Kristin Hunt

Kristin Hunt is a senior staff writer for PhillyVoice. A history and pop culture junkie, she spends her spare time stalking the Free Library shelves and binge watching TCM. She has previously contributed to Vulture, GQ, Mental Floss, JSTOR Daily, and The Washington Post.

kristin@phillyvoice.com

June 19, 2023

Education

Juneteenth soon may be taught to all students in the School District of Philadelphia

by Kristin Hunt

All students in the School District of Philadelphia may learn about Juneteenth beginning next school year. The Board of Education is considering a measure that would add lessons about the federal holiday to its K-12 curriculum. The June 19 holiday marks the end of slavery in the United States.

June 19, 2023

Government

Philly City Council considers forming a reparations task force. What does that mean?

by Kristin Hunt

Philadelphia City Council will vote on creating a reparations task force on Thursday, June 22. If adopted, the group would study Philly's role in U.S. slavery and recommend payments or other compensation for Black residents in the city who are descendants of Africans enslaved in America. Evanston, San Francisco and other cities have considered reparations.

June 16, 2023

Arts & Culture

What are the new sculptures along Kelly Drive? They're a contemporary art display here through the fall

by Kristin Hunt

The recently install sculptures and art along Kelly Drive at the Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial are part of artist Maren Hassinger's collection titled Steel Bodies. It opened on June 12 and will remain in Philadelphia until Nov. 12. It is the first contemporary public art exhibition at the sculpture garden near Philadelphia's Boathouse Row.

June 15, 2023

Weekend

Juneteenth, dads and movies in the park: Your weekend guide to things to do in Philly

by Kristin Hunt

Juneteenth celebrations kick off early this weekend with the first-ever Juneteenth Wine & Arts Festival at Cherry Street Pier. Father's Day falls on Sunday, June 18, while Pride Month continues with a summer ball at the Franklin Institute and plenty of parties. Rosenbach also hosts another Bloomsday Festival for James Joyce's 'Ulysses.'

June 14, 2023

Mental Health

What is somatic therapy? Advocates believe it explores connections between mental health and physical symptoms

by Kristin Hunt

Somatic principles are more popular than ever thanks to TikTok and books like The Body Keeps the Score and How to Do the Work. The practice, sometimes called somatic therapy, somatic experiencing or simply somatics, emphasizes the mind-body connection.

June 14, 2023

Food & Drink

Iron Hill Brewery's Father's Day beer is brewed with terrible dad jokes

by Kristin Hunt

Iron Hill Brewery is releasing a limited-edition beer for Father's Day, dedicated to bad puns. The Dad's Got Jokes Juicy Lager was brewed with crowdsourced puns, spelled out in the hops. It will be available on draft and in 16 oz cans starting Thursday, June 15.

June 14, 2023

Entertainment

Jennifer Coolidge-themed drag and comedy night comes to City Winery this Thursday

by Kristin Hunt

City Winery will present a Jennifer Coolidge-themed comedy and drag night on Thursday, June 15. Hosted by comedian Sarah Rachel Lazarus, the show starts at 7:30 p.m. and features drag queens X-Emma and VinChelle as well as standup acts TaTa Sherise and John Hedrick.

June 13, 2023

Donations

Philabundance to feed kids during summer break, plans to serve 50,000 lunches

by Kristin Hunt

Philabundance will help families who rely on free school lunches during the academic year with its Summer LunchBox program, running June 2 through Sept. 2. All children 18 and under qualify; families can pick up meals between Tuesday and Saturday.

June 12, 2023

Arts & Culture

Enormous troll sculpture promoting conservation to appear in New Jersey this month

by Kristin Hunt

Thomas Dambo, a climate activist and artist from Denmark, will unveil a large-scale installation made from recycled materials in Hainesport, New Jersey on June 28. The reveal of "Big Rusty" will serve as the launch for a national tour, starting in Burlington County and ending in Seattle.

June 9, 2023

Health News

Philly's air quality improves significantly; trash collection, other city services resume

by Kristin Hunt

Air quality in Philadelphia has greatly improved since the hazardous levels observed mid-week, returning to a range considered safe for most people. Pennsylvania declared a Code Orange under the EPA's air quality index Friday. Trash collection and outdoor Parks & Rec programming will resume.