When Ivan McClellan was looking for a new stable to take his foal of a production to the next level, it took him eight seconds to realize where he needed to go.

Why it matters: After nearly three decades, Philly's getting a Black rodeo — and this one's here to stay.

The big picture: Home to a century-old tradition of Black cowboys, Philly is the perfect new home base for 8 Seconds Rodeo, McClellan tells Axios.

• But first, he must dazzle the city, which he calls "the grittiest, most soulful place on the planet."

Driving the news: McClellan is bringing cowboys from across the country to compete at the Liacouras Center this Saturday.

• The action is happening not far from North Philly's famous Fletcher Street stables, where a group of Black riders has taught kids the ropes of horsemanship for decades — inspiring the Netflix show "Concrete Cowboy."

What to expect: A full slate of events ranging from mutton-busting (kids riding sheep) to bull-riding with $60,000 in prize money on the line.

• The pre-rodeo festivities kick off at 3pm with mechanical bull riding, line dancing and roping lessons for the kids.
• The bull-riding event will include a dozen of the country's best Black riders, including defending champ Malachi Anderson, trying to hold on for eight seconds.

How it works: To transform the Liacouras Center, McClellan's team is hauling two million pounds of dirt in dump trucks down Broad Street.

• The dirt must be screened for debris and carefully raked over so it's safe for horses and competitors — who will whir around the arena at 50 mph during barrel races.

Catch up quick: Philly hasn't hosted a Black rodeo event since 1994, McClellan tells Axios.

• But the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club has been an enduring presence in the region since its founding in Strawberry Mansion in 2004.
• Two years ago, the club moved into a new $1.5 million stable, The Cliffs, in East Fairmount, while maintaining its original headquarters.

That's the rich soil on which McClellan has chosen to build up his Black rodeo, which he launched in Portland in 2023.

• With three under his belt and sold-out crowds, he says it's time to "swim in a bigger pond."

What's ahead: The rodeo plans to host a series of events year-round, and McClellan aspires to tour the country.

If you go: Tickets are $45+

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PhAM is more than a rebrand for the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It's more like the nearly 150-year-old institution's new mantra.

The big picture: After nearly 90 years, the museum is dropping the "of" in its name, going by Philadelphia Art Museum — or PhAM for short.

• It's all part of a hipper, trendier look the venue hopes will drive up sagging attendance and revenue while attracting a younger audience to the arts, per the Inquirer.

✨ The glow-up includes:

• A new website and signage
• Partnerships with Philly sports stars, including Saquon Barkley
• A slate of larger events, including concerts and a DJ-in-residence program

The intrigue: PhAM is talking to Philly-born hip hop group The Roots about becoming its artist-in-residence, the Inquirer reports.

In the words of the museum's head marketer, Paul Dien, PhAM is no longer going to be "your grandfather's art museum."

💭 So fam, what do we think about PhAM?

Isaac's thought bubble: Come on. I can already hear the "boomer" chants, but we can't just dispense with all formalities.

• Imagine if John Steinbeck did away with "of" in "Of Mice and Men"? Way to transform a timeless piece of literature about two wandering ranch-hands into a story about rodentia. Do less, Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Alexa's thought bubble: I'm into it! Shorter, brighter, snappier — that's what we're all about.

• Plus, with one of the steepest admissions prices in the country, props for trying to offer more than quiet galleries. Maybe PhAM will actually fam-iliarize more folks with art.

📬 Hit reply with your take!

✅ PHL's United Lounge has reopened after being temporarily shuttered last week by city health officials to address several outstanding violations. (Inquirer)

🚗 Embrace the suck. Philly is the country's worst city to drive in, per WalletHub's latest study. (6ABC)

🥃 In a new "60 Minutes" interview, celebrity chef Guy Fieri dishes on how a sophisticated crime group pulled off last year's $1 million tequila heist in Montco.

• And yes, it's the kind of story that'll leave you feeling a little buzzed just trying to follow it. Watch the interview.

Government food assistance programs may be at risk if Congress is unable to reach a funding agreement to stop the shutdown in the coming weeks.

The big picture: Millions of mothers, infants and low-income families who rely on WIC and SNAP could lose that support.

• In Pennsylvania, an estimated 15% of the population — or about 2 million people — participated in SNAP as of March and roughly 180,000 residents participated in WIC, per federal data.

What's next: WIC could run out of funds within weeks.

• SNAP funding is secure through October, but it's unclear how long funds would last after that.

Go deeper

Call them the merchants of fresh: Philly brand guru Nik Greenblatt and taqueria king Daniel McLaughlin have partnered up to create World Cup-inspired threads.

The big picture: The duo says the limited-edition jerseys blend a dash of Philly's food scene, street culture and love of soccer.

• "This is not just a soccer jersey drop, but about bringing people together when Philly is on the world stage," McLaughlin, owner of Rittenhouse Square's Mission Taqueria, says in a statement.

Zoom in: The jerseys will be sold at the Philadelphia Visitor Center and Lapstone & Hammer ahead of next year's slate of World Cup games.

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