Ps and Qs
Guys can like candles when they come in Ps & Qss woodsy scents, with notes of oak moss and birch tar. Also on tap at this distinctly modern hip-dude outlet are Herschel Supply Co. bags, manly Juniper Ridge pine-scented soap, Penfield caps, and art and photography books. Bonus: Gift-wrapping is free. 820 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, psandqs.com.
Wissahickon Valley Park
As an officemate with plenty of miles on him put it, "I'll drive for two or three hours to find a place to hike, but only because it's different. It's not any better than the Wissahickon. It's amazing to me that we have that right here." Start out anywhere, and follow your whimsy; thanks to the creek, it's easy to stay oriented. And you'll find history and landmarks all along the way: Lover's Leap, Mom Rinker's Rock, the Cave of Kelpius, Fingerspan, Devil's Pool, the Monastery ? 00000, fow.org.
Terminal B
Masterminded by Rick Blatstein’s OTG, this $40 million terminal revamp added eight glitzy eateries to the heart of PHL. You’ll also find more than 1,000 iPads where you can play games, catch up on the news, and order a meal from any of said glitzy eateries and have it delivered right to you.
Rione
Sick of flimsy triangles of Neapolitan pies? Opt instead for these Roman-style slices, which are squared, shorn with scissors from trays of light-as-air rectangular pies, baked with what could be the best pizza dough in Philly, and topped with classics like potato and rosemary or tomato and spicy soppressata. So good, you’ll think you’re in Italy. 102 South 21st Street, Philadelphia , PA 19103, rionepizza.com.
InMovement Gymnastics Education
If being at home with your kids 24/7 has changed your attitude toward screen time, it’s okay. Allay your guilt (if you still have any) by registering for one of the many local kids’ classes that have popped up on YouTube and across social media. See the full write up at Virtual Classes. phillyinmovement.com/virtual-summer-camp-2.
Cactus Cart
There’s nothing more Philly than a couple of punk kids rolling around town with a cart full of cacti, just like rag-and-bone men of yore. The Cactus Cart pops up on weekends at varying corners of South Philly, and the offerings are just what you need to spruce up your space: vibrant, spiky succulents planted in retro sugar cannisters and old beer cans. Plus, the cacti come in all shapes and sizes to fit on any windowsill or bookshelf. instagram.com/cactuscart2020.
Rennes
If the name alone conjures images of French hilltop villages, just wait until you visit. With bleached floorboards, tidy tables of accessories, and racks of relaxed toss-on-and-go styles from Japanese lines you won’t find anywhere else in Philly, this airy four-month-old women’s boutique successfully fills our casual international-cool clothing void. 135 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, rennes.us.
Pica’s
Tiny Fey loves the pizza—for good reason—but that’s just the start of this stalwart’s appeal. The pastas are all made in-house, the escarole soup cures illness, and the meatballs are as good as any made in South Philly. It’s the plate of roasted peppers the waitress plunks down at the start of every meal, though, that entices you back again and again and again. Multiple locations, picas-restaurant.com.
Blue Corn
Really, any of Blue Corn’s cold seafood—be it the shrimp cocktail or the octopus—is a great way to start a meal. They’ve made something that has become so fancy wonderfully casual: simply dressed, meant to be spooned onto the salty-sweet plantain chips, and even better with a splash of La Bruja, the spicy vinegar served on the side. 940 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, facebook.com/pg/BlueCornRestaurant/about.
Quintessence Theatre Group
After just five years, this small repertory company has earned a reputation for creating beautiful adaptations of classic works for the modern stage, like last season's The Three Musketeers and Alice in Wonderland. In their sixth season, you'll want to see Romeo and Juliet, Saint Joan and -- for the kids -- Hansel and Gretel. (They're in residence at the Sedgwick Theater in Mount Airy.) Quintessencetheatre.org.
The Arden Theatre Company's Children's Theatre
Ask any first-grader: The show that really took the local theater scene by storm this year was the Arden's production of Beauty and the Beast. The year before that, it was Sideways Stories from Wayside School; before that, it was Cinderella. The truth is, the Arden always nails it, telling wonderful stories in creative ways, speaking directly to pint-size audience members without dumbing anything down, and stacking the stage with real talent that takes its viewing public seriously. 40 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, ardentheatre.org.
Ubiq
If you're the type who won't give up your trainers for anyone, pluck any pair of sneakers off the wall displays at Ubiq and you'll still look pulled together. This Walnut Street cult shop sells more than new-release Jordans and Yeezys: There are subdued retro New Balances, eco-friendly Vans and reflective suede Onitsuka Tigers. 1509 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, ubiqlife.com.
Phield House
Mornings at Phield House may be filled with toddler open-play sessions, camps and youth clinics, but don’t overlook its indoor sports facility. After dark (or after work), reserve time at the batting cages, basketball court or multi-sport field for your own adult recess any day of the week. Phield House also hosts Heyday Athletic-sponsored adult soccer and dodgeball leagues throughout the year. 814 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, phieldhouse.com.
Johnny Doc
There was the main trial — was Local 98 power broker John Dougherty guilty of corruption? And then there was the equally tantalizing trial within the trial: Would any of the city’s other politicos (Mayor Jim Kenney, multiple City Councilmembers) be caught on wiretaps saying something incriminating, or at least highly embarrassing? For the most part, the answer to the latter question was no, but that didn’t mean there was no sweating inside City Hall — and the wiretaps sure did their job revealing the provincial, brash, immature schoolyard playground that is Philly politics.
Christa Barfield
Barfield went from a career in health care to fighting local food insecurity through FarmerJawn, her urban farming org that hosts community greenery workshops and a CSA to increase access to organic produce for Philly’s most underserved communities. This year, Barfield launched an educational nonprofit to train future farmers and opened a garden center in Mount Airy so neighbors can plant fruits and veggies in their own backyards. farmerjawnphilly.com.