Jake Strong Magic
It’s an hour into your party. The appetizers have been demolished, the small talk has petered out, and your bored guests are checking Uber avails. What your dud of an evening needs is a little magic — literally. Magician Jake Strong’s close-up illusions, comedy, and easy charm transform disconnected strangers into a delighted “How did he do that?!” hive mind. He mingles with the attendees, MacGyvers mind-bending tricks with their own belongings, and is the funnest party crasher ever. jakestrongmagic.com.
Midsection Connection
It’s no secret that Pilates continues to have a major moment — with a surge of studios and heated debates as to what does and does not adhere to creator Joseph Pilates’s 100-plus-year-old method. This welcoming Spring Garden studio lowers the noise around what’s trendy, inviting first-timers and advanced clients alike to train in the classical way. Choose from sessions on the mat (for Pilates’s original 34 exercises, from the Hundred to the Swan to the Teaser) or using the resistance-springed reformer or other equipment like the chair, the barrel, and the Cadillac. 1827 Brandywine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130, midsectionconnection.com.
Bob's Diner
The era of the classic diner is dead, killed off by shifting consumer tastes and a generation of kids who don’t want to take on the grind of their parents’ businesses. But this stainless steel Roxborough institution that dates back to the 1940s is keeping the flame alive at its tight booths and lunch counter. Try the chili, egg platters, whatever the blue-plate special is, or the fun nod to Philly, the creamed chipped beef on a soft pretzel. If you’re visiting on a weekend prepare for a wait, but there are always plenty of lively locals to chat with until a table opens up. 6053 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19129, bobsdinerphilly.com.
Guy's Upholstering
Inside Guy’s modest East Passyunk storefront, bolts of fabric burst from every corner and stacks of furniture parts await refinishing: some chair legs here, a chaise arm there, all anticipating new life. The shop has the gloriously chaotic energy of a workshop where people are too busy creating beauty to worry about appearances. Bring them a sagging sofa, battered armchair, or heirloom tufted stool on its last legs, and they’ll return it masterfully rebuilt, exquisitely tailored, and ready for its second (or third) act. 1645 Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, facebook.com/guysupholstering.
FavAUrite
Photograph by Theresa Regan The trio of women who run this 10-month-old Chestnut Hill shop call it a collection of discoveries. And that it is, which you’ll see after you’ve finished ogling the ever-changing, elaborately themed window display (puffy clouds! stars and stripes!) and step inside the cozy space. Delicate jewelry (some made in-house) is artfully displayed amid the antiques and objects, like handmade candles by California’s Catherine Sieck (charms emerge as the wax burns) and cheery speckle-glazed ceramics from Sharland England. The shop is designed to feel like a home filled with someone’s treasures from journeys near and far — and you’ll never want to leave. 8409 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118, favaurite.com.
Jamele Ransom
Two minutes of camera time and a cone from Mister Softee was all it took for Jamele Ransom to become an internet sensation. The heroic crossing guard’s delightfully unbothered recounting of a car crash at a playground near 55th and Kingsessing — he had to pull whatshername’s nephew out! — made Ransom an instant star, and had the whole city “bobbing and weaving” for days.
Makefield Auto Repair
When your crotchety 2011 Kia Sorento needs an overhaul of its intake manifold runner (the automotive equivalent of a hip replacement), Morrisville’s Makefield Auto offers honest pricing, a clear explanation of what needs to happen, and none of the condescension that can turn an auto shop visit into an insult. Makefield’s team treats you and your aging ride with respect. Old car? Good hands. 87 Makefield Road, Morrisville, PA 19067, makefieldauto.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.
Chad Williams
Friday Saturday Sunday’s Chad Williams turns out plates that are often daring (blue cheese and corn pasta?), and always fantastic. Friday Saturday Sunday: 261 South 21st Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, facebook.com/FriSatSunday/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel.
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.
Minimal Chaos
On family trips to the Middle East, Sarah Naji’s father spent hours scouring the souks for the perfect rug. The Point Breeze-based entrepreneur is following in his footsteps with her pandemic-born business. Naji sources hand-knotted works from Turkey and at local antique shops, prizing age (some are 100 years old) and clever colors. She even walks the walk: Her shoes are made from salvaged kilim rugs. minimalchaos.pink.
Chaat and Chai
You know the city has changed when the best Indian food is coming out of a cheery, colorful place around the corner from the Melrose Diner. The menu's not huge, but that's just fine. The namesake chaats (Indian street snacks) and chais (Indian teas) make for a perfect, well, afternoon tea. For a more substantial meal, reach for the curry bowls. 1532 Snyder Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19145, facebook.com/chaatandchai.
Gritty's Chaos Factory
The Chaos Factory at the soon-to-be-renamed Wells Fargo Center is like a Build-A-Bear Workshop for Gritizens, where kids — and, let’s be honest, adults — can customize their own 15-inch Gritty plushies. The space is packed with baskets of the “Itty Bitty Gritty” dolls and a selection of costumes (and belly buttons!) to dress them in, like classic Flyers jerseys or swim trunks with ducky pool floats. Everything, from the displays and signs to exclusive tees and enamel pins, seems like it was concocted by Gritty himself. 3601 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
Charles Shoe Repair
Yes, yes, we’re all still mourning the loss of Superior Shoe Repair. But Charles is the perfect rebound: Reliably good repairs and a speedy turnaround time. Penn Center, 1800 JFK Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19103, .
Prepped by Carly
Registered dietitian Carly Foglia’s mission is to share the healing power of nutrient-dense, balanced food. Every Sunday, from her West Chester-based kitchen, she’ll deliver plate-clearing dishes — teriyaki shrimp, Snickers overnight oats, better-for-you crispy chicken snack wraps — made with whole, recognizable ingredients right to your door. Bonus: Bulk poultry, fish and veggies, protein balls, and Paleo desserts from the Northeast’s Ferry Good Treats are menu mainstays. carlyfoglianutrition.com.