Keke Palmer and Tierra Whack bonded over a secret pregnancy

Keke Palmer met Tierra Whack over a game of spades at Jackie Chan’s house in South Philly.

Trust me, the story gets even better.

They started arguing with Rihanna when Eddie Murphy showed up to diffuse the situation.

And if all this sounds too good to be true, that’s because, well, it is.

“All right, we play too much,” Palmer joked to the Fitler Club crowd. The newly published author stopped by on Thursday for an event presented by Harriett’s Bookshop and sponsored by the Fitler Club and The Inquirer. Whack interviewed Palmer about her book, Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative.

The real story? The actress, singer, and KeyTV founder met Whack at Alicia Keys’ house in 2023, bundled up in a puffer coat, which she took off to reveal a baby bump. She was months away from giving birth to her son, Leodis “Leo” Jackson.

Whack kept her lips sealed on the secret pregnancy, and the two multi-hyphenates have built a special bond over the past two years. “I love you girl,” Palmer said as she walked over to hug the North Philly native. “I love you, too,” Whack said.

“I’m here, no payment or nothing,” Whack said to the crowd in the Fitler Club ballroom. “This is my girl.”

Palmer’s memoir delves into her days as a child actor, and the lessons she’s learned on her journey to becoming an Emmy-winning entertainer, entrepreneur, and mom of one.

“Kids bring perspective,” she said. “I have to make sure this baby is good, and then I have the rest of the day. It’s helping me understand what’s really important.”

Palmer and Whack spoke of their love-hate relationship with musicals and their fondness for ’90s and early 2000s sitcoms like The Jamie Foxx Show and The Parkers. And like the rest of us, Palmer can’t get enough of the Apple TV+ thriller Severance. “It’s so good, I had to go back and re-watch season one,” she said.

By the end of the evening, Whack had seemingly found a name for her next project.Whack of All Trades.

“If that’s the next album, I need a feature,” Palmer said.

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

How to be an Eagles fan, according to obsessives on the internet

Connecticut native Jenny Meassick moved to Philly in 2017 and fell in love — she started the Instagram account “Old City Love” to highlight the history, food, and people that make up the historic neighborhood she calls home. And while she’s felt “welcomed, accepted, and celebrated” in the city, Meassick said the only link missing is her connection to the Eagles.

Earlier this week she took to the internet to speak the question most Philly transplants are too afraid to ask: How does one become an Eagles fan?

Is it as simple as attending a game at the Linc, revamping a closet with midnight or kelly green, or flipping the bird to anyone wearing a Dallas Cowboys jersey? Or is it purchasing an Eagles Christmas album, getting a tattoo dedicated to the team, or subscribing to a podcast hosted by a former player’s spouse? (We love you, Kylie).

Searching for answers, Meassick posted a Thread asking Eagles diehards for tips on how to join the crazed fan base. “I’m a transplant here in Philly. It’s been 7 years and … don’t come at me … but I have yet to realllly jump into the sports culture,” she wrote. “But I’m here, this is home. So I need some help.”

Hundreds of Eagles fans came to her rescue, creating an online syllabus for newbies to graduate to Bird Gang status. Here’s what they said:

Scream ‘Go Birds’ whenever and wherever

Whether it’s game day or a quick trip to Wawa, stop and give a fellow fan a “Go Birds.” More often than not, you will get a “Go Birds” in return. Then, make it a daily ritual, and “repeat until your last breath,” one commenter joked.

“Shout ‘Go Birds’ to anyone you see wearing Birds gear. Also: Reciprocate that greeting when given to you, another wrote.

Add Eagles gear to your closet

Once “Go Birds” has replaced your regular “hi, how are you” , it’s time to grab some team threads. Not only does it declare your fandom, it helps other fans find you. “Buy some Eagles and Phillies gear, something swaggy and let the love come to you,” one user suggested.

Another suggested getting a throwback jersey to avoid looking like a noob: “Grab yourself a good retired player jersey. [Brian Dawkins], Reggie White, [Jason Kelce] … all good choices.”

Meassick said she’s sprinkling her closet with some Eagles gear, albeit incrementally. The first item will be a kelly green crew neck. “That’s more like my style,” she said.

Find fellow Eagles fans at a tailgate or bar

No “Go Birds” is complete without a group of Eagles to return the favor. There are multiple ways to engage with the fan base, but the easiest way is to start with your local sports bar or pub.

