Careful turns into the new year (Instagram by @billlent)

Cherelle Parker’s administration officials: Who are they?

Philadelphia has a new face in the mayor’s office for the first time in eight years. With that comes a new set of staffers and administrators running the show in City Hall.

Parker’s picks all have experience living or working in Philadelphia and city government or politics. From former fire commissioner Adam Thiel and newly tapped police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, to returning finance director Rob Dubow, BP’s Asha Prihar has a your guide to Parker’s appointees. Continue reading…

Mayor Cherelle Parker with Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. (6ABC)

In the kitchen with Amigos Bakery during Three Kings Day rush

Every January 5, Fermin Perez gears up with his team of five for a long night of baking 500 loaves of Rosca de Reyes over the course of 24 hours. Customers of Amigos Bakery’s five locations rely on them for the traditional treat eaten during Día de Reyes, otherwise known as Three Kings’ Day, or Epiphany.

Eaten and shared with family and friends over hot chocolate, the “king’s wreath” features a circular crown with jewels of candied fruit representing attributes shared by the magi, plus an inch-long plastic figurine baked into the bread signifying baby Jesus. Perez explained the tradition to BP’s Ali Mohsen. Continue reading… 

Whoever finds the baby Jesus figurine in their slice of rosca is tasked with making tamales for the family’s Candlemas party on February 2. (Ali Mohsen/Billy Penn)

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

• President Biden will mark the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 riots a day early, but still in the Philly area, due to the coming winter storm. [KYW] 

• The city declared a Code Blue ahead of strong winds, rain, and cold temps with the coming weekend storm. [WHYY/6ABC]

• Possible measles exposures occurred at several Philly medical facilities and a day care, the city warns. [NBC10]

• Penn’s Board of Trustees chose Ramanan Raghavendran as its new chair, making him the first person of color to serve in the role. Former chair Scott Bok resigned last month alongside Penn President Liz Magill. [theDP.com/BP 2023]

• Renovations of the Philadelphia Film Center will continue this year, while the Philadelphia Film Society works on raising $500k+ to make it happen. [Biz Journal$]

• Philly cheesesteak is coming to Italy, thanks to local restauranteur Michael Paparella. [6ABC] 

MAYOR WATCH

Mayor Parker has nothing on her public schedule today.

ON THE CALENDAR

🎸 Local bassist William Parker returns to Solar Myth with quartet In Order to Survive. Tickets are $37.08. (8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 5-6) 

🕯️ Light up the new year with your pup and a candle-making class at Bark Social in Manayunk. Tickets are $15. (11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 7)

🎨 South Kensington’s InLiquid gallery joins the citywide project re(FOCUS) in highlighting Philly-area artists’ work around themes of identity, gender, and sexuality. This interactive exhibit features four local LGBTQIA+ artists. (Through February 24)