Category: Phables

My apologies to those of you who have already read the Rafinesque storyline from the Greystone Inn archives I’ve been promoting this month. I couldn’t resist using it as the basis for a special Halloween edition of Phables a few
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A man dressed in Colonial garb to be in the background of a movie shot here in Philly gets more than he bargains for. I guess that’s why they’re called extras. Phables has been placed on a summer schedule by
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A New Yorker, on leave from a tour in Iraq, gets lost in Philadelphia. She’s gonna need that combat training. Luckily, she gets a little help from the city that loves you back. Phables has been placed on a summer
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A few-too-many beers and a lusty rendezvous leads a Jersey college student to the threshold of love (or something darned close). Now if he could only remember which threshold. Or which door. Or how to get home, for that matter.
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No good deed goes unpunished — especially in the City of Brotherly Love. See what happens to our good samaratin when he finds a way to get a bus driver to hold the bus for a running passenger. Phables has
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Lloyd comes in with a dynamic story about Philadelphia and the Godfather of Soul. Phables has been placed on a summer schedule by the Philadelphia Daily News. However, due to a scheduling error, it is running this week after having
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If you don’t drink, it’s hard to know when it’s time to leave a bar. Unless, like Kevin from Lambertville, you ‘ve worked out a system.. Phables has been placed on a summer schedule by the Philadelphia Daily News. It
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Debby from Port Richmond was waiting for a bus in a bad neighborhood when she noticed a thug hiding in the shadows, eyeing her purse. She was close to panicking when along came her knight in shining armor.. Also, a
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It was the late 20s/early 30s. The Great Depression and Prohibition had America in a death grip. Families were struggling to survive. And to make it through, this Philly family relied on two beverages: milk and beer. Also, a programming
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Gas is hovering around $4 a gallon, and more people are on bikes — some of them for the first time. So Your Phavorite Pheature is proud to present a timely public service… Bicycle Safety Tips.

I’ve been looking forward to going to Seattle for weeks (by the time you read this, however, I will be on my way back home). Aside from seeing three of my very closest friends, I’ve had another reason to be
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Here’s an interesting story, just in time for Mother’s Day, about a woman who received an interesting lesson in history from the woman who raised her.

Here’s a story from Yours Truly. Read about how I solved the mystery of the non-ringing phones..

A Phabler who discovered the project through Scott Kurtz wrote in with this fantastic story about a young women who takes a jog through South Philly and winds up the subject of a running gag..

Here’s a fascinating story about a woman who finds an old, rusty dog tag on the ground and winds up in the center of a decades-old mystery involving a little girl and her dog..

I love when I get a call on my answering machine that says, “Hi, Brad… Have I got a story for you…” That’s what happened last week when Jimmy from Kensignton got in touch. And, boy was he right. You’re
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I forgot to promo this yesterday, which is a shame because I really like how it turned out. I talked to the Phillie Phanatic’s best “phriend,” Tom Burgoyne, about the popular Phillies mascot. Burgoyne is a great guy and I’ve
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I just returned from an extended visit with my family in Michigan. This Phable tells one of the stories that unfolded that doesn’t include Michigan state troopers. I’ll tell the trooper story another time.

Everybody has a story about Philadelphia, some of the best take place in a … parking garage.

With winter coming to a close, I thought it would be the right time for a tale of … Spring Fever in Philadelphia.

For everyone expecting a con report from Katsucon in Washington, D.C., a couple weekends back, today’s tale of … getting hopelessly lost in D.C. will have to do until I get an official one written up. Look for a special
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In Philly, the old axiom holds true … getting there is often half the fun.

It’s the return of a popular Phables feature from last year: Philly BINGO! Today, it’s time to play … PARKING BINGO. You know the rules… take a copy of the bingo card with you on your next trip through Philly
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Everybody has a story about Philadelphia, and some of them are about… parking tickets. See what happens on this rare occasion in which a Philadelphian talks herself out of a parking ticket…

Everybody has a story about Philadelphia, and some of them are about… wilndow dressing. It’s a tradition in South Philly to decorate the front of your house — especially the front window — according to a holiday or special occasion.
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Everybody has a story about Philadelphia, and some of them are about… wildlife in the city. This one is going to amaze you. A pest-control worker trying to help a young couple out with a mouse problem finds himself face-to-face
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Everybody has a story about Philadelphia, and some of them are about… all of the great stories from the preceeding year. It’s the ubiquitous yearend wrap-up. Read and enjoy.

Everybody has a story about Philadelphia, and some of them are about… Christmas presents. I was hoping for a nice, sentimental story for Christmas and boy did I ever get one!

Everybody has a story about Philadelphia, and some of them are about… model trains. This one is a story about taking my first-born son to see the impressive model-train display at Reading Terminal Market.

