Philly still sees 100,000+ phone books delivered each year
Pennsylvania’s mandate that phone companies mass distribute yellow and white pages ended in 2017, but the almighty phone book lives on. More than 100k printed directories are still distributed around the region, though some city neighborhoods get many more delivered than others.
The physical phone books mostly benefit residents 62 and up, BP intern Fallon Roth reports — and the advertising can be good for local businesses.
As ‘Oppenheimer’ opens, Franklin Institute’s IMAX stays closed
Whether you’re choosing it instead of “Barbie” or opting for both, Philadelphians who want to see “Oppenheimer” in full 70mm IMAX glory — which director Christopher Nolan calls the “ideal” format — will have to travel to the city’s borders or go beyond.
The Tuttleman IMAX Theater at the Franklin Institute, which for decades provided a big-big screen option in Center City, has been closed since the pandemic. The museum won’t say when it might reopen, Asha Prihar reports, or explain what has gone wrong.
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• President Biden visited the Philly Shipyard yesterday to promote the importance of unions to the country’s clean energy transition. His words were shaded by the prospect of a massive UPS strike. [AP]
• A former police captain who resigned is suing PPD for discrimination. Though documented as being chronically absent and improperly receiving city grants, he claims officers with similar infractions haven’t been treated as harshly. [Axios]
• At least 12 local judges who own property in Philly were found to be in violation of a variety of city real estate laws, from L&I violations to missing rental licenses. [Inquirer$]
• Yet another area where Ben Franklin was a pioneer: anti-counterfeiting techniques. A new scientific analysis found the Philadelphia inventor and entrepreneur used special pigments and fibers to ensure his currency was sound. [Pop Sci/PNAS/NYT$]
• Turns out Killer Mike loves Philadelphia. The rapper, who plays Underground Arts tonight, shouts out the city’s many murals and the “transformative” music of State Property. [Billy Penn]
• Sixers co-owner Josh Harris, who already has a hand in half a dozen pro sports teams, closed on the $6.05 billion deal he led to buy the NFL’s Washington Commanders. [Billy Penn/ESPN]
• It’s a soccer fan’s dream weekend in Philly. Sixers play-by-play announcer Kate Scott is moonlighting by calling Women’s World Cup games on Fox Sports, and teams from the English Premier League descend on the Linc for a trio of preseason matches. [@katetscott/World Soccer Talk/NBC Sports]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Kenney helps host a Premier League welcome party with the Eagles and Visit Philly at the Comcast Technology Center (7 p.m.).
ON THE CALENDAR
🍅 Dollar Dog Night? Get into Tomato Pie Night with the Philadelphia Phoenix ultimate disc team, who’ll serve $1 slices during their match against Toronto in Northeast Philly. (7 p.m. Saturday, July 22)
🌃 West Philly artist and entrepreneur J.Taylor hosts “Art Under the Stars,” a soiree at the Sculpture Courtyard on Cecil B. Moore with music, art, food, drink, and dance. Tickets start at $25. (5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 22)
🎭 Shakespeare in Clark Park puts on “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” a free performance with BYO seating and picnics, plus a raffle. (7 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, July 26-30)
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