The Dogfish Head Experience in Lewes
Lewes, Delaware — a.k.a. “that town on the other end of the Cape May ferry” — is actually a charming beach resort that boasts the beer-centric Dogfish Inn. From there, you can pedal (on free Dogfish Head loaner bikes) to the Dogfish Head Brewery, where you’ll try exclusive Dogfish Head beers, and to Dogfish Head’s nearby restaurant, Chesapeake & Maine. Be sure to head home with Dogfish Head’s Compelling Gin, which has become an essential bottle in our bar. 105 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958, dogfish.com/inn.
The Neon Museum of Philadelphia
Len Davidson has been finding and restoring neon signs since the 1970s, and his massive collection finally has a proper and permanent home. You’ll find original neon from places like Pat’s King of Steaks, the Horn & Hardart’s 30th Street Station shop (talk about a throwback!), McGillin’s Olde Ale House and Levis Hot Dogs. 1800 North American Street unit E, Philadelphia, PA 19122, neonmuseumofphiladelphia.com.
Caviar
Look, we know that now you can get pretty much anything delivered. What makes Caviar special is that it has allied itself with some of Philly's best restaurants, so you're not just getting any pizza/grilled cheese/shumai dumplings delivered; you're getting the best iterations thereof. And they'll bring it to you fresher and faster than any other service in town. trycaviar.com.
Stove & Tap
Opened a few months back by a couple of Starr Restaurants veterans in the former home of Molly Maguire's, Stove & Tap has already established itself as an indispensable part of the Lansdale community. This is thanks to its excellent, wide-ranging weekend brunch menu, which covers everything from peanut butter and Nutella waffles and French toast made from Parker House rolls to a solid backyard burger and cold corn soup with a crab and avocado salad. 329 West Main Street, Lansdale, PA 19446, stoveandtap.com.
Clenz
These pros scrub your home the way you know you should but never actually do, using only green products and focusing on nitty-gritty details like baseboard crevices and that gnarly space behind the toilet. They also offer the rather elusive services of eco-friendly rug and upholstery cleaning and work in both the city and select 'burbs. 1215 Crease Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125, clenzphilly.com.
Jason’s Toridasu
The owners of Jason’s say they’re like a grocery-store sushi counter except that they use fresh fish. That about sums up this quirky, tiny spot that’s so fast and polished, you’d think it was a chain. While it’s mostly takeout, we’ve seen some Main Line moms commandeer the few tables for girls’ nights out—prosecco in hand, of course. 40 Rittenhouse Place, Ardmore, PA 19003, jasonstoridasu.com.
French Creek State Park
The park—just an hour from City Hall—sits in the largest chunk of forest between New York and D.C. and has 35 miles of trails, two lakes for fishing and boating (rentals available), a vast swimming pool, and disc golf and orienteering courses. As for the sleeping arrangements, if pitching a tent is a bit too rustic, modern cabins and even some yurts are available to rent. 843 Park Road, Elverson, PA 19520, dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/frenchcreek.
Good Good Comedy Theatre
The tickets are cheap (rarely more than $10) and it’s BYOB (no pesky drink minimums), but those are only a few of the reasons Good Good is most definitely not your Uncle Mort’s laugh house. While some of Philly’s best stand-up comedians are featured, there’s also innovative programming like Weeding Out the Stoned, in which the audience tried to guess which performer wasn’t high. 215 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, goodgoodcomedy.com.
John Goldthorp
Goldthorp's back-to-the-basics approach shows you don't have to lace up your sneakers to improve your stride. Focusing on strengthening your weak spots—do you have rock-hard calves and a less-than-firm core?—he'll up your running game. And at the end of your next big race, you'll have the PR to prove it. fixyourrun.com.
Amrita Yoga & Wellness
Allow us to count the glorious ways of this Fishtown yoga mecca: skylights in every classroom. An in-studio waterfall. Gorgeous locker rooms with showers. Amrita also has a roster of some of the city's best instructors and up to nine classes every single day. (We happen to be obsessed with Emile Sorger's Infrared Hot Flow class, but honestly, you can't go wrong.) 1204 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, amritayogawellness.com.
Graceful Gardens
Grace Wicks daughter of restaurateur and environmentalist Judy Wicks grew up in a household with a true love of nature. But that home was in West Philly with no backyard, so her family did all its gardening in pots and planters, a skill she's perfected as the owner of Center City landscaping company Graceful Gardens. Her roof decks, planters, window boxes and backyards are as artful and lush as any country courtyard. Ask her about her edible works she designed the chef's gardens for the Four Seasons. gracefulgardens.net.
Spot Gourmet Burgers, Steaks & Pork
Steve, Jim, Pat and Geno pretty much do one thing: steaks. But Josh Kim, from the confines of a food cart the size of a shoebox, whips up everything from burgers to lobster rolls. And yet his cheese-steak is still a cut above, thanks to slices of hand-cut sirloin that are seasoned well and layered with onions that have some bite. facebook.com/spotburgers.
Kensington Derby and Arts Festival
It takes a lot to get thousands of people to stand around in the pouring rain, but in the case of the Kensington Derby, rain makes the finale even better. After costumed teams have pedaled tricked-out homemade vehicles across three miles of obstacle courses throughout the neighborhood, there’s the pièce de résistance: the mud pit. Some make it through; others break down. Either way, the crowd goes wild. Kensingtonkineticarts.org.
Tim Gleeson
If you’ve ever admired a cool design element in Yowie or the Deacon Hotel — powder-coated steel shelves, floating desks, a sculptural foam display case that looks both organic and cutting-edge — chances are Gleeson built it. The contractor and fabricator works on home projects, too, using the same visionary perspective for bars, bathrooms and built-in shelves. instagram.com/gleepglop.
Jeremy Farson
Twenty-year roofing veteran Farson is quick to respond, shows up when he says he will — and oh yeah, he has a YouTube channel. Farson tours roofs, shining a spotlight on every major and minor problem — some from wear and tear and others that were clearly the mistake of the last dude who did the job. youtube.com/channel/UCCR2iOOP0tUh3jamkjyFzQA.