🍴 No reservations | Morning Newsletter

Welcome back, Philly.

Our lead story today is for anyone who celebrates the holidays by eating out. Until recently, OpenTable’s lineup of restaurants hadn’t been the hottest, in Philly or beyond. But the oldest reservation platform is shaking up its strategy and going after younger competitors.

And a 92-year-old Navy vet tracks down Philadelphia homeowners to let them know they’re eligible for a city property tax relief program. His amateur internet sleuthing could save the city $11.4 million, too.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

P.S. Friday means new games! Test your Eagles players know-how with a new Bird Box, then take our latest news quiz, including questions on holiday history, Walnut Street shopping, and more.

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‘Tis the season for dining out. And if you’re making use of newly received restaurant gift cards, there’s a good chance your reservations will go through OpenTable.

🍴 Change of plans: The platform is the oldest in the industry, and until recently, it was more known for carrying chains and long-established — if not staid — Philly eateries. Hip newcomers tended to pick Resy or Tock. Now, those newcomers are increasingly switching to OpenTable as the 26-year-old company aggressively recruits them.

🍴 Why it matters: You might not give much thought to your favorite dining establishment’s reservation system, in part because a seamless experience should be a given. But the shift has implications for Philadelphians in the race for the city’s hardest-to-get rezos, especially in the past five years.

🍴Notable quote: “People just don’t wander around looking for food the way they maybe were before the pandemic,” the owner of Oyster House told The Inquirer. “You want that peace of mind knowing that you’ve reserved that real estate in that restaurant for however long.”

Food reporter Jenn Ladd has the Philly dispatch from “the nationwide reservation wars.”

At 92, Wissinoming resident Robert Faulds spends his free time informing Philadelphians that they are eligible for the Homestead Exemption or have unclaimed assets held by the state.

His work is simple, done by searching the city’s property website and the Pennsylvania Treasury’s unclaimed funds database. The retired insurance professional has sent letters to around 1,500 families so far. All he asks for in return is a stamp so he can continue his Good Samaritan project.

In a twist, a discovery Faulds made while doing this research also led to an extensive investigation this year by the city controller’s office — which eventually discovered thousands of ineligible properties, including those owned by corporations, claiming homeowner tax benefits.

Reporter Layla Jones has the story of the internet sleuth who could save the city $11.4 million.

Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday. We’ll feature both new and timeless stories from our forum for readers to ask about the city’s quirks.

This week, reporter Michelle Myers takes on the apparent anachronism that is the wooden utility pole. As one reader asked, couldn’t Peco switch to a more modern material for its 111,000-plus poles throughout the city?

They could, yes. But wood is cheaper and safer — to climb, and otherwise — than alternatives like steel or fiberglass. Here’s the full explanation.

Have your own burning question about Philadelphia, its local oddities, or how the region works? Submit it here and you might find the answer featured in this space.

A Temple University grad is suing the North Philadelphia institution for doing what?

A) Losing his transcripts

B) Deactivating alumni university email addresses

C) Hiring president John Fry

D) Declining to build a football stadium

Think you know? Check your answer.

☃️ Entertaining: Kids during holiday break with these Philly activities and day trips.

🍸 Drinking: Dessert-style martinis by the fireplace in Philly’s coziest bars.

🌲 Recycling: Christmas trees into goat food or wood chips via these local orgs.

📰 Revisiting: The Inquirer’s best editorial cartoons of the year, and the 16 op-eds that caught your attention in 2024.

Hint: New Year’s Day tradition in Philadelphia

PARMA SUMMERED

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Dohn Farley, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Saint Joseph’s University. The Inquirer’s sports desk examined the community that fuels the Overbrook-based Catholic school’s women’s teams.

🧶 One last knitted thing: A group of yarn enthusiasts called the Philadelphia Drunken Knitwits made sure Fitler Square Park’s animal statues stay cozy with custom sweaters. The dressed-up statues have been bringing joy to neighbors since early December and will remain clothed through Hanukkah — “just one more way to celebrate the holiday season.”

Thanks for ending your week with The Inquirer. Wishing you a pleasant Friday and beyond.

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