John Ternus
We tip our mortarboard to John Ternus, the Penn School of Engineering Class of ’97 grad who was named Tim Cook’s successor as CEO of Apple in April. Interesting fact #1: Graduating from Penn that same year was some guy named Elon Musk. Interesting fact #2: For his senior project, Ternus built a mechanical feeding arm for quadriplegics. After graduation, he went to work at a startup building virtual reality headsets, then joined Apple four years later. He’s said to be a “man of the people.”
Secondhand Ranch
A vintage shop? A dive bar? A live music venue? The answer is yes. Housed inside a restored Frank Furness–designed bank building in Fishtown, Secondhand Ranch has turned the simple act of shopping into a full-night activity. Browse racks of pre-worn denim, boots, trucker hats, and flannels; order a beer or a margarita; catch a honky-tonk band; challenge someone to pinball; then wander back for one more look at that jacket you can’t stop thinking about. It’s delightfully weird, unapologetically niche, and exactly the kind of place that could work only here. 1148 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, secondhandranch.com.
The Philly Sisters
As for the next generation of Philly sports fans, we have the Philly Sisters to thank. Proof positive of the old saying “If you want to get something done, ask a busy mom,” two such moms, comedian Wanda Sykes and her wife, Alex Niedbalski-Sykes, have been moonlighting as the public faces of the Sisters Sports Group. The mostly female group announced last year that Philly will finally get its own WNBA team in 2030, and it brought Unrivaled, the Miami-based three-on-three women’s basketball league, to Philly for two sold-out games.
Ministry of Awe
The Frank Furness–designed Manufacturers National Bank Building in Old City sat empty for 40 years — and then muralist Meg Saligman worked her magic. She, along with more than 100 local artists, filled the building’s six stories with secret passageways, strange creatures (the Chicken Lady!), hidden messages, live performers, and even a chance to reflect on your own mortality ... by attending your own funeral. “Banks are where we’re taught to store what we value,” says Saligman, but MoA’s “currency” is wonder, curiosity, and imagination. It’s an art installation and a fever dream, and it must be experienced to be believed. 27 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, moaphilly.org.
Space Melt Cinema
If you’re the friend in the group whose movie-picking rights have been revoked after one too many weird deep cuts, Space Melt Cinema will finally do right by you. Run by co-directors and married couple Emily Eisler Monteverde and Matt “Monty” Monteverde, along with Nick McDowell, the group hosts screenings of underrated, unconventional films like House and Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same at all kinds of venues — from the PFS and drive-ins to breweries and thrift shops. This month: a screening of 1991 drag queen musical Vegas in Space on August 22nd, hosted by At My House in Queen Village. instagram.com/space_melt_cinema.
Andrea Levine Artists
Sometimes Levine — who’s taken the stage with everyone from the Roots to Andrea Bocelli — goes solo, setting the scene at your cocktail hour with her electric violin and classical renditions of pop favorites. (Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” is always a hit.) Other times, a duo, trio, or quartet will perform during your ceremony. (“Rainbow Connection,” from The Muppet Movie, is an underrated aisle song, says Levine: “It carries such a lovely message about hope and wonder.”) Their repertoire spans 1,000-plus songs, so you can pick and choose what music best fits your love story — they’ll also learn something new should your favorite tune not be on their list. andrealevineartists.com.
Joan Shepp
Boutique founder and Philly fashion visionary Joan Shepp, along with her business partner and daughter, Ellen Shepp, decided a new address (they moved from Chestnut Street to Rittenhouse Square last September) called for a subtle shift to a more intimate, personalized retail experience focused on brand exclusives and emerging designers. “Our goal is to never have things that are available up and down the street or easily bought online,” says Ellen. “Everything should feel special.” French label Lemaire (a regional exclusive), celeb favorite Lizzie Fortunato, and Indian clothing brand Kartik Research are among the latest additions to a lineup that has long been considered the barometer of style in Philly. And don’t worry — Shepp staples like Rick Owens are still in the mix. 1905 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, joanshepp.com.
Musi
Musi’s menu ventures somewhere in between the familiar and the unknown, with dishes like kreplach stuffed with kale-purslane-cabbage kraut. The restaurant — which chef/owner Ari Miller calls “not totally Jewish, not quite Israeli” — is stretching the imagination of Philly’s fine-dining scene. Come here to be taken out of your culinary comfort zone or possibly just eat some pasta that the menu says has nothing to do with Italy. 100 Morris Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, musiphilly.com.
Ari Miller
Ari Miller. Photograph by Colin Lenton Musi, Miller’s neighborhood BYO, has all the expected trappings: It’s charming and delicious, and it offers a menu that changes often and relies heavily on what his purveyors have available. But the food is never too serious, and neither is Miller. And that’s what sets it — and him — apart. 100 Morris Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, musiphilly.com.
Musa Weddings
Whether she’s transforming an Ambler coffee shop’s outdoor garden into a rustic wedding venue or staging a flamenco-filled ceremony and reception at a villa in Spain, Andi Schilawski isn’t afraid of a challenge. In fact, she prefers unconventional settings for the exchange of vows, often pulling velvet loveseats and mobile champagne carts from Collection by Musa, the event furniture rental company she opened in 2022. The East Falls planner also stands out for her graphic-design skills. musaweddings.com.
Russo Music
This iconic 57-year-old music company—which started in Hamilton but expanded with this sprawling outpost in Asbury Park—recently went through a hip rebrand. It stocks the same matchless selection (walls lined with Gibsons; stacks of colorful amps), but now the post-industrial space looks a little more refined and a lot cooler and worthier of a trip. 619 Lake Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07712, russomusic.com.
Curtis Institute of Music
Did you know that Curtis Institute of Music offers gratis student recitals every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, October through May? 1726 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, curtis.edu/performances/learn-more/student-recitals.html.
Ardmore Music Hall
The year-old Hall is, simply put, THE spot for any and all cover bands. 23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003, ardmoremusic.com.
The Music Box at the Borgata
While most concert venues in Atlantic City are overgrown, impersonal boxes of noise, the Borgata's 1,000-seat concert hall is decidedly more intimate, with lovely acoustics, and the perfect place to see your favorite artists up close and personal. This month: Supertramp's Roger Hodgson (8/18), K.D. Lang (8/24) and Cheap Trick (8/31). Also, look for semi-secret last-minute gigs, like the scintillating performance Fiona Apple gave earlier this year. One Borgata Way, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, theborgata.com/entertain/entertainment-venues/the-music-box.
Settlement Music School
Sure, some of the schools grads go on to Juilliard and Curtis, but for instructors like Soviet-born Dolly Krasnopolsky, it doesnt matter if youre better at practicing Chopsticks than Chopin. The 24-year Settlement vet takes (and loves) all kinds. See website for locations, 00000, smsmusic.org.