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.
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.
Panna Gelateria & Bakery
Because everybody else will bring wine, come bearing gelato instead — specifically, the kind made from scratch by seasoned pastry chefs Sally and Jemil Gadea at their Yardley outpost. Opened a year ago, the cheery gelateria features a constantly changing menu that’s based on whatever local ingredients are freshest. (Past offerings have included strawberry rhubarb; new flavor drops are posted on Instagram.) A pint goes for $12; buy a few and be the life of the party. 25 South Main Street, Yardley, PA 19067, pannagelateria.com.
Private School by Bela Shehu
You could find rainbow art installations, bleacher seating, DJs, chef tastings, and dozens of local vendors selling everything from jewelry (Forge + Finish) to clothing (the founder’s own NINOBrand) to design-forward furniture (Minima) at this tastemaker’s ticketed month-long pop-up last spring. Missed it? Don’t fret: More, at different locations, are coming soon.
Baldwin’s Book Barn
This place has the location (an 1822 dairy barn built by a local Quaker family), volume (almost 300,000 books for sale), and quirky, creaky charm (it’s a Hobbit-like warren of rooms and corridors), but on top of that, it also has first editions from Hemingway and a $1,400 leather-bound set of Jane Austen tomes. 865 Lenape Road, West Chester , PA 19382, bookbarn.com.
State & Union
Come for gear from brands you already know: Pendleton beach towels, Red Wing shoes, Filson bags. Leave with goods from the brands you don’t: Charlotte’s Weld bottle openers made from repurposed horseshoes, J.R.Burd leather wallets and keychains, and lisa b. cashmere socks. 103 West State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348, stateandunion.co.
Brewerytown Beats
Vinyl heads come here to flip through the 50,000-strong record collection (all genres, though the specialty is funk, soul and hip-hop), to listen to live midday performances, and to talk music with owner Max Ochester, who has sold LPs to everyone from Questlove to Q-Tip. Check out the shop’s Instagram feed for a first look at the latest rare finds. 2710 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130, brewerytownbeats.com.
Nurture Spa
Remember natural light, city dwellers? Trade the concrete jungle for New Hope’s recently renovated Nurture Spa. The freshly brightened space is an escape unto itself – think floor-to-ceiling windows and an upper deck where you can surround yourself with nature – but the customized massages are where the stress relief really begins. After, be sure to budget time for a sit in the detoxifying Himalayan salt room. 31 West Ferry Street, New Hope, PA 18938, nurturespa.com.
Soundwalk
Pioneering composer Ellen Reid pushes the definition of public art with this GPS-enabled immersive exhibition. An app sends location-based musical compositions featuring musicians from the Philadelphia Orchestra, sound effects and soundscapes into your earbuds as you walk through some of your favorite outdoor spaces in Fairmount Park. The exhibit ends on September 30th. manncenter.org/soundwalk.