Increase in city taxes will likely not have big impact on spending habits

The City plans to raise taxes in order to close the budget gap and balance the City's finances

Protests hinder future of casino construction

Although Pennsylvania’s Gaming Control Board recently granted Foxwoods Development Company an extended gaming license in late August, a continuous wave of protestors as well as monetary issues continue to hinder the future construction of their casino.

Penn’s credit is OK despite bad economy

Penn has retained its original ratings of AA+ from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and Aa2 from Moody’s Investor Service that it earned last year.

Penn's credit is OK despite bad economy

Despite recent downgrades in credit ratings across universities, Penn remains unscathed. Penn has retained its original ratings of AA+ from Standard & Poor's Ratings Services and Aa2 from Moody's Investor Service that it earned last year. Last week, credit ratings of numerous colleges - including Dartmouth and Bard Colleges -- declined due to waning endowment values and other financial issues, said Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli.

Sample sale brings affordable fashion

For female Penn students, the hotter temperatures have officially welcomed in new outfits - without riding boots and North Face fleeces. In this economic crunch, however, the ideal complete summer wardrobe may not be feasible. College Sample Sale presents a more affordable option: On Wednesday and Thursday, this company will offer Penn students high-end living brands with discounted prices in the Bistro Room of Houston Hall.

Penn Praxis plans for Delaware riverfront revitalization move forward

The "civic vision" for the Delaware riverfront area, created three years ago, took a step forward toward implementation. At the Philadelphia City Planning Commission meeting Tuesday, the plan was accepted as a mode to transform the urban landscape along the Delaware River's waterfront.

Reporter's Notebook | New Hub on 3939 Chestnut Street will 'energize' its surroundings

Strolling down Chestnut Street, College freshman Joanna Karaman is bombarded with a collage of colors emanating from the Hub building. After coming from class in College Hall, a more traditional 19th-century structure, Karaman said passing the Hub is like being "warped into a different era.

Economic crunch makes subletting tougher

As the school year comes to a close, students with 12-month leases for their rooms are faced with a challenge: finding summer subletters. For those seekers, the economic crisis seems to add an extra burden to an already-difficult task. College junior Michael Kleinman is actively looking for a student to summer sublet a room in his house.

Economy puts extra burden on students seeking subletters

As the school year comes to a close, students with one-year bound leases for their rooms are faced with a challenge: summer sublets. For those seekers, the economic crisis seems to add an extra burden. College junior Michael Kleinman is actively looking for a student to summer sublet a room in his house.

General Manager says Mexicali is not closing

Despite rumors of its closing and competition from the neighboring Chipotle and Qdoba, Mexicali will keep its doors open. According to its general manager, Mexicali is "not going out of business." Mexicali, located at 110 S. 40th St., offers an array of Mexican cuisine, providing a casual take-out venue.

Capogiro to open in late April | Interactive feature

Originally scheduled to open in early April, Capogiro Gelato is now slated for opening in the latter part of the month, according to owner John Reitano. The reason, he wrote in an e-mail, is that it is tough for a "family-owned small business . to grow in a challenging economic environment.

Reporter's notebook | Radian retail transforms Walnut St.

Last year, on the plot of land on the 3900 block of Walnut Street stood an odd-looking complex. Asymmetric gaping holes spotted the metallic exterior. When students came back to campus last August, they found that the skeletal structure had materialized into the Radian.

Local restaurants offer dining deals

Grabbing a quick meal before class or going to dinner with friends is now easier for many students with thinning wallets. Local restaurants and businesses are offering students recession specials in an effort to bring in more business at a time when financial concerns are a priority.

Calling all 'Lovers and Madmen' at new coffee shop

New coffee shop Lovers and Madmen seeks to mirror its philosophy in its name: to provide a venue that caters to passionate people. Manager Megan Powers said she chose the coffee shop's name to "convey the same passion and intensity" from the scene in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream.

Jimmy John's hosts $1 sub day Thursday | Interactive graphic

Jimmy John's hosts $1 sub day Thursday In this economic crisis, a dollar can barely buy an item at the food carts on Spruce - but tomorrow, one dollar can purchase a gourmet sub. Jimmy John's, located at 3925 Walnut St., will be selling its signature subs for only a dollar from 11 a.

Penn Park model unveiled

Architect Michael Van Valkenburgh unveiled the model for Penn Park yesterday before the University's trustees. Penn Park, a $40 million, 24-acre project, will integrate athletic fields in a park-like setting to serve as the athletic hub of campus. It is part of the Penn Connects initiative, the University's urban development plan.

South Street Bridge plans will aid pedestrians | Interactive graphic

There's a light at the end of the reconstruction of South Street Bridge for the many students and city residents who have changed their commuting routines since the bridge's closure. When drafting the latest plans for the new bridge, developers opted for a pedestrian-friendly design, a fact that pleases many weary Penn commuters.

Sticker shock may dictate housing

When College freshman Marissa Finn was deciding where she wanted to live next year, she said price was a huge factor in her decision. "Because of the state of the economy, I had to consider whether or not the Radian was affordable," she said. Finn is not alone - for many, the economic crisis has complicated decisions about where to live, forcing students to choose their future housing based on price tag rather than personal preference.

Penn can't get enough Mexican food | Interactive map

The Mexican cuisine at Penn has no borders. The opening of Chipotle last month added to the variety of Mexican restaurants scattered around campus to satiate a spicy palate. But despite this new competition, officials say business at other Mexican establishments in the area has not been negatively affected.

Potential Radian residents face rooming roadblock

When she came to Penn, College freshman Janey Goldberg was set on living in the Radian, the off-campus luxury apartment building. She signed her lease in December - just as most freshmen were getting comfortable with their current living arrangements - but not all students were as well-organized.