American Mortals
Finding a stylist who knows how to handle a short female ’do is shockingly difficult. But American Mortals’ Kelly Millares (at the Washington Square West location) and Jessica Kramer (Grad Hospital) make shearing angular, shaggy bangs look easy. Three Center City locations. Americanmortals.com.
Rocky’s Crystals & Minerals
Photograph by Ian Shiver Both neophyte mystics and New Age pros can find something to soothe their souls here. Handy information cards explain — as best as it can be explained — how bumble bee jasper activates chakras and rose quartz promotes self-confidence. Multiple locations. rockyscrystalsonline.com.
Harper’s Garden
You know how you’re always looking for that perfect place to eat outside with your friends? That imaginary space full of twinkle lights and growing things that will transport you to Napa or Portofino? Yeah, well, Harper’s Garden is that place, with seating for 80. 31 South 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, harpersgardenphilly.com.
Rescue Run 5K
Need some motivation? How about a pile of cuddly puppies waiting for you at the finish line? That's what you'll find at this October race at the Navy Yard, which is put on by the Monster Milers and raises money for dog rescue and adoption. Rescuerun5K.com.
Greensgrow Farms
Head to this urban, plant-filled oasis for workshops covering everything from medicinal herbs to gluten-free Thanksgiving sides to organic gardening. You’ll walk away with tons of know-how, and a container of Greensgrow’s homemade arugula pesto, if you’re lucky.
2501 East Cumberland Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125, greensgrow.org.Barcade
How geeky is this nirvana of tap craft beers and 25-cents-a-round arcade games of Tetris and Tron? The $10 "lunch special"-any sandwich (try the grilled cheese), chips and beer-runs till 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. 1114 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, barcadephiladelphia.com.
Fiorella Pasta Bar
Fiorella Pasta Bar. Photograph by Michael Persico Look, we love Vetri Cucina. It’s inarguably one of the crown jewels of our dining scene — a place that constantly reinvents the very notion of what Italian fine dining can be. But with Fiorella Pasta Bar — his pre-pandemic experiment — Vetri might have inadvertently shown us what a post-fine-dining world can really look like: a place where short-order counter-service dining can be just as delicious (and twice as fun). Absent the pomp, circumstance, reverential quiet, fancy crystal and sky-high prices of the Cucina, Fiorella delivers a raw, vital and delicious experience proving that what’s on the plate matters more than anything else. 817 Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, fiorellaphilly.com.
Franklin & Whitman
We’re still not sure how an IT guy got a vegan skin-care line from a Bok Building studio to the pages of Seventeen magazine, but we do know that the simple ingredients in Christopher Cieri’s products make our skin feel hydrated and extra-dewy. franklinandwhitman.com.
Abdul-Aliy Muhammad
This community organizer worked tirelessly to free the cremains of slaves and, later, MOVE victims from the Penn Museum. After writing several bombshell op-eds for the Inquirer that exposed decades of trauma and misuse, Muhammad changed how the city talks about those who have left us.
Brian Maher
You can come to him or he'll come to you—so there goes your "I'm too busy to work out today" excuse. And with Maher's tailored-to-you workouts and solid diet and nutrition know-how, you may even—gasp!—look forward to your gym time. 1429 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, phillypersonaltraining.com.
Meadow Creek Barbecue Supply
It’s a bit of a drive, but the folks at family-owned Meadow Creek Barbecue Supply have everything you need to grill, smoke, roast and baste your heart out. True enthusiasts should sign up for one of their classes as well — who doesn’t need to know how to butcher a deer? 140 West Main Street, New Holland, PA 17557, meadowcreekbbqsupply.com.
A-Frame by Lokal
How to camp in 2018: Book this three-bedroom, two-bath Jersey cabin nestled on two and a half secluded acres an hour from Philly, where instead of tents and sleeping bags, you get Rival Bros. coffee, fire pits, a private beach along the Maurice River, and cool Scandinavian interior design. 3 Penny Lane, Dorchester, NJ 08316, staylokal.com/rooms/a-frame-cabin-maurice-river-nj/#/book/aframe.
Gruyere Popover and Foie Gras Soup at Sbraga
Okay, so they're not free, exactly ... but this luscious amuse-bouche combo that comes with every prix-fixe menu at Kevin Sbraga's eponymous flagship is the course we look forward to most. And given how amazing those prix-fixe menus are, that's saying a lot. 440 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146, sbragadining.com.
Buena Onda
How to make the wait for dinner at Jose Garces's new taco joint go by even more quickly: Ignore everything on the menu but the zippy, flavorful $3.50 fresh fish (and shrimp) tacos and the free beer you'll be offered while standing in line. 1901 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130, buenaondatacos.com.