Beatrice Forman
non-practicing intellectual covering digital culture (and other things) for the philadelphia inquirer
- Reposted by Beatrice FormanFor this piece, we take you back to the 1970s Villanova University of Pope Leo's youth - a time when budding social changes clashed with the Catholic school's conservative ethos. w/ @maxmmarin.bsky.social @beaforman.bsky.social @njvadala.bsky.social www.inquirer.com/news/villano...
- NEW: Añejo in Northern Liberties is closed indefinitely after former investor and Glu Hospitality cofounder Tim Lu attempted to take over the Mexican restaurant on Cinco De Mayo. The restaurant is also facing eviction over $246,000 in back rent and fees. share.inquirer.com/N8C34l
- Reposted by Beatrice Formanyes, ChatGPT is in schools; there are K-12 school districts and DOEs entering into AI contracts, too. so rather than panicking over the death of academia as a foregone conclusion—particularly when LLMs are frequently wrong—why don't we talk about the climate costs of AI? my latest @teenvogue.com
- Philly lost $10.2 million in AmeriCorps funding from DOGE cuts, nearly all of which was for literacy, college readiness, and education programs that work alongside or within the city's schools. Some volunteers were pulled from schools immediately. Others don't know if they can return next year.
- NEW: Gov. Josh Shapiro, Gov. Andy Beshear, and 23 state AGs are suing the Trump administration for bypassing Congress to dismantle AmeriCorps. The suit alleges that the staffing and grant cuts would inflict “immediate and irreparable harm” if allowed to stand.
- NEWS: Philly receives $17.9 million in federal AmeriCorps funding — the most in Pa. — to administer disaster relief, education, and anti-poverty volunteer programs. Volunteers worry DOGE's cuts could halt their work, kneecapping the city's most vulnerable communities in the process.
- God forbid a steakhouse catch a vibe. Northern Liberties steakhouse SIN — whose claim to fame is bringing 'vibe dining' to Philly — officially closed last week (which I only found out when I showed up for a reservation and the doors were locked). 🖊️ for @inquirer.com
- Reposted by Beatrice FormanThis (baseball) season’s hottest accessory is the Hello Kitty x Phillies licensed belt bag — available in limited quantities. I dig into the coveted bag's past (like with Dodgers fans on the resale market) & Sanrio's history with the MLB. UR WELCOME⚾️: share.inquirer.com/C0cdMz
- What did Philadelphian-area shoppers panic buy before Trump paused most tariffs? Korean sunscreen and Japanese stationery. Icelandic vodka, avocados, and lots of Mexican Coke, showcasing just how important — and totalizing — the little treat economy actually is. 🖊️ for @inquirer.com
- finally putting my encyclopedic knowledge of bethenny frankel's tiktok to good use
- Bethenny Frankel ( @bethennyfrankel.bsky.social ) asked her TikTok followers how she should spend the day in Philadelphia. @beaforman.bsky.social and I took it upon ourselves to give her an itinerary: share.inquirer.com/vZ0Uo6
- Getting lots of good replies! If you're interested in being interviewed, my DMs are open to all
- Hey Philly: What are you panic buying to get ahead of the tariffs? I'm working on a story for @inquirer.com, and particularly interested in hearing about the little treats you might be bulk buying: booze, skincare, coffee, etc. Wanna chat? Reply, DM, or email bforman[at]inquirer[dot]com.
- Hey Philly: What are you panic buying to get ahead of the tariffs? I'm working on a story for @inquirer.com, and particularly interested in hearing about the little treats you might be bulk buying: booze, skincare, coffee, etc. Wanna chat? Reply, DM, or email bforman[at]inquirer[dot]com.
- Wonder — Marc Lore's chain of dressed up ghost kitchens that has been expanding rapidly across the Northeast — has finally landed around Philly. I tried their new Ardmore location (and their $37 delivery New York strip steak). Here's what to know ➡️ share.inquirer.com/jY8soq
- Erewhon dupes in Philly? Sort of. I profiled the smoothie counter at Riverwards Produce in Old City, which churns out viral $8.00 smoothies etched with flowers and layered with coconut cream. And yet, the owner says its nothing like the elitist LA grocer. 🖊️ for @inquirer.com
- Reposted by Beatrice FormanWe're tracking cuts by HHS across NJ and PA. More than $1 billion in grants targeted for termination include funding for disease prevention, child vaccination, addiction services and more. www.inquirer.com/health/hhs-d...
- and to all those wondering, yes, the bar will show Eagles games!
- From @inquirer.com colleague @beaforman.bsky.social: Women’s sports bars are popping up across the U.S. Now @watchpartyphl.bsky.social is fundraising to open one in Philly. www.inquirer.com/sports/women...
