Everything went back to normal, at least for a few days this week. Now though, Philadelphia is prepping for a possible hurricane. That’s a pope visit, followed by a hurricane threat. It’s been particularly rough on Mayor Michael Nutter, who at least found out people loved the traffic box so much they want it back. Billy Penn recaps these stories and more from the week and pairs them with music as part of the Billy Penn Playlist.
“Shake Your Moneymaker,” Elmore James
So the whole pope visit probably led to most Philadelphia businesses making less money than they would have on a normal weekend. But don’t worry, Nutter said he never billed it as a moneymaker. Except, of course, for the time that he did and the time that his administration did.
Joaquin might come and hit Philadelphia or the Jersey Shore in a few days. Or it might not, depending on which model you believe. Either way, it’s certainly made for a great Photoshop.
Philadelphia is going to make the traffic box a semi-permanent thing. After everyone enjoyed the lack of cars in Center City last weekend, the group Open Streets PHL petitioned for it to happen every once in a while in the future, and Nutter says he wants Philly to do it again by year’s end.
“Disturbia,” Rihanna
“Dude, what the hell is wrong with you?” Stephen Colbert probably said it best when it came to congressman Bob Brady’s water-stealing decision from the pope last week and his ensuing decision to share all the backwash with his family. But hey, perhaps Brady isn’t done yet.
Bob Brady wanting T-Swift’s Coke.
“Little Italy,” Little Comets
It took a week or so, but the New York Times finally gave in and realized Philadelphia doesn’t have a Little Italy. It still thinks Maggiano’s is called Maggiano, though.
Some Philadelphians will surely miss the pope. Others will miss that cute girl who fell off the seminary wall. The papal visit made for better Craigslist missed connections than you could ever ask for.
“Give a Man a Rod,” James Blake
Nutter needed a little fishing trip after the pope weekend, and he got one at the grand opening of Pier 68.
Mark Dent is a reporter/curator at BillyPenn. He previously worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, where he covered the Jerry Sandusky scandal, Penn State football and the Penn State administration. His...
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