Lithe Cinch
Hoping to erase or at least shrink that post-baby bump? Head to Lithe's Cinch class, during which haramakis (belly bands) worn around the waist help new moms focus on their core while keeping the entire midsection compressed during an hour of transformative bar and mat work. You'll tighten, tone and slim the entire area between the ribs and hips. Screw you, mom jeans. Lithe Method; see website for locations, 00000, lithemethod.com.
New Azaad
It may not look like much (and really, it doesnt), but after several meals consumed both in the restaurant and on the go, weve tried nearly every item on the menu and can confidently report that no other traditional Indian restaurant in the region even comes close. From the goat and chicken curries to the papdi chaat to the extensive sweets case (after all, theres a world beyond gulab jamun), you simply cant go wrong here. And its cheaper than Ti_ffin! Just get there now and thank us later. 6443 Castor Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19149, facebook.com/pages/New-Azaad-Food/226414474482?rf=117920948233669.
Artur Kirsch at the Studio CL
Don't be confused when the blowout comes before Artur has so much as touched his (electronic, hair-end-sealing) scissors: You wear your hair dry, and so he shall cut your hair dry. And when you exit and instinctively strut down 19th like Beyonc's wind machine is blowing on you, you'll find it's a very hard technique to argue with. 128 South 19th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, thestudiocl.com.
Geisha House
The store name conjures kimonos, but the racks here loaded with edgy, mostly Australian brands like Cameo, Maurie & Eve, Keepsake and Finders Keepers are more beachy than bento. There are boho maxi dresses and eclectic jewelry from Cali-based designers, too all feminine, with a splash of sex appeal. And those Japanese brands? Theyre coming soon. 149 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, hellogeisha.com.
Marigold Kitchen
Robert Halperns cooking is as American as the Cabot-clothbound-cheddar cracker he likes to send out before appetizers, and as New as the liquefaction process that makes that cheese spill over your tongue like a stream of not-quite-molten lava. The amuse-bouches are the coolest things going in this timeworn rowhouse popcorn sauced with liquid nitrogen, ice-cream-droplet tricolore salad, chocolate-dusted corn ravioli which is good, since dinner comes with about a dozen of them. 501 South 45th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, marigoldkitchenbyob.wordpress.com.
The Republican
Common sense will tell you to avoid this place: It's dark. It's grimy. There are two poles and a mirror, and they're used frequently and with varying degrees of skill. But come 2 a.m., this place fills up with an almost glorious assortment of humanity. It's South Philly, folks; embrace it until the wee hours. And if you get too skeeved/drunk/hungry, the Melrose is mere steps up the street. 1734 Snyder Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19145, .
Paesano's Philly Style
Peter McAndrews's second Paesano's and his third eatery, counting Modo Mio opened at 9th and Christian back in February. And it's even more lovable than the first one, thanks to extra seating and his new lasagna-and-fried-egg sandwich, the Bolognese. But both outposts know no limit when it comes to total sandwich debauchery, with overly drippy, saucy, cheesy, meaty and sometimes, if you're lucky, yolk-y delicious gluttony on a roll. 1017 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, paesanosphillystyle.com.
Lou Legaspi at Performance Physical Therapy & Fitness
Everyone from top athletes (onetime Eagles draft pick/Olympic skier Jeremy Bloom, recent Colorado Avalanche acquisition Colby Cohen) to your average weekend tennis warrior has looked to Legaspi and his team of physical therapists for post--injury help. But don't wait until you're holed up with a bag of ice: They work with anyone who wants to prevent such pitfalls of sport, or simply up his or her game through training 80 Rittenhouse Place, Ardmore, PA 19003, performanceptfitness.com.
Distrito
Its big. Its jubilantly gaudy. Its Pepto-Bismol pink. Its loud, its young, and its walls sparkle with glittery wrestling masks. You can literally swing from the rafters. (Some seats are actually swings.) Yes, its sensory overload especially the too-good-to-be-true steak nachos but Jose Garcess foray into the street food of Mexico City is also the most fun weve ever had in a restaurant. 3945 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, philadelphia.distritorestaurant.com.
Maria Quiñones-Sánchez
The Councilperson had hoped to keep her breast cancer and treatment a secret — so personal, you see. But then: “I thought about the women I know who have lost their battles with breast cancer.” She also thought about Philly women who, like her, weren’t getting regular screenings. So she changed her mind, wrote her story in the Inquirer, and kept on keeping on.
Latchkey
This quirky shop owned by a former DJ is all that and a bag of chips — the best place to relive your misspent youth or buy some gifts for the millennial in your life. Browse a curated selection of vinyl records (from Britney Spears to Das EFX) as well as items like custom bath bombs and turntables. In true ’90s fashion, there’s a listening station at the front, so you can try before you buy. 1502 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19147, Shoplatchkey.com.
Anyabwile Love of Bailey Street Books
Most people retire and relax, but this beloved CCP professor had other plans. After years of teaching history and Black studies, Love has taken his passion for the field and transformed it into a bookstore featuring a vintage collection of Black history and literature that’s more timely than ever. Bailey Street Books (1517 North Bailey Street in Brewerytown) will continue to educate Philadelphians for many years to come — making it ultimate retirement-plan goals.
Crown & Feather Tattoo Co.
Since opening in 2019, Andrew Robinson and Dylan Carr’s private studio specializing in fine-line and Japanese styles has earned some two million likes on TikTok and recognition at both local and international tattoo conventions. There’s a cozy area for consultations, and the team is always welcoming — and constantly booked. Can’t snag an appointment? One of their wildly cool totes or tees will suffice till you can. 2628 Martha Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125, crownandfeather.com.
Powerhouse Dance
The beauty of Powerhouse Dance isn’t just that it’s adults-only (classes are geared toward those with some dance experience) or that pricing is pay-as-you-take (what grown-up can commit to full-year tuition?), but that the Cherry Hill Artists in Motion Dance Complex hosts a rotating schedule of classes every week — from heels and hip-hop to ballet and street jazz — that’ll get any “retired” dancer back, confidently, on the floor. 1742 Marlton Pike East, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003, powerhousedancesj.com.