All Access

All-Access Weekly Digest

Standard

Philadelphia

Philadelphia Alerts

Alert

blue

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Philadelphia. Written by local reporters.

Axios Philadelphia

Axios Philadelphia Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Philadelphia Members

Membership

Children stand next to Santa on his sleigh outside the old St. Edmonds Home in Philadelphia back in 1945.

We scrambled for gifts. We sung carols. We spread cheer. The photo archives at Temple University Libraries give us a glimpse at how Philadelphians have celebrated the holidays over the decades.

The Libraries' Special Collections Research Center shared photos with Axios, which we've compiled into a holiday time capsule.

Santa stops by the former St. Edmond's Home at 44th St. and Haverford Ave. in 1945. Photo: Courtesy of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries 

A back-and-white photo of five kids staring up at Santa in a three-story building.

A Santa spotting in Olde Kensington, circa 1953. Photo: Courtesy of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries 

A black-and-white photo of a South Philadelphia street lit up with lights and Christmas decorations.

South Philly's S Cleveland St. gets in the Christmas spirit in 1956. Photo: Courtesy of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries 

A black-and-white photo of a Hanukkah candle lighting at a Northeast Philadelphia school.

A menorah lighting at the Yavneh Hebrew School in Northeast Philly in 1966. Photo: Courtesy of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries 

A black-and-white photo of a young girl yawning in a Nativity scene play in Philadelphia in 1970.

A sleepy angel at a Christmas pageant in Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church in 1970. Photo: Courtesy of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries 

A black-and-white photo of a Gospel choir singing Christmas carols in 1972.

Christmas carolers at the East Germantown Recreation Center in 1972. Photo: Courtesy of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries 

A black-and-white photo of a massive Christmas tree being lowered down near Philadelphia City Hall.

Our City Hall Christmas trees appear to have shrunk, compared to this one from 1977. Photo: Courtesy of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries 

A black-and-white photo of two children standing next to a Kwanzaa display.

Two children stand next to a Kwanzaa display, published in the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin in 1978. Photo: Courtesy of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries 

Photos: Holiday happenings in Philadelphia, vintage edition

A black-and-white photo of Philadelphians gathering a Market Street in the 1920s.

Christmas shoppers gather at Market and 12th Streets in 1923. Photo: Courtesy of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries

holidays

We scrambled for gifts. We sung carols. We spread cheer. The photo archives at Temple University Libraries give us a glimpse at how Philadelphians have celebrated the holidays over the decades.<ul><li>The Libraries&#x27; Special Collections Research Center shared photos with Axios, which we&#x27;ve compiled into a holiday time capsule.</li></ul>

News

On a quest to discover the best Philly gifts, I trekked around the city and asked my most plugged-in sources, you dear readers, for recommendations.

Here are my top picks this holiday season:

I recently stumbled upon these incredible hoagie ornaments (pictured above) in an unlikely place.

Where to find: Thank my hungry heart. I stopped by Middle Child for lunch earlier this month to discover their shelves are full of holiday decor and other home goods from vintage shop Betsu Studio.

It's part of a pop-up running through Christmas (or until all items sell out)!

The Kurt Vile print might just be Alexa's favorite. Photo: Alexa Mencia/Axios

Local illustrator James Boyle was hired several years ago to illustrate Philly-themed tarot cards for a Philadelphia Magazine story. After receiving an immediate outpouring of love for them, Boyle realized he struck a chord with the city.

Thus, the Philly Tarot Deck was born. It's since grown to dozens of drawings, from Gritty and Will Smith to John Coltrane and the Liberty Bell.

Where to find: At the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market in Dilworth Park. Open Sunday-Thursday from 11am-7pm and Friday-Saturday from 11am-8pm through Jan. 1. 

Of note: The market will be closed on Christmas Day. You can also order the deck, prints, shirts and greeting cards online.

Bottles of New Liberty Distillery's whiskey and aperitifs line a wooden shelf.

Make sure to stop by New Liberty's booth at the Christmas Village. Photo: Alexa Mencia/Axios

North Philly's New Liberty Distillery might be known for their whiskey, but they also sell liqueurs and aperitifs that make great gifts during the holidays. 

I personally love the coffee liqueur ($24.99) for all your espresso martini-making needs.

Where to find: New Liberty has a booth at the Christmas Village at Love Park and City Hall. It's open 11am-7pm through Dec. 24. 

