Latest news with #Philadelphian
Axios
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Axios
Women's sports bars are opening in Philly — part of a booming trend
Philly is getting two new women's sports bars — part of a trend with more than a dozen establishments slated to open across the U.S. Why it matters: With viewership and attendance for women's sports soaring, fans are building hubs that are about more than watching games. Driving the news: Marsha's, founded by Philadelphian Chivonn Anderson, is opening this summer on South Street at what was formerly the Woolly Mammoth. Anderson wants to make the bar into a "sleek and sexy" hub for women's and Philly sports, she told Philadelphia Gay News. Marsha's will have multiple TVs for sports viewing, plus some will be dedicated to LGBTQ+ films and TV. She also hopes to host burlesque, drag shows and dance parties there, per Philadelphia Gay News. Zoom in: The bar's name is a nod to the late Black trans activist Marsha P. Johnson, who became a key figure in the 1969 Stonewall Riots. Anderson aims to open Marsha's by mid-to-late August, just in time for the Eagles' season opener against Dallas. Meanwhile, a community of women's sports fans is working to open a women's sports bar in Philly next year. Watch Party PHL has been fundraising to open their own space, Metro Philadelphia reports. A location and timeline are still in the works. The big picture: At least six women's sports bars have opened across the country this year. As many as 17 are on the way in various stages of funding and construction. Catch up quick: It started with The Sports Bra, a Portland bar dedicated to supporting and showing women's sports, founded in April 2022. Rough and Tumble Pub in Seattle, as well as Whiskey Girl Tavern in Chicago, followed later that year. By the end of 2024, three more had opened. Bar owners mix the fun and camaraderie of team sports with an atmosphere that's welcoming to everyone, including nontraditional sports fans and the LGBTQ+ community. Friction point: Some bar owners have gotten sexist and anti-LGBTQ+ hate. The bottom line: The bars "galvanize the community," Laabs says.
The Herald Scotland
23-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
New Rangers chairman on the telephone call that changed his life
Allan asked him, 'Would you and your group have an interest in investing in Rangers?' The response from the Philadelphian healthcare insurance billionaire was instantaneous. He said, 'Absolutely.' Cavenagh, who last month bought a 51 per cent stake in the Ibrox club in conjunction with his consortium partners 49ers Enterprises, recounted the exchange as he spoke to several hundred shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting in a hotel in Glasgow city centre this morning. Read more: 'It was a lightning bolt moment,' said the Rangers chairman. 'I had met Les six months prior and he knew our group was looking for a rare but good opportunity in football. I've known about Rangers forever as a football fan. Three seconds later I was on the phone to Paraag [49ers Enterprises president and new Ibrox vice-chairman].' Those in attendance at the EGM were probably more concerned about why the American businessman had come to be a major shareholder of a football club thousands of miles away than how – but he duly explained his reasons for getting involved as well as he outlined to the media his ambitious plans for the future later. 'There are many things about this club that are attractive,' he said. 'But there are three big reasons. The first is the supporters - the breadth and depth of the fanbase is incredible. We've not seen many other clubs in Europe with this sort of scope and passion. 'The second is stadium. Ibrox is an incredibly magical place to attend as a supporter. We think of it as our castle. And the third is the competitions in which we play, the league, the cups and Europe. 'Champions League is the goal we are trying to get to every year. Every year that is our goal and we have to get through three matches, or three sets of matches and that won't be easy. It is important because it brings more revenue. It will always be our benchmark.' Cavenagh continued, 'The last few months have been incredible experience. One of my favourite moments in life is the five minutes before the match kicks off when you can feel the electricity. 'I was lucky to go to the match at Parkhead and it was incredible. I learned a couple of few phrases and gestures when I was there, but it was a fantastic experience. It was the first match where our fans were allowed back in and we had 2,500 fans there. But they were incredibly loud and vocal in showing their support. 'It was one of the best football experiences of my life. I've been a football fan all my life. I've been to five World Cups and five European Championships. I've been to countless matches. I think I did 14 new stadiums in the last year. 