The Hooters
Philly band the Hooters made a big splash in the ’80s with hit songs like “All You Zombies” and by opening the Philly portion of Live Aid. And while they’ve always maintained a very strong following in Europe, they haven’t done a U.S. tour in decades. That all changed this summer with a new U.S. tour in support of their first full album since 2007, Rocking & Swing, which enjoyably has a lot more ska influence from their early days than the title suggests. Their three-night run at Ardmore Music Hall in May sold out well in advance. So get your tickets for their local August dates (in Atlantic City, Quakertown and Cape May) while you can. It’s good to see them back — even though they never really went away. hootersmusic.com.
Duross and Langel
We'll try not to gush too much but these guys are everything that's right with the city. It's not just the products (though truly, there isn't a soap, lotion, candle or hair-care product we haven't nearly tried to eat). It's what's in them (preservative-free ingredients derived from botanicals), how they're made (in small batches, in the in-house soap kitchen or nearby lab), how they're done up (in 100 percent recyclable packaging), and how they're sold in a way that totally builds up the community the store is part of (joining with other Midtown Village businesses for sales and events, and employing local Service and Help), that make this a model for how to run an independent shop in Philadelphia. So, the gushing thing? Yeah, we take it back. 117 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, durossandlangel.com.
Megan Bridge
See Brat Porductions' newly appointed artistic director, the always-daring Jess Conda, in Pig Iron Theatre Company's Pay Up at this year's FringeArts Festival and in Brat's own Eternal Glamnation, also part of FringeArts. Philadanco alum Jesse Sani is a rising star on the Philadelphia dance scene: Look for him to shine at the Wilma in the upcoming season's offerings from BalletX, which he joined in 2011. And find dancer-choreographer extraordinaire Megan Bridge performing and producing modern dance all season long at her Kensington-based warehouse performance venue, The Fidget Space. Well-rounded actor/director James Ijames is also keeping busy this season, starring in Maukingbird's adaption of the Importance of Being Earnest and InterAct's We Are Proud to Present. Plus, he's directing shows for Simpatico and Theatre Horizon. 00000, thefidget.org/directors/megan-bridge.
Jess Conda
See Brat Porductions' newly appointed artistic director, the always-daring Jess Conda, in Pig Iron Theatre Company's Pay Up at this year's FringeArts Festival and in Brat's own Eternal Glamnation, also part of FringeArts. Philadanco alum Jesse Sani is a rising star on the Philadelphia dance scene: Look for him to shine at the Wilma in the upcoming season's offerings from BalletX, which he joined in 2011. And find dancer-choreographer extraordinaire Megan Bridge performing and producing modern dance all season long at her Kensington-based warehouse performance venue, The Fidget Space. Well-rounded actor/director James Ijames is also keeping busy this season, starring in Maukingbird's adaption of the Importance of Being Earnest and InterAct's We Are Proud to Present. Plus, he's directing shows for Simpatico and Theatre Horizon. 00000, bratproductions.org/about/brats/jess-conda.
Jesse Sani
See Brat Porductions' newly appointed artistic director, the always-daring Jess Conda, in Pig Iron Theatre Company's Pay Up at this year's FringeArts Festival and in Brat's own Eternal Glamnation, also part of FringeArts. Philadanco alum Jesse Sani is a rising star on the Philadelphia dance scene: Look for him to shine at the Wilma in the upcoming season's offerings from BalletX, which he joined in 2011. And find dancer-choreographer extraordinaire Megan Bridge performing and producing modern dance all season long at her Kensington-based warehouse performance venue, The Fidget Space. Well-rounded actor/director James Ijames is also keeping busy this season, starring in Maukingbird's adaption of the Importance of Being Earnest and InterAct's We Are Proud to Present. Plus, he's directing shows for Simpatico and Theatre Horizon. 00000, balletx.org/dancers.html.
James Ijames
See Brat Porductions' newly appointed artistic director, the always-daring Jess Conda, in Pig Iron Theatre Company's Pay Up at this year's FringeArts Festival and in Brat's own Eternal Glamnation, also part of FringeArts. Philadanco alum Jesse Sani is a rising star on the Philadelphia dance scene: Look for him to shine at the Wilma in the upcoming season's offerings from BalletX, which he joined in 2011. And find dancer-choreographer extraordinaire Megan Bridge performing and producing modern dance all season long at her Kensington-based warehouse performance venue, The Fidget Space. Well-rounded actor/director James Ijames is also keeping busy this season, starring in Maukingbird's adaption of the Importance of Being Earnest and InterAct's We Are Proud to Present. Plus, he's directing shows for Simpatico and Theatre Horizon. 00000, jamesijames.weebly.com.
Our Green Spaces
Ridley Creek State Park. Photography by Jeff Fusco For many of us, the pandemic renders evenings synonymous with Netflix and weekends with the outdoors. Wandering around the neighborhood or visiting a nearby park brings much-needed respite, and there’s no shortage of activities to keep you busy: You can practice archery or bird-watch at the John Heinz at Tinicum National Wildlife Refuge; search for what are believed to be the city’s oldest and most historic trees at Bartram’s Garden; hunt for headstones at Laurel Hill Cemetery or the Woodlands in Southwest Philadelphia; go boating at Peace Valley Park in Bucks County; rock-climb in Wissahickon Valley Park; and hike and bike in many of the region’s state parks, including Ridley Creek in Delaware County and Marsh Creek in Chester. When there’s little to do but so much happening, nature can help us feel grounded. Plus, getting out and about makes returning to Netflix — and your couch — that much more rewarding.
Dom Fixes Bikes
Photograph by Jeff Fusco You know all those articles you’ve seen about Kids Today, and how All They Do Is Mess Around Online? Dominick Pecora is the perfect antidote to that world of woe. Last year, the 16-year-old was honored as one of Time magazine’s “Kids of the Year” for the ingenious business he started back when he was just 10 and had his eye on a pricey mountain bike. He figured out how to repair bicycles via YouTube, then put his knowledge to work out of his parents’ house, then a rented garage, and finally the storefront known as Dom Fixes Bikes. He not only saved up enough dough for that bike he yearned for; with the help of sponsors and donations, he gave away 260 free bikes to local kids last year. “My bike represents a lot of freedom,” he told Time. “It’s like that for a lot of other people as well.” 393 Lancaster Avenue, Malvern, PA 19355, domfixesbikes.com.
Herman's
There’s something to be said about a tiny cafe and micro-roastery that can look a seething global pandemic right in the eye and not so much as flinch at the idea of going toe-to-toe with it. There’s even more to be said about the creativity it takes to completely transform, to wholly rebrand, to expand in ways nobody expects, at a time when fear and tragedy can be so debilitating. Herman’s did both. Owners Matt Falco and Amy Strauss were able to turn their converted-auto-repair-shop cafe into a pop-up hub for aspiring chefs and business owners in need of a home, a retail pop-up outlet for vintage brands and plant shops, and a boutique market with an enviable collection of imported pastas, tinned seafood, chocolates, and more food-things you never knew you ever wanted, let alone needed. When the pandemic forced so much of Philly to become less, Herman’s became more, for the neighborhood it’s in and for all of us who needed some inspiration, hope and delicious things in especially trying times. 1313 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, hermanscoffee.com.