Or you can order online. New Liberty offers free shipping for orders over $125, and same-day delivery for certain ZIP codes.

A cocktail made from Dumpster Juice vermouth with a square ice cube and an orange peel.

Mezcal Negronis made with Dumpster Juice vermouth. Photo: Alexa Mencia/Axios

This summer, we told you about Dumpster Juice — a line of craft vermouth Bloomsday Cafe launched during the pandemic that's getting its own production space. It's pegged to be the city's first "vermouthery."

Well, in the name of journalism, I tried Dumpster Juice's first batch bottled under their new Fell to Earth label, and it was excellent. I used it for cocktails and sipped it on its own. 

Where to find: They're continuing to release new batches by posting on Instagram. You can place and pick up orders on Bloomsday's website. 

A woman's hand holds up The Pathfinder bottle in front of a blue wall.

A bottle of The Pathfinder: Hemp & Root ($39.99). Photo: Alexa Mencia/Axios

One of my favorite finds this year has been this hemp-based spirit sold at Old City bottle shop Art in the Age.

Distilled from fermented hemp, The Pathfinder tastes like cola with bitter and floral notes. It makes a great base for non-alcoholic drink-making.

Where to find it: Pick up a bottle ($39.99) at Art in the Age, or order online.

For all the coffee aficionados in your life, considering gifting Càphê's delicious specialty roasts sourced from Southeast Asia.

You can also buy a phin, a Vietnamese coffee-making device that our Axios Tampa Bay colleague Ben Montgomery told us changed his life. 

Where to find: Order online or at retail locations across the city. 

Eric Kenney, the Philadelphia designer behind Heavyslime, routinely releases some of the city's coolest sports merchandise in limited batches. 

Just look at the shirt he made for the Phillies' World Series run. 

Where to find: Order online and check Heavyslime's Instagram for future releases.

7 very Philly gifts for everyone this holiday season

From hoagie ornaments to Philly-themed tarot cards, here's where to shop local this year.

Two hoagie ornaments in front of a lit candle.

That's gotta be Cooper Sharp, right? Photo: Alexa Mencia/Axios

On a quest to discover the best Philly gifts, I trekked around the city and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="asked my most plugged-in sources" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-philadelphia-cdf34c12-a700-4ccb-aee7-1d1a1b18a0ec.html?chunk=2&amp;utm_term=emshare#story2" data-vars-content-id="4d7b7313-db59-4f17-8588-f29596cd213b" data-vars-headline="7 very Philly gifts for everyone this holiday season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-philadelphia-cdf34c12-a700-4ccb-aee7-1d1a1b18a0ec.html?chunk=2&amp;utm_term=emshare#story2" target="_self">asked my most plugged-in sources</a>, you dear readers, for recommendations.<ul><li>Here are my top picks this holiday season:</li></ul>

Things to Do

Someone tell Drake there's no fake love in Philly.

Driving the news: The Toronto-born rapper was Philadelphia's most listened to artist on Spotify in 2022, according to the streaming service's annual Wrapped list released yesterday. 

Followed by: Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Kanye West and Lil Baby, in that order.

"As It Was" by Harry Styles (Sorry, Calum Scott)

"WAIT FOR U (feat. Drake & Tems)" by Future, Drake, Tems

Philly's Spotify Wrapped: The artists and songs we loved in 2022

Calum Scott was snubbed. There, we said it.

Drake raps into a mic in front of a blurred screen at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia in 2016.

Everyone who doubted Drake is asking for forgiveness. Photo: Bill McCay/Getty Images

Music

Someone tell Drake there&#x27;s no <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fake love" data-vars-click-url="https://open.spotify.com/track/343YBumqHu19cGoGARUTsd" data-vars-content-id="ae009f22-3c55-4c4a-a21a-0895e8980fae" data-vars-headline="Philly&#x27;s Spotify Wrapped: The artists and songs we loved in 2022" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://open.spotify.com/track/343YBumqHu19cGoGARUTsd" target="_blank">fake love</a> in Philly.Driving the news: The Toronto-born rapper was Philadelphia&#x27;s most listened to artist on Spotify in 2022, according to the streaming service&#x27;s annual Wrapped list released yesterday.

I'm perpetually searching for the city’s best spots to share a plate of freshly shucked oysters. So I dragged the Axios Philly team to the new Center City oyster bar Pearl & Mary for our end-of-year dinner last month.

