🏛️ A new look for Philly’s art museum | Morning Newsletter
And a local bakery boom.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
We made it to Wednesday, Philly.
As of today, the city’s largest visual arts institution is no longer called the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The rebranding aims to revive attendance that has lagged since the pandemic.
And “little treat” culture is fueling a local bakery boom. We found a baker’s dozen entrants to the rising scene.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Farewell, PMA. Enter: the Philadelphia Art Museum, aka PhAM.
🏛️ The nearly 150-year-old cultural institution is launching the new name in a bid to appear more accessible, bring in new visitors, and reduce a gaping budget deficit.
🏛️ The rebrand also includes modernized typography on signage, “less intimidating” uniforms for museum guards, a DJ-in-residence program, and a forthcoming art show about sports. Yes, that will involve the Rocky statue.
🏛️ “We have so much research that shows there is this brand perception that we’re the castle on the hill,” the museum’s chief marketing officer told The Inquirer. “And so my job right now is [to ask], ‘How do we come down the steps and meet people where they’re at?’”
Arts reporter Peter Dobrin has more on the changes.
Also on at the museum: In honor of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Semiquincentennial birthday bash, the Navy band will perform Friday evening on the iconic steps. See the weekend’s full schedule.
Sugar and dough lovers, it’s a good time to be in the Philly area, where you’ll find no shortage of sweet-treat sellers. Among the recent openings and expansions in the local baking world:
🍞 James Beard Award-winning Ellen Yin aims to open the Bread Room, her Center City bakery, workshop, and event space, next week.
🧁 Crust Vegan Bakery will move this fall from Manayunk to a much bigger commercial kitchen-storefront-combo space in East Falls.
🧈 The Buttery, formerly Malvern Buttery, is continuing its Main Line takeover with a just-opened third location, at the Ardmore Farmers Market.
Restaurant reporter Mike Klein has the full rundown on Philly’s bakery boom.
In other food news: New Jersey’s flashy new cannabis lounges can’t run kitchens, but guests are encouraged to BYO snacks or order delivery from nearby restaurants. Plus, Mount Airy has a chic new bistro, Cherry Hill has a new dessert café, and a Center City pub split in two to create a new steakhouse.
What you should know today
Roosevelt Poplar, who has led the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 since 2023, was elected to a three-year term Tuesday, along with his entire slate.
The Trump administration’s pick to lead Philadelphia’s U.S. Attorney’s Office, David Metcalf, was confirmed by the Senate Tuesday.
Montgomery County prosecutors charged a 15-year-old girl with third-degree murder Tuesday in the shooting death of an Abington teenager.
Near the shuttered Liberty Bell Tuesday, Philly union leaders and lawmakers rallied against the ongoing federal government shutdown as the White House floats layoffs.
Swatting will become a felony in Pennsylvania if newly proposed bipartisan bills are passed by the state legislature. The bills were partly inspired by August’s shooting hoax at Villanova University.
A super PAC backing New Jersey’s Republican gubernatorial candidate, Jack Ciattarelli, excluded disproportionately nonwhite areas from its YouTube attack ads on his competitor.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s neighborhood engagement director is no longer with the administration after allegedly accosting a City Council member.
Regional Rail riders across the region have faced delays this week as SEPTA performs emergency inspections on its railcars.
Pennsylvania’s 10 state universities saw an enrollment increase this fall for the first time in 15 years.
Quote of the day
A new documentary tells the history of McGillin’s Olde Ale House, where fans flock for big games. Management learned during the Phillies’ 2008 World Series run: Use plastic cups only when a Philly team plays for a title.
🧠 Trivia time
Lauded filmmaker Ken Burns spent months filming in and around Philadelphia for his next project, a six-part docuseries that tells the in-depth story of what?
A) William Penn’s life
B) American football
C) The history of public education
D) The American Revolution
Think you know? Check your answer.
What (and whom) we’re …
🗣️ Hearing from: The dialect coach from Yardley who makes actors perfect the “O’s” of the Delco accent.
🩺 Noting: The changes coming to Medicare in 2026.
🎸 Surprised to learn: Phillies star Harrison Bader’s cousin is the bassist for this band.
📺 Grabbing: Tickets to King of Prussia’s Netflix House, now on sale.
🧊 Considering: The $5 billion Philadelphia shipyard dream that could hit an immigration iceberg.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: South Philly neighborhood 👑
EAVE QUELLING
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Mia DiMeo, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Durantula. Alas, Phillies closer Jhoan Duran’s big entrance brought boos during Game 2 on Monday as the team trailed by three runs.
Photo of the day
Channel this deer as you run toward the rest of your Wednesday. See ya back here tomorrow.
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