Rat birth control?; Wheatpaste art show returns; Vape and e-cig ban to start

#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY

Mural message in Manayunk
(Photo by @denisewalksphilly)

Philly has a lot of rats. PETA says put them on birth control

After City Council declared a rat emergency in Northeast Philly, the animal rights group proposed contraception as an alternative to traps and poison.

Council legislation calls for the departments of Licenses and Inspections, Public Health and Sanitation to coordinate inspections, treatments and enforcement efforts.

Baltimore, Chicago and Washington have experimented with rat contraception to battle their own rat problems, although the long-term effectiveness of such programs remains under evaluation. Continue reading…

The Rittenhouse Hotel sits on land that was previously home to the mansion of railroad tycoon Alexander Cassatt, and then later served as the Episcopal Church headquarters and the Academy of Notre Dame. Construction on The Rittenhouse began in the early 1970s. (Davis Cuffe/Billy Penn)

International wheatpaste show returns to Philly

Would you like to sniff some glue? Perhaps, for the second time? Well, then there’s a perfect Philadelphia event for you this weekend!

Tattooed Mom’s biannual international wheatpaste art show, “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue 2” is back this Friday and Saturday. The bar is throwing the event on their second floor with artist Doomed Future, a lead creative in Philly’s Step Outside shows. Continue reading…

NIWSSG 2024 Opening Night (Courtesy Tattooed Mom)

BP Quizzo Question of the Day

What kind of sausage is Port Richmond best known for? It’s sold at Swiacki Meats and Czerw’s, among other shops.

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

• Pennsylvania will begin enforcing its new ban on most vape and e-cigarette products this coming Monday, Oct. 19. [PhillyVoice]

• A curious source for U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick’s attack ads: A convicted turtle trafficker. [WHYY]

• Philly’s new crime lab takes shape as City Council approves borrowing $40 million more. [WHYY]

• 52 Weeks of Firsts: The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps go hand in hand, and their founding is no different. Both were formed in the fall of 1775 as the nation began to come together in Philly. [Billy Penn]

• Less honk, more handlebar: Philly Bike Ride rolls back into town Saturday with two car-free routes, a finish-line festival and an expected 7,000 cyclists. [Billy Penn]

• Drexel University exhibition shows video games’ potential for artistry and community in Philadelphia. [WHYY]

When you donate to Billy Penn, you’ll be automatically entered for a chance to win a pair of 76ers tickets to the Monday, Nov. 23 home game against the Portland Trail Blazers!

No donation is necessary, though. For details on how to enter and the eligibility requirements, see the official rules online here.

MAYOR WATCH

Mayor Parker joins the Greater Philadelphia Leadership Exchange (GPLEX) – Regional Economic Development and Civic Leadership Conference, held at Girard College. (Noon)

Then she heads to the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new literacy resource center at Drexel University’s School of Education, ALLIED Hub. (2 p.m.)

Highlights from Billy Penn’s City Guide

Finding the Forgotten Bottom of Grays Ferry
Once cut off from the Schuylkill by industry, railroads and highways, this secluded corner of Grays Ferry is opening up to the river—even as residents grapple with who gets to shape what comes next.
Some top spots to visit in Northern Liberties
An eclectic array of dining, nightlife and post-industrial architecture just north of Old City makes the area a top-desired urban hub.

ON THE CALENDAR

Inaugural VIA Open Studios (Friday),,
GOAToberFest (Saturday),
Philadelphia Open Studio Tours: East of Broad Street,
AND MORE!

See the **FULL LIST** of this week’s events calendar at BillyPenn.com!