Stephanie Farr

Stephanie Farr

@farfarraway.bsky.social

Columnist with The Philadelphia Inquirer (aka jawnalist) covering what makes Philly weird, wild and wonderfully unique. I fight for Philly's honor against its haters.

3.7K followers270 following1.9K posts

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

Oh, your kid got an internship at Goldman Sachs? That's cute. These Thomas Jefferson University students are building giant siege machines to launch pumpkins with this weekend. Just saying, I know who I'd on want on my team in an apocalypse. www.inquirer.com/life/punkin-...

inquirer.comGet smashed at ‘Pumpkin RAMpage,’ a new Philly punkin chunkin contestThomas Jefferson University students will face off against each other this Saturday to see whose siege machine can launch pumpkins the furthest.
Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

I got a political ad during my workout on YouTube this a.m. that was a very realistic AI version of Gov. Shapiro standing inside of a data center w/ lightning coming from his fingertips and connecting to the machines. I was so out of breath b/w jump squats I didn't get it on video but it was wild.

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

It's a beautiful fall day in Philadelphia, which means some people are out in shorts, some people are out in parkas and I passed one woman on the phone who was saying: "It's hot as hell out here today! All this damn sun and shit." M'am, it is 68 degrees. 😂

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

I finally watched "The Warriors" last weekend and I've never wanted to do a group costume so bad. It would be a tough choice between the mime gang, the baseball clowns, and the Lizzies though.

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

What candy do kids want for Halloween these days? I'm not buying full-size bars in this economy, but I feel like I gave out little gummy Krabby Patties once and they were a hit. I also get toys like spider rings for kids who may not be able to have whatever candy I get. Ideas welcome there too!

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

Cozy season is upon us and I would like all of your recs for some of the coziest places in and around Philly. Here’s one of mine - Sassafras bar in Old City. It’s not just cozy, it oozes old-timey class.

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

To be clear, I think most of us are pretty good drivers b/c we need profound situational awareness to avoid all of the jabronis pulling jerkface moves. Driving in Philly is 10% watching what you’re doing & 90% trying to guess what unhinged drivers near you will do. www.inquirer.com/life/philly-...

inquirer.comThe 8 worst habits of bad Philly drivers (an incomplete list)This report is based not on data, but on first-hand visceral experiences with absolutely unhinged Philly motorists.
Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

I don't like horror movies, but there's a slim category I do enjoy. I'm not sure what to call it, horror comedy maybe? I'm thinking movies like Evil Dead, Army of Darkness, Cabin in the Woods. Any recommendations along those lines for the spooky season?

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

I’ve always been fascinated by conspiracy theories so when I heard about an "all-inclusive conspiracy theory convention" I had to learn more. My latest column is on the convention, why we're drawn to these theories & how the truth can be stranger than fiction today www.inquirer.com/life/conspir...

inquirer.comThis ‘all-inclusive’ conspiracy theory convention wants you to ‘come curious but leave questioning everything’At ConCon Expo 2026, you can dress like the Jersey Devil, make a tin foil hat, and scream like Bigfoot without judgment.
Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

The recent study that ranked Philly as the worst city to drive in used pretty standard factors like "traffic & infrastructure." But I want your visceral experiences from driving in Philly. What are the worst habits you see or the worst thing you've ever seen driving in Philly? 1/2

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

Ex: People using turning lanes as passing lanes and red lights as stop signs. People will also honk at you at a stoplight for not moving before the damn light even turns green and they'll honk at you for stopping at a yellow light.

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

I miss when people were weird b/c they're weird and not b/c they want followers on social media. I miss when people fell in love with Philly b/c it's f'n awesome as hell and not b/c they want followers social media. Both still happen but it's getting harder to tell who's genuine.

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

Holy hell. Anthropic's AI model submitted a false tip about a HOMICIDE to the Philadelphia Police Department's online public tip form. The release today from the PPD:

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

It was a pleasure being interviewed about The Portal for this wonderful and thought-provoking podcast, Monument Biography, from Temple University's Tyler School of Art and Architecture. www.stellaonline.art/monument-bio...

stellaonline.artEpisode 1: Looking Through the Portal — STELLAWhen a new art installation called the Portal was unveiled at Philadelphia’s City Hall in October 2024, people didn’t really know at first what to make of it. In this episode, Producer Dilcia Martinez...
Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

I’ve probably passed by this tucked-away reproduction of Charles Wilson Peale’s The Staircase Group dozens of times on the side of a parking garage on Second Street near Chestnut in Old City but I didn’t notice it until last week. I love the small surprises this city gives everyday day. #philly

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

What are some of your favorite quirky signs in Philly? They could be business signs, commemorative plaques, or personal signs. Anything goes, like prescriptions and hot dogs.

