Michael Tanenbaum

Michael Tanenbaum is a senior staff writer for PhillyVoice.com, with interests ranging from technology and behavioral health to local community initiatives and cultural life. Michael has written for the Argentina Independent and Bespoke Magazine and previously served as a news editor for Xfinity.com before joining PhillyVoice. He received his B.A. in The Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University.

tanenbaum@phillyvoice.com

February 17, 2023

Arts & Culture

Singer Bobby Rydell, a 1960s teen idol, to be memorialized with Wildwood statue

by Michael Tanenbaum

Late singer and 1960s icon Bobby Rydell will get a new statue in Wildwood, New Jersey. Rydell, a South Philadelphia native, died last year at age 79. His wife announced the creation of the Bobby Rydell Foundation to honor his life and musical legacy, which includes the 1963 hit "Wildwood Days." The location of the bronze statue will be announced in the months ahead.

February 17, 2023

Media

Angelo Cataldi bids Philly farewell on final SportsRadio 94WIP broadcast

by Michael Tanenbaum

Angelo Cataldi said goodbye Friday morning on his last SportsRadio 94WIP show, ending his 33-year run with the Philadelphia station. Cataldi, 71, was a dominant force in Philly sports talk radio, building a boisterous and provocative brand of morning banter about the Eagles, Phillies, 76ers and Flyers. The host thanked his radio team, his callers and many others who helped make the show a sustained success.

February 16, 2023

Investigations

More than $13,000 raised for owner of car flipped by rowdy Eagles fans

by Michael Tanenbaum

A GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $13,000 for the owner of a car that was flipped and vandalized on Sunday during a pre-Super Bowl block party in North Philadelphia. In videos shared widely on social media, Eagles fans were seen overturning the car, smashing its windows and jumping on top of it. At least two people involved in the incident have reportedly surrendered to Philadelphia police.

February 16, 2023

Family-Friendly

Dive into a frigid pool in Fairmount Park to support Philly's lifeguards

by Michael Tanenbaum

Philadelphia has struggled to recruit enough lifeguards to staff its 74 public swimming pools in recent years. To fund recruitment bonuses being offered to applicants this year, Parks and Recreation is holding the Philly Phreeze fundraiser at Kelly Pool in Fairmount Park on Saturday, Feb. 25. People are asked to solicit donations for their willingness to dive into the pool's frigid water.

February 16, 2023

Development

A flea market housed in shipping containers is being planned near Fairmount Park

by Michael Tanenbaum

Plans are moving forward to create a shipping container village in West Parkside along the edge of Fairmount Park, where more than 20 small businesses will operate on a repurposed surface parking lot. Zoning permits were issued this week for the project at 4862-70 Parkside Ave. The idea was proposed by Fourth District Councilmember Curtis Jones as a way to provide a base of operations for early-stage businesses, including retailers and food trucks.

February 16, 2023

Investigations

Two Eagles fans from Delco charged with flipping car during Super Bowl pregame party

by Michael Tanenbaum

Edward Pierce, 23, of Alden, and Nicholas Faraglia, 21, of Clifton Heights, have been charged with flipping a car during a rowdy Super Bowl block party in North Philly before Sunday's game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. They were identified from videos, that showed a group lifting the car and turning it onto its roof, which circulated widely online. The incident happened near Temple University's campus and police are searching for more people who were involved.

February 14, 2023

Odd News

Body found in Pa. creek turns out to be realistic sex doll, police say

by Michael Tanenbaum

Police were called investigate what passersby had thought was body in a creek but turned out to be a discarded sex doll. The investigation happened in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, Feb. 12, authorities said. The county coroner and state troopers were called to the scene, before investigators determined that a realistic foot sticking out of the water belonged to a silicone doll.

February 14, 2023

Investigations

St. Hubert's expels students responsible for racist blackface video

by Michael Tanenbaum

St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls has expelled the students involved in making a racist video and sharing it online last week, school leaders said. The Northeast Philadelphia school resumed in-person learning Monday after shifting to a virtual schedule due to threats received when the video spread widely online. Another student from Franklin Towne Charter High School also was expelled. St. Hubert's is working with the Anti-Defamation League, the Archbishop's Commission on Racial Healing and the Office for Black Catholics to address the fallout from the video.

February 14, 2023

Investigations

Threatening note found in pocket of Michigan State shooter prompts New Jersey school closures

by Michael Tanenbaum

In the aftermath of Monday night's mass shooting at Michigan State University, police found a note in the pocket of gunman Anthony McRae, 43, that contained threats against schools in Ewing Township, New Jersey, police said. McRae once lived in Ewing, which is just north of Trenton. Public schools in Ewing were shut down on Tuesday as a precaution. The shooting at the campus in East Lansing left three people dead and five other critically injured.

February 13, 2023

Eagles

Jalen Hurts gave Giovanni Hamilton a poignant quote at his post-game press conference

by Michael Tanenbaum

The Eagles' incredible season came to a painful and heartbreaking end in Arizona on Sunday night as they lost Super Bowl LVII to the Kansas City Chiefs. Teen podcaster Giovanni Hamilton asked the team's quarterback Jalen Hurts about the lessons from this loss.