Happy Tuesday, Philly. We’re surrounding ourselves with some local inspo today. One local business has stripped down what we’re drinking to local herbs that are blended and bottled by hand. And The Inquirer’s list of the most iconic Philly songs captures the sounds of the city.
Plus, storms created a mess for some World Cup fans on Monday. Let’s hope that’s behind us now.
— Alyssa Passeggio (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.
The trend of analog technology and grandma hobbies have morphed into a new niche: handmade beverages. Meredith Sheehy spends hours each week distilling herb blends from Pennsylvania farms before they are carbonated and bottled — all by hand.
Each batch takes three days to complete in the sunny Kensington shop. She and a legendary Philadelphia bartender tinkered with test batches inspired by the city and the ingredients.
The zero-proof fizzy spritzes have found early success at bars and stores across the city as part of the growing sober curious movement.
Go inside the Cult of Tree’s story.
As the nation prepares for its 250th anniversary, Inquirer music critic Dan DeLuca asks: What is Philadelphia music?
“Many of these songs are included mainly because they say something about Philadelphia, and who we are as Philadelphians,” DeLuca explains in the introduction to his countdown of the 76 most essential songs for the city.
Dig in to the first part of this four-part series.
🎧 Bonus: Listen along to the playlist as we count down.
What you should know today
-
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has called on lawmakers to double the money they set aside for school districts to update aging buildings.
-
Amazon employees said they spent unpaid time off-the-clock before their shifts in COVID-19 screenings. The company has agreed to fork over $3 million in a settlement.
-
President Donald Trump is visiting a truck manufacturing facility in the Lehigh Valley today as a competitive race for Congress heats up.
-
A Yardley family has sued an infant formula company and Target after their two-month-old developed botulism.
-
Over the last two centuries, Pennsylvania’s political glass ceiling has proven stubbornly resistant to cracks. Stacy Garrity said she doesn’t give that too much thought.
Quote of the day
Today’s 50-year-olds were born into a changing landscape for personal freedoms as America celebrated its Bicentennial. Columnist Elizabeth Wellington interviewed a special group of Gen Xers who are reflecting as we near the country’s Semiquincentennial.
🧠 Trivia time
A 21-year-old Judy Garland held her first public concert at which storied Philadelphia venue?
A) Academy of Music
B) The Met Philadelphia
C) Mann Center for the Performing Arts
D) Theatre of Living Arts
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re…
💸 Budgeting to see a few of the must-watch concerts on Dan DeLuca’s summer list.
😲 Tickled by what columnist Stephanie Farr refers to as a revolutionary event: a Nic Cage-themed night around Jenkintown.
🥙 Craving some falafel after a look at Hira Qureshi’s favorite halal restaurants.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: 🎩 A Tony-award winning campy comedy is coming to Philadelphia.
AHOY MR!
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Tammy Murphy, who solved Monday’s anagram: The All-American Rejects, 2000s pop-rock sensations, are taking over the main stage at the FIFA Fan Festival next month.
Photo of the day
Storms led to the cancellation of the Fan Festival in Lemon Hill, but the weather didn’t stop fans representing France and Iraq before the World Cup game at the Linc.
👋 Have a great Tuesday.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.