đœïž Lost in Philly with âAlice-Heartâ | Morning Newsletter
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The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Happy Saturday.
Today, Iâm talking about a âFilmadelphiaâ movie that captures feeling lost in life, love, and youth in the city.
But first, read on for details on the FBI and Philly police raids on an alleged Kensington drug gang, a Philadelphia-based company helping pay for President Donald Trumpâs controversial ballroom, and our weekly report card on this week in news.
â Paola PĂ©rez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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What you should know today
FBI Director Kash Patel was in Philadelphia Friday to announce the results of a large-scale investigation into a Kensington-based drug gang, in line with the Trump administrationâs nationwide crackdown on suspected drug dealers.
Comcast is among major U.S. corporations footing part of the $300 million bill for the construction of Trumpâs proposed ballroom at the White House.
Two Plymouth Township police officers were hospitalized Friday after a driver allegedly injured them intentionally with a vehicle in a hotel parking lot. The suspect is in custody.
A Malvern man who was arrested for bringing a gun and other weapons to a âNo Kingsâ protest over the summer is now in federal custody on charges involving making and possessing explosive devices.
Toys R Us will open more than two dozen flagship stores and holiday pop-up stores across the country by the end of the year, including two in the Philadelphia area.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro will campaign this weekend for two Democratic governor hopefuls, New Jerseyâs U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Virginiaâs Abigail Spanberger.
Ocean City has declared a local emergency and urged state and federal officials to help after suffering severe beach erosion during recent storms.
A Delaware County man trolled a Philly Mag writer on Facebook. Now, a judge has ordered him to pay $160,000.
An estate and former convent in Chestnut Hill has been converted to host galleries centering on local artists by the Woodmere Museum. It opens to the public on Nov. 1.
From Burgergate to the Schuylkill sinkhole, we graded the good, bad, and weird from the latest Philly news.
Sunday marks the conclusion of the 34th Philadelphia Film Festival, and Iâm still thinking about one I saw last weekend: Alice-Heart, a gem of a movie showcased under the Filmadelphia program. These are films that are made for Philly, by Philly.
The city, seen through monochromatic lens all throughout, may as well have had acting credits. With the Schuylkill River Trail, the Broad Street Line, and food favorites like Crown Fried Chicken as the backdrop, the titular 20-something tries to find meaning and figure herself out in this quaint city full of possibilities.
Watching Alice-Heart was like watching a train wreck of the chaotic college student life, from the messy to the vulnerable and earnest. It was a sincere portrait of young, passionate people who find themselves trapped in a mess of their own making. The film also felt authentic to itself. I could tell that the people making it love Philly, and that they had fun telling this story. As for myself and the audience, if our collective reactions throughout were any indication, we certainly had fun watching it.
(Psst: You can catch it one last time Saturday at 2 p.m. at Film Society East.)
In other Film Fest news: West Philly native Colman Domingo will be honored on Sunday for his contributions to cinema and the city.
In 2013, Philadelphia City Council created the Land Bank to help the city acquire and sell vacant, blighted, and tax-delinquent properties. Despite its goal, the agency has been bogged down by dysfunction.
In the latest edition of Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson unpacks how a shake-up by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker could lead to more affordable housing.
đ§ Trivia time
Somewhere in Philly, you can find the grave of Benjamin Franklin, marking the Founding Fatherâs final resting place (unless you believe rumors of his ghost still lurking around).
Where is it?
A) Pennâs Landing
B) Franklin Institute
C) City Hall
D) Old City
Think you know? Our new (weekly!) Citywide Quest game puts your knowledge of Phillyâs streets to the test. Check your answer.
𧩠Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Nobel Peace Prize winner
AYALA FAMOUS LIZA
Email us if you know the answer. Weâll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Kathleen Wersinger who correctly guessed Fridayâs answer: Carousel House. The West Philly rec center will be Phillyâs âflagship.â But people with disabilities will have to wait until 2028 to reunite.
Seniors â both senior citizens and high school seniors â let their youthful spirits flow on the dance floor at the 12th annual Golden Age Prom in Cherry Hill on Thursday. Denali Sagner and staff photographer Yong Kim bring us this dispatch from the party.
Somewhere on the internet in Philly
A post on X declared: âthe prettiest girl you know is probably an Eagles fan.â Naturally, a Philadelphian obliged, immediately proving the point.
The parking situation in South Philadelphia is tight. Nothing new ⊠but this is one wild maneuver.
A Redditor recently shared blissful views from a fall morning walk at Pennypack Park.
And over on Facebook, people are reminiscing in the comments about a 1960s-era photo of the Dupont Street steps in Manayunk. One nicknamed the climb âThe Alps of Philadelphia.â
đđœ Thanks for stopping by. Letâs do this again tomorrow morning.
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