Brian Leighton

Welcome to Hoth. This photo page in Tuesday's Philadelphia Inquirer is best enjoyed with a hot cup of coffee.

Happy New Year! Take a look at the first Philadelphia Inquirer front page of 2026.

Four of my picks landed in the top 25 of the #XPNCountdown of the 885 best covers of all time:
25. "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding," Elvis Costello
21. "I Fought the Law," the Clash
8. "Take Me to the River," Talking Heads
5. "Angel From Montgomery," Bonnie Raitt

I was feeling pretty smug about my 10 votes for the #XPNCountdown of the 885 best covers of all time. After listening for the last few days, though, it's become clear to me that I overlooked at least 875 great songs.

With a tree lighting at City Hall, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Take a look at Friday's Philadelphia Inquirer front page.

‘The places that helped form me were Philadelphia and rural South Jersey’: Patti Smith talks about her childhood In “Bread of Angels,” Smith writes of Philadelphia being a formative force in her life. “Culturally, it was the city that helped form me,” she said. “It was where I discovered rock and roll.”

Because the night ... belongs to Patti Smith. You can catch her Saturday night at the Met or Monday night at the Kimmel Center or on Saturday's Philadelphia Inquirer front page. Story by Dan DeLuca: www.inquirer.com/entertainmen...

Because gift-giving should be easier than finding a parking spot in South Philly. 👉 www.inquirer.com/entertainm...

The green bean casserole, an iconic Thanksgiving side dish with a N.J. connection, turns 70 this year To celebrate the green bean casserole, the inventor’s family ordered a six-foot inflatable lawn decoration for their home in Haddonfield.

For those who celebrate, happy 70th anniversary to the green bean casserole. www.inquirer.com/news/new-jer...

For Philadelphia foodies, there at least 76 good reasons to pick up Thursday's Philadelphia Inquirer. Don't miss our guide to the region's most vital restaurants. www.inquirer.com/76

We have a new pope, and he's a Villanova alumnus. Read all about it on Friday's Philadelphia Inquirer front page.
www.inquirer.com/news/new-pop...

Legendary columnist Chuck Stone has been posthumously honored with a special citation from the Pulitzer Board. Read all about it in Tuesday's Daily News.
www.inquirer.com/news/philade...

Yankees, MLB’s all-time shaves leaders, will finally let players grow beards The Yankees announced Friday that they are amending long-standing rules requiring their players to be clean-shaven.

I am now one step closer to achieving my dream of playing center field at Yankee Stadium.
wapo.st/4i6LFNI

Page One in Boston:

@bostonglobe.com

Former Phillies closer Billy Wagner elected to Hall of Fame, joining Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia Wagner was elected in his 10th and final year on the ballot with 82.5% of the vote. Chase Utley climbed to 39.8% in his second year.

"I felt like the clock stopped." Billy Wagner's 10-year odyssey to the Hall of Fame finally ended with an invitation to Cooperstown. From @inquirer.com: www.inquirer.com/phillies/bas...

Bob Dylan Joins TikTok in What May Be Its Final Days Dylan seemed to be in on the joke, posting an old black and white clip of himself saying “Good God, I must leave right away.”

Bob Dylan joins TikTok just as the popular app may be dying. Coincidence or a simple twist of fate?
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/16/a...

Opinion | The band that taught Gen X it’s better to fade away than to burn out Michael Stipe just turned 65. It’s the end of R.E.M. as we know it (and I feel fine).

If you want a great essaythis morning that won't raise your blood pressure to 195/110, read Will Leitch on R.E.M. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/int...

Heinz Kluetmeier, the famed sports photographer who took the photo of the most famous cover in SPORTS ILLUSTRATED history, died yesterday. He was 82.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/606...

Heinz Kluetmeier, Sports Illustrated’s Miracle On Ice photographer, dies at age 82.

More on Kluetmeier’s life and pioneering techniques ⤵️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/606...

Go birds.

🔗 www.inquirer.com/life/eagles-...

Snow falling in Philly as region braces for substantial storm; latest forecast and timing Areas in South Jersey and Delaware are forecast to get the most snow, while Philadelphia could see up to 4 inches.

❄️ Areas in #SouthJersey and #Delaware are forecast to get the most snow, while #Philadelphia could see up to 4 inches of #snow on Monday.

inquirer.com/news/philade...

Remember the blizzard of 1996? Philadelphia dug out from 30.7 inches of snow that fell on Jan. 7 and 8 that year.

Snow is expected for Philly’s Monday morning commute, followed by a prolonged cold spell Amounts will be higher to the south of Philly, with several inches likely in Delaware and South Jersey

I mislike this winter weather.
www.inquirer.com/weather/snow...

Northwestern basketball all-alliteration team, starting five:
Art Aaron, forward
Vedran Vukusic, forward
Evan Eschmeyer, center
Brooks Barnheiser, guard
Boo Buie, guard

As we greet the new year, take a look at the first Philadelphia Inquirer front page of 2025.

Take these guided First Day hikes, from Pa. lakes to N.J. Pinelands Both Pennsylvania and New Jersey offer a range of free First Day guided hikes to bring in the new year.

Start 2025 on the right foot.
www.inquirer.com/news/pennsyl...

On Monday's Philadelphia Inquirer front page, we remember former President Jimmy Carter, 100, as a tireless humanitarian.

The truth about Bob Dylan, Timothée Chalamet, and ‘A Complete Unknown’ Our pop music critic writes about the James Mangold's Dylan biopic filmed in Cape May and elsewhere in New Jersey.

"Timmy's a brilliant actor so I'm sure he's going to be completely believable as me," Bob Dylan wrote. "Or a younger me. Or some other me."
www.inquirer.com/entertainmen...

Ivy League plans to participate in FCS playoffs beginning in the 2025 season In the new format, the Ivy League winner would receive an automatic bid into the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Watch out, Georgia and Alabama.
www.inquirer.com/college-spor...

Four of my picks made it in the top 100 of WXPN's countdown of the greatest songs of the 21st century:
87. "Not Strong Enough," boygenius
70. "Bloodbuzz Ohio," The National
21. "Chicago," Sujan Stevens
18. "Under the Pressure," War on Drugs

‘Tired of getting our tails kicked’: The Sixers are fighting back and eying a fourth win in five games Following that blueprint, the Sixers (6-15) look to nab their fourth win in five games when they face the Chicago Bulls Sunday.

“Tired of getting our tails kicked.” The Sixers are fighting back and look to win for the fourth time in five games.

www.inquirer.com/sixers/phila...