🧀 Philly’s thriving cheese scene

🍽️ James Beard Semifinalists Just Dropped

Philly eateries and chefs have picked up nine semifinalist spots in this year’s prestigious food competition. Stay tuned for the finalists announcement in April and winners in June. [Eater Philly]

• National recognition of Philly's food scene has skyrocketed in the past decade. Our city now gets the third-most awards for chefs and restaurants in the U.S., after NYC and LA. [Inquirer 🔒]

✅ Colored Girls Museum Can Stay in Its Home

The Zoning Board of Adjustment has decided the Northwest Philly museum that documents the experiences of Black and brown girls can stay where it is. The founder still has to move out of the building, a Germantown twin which had been her private residence. [WHYY]

• The museum operated openly without zoning approval for many years, but its future became murky after an anonymous 311 report. [City Cast Philly 🎧]

🚔 PPD Officers Give Amanda Seyfried a Tour

The Allentown-born actress will portray a police officer in the TV adaptation of the Kensington-set book “Long Bright River,” so she joined Philly police and the book’s author — a Temple professor — for a ride-along on Tuesday. [PhillyVoice]

✏️ Kindergarten Sign-Ups Now Open

Registration for public kindergarten in Philly opened earlier this week and continues until the end of May. Your child is eligible if they turn five before Sept. 1. [Chalkbeat Philadelphia]

Philadelphia’s City Council is back this morning for its first regular session of the year since its 17 members were sworn in earlier this month.

Today, the local lawmakers will establish rules for the chamber. Moving forward, they’ll meet nearly every Thursday at 10 a.m. (sans holidays and their summer break) to introduce, discuss, and vote on city-level legislation.

Thanks to a spate of resignations and 2023’s municipal election, this year’s council is looking pretty different from before.

A New Council President

Former Council President Darrell Clarke decided to retire at the end of last year after serving 24 years on council (12 of them as president).

Taking Clarke’s place as the chamber’s leader is Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson, a longtime Philly politician who represents parts of Center City, South Philly, and Southwest Philly. He beat federal corruption charges in 2022 and has since ascended to the highest seat in the chamber.

He’ll be responsible for directing much of council’s work, including appointing committee members, scheduling meetings, and sending legislation to the appropriate committee.

Only One Republican Remains

City Council has 10 district members who represent specific geographic areas, and seven “at-large” members who are elected citywide. Of those seven, only five can be from the same political party. Since Democratic voters are the overwhelming majority in Philly, Democrats have traditionally held five at-large seats, and Republicans have held two.

Recent history has bucked that pattern, though: in 2019, the progressive Working Families Party candidate Kendra Brooks managed to win an at-large seat, and in last year’s election, fellow WFP candidate Nicolas O’Rourke eked out a win.

Now, there are no Republican at-large members. In total, City Council has 14 Democrats, two Working Families Party members, and one Republican: Brian O’Neill, who has represented the Far Northeast for 44 years.

Lots of Fresh Faces

Of City Council’s 17 members, four are new this year, four have served less than one term, and four more have served for just one term. Click the button below to keep reading!

Is Philly the Best Cheese City in America?

Step aside Wisconsin, the Keystone State is coming for your cheese crown! Pennsylvania is home to 5,000 dairy farms, and the Philly area is chock full of artisan cheese shops and creameries. City Cast Philly podcast host Trenae Nuri chats about what makes Philly a dairy destination with Tenaya Darlington, the cheese curator at Tria and author of multiple books about cheese. Plus, she gives her recommendations for creating the ultimate local cheese board.