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.
Bar Poulet
Some people were surprised to learn that this new Center City spot is pairing pressure-fried chicken and champagne, but it’s been a thing, and one taste of the sharp bubbles cutting through the rich bird will convince you we’ve long deserved this brilliant concept. 2005 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, barpoulet.com.
The Wrangler at Pub and Kitchen
Spicy and served with a pickled red-hot chili garnish, just one of these is enough to shake you back to life in the morning, no matter what you were up to last night. 1946 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146, thepubandkitchen.com.
Heritage Nails
Make an appointment with Hani, Philly's Michelangelo of nails, and you'll see that this cool-girl trend can be elegant, too think subdued chevron stripes, triangle patterns in pastel shades, and office-appropriate pops of color. 2000 Hamilton Street, #108, Philadelphia, PA 19130, facebook.com/HeritageNails.
Carmine's Creole Act II
After a long exile in Phoenixville following a messy partnership dispute, chef John Mims is back in Narberth with his beloved Creole BYO, housed in the same building it left in 2006. Dont worry: His spicy seafood pasta is still on the menu. But the real stars are his perfectly fried, crispy Gulf Coast oysters. The briny bivalves are usually the first thing to sell out, so get there early. 232 Woodbine Avenue, Narberth, PA 19072, .
Rouge
The truffle and parmesan pommes frites are cut just thin enough, so you can grab them by the handful. Fried to a greaseless crisp, they're sprinkled with just enough truffle oil, parmesan and salt to make them hopelessly addictive and worth the nine bucks. 205 South 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, rouge98.com.
Bait & Switch
The owners here have the discipline not to meddle. That pile of shrimp, the fish tacos and the fish and chips come just as the Fish Gods intended them to be: simple. 2537 East Somerset Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134, thebestseafood.com.
Carriage Trade Cleaners
This perennial star has been handling stained silks, cashmeres, leather and fur for 30-plus years, and the pros here work miracles (e.g., getting brick-red lipstick out of white chiffon). 1108 Bustleton Pike, Feasterville-Trevose, PA 19053, .
Eye's Gallery
Famed Magic Gardens artist Isaiah Zagar and wife Julia established this Latin American folk-art epicenter on South Street in 1968, covering its ceilings and walls with his signature mosaics. Despite being around for decades, the gallery today remains fresh and exciting, and its three floors contain a one-of-a-kind mix of decor — paintings from Guerrero, Mexico-based La Familia Lorenzo, painted glass pieces from Peru, carved wooden statues from Guatemala. Say hello to Julia at the front when you visit. 402 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, eyesgallery.com.
Lacquer Lounge
Dream up your wildest design (peachy ombr, metallic dots, neon chevrons), and the friendly techs at this pretty salon will turn your nails into tiny, perfectly manicured works of art. And for a song, too: Lacquer charges just $3 a nail. 501 Fitzwater Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, lacquerlounge.com.
Federal Donuts
The twice-fried Korean fried chicken has six different topping choices. We keep going back because we know it's the best, and because we're not done figuring out exactly which topping is tops. 1219 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, federaldonuts.com.
Monk's Café
We love fat-fried, foie-gras-slathered pommes frites just as much as the next gastropub enthusiast, but this beer bar's gimmick-free, salt-kissed basket of fries (plus the divine inspiration that is the accompanying bourbon mayonnaise) is the tastiest, most dangerously easy to eat we've found. 264 South 16th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, monkscafe.com.
Mama's Vegetarian
Skin-on, fried to order, finger-tip-burningly hot, generously salted. In other words: No truffle mayo needed. Eat your heart out, Philly gastropubs. 18 South 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, mamasvegetarian.com.
Master Tailor and Cleaners
The name is no joke. The only place to go when you finally give up on that Tide pen. 1620 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, facebook.com/pages/Master-Tailor-Cleaners/191404560944818.
Royal Farms
Imagine a super-Wawa (the kind with a gas station), but instead of hoagies, it sells fried chicken. Really, really crispy, juicy, salty fried chicken. Confusingly good fried chicken. At a gas station. royalfarms.com.