, I worked at the Dairy Queen near my house in South Philadelphia. My job was to clean the area where they made the sundaes. They would drip ice cream and peanut butter sauce and chocolate sauce all over the place. And I had to keep it all wiped down. I made 50 cents an hour. I was 11 or 12 years old at the time.

After high school … I joined the Army. I was a medic in South Korea, right near the DMZ. I’ll never forget: The first time I got a pass to leave base and go into the village, I saw this big sign on the gate as I was leaving. It read: “YOU are the foreigner here.” The Korean people were wonderful. Being in the Army made me learn respect, and I think all young men and young women should do some form of military service. But when I came home from the Army, my friends and I went out from Friday until Monday. I never went home. On Monday morning, my father tells me: “You’ve been away in the Army. Your mother hasn’t seen you. If you are not going to come home at night, you better call your mother!”

I first started working at McGillin’s in … April of 1974. I was already a customer, and the door guy asked me to watch the door one night. So I said sure. And then it became a thing. And then I went to Ronnie’s Bartender School on the 1600 block of Market Street and became a bartender. I still have my bartending school diploma somewhere.

The mayor of Philadelphia when I started working at McGillin’s was … Frank Rizzo, who I actually knew from our neighborhood in Roxborough. He lived out our way. There have been so many mayors since. The one who came in the most was Ed Rendell. Some never came in.

The most famous person I’ve met at McGillin’s was … Joe Biden, when he was vice president under Obama. It was the last day of the Democratic National Convention in 2016. A bunch of delegates were meeting him upstairs at McGillin’s. They were up there forever. The city was all blocked off. I wasn’t allowed to leave the building. Finally, he comes down the stairs, and we had all been told: Do not approach the vice president. When he got to the bottom of the stairs, I yelled out, “Yo, Joe! What’s goin’ on?” Everybody starts looking at me. The owner thought to himself, “Oh my God, they’re going to shoot John Doyle!” But then he approaches me, so I walked to him. And we got a selfie.

If you want to piss me off while I’m behind the bar … use lots of foul language when there are women and children present. I get it. There’s a game on the TV, and you and your buddies are blank this and blank that. Sometimes, I have to tell them to knock it off. And they respect us. Usually.

My biggest tip ever at McGillin’s was … $500. These four guys from California got four stouts and four dry Hendricks martinis and left me $500. But we all split that. The tip jar is for all of us, because we are all part of the same team.

The one alcoholic beverage I’ve served the most throughout my career is … either Bud Light, Coors Light or Budweiser. They are, by far, the most popular drinks.

When I won Best of Philly in 2010 … I was astonished! The owner called me and said, “John, I have some good news and some bad news for you. The good news is that you won Best of Philly for Best Bartender. The bad news is that I just found out now, and the awards ceremony was last night.” To this day, it’s a real honor. I tell people that if you put “best bartender in Philadelphia” into Google, my name comes up. Not many people can google their own name and see an award!

The trick to making a proper martini is … that it’s gotta be cold! Chill that glass! The best martini is a very cold martini.

One thing I will never drink again is … Fireball. Or Jaegermeister. Actually, the worst is Rumple Minze.

A bar trend I’m not a big fan of is … rudeness. A lot of people today say, “Hey you!” or “Yo, yo, yo!” Or they wave money at you.

If you want to play a song for me on the jukebox, please play … Anything by Taylor Swift. I’m a Swiftie. Really!

Please don’t play … “Sweet Caroline.” Ugh.

The percentage of customers that don’t tip or undertip is … 15 percent. Most people who have three draft beers will leave three dollars, which is fine. But some will get four and leave a dollar. Then there are the people who come in saying, “Give me the cheapest beer you got.” I say, “It’s $3.50.” They hand me a five. I give them $1.50. They take it and leave. But, hey, maybe the person was just a little short that day, and I understand that.

The cheapest drink at McGillin’s is … Rolling Rock: $3.50 for a pint. But we also do the Philly Special: $5 for a shot of Jim Beam and a glass of Rolling Rock. That’s not a bad deal. We are not an expensive bar. A Tito’s martini will cost you $12, and you’re getting a lot of liquor.

One menu item I can’t live without is … our shepherd’s pie. Greatest in the city. The “mile-high meatloaf” is also fantastic.

If I weren’t a bartender, I would probably be … retired and gardening.

You can find me behind the bar … every Saturday from 11 in the morning until five o’clock. I had more shifts before the pandemic, but then once things opened up, I didn’t come back for a while, just out of concern for my health. And then when I did decide to come back, I didn’t want to take a bunch of people’s shifts away. That’s their livelihood. So one day it is! Saturdays at McGillin’s are fun. We have a lot of tour groups of sometimes 20 people come in. Some groups of Chinese people, some groups of German people, French groups. We actually have menus printed in various different languages.

The question customers ask me the most is … How long have you been here?!

The lousiest pickup line I’ve heard here is … “Do you come here often?” Oh my God. I see these guys just looking at these girls all night. I tell them to send them a round of drinks. If they’re interested, fine. If not, it didn’t cost you much to find out. Just send drinks over. Don’t just stare.

When McGillin’s went non-smoking in 2008 … at first, we were devastated. But it was actually the best thing that ever happened.

The best cure for a hangover is … water. Just drink lots of water. Nothing else works.

One mistake most bartenders make is … ignoring customers.

I will do this until … they get rid of me. Or I break my hip.

My secret to being a good bartender is … being happy. Even if I am having a bad day. This is a service industry. Nobody wants to see Mr. or Miss Miserable behind the bar. As Taylor says, shake it off!