Good Good Things – Issue 011

Hello friends, hope everyone is hanging in and fighting the good fight. On a quick personal note, I’m heartbroken to say our beautiful Shelby passed away recently. She had a rough month, but said goodbye peacefully after a sunny day on the porch with some ice cream and then resting on one of her three favorite sofas surrounded by her family. She was an elegant, incredibly smart boss lady who loved sweaters, blankets, car rides in her own “seat of importance,” and rooting through bushes searching for treats. Read more >

Shelby and her Best friend — Shelby and her best friend

Shelbz was a very good dog, and in her honor, I will share with you some good, good things.

50 Years of Fresh Air: An Oral History

Fresh Air’s Terry Gross in the early ’90s / Photograph courtesy of WHYY

I love a good oral history, and writer Pete Croatto does a fine job detailing this icon’s career in broadcasting.

In September 1975, Terry Gross, just 24, sat down in the host chair and turned Fresh Air into a genre-defining radio show. Fifty years later, Gross, her colleagues, and her competitors look back on how one show became a cultural touchstone.

Read the story on Philly Magazine >

Love Forever

Image Credit: Jerome Huang, courtesy of UAP | Urban Art Projects

This is a beautiful piece of public art. More of this, please. And this.

In the heart of Nanjing’s first eco-commercial hub, a powerful symbol of unity and love now stands as a testament to human connection. The Nanjing China Merchants development, built around the innovative REvalue concept, has become home to LOVE FOREVER, a stunning 7-meter sculpture created by renowned Australian artist Jeremyville. This groundbreaking project spans 140,000 square meters and represents Nanjing’s first combined Park-Oriented Development and Transit-Oriented Development, blending natural sustainability with cultural innovation.

See more photos >

Favorite Childhood T-Shirt

Since Shelby’s passing, I’ve been trying to fill the hours of my day doing productive things besides crying, and I’ve decided to tackle my basement, and in particular, “the side room.”

This is a dark little room that is behind an old pocket door that is very hard to open and close. It has old-school wood-paneled walls and lots of brown shelves. The side room is the go-to place to hide stuff in and store lots of plastic tubs of our kids’ old toys, projects, and artwork we cannot part with. It also contains lots of shoeboxes filled with old photos. I came upon this stone-cold stunner recently:

This is a photo of a young Jeff Lyons with a serious head of cowlicked hair, inspired by his favorite drummer at the time, Martin Chambers of The Pretenders. I am wearing my favorite t-shirt from my childhood. I spent way too much time blowing my allowance at Belmar Playland, one quarter at a time, playing skeeball to earn enough points/tickets to buy two things:

a switchblade comb
a “Belmar Playland” t-shirt

I cannot remember how many points it took to acquire each treasure, but it was 100% worth it. The switchblade comb was cool as hell, even though I rarely washed/combed my hair. The shirt was a true badge of honor, letting everyone know that I was a regular at Belmar’s greatest arcade, dominating some of the least popular games in the building: Galaga, Q*bert, and Dig Dug.

My second favorite shirt was a hand-me-down from my cousins in Boston: a yellow “Unbelievable Bobby Orr” t-shirt. I was not a hockey fan and did not know who he was, but I thought the shirt was pretty rad.

What was your favorite t-shirt that you wore the hell out of as a child?

Comment below or here on Bluesky.

The Oldest Restaurant In Every State

PA – McGillin’s Olde Ale House (1860)
NJ – The Black Horse Tavern & Pub (1742)
NY – ’76 House (1754)
CA – Tadich Grill (1849)

See entire list: thetakeout.com

While the U.S. has been a country since the 1770s, it has since grown to comprise 50 states and one district. Every place has its extensive culinary history, including really old restaurants that have been kicking around and staying in business for more than 100 years, thanks to a combination of reputation, good food, and cultural importance. Here are 50 of the oldest restaurants in the United States of America — specifically, each state’s longest-running, continuously open eatery.

A Pair of Chestnut Trees Exists in Wissahickon Valley Park

Andrew Conboy examines the blight-free chestnut trees of Carpenter’s Woods. Photo by Chris Baker Evens.