Mice. Nobody admits to seeing one in his house, yet we all know it’s a problem — and most of us Philadelphians live in attached housing. So in the interest of sharing information here’s some… Do’s and Don’ts of Mouse
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Everyone has a story about Philadelphia. Some of them are about… leftovers.

Everyone has a story about Philadelphia. Some of them are about… second acts. This one is particularly cool because it’s a Philadelphian with a unique connection to yours truly that isn’t revealed until the very end.

Everyone has a story about Philadelphia. Some of them are about… well… the city.

Everyone has a story about Philadelphia. Some of them are about saving the day.

Everyone has a story about Philadelphia. Some of them are about seeing signs — and sometimes those signs can cause trouble.

Everyone has a story about Philadelphia. Some of them involve loss.

Phables Everyone has a story about Philadelphia. Some of them involve a little good fortune.

Phables Everyone has a story about Philadelphia. Some of them restore one’s faith in Dog.

Phables It’s stories like this that make Phables such a stand-out feature. Back in the 80s, a mystery man started cutting enigmatic messages into linoleum tile and then permanently affixed them to the road using asphalt sealer. He’d set them
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Phables Have you ever hears a little voice inside your head tell you to take a different path? This guy did. He listened and his life has been forever changed.

Phables Remember when your parents would tell you to “sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite”? This Philadelphian found out that, sometimes, that’s easier said than done. Fair warning: This one’s gonna make you itch all day.

Phables A woman takes a short-cut through the parking lot… of a funeral parlor.

Phables Sadly, this week’s Phables was inspired by my own experience a few weekends ago at the Post Office. It was an exasperating experience in which I walked away with a new respect for non other than the Great American
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Phables It’s hot and, let’s face it, we’re all getting on each other’s nerves a bit. So Phables is proud to do its civic duty and offer some tips on keeping cool in this oppressive weather…Beating the Heat: Dos and
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Phables A monster-movie fan is on a quick snack run while his wife is in labor with their second child. At the convenience store, he sees the poster for Phoenixville’s BlobFest. Does he drive to the Colonial Theatre — site
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Phables Ask anybody who lives in a big city and they’ll tell you. We like it when the police catch a drug dealer, but we’d love it if they’d lock up the cretin who refuses to clean up after his
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Phables Everyone yearns for the Fairy Tale. You meet. You’re star-struck. You fall in love. And you live happily ever after. In today’s Phable, a ninety-year-old talks about what happens next. It’s a beautiful testiment to love at its most
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Phables Today, it’s a special Father’s Day Phable! A man reminisces about his outlanding, unique, loving Dad.

Phables awarded “Best Local Column” by Philadelphia Society of Professional Journalists Last night I accepted the award for Best Local Column in Philadelphia for Phables. The award was given to me by the Society of Professional Journalists. This was a
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Phables Just in time for Wizard World Philadelphia, I’ve got a special Phables about a couple of suburban lads’ first trip to Philly for a comic convention. They wind up five cents short for the train home, and when SEPTA
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Phables This is a topic I had hoped to cover since the very beginning of the Phables project: What happens when an out-of-towner falls in love with someone from South Philly.

Phables note There will be no Phables on Monday, due to the Memorial Day holiday.

Comixpedia Interview Comixpedia has interviewed me about my weekly comic, Phables, its nomination for an Eisner Award, and its being named the best local column in Philadelphia (even though it’s presented much differently than most newspaper columns).

Phables This week. I’m featuring a first-person story about the day I realized I had become a genuine Philadelphian… the day I realized I hated something I had never even considered hating before.

Phables awarded “Best Local Column” by Philadelphia Society of Professional Journalists This just in… my weekly comic, Phables, has taken first place in the Local Column category of the Greater Philadelphia chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Excellence in
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Phables Last year, a very special Mother’s-Day Phable talked about a widespread Philly tradition: Stealing flowers for Mother’s Day. That story got a lot of response… One of which I’ve waited a year to share with you. It’s about stealing
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Phables Today’s Phable realizes that this area doesn’t offer much for bird-watchers. But plastic grocery bags flying through the air? Those we have! Maybe this could be a new hobby for Philadelphians. If not, you can always try to curb
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Phables Today’s Phable is an interesting look at Philly psyche. See, back in the day, people swept their trash into the street, where a Streets Department worker with a horse-drawn wagon would sweep it up every trash day. Today, people
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Phables Today’s Phable is a funny story about a woman delivering her first child. She has a unique reaction when a nun offers a solution to her intense labor pains. So, let me pull back the curtain for you and
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Phables nominated for an Eisner Phables, my weekly comic about life in Philadelphia, has been nominated for an Eisner Award, the comic-book industry’s top award! Phables began last year as a bi-weekly comic in the Philadelphia Daily News. After an
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Phables I can guarantee today’s Phable is going to be one for the highlight show. It’s a guaranteed scream. Sean from North Philly wrote in about his worst day on the job as an electric-company meter reader. If you think
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Phables Today’s Phable is about two ladies who take some kids to a baseball game. They’re clearly not into sports, but the fact that they cared enough about the kids to expose them to live baseball puts them among the
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Phables Today’s Phable talks about the massage parlor that used to be across the street from where I worked.

