Bicycle Club of Philadelphia
Less injury-inducing than touch football and less awkward than dodgeball with co-workers is this band of 1,200 cyclists who offer camaraderie, a perfect way to blow off some steam after a long workday, and the chance to explore unknown corners of the city and 'burbs. Group rides are organized by skill level, and the membership fee is only $15 a year. All you have to do is show up with your bike and a helmet. Ride on. 00000, phillybikeclub.org.
Zinc Home + Garden
Husband-and-wife owners Tracy and Rod Berkowitz are Hunterdon Countys very own version of American Pickers. They scour flea markets, estate sales, warehouses and antiques shows for authentic industrial and farmhouse furniture and quirky home accents. (One recent find: a metal-and-glass cabinet plucked straight from Ralph Laurens office.) Then they haul it all back and display it with Anthro-level amazingness. 74 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530, facebook.com/pages/Zinc-Home-Garden/159901867374394.
Linden Hill Gardens
Combining subtle luxury with an other worldly stock of flora and fauna, Linden Hill is a garden center that is just plain gorgeous. The place looks like an English village, with a thatched-burlap-roofed stop, a lovely greenhouse and a serious selevtion of plants. Owner Jerry Fitz, a veritable garden whisperer, has even shared his flower tips on The Martha Stewart Show. 8230 Easton Road, Ottsville, PA 18942, lindenhillgardens.com.
Joe Beddia at Pizzeria Beddia
We were lining up in Fishtown for his pies way before Bon Appétit named his pizza the best in America. But now the world knows, and with his new smash-hit cookbook, he’s been showing the rest of the country that guys from New York aren’t the only ones who know dough. 115 East Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, pizzeriabeddia.com.
The Clay Studio
When the Clay Studio moved from its longtime Old City home to a new four-story facility in South Kensington, it didn’t just expand its footprint. With gallery shows, free community Saturday art workshops, kids’ summer camps and adult classes, plus way more studio space and pottery wheels, there are now more opportunities for all of us to muck up our mitts. 1425 North American Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, theclaystudio.org.
Plant & People
Mother-daughter duo Cherron Perry-Thomas and Amma Thomas have a combined 53 years of experience in the plant-focused lifestyle, and it shows in the multi-faceted nature of their colorful indoor/outdoor space, which functions as an educational oasis, a wellness center and a nursery. Stop by the Black-owned spot for all your greenery needs as well as hemp-derived goods and free clippings, like Swedish ivy, that you can propagate in water or soil to create your own plant pals. 1431 North 52nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19131, plantandpeople.com.
Brooklyn Bowl
Because why wouldn’t we want our bowling with a side of live music — not to mention fried chicken and boozy milkshakes? This month, look for the Adult Swim Festival Block Party with RJD2 and Hop Along, but keep your eyes open for weekend matinees for the whole family with the Rock and Roll Playhouse, which specializes in kids’ shows featuring music you’ll enjoy as well, like Bob Marley and David Bowie. 1009 Canal Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, brooklynbowl.com/philadelphia.
James Ijames
Ijames has been on the Philadelphia theater circuit for nearly two decades, writing and directing plays across town. His reward? Just a little moment in the spotlight in the form of a Pulitzer Prize for his latest opus, Fat Ham, a reimagining of Hamlet set in the South. The show just capped a three-month run at New York’s Public Theater — the place that once put on a plucky little production called Hamilton — but nothing will change the fact that the premiere was here, at the Wilma Theatre, where Ijames serves as an artistic director. jamesijames.com.
Walls For Justice
During the civil unrest of 2020, Walls For Justice began painting murals and messages on the plywood that covered up so many storefronts. Fast-forward two years, and the group has now expanded its footprint, pairing artists with businesses, schools, and other public spaces that are looking for a unique way to show support for their communities (and maybe spruce up a plain brick wall in the process). wallsforjustice.org.
Minnow Lane
With a focus on organic, sustainable, nontoxic, ethically made goods, this eco-friendly Fishtown gem has high standards for its products. But that doesn't limit the overflowing selection of toys and clothes for baby and pampering treats (think: aromatherapy sprays) for mom, all of which will earn you a gold star at the next baby shower. 2029 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, minnowlane.com.
Intimacy
It isn't the sexiest purchase a girl's got to make, but a good sports bra—one that holds up to endless bouncing and countless washes—is a wise investment. The boob gurus here will find the brand and fit that work best for you, no matter your cup size. The Plaza at King of Prussia Mall, King of Prussia, PA 19406, myintimacy.com.
Peter Kate
Here, they understand that the perfect outfit begets a need for the perfect shoes begets the want for a handbag begets a domino effect that makes you say "Well, I can't live without these earrings, either." 3830 Kennett Pike, Greenville, DE 19807, peterkate.com.
Foreign Fix Auto Center
Whenever you move to a new neighborhood, you get your bearings: grocery store, parking rules, which bar you can stumble home from. The thing you always forget to find until it’s too late is a car mechanic. That changes today. Jason Capone and the fellas at Foreign Fix will not only get you in and out in the time most shops take to get your car up on the lift; they’ll talk you through the cheapest options first. What are you going to do with all that extra money? Well, there is that bar. 822 Reed Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, facebook.com/Foreign-Fix-Auto-Center-140122042683245.
Arch Enemy Arts
When the folks at this Old City space claim that their gallery is Philadelphias freshest new venue for the new contemporary art scene, theyre really not lying. The one-year-old gallery exhibits some wonderful works in genres from realism to figurative to pop surrealism, and the art is priced to sell. This month, check out the newest show, Semiotic Weapons, featuring works by 11 local artists. 109 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, archenemyarts.com.
Delco Quarantine Open Mic
Musicians love to play for other people, but once bars and music venues closed, that wasn’t exactly possible. Enter the Facebook group Delco Quarantine Open Mic, which quickly grew to more than 14,800 members — many from Delco, but plenty from other areas, too. The page hosts several shows a week and features some seriously talented people who might make you think about pulling that old guitar of yours out of the attic. facebook.com/groups/524677775121227.