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Also, Philly loves cats more than other cities love cats. And who the hell would vandalize a Christmas tree? The nerve of some people.
Taylor Swift, whose tickets are scarce. (Getty Pictures)
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This Taylor Swift ticket contest evokes Willy Wonka
I’m not normally one to write about one-off restaurant/bar promotions or report on publicity stunts (well, aside from Jawn Morgan). But this one involves chocolate and free Taylor Swift tickets, so I’m making an exception as a public service announcement for any of you who missed said tickets.
In case you haven’t heard, the Taylor Swift ticket situation is an absolute debacle. She’s coming to Lincoln Financial Field in May. Ticketmaster held a presale, which didn’t go well and left many fans in the cold. Then the tickets were supposed to go on sale to the general public, but that too was messed up. The end result: lots of Taylor Swift fans without Taylor Swift tickets, and lots of scalpers with. (The cheapest resale tickets are in the $630 area. This is each.) It’s so serious that the Pennsylvania Attorney General is investigating.
So back to the contest. Bar 32, a bar/chocolatier in Atlantic City, has imagined a new approach. They have made 3,000 $10 chocolate bars – called Holiday Bar (pictured below) and are made of dark chocolate with crushed candy cane – and the wrapper for each contains a number from 1 to 3,000. I think you know where we are coming from.
This chocolate bar from Bar 32 in Atlantic City could win you free tickets to Taylor Swift in their contest. (Photo courtesy Bar 32)
On Christmas Day, Bar 32 will select a number on Instagram Live. And whoever has that number gets a pair of tickets to Taylor Swift’s performance on May 13 at the Linc.
I don’t want crushed barley sugar in my chocolate. I don’t do 60% chocolate either. (70% and more!) I don’t have a child who is a Taylor Swift fan either. (My 15-year-old daughter says, “She’s fine, but I wouldn’t want to go to her concert or anything.”) But I’ll be in Atlantic City on Saturday and buying a bar. And if I win (hey, there’s a chance, right?), I’ll auction the tickets and donate all the money to Philabundance.
Oh god, I wonder what that Helen Gym announcement will be like
Yesterday, Helen Gym resigned from the city council. This afternoon, in the words of her spokesperson, she is “hosting a special event to announce the next steps to bring her bold, people-powered program to our city.” The odds of this ad not her running for mayor are about as good as your chances of winning free Taylor Swift tickets. She announces at the William Way Community Center (1315 Spruce Street) and doors open at 4 p.m.
Wanna be a cop?
Philadelphia is 600 cops short, which doesn’t seem like a good thing when we’re not exactly short on crime. “It’s critical now,” Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said in an interview with ABC News. “It’s already critical, it was critical a year ago.” Further complicate said shortage? Washington DC is recruiting cops in Philadelphia and offering a $20,000 signing bonus. Million Dollar Idea, Outlaw: Give away free tickets to Taylor Swift! Why do I have to think of everything?
Remember when Donald Trump wanted to build a casino here?
Naturally, it was to be called TrumpStreet. Naturally, that failed. The Applicant has a fascinating feature on this failed development and others, like Will Smith’s Silver City Studios and, you know, DisneyQuest. Check it here.
We love cats. A lot.
According to this report, Philadelphia has more cat lovers than any of the 15 largest metropolitan areas in the United States, with Seattle coming close behind.
And you thought your walks were long
This West Philly native just walked 400 miles, charting the course of the Underground Railroad.
Hey, at least it wasn’t a gun this time
A man stole a Philadelphia Wawa with a needle.
No more crimes in Wawa
What kind of asshole would steal a dog from a parked car in Wawa?
Speaking of A-holes…
Who would vandalize a Christmas tree?!
And from the Phew-Who’s-Through Athletic Office…
In World Cup news, a local boy is doing good:
NOTHING PREVENTED PULISIC FROM SCORING 😤
Take another look at his first-ever FIFA World Cup goal for the @USMNT 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/s6tKehRLg2
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 29, 2022
It was Hershey’s Christian Pulisic, who scored in the first half of the USA team’s game against Iran. It was a glorious goal, but it fell hard…
Pulisic is helped off the sideline after scoring for USMNT pic.twitter.com/6C2z6sKNAZ
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 29, 2022
And got up again.
Leave everything in play 🇺🇸
Pulisic is back on the pitch for the @USMNT 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/1bDrEmdVYv
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 29, 2022
He came out at halftime, however, and was replaced by Brenden Aaronson, formerly of the Philadelphia Union and a native of Medford, NJ. The game was much tighter in the second half, and after the American men managed to hang on to that slender 1-0 lead until the end of regulation, the referees added nine fucking minutes stop.
NAAWWWW 9 MINUTES??? I’M DONE WITH THIS SPORT.#Fifa World Cup #IRNUSA pic.twitter.com/mssErNjILY
— Pottydactyl (@Pottydactyl) November 29, 2022
I took time out of my busy day to explain the downtime to Victor.
At the final whistle, the United States emerged victorious and they are in the next round!
For the seventh time in their history, the #USMNT qualified for the round of 16 #Fifa World Cup
◽️ 1930
◽️ 1934
◽️ 1994
◽️ 2002
◽️ 2010
◽️ 2014
◽️ 2022 pic.twitter.com/Xf2r3RNavn— Athletics (@TheAthletic) November 29, 2022
No words. pic.twitter.com/LG7KiQWZN9
— United States Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) November 29, 2022
Tonight, the Sixers are in Cleveland to face the Cavaliers at seven o’clock. And speaking of the Sixers, BetSperts, a “social media network for bettors,” has put together one of those semi-specious rankings of the best cities for sports fans that puts Philly seventh overall but number one. for basketball fans. In case you were wondering about his accuracy, the best city for sports fans, he says, is, uh, Minneapolis.
If you’re a fan of recently retired sportscaster extraordinaire Ray Didinger – and really, who isn’t a Ray Didinger fan? – you should know that tonight at 12:30 p.m. (well, it’s really early Thursday morning), FS1 presents an NFL Films documentary on his illustrious career, his recent retirement (just in time for the Phils and Eagles record seasons), and the play he wrote, tommy and me, about his relationship with Eagles wide receiver Tommy McDonald. Don’t miss it!
In college hoops, a busy slate tonight: Temple plays La Salle Wednesday at 6 p.m., Drexel plays Lafayette at 7:30 p.m. and Penn plays St. Joe’s at 8:30 p.m.
The Flyers also played.
All Philly Today Sports Desk coverage is provided by Sandy Hingston.
