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Inside Philly’s new tallest building, kids’ clothes promote ‘Girl Power’ | Morning Newsletter

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Vernard Abrams, rear left, and his wife, Terri, holding their daughter, Lennox, 15 months, (left) along with friends Eleonora Barbieri, center, holding daughter Giulia Luciano, 14 months, and Barbieri's husband, Luis Luciano, rear right, holding Giulia's twin sister, Arianna Luciano.
Vernard Abrams, rear left, and his wife, Terri, holding their daughter, Lennox, 15 months, (left) along with friends Eleonora Barbieri, center, holding daughter Giulia Luciano, 14 months, and Barbieri's husband, Luis Luciano, rear right, holding Giulia's twin sister, Arianna Luciano.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer

    The Morning Newsletter

    Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

If you feel like you're seeing more clothes for young girls with messages like "Girl Power" and "Miss Independent," you're not alone. The rise in "femvertising" is real and some parents feel like it's vital when teaching self-worth. Speaking of things on the rise, Comcast's newest Center City building has changed Philly's skyline. What's inside you ask? We got a sneak peek. Over in Rittenhouse, a residential skyscraper is going up, but not without some major input from residents who took a unique approach to preserve history.

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— Ray Boyd (@RayBoydDigital, morningnewsletter@philly.com)

» READ MORE: Kids’ clothes promote ‘Girl Power’ in the era of Trump

Messages like "Girl Boss" and "Miss Independent" on children's clothes are clear signs that female empowerment is main stream. Retailers are taking notice and onesies are becoming activism.

Eleonora Barbieri of Brewerytown dresses her twin girls in shirts like this. She wants them to learn their self-worth in case "they ever encounter anyone who talks to them like the president talks to the world."

Research shows that the amount of positive messaging apparel from retailers has doubled since last year. Critics call the rise in "femvertising" disingenuous and not at all about values and action.

» READ MORE: Inside Philly’s new tallest building: Comcast Technology Center

The massive Comcast Technology Center has reshaped Philly's skyline. Reporter Bob Fernandez got a "sneak peek" inside the tower with Comcast chief executive Brian Roberts.

The new high-rise doesn't look like the typical working space. It includes a coffee bar, a full-floor gym, open work spaces, restaurants and a Four Seasons hotel.  

Roberts said the building represents the "heart and soul" of Philadelphia. He hopes to create an urban campus that could rival those in Silicon Valley.

» READ MORE: Developer, residents make Philly skyscraper work for all

In a rapidly changing city, it's a common tale: A developer buys land with plans to make massive changes. Neighbors fight back and many times, neither side gets what they want. In Rittenhouse Square, residents tried a different approach.

Developer Southern Land acquired a historic stretch of the square in 2015 with a plan to build Philly's tallest residential-only building. The problem: Their plan wasn't the transformation residents wanted to see on Walnut St.  

Instead of outright opposition, a path familiar to Rittenhouse residents, a stakeholders committee was formed to give neighbors a voice at the table. The tower will be completed in the coming years, with two, but not all, nearby historic buildings being spared and a guarantee that the building won't only serve the rich.

What you need to know today

  1. Investigators continue to unravel the life of Bruce Rogal. Three years of divorce proceedings ended Tuesday. The next day Rogal fired a gun at his ex-wife before taking the life of his parents. Advocates say the incident underscores the need for domestic violence reform in Pennsylvania.

  2. Former President Barack Obama will be in town today, rallying voters in North Philly. He wants to turn out voters who were energized by his candidacy and are vital to Democrats' hopes this November.

  3. Gunshot wounds are among the leading causes of death for children in the U.S. Do you ask other parents whether they have guns in the home before play dates? Parents are torn over whether it's an appropriate question.

  4. Creating relatable, real-world scenarios is an important teaching tool, but can be difficult when students don't share your life experience. That's why a group of Philly teachers set off for the Caribbean to better connect with their students.

  5. A CDC study shows that from 2006 to 2016, Pennsylvania was among the states with the most overdose deaths. The report contains even more disheartening findings about life and death in America.

  6. The TreePhilly program gives away free trees to residents and it's been a hit since 2014. The next giveaway date is set and officials want to expand its reach.

Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly

If only we could say "red fish, blue fish." Nice pic, @jbarmash.

Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and we'll pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out!

That’s Interesting

  1. Over nearly a century, Billy, the statue nobody wanted, has become a beloved piece of Philly art. This weekend, the GOAT Rittenhouse Square symbol is being put out to pasture.

  2. Researchers may be on the verge of a way to identify children who are at risk for obesity later in life. It all starts with bacteria.

  3. It's opening weekend for Opera Philadelphia's Festival O18. Some good news for opera fans without tickets: seats are still available.

  4. Leader. Champion. MVP. There's a lot of ways to describe Nick Foles, but the word one Fox analyst is using has us scratching our heads. Selfish … really?

  5. Philly's Peter Stone Brown is a well-known Dylanologist (Bob Dylan expert). A dire diagnosis is forcing him to do something he's never done — force his way through a Dylan song.

  6. LeBron James has ended years of speculation with the announcement of Space Jam 2. My colleague Bethany Ao writes that Joel Embiid "was made for this movie." For the record, I agree.

Opinions

"Teaching kids from an early age
— that everything and everyone has value is, unquestionably, one of the most positive lessons
  1. Gentrification used to creep up on Philadelphia neighborhoods over the span of decades. As Architecture Critic Inga Saffron writes, it's moving at warp speed today.

  2. Columnist Will Bunch writes that the existence of three types of Democrats — Bernie Sanders Democrats, Hillary Clinton Democrats, and John Lewis Democrats — could get Trump reelected.

What we’re reading

  1. It seems like Americans are mostly friends with people who think the way they do. The New York Times debunks that notion, showing why one simple factor trumps politics, race, and class.

  2. An investigation from NJ.com sheds light on a troubling trend: Dogs have died after grooming appointments at PetSmart in recent years and the toll may be higher than anyone knows.

  3. America has fought a losing battle against obesity for decades. Michael Hobbes, writing for HuffPost, argues that the medical community has ignored the evidence that could end the epidemic.

  4. It's a quiet time for NBA fans, but The Ringer is holding us over with its list of eight players poised for a breakout season. Yes — it includes one young Sixer.

  5. As my fellow Temple Owls know, the history of North Broad is constantly battling the glass high rises that serve students. Billy Penn examines this battle of old vs. new.

Your Daily Dose of | Pawpaws

Pawpaws are one of the Philly region's tastiest secrets. Legend has it this hard-to-find fruit was one of President George Washington's favorites.