New Documentary Boys to Fame Tells the Most Tender Eagles Story You’ve Probably Never Heard

Young Ray Didinger with former Eagles linebacker Dave Lloyd / Images courtesy of History Making Productions

In May of 2017, football fans and theater enthusiasts alike funneled into FringeArts for a special showing of Tommy and Me — a play written by the Hall of Fame sportswriter Ray Didinger about his lifelong friendship with Tommy McDonald, one of the Eagles’ most legendary wide receivers of all time.

It was (and is) a moving story, tracing the arc of a relationship that spanned from Didinger’s boyhood to McDonald’s deathbed — a tribute that Didinger wrote for and about his friend and hero.

That night, after the show, Didinger sat for a Q&A panel with Sam Katz — former mayoral candidate-turned-award-winning documentarian. During the session, one of the audience members addressed Katz: Are you going to make this play into a movie?

“Yeah,” Katz replied. “Let’s do it.”  

Fast-forward 10 years, and here it is: Boys to Fame, Katz’s feature-length documentary — now streaming — brings Didinger’s play to life and details one of Philadelphia’s most touching sports stories.

The film, like the play, follows Didinger from his childhood in Delaware County to his illustrious career as Philly’s go-to guy for all things Eagles.

The tale begins with Didinger’s parents, lifelong Birds fans, taking their son from their home in Delco to Hershey, Pennsylvania to get a close look at Eagles training camp. It was here that Didinger, then just 10, first met McDonald, his favorite player. (Back in those days, you could get close to the players during camp.) Not only did they meet, but the two would walk together from their respective hotels to practice. McDonald, as the documentary notes, was struck by the young boy’s mental rolodex of football stats and by his eagerness to carry McDonald’s helmet — a habit that earned Didinger his nickname: “Little Brother.”

The film traces the years that follow: The two grew closer, right up until the moment McDonald was traded to the Cowboys, at which point they went their separate ways — Didinger headed off to a career in journalism and McDonald became an NFL journeyman. But their connection lasted. Boys to Fame captures the remarkable resilience of their bond, the journey it launched for Didinger, and — endearingly — the genuine likability of both men: Didinger, the earnest reporter; McDonald, the boisterous and beloved Philly icon.

Subject of the documentary Boys to Fame Ray Didinger sits for an interview in his home.

This was part of what drew Katz into the story, he says.

“[Didinger’s] words, whether they were in print or on television or in film, carried weight because he had so much credibility and so much dedication to the excellence of being a journalist,” Katz says. ”This dedication to his craft, no less so than Tommy’s dedication to his craft, made Ray, despite his sort of quiet nature, such an interesting character.”

When, later in life, the two men ended up reuniting, McDonald — who’d had a long, impressive career — shared with his old friend that his one great professional regret was never having been named to the Hall of Fame. So Didinger went to bat for his friend, leading a campaign to have McDonald immortalized as a Hall of Famer — a story his play would detail, and that Boys to Fame now follows.

The documentary, in many ways, is a love story about an era of the Eagles that younger generations of fans may not recognize. Before there was the Linc, there was Franklin Field. Before we were Super Bowl Champions, we were winners of the NFL championship; and before our star wide receiver was A.J. Brown, or Harold Carmichael, or DeSean Jackson, there was Tommy McDonald.

A young Tommy McDonald at Eagles training camp in Hershey, Pennsylvania

But the themes Katz explores in the Eagles of Tommy McDonald’s time — and, most importantly, in the fandom of that era — transcend generations. In the film, you see familiar South Philly bars, Eagles paraphernalia littering the walls, filled with locals bickering about the game; hordes of fans bundled up at Franklin Field; and eager kids who are walking, talking football encyclopedias.

All of this is woven into a touching time capsule of archival footage from McDonald’s glory days, clips from Didinger as he progresses through his career, home videos of McDonald being his animated self, and tender moments from a live recording of Tommy and Me.

“The story was timely — not just for sports, but for human interaction,” Katz says. “I love every frame. We worked very hard to make every frame meaningful.”

It worked: The viewer is left with 82 minutes of camaraderie and catharsis — and a reminder of what “The City of Brotherly Love” actually means. It’s a story about paying attention to people’s hearts more than their status; to helping others succeed in life. About integrity. Appreciation. Loyalty. And kindness.

“These are the kind of people you want your children and grandchildren to grow up to be,” Katz says.

Boys to Fame is available to rent for $7.99 or buy for $17.99 on boystofame.com.

A Look at Philly’s Newest Unstuffy Food Awards

From left: Delicious City Podcast hosts Eli Kulp, Marisa Magnatta, and Dave Wez at 2025 The Tasties / Photograph by Philip Gabriel

Last year was a big year for our food scene and its long-held bid to be included in the national conversation. But for chef Eli Kulp and his fellow hosts of Delicious City Podcast, perhaps the most meaningful recognition comes, instead, from within the community.

It’s a post-Michelin Philadelphia, and Philadelphians have always reveled in strong opinions about merit, winners, and “bests.” And though, as Kulp tells me, he doesn’t “have a problem” with the esteemed guide, the podcasting team’s intention in putting on their annual award ceremony, The Tasties, isn’t to offer stuffy prestige and a standard night spent sitting in a concert hall. It’s to celebrate the individuals that make this food scene what it is.