“Go to your local bar and watch a game. Even if you don’t drink. You will immediately get caught up in the infectious enthusiasm and camaraderie,” one user suggested.

If you want to amplify the game-day experience, join the crazed crowd at a tailgate outside the Linc. If tailgating isn’t your thing, Xfinity Live! is another one-stop shop for game-day entertainment. But wherever Eagles fans flock, all are welcome.

“The Eagles fan base is going to meet you where you’re at. If you drink, cool. Go to a bar. If you don’t, cool. You can Google and YouTube the players,” Meassick said.

Do your homework on iconic Eagles plays

Admittedly, Meassick isn’t much of a football fan. She lived in Boston for 10 years and was fatigued by the sports-obsessed town.

The only Eagle she knows is former All-Pro center Jason Kelce, who retired last year. Dozens of fans recommended Googling current players, and the origin of iconic plays like the “Philly Special” and the “tush push.”

“Ask fans here for a short list of their most agonizing defeats and watch them on YouTube,” one fan said. “My suggestion is ‘The Fog Bowl.’ Then watch Brian Dawkins and [Chuck Bednarik’s] highlights. Then watch their Super Bowl victory.”

“Ask fans here for a short list of their most agonizing defeats and watch them on YouTube,” one fan said. “My suggestion is ‘The Fog Bowl.’ Then watch Brian Dawkins and [Chuck Bednarik’s] highlights. Then watch their Super Bowl victory.”

Be a hater of every other NFL team

This one is simple. If it isn’t the Eagles, then don’t mention the team. “Hate every other team in the NFL!” one fan declared.

Buckle up for the ride

While life as an Eagles fan has been great lately, true aficionados know how gut-wrenching a defeat can be, especially in the postseason. “Accept that being a Philly sports fan means oscillating forever between incredible highs and crushing disappointment,” a commenter wrote.

But like sesame seeds on a fresh-baked hoagie roll, fans stick with the Birds through thick and thin. And they expect the same commitment from fans, both new and old.

“Eventually your blood pressure will start spiking while you watch the games. You’ll also have an insatiable urge to fight anyone who talks bad about your team. That’s when you know the metamorphosis is complete and you’re a full-fledged fan,” another fan explained.

Accept your place in the cult

“We meet at our Lady of the Linc on Sundays. Many of us call it our religion … some a cult. Either way we bleed green and at the kiss of peace, we say GO BIRDS and you better say it back 🦅💚,” another fan explained.

Based on fan comments, Meassick is already on the right path. Her desire to be an Eagles fan, they say, is why there’s a place for her in the tribe.

“We’ve adopted you, you are one of us. Now walk into the closest Wawa and yell go birds 🦅,” one user wrote.

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

There is a new MJ in ‘MJ the Musical.’ And here’s how he transforms himself for every show

After a year of being an understudy, actor, dancer, and songwriter, Jordan Markus is ready to don the mythical fedora, slip into the rhinestone-encrusted glove, and take on the lead role of the national tour of Broadway’s Tony-winning MJ the Musical, which runs through Jan. 19 at the Academy of Music.

“It just feels right,” he said. “I’m ready to do it.”

Here’s a sneak peek into how Markus becomes MJ.

Becoming the man in the mirror

It all starts, Markus said, with “the man in the mirror.”

To settle into character, he arrives hours before showtime. Once he gets to the theater, he takes a seat in the makeup chair, then “zones in” to character.

Becoming MJ, he said, isn’t as simple as just applying contour makeup or putting on loafers and a densely curled hairpiece. It’s a character and story he’s fully embraced. “I’ve obviously never been Michael Jackson, but we share similarities. Lots of them, actually,” Markus said, whether it’s feelings of loneliness, perfectionism, or the unwavering pursuit of one’s musical dreams.

“Really knowing who I am has helped me become, in quotations, Michael. And I kind of live in it every day.”

Classic wardrobe with a modern twist

Costume designer Paul Tazewell grew up emulating the Jackson 5 with his three brothers. To piece together the show’s wardrobe, he referred to images of Jackson throughout his career.

Jackson’s style, he said, reflected the trends of the times, but always came with a twist that was uniquely his own. The challenge for him lay in styling the character of Jackson, from little Michael (Josiah Benson and Bane Griffith) to MJ the icon (Markus), with many fictionalized moments embedded into the show.

“It was about creating a world the audience could believe and stay engaged within,” said Tazewell, who won a Tony Award for best costume design in a musical for 2016’s Hamilton.

