Primavera Fund
This arts org, named for former longtime Philadelphia Youth Orchestra music director Joseph Primavera, provides mentorship, instruction, instruments and more to promising young, local classical musicians who otherwise lack means. “If you told me years ago that I would be traveling to Vancouver, Canada, and being a guest performer at a TED Talk conference, I wouldn’t believe you,” says violinist Akili Farrow, who in 2018 toured with the National Youth Orchestra of the USA. primaverafund.org.
Feng Shui Naturals
Last year, Abenaa Timazee, owner of eco-conscious hair- and skin-care brand Feng Shui Naturals, took her business mobile with an electric tricycle truck, bringing us the joy of shopping even when shops were verboten. This year, Timazee is expanding her mobile services and hosting beauty demos around town. You can also pick up her zero-waste natural products at Whole Foods, the Fresh Grocer and ShopRite. fengshuinaturals.com.
Jalen Hurts
Listen, it’s really busy being a beloved Super Bowl–winning quarterback. The workouts, the gauntlet of adoring fans everywhere you go, the meticulous facial hair to maintain … there just aren’t enough hours in the day. So when the Eagles headed to the White House to celebrate their big win, Hurts politely bowed out, due to “scheduling conflicts.” A classic explanation. Simple. Unimpeachable. No one has skipped a presidential photo op with more poise or plausible deniability.
Whipped Bakeshop
We were so busy admiring Whipped Bakeshop's pretty little cupcakes in luscious flavors like lemon curd and banana chocolate chip peanut butter that we almost didn't notice the Fishtown bakery's younger, more modern child, the cakecup. It's confectionery genius, really, and thrifty, too: Leftover cake trimmings (mmm, burnt edges) come naked or blasted with icing, ganache or whipped cream, in a grande-size plastic cup. Retail hours on Saturdays only. 636 Belgrade Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125, whippedbakeshop.com.
The Home Hero
Pete Rose (not that Pete Rose) started his business as a second career, because he really loves the work. So you get reliability, fair prices, expert craftsmanship, and a contractor whos actually responsive, even via email. Hes built his rep on things like creative baby-proofing, home theater installation, and the prettier parts of remodeling tile, lighting, fixtures and paint. Perfect for the jobs too big for you, but too small for impossible-to-nail-down G.C.s. Call or see website for consultation, 00000, thehomehero.com.
Remix Living Showroom
Dominique Calhoun of Remix Living Showroom. Photograph by Jonathan Pushnik Prolific interior decorator Dominique Calhoun and her team are busy for a reason: They absolutely nail the mix of glam and function, fun and form. Every item they put into a home has something special, whether it’s the sexy curve of a powder pink settee, leopard-print club chairs, or a side table made up of gold and cream spheres and cones. And a whole lot of it is for sale at Calhoun’s Northeast showroom and on her Instagram feed. Look for the items that were used to stage homes — they’re sold at a nice discount. Globe Dye Works, 4500 Worth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124, remixliving.com.
Patrick McNally Accounting
A few years ago, with a pile of W-2s and 1099s and LLC forms and other tax documents we still don’t understand, we wandered down to Packer Avenue, walked up to the second story of a strip mall, and met a man whose calm and generosity of spirit can only be described as saintly. Since then, we haven’t entrusted our taxes to anyone else. McNally also handles payroll and bookkeeping services for small businesses, and if his tax work is any indication, you’d be in good hands there, too. 1546 Packer Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19145, mcnallyaccounting.com.
Beekeepers for a Day
Sure, you could meet at a bar or try to get a table at the best new restaurant in Philadelphia. But if you really want to see what your possible future better half is made of, both of you can don some beekeeper outfits and spend half a day delving deep into bees and their hives with South Philly apiarist Mark Berman. Bonus: You get to take home a bottle of backyard honey. What you do with that honey after this segment of your date ends is your business. instagram.com/annabeeshoney.
Salt & Vinegar
The next time you’re looking for a gift for someone who loves food, beeline to Salt and Vinegar for small-batch coconut jam, local cheese CSA pickups, locally made masala spice packets, gluten-free pop-tarts and more. Jen Honovic Herczeg’s newly opened provisions shop has a mission to stock its shelves with products from women- and minority-owned businesses. This is exactly the kind of happy place where you can spend $50 without even realizing it. 905 Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, salt-and-vinegar.com.
The Jim
To be fair, Philly isn’t flooded with new dive bars, because it’s potentially not the wisest business decision to open a place without gimmick or pretense. But the Jim is so much more than that. With (ostensibly) no natural light and a “Hang out here if you want to; we don’t really care” energy, Fergus Carey and Jim McNamara’s South Philly spot feels like the kind of precious neighborhood gathering place that cities are losing, not gaining. Don’t leave without an order of the twice-fried, napkin-destroying chicken wings. 1701 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, thejimphilly.com.
SHIFT
This woman-owned business is so much more than a simple full-service refillery: It functions as an entire community’s eco-friendliness resource, providing sustainability education and events, drop-off of hard-to-recycle materials (those pesky batteries), and, of course, a vast menu of bulk products and self-care items, including Epsom salts and shower steamers. Originally operating as a pop-up at the American Family Market, it’s now a recently opened brick-and-mortar just doors down from its former digs. 252 Haverford Avenue, Narberth, PA 19072, mainlineshift.com.
Civil Stock General Store
Whitney Bennett’s year-old general store feels like it’s always been there, welcoming you in to pick up functional but fun goods — a folding shovel, a brass fox-head letter opener, Victorian stocking-leg tweezers. She’s got the must-haves, too (tampons, shelf-stable groceries). Bennett — who sourced the wood furnishings, switched out the lighting to make it more rustic, and exposed a brick wall — says she wants it to feel like a mercantile of the 1800s. We say, well done. 1912 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, civilstock.com.
Adam Blackstone
Blackstone has been the maestro behind some of TV’s biggest musical moments, in recent years directing ceremonies for the Oscars, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the NBA All-Star Game. And the musician’s musician is starting to get more mainstream recognition for his pursuits, which include directing Super Bowl halftime and pregame shows over the last several years (including that 2023 Rihanna banger). And this year, he received two Grammy noms in the jazz category. All recognition long overdue. adamblackstone.com.
The Sporting Club at the Bellevue
Photograph by Jeff Fusco After 31 years, the Sporting Club shuttered due to the pandemic. But there was a silver lining: The Center City icon finally had time to transform, reopening this past November as a totally swagged-out health-and-fitness mecca. Its modern makeover boasts 100,000 square feet of workout, lounge and event space and is guaranteed to keep you busy, with pickleball, basketball and squash courts; a luxe pool; eight exercise studios with sleek equipment; golf simulators; a cafe and juice bar; and much, much more. 224 South Broad Street, 8th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102, sportingclubbellevue.com.
Beon Esthetics
You’d be hard-pressed to find a lash artist who works harder than Thaya Edmond. When she’s not formulating products, teaching other artists how to build their own businesses, or doing lashes for Philly’s own Jazmine Sullivan for the Met Gala, Edmond applies sets that fit your face and eyelash curl pattern at her West Philly studio. Gingers, blondes, and brunettes, rejoice — her salon even does color matching to give you lashes that pair seamlessly with your locks. beonesthetics.com.