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

We had a great craic at the Plough & the Stars trad night on Sunday! I loved to frequent this Philly bar late at night in my youth and I’m so glad I found out about their 4-8 pm open Irish jam session on Sunday nights, which is just up my alley now. #philly

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

I promise Philly is a real place and I am a journalist and this is all true. When you put unwanted dystopian robots on our sidewalks, you never know what Philly may do in response. Meet Orifice the Awebot, who's spreading joy, surprise & mild terror - for free. www.inquirer.com/life/orifice...

inquirer.comOrifice the Awebot is Philly’s ‘magical’ response to Uber Eats robots"She’s part of our bringing delight and surprise and letting it ripple through the city."
Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

I wanted to watch the Flyers game but I don’t do slasher films. Me: This game couldn’t get worse Husband: Hey, we could have nobody on the ice. Me: That is the one way.

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

Things are starting to line up like a perfectly-positioned side-view mirror for the first Philadelphia Parallel Parking Association (PPPA) Championship Saturday, with final details about the event being released this week. www.inquirer.com/life/philade...

inquirer.comA pub owner, a viral crossing guard, and an ASMR comedian will judge Saturday’s Parallel Parking ChampionshipNearly 900 people applied for the competition and 15 were chosen to participate, including a SEPTA bus driver and a former contestant on "Survivor."
Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

Our neighbor died recently. He was a sweet man who was a Philly teacher for 30 yrs. My husband would get his mail when he went to the shore & he'd bring us back soft pretzels His prayer cards last week didn't have Jesus on them. They had the Phillies logo. Like the team, he was a wild card of faith

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

I've always been captivated by the "Freedom" sculpture on Vine St., of a figure breaking free of a wall in 4 stages, with the final figure on the sidewalk, arms outstretched and faced lifted. I think it makes our city more interesting, which is the most any of us who love Philly can hope to do. 🧵1/3

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

So when I received an invitation to visit the studio of its sculptor, Zenos Frudakis, I was intrigued. It was only after I accepted, while I was researching for our interview, that I realized he also created the Rizzo statue, one of the most divisive pieces of public art in Philly history. 2/3

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

Proud to work at the @inquirer.com, where today our entire five-page Opinion section is about the many ways Trump’s White House has become a house of corruption. The Inquirer is keeping Freedom of the Press alive in the city where it was founded. But that’s not all! 🧵

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

The paper is chocked full of some other great stories and our Fall Arts Guide! It also contains a column I wrote that really challenged me, which I look forward to telling you more about tomorrow. It’s a rainy day. Go on a Wawa run, pick up a pape and enjoy Sunday the old-fashioned way. 📰

Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

At the Museum of the Philadelphian this week, I met the Chicken Man and ran into someone I interviewed 18 years ago when his car was flipped in the wake of the Phillies 2008 World Series win. It was all very Philly, just like the museum. 🧵 www.inquirer.com/life/museum-...?

inquirer.comThe micro Museum of the Philadelphian celebrates Philly’s macro personalityThe 300-square-foot temporary museum in Fishtown is an absurd and heartwarming love letter to the people who make Philadelphia, Philly.
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Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

At the Museum of the Philadelphian this week, I met the Chicken Man and ran into someone I interviewed 18 years ago when his car was flipped in the wake of the Phillies 2008 World Series win. It was all very Philly, just like the museum. 🧵 www.inquirer.com/life/museum-...?

inquirer.comThe micro Museum of the Philadelphian celebrates Philly’s macro personalityThe 300-square-foot temporary museum in Fishtown is an absurd and heartwarming love letter to the people who make Philadelphia, Philly.
View full thread
Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

At the Museum of the Philadelphian this week, I met the Chicken Man and ran into someone I interviewed 18 years ago when his car was flipped in the wake of the Phillies 2008 World Series win. It was all very Philly, just like the museum. 🧵 www.inquirer.com/life/museum-...?

inquirer.comThe micro Museum of the Philadelphian celebrates Philly’s macro personalityThe 300-square-foot temporary museum in Fishtown is an absurd and heartwarming love letter to the people who make Philadelphia, Philly.
Stephanie Farr
@farfarraway.bsky.social

Transit fans who asked what in the El was happening with @septaphilly.bsky.social's old stuff inspired the first sale of vintage items from its vault. It's already been a massive success online and more merch is dropping for the upcoming in-person sale. www.inquirer.com/life/septa-v...

inquirer.comFans are paying $350 for signs at SEPTA’s vintage sale (yes, Broad Street already sold out)Decommissioned signs, old transit maps, and vintage TransPass sheets are among the items in SEPTA's RETROmania sale.