❤️‍🔥 Schuylkill beach hot takes

🧑‍🍼 The Rising Cost of Childcare

Philly families are feeling the burden of rising childcare costs, with these expenses outpacing inflation and jumping over 30% between 2019 and 2023, according to anonymized data from Bank of America. To make matters worse, dwindling federal funds are leading to the closure of childcare centers. These factors are forcing some parents to leave the workforce. [Inquirer 🔒]

🏟️ A World Fair for the Kids

Philly’s Centennial District may host a Children’s World Fair in 2026, as proposed by the Philadelphia Zoo, Please Touch Museum, and Mann Center for the Performing Arts. Slated to coincide with the country’s 250th birthday, the proposal is aimed at engaging children in innovation and cultural exchange. [Philadelphia Business Journal 🔒]

📵 TikTok Ban Gets Closer to Reality

Congress has passed a bipartisan bill that would force TikTok's Beijing-based parent company ByteDance to sell the social media app within a year, or face a countrywide ban. Pres. Biden is expected to sign the bill into law, but there will likely be legal challenges. [USA Today]

• Before the clock runs out, here are the best Philly TikTok accounts. [City Cast Philly 🎧]

🧀 24/7 Charcuterie Supplies

Perrystead Dairy has debuted a 24-hour cashless vending machine outside its Kensington location that will dispense its award-winning cheese, crackers, meats, and jams. The vending machine has been two years in the making for founder Yoav Perry, who plans to incorporate other local cheeses and offer discounts on the Too Good To Go app. [Inquirer 🔒]

In case you missed it, University City District recently unveiled ambitious plans to revamp the Schuylkill River waterfront near 30th Street Station into a bi-level park they’re calling the West Philly Waterfront. Here’s what Hey Philly readers had to say about it.

👍 Reader William W. said: “This would be a great fit for this part of the city, I believe it will have good community support. I hope to hear more in the near future.”

🥽 Reader Maryann R. said: “I think this is a great idea. As a child I couldn't get to pools or the shore. This would help real city kids enjoy water and play. It's about time!!!”

👎 Reader Diane F. said: "It is really super distressing and even cruel to give a water park to those who need it the least. The people who would use this the most already have access to the city's best amenities such as university pools, pools in their buildings, and gym memberships. The issues that the city needs to address are homelessness and addiction services.”

⛔ Reader Tina C. said: “Yikes!! The river, a beach!? I can't even imagine... I would not swim in that river!! I [am] from East Falls, great neighborhood when fishing and playing all around there... but swim, nah... I would rather lay on the wall to tan, if anything!! They can keep that idea, I ain't biting!!”

• Editor’s note: The proposed beach would technically be above river level, but I’m also not convinced I’d swim in river-adjacent water. 🧐

🎧 Tune into the City Cast Philly podcast to hear more about the project, how much it will cost, and if we’d be down to go for a swim.

Philly’s Hot Chicken Showdown

Hot chicken might be synonymous with Nashville, but it’s taking over Philly. Host Trenae Nuri and City Cast Philly food contributor Dave Wez chow down and rate which recipe reigns supreme in a poultry showdown!