Illustration by James Heimer Stars, Stripes and Sea Level Rise by Heather Shayne Blakeslee Your book is titled The United States of Excess: Gluttony and the Dark Side of American Exceptionalism. What is “American Exceptionalism”? RP: It’s the assertion that America is very different from other advanced industrial countries because of our unique history as
More
Photo courtesy of Kenney 2015 Power Shift by Heather Shayne Blakeslee On Nov. 3, the day before Mayor-elect Jim Kenney officially won his post, he started his public appearances for the day at South Philadelphia’s Barbacoa, the former spot of Vegan Commissary at 1703 S. 11th Street. The tiny restaurant was filled with a few
MoreIllustration by Max Gordon. Money Matters by Pamela J. Rich-Wheeler The barriers small businesses face are many, no matter where they are located, and one of the biggest is lack of access to capital. This is a particular problem for minorities and women who do not often have the luxury of wealth transfer as a
MoreClimate Change, Inc. by Heather Shayne Blakeslee Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe (R), one of America’s most influential climate science deniers, famously threw a snowball on the floor of the Senate this past February, his way of calling for calm amid what he calls climate change “hysteria.” It was a publicity stunt that is, unfortunately, emblematic
MoreMorro Castle Smoked PorterForgotten Boardwalk Brewing Co.Smooth maltiness anchors deep smokiness, with rich roasted coffee and tobacco on the nose. On draft and in growlers at the brewery and various local bars.Cherry Hill, N.J. Bon Annee Belgian Specialty AleSaint Benjamin Brewing CompanyA New Year’s beer with gooseberry, light fruit and white wine flavors made with
MoreStartUp PHL Grants $104kStartUp PHL, a city initiative to endorse and fund entrepreneurship in Philadelphia, has awarded $104,000 in grant money to six diverse organizations. Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha, who was granted $20,000, will convert land at 6th and Susquehanna streets into a pop-up marketplace. Corzo Center for the Creative Economy at the University of
MoreNothing but Fruit by Lindsey Walker Apple butter—a sweet, spreadable concentration of apple cider and apple sauce—is a centuries-old method of preserving fresh fruit that serves our appetite for local food and creates almost no waste. It’s “a simple food done incredibly well,” says Michael Holahan, who co-owns the Pennsylvania General Store with his wife,
MoreIllustration by Mike L. Perry The Makers are Coming Interview by Heather Shayne Blakeslee Fifty years ago, factories were busily producing products that America was exporting around the world. Since then, we’ve outsourced much of our making and doing. “Makerspace” is a catch-all term for places where inventors, tinkerers and hackers—makers all—can gather. These collaborative
MoreA Stitch in Time by William Beisley With garment manufacturing in Philadelphia at an all-time low, a brand like Norman Porter Co. appears like a denim-clad apparition from the past. The company’s jeans and other products have all been designed and produced with an almost bygone craftsman approach. Michael and David Stampler, brothers and co-owners
MoreIllustration by Kathleen White Car Culture Calculus by Jerry Silberman Question: What is best for the environment—a fuel-efficient internal combustion car, hybrid, or electric car? The Right Question: Is driving, regardless of the car, the biggest threat to the environment? When it comes to evaluating a car, we tend to look at how much gasoline
More