How Dry January is going | Morning Newsletter

Good morning.

It’s a sunny Saturday, and high temps will top out around 33.

Today, I’m talking about Philadelphians trying Dry January, and more on your favorite area gyms and instructors.

Plus, we’ll get into why a longtime Manayunk restaurant has suddenly closed, the role a Pa. senator played in confirming one of President Donald Trump’s most controversial cabinet picks, and how you can win tickets to Sunday’s NFC championship game at the Linc.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

If you’re reading this, congratulations — you have made it through the 10 darkest weeks of the year. We are slowly but surely gaining more daylight each day, and before you know it, spring will be here.

For some Philadelphians, crawling out of the solar winter also means reflecting on how well they did in Dry January, and maybe even considering going beyond the first month of the year. The goal — to abstain from consuming alcohol — is a timely New Year’s resolution, but some find it’s not easy to stick to it.

I first tried Dry January in 2021, shortly after toasting my last glass of wine one New Year’s Eve. That month was an interesting exercise in checking in not only with myself, but with those around me who may or may not have been participating. Sometimes it meant I had to remove myself from situations that didn’t respect my commitment (it’s never, ever cool to pressure anyone to drink). In a world that can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war on behavior, it was nice to come out of that experience knowing I wasn’t alone in trying to be more mindful of my own habits. Next thing I knew, I made it to Dry March ...

The growing popularity of this pledge might be related to impacts in alcohol sales, and it’s unclear if it represents a meaningful shift in drinking habits, according to Nate File and Lizzie Mulvey. But the health benefits certainly don’t lie. I think Dry January is a great opportunity for any sober-curious person to consider cutting back, even if it doesn’t go perfectly. There’s also Damp January, a less rigid approach. Even a half measure can feel good enough to break up what can “become a thoughtless habit.” However far you’ve come, consider this a virtual high-five. And in case you missed it, The Inquirer has a great guide to delicious mocktails, plus tips to stay motivated.

More readers have weighed in to sing praises about beloved fitness classes and instructors across the city. Thank you for sharing your experiences! Here’s another sample of your responses, edited for clarity:

Katherine Knight: My go-to gym in Philadelphia is Leverage Fitness, at 16th and Locust. I joined during COVID when my at-home workouts were not cutting it any longer. I grew up a competition dancer and competing with myself had lost its luster. Leverage is a small-group, strength-training gym. With no more than 4 clients to a trainer, I always get personalized attention. Leverage has given me the confidence, and physical strength, to enter the scary side of the gym. Don’t make me pick a favorite instructor. But they know who they are.

Elaine Allard: Dovita Douglas at the West Philadelphia YMCA. Always works us hard, picks great music, and I have never ever injured myself in her classes. My go-to is Total Body Conditioning. Her Zumba is also epic. Other difficult-but-worth-it classes with Dovita: Butts & Gutts (glute and abs exercises only), Cardio Fusion (a step class), and Spin. She’s awesome. Looking forward to getting back to group classes at my local Y soon. Group exercise is the only way I can stay committed — the social and community aspect (and accountability — if you quit, everyone can see it, so you’re more likely to keep going even if you’re wiped out).

Mandy Kateusz: I felt compelled to shout out Fire For Effect athletics in Manayunk. I started going to this gym six years ago and it changed my life. It is considered a “Strongman” gym, which is kind of like CrossFit but with some differences. I have made good friends there and the coaches are very supportive. I’ve had some injuries in the past few years and they are always happy to suggest alternative exercises for me to do in class, and PT exercises to do afterwards as well. The gym is also dog-friendly and many people bring in their (leashed) dogs to hang out with us during class. It is actually quite nice to have the canine companionship at the gym!

Before he left office, Joe Biden issued a reprieve to his earlier decision to block U.S. Steel’s merger with Nippon Steel.

But if Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro doesn’t act now, an iconic Pittsburgh-based company may die, Nathan Benefield of the Commonwealth Foundation says in a column for The Inquirer.

“Pennsylvanians need leadership more now than ever,” Benefield writes.

Keep reading for Benefield’s perspective on why this deal — and Shapiro’s involvement — is essential to U.S. Steel’s survival.

A Philadelphia businessman was charged with selling fake memorabilia that he claimed was signed by which sports star?

A) Joel Embiid

B) Jason Kelce

C) Nick Castellanos

D) Bryce Harper

Think you know? Check your answer.

Hint: Philly restaurants are showing off rare cuts of Japanese beef

GUY WE WAKE

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Annette Lofft who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Port Richmond. A district middle school in the River Wards neighborhood is getting a long-awaited new building.

The University of Pennsylvania’s Schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine hosted a free vaccination clinic for pets and their owners as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Students performed exams and administered vaccinations in an effort to help prevent infectious diseases like rabies. Check out Joe Yerardi’s video from the clinic.

Over on Reddit, people are practicing their poetry skills with some very Philly limericks.

And we’re soaking in all the tips from this online syllabus crafted by Eagles diehards on how to be a real fan. You can guess what the first rule is by now, right?

👋🏽 Thanks for spending some time with me. See you again tomorrow.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.