Longform
Rob Thomson’s Wild Ride
The line for dinner service at the St. Francis Inn in Kensington started forming just before 5 p.m., with folks traveling from across the neighborhood […]
Other States Have Cool License Plates. Why Can’t Pennsylvania?
“Oooh, mom, look! Nevada!” I’m driving the family Honda, but traffic has slowed on 20th Street, so I flick my eyes to the right to […]
The Philly Suburbs Are Bigger Than Ever — Literally
To get from Philadelphia to Allentown, you have two highways to choose from: the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension or Route 309. Anne Mosher is familiar […]
Why Is Adulting So Freaking Hard These Days?
I subscribe to and read a lot of magazines. This is because I enjoy magazines — the paper versions — and want them to continue […]
Jeff Marrazzo’s Big, Bold Philly Gene Therapy Vision
The calls kept coming in, and she let them go straight to voicemail. Venture capital investors weren’t her cup of tea. She was a scientist. […]
A Night in the Life of the Night Mayor
It’s 12:30 a.m. on what’s just become a Friday in August, and I’m out and about with the Night Mayor. We’re on West Girard at […]
Secrets to the Perfect Hoagie Roll
As I’ve come to understand it, the English language has few redeemable qualities. It’s difficult to learn, and it’s full of stupid rules and punctuation […]
Life Unfiltered: Why I Opened Up About My Cancer Scare on Social Media
“I’m tired of hiding,” I say aloud to nobody. I’m alone on a travel assignment, scrolling Instagram in my room and thinking about how frustrating […]
After Last Year’s Labor Battle, Will the Art Museum Come Back Stronger?
It was time to say goodbye to another departing Philadelphia Museum of Art colleague. A small group had gathered for happy-hour drinks at the Bishop’s […]
What It’s Like to Send Your Kid to Main Line Etiquette Class
It was a gorgeous fall day in Philadelphia — crisp and clear, the sort of day that puts you in a great mood. Only I […]
Why I Left My City Life to Try Remote Work in the Wilds of Pennsylvania
It’s only late September, but it’s the kind of night that belongs more to early winter than to fall. I wasn’t prepared for it, and […]
New Superintendent Tony Watlington Is Here to Transform Philly Schools
Tony Watlington wasn’t naive. He knew about the challenges. “The issues with facilities, asbestos, clean water — none of those surprised me,” he says. These […]
Meet the Philly Food Scientists Who Can Make a Potato Chip Taste Like a Cheesesteak
Another autumn, another snack-time promotion: In November, venerable Herr’s, headquartered in Chester County’s Nottingham, announced a new potato-chip flavor contest, with $15,000 in prizes at […]
This Body-Image Approach Can Help Reframe the Way You Talk and Think About Yourself
This past July, pop singer Jax orchestrated a flash mob in front of a Los Angeles Victoria’s Secret store, set to her body-liberation anthem “Victoria’s […]
The Acute Grief of a Friend Breakup
If I remember correctly, my first breakup was with a kid named Anthony sometime in the seventh grade. I’ve forgotten the specifics, but I think […]