Tazewell’s vision is in full bloom throughout the show. He incorporates classic outfits from Jackson’s career — from his earth-shattering debut of the moonwalk at a Motown 25th anniversary concert, to the iconic outfits seen in the “Smooth Criminal” and “Beat It” music videos.

When the direct references aren’t as readily available, Tazewell takes calculated liberties. During the dance rehearsal scenes, Markus’ MJ wears loose cotton shirts, flowingly trim trousers, and hard-bottom dance shoes.

Moving like a smooth criminal

It helps to have Jackson’s moves, too.

Choreographers Rich and Tone Talauega, who were dancers on Jackson’s “HIStory World Tour," taught Markus the techniques and the “king rhythm” that Jackson possessed.

Rich Talauega said Markus, whom he affectionately calls “too tall,” managed to grasp the dance moves and other idiosyncrasies needed to capture the spirit of Michael Jackson. The movement may appear “simple,” but the two brothers said it requires thousands of rehearsal hours and an unrelenting work ethic to achieve. And Markus embraced it all for the role.

“He’s earned it,” Rich Talauega said. “The amount of work he put in resulted in him being able to walk in those loafers, glide from side to side, hit those notes, and play the role of Michael Jackson so big-time. I take my hat off to [Markus].”

“He did the homework,” Tone Talauega added.

Along with crafting the movement for the musical, the duo also served as authenticators of Jackson’s story.

They talked to Markus about the shared prayers, heated rehearsal sessions, and monumental performances that reflected the man, artist, and cultural phenomenon. And Rich Talauega said the result is an “electrifying, in-your-face, bona fide, and pure” telling of the generation-defying talent.

“It’s really surreal to be able to represent this man’s legacy through his dance style,” Rich Talauega said. “We feel so privileged, honored, blessed, and lucky to be able to replicate this man’s dance style as best we can with this new generation of Michaels.”

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

Espresso martinis are the it drink in Philly. Here’s where to find them.

The espresso martini has become a favorite among Gen Zers, who can often be seen with the elegant elixir in hand. If it were an outfit, it would be a tailored suit with a loosened tie — chic, but approachable.

“It’s just a trendy cocktail,” said Jared Ridgeway, the beverage manager at the Dandelion. “People love coffee and people love alcohol. When you put the two together, you’re going to have a huge crowd. It looks good in a glass, it catches the eye, and for restaurants, it’s pretty easy to execute.”

Whether you prefer the classic recipe or a modern remix, Philly offers plenty of spots to sip on this caffeinated cocktail.

The best espresso martinis in Philly?

Bar 1010

In Northern Liberties’ booming cocktail scene, Bar 1010 reigns supreme with its “cafe tini” offerings — all variations on the classic vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso cocktail. For the Classic Parmigiano, the restaurant takes a classic espresso martini ($14) and adds a sprinkling of 16-month aged Parmigianoo Reggiano — a surprisingly good combo complete with a dose of rich umami flavor. Other cafe tini offerings include pumpkin spice, topped with cold foam ($16), salted caramel ($15), and dirty chai ($15).

📍701 N. Second St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19123, 📞 267-930-8486, 🌐 bar1010.com

Enswell

After establishing the Rival Bros. Coffee empire, award-winning chef Jonathan Adams and master coffee roaster Damien Pileggi decided to collaborate again on Enswell, a day-and-night cafe and cocktail bar near Rittenhouse Square. And the partnership was tailor-made to be an espresso martini destination. Among the many standouts on Enswell’s drink menu, which includes an orange espresso tonic, the whiskey-based haymaker ($18) is a real knockout. The drink is made with Rival Bros. “Whistle & Cuss” espresso roast, house-made orgeat, Liberty Belle coffee liqueur, Moscatel cask whiskey, instant coffee cream, and a drizzle of flaky Maldon sea salt.

📍1528 Spruce St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19102, 📞 215-398-5919, 🌐 enswellphilly.com

Rouge

With the holiday season in full swing, cozy up with Rouge’s pumpkin-spiced espresso martini ($18). This seasonal cocktail is made with Holla vodka, spiced chai, infused pumpkin flavor, Kahlúa, espresso, vanilla, and fall spices.

📍205 S. 18th St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19103, 📞 215-732-6622, 🌐 rouge98.com

The Elephant Bar

The Elephant, Philadelphia’s inaugural espresso martini bar, has evolved from a seasonal pop-up into a permanent establishment. Its menu features inventive variations of the classic cocktail. From fruit-infused tinis to dessert-inspired twists like banana cream pudding ($15) martini and the brûlée all day ($15), made with Absolut vodka, espresso, crème brûlée cold foam, and Southern Tier crème brûlée stout.

