August: To-Do List

Illustration by Chris Bernhardt 1. Collect your collards and okraStart harvesting some of those great plants you put into the ground—August is the start of when collards and okra should hit your plate. 2. Check A/C drainsAfter working hard all summer, your air conditioning drainage lines can clog. Make sure they’re functioning properly so you

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August: Comings & Goings

Retail Chain Unveils Large Solar Energy Project in New JerseyJersey-based arts and crafts retailer A.C. Moore hopes to cut energy costs by as much as 50 percent with the installation of a rooftop solar panel on its distribution warehouse in Berlin, New Jersey. The installation covers 12.5 acres of roof space with more than 11,000

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Frosty treats to help you beat the heat

Photo by Crystal Yan Ice Cream Dreams by Emily Kovach A scoop of ice cream perched atop a cone: Is there a better symbol of summer? Though ice cream trucks incessantly circle the block hawking pre-wrapped pops, we suggest holding out for the good stuff. High quality dairy, seasonal fruits and inventive combos from local

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Adults Only: 21-plus desserts

Photo by Marika Mirren Adults Only by Emily Kovach IPAs, fine wines and stiff craft cocktails are all well and good, but when it’s time to have some grown-up fun that doesn’t take itself too seriously, a 21-plus beverage that doubles as dessert is the way to go.  If You Like Piña Coladas Frozen Piña

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Carb Games: 10 baked goods for any occasion

Photo by Marika Mirren Carb Games by Emily Kovach A tender crumb, a flaky layer, a caramelized crust—baked goods possess so many ways to enthrall us. Sinking our teeth into something crafted from sugar, butter and flour is pure pleasure, and the list of where to find gorgeous carbohydrates in Philly goes on and on.

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Transcendent vegan treats

Indulging Without Dairy by Emily Kovach Think you need butter, cream and eggs to create rich, satisfying desserts? Think again. Philly’s new school of vegan chefs, bakers and artisans prove that a little ingenuity goes a long way when it comes to handmade goodies.  Drink Up Thai Iced TeaDottie’s Donuts Dottie’s is well-loved for their

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Peach preserves: easy to make and a pleasure to eat

Peach Bliss by Anna Herman Gorge though you may, there are only so many peaches and cherries you can eat this summer, and some fruits are just better when they aren’t fresh: I’ve rarely had an apricot on the East Coast that was worth eating when I bought it. But sweet and tart jam made

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Recipe: grilled melons with briny feta and crisp mint

A Fresh Take on Fruit Salad by Peggy Paul Casella Welcome to the sweetest time of the year, when bins of fragrant, bowling-ball-size melons crowd farmers market stalls and grocery store displays. Though you may think they belong to the botanical family their name suggests, watermelons come from a completely different genus—Citrullus—and are actually classified

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The term ‘blight’ is deeply rooted in racist ideology and failed urban renewal programs. It should no longer be a tool of city planning

Illustration by Nicholas Massarrelli Eliminating Blight by Eastwick Friends & Neighbors Coalition A blighted neighborhood… what does that mean? For many, the word conjures images of cracked sidewalks, strewn trash, rusty cars and homes in need of a paint job. But are any Philadelphia neighborhoods free of such features? According to Pennsylvania Urban Redevelopment Law,

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