Fin: William Penn lives, Taylor Swift is straight, 'The Day the Clown Cried' stays buried, and bring Mel Brooks to the Oscars

This week’s notes column

The PFS East is a movie theater on Front Street in Philadelphia’s Old City that frequently hosts the city’s preview screenings. Near the theater is a big public plaza that I’ve probably walked through hundreds of times over the years, usually on my way from the theater to my car and vice versa. The hotel where my wedding was is just a couple of blocks away, so I’ve been in that area a lot in the last two decades. 

During that time, I’ve never once given much thought to that plaza. I couldn’t have told you what it was called, why it was there, and what if any statues it featured. But then, last week, it suddenly became the focal point of a national culture war battle. 

It turns out the place, rather than “that empty plaza next to the Chinese restaurant that closed years ago,” is called Welcome Park. Operated by the National Park Service, the plaza features a small statue of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, as well as a historical timeline of Penn’s life.