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Axios Philadelphia
Philadelphia's dry stretch approaches record
This October could be Philadelphia's driest month in a century. The big picture: Philly's streak of no measurable rainfall through Monday likely breaks the city's record set in 1874 of 29 consecutive days. State of play: The last day of measurable precipitation in Philly was on Sept. 28, Paul Fitzsimmons,...
Kalaya chef "Nok" Suntaranon shares Thai recipes in new cookbook
Kalaya's Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon is releasing her first cookbook on Nov. 5. Why it matters: You can now whip up your favorite dishes from one of Philly's best restaurants in your own kitchen. Driving the news: "Kalaya's Southern Thai Kitchen" ($35) is a how-to guide for "real Southern Thai food,"...
Philadelphia DA sues Elon Musk to halt $1M giveaways
Philadelphia's top prosecutor is suing tech billionaire Elon Musk to stop his $1 million daily giveaways to Pennsylvania voters.Why it matters: Musk's pro-Trump super PAC, which has already given out more than $9 million, is under increasing pressure to stop the lottery after the Justice Department warned last week that it could violate federal law.Driving the news: Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a Democrat, is seeking an injunction Monday to prevent more payments in Pennsylvania.Krasner's office argues in the filing that America PAC's giveaways flout state lottery and consumer protection laws.What they're saying: Krasner's office says Musk and the PAC...
What worries Pennsylvania's top election official as Election Day nears
Pennsylvania's top elections official, Al Schmidt, toured all 67 counties to learn what's on voters' minds ahead of the 2024 election. His big takeaway: How many voters still believe debunked election conspiracies, the commonwealth secretary tells Axios. Driving the news: Schmidt joined other elections officials on Friday in leading a...
Peep the big upgrades coming to Philadelphia Zoo's bear exhibit
The Philadelphia Zoo's Bear Country exhibit is getting a $20 million makeover.The big picture: The project is the zoo's largest in more than a decade.Driving the news: The zoo plans to renovate its two bear habitats and add a third space for its bear breeding program. The project will break ground next year.What to expect: New landscaping and water features in the habitats, as well as:Glass-viewing areas for guests to get a close-up look at the bearsA new area for guests to watch keepers train the animalsAn off-exhibit habitat that will help in the rearing of cubs. A rendering of the new look for the zoo's Bear Country exhibit. Rendering: Courtesy of the Philadelphia Zoo👋 During construction, the two sloth bears, lone Andean bear and Humboldt penguins will be relocated to other facilities outside the zoo.🐻 1 cool thing: The project will add to the zoo's network of see-through mesh animal trails, known as Zoo360, to allow its bears to rotate among their habitats.What's next: The new exhibit is expected to open in the spring of 2026. You can soon get up close and personal with the zoo's resident bears. Rendering courtesy of the Philadelphia Zoo
Mail-in ballot requests plummet in Philadelphia
Philadelphia voters will cast significantly fewer mail-in ballots this presidential election than in 2020, when the option was expanded in the midst of the COVID pandemic.Why it matters: More voters casting ballots in person, plus other factors, could help elections officials tabulate results faster come Nov. 5 — and potentially avoid a repeat of Pennsylvania's dayslong delay four years ago.Driving the news: Nearly 205,500 Philly voters have requested mail-in ballots for this election as of Friday, per data from the city commissioners.While that number will climb before Tuesday's 5pm mail-in ballot application deadline, it's tracking well behind the nearly 437,200...
We checked out Philadelphia's new Portal installation
The Portal is live in Philly so I had to check it out for myself. Catch up quick: The nearly 12-foot-tall circular art installation turned on Tuesday in LOVE Park, where it's cordoned off by metal bike racks. How it works: The Portal's all-hours live video feed (no audio) connects...
Mapped: Which Pennsylvania counties have the most trick-or-treaters
Depending where you live in the Commonwealth, you might want to stockpile extra bags of candy. Why it matters: Trick-or-treaters hate encountering turned-off porch lights — a giveaway of the homes that ran out of sweets early in the night. The big picture: 5-to-14-year-olds — prime trick-or-treating age —...
"Beetlejuice" fans can tour a movie replica house in New Jersey
The Juice is loose in Hillsborough, New Jersey.The big picture: Airbnb has recreated an iconic replica of Delia Deetz's abode from Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" sequel, down to the black veil encasing the outside of the home.The listing is part of the home-sharing platform's "icons" experiences that include stays at the recreated house from "Up," the "X-Men" mansion and Prince's "Purple Rain" house in Minneapolis. Zoom in: While you can't stay overnight at the "Beetlejuice" home, fans of the "ghost with the most" can book three-hour tours, with up to six guests total, for free from Nov. 16-27, per the...
How New Hope, Pennsylvania, became a Hollywood magnet
New Hope in Bucks County has become a new hotspot for elites and celebrities. Why it matters: The borough and neighboring Lambertville, New Jersey, are at risk of losing the quirky, artsy charm that made them relatively affordable spots to live or escape for the weekend. State of play: Boutique...
Philadelphians fear spread of election misinformation, survey shows
More than half of Philadelphians polled in a recent survey say they're "extremely" worried about fake news and misinformation this election season, per SmartNews. Why it matters: Researchers have found that false information spreads six times faster than the truth, and AI makes it easier to amplify election lies.
