Social Graces
With Our Sports Teams Afire, Can Philadelphians Be Graceful Winners?
Like most Philadelphians, I grew up, if not obsessed with sports, at least deeply familiar with them, in the same way I was with Wildwood […]
There Oughta be a Law
My sister sent a text the other day: “So it’s illegal to text while you walk in Philly?” False news evidently travels fast, and far: […]
Join Larry Mendte’s Verbiage Vigilante Group
It is becoming more and more apparent to me that we need language police. And not just for the people who curse aloud in public, […]
Has Our Rudeness Reached New Heights In Philly?
So I came back. I left Philly in October to answer the latest siren’s song in New York, where I had lived from 1998 to […]
Making Some Noise On the Amtrak Quiet Car
It’s not often that a news story moves me to stand up at my desk and applaud, but the tale of Lakeysha Beard inspired a […]
Where Have You Gone, Ms. Manners?
If you waited, like I did—like half the city did—that long, crowded hour on Saturday night for the PIFA finale hoopla to just please finally […]
Dude, Where’s My Wheelchair?
“Can I please have a wheelchair?” I asked the x-ray technician. He seemed a little surprised, but said, “Yeah, sure. Let me find one.” “Find […]
Where Have You Gone, Elizabeth Taylor?
Amid all of the tributes and photo retrospectives that filled the media last week with the passing of Liz Taylor, a small handful of Taylor-related […]
This Just In: Basic Civility is Bad For You
A couple days ago, The New York Times ran a piece about a recent study that suggested that hiding one’s displeasure behind a smile actually […]
New Year’s Resolutions
New Year’s Eve. Again. The resolution obsession is taunting me, forcing me to evaluate the past year and make some promises to myself for the […]
Is Giving Gift Cards Bad Manners?
“I never, ever give gift cards because they’re so impersonal,” says my friend K. in Bryn Mawr. “You can buy them in the grocery store […]
Road Rage the Worst in Wynnewood
I’ve lived on the Main Line for a while now and one thing has really plagued me the entire time: the way people drive. Being […]
City of Grace (Kellys)
Okay, so the summer didn’t start out so well. Not only did the Phils get caught snitching signs; Matthew Clemmens made us the butt of […]
There’s a “Boring Talker” in Every Book Club
“We use it as an excuse to drink wine and gossip and eat good food,” says my friend T. about her book group, held monthly […]
Line Dancers Really Suck the Fun Out of a Nightclub
Last weekend I went out to dinner with my husband and another couple. After dinner we decided to visit a nightclub that caters to the […]