Plus, a UPenn student is suing Trump ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
Thursday, October 29 

Your Daily Guide

Hey Philly! There’s a new sheriff in town and he’s taking down the rats 🤠 Adrian Jordan is a longtime Health Department employee who is now Philly’s first-ever Rat Abatement Manager. He and his team will conduct door-to-door surveys in the most affected neighborhoods to identify rat issues and help residents address them. And you’ll soon be able to add your sightings to a public tracking dashboard. Rats, consider this your final notice.

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What Philly's Talking About

Bribery, Intimidation ... and Police Oversight?

Citizens Police Oversight Commission Chair Hassan Bennett faces bribery and witness intimidation charges for allegedly selling confidential information to an incarcerated man who wanted to silence a witness. Bennett, who also works for the Public Defender’s Office, is on leave and held on $1 million bail. Host Trenae Nuri discusses that case, plus work culture in restaurants, on the podcast with contributors Claudia Vargas and Alisha Miranda.

PODCAST

Harassment in Restaurant Industry, Police Watchdog Arrested & ‘Scary’ Philly Situations

🎧 Listen on Spotify
🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts

An Accused Cop Killer, a Botched Case & a Lot of Questions

The man accused of killing Philly Police Officer Shane Seiber earlier this month was acquitted of another murder in 2023 after one police officer failed to submit a warrant for cell phone location data while another got engaged to the suspect’s sister and didn't show up to testify at court. [🔒The Inquirer]

Measles Outbreak Now an Issue in Governor’s Race

Measles deaths in 2026? Hard to believe, but the outbreak has become an issue in the Pennsylvania governor’s race. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro has pushed back against the Trump administration’s vaccine recommendation rollbacks, while Republican Stacy Garrity has criticized his response to the outbreak. Pennsylvania has the most cases in the nation. [Spotlight PA]

Penn Student Sues Trump

A UPenn student is among six people suing President Trump over his administration’s decision to bar CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. The plaintiffs say the ban threatens the public’s access to independent reporting. The student is editor-in-chief of The Daily Pennsylvanian, the student newspaper. [KYW]

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Your Guide to New Restaurants, Bars & Cafés in Philly

A top-down view of a spread of food on a bright red table, including pan-fried dumplings, a salad, and roasted chicken with sauces.

Enjoy elevated bar food and local comfort classics featuring foraged ingredients at Field Day. (Photo Credit: Gab Bonghi)

Philly knows good food. From award-winning restaurants to neighborhood gems, the city’s dining scene continues to make a name for itself.

With new restaurants, bars, cafés, and other food spots popping up all the time, it can be hard to keep track. We’re rounding up some of the latest additions to Philly’s food scene so you know what’s new and where to eat.

Field Day | 923 N. 2nd Street (Northern Liberties)

Ever had a cocktail crafted by a James Beard Award-winning bartender? 🤯 Field Day, founded by Danny Childs and his wife, Katie, pairs neighborhood vibes with upscale dining, using foraged and farm-grown ingredients and house-made ferments for specialty cocktails.

7th Street Burger | 3931 Walnut St. (University City)

If you’re looking for a great, no-frills burger, 7th Street Burger is the place to go. The menu is simple: classic single and double cheeseburgers, fries, and even Impossible burgers for the vegheads. The New York City-based eatery was founded in 2021 and has since expanded throughout the Northeast.

Lucy’s Cafe | 3426 Conrad St (East Falls)

If cozy coffee weather is your thing, check out Lucy’s Cafe in East Falls. They specialize in authentic Mexican coffee and dishes like tacos and sopes, plus breakfast sandwiches beloved by locals.

M’s Bahn Mi | 3025 Market St. (Drexel University)

There’s never a bad time for pho! M’s Bahn Mi recently opened at Gather Food Mall, serving Vietnamese favorites like bánh mì, pho, spring rolls, and rice platters, plus matcha, boba, and Vietnamese iced coffee. Drexel students can even pay with Dragon Dollars. 😎

Backyard Cravings | 1429 Wolf St. (South Philly)

Craving a cheesesteak? Backyard Cravings keeps it simple: pizza Thursdays and Fridays, cheesesteaks Saturdays and Sundays, and burgers if you want something different. Just remember, they’re only open Thursday through Sunday!

Somedays Bakery | 1601 Walnut St. (Center City)

NYC’s Somedays Bakery has brought its hand-laminated, New Zealand butter pastries to Philly. Think black sesame tahini croissants and pistachio lattices, alongside breakfast sandwiches, lunch options, and café drinks.

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Make Holiday Memories in Williamsburg

Consider this your sign to plan a holiday getaway. From festive markets and twinkling lights to holiday shopping, seasonal events and historic streets dressed for the season, the Historic Triangle is bringing all the holiday charm. Explore Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown for a mix of history, local finds and festive fun. With Visit Williamsburg’s Historic Holiday Pass, you can enjoy deals and discounts on local experiences and so much more. 

Neighborhood Shoutouts

A graphic on an orange background with text that says: “Become a City Cast Philly Neighbor. Support what makes our city great. Join today.”

Every Thursday, we highlight shoutouts from our City Cast Philly Neighbors. Become a member to tell us what you love about Philly.

📣 City Cast Philly Neighbor Emily G. recommends getting your shopping done at Las Lomas Grocery & Bakery in the Italian Market. She says they have “the world’s best rotisserie chickens. It’s a great easy dinner and the staff are so kind!”

Thanks, Emily! Whether you’re on the hunt for the best chicken or the perfect loaf, we’ve got everything you need for the best Philly eats.

Join the neighborhood!

What To Do

Thursday, Oct. 29

Friday, Oct. 30

More Philly Events

A fire burned down the Point Breeze community pantry on Monday night. Luckily, after word spread, the community rallied together and helped raise the funds to replace it. While the situation is still under investigation, you, too, can donate to help the South Philly community get more access to fresh foods.

— Taylor Polydore

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