📍1500 Locust St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19102, 📞 267-761-5582, 🌐 The Elephant Bar Instagram

Charlie was a sinner

Charlie was a sinner is known for its vegan delights and sleek environs, but the sultry after-hour hang’s old-school espresso martini ($17) is top of the line. The smooth, medium roast-infused martini can contend with the best the bustling stretch of Midtown Village eateries has to offer. The drink is elevated by house-made crème liqueur and naturally sweet Nizza espresso.

📍131 S. 13th St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19107, 📞 267-758-5372 🌐 charliewasasinner.com

Blind Barber

It’s no secret: Blind Barber — one of Philly’s most luxurious speakeasies — offers an impressive cinnamon cream-flavored espresso martini ($16) with choice of vodka or tequila. This Center City escape also has an espresso martini-leaning shot called the basic baddie, consisting of espresso-infused vodka, amaretto, house cold brew, and demerara sugar.

📍1325 Sansom St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19107, 📞 215-528-9485, 🌐 blindbarber.com

R&D

Fishtown’s R&D Cocktail Bar isn’t afraid to go venti. It cocktail list rotates every few months, but a mainstay is the classic espresso martini ($15). If you’re joined by a group of espresso enthusiasts, you can level up to a shareable venti ($55) that serves four people.

📍1206 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, Pa., 19125, 📞 215-515-3452, 🌐 rdphilly.com

Char & Stave

Char & Stave, with locations in Chestnut Hill and Ardmore, transitions from a refined coffee shop by day to a sophisticated whiskey bar by night. While it doesn’t offer a traditional espresso martini, the “Hot Dirty Pirate” ($13.50) is a unique twist. This cocktail combines barrel-aged espresso, whiskey caramel, dark rum, and oat milk, resulting in a rich blend of roasted oat and caramel flavors.

📍8441 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, Pa., 19118, and 21 Rittenhouse Place, Ardmore, Pa., 19003, 🌐 charandstave.com

The Dandelion

The Dandelion is an elevated pub that pays homage to traditional British cuisine, with favorites like rabbit pie, deviled eggs, fish and chips, and English-style stouts on its menu. Given the espresso martini is said to have been invented in London in the 1980s, the Stephen Starr-owned eatery serves a classic one ($15) made with Smirnoff vanilla vodka, fresh espresso, Kahlúa, and a touch of simple syrup for a well-balanced sip.

📍124 S. 18th St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19103, 📞 215-558-2500, 🌐 thedandelionpub.com

Bánh Mì and Bottles

Easily one of the city’s prettiest cocktails is from Bánh Mì and Bottles. The Vietnamese restaurant’s signature espresso martini ($16) features natural shades of purple from ube, which gives it a mild nutty flavor. This lavender-tinged indulgence is made from an espresso blend infused blanco tequila, ube condensed milk, and a whole egg.

📍714 South St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19147, 🌐 banhmiandbottles.com.

Rex at the Royal

Rex at the Royal, a Southern-inspired restaurant housed in the historic Royal Theater, offers an espresso martini that reflects its elegant ambience. The Royal Espresso Martini ($19) features vanilla bean-infused Stateside vodka, NOLA coffee liqueur, and Green Street espresso, delivering a rich and sophisticated flavor profile.

📍1524 South St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19146, 📞 267-319-1366, 🌐 rexphl.com

How to make an espresso martini?

If there’s one takeaway from the espresso martini’s popularity, it’s that there’s no single way to make it. However, the classic ingredients remain simple:

1. 2 oz. vodka

2. 0.5 oz. coffee liqueur (Kahlúa is a classic choice)

3. 1 oz. freshly brewed or cold espresso

4. 0.25 oz. simple syrup

5. Three coffee beans for garnish

While some bartenders stick with the original, others experiment with sweeteners, infused spirits, or unique garnishes to elevate the cocktail. However you take it, an espresso martini is a guaranteed way to energize your night out.

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

A karaoke taxi has come to town but some want the plug pulled on the Center City attraction

On a warm September evening, Trenton resident Gabby Douglas and her daughter were aboard Center City’s newest tourist attraction.

They had stepped onto a roofless wagon, hitched to a souped-up pickup truck, and sung their favorite tunes as they toured the bustling corners and residential pockets of Midtown Village and Old City.

