It\u2019s Friday, Philly, with periods of rain expected.<\/p>\n
An entrepreneur wants to turn a Chinatown food court into a Black-owned \u201cmini-Reading Terminal.\u201d The project is about more than food.<\/a><\/p>\n And can City Hall keep 925 West Philadelphia homes affordable? As local leaders race again to find a subsidized housing solution, United Way thinks it has the answer<\/a>. <\/p>\n Plus, Philly\u2019s school board passed a $4.7 billion budget<\/a>, and more news of the day. <\/p>\n \u2014 Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here<\/a>.<\/p>\n In a previously desolate double storefront in Chinatown, entrepreneur Levell \u201cGarci\u201d Peterkin has set out to build a food court where smaller entrepreneurs have a chance at success. <\/p>\n Vendors at the Square Food Court on Race Street so far include a dessert shop, soul food and seafood purveyors, and Peterkin\u2019s own Carter\u2019s Steaks by Garci. (Think: halal rib-eye cheesesteaks topped with shrimp.)<\/p>\n The North Philadelphia-born entrepreneur found the current tenants through social media and hopes to bring in two more. He also hopes the project can inspires others to pursue entrepreneurship as a path to success.<\/p>\n In his own words: \u201cMy whole goal was to try to find someone, give someone a chance, and try to build them up,\u201d he told The Inquirer.<\/p>\n Restaurant reporter Michael Klein has the story on Peterkin\u2019s lifelong road to Square Food Court.<\/a><\/p>\n More food news: Liberty Kitchen is leaving Two Locals Brewing Co. in University City, and the team from Corio is moving in with new food ideas<\/a>.<\/p>\n Another 925 units of affordable housing in Philadelphia are in danger of disappearing because of expiring federal housing subsidies.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfe0 Their developer owner wants to sell them. Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, whose district includes many of the West Philly properties, wants to quickly intercede and \u201chelp fund\u201d the purchase of the units, which are 94% occupied.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfe0 Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has made preserving housing affordability a tenet of her first term. Officials said during a budget hearing this week that they would work with Gauthier on a solution, but the scale of the portfolio is a challenge. <\/p>\n \ud83c\udfe0 Meanwhile, the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey is raising $100 million to set up a permanent answer to the issue of expiring affordability.<\/p>\n Real estate reporter Jake Blumgart explains how the program would work.<\/a><\/p>\n In other City Council news: Philly\u2019s longstanding resign-to-run rule for elected officials will likely remain in place after a City Council member on Thursday moved to repeal legislation that lawmakers passed just one month ago<\/a>.<\/p>\n What you should know today<\/p>\n Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday. We\u2019ll feature both new and timeless stories from our forum for readers to ask about the city\u2019s quirks<\/a>.<\/p>\n This week, we\u2019re resurfacing an explainer from 2018 on what some city neighborhoods are called by the people who live there, and why \u2014 because there\u2019s nothing that gets Philadelphians going like neighborhood definitions.<\/p>\n Why is Swampoodle named Swampoodle, according to one lifelong resident? The answer is simple: \u201cThat\u2019s what it\u2019s always been called.\u201d We also heard from those living in Nicetown, Devil\u2019s Pocket, Olde Richmond, East Oak Lane, Washington Square West, Overbrook Park, and West Passyunk. Here\u2019s the full story.<\/a><\/p>\n Have your own burning question about Philadelphia, its local oddities, or how the region works? Submit it here and you might find the answer featured in this space.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83e\udde0 Trivia time<\/p>\n Where was the Guinness World Record for the longest line of cheesesteaks set this week?<\/p>\n A) PHL <\/p>\n B) Citizens Bank Park<\/p>\n C) The Italian Market<\/p>\n D) Reading Terminal Market<\/p>\n Think you know? Check your answer.<\/a> <\/p>\n What we\u2019re \u2026<\/p>\n \u26d4 Not driving on: MLK Drive starting this weekend<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd83 Mourning: Fred, Deptford\u2019s unofficial turkey mascot<\/a>, and Khumbie, the Philadelphia Zoo\u2019s red panda<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u26be Learning: How robot umpires works, and how the Phillies will use the pitch challenge system<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udea7 Planning: How to get around this Sunday\u2019s Philadelphia Love Run<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfe5 Considering: How the war in Iran may impact cancer patients<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83e\udde9 Unscramble the anagram<\/p>\n Hint: Multinational technology company<\/p>\n TEAM <\/p>\n Email us if you know the answer<\/a>. We\u2019ll select a reader at random to shout out here. <\/p>\n Cheers to Stephen Fitzmartin, who solved Thursday\u2019s anagram: Cory Booker. The U.S. senator from New Jersey spoke to The Inquirer about caffeine pills, Trump, and \u201ca better tomorrow\u201d ahead of a Philly book tour visit this week<\/a>.<\/p>\n Photo of the day<\/p>\n \ud83c\udf2d One last celebratory thing: From tailgating to Schwarbombs, see the fan highlights from the Phillies\u2019 sunny opening day at Citizens Bank Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n Thanks for ending your week with The Inquirer. Have a great weekend.<\/p>\n