Kulp conceived of the idea for The Tasties at a 2023 holiday party where they handed out awards to some of the industry folks in attendance. A few months later, inspired by examples of other locally focused food awards in major culinary cities, he brought the idea for a more official ceremony to the podcasting team. “Chicago does the Banchet awards that’s been very established for over two decades. D.C. does the Rammys, that’s been around for 40 years. But we don’t have that here,” he says.

Recognition on the national level — at your James Beards, your Michelins — is “incredibly difficult” to obtain, he explains. Head-scratching snubs are par for the course in such a crowded field of stiff competition. And while honors presented by local media are certainly not taken lightly, they can often come across as being, ultimately, by and for the publication and its purposes. “We wanted to do something that’s for the chef and restaurant community,” Kulp says. “I knew that this was going to be solely uplifting and supporting the restaurant community and giving them a night to celebrate.”

Kulp, named Food & Wine’s Best New Chef in 2014 and nominated for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic at the James Beard Awards in 2016, knows the community’s dedication to support well. After being injured in the 2015 Amtrak derailment, some $350,000 was raised to help offset his medical expenses. The Tasties, in part, is an act of gratitude for this aid.

The ceremony debuted at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia last February. All 450 tickets were sold. “We exceeded expectations completely,” he says of their inaugural year. “All I ever heard since then was ‘How the heck are you to top that? Because that was absolutely incredible.’ So, challenge accepted.”

This year’s ceremony (with Philadelphia magazine as a media partner), on February 1st, is bigger (600 seats!), features food and drinks from spots like Bastia, Rice & Sambal, a.bar, and Almanac, and will be followed by an afterparty with themed experiences based on ‘90s video stores, casinos, and the Italian Market.

But all this fun is for a good cause — proceeds will go to the food bank and charity Philabundance. This year also includes the new Future Tastemaker Award, which will go to three food and hospitality professionals under the age of 30, with a $1,000 grant for each.

“Mentorship is one of the most important aspects of being a chef,” Kulp says. “You have to bring the next generation up and give them that recognition.”

Other categories include Chef of the Year, Breakout Chef, Excellence in Hospitality, and Craft Cocktail Excellence — judged by a 15-member committee of Philadelphia food writers, community leaders, past winners and industry workers — as well as a shorter series of People’s Choice awards which can be voted on by the public, like Breakfast of Champions  (best breakfast restaurant), Brain Freeze Bestie (best frozen treats), and Dish Wizard (an honorary title given to city’s best dishwasher).

To add to the fun, there skits woven into the presentation of the awards, which will be performed on a stage built to resemble a restaurant, where recipients will sit, eat, and sip once awarded.

Reception to the event has been enthusiastic. “You could just tell how this means something to people,” Kulp says. “That just shows the trust that people have developed in Delicious City. We have put out so much goodwill over the last four and a half years supporting the community, and people genuinely feel that.”

This year’s Tasties ceremony will be held Sunday, February 1st, at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia starting at 4:30 p.m., with an afterparty scheduled for 6:30 p.m. VIP tickets are sold out, but general admission tickets — which also get you access to the afterparty — are still available for $190 per person ($170 per person for industry professionals). Tickets for just the afterparty are also available for $95 per person. You can purchase tickets here.

The James Beard Semifinalists List Is Out, and the Newcomers Are Stealing the Show

The 2025 James Beard Foundation Award ceremony / Photograph by Eliesa Johnson for James Beard Foundation

This week, the James Beard Foundation announced its list of semifinalists for the 2026 restaurant and chef awards. We’ve got a long way to go yet until we know who’ll take home the awards this year (winners won’t be announced until June 15th), and that’s as it should be. A James Beard Award is a big deal. Like an Oscar or a Pulitzer, it will follow you for the rest of your career. You will forever be “James Beard Award winner Chefy McChef-Face.” They’ll mention that shit in your obituary. So picking winners should be handled with a certain amount of deliberation and gravitas.

But these early stages with their long lists of semifinalists from all over the country and occasional wild, left-field inclusions? I’ve long believed that they actually have more to say about the state of the restaurant scene than the final choice in winners ultimately does. Because as prescient and earned as those medals might be (see: Mawn), they are just a pinhole into the industry. What was released this week was the broad view.

Philly has 13 semifinalists this year — one less than last year, but still a solid haul. A lot of those were the kinds of places you’d expect to get tagged in the first round: Greg Vernick for Outstanding Restaurateur, Kalaya for Outstanding Restaurant, the Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday, Amanda Shulman, and Jesse Ito (making his 9th appearance now as a semifinalist). There’s also Justine MacNeil of Fiore, who is up for Outstanding Baker, and Russ Cowan of Radin’s Delicatessen in Cherry Hill, who is in the running for Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic — both are new to the list but have been wowing us for years. But what’s really surprising about this year’s list is how many relative newcomers — the fresh faces and new places — that were included.

Like the Michelin Guide, past iterations of the JBF winnowing process have favored restaurants with a certain amount of consistency and staying power. It has rewarded operators and establishments that have proven over time that they can go the distance. And while that may still ultimately end up being the case by the time the winners are chosen, right now this list makes Philly seem like it’s the youngest food city on earth.