Their roaring vocals and impressively timed melodies caught the attention of pedestrians, who cheered them on. Some people looked out of apartment windows while others stopped midstep on nearby sidewalks to applaud them.

“We just had fun. It was a really beautiful experience with my daughter singing. People were cheering, and it seemed like the city really loved that type of atmosphere,” Douglas said.

The musical ride, called FunCab Karaoke Taxi, was driven by founder Dominik Glazewski.

The idea first arose in 2016, when Glazewski worked as an Uber and Lyft driver in Philly. He had a karaoke system set up in his vehicle, and dreamed of the day he could start his own mobile entertainment service.

“We wanted something unique and fun — like typical tourism buses that drive around — but for people to have fun and enjoy in a new way,” said Glazewski, 44, a Poland-born entrepreneur. “We want people to come to the city and enjoy themselves.”

After moving to Charlotte, N.C., in 2020, he put his idea to the test. Glazewski purchased a golf cart-style vehicle and installed a handful of microphones and a speaker, but soon realized it wasn’t generating the excitement he initially envisioned.

The “taxi” wasn’t very safe and only had space for five passengers, which increased the operational costs and added a lot of stress to Glazewski’s fun plan. He returned to Philadelphia last April with hopes the FunCab would turn a profit in a bigger and more familiar city. The regional switch came with notable challenges, including “2-feet deep” potholes and strict city codes to maneuver.

“We weren’t sure if we could maintain the business, or if it was going to be accepted over here,” Glazewski said. “But luckily, there’s been a lot of people who like it.”

Before the FunCab made its first lap around Center City in June, Glazewski managed to do a few upgrades. He added a wagon to the back of the truck, and equipped it with five 5K cameras, LED lights, cushioned seats, a touchscreen song selector, and additional speakers to amplify the karaoke experience.

For the past five months, groups of up to nine people have been belting out hits from Usher, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Miley Cyrus, Mary J. Blige, and others in the back of the supercharged ride. And while screaming is prohibited, riders can often be heard howling their favorite tunes from Old City to Rittenhouse on their 15-mph cruise. One-hour rides start at $100, or $25 per person.

Unsurprisingly enough, some residents want to pull the plug on the moving music wagon.

“Drunk people with microphones riding a slow-moving open vehicle that stops randomly like an Amazon delivery truck, late at night — that’s a NO, THANK YOU,” one Reddit user wrote.

“If I wanted to hear bachelorette parties screaming Taylor Swift songs I would move back to Nashville. It’s an abomination,” said another.

Sheri Klock, who booked a tour for her husband’s birthday, sang Bon Jovi, NSYNC, and Michael Jackson songs throughout the late September evening. And in the coming months, she’s looking to schedule a longer session. “We had people dancing on the sidewalks and jamming to music with us,” Klock said. “It was awesome to see people who don’t know each other come together because of music.”

As social media clips of the late-night mainstay have grown more frequent, the FunCab has garnered more bookings for birthdays, bachelorette parties, and other milestones. Glazewski has also received a handful of noise complaints from Rittenhouse and South Street residents.

In response, he said he’s adjusted the FunCab routes to avoid circling the residential corners of South Street and Rittenhouse Square. He has also asked some rambunctious karaoke singers to lower their voices, or if they’re too impaired, to reschedule their trips for another date.

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“We’re not trying to be obnoxious,” he said. “If we’re making noise, I make sure we’re not making as much noise and we’re constantly moving. We don’t sit outside someone’s house.”

As for the loud music, South Philly native Oddess Blockar said that’s an unavoidable part of city life. “If you don’t want to hear noise, move to the suburbs,” she said.

Glazewski plans to expand the karaoke cab in size and scope. He wants to move away from the small, slow-moving vehicle to a bus-sized ride, and offer an interactive city tour for non-English speakers.

The plan is to stop at historic sites in Center City, with an information screen showcasing the history and interior design of each location in various languages. If there’s a question, the device would translate the responses in real time.

Glazewski also wants to develop an alternative version of Philly’s Portal, which would allow guests to sing karaoke in tandem with distant crooners from around the country.

“We have a lot of ideas,” Glazewski said. “And we’re going to try to implement them so people can get to know Philly.”

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

Legendary artist Cornbread wants people to stop defacing Philly murals

Philadelphia is called the “Mural Capital of the World” — a reputation it owes in part to the legendary street artist Darryl McCray, who’s regarded as the “Godfather of graffiti.”