Your Philly weekend guide: Music Fest, Gritty 5K and more
🎸 The Philly Music Fest has shows through Sunday.Catch Cosmic Guilt and Anna Shoemaker at World Cafe Live tonight at 7pm ($65), and Catbite and Reef the Lost Cauze at Milkboy on Friday at 8pm ($40.69)😱 Yokai Movie Week will get you in the Halloween spirit.See Japanese horror flicks tonight and Friday at 7pm at the Shofuso Japanese House and Gardens. Tickets: $15-$25🎪 The haunted circus is in town. The Philadelphia School of Circus Arts is putting three shows on this weekend for different age groups at its headquarters in Northwest Philly. Tickets: $15-$20.Friday: Kids show at 6pmSaturday: Family show...
How Philadelphia-area officials are ramping up election security
Election officials in the Philadelphia region are tweaking their safety measures to protect election workers and ballots this year. Why it matters: Concerns about voter intimidation and violence are top of mind for many, while election officials themselves are increasingly the targets of threats and harassment. The big picture: Jurisdictions...
New-look Sixers hope it's not same-old results in 2024
Cautious optimism — emphasis on cautious — is in the air ahead of the Sixers' season-opener against Milwaukee Wednesday. Why it matters: The 76ers haven't been to the Eastern Conference championship since 2001. And after last season's early playoff exit, fans are growing restless. The big picture: Paul...
Elon Musk's million-dollar voter giveaways baffle experts
Legal experts are sounding off on tech billionaire Elon Musk's million-dollar giveaways to voters in Pennsylvania.Why it matters: Musk, the world's richest man, has pledged to give $1 million each day to registered voters in battleground states who sign a petition launched by his pro-Trump political action committee supporting free speech and the right to own firearms.But some experts say the effort could run afoul of federal law that prohibits paying people to persuade them to register to vote.Catch up quick: Musk handed out two $1 million checks over the weekend at campaign events in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, per CNN.Musk...
Philadelphia neighborhood group pauses events at park after attack
The Northern Liberties Neighbors Association has temporarily banned outside groups from hosting events at its community park after witnesses say a woman was attacked there earlier this month.State of play: The altercation and subsequent ban have alarmed some residents, who are questioning the neighborhood association's handling of the incident.Driving the news: The altercation occurred before an Oct. 6 show by Bread and Puppet, a renowned anti-war theater group that had already performed there several times, NLNA president Jeff Hornstein tells Axios.Police responded to a report of a man with a weapon cutting down art exhibit signs in Liberty Lands Park....
Scoop: Philadelphia to get a Portal installation
Philadelphia is getting a Portal.Why it matters: The round art installation with a two-way, all-hours livestream to another city has drawn thousands of visitors to other locations — and shenanigans.Driving the news: A Portals spokesperson confirmed to Axios that the porthole-like sculpture is coming to Philly, but declined to provide details about when or where.Portals plans to share more information next week.A spokesperson for Mayor Cherelle Parker's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The intrigue: Crews could be seen on Friday setting up what appears to be one of the structures in LOVE Park.Catch up quick: Lithuanian artist and entrepreneur Benediktas Gylys created the Portal and opened the first one in 2021, connecting Vilnius, Lithuania, to Lublin, Poland.Portals are now also located in New York City and Dublin.While the Portals were originally linked in pairs, the company began connecting all four cities on a rotating livestream in August.Context: New York City's Portal — the first in the U.S. — opened in May, and was linked only to Dublin at the time.However, the video feed was taken offline days later over "inappropriate behavior" from both sides of the Atlantic.The NYC-Dublin Portals were later opened with new safeguards.
Philadelphia wants to make a mural of "real life Rockys"
Philly tourism and art officials are looking for "real life Rockys" to feature in a mural to be unveiled at RockyFest in December.Why it matters: Becoming an honorary Rocky is on every Philadelphian's bucket list.Driving the news: The Philadelphia Visitors Center Corporation and Mural Arts are looking for four locals who "embody the Rocky story" of grit, resilience and perseverance to be part of a mural designed by artist Ash Ryan.They're accepting submissions through Friday, Oct. 25, for anyone who has the "Eye of the Tiger."Nominees should have an inspirational story, be involved in their community and display determination, heart, compassion and Philly pride.What they're saying: The competition celebrates the city's "unsung heroes who make Philadelphia a better place," Kathryn Ott Lovell, president of Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation, said in a news release.What's next: RockyFest runs Dec. 3-8, kicking off with Rocky Day to celebrate the release of the original 1976 Oscar-winning film.
Philadelphia to use faster mail ballot-processing machines
Philadelphia election officials plan to use a handful of faster mail-in ballot-processing machines for the Nov. 5 election.Why it matters: The new equipment may help reduce the ballot-counting delays that held up the 2020 election.Driving the news: Philadelphia City Commissioners are preparing to use around six modern envelope-opening machines in the upcoming election, which will complement the city's fleet of machines.That's despite lingering concerns about potential problems with the new equipment.By the numbers: Philly voters had requested more than 186,000 absentee and mail-in ballots as of Thursday, per state data.The new machines have the potential to open up to 40,000...
Eagles face Giants in Saquon Barkley's homecoming
All eyes are on Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley this weekend as he returns to New York for the first time to face his former team.Why it matters: Heading into the NFC East rival's territory is likely to be extra hostile, especially considering Giants fans were so betrayed by Barkley's defection they burned his jerseys.The big picture: The Eagles have won 93 of the team's 183 games against the Giants, but this marks the first time in rivalry history that the teams had a "superstar switch teams in the prime of their careers," writes NJ Advance Media's Bob Brookover.Zoom...
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