L&I, Police Show Up at Post Brothers’ Goldtex VIP Party

It's been a long, hard road for the Pestronk brothers' (aka Post Brothers) development of the Goldtex site at 12th and Vine streets. There have been shoving matches, picket lines formed, slashed tires, and a host of other disturbances thanks to a labor dispute over the $38 million project. But according to this invite that I just received, the Post brothers are ready to show off their latest apartment building. The accompanying email promises "Veuve Clicquot, catering from Ruth's Chris Steak House, pearls, and plenty of other delightful surprises." And, perhaps, the Rat-Mobile? Updated [12:40 p.m., 5/16/13]: Pat Gillespie, business manager of the Philadelphia...

Staphmeal’s Joshua Scott Albert Pleads Guilty, Gets Out of Jail

It seems just like days ago that we were telling you that Joshua Scott Albert, the infamous gossip blogger behind Staphmeal, was hanging out in maximum security awaiting trial. Come to think of it, that was just days ago. Well, we are, er, ambivalent to report that the 26-year-old has negotiated a plea deal and is back on the streets. Here's a tweet he sent out on Sunday: I'm in jail for 8 months and get only to find Snoop Dog is now Snoop Lion, what has the world come to in such short time ? — Staph Meal (@staphmeal) May 12, 2013 According to...

Do You Let Your Kids Curse?

The rise of the "cursing household."

A couple of weeks ago, I was standing in the office of my colleague Jason Sheehan, food editor of Philadelphia magazine. I don't recall exactly what we were discussing, but at some point, I said something to the effect of, "What is with that shit?" Cursing is a regular occurrence in our offices, so this was not unusual. But then I realized that my colleague's nine-year-old daughter was seated behind a divider in his office. It was Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day.

Stray Cat Strife on the Main Line Over Radnor Ordinance

Opponents worry cats will starve. Proponents shout "rabies!"

It's been quite a month for our fine furry friends in the Philadelphia region. First there was the wild turkey who was running around West Philadelphia. (He has his own Twitter account, naturally). Then there were the rat sightings. Then there were more rat sightings. (Surprisingly, the rats don't have their own Twitter account, although @ThePhillyRat is currently available ... just saying). And now, it's stray cats that are the subject of much hand-wringing.

Get Ready to Boo: Sucky John Mayer Playing Parkway Concert July 4th

This July 4th will mark the 20th anniversary of the city's Welcome America festivities on the Parkway, which culminate in what is billed as the "largest free concert in America." We've had plenty of sucky headliners over the years. (Remember the Goo Goo Dolls?) But this year's featured act really takes the cake. 6 ABC, a Welcome America "partner", is reporting that John Mayer will headline. Yes, this is the same John Mayer who was accused not so long ago of making racist and homophobic comments in a Playboy interview. (Here's a taste: "My dick is sort of like a white...

VIDEO: Philly Comedian In Steve Martin’s Awesome Jimmy Fallon Entrance

That's Philadelphia comedian Tommy Pope on the left, clapping as Steve Martin walks by during a thoroughly entertaining 3-minute walk-on to the set of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last night. Full video below. Watch. It's worth it. You may recognize Pope from that incredible "Deck the Hall & Oates" Christmas parody. Pope, a Drexel Hill native, tells me that he's been to the Fallon studio a few times and that his comedic cohort Luke Cunningham (they have a comedy collective called BirdText) is a writer for Fallon. Here's the "Deck the Hall & Oates" parody, with Pope in the pink sweater:

Should Staphmeal’s Joshua Scott Albert Be in Maximum Security? [Updated]

Philly’s infamous gossip blogger awaits trial behind bars.

It wasn't so long ago that Joshua Scott Albert was pissing off much of Philadelphia with StaphMeal, his foul-mouthed gossip blog that took aim at everyone from Marc Vetri to Michael Nutter (with a shot of his own penis thrown in for fun). But these days, the onetime Occupy Philadelphia protagonist is an inmate at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in the Northeast, the maximum-security prison he's called home since last September.

WATCH: Reese Witherspoon Arrest Video

Naturally, TMZ has obtained dashboard camera video of Reese Witherspoon's recent arrest. And, wow. It's pretty amazing. It's also short, so give it a watch. Among the Oscar-winning actress' best lines: "I have to obey your orders?!" "I'm being anti-American?!" "Do you know my name, sir?" "You're saying I'm obstructing your justice?" "I'm an American citizen!" "I'm allowed to stand on American ground!" It's quite the performance.

Philadelphia Has a Big Rat Problem

Suggestion: Avoid flip-flops after dark.

In the past few weeks, I've heard a number of anecdotal reports concerning rats in Philadelphia, and there have been some rat sightings surfacing on social media as well.