3rd Story Philly
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that the people you love, dearly, can sometimes drive you up the wall. If you’re looking for a little more space, the folks at Third Story are for you. This team of architects, developers and builders does more than just plop another level on your house; they take the time to learn what makes your home special and incorporate that into the expansion. 3rdstoryphilly.com.
Gabriella's Vietnam
If you want to brag about what makes our city’s dining scene so juicy in a single restaurant experience, take an out-of-town pal to this family-run Vietnamese spot. What with drinking BYO chilled wine on the summer sidewalk, a calm but cool South Philly neighborhood scene, and some of the greatest vermicelli platters and sizzling catfish you’ll eat during your years on Planet Earth, Gabriella’s Vietnam makes us feel luckier to live in Philly every time we visit. 1837 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, gabriellasvietnam.com.
Crisp Chik'n
So you’ve been boycotting Chick-fil-A for God knows how long, but you’re really craving one of those fried chicken sandwiches and some waffle fries. You need to get to know this Delco spot that’s just over a year old. The food is strikingly similar to Chick-fil-A’s, but better. 27 North Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, PA 19050, crispchikn.com.
Mural City Garden
Streetery permits in the City of Philadelphia might be as convoluted as the plot of a Russian novel, but Mural City Cellars’ outdoor space is going strong. With Adirondack chairs and pop-ups from some of our favorite local chefs, this is a shady and spacious neighborhood spot worth crossing town for. Mural City’s locally made wines are available by the glass and by the bottle, produced with lots of care and no pretension. 2211 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, muralcitycellars.com.
Case Comedy
You already know about the two big comedy clubs in Philadelphia, Helium and Punch Line. But what you probably don’t know is that once a week, in a back room upstairs at West Philly Ethiopian stalwart Abyssinia, a rotating cast of Philadelphia’s funniest and edgiest comics (as well as some comedians from outside the city) gets together to make you laugh out loud. And no high ticket prices, drink minimums or “convenience fees” here; admission is simply pay-what-you-wish. instagram.com/casecomedy.
Hoagiefest NFTs
Last summer, Sizzli colossus Wawa proudly announced the debut of Hoagiefest NFTs, a line of “one-of-a-kind digital collectibles” that marked the convenience store/gas station’s entrée into the then-red-hot metaverse. Not long after, the non-fungible-token bubble burst. In a tribute to brand loyalty, 65,000 Shorti lovers still signed on for a sweepstakes to win the imaginary goodies — even if some grumblers likened Wawa’s move to Anakin’s journey to the dark side.
Du Soleil Photographie
Vietnamese-born Minh Cao didn’t learn professional photography until after she’d started her business as a side hustle in 2015. “My parents never deemed photography fit for a profession, so studying it never crossed my mind,” says the Ridley Park resident. She self-trained online, took some in-person classes, and today is known for snapping weddings through a dreamy, tender — almost wistful — lens that makes you never want to leave that moment. dusoleilphoto.com.
Anej Skin Studio
Jena Salzano boasts 18 years in the “skin”-dustry, and her results-driven atelier in Yardley is a little slice of sophisticated-beauty heaven. Take your pick from bespoke facials, services utilizing cult favorite Biologique Recherche, and high-tech treatments for body sculpting and optimal skin health (like the hyperbaric-chamber-based Glass O2 Dome facial), plus massages, lash and brow boosts, hair removal and personal consults. 19 East Afton Avenue, Yardley, PA 19067, anejskinstudio.com.
Dwell & Co.
Found an 18th-century barn you’d love to call home? Want to fix up the old Victorian you live in now so it will fetch a better price when you sell it? Dwell & Co. will turn that old place into a stunning new one and help you buy or sell it. Because it’s both a design/build construction firm and a real estate brokerage, all you need to get things going is a single email. dwellcompany.com.
Snug Baby
For so long, we’ve needed a healthy middle ground between combing CVS displays for Essie polishes that’ll chip in a day and dropping 70 bucks at the salon for a fresh set. With its exceptionally smooth formula and wide selection of glittery iridescent and matte colors — all hand-poured, vegan and non-toxic, by the way — this queer- and disabled-owned brand based in South Philly has, ahem, nailed it. Etsy.com/shop/snugbabyarts.
Wayne Edwards Workshop
With 50-plus years in business and a move to a new 1,500-square-foot shop and studio — the former home of Joseph Fox Bookshop — the Wayne Edwards team has more room to tailor your tux, plus a ready-to-wear section with luxury duds for your honeymoon. (Pair those Rubirosa sneakers with Candiani Italian denim.) And in the workshop? On average, 37 measurements to perfectly match your silhouette. 1724 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, wayneedwardsworkshop.com.
Joan Shepp
Unless you’re a celebrity, you probably don’t often have the chance to rub elbows with fashion’s in-crowd – think Yves Spinelli (founder of cool-girl jewelry line Spinelli Kilcollin) and Jonathan Simkhai (founder of the eponymous clothing line). Enter Joan Shepp, which throws must-attend parties featuring the designers behind some of your favorite brands. The best part? You don’t need to be an A-lister to get in. 1811 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, joanshepp.com.
PlayArts
Three times a week, you can blow kisses to the littles before climbing the stairs to the wi-fi-and-coffee-equipped loft. You’ll get in some work (define work any way you want) while the kids are supervised and entertained in the giant play area. Register 24 hours in advance; the first hour is $18, and prices drop from there. 1241 North Front Street, Philadelphia , PA 19122, playartsphilly.com.
Guisados Don Roman
These homemade Mexican stews have always been tough to find in Philly, even in our city’s deepest Mexican enclaves. Then came Roman Figueroa and Raquel Rodriguez’s little kitchen on South 7th, where everything is deliciously authentic, from the soulful pork ribs to the tortillas you’ll use to eat them. 1629 South 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, guisados-don-roman.business.site.