An ‘arts campus’ for American Street | Morning Newsletter
And a Philly love problem
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
This is Sunday.
A city block’s worth of industrial buildings will be converted into an “arts campus” called the Forman Arts Initiative. Today’s main read explores the potential benefits and challenges of the project.
And is having a very Philly personality a relationship deal-breaker? In our latest advice column, staffers help a reader with a long-distance love dilemma.
— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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The vision for the Forman Arts Initiative goes beyond your typical art gallery. Housed in a former Peco substation, it would be a 100,000-square-foot arts campus of galleries, studios, and free public programs.
At the helm are Michael Forman and Jennifer Rice, two of Philadelphia’s biggest and most influential art collectors, who say they want the venue to help build community.
Architecture critic Inga Saffron says this institution could strengthen the street’s identity as an arts corridor in Philadelphia.
“Think of it as a grittier version of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway’s museum row, but with people who produce art as well as show it,” Saffron writes.
However, Saffron believes it must proceed with caution and consider neighborhood gentrification issues. Community leaders are both excited and nervous about how things could change.
Read Saffron’s column for a closer look at the project and how it could impact the surrounding neighborhood.
For some, a key indicator of the perfect partner means they can click with your friends. But what if there are cultural differences in personalities?
This week, Evan Weiss, Zoe Greenberg, and Beatrice Forman fielded this tough reader question: “I’m in a long-distance relationship with someone who lives in LA. His friends can’t stand my Philly personality. Should I just call it quits? Feels like water and oil in terms of our social circles.“
Here’s a preview of their verdict:
Zoe: What do you think “Philly personality” could mean in this context? Brash? Rude?
Beatrice: Loud, unapologetically opinionated on the small-yet-consequential stuff (like football teams), and maybe a little headstrong? All good things to me.
Zoe: I know I should be all “Philly or die” here but I do believe in love. Maybe there’s a way.
Dive into their full conversation. And if there’s a situation you need advice on, we’re all ears. Send it in here.
What you should know today
Nine members of the notorious Pagans motorcycle gang were arrested and charged in connection with a shootout at a Montgomery County Wawa store last month that left six people injured, including two bystanders.
Sen. David McCormick introduced a new bill designed to permanently tighten restrictions on an emerging group of synthetic opioids that are more potent than fentanyl.
A 47-year-old man was fatally shot Thursday night in the Mill Creek section of West Philadelphia. Police had no information on the shooter.
With three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices up for retention, Philadelphia labor union members rallied Saturday to encourage people to vote “yes” to keep the trio, originally elected as Democrats, on the state’s highest court. We examined how much money those justices and their advocates have raised and spent compared with the Republican-backed groups working to oust them.
Unaffiliated voters, who skew younger, make up a significant chunk of New Jersey’s electorate and could swing the governor’s race. Here’s what some of them think of the candidates.
A Bucks County psychologist has launched a campaign to become Peloton’s first fat cycling instructor — and to make fitness more inclusive.
The bright yellow pop art-inspired OY/YO sculpture is back on its usual perch on Independence Mall after months of restoration.
YouTube TV viewers can no longer see Disney channels, including ABC and ESPN, after the two sides failed to agree on a new content distribution deal.
❓Pop quiz
In the 1960s, aggressive tactics from this company stole market share from Hershey’s chocolate:
A) Nestlé
B) Mars
C) Cadbury
D) Godiva
Think you know? Check your answer.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Camden public utility company 🚰
CRAW REANIMATE
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Rita DeSanto, who correctly guessed Saturday’s answer: Yolanda Wisher. The Philly poet and Monument Lab curator’s perfect day around the city includes brunch, birds, typewriters, a sunset picnic, and whiskey and a joint under the stars.
🎶 Today’s track goes like this: “Be still my beating heart / Or I’ll be taken for a fool.”
👋🏽 I’m off to brew some cafecito. Thanks for starting your day with The Inquirer.