Engin Cycles
Engin Cycles owner Drew Guldalian / Photograph by Jeff Fusco Right off the bat: These are not cheap bikes. They start at $4,500, so we’d understand if your eyes just bugged out. But hear us out: They’re gorgeous. Nearly every piece of the bike is machined in-house, and the titanium frame adds a level of durability that no off-the-rack frame can match. So maybe put this on your “someday” list. 7837 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118, engincycles.com.
Retro Pilates
Retro Pilates puts a blast-from-the-past spin on traditional reformer Pilates. You’ll lengthen and strengthen on one of six Allegro 2 machines to the sounds of rock, folk and blues music from the Stones era, surrounded by a mid-century modern aesthetic. After your full-body burn, chillax in a bright white-and-red egg chair. 2423 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, retropilatesphilly.com.
Tribe
The space is white and bright, there are oodles of leather and wood, a flamingo mural and a living wall, and-—well, basically, we’d like to move in. Luckily, husband-and-wife team Emily and Andrew De Stefano’s venture just outside Kennett Square has pretty sweet hair and makeup services, too. (They offer four different kinds of ponytail styling alone!) 882 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, PA 19317, tribebeauty.com.
Jean-Jacques Gallery
Not quite the size of Carrie Bradshaw's walk-in closet, this teeny shop is nevertheless the perfect place to outfit you and your gal pals for a night on the town or weekend getaway: Boss Lady body wash for prep, a kicky cocktail shaker for pre-game, Imooi necklaces to bring on the cute, and temporary tattoos to throw in just a wee bit of (manageable) danger. 7118 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119, .
West Elm Market
You will literally want everything from West Elms new store-in-a-store kitchen shop. If you have the cabinet room, stock up on fire engine-red enamel cookware, glazed porcelain canisters (with adorable painted labels), monogrammed stemless glassware and pretty gold-plated utensils. On second thought, get it all and just make the room. 1330 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, westelm.com/shop/market-general-store.
Battleship New Jersey
This 70-plus-year-old vessel, originally built at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, saw action in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, making it the country's most decorated battleship. These days you can be led down its steep ladders and through its tight passageways by knowledgeable veterans, many of whom were on active duty on this very ship. 100 Clinton Street, Camden, NJ 08103, battleshipnewjersey.org.
Lindley Gray
Photograph by Alain Simic This Kensington-based jewelry brand features genderless designs handcrafted from recycled metals, Fairmined gold and ethically sourced diamonds, often reclaimed from vintage pieces. The namesake designer’s aesthetic combines traditional craftsmanship, Art Deco influence, and a focus on the subtlety of natural materials. We’d say “I do” to those black-diamond stacking rings any day. lindleygray.com.
Perrystead Dairy
At his new Kensington creamery, cheesemaker Yoav Perry is forgoing wedges of cheddar in favor of young-aged, soft-ripened lactic cheese he calls “Intergalactic,” natural and washed-rind wheels of long-aged cheeses, and innovative monthly specials. There are also drinkable yogurts, flavored kefir and whey tonic — all made with milk from Pennsylvania dairy farms. 1639 North Hancock Street Ste 103, Philadelphia, PA 19122, perrystead.com.
Poi Dog
Fried chicken junkies, if you’re looking to get your fix from different latitudes, you won’t want to miss this Big Island version, where the bird is dipped in sweet rice flour, doused in furikake seasoning, and topped with togarashi-yuzu mayo. Psst: It comes on the lunch plate with two scoops of rice, macaroni salad and pickled red cabbage. Yum. 102 South 21st Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, poidogphilly.com.
Paesano's Philly Style
It's not a pretty sight, this breakfast-lunch-and-dinner on a bun: ribbons of fried lasagna, a meaty Bolognese, mozzarella, sweet peppers and a fried egg, all wedged into a seeded Liscio's roll. And yet there's an undeniable artistry in making something so unruly taste so fine. If loving you is wrong, Bolognese from Paesano's, we ain't ever gonna be right. 1017 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, paesanosphillystyle.com.
Pilates & Plunge At W Philadelphia
What was supposed to be a five-week series last fall quickly became so popular that it’s now an ongoing experience at one of Philly’s chicest hotels. You’ll move through a low-impact, muscle-engaging mat Pilates sesh led by Coach Zha before taking a dip in the W’s outdoor pool. You’ll never want to go back to “regular” workouts again. 1439 Chestnut Street, 7th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102, event.marriott.com/phlwh-w-philadelphia/events/philadelphia/pilates-plunge-with-coach-zha.
Invert Your World
This isn’t just a yoga studio — though the vinyasa, Ashtanga, and slow flow classes are fire. (No, seriously: The heat index reaches 95 degrees.) There’s also a packed roster of Pilates, barre, HIIT, and dance workouts; retreats to Tulum; and a newly opened recovery studio boasting red-light and halo therapies and an infrared sauna. With all that variety, it’s no surprise that folks return again and again. 100 Wissahickon Avenue, Ambler, PA 19002, invertyourworld.com.
Cloud Cups
Photograph by Jeff Fusco Rich red velvet cheesecake, French toast stracciatella with chocolate ribbons swirled throughout, and classics like creamy vanilla are among the extensive repertoire of owner Galen Thomas. (He’s created more than 100 flavors.) Think of Cloud Cups as you would jazz: You’ve got a gelato maestro who has a lot of notes to play with, and the result is music to your taste buds. Locations in Kensington and Fishtown, Philadelphia, PA cloudcupsgelato.com.
Indoor Children's Garden at Longwood Gardens
There's an understandable "Observe in awe, but do not touch" edict at this immaculate Kennett Square destination. Except, that is, in the Indoor Children's Garden, where wee ones are encouraged to splash in the jumping fountains, get up-close and personal with the whimsical statues, climb through the twisty displays and smell the roses. (That it's tucked away inside the Conservatory means it's a great foul-weather destination, too.) 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, longwoodgardens.org/gardens/indoor-childrens-garden.
Angela Monaco Jewelry
Okay, if you use a pair of pliers, you can remove the permanent bracelets — but why would you want to? They come in various price points, metals (sterling silver, rose gold) and links (hearts, paper clips), and charms can be added. Bring your bestie to your appointment for a modern kind of friendship bracelet — one that’s welded by a laser onto your wrist. 2001 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, angelamonacojewelry.com.