McCray, better known as Cornbread, began inscribing his name onto the walls of his juvenile center in the mid-1960s, becoming a living landmark to those who later celebrated his contributions to hip-hop and the world of street art.

The Brewerytown native built his reputation as the “king of the walls” as a teenager. He tagged stone-covered buildings, construction sites, a police car, the hind side of a Philadelphia Zoo elephant, and even a jet owned by the Jackson 5.

More often than not, his insignia would be buffed from the city’s walls, but his imprint inspired a wave of artists in Philly and New York City during the 1960s and ‘70s — and later the hip-hop revolution.

McCray said Philly’s artistic movement helped spark the genre, with former graffiti writers eventually transitioning to the art of rhyme. The two intersect like North Philly cross streets, with each discipline influencing the other over the decades.

“I don’t like when they say graffiti isn’t hip-hop,” McCray said. “There would be no hip-hop without graffiti. There are a lot of original pioneers of hip-hop culture, but a big percentage were already street artists who were doing other things. Graffiti is a world culture with a small community that still makes a big impact.”

At 70, McCray is no longer “bombing” his signature across the city, but the pride he takes in Philly’s graffiti culture remains intact. He’s now a mural ambassador on a mission to stop random vandals from defacing the murals that define his beloved hometown.

“It’s the vandals that ruin the art,” McCray said. “We have renegades who just don’t care. They’re even putting their names on the defaced murals,” he said when The Inquirer caught up with him on his way to the mural My Life, My Path, My Destiny by artist Cesar Viveros, which was sullied by a series of graffiti tags.

It’s a fight that is hardly new for McCray.

Back in 2013, he put together the Graffiti Summit, which was attended by a “lot of city officials, writers, and barbers.” Together, they conjured ideas to stop the destruction of murals, which included a local taskforce to regularly maintain and clean the public artworks. But in the years since the event, McCray fears the issue may have worsened.

“Every time a mural is destroyed, it becomes a hurt piece,” he said. “This is an issue that’s been overlooked for some years. For the most part, the general public isn’t aware of the ongoing sabotage. The only thing we can do is try [to fix it].”

McCray suspects there were a few vandals who attended the Graffiti Summit, but “they didn’t make themselves known,” he said. But someone who stepped in as an ally was Mural Arts executive director Jane Golden, who’s been friends with McCray since her first days at the arts organization, then known as the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network.

“She’s a real good close friend of mine, and she’s the reason why Philadelphia looks the way it does,” McCray said of Golden. “I love [her]. We share legacies and have changed Philadelphia together.”

Golden said the summit was a success. Several spray and brush-made murals came out of the event, all of which went untouched.

Like the use of mosaic, fresco, acrylic, oil, and other artistic mediums, spray is another “tool in the creative toolbox.” It just requires permission, which she feels current graffiti writers are too often ignoring.

“Many writers today have different values and that is too bad,” Golden said. “By sharing techniques and learning from each other, there is great mutuality. Destroying art is a lose-lose proposition. Nobody wins.”

Most of the city’s murals had gone untouched since the Graffiti Summit, and even as far back as Golden’s start at Mural Arts 40 years ago. But she said there’s been an uptick in defacements since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Golden said past graffiti writers had an unspoken agreement to avoid churches, private homes, and murals, but it seems today’s artists don’t operate by the same accord.

Last year, Golden said Mural Arts spent $60,000 to remove graffiti, and the recent spike in vandalism is “eating away the soul of the city.”

“Murals in the city of Philadelphia are civic assets and it is an insult to the artists, to the community, to Mural Arts, to everyone who was part of the experience of bringing the work of art to life,” she said.

To stop the desecration, McCray said he has his eyes on a second summit, which would also honor the legacies of pioneering artists like Dr. Cool, Sank, Mutt, Kool Kev, Cupcake, and other influencers.

This summit, he hopes, will inspire further advocacy, community-wide collaboration, and deter vandals from spraying their tags over these public works. “There needs to be artists talking about the destruction of the murals, and how much some people want to see the beauty and jewels of our city destroyed,” McCray said.

With McCray at the helm, Golden is hopeful a second Graffiti Summit will encourage current and future graffiti writers to embrace the same values once held by past artists. And by offering creative development and collaboration through Mural Arts programs, a lasting impact can be made in the Philly arts community.

