Brand Nail Studio
Swirls of whimsical lavender designs, spring-inspired yin/yangs, bursts of bright highlighter hues, retro flowers and smiley faces, funky croc patterns … your nails are canvases for the artists at Brand Nail Studio, where Lisa Frank meets the cast of Euphoria meets “Hot Girl Summer.” 1008 North 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, instagram.com/brandnailstudio.
Cuttalossa
When you enter Old City’s Meadowsweet Mercantile, head straight to the back, just beyond the dressing rooms, to discover founder Shannon Retseck’s secret store-in-a-store: a trove of organic hand-loomed textiles in a rainbow of pastel hues alongside alpaca blankets made on a rural New Jersey farm. 47 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, cuttalossa.us.
Independence Helicopters
You haven't seen Boathouse Row, the stadiums or the Ben Franklin Bridge until you've seen them from 1,000 feet in the sky. But our favorite part is that you can provide your own soundtrack if you bring an iPod. Cue the Wagner! From $129 per person for 20 minutes. 9800 Ashton Road (near Academy and Grant), Philadelphia, PA 19114, independenceheli.com.
Sarah Bloom
After a Daily Mail story ran in January, this 46-year-old suburban mom's stunning nude self-portraits set in abandoned buildings went viral -- and we haven't been able to divert our attention since. Invest now: Sales at her recent local shows have been brisk. Sarahrbloom.com.
Penn Museum
The joints on the Parkway get more play due to their central location, but for people who like old stuff, this repository, stuffed with its 10 millennia of artifacts, is a must-visit. For years, the museum was left to more or less rot, but it’s in the midst of a dramatic transformation thanks to Christopher Woods, its first director of color. 3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, penn.museum.
Jawn Supply
Photograph by Theresa Regan The next time you need a Phillies Starter jacket from the ’80s or an Eagles hoodie from 1993, take a cue from celebs like Miles Teller and Bradley Cooper and turn to this airy boutique and its über-popular Instagram account, where the latest finds are posted before they’re almost instantly snatched up. 40 South High Street, West Chester, PA 19382, jawnsupply.com.
Oat Haus
Not only is Oat Haus’s granola butter free of nuts, gluten, dairy and soy (and made in Warminster!); it’s impressively versatile. Drizzle this local oat spread over yogurt, go wild with smoothies, or, if you’re like us, eat it right off the spoon. Try the birthday-cake flavor, which is made with sprinkles and vanilla. No baking necessary. oat.haus.
Craft Coven
Photograph by Jeff Fusco These pop-up DIY events all over the city are organized by Philly artist Cassie Jones and feature a wide range of endeavors, such as stitching your own reusable shopping bag out of recycled fabrics, weaving a basket out of reeds, making your own watercolor paints, and drawing nude models — free beer is included for that last one. thecraftcoven.org.
MakePhilly
This inventors/builders club has around 600 members of varying skill levels who gather (dues-free) on the Industrial Design Floor at the University of the Arts to listen to innovation--minded speakers (a kinetic artist, a watchmaker, a robotics professor), then separate into competing groups to build a device from scratch. The group's annual barbecue features water-rocket launches, of course. 00000, makephilly.com.
City Winery
City Winery in the Fashion District. Photograph by Jonathan Pushnik A chain music venue? In the glorified mall that’s the Fashion District, née the Gallery? With a name like City Winery? Yeah, we were skeptical. But the fact is, this place offers an intimate, high-quality experience — with pristine sound and excellent production standards — like no other in the city. Oh, and the wine is great, too. How often can you say that about a music venue? 990 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, citywinery.com/philadelphia.
Dorit Avganim
Photograph by Theresa Regan Set up a visit with Manzanita’s owner extraordinaire. She’ll present you with pieces (a silk polka-dot jumpsuit, a leopard-print blazer) you might never have selected yourself but obviously (to her) should rock. She’s also watching current trends and making them work for vintage apparel — her recent Museum of Butter event attracted lovers of the hue of the moment. 4206 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104, manzanita.world.
Devon Lanes
Though the arcade games and bowling tech have been upgraded since this suburban gem opened in 1959, the place still retains the charm of another era. That may be due in part to the pricing: On some nights, you can play as many games as you want for just $10, including shoe rental. Plus it’s BYO, making this one of the cheapest nights out on the Main Line. 300 West Lancaster Avenue, Devon, PA 19333, devonlanes.com.
El Chapulin
In case you’re wondering how many times we visit a restaurant before bestowing such an honor, in the instance of this bright and cheery Delco taqueria, we probably went 10 times — not just for due diligence, but also because we love it so much. From the birria to the tamales to the taco platters to the shrimp cocktail to the occasional appearance of menudo, we can’t wait to eat it all again. 8901 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby, PA 19082, .
Fitler Dining Room
Though things got off to a rough start, chef Rob Marzinsky has found his stride in his sophomore year. He's quietly toiling in the open kitchen, making menu changes that showcase gorgeous, inspired seasonal dishes a zucchini soup with curried yogurt, a roast chicken with pine-nut puree. Well worth a return trip if you can score a table. 2201 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, fitlerdiningroom.com.
Black Horse Auto Body Shop
Owner Johnny DiMino is made for reality TV a jovial car nut who treats dinged-up Mercedeses and Corvettes with love, and who charged hundreds of dollars less than another repair shop quoted to fix a dented SUV. We also like the t-shirts he gives to customers, embossed with his logo: "U Reckem. We Fixem. U Payum." 1502 Ridge Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, blackhorseautobody.com.