Michael Tanenbaum

Michael Tanenbaum Headshot

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

July 11, 2022

Celebrities

Michael Jordan docks boat in Atlantic City for fishing tournament

Michael Jordan's 80-foot Viking yacht, Catch 23, is in Atlantic City this week for Jimmy Johnson's Quest for the Ring fishing tournament. This is the second consecutive year that the NBA legend has participated in the event at the Jersey Shore. Last year, Jordan's team caught a 70-pound white marlin. Jordan was spotted dining at Steve & Cookies by the Bay in Margate.

July 11, 2022

Food & Drink

Original Tony Luke's cheesesteak shop in South Philly to change name

The Original Tony Luke's cheesesteak shop in South Philadelphia will soon be renamed Tony's and Nick's Steaks. The restaurant's owners, Anthony Lucidonio, Sr., 84, and his son, Nicholas Lucidonio, 56, agreed to change the name after pleading guilty in May to federal tax evasion charges. Tony Luke Jr., who was not charged, owns the Tony Luke's franchise and brand. He pushed for a change at the South Philly shop due to bad publicity from IRS case.

July 11, 2022

2022 Election

Lancaster County movie theater, hotel cancel screenings of pro-Mastriano documentary

A pair of venues in Lancaster County have canceled plans to a screen the premiere of a documentary that supports Republican Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano. Penn Cinema, in Mannheim Township, and Wyndham Lancaster Resort and Convention Center, both backed out of a July 16 screening of YouTuber Steve Turley's documentary, “Return of the American Patriot: Rise of Pennsylvania,” citing backlash against the film's agenda.

July 9, 2022

Environment

15-acre Chester County property to be permanently preserved to protect drinking water

The Homsey farm, a 15-acre property in Landenberg, Chester County will be permanently preserved in order to protect natural lands and a tributary that serves as a major source of drinking water in New Castle County, Delaware. The conservation easement was secured by Natural Lands, the Philadelphia area's largest conservation organization. The property's forests and meadows will be protected and no subdivisions or development will be permitted. The owners of the property are descendants of 19th century illustrator and Wilmington native Howard Pyle.

July 6, 2022

Investigations

Suspect wanted for sexual assault at Center City law office

Philadelphia Police are seeking help from the public to locate a man who allegedly walked into a Center City building on Tuesday afternoon and sexually assaulted a person in a law office. The incident happened at a building along the 200 block of North 13th Street. The suspect was last seen leaving the area south on 13th Street.

July 6, 2022

Investigations

July Fourth shooter was 'quite a distance away' from Ben Franklin Parkway, Philly police say

The gunshots that injured two police officers during Philadelphia's Fourth of July celebration appear to have been fired from "quite a distance away" from the Welcome America festival grounds on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, police said Wednesday. No arrests have been made in the ongoing investigation.

July 5, 2022

Food & Drink

Joe's Steaks, the shop that once had a racial slur in its name, to close Northeast Philly location after 73 years

Joe's Steaks & Soda Shop in Northeast Philadelphia will close its doors over Labor Day Weekend after 73 years on Torresdale Avenue. The restaurant was known for decades as Chink's before public pressure led to an eventual rebranding in 2013 due to its racist name. The business's second location on Girard Avenue in Fishtown will continue to operate as normal, owner Joseph Groh said.

July 5, 2022

Transportation

SEPTA police chief abruptly retires as transit system struggles to combat crime

SEPTA's Police Chief Thomas Nestel III has retired from his role, effective immediately, and will be replaced in the interim by Charles Lawson, his second-in-command, SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards announced. Nestel's retirement comes as SEPTA continues to struggle with high rates of crime and persistent problems with officer recruitment, areas that became worse during the COVID-19 pandemic

July 5, 2022

Celebrities

Michael Rubin's girlfriend went to the hospital after 'face plant' at Hamptons party

At Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin's Fourth of July party in the Hamptons on Monday, his girlfriend, Camille Fishel, suffered minor injuries to her face when she fell from a stage during the celebration. Rubin recently sold his ownership stake in the Philadelphia 76ers and has two children with Fishel. The couple joked about Monday's incident on Instagram.

June 30, 2022

Wildlife

American martens, part of the weasel family, may be reintroduced in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Game Commission will review a proposal from the Bureau of Wildlife Management to reintroduce the American marten, a small mammal in the weasel family. The species has been extirpated from the state since the early 1900's after populations were depleted by the fur trade and deforestation. The game commission's past reintroduction efforts have included the bald eagle, river otter, beaver, bobcat and other fur-bearing mammals.

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