- In more Glu Hospitality news: An investor is alleging that the Philly restaurant group's cofounder Tim Lu assaulted him when he asked for his money back, according to a lawsuit filed Friday. Here's how a $100k investment turned into a group beat down, for @inquirer.com share.inquirer.com/Lz4Eef
- Did you know that the man behind the Timothee Chalamét look-a-like competition is the same man who went viral for eating cheeseballs? Did you also know that he's from South Jersey? I profiled Anthony Potero, the YouTuber with 1.9 million subscribers who just wants the internet to feel fun again.
- Reposted by Beatrice Forman
- Glu Hospitality — the group behind Figo and other vibe-y Philly restaurants — has shut down. The business had cash flow issues, said one co-founder, resulting in a Dept. of Labor investigation after employee checks began bouncing. ✍️ w/ @phillyinsider.bsky.social share.inquirer.com/og0Xdq
- Reposted by Beatrice FormanMantua's median age has decreased as Philly as gotten older overall, driven by an influx of Drexel University students searching for off-campus housing. Via @joeyerardi.bsky.social & @beaforman.bsky.social
- Reposted by Beatrice FormanPhilly as a whole is getting older. But that's not the case in Mantua. The neighborhood's gotten younger over the past decade as an influx of Drexel University students has moved in, fueling concerns about displacement and gentrification. My latest w/ @beaforman.bsky.social share.inquirer.com/0WwwPK
- Philly overall is getting older, but one neighborhood has gotten younger — and less affordable — over the past decade. Welcome to Mantua, where Drexel's expansion has long-term residents concerned about being displaced by students clamoring for off-campus apartments.
- Philly's Blade Runner-themed ramen bar Chika has closed just weeks after @inquirer.com discovered they were serving alcohol with an expired liquor license. Chika was 1 of 4 restaurants that was flouting liquor laws from Glu Hospitality, which is also facing wage theft allegations from employees.
- SPS Technologies was known for company softball games and high pay. Then, a fire tore through the aerospace manufacturer, unveiling a tapestry of environmental and safety concerns. I interviewed former SPS employees, who spoke of good memories and frequent small fires. share.inquirer.com/wZJKKs
- Which team is the best dressed in the NFL and why is it the Philadelphia Eagles? I took on the Kansas City Star to argue about why the Chiefs will never, ever have the swag of our starters — at least when it comes to dressing for a tunnel walk. www.inquirer.com/eagles/super...
- Vera Wang didn't know much about the Eagles when the Luries asked her to revamp our cheer uniforms. Now her oldest daughter is a super fan. I asked the designer about why working for the NFL's toughest fanbase felt like "leaping off a cliff." share.inquirer.com/X5mcIP
- Figo’s espresso martini towers — plus drinks at 3 other Glu Hospitality restaurants — were being served without proper liquor licenses. That’s just the beginning of trouble for the Philly restaurant group also facing 2 lawsuits and wage theft allegations. ✍️ @inquirer.com share.inquirer.com/eGV7hI
- In case you needed yet another app to try to build a ~ brand ~ on, @emdruma.bsky.social and I explained RedNote, the Chinese-run app that has emerged as the (ironic) TikTok replacement in the U.S. share.inquirer.com/xVo92r
- Reposted by Beatrice FormanThe Supreme Court unanimously upholding the looming TikTok ban leaves a swarm of Philadelphia content creators in limbo and frustrated. Here's what they had to say. From me and @beaforman.bsky.social:
- Hey Philly: Are any of your favorite Philly-based content creators moving to RedNote (aka Xiaohongshu)? I'm building a list for @inquirer.com to help ease the transition should the TikTok ban go down!
- No one: Philly: We have the Eras Tour at home Led by a pair of father-daughter Swifties, the Getaway Choir is recruiting Taylor fans from all over the city to join them in singing Taylor Swift's greatest hits and deepest cuts. Their first performance is on Jan. 11. share.inquirer.com/9cYdn6
- In news from the other website: Philly's chicken man Alexander Tominsky challenged Youtuber Anthony Po to a fight in the lot that used to be Melrose Diner. He thinks Po jacked his swag when he went viral for eating a bucket of cheese balls in an NYC park. www.inquirer.com/news/philade...
- we have dirty soda at home — no really. i tried Fizzy Mama, the New Hope soda shop that’s been specializing in the Utah delicacy since 2022, long before the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives captured our hearts. why soda with coffee creamer and a billion syrups rocks ⬇️ www.inquirer.com/food/drink/f...
- Philly is getting a Jalen Hurts look-a-like contest on Dec. 15. Winner gets beard oil and crawfish-flavored potato chips. I spoke with the competitions organizers, who say you’re more than welcome to use it as a singles mixer. www.inquirer.com/eagles/jalen...
- apt that my return to bluesky is to sound the alarm about a miles teller look-a-like contest in philly. why him? i explained for The Philadelphia Inquirer: www.inquirer.com/entertainmen...
- Reposted by Beatrice FormanThe latest Pew Research report on news content creators paints a damning picture of our skewed information ecosystem. I went deep into the 122 page report and broke down the key findings and what they mean www.usermag.co/p/the-majori...