First, there’s Frankie Ramirez of Amá. The place with the fried crickets and the whole octopus; with the beautiful cocktails and the highly personal, almost biographical menu. To see his name (and Amá’s name) on this list was a solid endorsement of the kind of high-end, experimental, narrative-driven approach to menu design seen among some of this year’s other picks (like Omar Tate and Cybille St. Aude-Tate at Honeysuckle), but it’s where Ramirez was named that caught my eye.

Frankie Ramirez, Amá’s executive chef / Photograph by Mike Prince

He made the list in the Emerging Chef category. This is the same category that Phila Lorn won last year (making it kinda unlikely that Philly will repeat, just historically speaking); but more importantly, it’s one that’s not broken down regionally. Ramirez was named among chefs from New York and Chicago, Los Angeles and Honolulu. He’s competing not just against local chefs, but against the whole country. Granted, Philly has been a rising star in the food world for the past year or two, but to even get a mention in this category means that not only are you doing something good and worthwhile and interesting on your block, but you’re getting noticed for it nationwide. And that’s not nothing.

Plus, Amá has only been open since May of last year. That’s just eight months of service. And I know what you’re thinking. You’re saying: Well, duh. That’s what the “Emerging Chef” category is for. It’s right there in the name! But when Phila Lorn brought it home last year, Mawn had already been open for more than two years. And even that felt like it was crazy-soon for such a big award. “Emerging Chef” is traditionally an award given to a chef with some years in the industry behind them. It usually goes to first restaurants by blooded pros — which Ramirez absolutely is. He’s got decades of kitchen work in his rearview. Still, seeing a baby of a restaurant like Amá on that list is a little bit bonkers — even if it is entirely deserved.

Oh, and speaking of Tate and St. Aude-Tate, how about Honeysuckle for lending the list some additional youth and vigor? Yes, this isn’t Omar and Cybille’s (or Honeysuckle’s) first time at the rodeo. The original version — Honeysuckle Provisions — got a nod in 2024. But the new, fancied-up, fine dining Honeysuckle on Broad Street is an entirely new (and entirely different) restaurant, and they are on the list even though they just unlocked the doors to the public in April of last year.

Cybille St. Aude-Tate and Omar Tate at Honeysuckle / Photograph by Gab Bonghi, originally in Why Honeysuckle Is the Most Important Restaurant in Philly Right Now

Almanac got listed among the Best New Bars, and it opened late in 2024, then spent the next year getting named to pretty much every Best New Bars list there was. Father-and-son team Dan Suro-Cipolloni and David Suro-Piñera made the semifinal list of Outstanding Beverage Professionals for both Tequilas and La Jefa. And while Tequilas has a lot of history behind it (it has been around, in one form or another, since 1986, with the newest version opening in March of last year after a 2023 fire had it dark for two years), La Jefa is new-new. It just opened in May.

Another spot that’s competing on a national level (though in a different category entirely than Amá) is Emmett. Chef Evan Snyder’s stunningly good modern Levantine/Middle Eastern spot made the semifinals as Best New Restaurant — a hugely competitive category that can make any restaurant famous virtually overnight. And guess how long Emmett has been open? A year. Almost exactly.

Chef Evan Snyder of Emmett / Photograph by Ed Newton, originally in Inside Philly’s Most Inventive New Restaurant

I already had a lot to say about Emmett’s less obvious charms when it landed on Esquire‘s list of Best New Restaurants back in December, but to see it mentioned again is just further proof that the informal and the unpretentious — two things that Philly does incredibly well — are winning out over the uptight and the staid; that approachability, hospitality and a sense of actual, honest comfort is so valuable right now that restaurants that previously might’ve been overlooked for not being loud and showy enough are now being recognized for their quiet competence. I love that for us. I love that for Emmett. I love it for the industry in general.

Finally, there’s Little Water — Randy and Amanda Rucker’s new spot in Rittenhouse. I had one of my best meals of 2025 here. I still think about it at least once a week. Randy is named this year in the regional category (Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic) alongside Ian Graye from Pietramala, Amanda Shulman, Jesse Ito, and Tate and St. Aude-Tate (among others). What’s surprising is that Randy is on the long list specifically for his work at Little Water (and not his other, more established restaurant, River Twice), and that Little Water, too, has only been open for just over a year. That’s a quick entry into this kind of company. And it says a lot about just how good Little Water is.

Randy Rucker, chef and co-owner of River Twice. / Photograph by Mike Prince

More, Little Water does all of the things we’ve been talking about here. It is a highly personal, almost biographical menu (like Amá’s) that speaks to Randy and his wife Amanda’s lifelong dedication to those places where land and water touch. There’s a narrative aspect to it that has less to do with any regional cuisine or technique than it does with a lifetime spent focused on dishes and ingredients that come from these varied shores. It is experimental, beautiful, and absolutely goddamn delicious, has a sense of humor buried between the lines that shows in things like hash browns topped with uni and clams used as garnishes. And it is casual and approachable the way Emmett is, with crowded lunch services, a welcoming dinner time vibe and the Grateful Dead on the playlist.

So, of all the Philly semifinalists that made this year’s long list, almost half of them have been around a year old or less. And that’s remarkable, considering the depth of our bench, and the number of truly amazing restaurants in this town with a lot more miles on their odometers.

This is a lineup that speaks loudly to the vitality of our scene and the amount of new talent just starting their runs at greatness. And those common themes that keep recurring? The personality, the biographical menus, the leaning toward comfort and approachability? All of that makes me feel like Philly is leaning into its strengths. Doing what we do well and just watching the successes stack up.

