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

October 3, 2023

Food & Drink

'It's Always Sunny' stars release new whiskey

by Kristin Hunt

'It's Always Sunny' stars Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howerton have released a new blended liquor. Four Walls Irish American Whiskey combines Irish whiskey with American rye from Iowa.

October 2, 2023

Books

Penn professor, the first woman to translate 'The Odyssey' into English, now breathes new life into 'The Iliad'

by Kristin Hunt

University of Pennsylvania classics professor Emily Wilson has translated Homer's 'The Iliad,' the ancient Greek poem about the Trojan War, into English. In 2018, she was the first woman to translate 'The Odyssey.'

October 2, 2023

Health News

Penn scientists receive Nobel Prize for research that led to COVID-19 vaccines

by Kristin Hunt

Penn scientists Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman received the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine on Monday for their mRNA research, which led to the development of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines against COVID-19.

September 28, 2023

Environment

Tyler Arboretum seeks funds to solve ash tree 'crisis' that shut down its trails

by Kristin Hunt

Tyler Arboretum says it needs at least $1 million to remove almost 900 dead ash trees from its grounds in Media, Delaware County. The trees were killed by emerald ash borers, an invasive beetle. The nonprofit has closed 17 miles of trails for public safety while the project is underway.

September 28, 2023

Weekend

Halloween Nights and spooky mini golf: Your weekend guide to things to do

by Kristin Hunt

Celebrate spooky season all weekend at Halloween-themed events in Philadelphia. Haunted houses return to Eastern State Penitentiary, spooky mini golf starts up at Franklin Square and the Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival screens cult horror movies. Manayunk honors National Coming Out Day early with Out & About.

September 28, 2023

Shopping

Dress like Ms. Teagues with new 'Abbott Elementary' clothing line aimed at teachers

by Kristin Hunt

JCPenney has created an 'Abbott Elementary' clothing collection aimed at teachers. The colorful skirts, dresses, tops, pants and jackets are inspired by the show's fictional Philadelphia teachers like Janine Teagues, played by 'Abbott' creator Quinta Brunson.

September 27, 2023

Rittenhouse Square stabbing docuseries uses Sean Schellenger's death to explore criminal justice in Philly

by Kristin Hunt

The new three-part docuseries '72 Seconds in Rittenhouse Square' reexamines the 2018 stabbing of Sean Schellenger and the acquittal of Michael White for voluntary manslaughter. The filmmakers place the case in the wider context of criminal justice in Philadelphia, touching on Frank Rizzo and the Black Panthers, Daniel Faulkner and Mumia Abu-Jamal and Larry Krasner's controversial reforms.

September 26, 2023

Politics

More lawmakers, including Cory Booker, are calling for Bob Menendez to resign from the Senate – but he's refusing

by Kristin Hunt

Sens. Cory Booker and Bob Casey joined other politicians in calling for Bob Menendez to resign from the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. The senior senator from New Jersey was indicted on federal corruption charges Friday along with his wife Nadine. He is accused of accepting bribes in exchange for political influence.

September 21, 2023

Government

City Council calls for hearing on 911 response times in aftermath of Kingsessing mass shooting

by Kristin Hunt

Philadelphia City Council plans to investigate 911 response times following the Kingsessing mass shooting this summer. The attack left five people dead and four others injured. Police received reports of gunfire after the first homicide on July 2, but went to the wrong address. Alleged gunman Kimbrady Carriker returned on July 3.

September 21, 2023

Arts & Culture

Preservationists say they have two weeks to save mural from former Painted Bride building

by Kristin Hunt

The mosaic-covered former Painted Bride Art Center is slated to be demolished in November, and developers have given preservationist two weeks in October to save as much of Isaiah Zagar's artwork from the building's exterior as they can, according to The Philadelphia Magic Gardens. 'The Skin of the Bride' on the exterior of the 230 Vine St. in Philadelphia is one Zagar's largest public artworks. Plans are to build apartments on the property.