“When we avoid judgment and open up doors for opportunity, that provides our society with so much richness,” Golden said. “I’m not saying every graffiti writer has a desire to be an artist. But for those that do, and have the energy to build on their creativity, I think we can give it a try.

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

One Phillies superfan’s standing ovation inspires another superfan’s film

Kyle Thrash was destined to be a Phillies fan.

Just hours before he was born, his mother asked nurses to turn on the Phillies vs. Cincinnati Reds game on the delivery room TV. “I don’t think you can become a fan any sooner than me getting born into a game going on,” Thrash, 35, said.

The Lehigh Valley native grew up making the hour-long commute to Phillies home games with his grandfather and learning to weather the heartbreak that comes with being a Phillies fan.

During the 2023 baseball season, the Phillies and newly-signed shortstop Trea Turner desperately needed a midseason spark. The ball club’s 25-32 start and Turner’s lackluster play routinely drew frustration and boos from Citizens Bank Park crowds. Thrash, like other fans, was looking to Turner to live up to the expectations of his $300 million signing. Months of disappointment finally transformed to a surge of fanly reinvigoration after Thrash saw a fan’s video circulating on X.

The video was from Aug. 4, 2023, when, instead of booing Turner, nearly 42,000 fans at Citizens Bank Park gave him a standing ovation during a game against the Kansas City Royals.

The action was a result of efforts by several Phillies fans, including Jack Fritz, a producer at 94.1 WIP, whom Turner later called in to thank. It was also egged on by Phillies superfan Jon McCann, who goes by the Philly Captain on his YouTube channel.

“The fans tried tough love, but I think everyone was thinking something else had to be done,” said Thrash, who also codirected the Palm Springs Film Festival Award-winning documentary, The Sentence Of Michael Thompson. “And [McCann] came up with the idea that had the spark that took off, went viral, and obviously the fans responded.”

The video, which racked up millions of views on social media, reached Thrash on X and made its way into the Phillies locker room. Turner batted .338 over the final 48 games, with the fourth-highest on-base plus slugging in the league during that span. The Phillies finished with 90 wins and reached the National League Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The transformation inspired Thrash to collaborate with two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot on the short documentary, The Turnaround. The film, set to premiere on Netflix today, tells the story of McCann, a devoted Phillies fan who inspired his team and city.

“It’s a human story. [McCann] is from Kensington, and he’s had his struggles. And I think the spark he started was worth telling,” Thrash said. “And I know [the Phillies] didn’t get the ending to the season we wanted, but I’m still proud of what the city did and excited for people to hear [McCann’s] story.”

Thrash and Proudfoot followed McCann as he talked about his hardened upbringing, bipolar disorder, and past suicidal thoughts. The Phillies superfan recognized the power of having support in times of darkness, and wanted to administer a dose of “Philly love” to cure Turner’s uncharacteristic slump.

The film starts with McCann describing the historic crack in the Liberty Bell and reciting a prayer to the 271-year-old Philly landmark: “Dear Liberty Bell, please let the Phillies win the World Series. Amen.”

His hopes, like the historic bell, have been weathered by his experience. But by the end of the 25-minute short, McCann is inspired by a renewed sense of self.

“This is so much more than a sports story,” said Proudfoot, who has previously directed the Oscar-winning short documentaries, The Queen of Basketball and The Last Repair Shop. “This is about someone who’s dealt with mental health and took a moment to give grace to someone who was dealing with their own issues. That’s what this story is about.”

Proudfoot, a Halifax, Nova Scotia, native, who’s been wearing Phillies jerseys throughout film festival season, admits his baseball knowledge is fairly pedestrian. But he and Thrash felt McCann’s story was tailor-made for the screen.

“We could’ve interviewed thousands of other die-hard fans,” Proudfoot said, “but [McCann] did the golden rule — treat others as you want to be treated.”

The documentary closes with McCann being invited to the Phillies’ 2024 season opener. And as the camera zooms out for a wide shot of the team’s South Philly ballpark, he says, in his thick Philly accent, “Come on boys, it’s unfinished business. This is our year. Come on, Trea Turner. This is our season. You’re going to win it for us.”

While the “Fighting Phils” didn’t make it to the World Series, they clinched the National League East title for the first time in 13 years. For Thrash, the story is characteristically Philly — “even when we lose, the city wins.”

“People forget Rocky didn’t win the heavyweight title in the first film,” Thrash said. “You don’t have to win for Philadelphia to rally behind you. You just have to put up a fight, and that’s what this film is about.”