If you want to check out the whole list of JBF semifinalists, you can do that right here. And since this whole process is just getting started, stay tuned for any updates as they happen. Finalists are due to be announced March 31st.

Allan Domb: “Make Philly Fun Again”

Outdoor dining in Rittenhouse / Photograph by R. Rabena for Visit Philadelphia

A few years ago I had a conversation with Mayor John Street that I’ll never forget.

If you had $100 million to invest in Philadelphia, I asked him, where would you invest it? We agreed that dramatically reducing the onerous business taxes would be the best fix, but since that’s been a political nonstarter, Mayor Street had a different idea. “I’d make the city more fun,” he said. “If you do that, people will come to Philadelphia. And that will benefit everyone.”

That conversation has been on my mind lately, as the city tries to figure out a path forward. The good news is that we’ve rebounded from the worst of the pandemic. Crime is way down. (In 2025, homicides were at their lowest level in nearly 60 years.) A decent number of office workers have returned to Center City. Empty nesters are once again interested in moving into town (including people who’d fled to Florida during COVID).

But issues remain. East of Broad Street, the vacancy rate for ground-floor commercial and office space is 28 percent; west of Broad, it’s 36 percent.

It’s why I think it’s time for us to turn up the fun quotient.

Lessons From the Square

Inside Borromini / Photography courtesy of Borromini

One reason that conversation with Mayor Street has always stuck with me is that it’s consistent with my own experience in real estate around Rittenhouse Square.

Back in the early 2000s, I had the opportunity to put a restaurant on the ground floor of The Barclay, on the southeast corner of the square. A number of big chain restaurants were interested, but I wanted something that felt more special. I reached out to Stephen Starr — then pretty early in his restaurant career — to see if he was interested in opening something, but he passed. I didn’t give up, though. I kept asking him (and improving the deal I was offering) until he finally said yes. In 2004, Barclay Prime opened up, followed a few years later by Starr’s Parc; then Dandelion, the Love, and, most recently, Borromini. (And soon there will be another new Starr restaurant.)

Diners loved them, and they helped cement Rittenhouse Square’s reputation as a place that people wanted to be.

All of that turned out to be helpful to the local economy. Not only did city dwellers, suburbanites, and tourists want to eat on Rittenhouse Square, but people also wanted to live, work, shop and play there. Similar things happened in neighborhoods all over the city when new restaurants or other amenities opened up. People came. Jobs got created. Tax revenues grew.

The lessons: You do much better when you’re patient and think long-term, not short-term. And fun sells.

Fun Zones

Navy Yard workers enjoy lunch on the Parade Grounds / Photograph courtesy of PIDC

So how can we make Philly more fun now? Creative people like Starr — and all the great Philadelphia restaurateurs and entrepreneurs that have followed in his wake — are crucial. But we also have to make attracting people a policy priority.

One thing we should consider is making sections of Center City — say, Market Street, from river to river, and Broad Street, from South Street up to Spring Garden — into Keystone Opportunity Zones. KOZs were created by the state a couple of decades ago in order to encourage economic development; businesses that open up in these areas get a break on state and local taxes.

We should create more KOZs in the neighborhoods that need development. That will bring people back to these desolate areas to populate offices, retail and restaurants — during working hours and beyond. If more businesses open in the core of the city, more people will want to spend their time there.

Philadelphia already has a number of KOZs, including parts of University City and the Navy Yard. The development we’ve seen in both of those areas in recent years is proof that KOZs work. And not just for the businesses that open there. Jobs get created. Energy spikes. Commerce increases. And the tax base broadens.

Imagine that happening at scale in Center City.

Over the course of several decades, from the ’90s up to the pandemic, I watched Philadelphia become more and more fun, and everyone benefited from it. Our best bet to keep Philadelphia moving forward is to make it a place that people can’t resist.

Let’s make fun a priority again.

How One Creative Couple Turned Their Aldie Mansion Wedding Into an Elevated Dinner Party

Leen Sadder wore a custom dress by Lebanese couture house Azzi & Osta, and Ryan Murphy donned a Hugo Boss tux for their Aldie Mansion wedding. / Photography by Du Soleil Photographie

On the surface, Leen Sadder and Ryan Murphy’s wedding was an intimate gathering in quaint Doylestown. But the event was in fact a global affair, one that thoughtfully honored — and stylishly strayed from — tradition. The couple, who met in Istanbul in 2019, planned everything from their home in Amsterdam, relying on their creative backgrounds (both are designers; they connected through work) and a talented team of vendors to achieve their vision for a sophisticated dinner party.

Guests sipped bubbly from delicate glass coupes.

“Our wedding was all about celebrating in a way that felt completely us — two designers from different cultural backgrounds who love bringing people together in meaningful ways,” says Ryan. Leen, born and raised in Lebanon, and Ryan, who is from Malvern, chose to host their nuptials at Aldie Mansion, a Tudor-style estate in Bucks County.

The moody floral arrangements by Texture Florals were filled with blooms such as anthuriums.

They married in its oak-paneled library; the nonreligious ceremony featured a church processional during which Leen and her father walked down the aisle to a traditional Arabic song, a twist that honored both of their backgrounds.

