Sporting Club at the Bellevue
READERS' PICK: It's not hard to love the Bellevue: the indoor pool, on-site airbrush tanning and sports leagues, spa-like locker rooms, fitness classes that get rave reviews—which is probably why this posh Center City gym won our reader vote by a landslide. 224 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, sportingclubbellevue.com.
Terrill Haigler, a.k.a. Ya Fav Trashman
Of all the pandemic’s heroes, none is more uniquely Philly than Haigler, who rose to Instagram prominence during last summer’s trash slowdown by delivering trash tips and updates and has since parlayed that fame into his own block-by-block, neighborhood-by-neighborhood city-cleanup operation. instagram.com/_yafavtrashman.
Three Day Rule
Local TDR reps Lauren Ladd and Michal Naisteter (who, not for nothing, holds a master’s in human sexuality) will comb Instagram, LinkedIn, and even cute guys at the grocery store to find you a match. For premium members, they’ll also check in post-date to help you secure a second. Threedayrule.com/philly.
American Garage Door Supplies & Repairs
Ever seen a service business with nothing but five-star reviews? This Northeast Philly garage door crew has 300 and counting. Whatever your need or problem, they handle it quickly and efficiently. That includes cleaning up the mess made by the garage door repair firm you called first. amdoorrepairs.com.
Wonderspaces
Head to Wonderspaces for a night full of interactive art that will spark discussion, imagination, and some unique Instagram snaps. Bonus: A stroll through the thousands of lights of Squidsoup’s Submergence puts candlelight to shame. Another bonus: There’s an on-site bar so you can tote cocktails on your gallery jaunt. 27 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, philadelphia.wonderspaces.com.
Wayward Collection
All the offerings here are thoughtfully chosen, but the designer selection is a standout because it focuses on form, not flash — nothing is logoed or loud. You’ll revel in the joy of knowing that your jacquard blouse is 1970s YSL, your shirtdress is Halston, and your wide-leg pants are D&G — but no one else will know. Operates inside Cuttalossa & Co., 47 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, waywardcollection.com.
Janean Malloy at Irwin’s
Janean Malloy at Irwin’s. Photograph by Colin Lenton Malloy is a true talent — a server who always anticipates a table’s wants and needs, deals with difficult guests with aplomb, and acts like she owns the place (in the best way possible). She’s got the kind of swagger that keeps people coming back for reasons that have nothing to do with the food or drink. 800 Mifflin Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, irwinsupstairs.com.
Schuylkill River Trail Extension
The traffic from Grays Ferry to Center City is nothing short of miserable. The good news? You can now walk or bike it on this trail that opened in May and includes an eye-catching white cable-stayed bridge over the Schuylkill. It’s a good example of what we need more of in Philadelphia. schuylkillbanks.org.
Millennium Skate World
There's nothing more classic than a spin around a roller rink, and there's nowhere better to lace up your skates than at Millennium Skate World, where the rink is huge (it holds 450 skaters), DJs spin tunes, and on Tuesdays, you can skate for as little as $4, including rental. 1900 Carman Street, Camden, NJ 08105, unitedskates.com/public/camden/index.cfm.
Flotation Philly
The mental reboot earned from doing absolutely nothing but floating in a dark, enclosed tub filled with salt water is mind-clearing bliss. And with this float center's new addition of a float cabin — essentially an enclosed tub the size of a small room — even the most claustrophobic among us can zone out. 534 East Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, flotationphilly.com.
Urban Axes
In the past few years, Philly’s become flush with out-of-the-box entertainment—escape rooms, indoor hipster mini golf, roving beer gardens—but none feel quite as thrilling or stress-relieving as bringing and ax overhead and letting it fly. (That probably explains why it’s become popular with doctors and lawyers). 2019 East Boston Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125, urbanaxes.com.
Chris' Jazz Cafe
We've finally realized that most chicken wings taste like sauce, not chicken. But not at Chris', where fresh cuts (meaning they're taken from whole birds that are being broken down for other uses) are seared in a cast-iron pan, finished in the oven, and seasoned with nothing more than salt and pepper. 1421 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, chrisjazzcafe.com.
Rob Peters, Ardmore Wine & Spirits
This a joke, right? Nope, not when it comes to Peters, who holds certifications from the Society of Wine Educators and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, among other organizations, and teaches at the Restaurant School. Main Line mavens swear by his recommendations for the best wine to pair with everything from boeuf bourguignon to tacos to pho. 62 Greenfield Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003, finewineandgoodspirits.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10051&catalogId=10051&langId=-1.
Armour
Subtly futuristic button-ups and vests, delightfully odd wooden bow ties and lapel pins, custom-made patchwork tote bags by Philly designer Hamid Holloman the collection here is unexpected in the best way possible, and solidifies what we knew all along: Fashion in Philly isn't just for the girls. 704 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, armourphiladelphia.com.
Arden + James
In her Chadds Ford studio, Arden + James founder Bri Brant creates hand-painted raw linen totes, waxed-denim weekenders and leather carryalls. Every part of the process — from the hammered rivets to the etched designs — is done by hand, so no two are alike, but all are worth slinging over your arm. Chadds Ford, PA 19317, ardenandjames.com.