Starting Oct. 18, “The Turnaround” streams on Netflix. The film is also screening at the Philadelphia Film Festival at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the PFS - Bourse Theater 3. filmadelphia.org.

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

Legendary CHOP cancer researcher Audrey Evans’ life is the subject of a new film

Philly-based writer and producer Julia Fisher Farbman has interviewed notable figures like former first lady Michelle Obama, NASA systems engineer Farah Alibay, and former youth softball star Mo’ne Davis. But her most popular interviewee has been Audrey Evans, the British physician and subsequent Philadelphian who became a force in pediatric cancer research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and founded Ronald McDonald House Charities.

In 2017, Farbman’s award-winning Prime Video series Modern Hero featured the then-92-year-old oncologist, and the episode has amassed upward of 17 million views.

Evans talked about her childhood in York, England, her battles with sexism in the medical field, her journey to becoming CHOP’s first female chief of oncology, and her continued push to improve pediatric cancer treatment. “I came to Philadelphia to take care of children with cancer because at the time I came, there wasn’t much else you could do but care,” Evans said to Farbman on the show.

What began as a series of interviews at Evans’ Rittenhouse apartment blossomed into a friendship between the two women. Now, that one-off episode has evolved into Audrey’s Children, a feature film starring Natalie Dormer as the iconic oncologist.

“It was special to hear her life story and distill it into a screenplay, and it just all came to life,” Farbman said. “We know, or at least we hope, this film matters to a lot of people and a lot of families. And we really hope it continues [Evans’] legacy of caring for people and inspiring others to do the same.”

The 110-minute-long film, directed by Ami Canaan Mann and written and produced by Farbman, is set to premiere at the Philadelphia Film Festival on Sunday. It chronicles Evans’ pathway to becoming a marvel of medical advancement and philanthropy during the late 1960s and 1970s.

Mann, who directed the 2014 romance drama Jackie & Ryan, said Evans’ legacy of advocacy and her sure-fire desire to make people’s lives better, is what drew her to the project. And it’s a story, she felt, was a necessary one for filmgoers, especially with the “chaos” surrounding today’s social and political climate.

“I don’t underestimate the power and responsibility that storytellers have, and I felt like if we could tell this woman’s story in a way that could touch even a handful of people who have been through the same experience, or a parallel experience,” she said. “It just felt like doing that would be important.”

During a time when cancer research was limited and families were forced to withdraw their terminally ill children from CHOP due to high health-care costs, Evans founded CHOP’s Children’s Cancer Center, and she opened the first Ronald McDonald House on Oct. 15, 1974. After retiring from CHOP in 2009, Evans went on to cofound Philadelphia’s St. James School, a private, tuition-free, Episcopal middle school.

The film also chronicles Evans’ groundbreaking research and medical findings. In 1971, she developed what is now known as the Evans Staging System, which determines the best cancer treatment plans for kids battling neuroblastoma — one of the most common solid cancerous tumors in children. Her work in reducing mortality rates for this cancer type earned her the title, the “Mother of Neuroblastoma.”

Dormer, who met Evans before Evans’ death in 2022 at age 97, has brought the late oncologist “back to life” on screen, Farbman said, perfectly capturing Evans’ dry British humor and fiery spirit. “[Dormer] was perfection,” she said. “It was a dream come true for her to read the script and love the film. And when she came on set, she just took everything to another level with her professionalism, her talents, and dedication to the story.”

From the way she walked and fixed her shoulders upright, Dormer fully channeled Evans, Mann said. The actor also captured the “graceful” way Evans described mortality to her young patients, telling them they “float” when they pass.

“That’s a task I wouldn’t wish on anybody,” Mann said. “And for her to have done that daily with such conviction to help children frame their own mortality, and do it with good cheer while trying to save their lives, I was really compelled by that story and that woman. I felt it was important to share that with as many people as possible.”

“The whole film was a labor of love for every single one of us. We always said that the right people would come to the film at the right time, and that’s been true,” Farbman said. “And I’m so grateful for the people who have joined the ‘Audrey Army’ to bring her story to life.”

“My goal is to have the audience walk away with a sense that they, too, can make a difference to somebody. No matter how small, it will have a ripple effect and it will have value,” Mann said.

“Audrey’s Children” screens on Oct. 20, 5:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. And Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. Film Society Center, 1412 Chestnut St., Phila. For tickets, visit filmadelphia.org.

– The Philadelphia Inquirer