Anthurium stems sprouted from an avant-garde cake by New June.

In the ballroom, another break with convention: Instead of separate seating arrangements, a serpentine table draped with grapes and green florals wound through the space.

Ivory bouclé chairs from Something Vintage Rentals lined the velvet-covered serpentine table. “People actually ate the grapes after realizing they were real!” Leen says.

Here, guests from all over the world enjoyed a six-course dinner, a band that played Arabic music infused with jazz, and conversation. “We took a big leap by mixing up seating, pairing strangers together based on their interests — and it worked,” Leen says.

This small trophy was a gift from one of Leen’s friends, who gave a speech during dinner.

Jeffrey A. Miller (JAM) Hospitality Group provided a custom chocolate marquise cake with tahini mousse, sesame praline, and passion fruit coulis.

For favors, Leen and Ryan commissioned Turabi Studio, a Palestinian ceramic artist in Amsterdam, to make small brooches inspired by tatreez (traditional Levantine embroidery); many guests wore them immediately.

Post-dinner, the library transformed into a red-lit “speakeasy” where a vinyl DJ, Marcus Scott, spun old Lebanese and American hits. “We brought over old vinyl records from Leen’s grandfather’s house in Lebanon, and he was so excited to play them,” says Ryan.

Adds Leen: “The reception was more like a slow, elevated dinner party than a typical wedding.”

THE DETAILS
Photographer: Du Soleil Photographie | Venue: Aldie Mansion | Event Planning & Design: Taylor Emily Events | Florals: Texture Florals | Catering: Jeffrey A. Miller (JAM) Hospitality Group | Cake: New June | Bride’s Gown: Azzi & Osta | Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss | Hair: Amanda D’Andrea Hair | Makeup: Kristyn Kennedy Makeup Artistry | Favors: Turabi Studio | Officiants: Malek Sadder and Colin Murphy (brothers of Leen and Ryan) | Entertainment: Brian Prunka, with Insia Malik, Gideon Forbes, and Zafer Tawil | Vinyl DJ: Marcus Scott | Stationery & Signage: Sunshine Letter Co. | Rentals: Something Vintage Rentals and White Glove Rentals | Lighting & Sound Production: On It Productions by BVT Live! | Linens: Nuage Designs | Ceiling Draping: Buttercup | Videographer: Zela Films

Published as “Leen & Ryan” in the Winter/Spring 2026 issue of Philadelphia Wedding.

Get more great content from Philadelphia Wedding:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | NEWSLETTER

Ask Dr. Mike: Do I Need to Get Vaccinated Every Year?

Meet internal medicine physician Michael Cirigliano, affectionately known as “Dr. Mike” to not only his 2,000 patients, who love his unfussy brilliance, tenacity, humor, and warmth (he’s a hugger!), but also to viewers of FOX 29’s Good Day Philadelphia, where he’s been a long-time contributor. For 32 years, he’s been on the faculty at Penn, where he trained, and he’s been named a Philadelphia magazine Top Doc every year since 2008. Starting today, he’s our in-house doc for the questions you’ve been itching (perhaps literally) to ask a medical expert who’ll answer in words you actually understand. Got a doozy for him? Ask Dr. Mike at lbrzyski@phillymag.com.

Listen to the audio version here:

Hey, Dr. Mike! Everyone’s sick — and now there’s a “super flu” in the mix. But some people still swear they “never get sick.” So let’s put it together: Does everybody need a flu shot every year, even if they think they’re the exception?
The flu shot saves lives! That’s why it’s universally recommended, unless you have an allergy to it. All humans get viruses, and viruses like to spread and mutate — and fast. People might say, “Well, Dr. Mike, I got my flu shot and I still got the flu!” They don’t realize that the shot doesn’t prevent you from getting the flu but it reduces your risk — by 30 to 4o percent — of ending up in a hospital on a ventilator because of it. (The new variant this season — subclade K — is pretty potent. I’ve seen patients who are really sick from it.) Besides, data shows that if you get a flu shot year after year, you’re simply more protected, and that’s especially true of the elderly, young people, and those who are immunocompromised.

What about the people who claim they don’t ever get the flu?
To that I say, “I guess you’re an alien!” Seriously though, I operate according to this quote: “In God we trust. Everyone else, show me the data.” If the data shows vaccinations save lives and are safe and effective, then get vaccinated. We have to hang our hat on something. Or else, it’s entropy.

If the benefits of the shot are so clear, what’s with the vaccine hesitancy that’s gotten everyone yelling at each other?
There’s a tremendous amount of misinformation out there and a lot of conspiracy theories when it comes to pharmaceuticals, all of which has been amplified by rhetoric linking immunizations to autism and health issues. So, that’s part of what’s been fueling the contention. I want to remind people that, thanks to vaccines, we don’t really see cases of smallpox or polio anymore. Case in point: Decades ago, when I first started working at Penn, we had two iron-lung machines stored in the basement that were once used to help polio patients breathe. Luckily, vaccines were created and those machines were no longer needed. I’ve never seen a case of polio in my 35-year career.

Still, vaccines aren’t always risk-free, right?
Look, if you give an intervention to 100,000 people, are some of them going to have a negative event? Yes. Getting vaccinated comes down to risk-benefit ratio — every choice in life does. I tell my patients, “You drove to my office in a car. There was a chance you’d get in an accident, but you chose to visit me because the benefit outweighed the risk.” To me, the choice is a no-brainer: Get the flu shot.

