🚆 Your Philly ➡️ D.C. day trip guide

📫 New Mail Ballot Lawsuit

Several left-leaning groups filed a lawsuit yesterday to challenge the Pennsylvania law requiring voters to include the day’s date when they sign their mail ballot envelope. According to the lawsuit, at least 10,000 ballots in the 2022 midterm election were thrown out because of that provision. [Associated Press]

🚇 Fewer Fare Evaders at 69th Street?

SEPTA says its fare revenue at 69th Street Station has doubled since it installed new, taller gates at the station’s entrance to the Market-Frankford Line, which it’s taking as an indication that the gates deter fare jumpers. The transit agency plans to install the gates at more stations throughout the system. [KYW]

🛹 Old LOVE Park Partially Resurrected in Sweden

Pre-renovation LOVE Park was a world-renowned destination for skateboarders, before a redesign in 2016 created a flatter space. The Swedish city of Malmö, however, used some salvaged elements and blueprint designs from the OG LOVE Park for one of their own. Philly skaters will be the first to use the space, which opens this weekend. [PhillyVoice]

🏳️‍🌈 New Bar Coming to the Gayborhood

ICYMI: D.C.’s Little Gay Pub — known for celebrity sightings and its elaborate, Insta-worthy bathrooms — plans to open a location in Philly by next spring, at the corner of 13th and Drury Streets. [Inquirer 🔒]

• Hear more about this upcoming bar — and catch up on other recent headlines — on today’s ~interactive~ episode of the City Cast Philly podcast. 🎧

Welcome back to our weekly art location game, where I show you a mural and you tell me where it is.

Hey Philly reader Siani C. submitted last week’s challenge. This one must’ve been pretty tricky, because no one guessed the correct answer:

The big reveal: This big painting is one of four bird murals underneath the Whitaker Avenue Bridge in Tacony Creek Park, all of which were commissioned by the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, a local nonprofit in Northeast Philly, and designed by VURT Creative. This photo was taken before the mural was refreshed at a community event last month.

Thanks again to Siani for sharing this mural and its story!

Now for this week’s art, which was submitted by Hey Philly reader Patricia C.:

Where is this mural? Let me know the street name and neighborhood, or maybe a nearby landmark. Submit your answer here, or send me an email.

If you’re willing to set aside any hard feelings about Washington, D.C., taking U.S. capital city status away from us here in Philly a couple hundred years ago, it’s actually a pretty fun place to visit.

Located about 150 miles southwest of Philly, Washington is a city known for its museums, historical sites, and government buildings. But there’s even more worth checking out there: The city is renowned for its parks and has its share of good food and charming neighborhoods. So, here are some ideas for how a visitor can spend a day there, including some suggestions from my colleagues at City Cast DC (Psssst … many of these recs are free!)

Disclaimer: This guide is far from exhaustive — think of it just as a starting point. And for even more Washington day trip tips, tune in to this episode of the City Cast Philly podcast 🎧

🌛 See the Monuments at Night

City Cast DC co-host Bridget Todd recommends skipping the National Mall during the day and instead visiting at night to beat the heat and enjoy a nicer ambiance. The Lincoln Memorial is open 24/7, and in the dark, it’s actually a nice date spot.

🏘️ Get To Know Neighborhoods

While it makes sense for a visitor to want to see all the touristy sites, it can also be fun to hang out in some of Washington’s great neighborhoods. City Cast DC senior executive producer Priyanka Tilve recommends checking out Adams Morgan, which has a strong dining and shopping scene, as well as Eastern Market, a public market where you can find indoor and outdoor merchants selling things like food, flowers, pottery, desserts, jewelry, and more.

For Food, Nature, Museum, and Travel Recs …

Continue reading on our website.

SEPTA Bus Revolution Approved, Fairmount Addiction Center Drama & New Gayborhood Bar

We’re doing something a little different for today’s midweek news roundup. Tune in to hear me and my team quiz each other on some recent local headlines, from the latest politics and transportation news, to some new businesses opening across the city!