State of plate: At the corner of S 13th and Sansom Streets, the restaurant from Michael Schulson — of Double Knot, Sampan and Via Locusta — serves up a menu that seafood lovers dream of:  

A raw bar with selections from lobster and snow crab to oysters from both coasts;

Decadent appetizers, such as deviled eggs and oysters topped with caviar;

And hearty entrees, including lobster rolls, tuna burgers, and grilled branzino.

Plus: There's a large, dimly lit bar fit for a quick bite or an intimate date night.

Three patrons sit on barstools at the dimly lit bar at Pearl & Mary in Philadelphia.

The hottest seats in the house! Photo: Alexa Mencia/Axios

The highlights: The hamachi crudo topped with potato crisps and ponzu ($12) packed a crunch, while the uni baked oysters with yuzu and aioli ($17) were loaded with flavor.

The steamed red snapper ($23) and the branzino ($24), served alongside lettuce cups and pickled veggies, were our favorites of the large dishes.

And I loved the refreshing twist on a mint julep, served with tequila ($12).

Hot take: Skip the shrimp toast ($17). A bit bland.

If you go: Open Monday-Tuesday 4-10pm, Wednesday-Thursday 4-11pm, Friday 4pm-12am, Saturday 11:30am-12am, and Sunday 11:30am-10pm.

Daily happy hour deals at the bar from 4-7pm

Steamed red snapper served on a white plate.

The steamed branzino. Photo: Alexa Mencia/Axios

Seafood lovers find paradise at Center City's Pearl & Mary

A raw bar, decadent appetizers and hearty entrees.

A tray of oysters on ice with lemons and cocktail sauce.

The list of oysters vary from small to large. These were from Prince Edward Island. Photo: Alexa Mencia/Axios

Restaurants

I&#x27;m perpetually searching for the city’s best spots to share a plate of freshly shucked oysters. So I dragged the Axios Philly team to the new Center City oyster bar Pearl &amp; Mary for our end-of-year dinner last month.State of plate: At the corner of S 13th and Sansom Streets, the restaurant from Michael Schulson — of Double Knot, Sampan and Via Locusta — serves up a menu that seafood lovers dream of:

Food and Drink

She might no longer live in Philly, but she hasn't turned her back on the city.

In fact, she put it in the spotlight and united us.

What's happening: Comedian and TV powerhouse Quinta Brunson tops our inaugural list of Philly's most influential people. 

How it works: We reflected on the past year's headlines, considered what's coming in 2023 and polled our most plugged-in sources about who they believe has shaped Philadelphia the most. 

Of note: Our unscientific list is produced entirely by our editorial team and is not influenced by advertising in any way. 

People who made the power list were not notified of their selection until publication.

Quinta Brunson holds up an Emmy award in the air.

Photo: Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Quinta Brunson, the creator of "Abbott Elementary," captured the city's attention around this time last year when she released the Philly-centric comedy in which she plays a teacher trying to fix the public school system one broken light bulb at a time.

Biggest move of 2022: The Philly native won an Emmy and other national accolades, but we're most enamored with how her show, now in its second season, nails our town and all of its idiosyncrasies. 

Brunson has made Philadelphians proud on and off network TV this year, winking at us through cameos like Gritty's and donating supplies to local schools.

What we're watching: What kind of madness erupts if "Abbott Elementary" isn't renewed for a third season.

Bryce Harper stares off into the distance in front of a blurred-out crowd.

The All-Star slugger Bryce Harper's breakout postseason play that powered the Phillies to the World Series for the first time since 2009 proved that he was worth the $330 million contract he signed years ago.

Biggest move of 2022: The playoff-defining, two-run shot instantly dubbed "the swing of his life."

What we're watching: Harper will be sidelined for part of next season following elbow surgery, raising the question: Can he return as the same dynamic player he was this year?

Cristina Martinez smiles at the camera while wearing a straw hat and a white chef's jacket with the Mexican flag on the lapel.

South Philly Barbacoa's and Casa Mexico's owner Cristina Martinez — who's known for her efforts to feed Philadelphians in need and empower undocumented workers — has a new title: best chef in the mid-Atlantic.

Biggest move of 2022: Martinez's James Beard Award isn't the only way she's building out her legacy this year. Casa Mexico expanded its footprint, taking over the space vacated by former music venue Connie's Ric Rac. 