'It's a physical experience when you walk upstairs at Ibrox. You walk up the marble stairs to the Blue Room and in the trophy room in particular you can just feel the history. There's no other way to describe it. You walk in and instantly feel indebted to the people who have come before you. But you also have the desire to do everything you possibly can, not just to improve the history, but also improve the trajectory.' Making Rangers the dominant force in Scottish football once again, deposing Celtic as Premiership champions, winning the League Cup and the Scottish Cup and continuing to make inroads in Europe are the new regime's ambitions. Cavenagh appreciates that will, with their city rivals some distance ahead of them both on and off the pitch, be difficult to do. He seems, though, genuinely excited by the challenges which lie ahead of him and his associates. Read more: 'We relish it,' he said. 'We are impatient, we are competitive, so we look forward to it. Rivalry is one of the things that makes football great. Our rivalry with Celtic? Rangers wouldn't quite be the same without that rivalry. 'It's top five in the world. Boca-River Plate, Lazio-Roma, Celtic-Rangers, those would be the three that come to mind. It's fantastic to have that rivalry. And we look forward to the challenge. 'There is real work to be done. Everyone is aware of that. Paraag and I are two of the most impatient people you will meet and we are also incredibly competitive. So we share our supporters' sense of urgency. We are in with both feet today and we will move this forward as fast as we can. 'When I think about the short term, I don't focus on challenges I focus on opportunities. We have what I believe are the right plans and we are beginning to have the right team in place. By that, I mean the staff not the squad. That will continue to change over the summer. 'Instead of thinking of things that keep you awake at night I think of the opportunities in front of us. This club has so much potential and we are eager to take that potential energy and turn it into kinetic energy.' So what about the $64,000 question. How much money will new manager Russell Martin have to spend on strengthening his squad? 'This is an area where we will be really opaque,' said Cavenagh. 'The window isn't just one thing that opens and closes the way it sounds like. There are lots of different concurrent things happening over the summer. We can be patient from a financial perspective. When there is the right opportunity we will jump at it, and when it is right to be slow we will be slow.' The resolutions which were passed by 98 per cent of Rangers shareholders at the EGM enabled Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises, along with Douglas Park, Stuart Gibson and George Taylor, to invest £20m in return for shares. But the chairman stressed that injection of cash would not all go on new players. 'That is the amount of primary capital that we are putting in,' he said. 'We think £20m is the right amount to put this summer. But we need to make sure we are running the club in a sustainable way. We are not looking for what I think of as the sugar high – come in spend some money, sign some players and try to win something. Then you have the sugar crash that comes from that.' As well as being a passionate football fan, Cavenagh is a former footballer. So he is acutely aware that results are required to keep Rangers fans, who gave him a warm welcome during his first public appearance as chairman, onside moving forward. He is, however, prepared for whatever is going to come his way, both good and bad. Read more: 'I was a goalkeeper growing up,' he said. 'We had a play-off match in my senior year and the coach came up to me before it and said, 'Andrew, everyone on the field today is going to make mistakes today, but they just happen to have a special place to keep track of yours and it is called a scorebox'. 'I wouldn't make myself out as much of a player, but it teaches you that you can have big moments, that you are going to have to make big decisions, and you have to live with the ones that you get wrong. I am prepared.'
The National
23-06-2025
- Business
- The National
New Rangers chairman on the telephone call that changed his life
It was from the United States-based, Edinburgh-born, Hearts-supporting investment banker Les Allan. Allan asked him, 'Would you and your group have an interest in investing in Rangers?' The response from the Philadelphian healthcare insurance billionaire was instantaneous. He said, 'Absolutely.' Cavenagh, who last month bought a 51 per cent stake in the Ibrox club in conjunction with his consortium partners 49ers Enterprises, recounted the exchange as he spoke to several hundred shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting in a hotel in Glasgow city centre this morning. Read more: 'It was a lightning bolt moment,' said the Rangers chairman. 'I had met Les six months prior and he knew our group was looking for a rare but good opportunity in football. I've known about Rangers forever as a football fan. Three seconds later I was on the phone to Paraag [49ers Enterprises president and new Ibrox vice-chairman].' Those in attendance at the EGM were probably more concerned about why the American businessman had come to be a major shareholder of a football club thousands of miles away than how – but he duly explained his reasons for getting involved as well as he outlined to the media his ambitious plans for the future later. 'There are many things about this club that are attractive,' he said. 'But there are three big reasons. The first is the supporters - the breadth and depth of the fanbase is incredible. We've not seen many other clubs in Europe with this sort of scope and passion. 