Sheeder Mill Farm
No equine snobbery here—the accommodating staff finds you the right mount and goes at your pace, whether it’s your first or 400th ride, a quick afternoon session or overnight camp. And it’s one of the few horse-riding places in the region that are open all year. Note: Reservations are a must. 12 Sheeder Mill Road, Spring City, PA 19475, smfhorses.com.
Brian Maher
You can come to him or he'll come to you—so there goes your "I'm too busy to work out today" excuse. And with Maher's tailored-to-you workouts and solid diet and nutrition know-how, you may even—gasp!—look forward to your gym time. 1429 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, phillypersonaltraining.com.
A Minor Tune Up
Twenty years ago, Chris Cromer was a music education major at the University of Delaware with dreams of opening his own brass repair shop. These days, he performs tune-ups for horn players who tour with the likes of Justin Timberlake. 1704 North Scott Street, Wilmington, DE 19806, aminortuneup.com.
The Bar(n)
Sometimes you want a trendy bells-and-whistles bar (see below for that), and sometimes you want a low-key neighborhood joint with $2 draft beers, plenty of fried food, a busy pool table, and a crowd of friendly regulars who would never dream of spending their Friday night in a boozy ball pit. 4901 Catharine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19143, facebook.com/TheBarn4901.
Astral Artists Center City Concerts
Starting each September, this Broad Street-based classical-music talent agency presents concerts featuring the next Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman and Lang Lang. If you get to see mezzo-soprano Chrystal Williams in action, consider yourself lucky. 230 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, astralartists.org.
<em>Symbiosis</em>
New York artist Roxy Paine's jarring sculpture, on loan to the city for a year, looks like two stainless steel trees stuck in stasis, one collapsing onto the other. It's so sleek that the birds haven't discovered how to do their business on it. Yet. associationforpublicart.org/symbiosis.
Gold Million Records
This nifty shop is an homage to vinyl, and a must-stop for diehard collectors, come-lately hipsters, and anyone looking for a present (bowls and clocks made from old albums) for a record fan. Or just a place to show the kids what the world was like before iTunes. 851 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, goldmillionrecords.com.
Ruben Mejia at Mejia Construction
He can handle just about anything you throw at him. He cleans up the mess; he doesn't clean out your bank account. And with help from his business partner (and wife) Martha, he gets your job done on time. 00000,
Illuminated fountain performances at Longwood Gardens
Good music (the Beatles, Tchaikovsky), summer nights, beer and sometimes fire: The $90 million that Longwood sank into renovating its main fountains was well worth it. Might as well get a membership, because you’ll want to take everyone you know. 1001 Longwood Rd, Kennett Square, PA 19348, longwoodgardens.org/events-and-performances/events/illuminated-fountain-performances.
Darnel's Cakes
Discs of cheese danish and icing-smothered brioche cinnamon rolls taste that much better when you know Kyle Cuffie-Scott’s business supports AIDS and HIV relief orgs. And they tasted pretty damn good to begin with. 444 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, darnelscakes.com.
Formation Sauna + Wellness
Disconnect from your busy life for a bit with a slice of serenity from this Nordic-inspired sauna. With temps climbing to 195 degrees and intermittent ice-cold showers, you’ll feel both rested and energized, ready to rejoin the world — after a post-sauna massage or cup of tea, of course. 305 Brown Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, formationsauna.com.
Ridley Creek State 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. (for GPS) 351 Gradyville Rd, Newtown Square, PA 19073, dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/RidleyCreekStatePark/Pages/default.aspx.
Bartram’s Garden
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. 5400 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19143, bartramsgarden.org.
A. Kitchen
With the menu here taken over by inspired chef Eli Kulp and Jon Nodler crushing it in the kitchen, this urbane corner restaurant is serving food thoughtful and creative enough to match its trendsetting wine list and West Coast aesthetic. Add this to your must-revisit list. 135 South 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, akitchenandbar.com.
Mike's Furniture Refinishing
With more than 20 years in business, owner Mike McCarron looks at every piece of furniture he strips, shellacs, varnishes or lacquers as an opportunity to preserve a familys history. His craft can turn any ugly old chair into an heirloom worth putting in your will. 5101 Comly Street, Philadelphia, PA 19135, mikesfurniturerefinishing.com.