Phillies love from 2nd and Lehigh (Instagram/@thetinybun)

How Philly’s City Council election works, and who’s running

All 17 seats on Philadelphia City Council are up for grabs this election, when voters will elect at least four first-timers, and up to three who’ve spent less than a year in the job. At-large positions are hotly contested, with three parties in the running, so if you’re casting a vote, it’s worth getting to know your options.

The BP team put together an explanation of how the process works (there can only be five Dems, for example — but there don’t have to be!) and mini-profiles of all the non-incumbents. Continue reading…

The candidates vying for Philadelphia City Council’s seven at-large seats. (Photo credit varies)

After H Mart success, Mari Mari rolls into Center City

Three years after opening a popular stand inside the North Philly H Mart, Mari Mari’s fusion sushi is now available in Center City. For proprietor Youngnam Kwon, the restaurant on 13th and Chestnut is the fulfillment of a long-held dream.

A former sushi chef trained in Korea and NYC, Kwon is now all about convenience, simplicity, and value, Ali Mohsen reports. Continue reading…

Proprietor Youngnam Kwon (right) and staff at Mari Mari in Center City, which he opened three years after launching a stand in H Mart following decades training in restaurants in Korea and NYC. (Ali Mohsen/Billy Penn)

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

• Philadelphia is again shaping up as pivotal for the presidential race. Robert Kennedy Jr. was at the Constitution Center yesterday to formally announce his run as an independent, and Joe Biden makes his eighth visit of the year Friday to talk “Bidenomics.” [WHYY/CBS3]

• A long-awaited report — quietly released at 5 p.m. last Friday — found no intentional bias against Black-led charter schools by the Philadelphia Board of Education. The report, by law firm Ballard Spahr, did include several recommendations for improvement. [Chalkbeat/PDF]

• The PPA is…good? Perhaps the most hated and scandal-prone agency in Philadelphia appears to be getting a makeover, and conventional wisdom says it’s thanks to new executive director Rich Lazer. [Philly Mag$/City & State]

• People hailing from tribes across the region gathered yesterday at Penn Treaty Park to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day and teach others about their heritage and culture. [KYW/@discoverPHL/@nocheztli_clothing]

• Hotels in Philly are stepping up their game, taking 3 of the 5 top spots on Conde Nast Traveler’s latest reader’s choice awards for the Mid-Atlantic region. [Visit Philly/CNTraveler]

• Got kids who love the Phils? The Inky put together some downloadable themed coloring pages. Last night they squandered a 4-0 lead to drop Game 2, but they’re back home tomorrow — if you’re able to sneak out, join us for snacks, drinks, podcasting, and trivia at a free tailgate. [Inquirer$/PDF/Yahoo/Eventbrite]

MAYOR WATCH

Mayor Kenney joins officials from PennDOT and OTIS on the Cobbs Creek Parkway in West Philly to release this year’s Vision Zero report, with traffic crash statistics and updates on safety improvements (10 a.m.).

ON THE CALENDAR

⚾ BP Phillies playoff tailgate! Join Billy Penn and the Hittin’ Season crew outside Citizens Bank Park to cheer on the Phils before they take on the Braves in Game 3 of the NLDS. Beer from Iron Hill and 2SP Brewing, Rosenberger’s Iced Tea & Vodka, Famous 4th Street Cookies, koozies, and a chance to be featured on the podcast. Free RSVP here. (2:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11)

📚 Family literacy festival Reading Promise Week brings dozens of events, with over 16,000 free books and interactive experiences at locations across the city. Free. (Now through Sunday, Oct. 15)

🏮 The YèShì Chinatown Night Market returns with food trucks, vendors, and live entertainment throughout the night. (6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12)

Catch up on the previous week

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