'The second is stadium. Ibrox is an incredibly magical place to attend as a supporter. We think of it as our castle. And the third is the competitions in which we play, the league, the cups and Europe. 'Champions League is the goal we are trying to get to every year. Every year that is our goal and we have to get through three matches, or three sets of matches and that won't be easy. It is important because it brings more revenue. It will always be our benchmark.' Cavenagh continued, 'The last few months have been incredible experience. One of my favourite moments in life is the five minutes before the match kicks off when you can feel the electricity. 'I was lucky to go to the match at Parkhead and it was incredible. I learned a couple of few phrases and gestures when I was there, but it was a fantastic experience. It was the first match where our fans were allowed back in and we had 2,500 fans there. But they were incredibly loud and vocal in showing their support. 'It was one of the best football experiences of my life. I've been a football fan all my life. I've been to five World Cups and five European Championships. I've been to countless matches. I think I did 14 new stadiums in the last year. 'It's a physical experience when you walk upstairs at Ibrox. You walk up the marble stairs to the Blue Room and in the trophy room in particular you can just feel the history. There's no other way to describe it. You walk in and instantly feel indebted to the people who have come before you. But you also have the desire to do everything you possibly can, not just to improve the history, but also improve the trajectory.' Making Rangers the dominant force in Scottish football once again, deposing Celtic as Premiership champions, winning the League Cup and the Scottish Cup and continuing to make inroads in Europe are the new regime's ambitions. Cavenagh appreciates that will, with their city rivals some distance ahead of them both on and off the pitch, be difficult to do. He seems, though, genuinely excited by the challenges which lie ahead of him and his associates. Read more: 'We relish it,' he said. 'We are impatient, we are competitive, so we look forward to it. Rivalry is one of the things that makes football great. Our rivalry with Celtic? Rangers wouldn't quite be the same without that rivalry. 'It's top five in the world. Boca-River Plate, Lazio-Roma, Celtic-Rangers, those would be the three that come to mind. It's fantastic to have that rivalry. And we look forward to the challenge. 'There is real work to be done. Everyone is aware of that. Paraag and I are two of the most impatient people you will meet and we are also incredibly competitive. So we share our supporters' sense of urgency. We are in with both feet today and we will move this forward as fast as we can. 'When I think about the short term, I don't focus on challenges I focus on opportunities. We have what I believe are the right plans and we are beginning to have the right team in place. By that, I mean the staff not the squad. That will continue to change over the summer. 'Instead of thinking of things that keep you awake at night I think of the opportunities in front of us. This club has so much potential and we are eager to take that potential energy and turn it into kinetic energy.' So what about the $64,000 question. How much money will new manager Russell Martin have to spend on strengthening his squad? 'This is an area where we will be really opaque,' said Cavenagh. 'The window isn't just one thing that opens and closes the way it sounds like. There are lots of different concurrent things happening over the summer. We can be patient from a financial perspective. When there is the right opportunity we will jump at it, and when it is right to be slow we will be slow.' The resolutions which were passed by 98 per cent of Rangers shareholders at the EGM enabled Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises, along with Douglas Park, Stuart Gibson and George Taylor, to invest £20m in return for shares. But the chairman stressed that injection of cash would not all go on new players. 'That is the amount of primary capital that we are putting in,' he said. 'We think £20m is the right amount to put this summer. But we need to make sure we are running the club in a sustainable way. We are not looking for what I think of as the sugar high – come in spend some money, sign some players and try to win something. Then you have the sugar crash that comes from that.' As well as being a passionate football fan, Cavenagh is a former footballer. So he is acutely aware that results are required to keep Rangers fans, who gave him a warm welcome during his first public appearance as chairman, onside moving forward. He is, however, prepared for whatever is going to come his way, both good and bad. Read more: 'I was a goalkeeper growing up,' he said. 'We had a play-off match in my senior year and the coach came up to me before it and said, 'Andrew, everyone on the field today is going to make mistakes today, but they just happen to have a special place to keep track of yours and it is called a scorebox'. 'I wouldn't make myself out as much of a player, but it teaches you that you can have big moments, that you are going to have to make big decisions, and you have to live with the ones that you get wrong. I am prepared.'
