Little Shop of Chains
Oversize acrylic glasses chains made by Brewerytown designer Liz Barrella add flair to any kind of eyewear, whether prescription, sunglasses — maybe a monocle? Even better, Barrella has started making chains to hold your masks, a must-have accessory in this age of shifting mandates. etsy.com/shop/LittleShopofChainss.
Peace Valley Park
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. See the full write up at Our Green Spaces. 264 Creek Road, Doylestown , PA 18901, buckscounty.org/government/parksandrecreation/parks/peacevalley.
Laurel Hill Cemetery
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. See the full write up at Our Green Spaces. 3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19132, thelaurelhillcemetery.org.
Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park
You get shoe rentals, one hour of private jump time on the extreme trampolines, pizzas, cake, invitations. Any kids who wants to jump must have a waiver signed by his/her parent or guardian. Print them online. 122 Mill Road, Oaks, PA 19456, skyzone.com/Oaks.
Vox Populi
Climb three floors through the graffiti-festooned stairwell into this experimental art gallery, where there's something oddly delightful around every corner. The best times to visit are on First Fridays or for the sporadic live band shows, at which the music tends to be as strange and fun as the art that's on the walls. 319 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, voxpopuligallery.org.
Race Street Pier
All the Rittenhouse stoners must have gotten the message and headed east, because it seems like every time we visit this Delaware River pier, someone is sparking up. Not bad scenery, either; just don’t fall in the water. Race Street and North Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19106, delawareriverwaterfront.com/places/race-street-pier.
Tavern on Camac
You already know about the always-fun first-floor piano bar. But upstairs is a music-pumping hideaway where the city’s cool-kid creative types go to blow off some steam. Diverse, inclusive and hassle-free—a rare combination in a dance club these days. 243 South Camac Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, tavernoncamac.com.
Bob and Barbara's
There's rarely a cover at this Philly dive bar, where a shot and a beer still cost just $3.50. And the talent lineup is always intriguing, from a twice-monthly country music hoedown and a funky Saturday-night guitar trio to the lounge-y sounds of Dena Miranda and the Mellowtones. 1509 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146, bobandbarbaras.com.
Roti Canai at Penang
Every meal everywhere should start with the impossibly thin, crisp Malaysian flatbread and creamy curry sauce from this Chinatown staple. Like heroin or the music of Neil Diamond, try it once and you'll never get it out of your head. 117 North 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, .
Purenergy Studio
You can hop from the TRX bands to the spin studio to an aerial yoga or barre class thanks to Paoli's new one-stop-shop fitness studio. The idea is to keep your mind and muscles busy with lots of workout options, accomplished (and then some) by way of more than 90 stellar classes a week. 21 Plank Avenue, Paoli, PA 19301, purenergystudio.com.
Frederick W. Oster Fine Violins
For 45 years, Oster has sold 17th-century instruments so expensive that he won’t even list some prices. If his luthiers are good enough to handle those masterpieces, you bet they’re good enough for your grandmother’s old fiddle. 507 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, Osterviolins.com.
The Indie Shelf
This itty-bitty, very pretty boutique is packed with must-haves you won’t find at big-box shops, all by indie, often international beauty brands. Bonus points for legitimacy: Owner Sabeen Zia is a cosmetic chemist by trade. 2247 Grays Ferry Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19146, Theindieshelf.com.
John Heinz at Tinicum National Wildlife Refuge
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. See the full write up at Our Green Spaces. 8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19153, fws.gov/refuge/john_heinz.
Style by Blain
Aside from being one of the best-dressed and best-named business owners in the city, Voltaire Blain has an unusually welcoming store — a historic Chestnut Hill home where the shoes are displayed not on racks, but on a pool table — and an equally impressive collection: Styleshoes by Alden, Paraboot, and Gaziano and Girling, some of which he designed himself. 8433 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118, stylebyblain.com.
Philadelphia Independents
The goodies here fall into the Brotherly Love vein (hand-drawn neighborhood maps, prints featuring neighborhood-centric designs) without veering into cheesiness. Everything is made in the Philadelphia area, so you're supporting local business when you buy that "Home Sweet Jawn" watercolor print. 35 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, philadelphiaindependents.com.