What we're watching: How Martinez will use her growing prominence to shine light on food insecurity and immigrant rights issues in Philly.

Mabel Chan smiles in front of a pink background.

Mabel Chan, senior adviser for Philadelphia's Chinese Benevolent Association, gained the trust of her community of Chinatown over decades running her former restaurant Joy Tsin Lau and through neighborhood advocacy work.

Biggest move of 2022: Chan joined a Chinatown steering committee evaluating the 76ers' proposed arena in the neighboring Fashion District. 

Although no one leader speaks for all of Chinatown, Chan's approval is seen as critical for winning the neighborhood's support for the stadium's construction. 

What we're watching: The committee will conduct a study to assess Chinatown's conditions and challenges, which will inform the group's response to the stadium proposal. 

Lia Thomas smiles in the pool while wearing a Penn swimming cap and goggles on her forehead.

Photo: Mike Comer/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas has become a powerful and polarizing figure in and out of the pool, bringing a national conversation about transgender women in sports to Philadelphia's doorstep. 

Biggest move of 2022: She became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship after finishing first in the women's 500-yard freestyle this spring. 

What we're watching: Thomas is focusing on civil rights and public interest law right next door to her alma mater, at Drexel's Kline School of Law.

Donta Rose smiles while standing next to two women.

Donta Rose, a Morgan State University engineering student who grew up in North Philly's Sharswood neighborhood, is helping California-based Grocery Outlet expand in Philly. 

Biggest move of 2022: This July, Rose opened a Grocery Outlet store in Sharswood — a food desert that's lacked a full-service grocery store since the 1960s. 

What we're watching: A new apartment complex is expected to open in the coming months in the plaza where Rose's Grocery Outlet is located, Rose says, which could bring new investments to the neighborhood. 

Corrin Stokes, a youth counselor at Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Service Center (PJJSC), helped raise the alarm about overcrowding and understaffing at the city-run facility in West Philly this fall.

Biggest move of 2022: Stokes was the leading voice in bringing attention to the chaotic and dangerous conditions at PJJSC.

She gave public testimony to city legislators in October, which ultimately resulted in the city suing the state, and then a court order to transfer some children to state-run rehabilitation facilities.  

What we're watching: Stokes told Axios the facility remains overcrowded as about 40 children await transfers. Stokes is also on leave due to an injury sustained during a fight that broke out at the facility in October.

Mark Reed smiles while wearing a blue suit.

Photo: Courtesy of Lukas Keapproth/Loyola University Chicago

Philly native Mark Reed, the first non-Jesuit president at St. Joseph's University, led the school for seven years before leaving the post in August. 

Biggest move of 2022: While he's now at Loyola University Chicago, Reed oversaw St. Joe's yearslong merger with the University of the Sciences to completion. 

The merger, the largest in St. Joe's 171-year history, boosted the university's student population, programs and endowment, plus it added UScience's 24-acre campus in West Philly to its portfolio. 

What we're watching: St. Joe's is currently exploring the sale of land and buildings in the former USciences campus.

Screenshot of Alexander Tominsky/@AlexiconTom's Twitter feed

Part masochist, part cultural Moses, Alexander Tominsky challenged Col. Sanders for most well-known "Chicken Man" this year. 

Biggest move of 2022: After Philly lost two major championships on the same day in November, he drew hundreds of spectators to an abandoned city pier to watch him devour his 40th rotisserie chicken in 40 days. 

He gave us a win in a big weekend of defeat. 

What we're watching: Tominsky continues to use the attention to raise money for local charities. Hopefully, his body is repairing now that he's done with his greasy mission.

Go deeper: See all 200 of Axios Local's Power Players in 2022

9 of Philadelphia's most powerful people in 2022

Illustration of two rows of dominos falling with text overlaid that reads Power Players Philadelphia.

She might no longer live in Philly, but she hasn&#x27;t turned her back on the city.<ul><li>In fact, she put it in the spotlight and united us.</li></ul>

Alexa Mencia

Featured stories

Seafood lovers find paradise at Center City's Pearl & Mary

Photos: Holiday happenings in Philadelphia, vintage edition

7 very Philly gifts for everyone this holiday season

9 of Philadelphia's most powerful people in 2022

Philly's Spotify Wrapped: The artists and songs we loved in 2022