USA Today
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Is Philly water ice the same as Italian ice? No, and here's why
Philly-style water ice makes a great 7th inning treat – Photo courtesy of Catherine Smith This article, originally published in June 2019, was updated in June 2025. Fans of the podcast "Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce" recently discovered another 'uniquely Philly' passion of Kelce's: water ice. 'WTF is water ice? Are we talking about snow cones?' asked YouTube viewer @treysullivan9248. Kelce, like any true Philadelphian, aggressively but understandably, clarified: 'No, Trey! We are not talking about snow cones!' Advertisement Kelce — media personality, podcast host, and wife of retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce — went on to say that water ice is a Philadelphia summer staple that's basically frozen sugar water. "You can't go wrong with it,' she said. What is Philly-style water ice? Philly kids love their Philadelphia water ice – Photo courtesy of Catherine Smith Most similar to a fresh fruit slushie, water ice has been Philadelphia's favorite summer treat for generations. Each spring, as the weather starts to warm up and hint at summer, we celebrate with our favorite seasonal treat. Moms line up with their kids at their favorite water ice stands. Excited children study the freezer full of colorful tubs. One asks, "Can I have strawberry on the bottom and mango on top?' The teenager behind the counter happily obliges, filling the bottom half of the plastic cup with an icy strawberry mixture and topping it off with another pale-yellow scoop. Advertisement While Philadelphians have been enjoying water ice for generations, the consumption of ice and fruit combinations goes back a couple of thousand years to ancient Sicily (and can be traced even further back to Asia, Persia, and Mesopotamia). To beat the summer heat, according to food historian Liz Williams, ancient Sicilians devised creative means to both refresh and delight. Long before the invention of coolers and refrigeration, the people of Sicily were ingeniously experimenting with ice. Runners were sent up the almost 11,000-foot Mount Etna, Europe's highest active volcano, to collect snow and ice that could be combined with lemons, limes, and other fresh fruits to create a cool and refreshing summer treat. Over the years, Sicilians mastered a method of storing the ice in caverns beneath the volcano before transporting it to other parts of Italy. As they did so, the practice of mixing ice and fruit, known as granita, spread throughout Italy. Different regions developed their own versions of the fruit and ice combination, as well as sorbets and gelato. Fast forward some 2,000 years to the early 1900s, at the peak of Italian immigration to the United States. Approximately 2 million Italians immigrated here at that time, the majority coming from Southern Italy with hopes of escaping the intense poverty back home. Advertisement Men and women looked for creative ways — like peddling granita — to make money while establishing themselves and seeking employment. Just as the different regions of Italy developed different versions of granita over the years, American cities with high concentrations of Italians, especially Sicilians, began developing their versions. How do you serve Philadelphia water ice? Traditional water ice (pronounced "wooder ice" with the local accent) is made with three simple ingredients: fresh fruit, sugar and water. While it was once made by hand, today the ingredients are combined in a metal, cylindrical machine. A mixer inside the metal barrel rotates and scrapes the edges as the mixture begins to freeze and stick to the walls. After reaching the correct consistency, the water ice is transferred into tubs and served up fresh. Where is Philadelphia water ice made? Enjoy a refreshing treat at John's Water Ice – Photo courtesy of Kae Lani Palmisano As water ice has grown in popularity, new stands and mass-produced water ice franchises have popped up. Kids especially love Rita's Water Ice, a chain now available in over 30 states. Two of Philadelphia's most beloved water ice stands are John's Water Ice and Pop's Homemade Water Ice. John Cardullo, founder of John's Water Ice, owned a diner in the heart of South Philly's Italian Market neighborhood and often served water ice as a dessert. In 1945, as the water ice grew in popularity, he decided to close the diner, turn it into office space for his heating repair company, and open a simple water ice stand next door. Advertisement The two seasonal businesses provided Cardullo with steady income in both winter and summer. John's Water Ice still operates out of this original location on Christian Street, with a second location in Huntingdon Valley. Filippo Italiano of Pop's Homemade Water Ice sold his homemade Italian water ice from a cart he pushed around the neighborhood. As word of his refreshing treat spread, children and families began lining up outside his garage waiting for him to open. Since he lived across the street from an urban park, Italiano realized he was well-known enough to quit lugging his heavy cart around in the heat and let people come to him instead. In 1932, he converted his garage into a storefront. Decades later, his grandchildren still serve water ice out of this same location. Advertisement If you're visiting Philadelphia, head over to one of the mom-and-pop stands where you know you'll be met with the tastiest and most authentic Philadelphia water ice experience. Just be prepared, as many are cash only. John's is easily walkable from the Liberty Bell and Center City, while Pop's is located right off the Broad Street Line subway, a perfect place to stop before or after a Phillies game.
Axios
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
First look: Philadelphia's Sadie Alexander statue designs
Philly has unveiled five finalists' design proposals for the planned statue of civil rights activist Sadie Alexander. Why it matters: It would be the second statue of a historic African American woman figure in the city's public art collection. Context: Alexander, born in 1898, was a Philadelphian who broke barriers in academia and law. She was the first Black woman to earn a doctorate in economics in the U.S., and the first Black woman to graduate from Penn's Law School. Plus: She was a founding member of Philly's Commission on Human Relations and the first Black woman to serve as the city's assistant solicitor. Flashback: The city launched its plans for a statue of Alexander late last year. Zoom in: An online survey, where you can rank your favorite designs and provide feedback, is open through July 9. A selection committee will use the survey results and other criteria to select a winner at the end of July. Installation of the statue is expected to start this fall or late 2026. The design options: Vinnie Bagwell's "The First Lady of the Law: Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander" Rayvenn Shaleigha D'Clark's "Democracy's Battle Cry" Tanda Francis' design Alvin Pettit's "The Face of Resilience" Team Wilson, Honzo and Hayes' proposal