What about the COVID booster?
I believe it should be given initially in life, when a baby is six months old. After that, it depends on what risk factors the person has. If you’re healthy and 40 years old, I don’t think getting the booster is necessary.

In my adult practice, I generally reserve the annual COVID booster to the elderly, cancer patients, pregnant individuals, those who are immunosuppressed, and people living with someone who is high-risk. For most patients now, COVID has morphed into a bad cold — the virus has changed over time, and basically everyone on the planet has had COVID and/or gotten the vaccine. It’s not like the beginning of the pandemic where nobody had immunity — that was a whole different ballgame. Also, we now have medication for COVID, like Paxlovid, which can help prevent symptoms from getting worse. One thing’s for sure: If there’s anything we’ve learned from the pandemic, it’s “If you’re sick, stay the hell home!”

Preach! Everyone’s immune system operates at a different strength level. Just because the symptoms of your cold or illness aren’t terrible doesn’t mean someone else’s cold symptoms won’t put them in bed for a week.
Exactly. So when you’re sick, you’ve got to be mindful of your risk of others. Just the other day, I advised three patients who are sick with RSV or COVID not to attend family gatherings because of who they told me would be there. If you’re sick and want to attend the gathering, you’re responsible to ask: Will Grandma Jones, who is getting cancer treatment, be there? What about newborns? I’m not trying to be patients’ personal Oppenheimer and destroy plans, but we all have to consider the impact our sickness might have on people who are vulnerable.

Just last month, the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel changed the guidance for newborn hepatitis B vaccination to a decision-based model. It has sparked a lot of controversy and anxiety …
I vehemently disagree with the guideline changes! The test that is used to determine if a pregnant person has hepatitis B is not 100-percent accurate. So if mom tests negative, but actually does have hepB, the newborn can be born with it. Contracting hepB early in life can be extremely dangerous; there’s almost a 90-percent chance of developing cirrhosis and liver cancer, and dying from it, down the road.

A big misconception in this context is that people think hepB is transmitted only through IV drugs or sexual activity. But it can actually be cross-transmitted in other ways, like sharing toothbrushes or nail clippers. Half to two-thirds of people who have hepB don’t even know they have it, so the potential for household contact puts others at risk, especially children.

What’s the biggest takeaway from all this vaccine talk?
A good thing that has come from the debates is that patients are now talking with their healthcare providers about what they’re hearing. This is great, because we’re the best people to help patients make informed choices. I’ve never said to a patient, “It’s my way or the highway.” My job is to give you advice. With immunizations, I love to remind people that America is the land of the free and home of the brave: You’re free to make decisions based on your beliefs — and you also may be brave based on some of those decisions. If you’re an adult and you don’t want a vaccine, that’s your choice. But remember: When little Johnny or little Susie don’t get a say in the matter of their own health, it’s a fait accompli.

Philly Sneaker Shops That Will Kick Your Look Up a Notch

Sneakers at World of Flight / Photograph courtesy of Jordan Brand

Lacing up for this spring’s Sneaker Con? (April 4th at the Convention Center.) Or just in the market for a fresh pair of kicks? We’ve got your hookups here.

For Everything Jordan

In a city known for firsts — zoo, hospital — it’s fitting that Jordan Brand’s debut World of Flight retail concept in the U.S. opened in Philadelphia. The sportswear titan’s partnership with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts didn’t hurt either. (The MVP of Super Bowl LIX made an appearance in October at the opening party, where shoppers lined up to score World of Flight Philly merch.) Stop by the second-floor customization lounge for a hoodie and a pic in front of the Philly-themed memorabilia. 1617 Walnut Street, Rittenhouse.

For Philly Brand Collabs

More than a decade has passed since streetwear concept Lapstone & Hammer opened, and today owner Brian Nadav is an industry authority on sneakers. Limited-edition lines and brand collabs — a launch with Joel Embiid for Skechers is in the works for 2026 — are big draws at the store, with comfort kicks like Hoka driving sales. As for those metallic ASICS Gel-1130s everyone’s wearing? Nadav knew three years ago you’d buy a pair. 1106 Chestnut Street, Midtown Village.

For a Jolt

Louis Quiles introduced Encanto Coffee and Kicks in 2023, and (as the name suggests) it’s home to java and Jordans. Order the house favorite Triple Pink Latte made with beans sourced from Quiles’s native Puerto Rico, then shop kid and adult styles in limited sizes from Adidas Yeezy, ASICS, and Nike. Trying on a pair of Bravest’s Bear Claw mules is worth the visit alone. 2110 East Norris Street, Fishtown.

For Pre-Loved Kicks

Flight 96 is a buy-sell-trade stop for pre-owned and new sneakers. Nike Dunks in assorted colorways are in regular rotation, along with New Balance and Air Jordans. Shoes move quickly here, and when they’re gone they’re gone. Follow the store’s Instagram or drop by in person to see all the latest styles. 1613 East Passyunk Avenue, East Passyunk.

For Skater Vibes

South Street has been a sneaker destination for decades, and P’s & Q’s has been a staple along the strip since 2012. Founded by brothers Rick and Ky Cao, the vibe is streetwear with skater sensibility. Think of the shoes you wore in high school — Vans, Saucony — but with better construction and a range of color combinations and materials. If you really want to relive the ’90s (and who doesn’t?), shop clothing and accessories from Stüssy to go with your Vans checkerboard slip-ons. 820 South Street, Bella Vista.

