Madison K Cookies
Sure, you can walk into this cute neon-lit NoLibs confectionery for ready-to-go candy, cupcakes and treats of all kinds. But where else can you get cookies featuring your favorite sitcom, your dog’s face or even your own face? Madison K is armed with icing and up to the challenge. 800 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, madisonkcookies.com.
Earthly Delights
This past spring, we walked down our block and noticed the most radiant flower boxes we’d ever seen, with pinks and purples and yellows all popping against a red brick facade. Did we know what any of the flowers were? Of course not! What are we, botanists? This is why you hire folks like Earthly Delights owner Carrie Borgenicht, who designed and planted those window boxes. earthlydelights.biz.
Powerhouse Dance
The beauty of Powerhouse Dance isn’t just that it’s adults-only (classes are geared toward those with some dance experience) or that pricing is pay-as-you-take (what grown-up can commit to full-year tuition?), but that the Cherry Hill Artists in Motion Dance Complex hosts a rotating schedule of classes every week — from heels and hip-hop to ballet and street jazz — that’ll get any “retired” dancer back, confidently, on the floor. 1742 Marlton Pike East, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003, powerhousedancesj.com.
Shoe Museum at Temple's podiatry school
Yes, there are many, many famous museums in Philadelphia. And there’s also the Shoe Museum at Temple’s podiatry school. Mummer shoes. Baby shoes. A locker room with athletes’ shoes. You get the picture. Looking for other always-free museums? Try Fireman’s Hall Museum, the Science History Institute, and the Institute of Contemporary Art. 148 North 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, podiatry.temple.edu/about/shoe-museum-temple-university-school-podiatric-medicine.
Charming Garlands
In 2022, balloon installations are just as ubiquitous as floral arrangements. Demand for these larger-than-life creations has been so keen in the region that Ali Kahan was able to turn her pandemic side hustle into a successful business. Her two-year-old company uses biodegradable organic balloons for Insta-worthy garland installations that float like colorful clouds around chuppahs. Charminggarlands.com.
Philly Girls Who Walk
When Fairmount resident Bianca Solari founded Philly Girls Who Walk last May, she was looking for a way to get outside and socialize without alcohol. (She wasn’t alone — more than 100 women showed up for the first outing.) The low-key weekly walks, which cover about three miles near locations like the Art Museum, the Ben Franklin Bridge and Schuylkill River Park, are perfect for making new friends and exploring the city, one step at a time. instagram.com/phillygirlswhowalk.
Narberth Playground
Yes, it lacks a swag nickname like New York City's Rucker or "The Cage." And it has just two nondescript courts dotted with old-school metal bleachers. But that doesn't deter local prep stars and weekend warriors from showing up, all of them pounding the same pavement where Kobe Bryant, Artis Gilmore and Wilt Chamberlain used to play. 100 Conway Avenue, Narberth, PA 19072, narberthborough.com/narberth-borough-recreation.asp.
Down2Earth Interior Design
Yes, of course Amy Cuker uses eco-friendly materials for her redesign projects concrete countertops from a Delaware fabricator, cabinets from Amish woodworkers, low-VOC paints, cork floors. But the LEED-accredited owner of this four-year-old interior design firm has also repurposed old rowhouse washbasins, salvaged pine floorboards for a new staircase, and revived details like antique doorknobs and bathtubs. In essence, Down2Earth can uncover and relocate, refurbish and repaint the potential that was there all along. 7604 Spring Avenue, Elkins Park, PA 19027, down2earthinteriordesign.com.
Private School by Bela Shehu
You could find rainbow art installations, bleacher seating, DJs, chef tastings, and dozens of local vendors selling everything from jewelry (Forge + Finish) to clothing (the founder’s own NINOBrand) to design-forward furniture (Minima) at this tastemaker’s ticketed month-long pop-up last spring. Missed it? Don’t fret: More, at different locations, are coming soon.
Clothes Mentor
Step one: Arrive with armfuls of clothes from your “get rid of” pile — no appointment needed. Step two: Wait for the cash offer they make you. Step three: Reject cash offer and take credit, because right behind you are racks of like-new shift dresses from Kate Spade, wallets from Louis Vuitton, and cool Giuseppe Zanotti kicks. Step four: Repeat every six months. Multiple locations. clothesmentor.com/springfield-pa.
Hale & True Cider Co.
We didn’t think we were cider people. But then we sampled these dry, subtle ciders (made with juice from Pennsylvania apples!) and, well, we changed our minds. Now you’ll find us in this airy tasting room, sipping pints of Lil’ Sunshine, made with orange peel and wildflower honey, and tucking into French-inspired snacks brought over from the neighbors at Good King Tavern. 613 South 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, haleandtrue.com.
Philly Zoo at 2
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. facebook.com/philadelphiazoo/videos/?ref=page_internal.
<em>Heart of a Champion</em>
Yes, we do love the new Lil Nas X mural that popped up in the Gayborhood just in time for Pride this year, but we have to give this one to the late-2020 mural by artist Ernel Martinez recognizing Philly’s true champ, Smokin’ Joe Frazier. From his wall at 13th and Allegheny in North Philadelphia, the first boxer to beat Muhammad Ali proclaims, “There is no right way to do wrong and no wrong way to do right.” 1302 West Allegheny Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19132, .
Ukee Washington
The Los Angeles Times story in January detailing the racist/sexist culture promoted by some New York-based CBS executives aired a lot of dirty laundry about Philly’s CBS affiliate, much of which involved those execs’ despicable opinions of lead evening news anchor Ukee Washington. That Washington rose above the fray, summoning the love and support of the region, comes as no surprise to those of us who’ve adored him all along.
Soundwalk
Pioneering composer Ellen Reid pushes the definition of public art with this GPS-enabled immersive exhibition. An app sends location-based musical compositions featuring musicians from the Philadelphia Orchestra, sound effects and soundscapes into your earbuds as you walk through some of your favorite outdoor spaces in Fairmount Park. The exhibit ends on September 30th. manncenter.org/soundwalk.