Longform
What Happens to Friendships When Money Gets in the Way?
Some years back, a good friend of mine, whom I’ll call Margot, made the decision with her husband to send their two children to a […]
How Surfside Took Over the Cocktail World
It’s moving day at Surfside headquarters in Kensington. In the main office upstairs, cardboard boxes sit ready to be taped closed, and the neon “Surfside” […]
Tom McAllister’s It All Felt Impossible Explores Growing Up in Philadelphia in 42 Essays
A few years ago, author and Rutgers-Camden professor Tom McAllister was stuck in a writing rut. In an attempt to extract himself from said rut, […]
How Conshohocken Got Cool
It’s a gray day in mid-February, and I’m standing inside a bright shop in Conshohocken perusing the goods. There are crystals — glimmering Brazilian citrine […]
The Beef Bandits of Nicetown: Inside the Biggest Cargo Theft Ring in Modern Philadelphia History
Lieutenant George Ackerman didn’t know who was causing it, but something funny had started to happen. It was the spring of 2022, and Ackerman was […]
Our Phones Are Making Us Miserable — So Why Can’t We Let Go?
There are a few things I do in my daily life that aren’t particularly good for me but that I take great pleasure in. I […]
How the Pandemic Rewired My Sense of Place and Time
In general, I’ve lived a long and happy life. Sure, there have been intervals of hardship — I lost my mother and a sister too […]
From CAPA to Motown Philly: How One Philadelphia High School Made Boyz II Men
The following is an excerpt from the upcoming book Boyz II Men 40th Anniversary Celebration, which chronicles the group’s ascent from Philly teenagers to Grammy […]
Krasner vs. Dugan: Inside the District Attorney Race That Will Define Philly’s Future
Pat Dugan couldn’t take any more from Larry Krasner. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021, at a meeting in the Municipal Services Building […]
“I Hope Your Team Sucks and Loses”: Inside the Head of John Kruk
Last April, while broadcasting a Phillies game in San Diego, John Kruk noticed he had a window. The seventh inning had just started. The Phillies […]
Highway to Hell: Inside PennDOT’s Plan to Widen I-95 Through South Philly
The Southeast Youth Athletic Association is wedged into a small square block in South Philly. On some level, the location is fitting: From the blacktopped […]
Philly Special: How Dawn Staley Went From 25th and Diamond to the Top of the Basketball World
Dawn Staley walks gingerly (thank you, eight knee surgeries) onto the Carolina Coliseum court carrying a cup of coffee, with Champ, her seven-year-old Havanese, skittering […]
Philly Housing Prices Are Through the Roof. But There Are Ways to Fix It
Browse the listings on your preferred real estate website these days and here’s what you might find: A three-bedroom in East Passyunk that sold for […]
Dan Rhoton’s Big, Audacious Plan to End Poverty
A dozen years ago, Dan Rhoton was walking down a street in North Philly when he heard someone calling: “Mr. Rhoton! Mr. Rhoton!” He turned […]
Steven Singer Loves the Haters
“Have you started your story yet?” Dad asks from across the table. My husband and I are out to dinner with my parents, and the […]