Animo Juice
You'll do a double take: only pressed juices, organic granola and low-fat yogurt? Seriously? Because the Blueberry Cobbler Blend tastes just like pie. 1701 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, animojuice.com.
Flywheel Sports
No, there's not something in the water. Your friends are all addicted to Flywheel's indoor cycling classes because they feel more like a party than a sweat session, with amped-up playlists and endlessly energetic instructors who'll have you dancing in the saddle. But it's also a serious workout: The studio's TorqBoard lets you race your classmates, and weighted bars next to each bike allow for arm workouts while you peddle. 1521 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, flywheelsports.com/philadelphia.
Anthony's Skincare Lounge at Jason Matthew Salon
Let's face it: Waxing will never be a pleasant experience. But Anthony Guerrera's no-nonsense demeanor (who really wants to chat up his waxer, anyway?), coupled with the ability to rip incredibly quickly and cleanly, at least makes it bearable. You'll leave with an arsenal of smart post-wax tips. 1735 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, skincareloungespa.com.
Valerie Peoples at Sun Myst
To Valerie, your face is a canvas she'll study its structure and masterfully sketch a perfect arch with dark powder before wielding the wax. You'll leave with brows so pretty (or a growth plan to get them there) that you'll wonder why self-tweezing is even legal. 124 South 16th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, mysunmyst.com.
Treemont
You'll want to order chef Rob Sidor's "Fish for Two" from the menu at Treemont be it his double fillet of daurade with a minty green tea sauce that's so fresh you'll want to swig it, or whole-roasted skate wing with charred lovage. Just try to play nice and share. 231 South 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, thetreemont.com.
La Famiglia
Seeing as Italian-everything is the new French, La Famiglia's expertly procured, extensive, Italian-focused wine list really caught our eye. With more than 1,200 selections, there are plenty of bottles at moderate prices, all of which pair well with the classic-but-light Italian fare. 8 South Front Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, lafamiglia.com.
Bridge Street, Phoenixville
Noon: Start with Swedish potato pancakes or omelets at local fave Black Lab Bistro (248 Bridge Street, 610-935-5988, blacklabbistro.net). 2 p.m.: Take in a classic movie at the Colonial Theatre (227 Bridge Street, 610-917-0223, thecolonialtheatre.com). This month, look for a Harlow-and-Gable screening series; coming in September: the "Better on the Big Screen" series, including The Searchers (9/6), Lawrence of Arabia (9/13), and the supremely confounding 2001: A Space Odyssey (9/20). 4 p.m. (or later, depending on length of said movie): Roam the antique (and junk) shops on Bridge Street. Buy things you don't need. 6 p.m.: It's Sunday, so it's an early dinner. For burgers and beer, the call is Iron Hill (130 East Bridge Street, 610-983-9333, ironhillbrewery.com); for something a tad more refined, BYO Majolica (258 Bridge Street, 610-917-0962, majolicarestaurant.com). 8 p.m.: Remember that tomorrow is a workday, and make the long, sad journey home. 00000,
Ignite Philly
In this quirky series, held at Johnny Brenda's whenever they damn well feel like it, speakers get five minutes to make (sometimes elaborate) slide presentations to packed-to-the-rafters crowds on just about anything: the link between dreams and video games, the virtues of canned goods, how to channel all those random facts crammed inside your brain. Surprisingly riveting at $5 a head See website for schedule, 00000, ignitephilly.org.
Village Toy and Doll Shoppe
A jam-packed funhouse that makes even avowed kid-haters revisit that whole procreating thing, if only so they'll have a reason to shop here. 60 Peddlers Village, Lahaska, PA 18931, peddlersvillage.com/shop/ShopDetail.aspx?ShopNumber=160.
The Barnes Foundation
Dont like crowds? Seventy-five bucks gets you an intimate insiders tour of the Barnes Foundations world-renowned collection at a time when the museum is otherwise closed to the public. These exclusive tours are available Tuesday afternoons from 4 to 6 p.m., by appointment only. 2025 Ben Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130, barnesfoundation.org.
Padma's Beauty Salon
No bouts with hot wax. No protracted plucking with pointy tweezers. Just a fast-flying string, less than 10 minutes of your time, and only $5 of your money. 215 South Burnt Mill Road, Voorhees, NJ 08043, style.padmasbeauty.com.
El Zarape
It's ironic to watch people waiting in line outside Cantina Los Caballitos while you're inside eating excellent authentic Mexican fare right across the street at El Zarape. Order the al pastor, with crispy pork and tasty pineapple, or don't make a decision at all and get the combo-beef and chorizo together on a single taco. 1848 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, .
Babette Josephs vs. Gregg Kravitz
State Rep Josephs accused her primary challenger, Kravitz, of only pretending to be bisexual so he could pick up some, uh, swing votes. "I outed him as a straight person," she boasted, forcing Kravitz to insist on his bi bona fides. The twist on "Don't ask, don't tell" (nobody asked, nobody cared) drew bipartisan mixed reactions, with Philadelphia Gay News publisher Mark Segal noting, "We've hit a new high point when candidates are accused of pretending to be gay to win a seat." Whatever Josephs crushed Kravitz in the primary. 00000,
Rat's
It's on the other side of sad-sack Trenton, in a not-so-romantic warehouse wasteland. But this tiny Claude Monet-inspired French village and 35-acre sculpture park, the formal whimsy of Johnson and Johnson heir J. Seward Johnson (and named for Wind in the Willows character Ratty, the quintessential host), boasts a decor that's Frida Kahlo meets Swiss chalet, with bright colors, arched wood beams and fireplaces. The food is beautifully done eclectic French, but the sell here is the sculpture park and its moodily lighted paths. Its goofiness (dancing twigs!) strikes just the right note of postprandial surprise and how-did-this-place-get-here? delight exactly the stuff, in fact, of romance. 18 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton, NJ 08619, ratsrestaurant.org.
John's Roast Pork
Only a place this good could make it so difficult to enjoy. It's only open Monday through Friday until 3 p.m., and is located a block from Delaware Avenue, so you basically have to take the day off to experience John's warm slices of house-roasted, deeply spiced pork stacked on a kaiser roll whose doughy interior is made soft and gooey by the pork's jus, the tangy spinach, and heady, barely melted provolone. Yeah, time to take a sick day. 14 East Snyder Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, johnsroastpork.com.