Phables Today’s Phable is a touching story about how a WWII vet who moved to Philly after the war touched the lives of younger people who moved into his neighborhood.

Phables Today’s Phable is a two-fer. First, find out what happens when an out-of-towner can’t find her car in the 30th Street Station parking lot. Part Two is a follow-up to last week’s Phable in which some guests who are
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Phables After his brother sent in a story for Phables, his mother leaned on him to send one in, too, so she could have a “matched set.” The story was so good, I was happy to oblige. Find out what
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Phables Today’s Phable tells a story about what happens when a trip on the subway really gets a guy down!

Phables Today’s Phable is one of the quintessential Philadelphia stories… showing an out-of-towner the ropes!

Phables Today’s Phable is a fascinating dissertation of fashion through the ages. Ludwig makes an interesting argument: Back in the Sixties and Seventies bad fashion meant something, but these kids today — they got it bad and that ain’t good!!

Phables Today’s Phable is a look at an intriguing habit of Philly drivers — the intersection wave!

Phables Today’s Phable is a look at city traditions… some are learned the easy way and others are learned hard way!

Phables Today’s Phable is a truly phenomenal story about life in Philadelphia. A woman’s bike is stolen, forcing her to use the subway to get to work. Two days later, on the way to the subway, she sees her bike…
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Phables reaction It seems as if my first Phable of the New Year has already irked a reader or two. For example, Brendan not only wrote me an e-mail, but linked to his blog as well: Twice in the same
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Phables Today’s Phables returns today and begins its weekly schedule.Be sure to tune in every Monday for a new Phable from Philadelphia. I wanted to come out of the box strong, and I think when you read this one you’ll
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Phables returns Monday Phables, the full-page, longform comic about life in Philadelphia that I created for the Philadelphia Daily News, will return this Monday. As I reported earlier, it received such a strong response that it will now be a
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Phables In today’s Phables, a man learns a lesson about acceptance — in more ways than one — at the hands (er, paws) of an uninvited guest.

Phables A new Phables updates today. This one is a heart-touching look at the strength of a neighborhood’s love.

Phables A new Phables updates today. This is a sequel of sorts. A few months back, I did Philly Road Bingo. That one was so popular, I ended up creating a PDF version so people could print them out and
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Phables A new Phables updates today. My apologies to those of you who have already read the Rafinesque / Curse of Transylvania storyline from Greystone Inn. I couldn’t resist using it as the basis for a special Halloween edition of
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Phables A new Phables updates today. This one has a much deeper meaning about what is means to live in a Philadelphia neighborhood.

Phables A new Phables updates today. This is already one of my favorites. It’s a look at one of my favorite spots in Philadelphia: Eastern State Penitentiary. Eastern State was built in the 1800s as a new kind of prison.
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Phables A new Phables updates today. This one is about a topic familiar to urban dwellers everywhere: Pigeons.

Phables A new Phables updates today. I went to the Mascot Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony last Tuesday. You may have caught the Phables Extra I did last week covering the event. Well, while I was there, I got a
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Phables Extra!I went to the Mascot Hall of Fame induction ceremony yesterday, looking for a good story for Monday’s Phables. I ended up getting so much great material that I offered a “Phables Extra” to the Daily News in addition
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Phables A new Phables updates today. It’s a hot topic about a universally-despised character in everyday Philly life: The trash-picker. However, this Phable says there’s another way to look at that. Check it out.

Phables A new Phables updates today. This one is a story from 1986 about a crime — and help from an unexpected source. It also has a moral that holds added resonnance in this summer of increasing crime in this
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Phables A new Phables updates today. This one is a field guide to the Philadelphia litterbug. This is something that really peeves me. Every day, I see someone throwing trash on the ground as if it’s no big deal.

Look for a special, Web-exclusive, Father’s Day Phable this Sunday. It’s three-times the typical length, and it’s got twice the typical sentimentality. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll go through all the emotions.

I’ve been getting a lot of positive response about today’s Phables. It’s about all the annoying things that people do on the road. I’ve made it into a game. Now, when you see it happening, instead of getting angry, put
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