You don’t see chestnut trees anymore because they are “functionally extinct” due to a fungal disease, accidentally introduced from Asia in the early 20th century, which rapidly spread and killed the majority of American chestnut trees. Thankfully, you can see two healthy, apparently blight-resistant American chestnut trees in beautiful Wissahickon Valley Park in Philly.

The Carpenter’s Woods chestnuts are puzzling for a few reasons. First, it’s unclear if they are resistant to the fungal pathogen and thus considered “survivor trees,” or if they have somehow avoided being infected in the first place.

Read the story on Grid Philly >

Todd Glass’s Full Set from Don’t Stop I’m About to JAZZ!

Todd is a (disruptive) force of good.

Good Jams

Jay Som – “What You Need”

Home Front – “Light Sleeper”

Militarie Gun – “B A D I D E A”

The World Will Always Remember Maru

Shout out to Maru and all the joy you brought to the world.

Maru was born in 2007, and soon became internet famous for his antics. He was a chunky cat with an inscrutable expression who tried to fit into any box, no matter how small. Here is our first posted video of Maru. People loved to watch Maru whatever he was doing, from discovering new toys to walking through the grass.
Read More on Neatorama >

Quick Hits

Donate to World Central Kitchen

Help José Andrés and his team serve 1 million hot meals daily in Gaza.

Donate Now >

10 Slang Terms Kids Are Using in 2025, Decoded

I’m so ready to chat with my teen and her friends now, it’s gonna be straight fire.

Keeping track of what your kids are saying and meaning, ultimately, can be something of a parental nightmare. As a little bit of an explainer, here’s a quick guide to 10 kids’ slang terms that have made a mark in recent months.

Aura farming
Do it for the plot
Gyatt
Lizard
Mewing
Steez
Straight fire
W in the chat
What the sigma?!
67

Get the deets on these terms >

How to Make Falafel

I would say the most hit or miss food that I love and crave often is falafel.

50% of the time, it is dry and flavorless
25% of the time, it is okay and just needs some extra Tahini sauce
25% of the time is moist and delicious and bursting with green-hued flavor

The falafel made by Refika in this video looks quite tasty. My favorite in the Philly area is Goldie. Their Tahini Shake is also amazing.

Today I have the best falafel recipe for you! You just need some small tricks to make this crispy, delicious gluten free and vegan miracle. We made a delicious plate with the hummus and spoon salad as supporting actors, also not forgetting the deliciously crunchy simit!

Just a Reminder…

Good Stuff on Bluesky

JOANNA NEWSOM: *playing the harp while hooting and growling*

ANDY SAMBERG: that’s great hon

— good hyuck, babe! (@markpopham.bsky.social) September 4, 2025 at 10:36 PM

this must be what it feels like to be jamelle bouie 😂

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— Patrick Vallely (@pjvphotography.bsky.social) August 28, 2025 at 5:54 PM

Philly was recently named the “Best City for Street Art.” And if you’re interested in learning more about this dynamic world, I’d love to invite you to check out my podcast with WHYY called, Art Outside!

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— Conrad Benner (@streetsdept.bsky.social) April 10, 2025 at 5:48 PM

Golf, tennis, and skiing were the bad guy’s sports in ’80s movies for a reason.

— Brian McFadden (@mcfadden.bsky.social) September 8, 2025 at 9:02 AM

I turned around for 15 seconds and my son had somehow turned on The Godfather

— Dan McQuade (@dhm.bsky.social) September 7, 2025 at 6:12 PM

Go on without me, pals. This is where it ends. I’m a dozen emails deep with a group of ladies trying to organize a birthday dinner

— mave (@mave.bsky.social) September 5, 2025 at 4:24 PM

“Jack Harlow” sounds like the name of a guy who’s about to lose a 3 minute match to the Honky Tonk Man on WWF Superstars on a Saturday morning.

— Ken Childs (@thekenchilds.com) September 9, 2025 at 7:07 AM

Important to remember that everyone involved in renaming the DoD to the Department of War is afraid to take the subway.

— Roberto Baldwin (@strngwys.bsky.social) September 5, 2025 at 6:42 PM