For Suburban Sneakerheads

What began with a classic trench coat has evolved into a preppy-inspired menswear brand rooted in wardrobe essentials. Lifestyle sneakers are a big part of that sartorial equation, and, like all things with American Trench, the selection has been well considered by co-founder Jacob Hurwitz. Italian sportswear company Diadora, which has its U.S. headquarters at the Bok Building, fit the bill. Their tennis shoes with slimmer silhouettes and minimal accent colors pair well with American Trench looks. 15 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore.

A Word With Local Sneakerhead Jason Bloom

Illustration by James Boyle

The plastic surgeon — and serious sneaker fan — behind Bloom Facial Plastic Surgery in Bryn Mawr shares a look at his collection.

I started collecting … in 2003, with a pair of Nike Dunk Lows in maize and blue. They reminded me of my love of the University of Michigan, and I had to have them.

My favorite brands are … Air Jordan and Nike sneakers, but I do have a few pairs of Adidas and New Balance.

I store my shoes … in a sneaker closet in my home office. I would estimate that I have a few hundred pairs.

A go-to Philly store is … Lapstone & Hammer.

The most classic silhouette is … the Air Jordan 1 High. They go with everything from a pair of scrubs to a suit.

The sneakers I wore to the Super Bowl … were a pair of kelly green Air Jordan 1 Highs from Jim Buck, a Philly-based sneaker maker.

The rarest pairs I own … include three pairs from Dark Phil Knight and two pairs from the Shoe Surgeon, in L.A.

Almost every pair … I take out of the box and wear. That’s the fun of it.

Published as “The Getaround: Sole Mates” in the February 2026 issue of Philadelphia magazine.

The Robot Wawa Was Always a Bad Idea. And Now It’s Closing

Wawa’s new all-digital store in University City / Photograph courtesy of Wawa

Listen to the audio version here:

Not surprising news on the automation front: It looks like the experimental Wawa at 3300 Market Street — the one with no shelves, no racks, and no products, just a rank of slick ordering kiosks and serious HAL 9000 vibes — is closing for good today.

In a statement, Wawa said that despite “recently making investments in our store design to test a fully digital format … this test did not adequately improve performance or deliver an enhanced customer experience, which ultimately led to the decision to close the store.”

And honestly, I couldn’t be happier.

We initially wrote about the world’s first robot Wawa back in 2023 when the company first reopened the 34th and Market location as a brand new “all-digital” location. This meant that the store itself was more or less empty, and that all ordering would be done through the Wawa app or via kiosks inside. Employees would then package the orders and hand them over. And the whole thing (with the exception of the coffee bar, which would remain self-serve because even the suits, accountants, loss-prevention specialists, and consumer psychology nerds who came up with this idea understood that the daily coffee orders of your average Wawa consumer are far too chaotic and unhinged to be handled any other way) was meant to be a smooth, slick, seamless, and efficient transaction, accomplished with minimal human contact.

The problem was, words like smooth, seamless and efficient are words that precisely no one who has ever been to a Wawa would use to describe the experience of going to a Wawa. And while I’m guessing that’s precisely the problem that those involved with the design of the robot Wawa were trying to fix, those of us who are actually fans of Wawa saw that as a feature, not a bug.

Wawa is Philly to its bones. Its brand is built on the inefficiency of walking in the door looking for a meatball Shorti and walking out with two jugs of wiper fluid, some Peanut Chews, a fistful of scratchers, a tin of dip, and an Entenmann’s coffee cake. A smooth trip means not running into that neighbor you hate while sorting through the racks of snacks for the last bag of Herr’s hot honey cheese puffs. It’s the kind of place where a sweet little old lady will hold the door for a Cowboys fan, then hit them with her car in the parking lot. Where everyone will cheer, but no one saw it happen.

But this automated, high-gloss/low-drag futuristic vision of a Wawa built for the coming robot dystopia? It was a soulless, placeless branding experiment that wanted nothing to do with Philly. It was an attempt at scrubbing all the grit and weirdness out of Wawa; of sanitizing it in a way that would leave it with all the heart and charm of an airport convenience store. I wrote about the place in the winter of 2023, shortly after its debut, and was not kind in my assessment:

“Being there feels like being nowhere. Or like being anywhere, which is almost worse. And that kind of shiny, address-scrubbed blandness will always have an uncanny valley type effect on people here because Wawas are supposed to have personality. There’s supposed to be a grubby kind of humanness to them. They’re NOT supposed to be dead-eyed simulacra of the ‘Wawa experience’ smoothed and sanded and epoxy-sealed for maximum efficiency.”

I then went on to quote sociologist Ray Oldenberg’s theory of “Third Places” — the idea that, if your home is your “first place” and work is your “second place,” a society requires a variety of “third places” in order to remain sane, engaged, and functional. These can be almost anything: bars and cafes, clubs, churches, the gym. But among the many qualifiers for third-place status were requirements that these spaces be open and inviting, informal, convenient, unpretentious, and full of regulars. Your average Wawa is all of those things. Even though it exists primarily as a delivery vector for hoagies and 32-ounce almond milk double-pump cinnamon bun and cold foam iced coffees, they are entirely viable (and vital) third places for a lot of Philadelphians. But the all-digital Wawa? It was none of those things. Well, except for open, I guess.

