Fire destroys shop from ‘12 Monkeys’ amid Kensington turmoil
Phil’s Appliances, a Kensington repair shop that starred in “12 Monkeys,” was devastated Saturday by a blaze that drew more than 100 firefighters. Opened in the late 1960s, the store was recently boarded up, and people are thought to have been living inside, per Vincent Imbrenda Jr., brother of the namesake Phil.
At this point, he’s resigned to letting go. “There’s a lot of history in that place,” Imbrenda told Billy Penn. “It’s a shame.” Continue reading…
Mural Arts transforms South Philly library with student designs
For decades, the paneled exterior of the Charles Santore Library in South Philly looked like an artist’s blank canvas, just waiting to be filled in with color. This fall, it finally got that vibrant splash, with a mural crafted by neighborhood kids.
Titled “A Tale of Two Sisters,” the final work illustrates a narrative written by students in teaching artist Rebecca Miller’s afterschool and summer classes, Asha Prihar reports. Continue reading…
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• After GOP losses across the region in last week’s election, some Philadelphia Republicans say they’re frustrated with the party and want to move past the Trump era. [City & State]
• Heads up, PGW customers: rates are going up at the end of the month — though only about a third as much as the utility asked for. [WHYY’s PlanPhilly]
• A new career and technical education program at SLA Beeber high school is designed to bolster the teacher pipeline. It includes having older students mentor and teach younger students. [Phila SD/NBC10]
• As Divine Lorraine developer Eric Blumenfeld tries to fend off foreclosure lawsuits from creditors who’ve helped bankroll his revitalization of North Broad, Lantern Theater Co. is putting on a production that owes its storyline to Father Divine, the problematic preacher who gave the historic hotel its name. [Inquirer$/BP x 2]
• A dozen years after starting on a South Philly corner, Federal Donuts has licensed its first franchise location, opening next year in the Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas. The CookNSolo brand is also changing its name to Federal Donuts & Chicken. [BP 2016/Instagram/6ABC]
• Baseball exec Dave Dombrowski already has two World Series rings. Can he get his third with the Phillies? Hittin’ Season’s Justin Klugh takes a look at how Dombrowski works. [Billy Penn]
MAYOR WATCH
Nothing on the public agenda for Mayor Kenney today, though he did speak on Saturday, hosting a Veterans Day commemoration event on the north apron of City Hall.
ON THE CALENDAR
🍻 Last BP Quizzo of the year! Our news and history trivia night lands in Germantown at Attic Brewing Co., with happy hour specials and prizes. Free with RSVP. (6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16)
🧶 Want to learn how to crochet? Artist Amy Kelly hosts an intro class tonight at her Cherry Street Pier studio. Cost is $25 per person. (7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13)
🎨 The 7th Ward Tribute project hosts a free salon discussion at Mother Bethel AME near South Street. Titled “Black Futures,” it’s a conversation about art, design, heritage and identity. (6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15)
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