baltimore: Philadelphia Metropolis

My Philadelphia: West Philly

By S.G. Grant» We continue our series of Cover Stories on Philadelphia neighborhoods with S.G. Grant's essay about West Philadelphia. It's not the buildings and the businesses that attracts her, but the people -- in all their varied forms, colors and origins. Read on for Grant's census of modern West Philadelphia (Comments)

Death Calls

By Kessa Baylor» I never paid attention to the number of people who die each day in Philadelphia and its surrounding counties until I began working as a funeral home answering service representative. I would start my day with a quick stop to a local Dunkin Donuts for a cup of hot chocolate, and then drive up Baltimore Pike half awake and half numb to the job I would need to perform. Like a robot I would walk to my desk and log on to the computer system. I would wave to a few co-workers or say a dry hello or good morning. Then, just like clock work my line would begin to ring: a crying mother who lost her only son to suicide, a coroner who needed the undertaker to meet him at a home or, in many (Comments)

Answer to Question 4

C: 22% It will be hard for the city to reach that goal.  Currently, Philadelphia ranks 22nd out of the nation's 25 largest cities in the percentage of residents over the age of 25 with college degrees.  Here is a... (Comments)

The Baker's Daughter

By Dana Eiselen» For ore than three generations, the Eiselen family has run bakeries in Philadelphia. It was a tradition that began in the 1880's when the first Eiselen's arrived from Germany. It continues today with a bakery in Roxborough, a community fixture for more than 40 years. How long it remains is an open question. We continue our series on the changing city with a profile of Eiselen's at a critical point. The old baker may soon retire. Is there anyone to take his place? (Comments)

E Pluribus Unum? Nah.

The dispute known in the media as The Mosque at Ground Zero bubbled up while I was on vacation and, coincidentally, reading a book about the religious wars of an earlier era in American history. It was an odd experience:... (Comments)