And now, it’s not even that anymore.

So goodbye, digital Wawa. You were a bad idea, conceived at a bad time, implemented in a place that still values honesty and the messy company of their fellow man over corporate branding strategies, and now you’re gone.

Good riddance.

South Philly’s Pulitzer-Winning Playwright James Ijames Loves Trash TV Just As Much As We Do

James Ijames / Photograph by Justin DeWalt

South Philly’s Pulitzer-winning playwright James Ijames returns with not one, not two, but three local shows this season – one starting at the Arden this Thursday. We caught up with him to learn about life, love and his strange relationship with The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

My last name is pronounced … like times without the t.

I grew up in … Bessemer City, North Carolina. Everybody knows each other.

I came to Philly in … 2003 to get my MFA at Temple. I just moved to Manhattan in July, in part because I’m now tenured at Columbia, where I’m the new head of playwriting. But I still have my house at 4th and Wolf, which is where I stay when I’m back in town.

My first theater role was … as Hamlet, when I was a 19-year-old student at Morehouse.

My desire to return to the stage is … zero, zilch. It’s too anxiety-inducing for me to be an actor. And I just don’t enjoy it enough to suffer through that anxiety. Writing and directing is where I belong.

When I’m in Philly, I always go to … as many restaurants as I can. You have to work real hard to find a bad meal in Philadelphia. For quick bites, I regularly do Federal Donuts and P’unk Burger. And I do a lot of shopping at Head House Books. I love that store, and it’s on my walk from my house to the Arden.

My relationship status is … married. My husband is an educator who works for the Philadelphia School District.

When I won the Pulitzer for Drama in 2022 for my play Fat Ham, I celebrated by … having cake and lots of champagne at my house in Philly with my husband and two friends. It was actually quiet. Nice.

The most famous friends in my cell phone are … Cynthia Erivo and Colman Domingo, both of whom were producers of Fat Ham.

James Ijames (center) with theater director Saheem Ali (right) at a pre-Tonys party hosted by actor Colman Domingo (left)

The most beautiful space in Philadelphia is … my living room. It’s so maximalist. There’s way too much art on the walls. As soon as people walk in, their shoulders drop. And I love 30th Street Station, a relic of another time. I admire the grandeur.

My current bingeing obsession is … The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. It’s fascinating for me to look at such a, um … homogenous environment. It’s just insane. I can’t justify anything they do or so. I violently disagree with so much of what they do and say. But it all helps me understand something about the world. I only watch garbage TV. When I watch prestige TV, that feels like work, because it’s something I very much want to be writing myself in the near future.

This season, I am … having three plays produced by three different Philly theaters, something I had to leave Philly to have happen. The Arden is doing the regional premiere of Good Bones, the Wilma is doing a revival of The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington from 2014, and Philadelphia Theatre Company is presenting the world premiere of Wilderness Generation.

My parents taught me to be … honest, on time, hardworking, and just.

If you really want to annoy me … approach me with small talk.

If you’re pouring me a cocktail, I’ll take a … Boulevardier, please.

One bad habit I cannot break is … ordering in. They make it way too easy. I need to get back to cooking.

When I want to relax … I walk for hours.

The thing I love most about South Philly is … that if anything is going on in front of my house, my neighbor will let me know about it. Immediately.

Since winning the Pulitzer, my life has become … busier! But the nice thing is that being a writer, you get to hang on to a kind of anonymity. Most people have no idea what you look like.

My current playlist includes … Ariana Grande, Minnie Riperton, Teedra Moses, vintage Toni Braxton, Kehlani, Stevie Wonder, and Aretha. I’m a 45-year-old Black gay man, and everybody you expect to be here is here. I am a cliché.

Published as “One of Us: James Ijames” in the February 2026 issue of Philadelphia magazine.

Podcast: How We Decide Who Makes Philly Mag’s 50 Best Restaurants

A variety of dishes at Sang Kee / Photograph by Gab Bonghi

Listen here:

Philadelphia magazine’s 50 Best Restaurants list is here, and whether you love it or hate it, Philly is kind of obsessed with it. Just as it does every year, it sparks a slew of comments, controversies, and a whole lot of questions. The most common? How the hell do you come up with this list?

On the latest episode of Philly Mag Today, food editor Kae Lani Palmisano shares what goes into the 50 Best Restaurants — the thought process, philosophy, and methodology — and how our highly anticipated (and debated) annual list speaks to what it means to dine in Philadelphia right now.

And if you have any quips and quibbles about how we run things over here at Philly Mag, feel free to reach out to our tip line or email Palmisano directly at kpalmisano@phillymag.com. We’ll be reading your letters to the editor about the 50 Best Restaurants list on a future episode of Philly Mag Today.

Listen to Philly Mag Today to hear more about our opinions on the impact the world’s most prestigious restaurant awards will have on Philadelphia. And be sure to subscribe to Philly Mag Today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. We’ll be sharing stories that reveal some sliver of life in our city today, whether that’s insightful commentary on the latest news, fresh takes on what’s happening in the food scene, profiles of the people shaping the way we live, or just the best reads Philadelphia magazine has to offer.