Philly is home to one of the largest urban parks in the country, Fairmount Park. And some neighborhoods have created even more green space by making community gardens – like Heroic Gardens out in the Northeast. Host Trenae Nuri went out to this sunflower garden and spoke with Collie Turner, founder and executive director, and Salome Hall, a Navy veteran and founder of Sisters Affirming Sisterhood Project, about how being in Philly nature helped them grow as people and give back to their communities.

For a map of community gardens to get involved with, visit the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

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It's the Friday News roundup! Life-changing SEPTA cuts are happening – host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz explain why. We also talk about how Pat Dugan, who challenged District Attorney Larry Krasner for the Democratic primary, is switching teams. Plus: The fate of the Frank Rizzo statue, a new doggy social club, and our favorites from the Best of Philly Soiree at the Philadelphia Art Museum. 

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Listen to our interviews with District Attorney Larry Krasner and challenger Pat Dugan during their campaigns for the Democratic primary district attorney seat a few months back. 

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Philly loves to socialize and drink, whether we’re getting a good happy hour deal, sipping our favorite crafted cocktails or mocktails on a rooftop, or chugging a cold one while watching the Eagles. Here’s another spot to consider: Hotel bars. Host Trenae Nuri sits down with our City Cast Philly food contributor Alisha Miranda to talk about why Philadelphians should be drinking at hotel bars even if those bars are also catering to out-of-towners.

These are the hotel bars mentioned in this episode: 

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Tomorrow is the deadline SEPTA set for Harrisburg to fund public transportation and prevent major service cuts to our transit system. Host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz have the latest developments and analysis on what needs to happen to avoid a transportation crisis in Philly. 

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President Trump’s recently approved bill known as the Big Beautiful Bill eliminated a program called SNAP-Education, which funds nutrition education programs across the country. One local nonprofit hit by the funding cuts is Vetri Community Partnership, which teaches Philadelphians how to cook healthy meals. It faces a $700,000 loss in funding for nutritional programs for schools, though its ⁠free weekly community classes⁠ will continue. On today’s show we’re re-airing host Trenae Nuri’s visit to one of these Tuesday community cooking nights, where she interviews CEO Maddy Booth.

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Will Philly public school teachers strike after the first week of school? That’s what their union, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, is threatening. Trenae Nuri visits the union offices in Center City to talk to PFT President Arthur Steinberg and LeShawna Coleman, PFT’s chief of staff, to find out what the teachers want in their new contract. 

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It's the Friday News Roundup! SEPTA still doesn't have funding and service cuts could start next week if the budget isn't passed. Host Trenae Nuri and executive producer Matt Katz also discuss a suspect that's been arrested for multiple sexual assaults and a court opinion that canceled Indigenous Peoples Day. Plus, Eagles preseason is here!

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As we wait to find out if state legislators will bail out SEPTA and prevent drastic transit service cuts and cancellations, we’re sharing conversations that we had with Philadelphians earlier this summer about how they get around town. There are many variables that determine how we get where we’re going, beyond the availability of SEPTA. This was recorded at the Franklin Institute’s Second Thursdays event. 

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The Committee of Seventy was founded more than 120 years ago to make Philly politics less corrupt. So is Philly less corrupt than it was then? Would abolishing the Sheriff’s Office, ending judicial elections, and imposing term limits fix our politics? Host Trenae Nuri visits Lauren Cristella, president and CEO of the Committee of Seventy, for our weekly Wednesday politics episode to find out how to improve civic engagement and our political system. Go here to listen to our May interview with Sheriff Rochelle Bilal.

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As we say goodbye to some coffee shop favorites like The Monkey and The Elephant and Tela's Market & Kitchen, some new shops have entered the scene. Out West off of 52nd Street and Haraz Coffee House in University City have become new coffee staples. We're revisiting a conversation from last year with host Trenae Nuri, executive producer Matt Katz, and producer Abby Fritz at Mr. Rabbit Coffee in Fitler Square to guide you through the variety of independent coffee shops across the city. 

This episode originally aired December 5th, 2024. 

Coffee shops mentioned in the episode: 

If you want more coffee recs and a map of shops to visit in Philly, check this out. 

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