Farmhaus
Ben McBrien scours the streets of Philadelphia for wood and metal to salvage, then holds onto it until the right project comes along. The former pro surfer has forged a successful second career working closely with clients to turn all that reclaimed stuff into beautiful furniture that's a little rugged, a little modern and designed specifically to match your vision. 2137 North American Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, farmhausmodern.com/.
Fat Albert's
If you want to play a little pool while you drink with your friends, go to Buffalo Billiards. But if you want to master the art of pool and compete with some of the best players in the region, head to this formidable hall in South Jersey. As for the beers, you can BYO and stash 'em in the house refrigerators. Bonus: Play is incredibly cheap just $5 an hour on Friday and Saturday nights. 600 North White House Pike, #1, Somerdale, NJ 08083, facebook.com/FatAlbertsBilliards.
Paesano's Philly Style
Peter McAndrews's second Paesano's and his third eatery, counting Modo Mio opened at 9th and Christian back in February. And it's even more lovable than the first one, thanks to extra seating and his new lasagna-and-fried-egg sandwich, the Bolognese. But both outposts know no limit when it comes to total sandwich debauchery, with overly drippy, saucy, cheesy, meaty and sometimes, if you're lucky, yolk-y delicious gluttony on a roll. 1017 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, paesanosphillystyle.com/.
Lou Legaspi at Performance Physical Therapy & Fitness
Everyone from top athletes (onetime Eagles draft pick/Olympic skier Jeremy Bloom, recent Colorado Avalanche acquisition Colby Cohen) to your average weekend tennis warrior has looked to Legaspi and his team of physical therapists for post--injury help. But don't wait until you're holed up with a bag of ice: They work with anyone who wants to prevent such pitfalls of sport, or simply up his or her game through training 80 Rittenhouse Place, Ardmore, PA 19003, performanceptfitness.com/.
Lithe Cinch
Hoping to erase or at least shrink that post-baby bump? Head to Lithe's Cinch class, during which haramakis (belly bands) worn around the waist help new moms focus on their core while keeping the entire midsection compressed during an hour of transformative bar and mat work. You'll tighten, tone and slim the entire area between the ribs and hips. Screw you, mom jeans. Lithe Method; see website for locations, 00000, lithemethod.com/.
Distrito
Its big. Its jubilantly gaudy. Its Pepto-Bismol pink. Its loud, its young, and its walls sparkle with glittery wrestling masks. You can literally swing from the rafters. (Some seats are actually swings.) Yes, its sensory overload especially the too-good-to-be-true steak nachos but Jose Garcess foray into the street food of Mexico City is also the most fun weve ever had in a restaurant. 3945 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, philadelphia.distritorestaurant.com/.
Marigold Kitchen
Robert Halperns cooking is as American as the Cabot-clothbound-cheddar cracker he likes to send out before appetizers, and as New as the liquefaction process that makes that cheese spill over your tongue like a stream of not-quite-molten lava. The amuse-bouches are the coolest things going in this timeworn rowhouse popcorn sauced with liquid nitrogen, ice-cream-droplet tricolore salad, chocolate-dusted corn ravioli which is good, since dinner comes with about a dozen of them. 501 South 45th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, marigoldkitchenbyob.wordpress.com/.
The Republican
Common sense will tell you to avoid this place: It's dark. It's grimy. There are two poles and a mirror, and they're used frequently and with varying degrees of skill. But come 2 a.m., this place fills up with an almost glorious assortment of humanity. It's South Philly, folks; embrace it until the wee hours. And if you get too skeeved/drunk/hungry, the Melrose is mere steps up the street. 1734 Snyder Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19145, .
Artur Kirsch at the Studio CL
Don't be confused when the blowout comes before Artur has so much as touched his (electronic, hair-end-sealing) scissors: You wear your hair dry, and so he shall cut your hair dry. And when you exit and instinctively strut down 19th like Beyonc's wind machine is blowing on you, you'll find it's a very hard technique to argue with. 128 South 19th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, thestudiocl.com/.
Geisha House
The store name conjures kimonos, but the racks here loaded with edgy, mostly Australian brands like Cameo, Maurie & Eve, Keepsake and Finders Keepers are more beachy than bento. There are boho maxi dresses and eclectic jewelry from Cali-based designers, too all feminine, with a splash of sex appeal. And those Japanese brands? Theyre coming soon. 149 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, hellogeisha.com.
New Azaad
It may not look like much (and really, it doesnt), but after several meals consumed both in the restaurant and on the go, weve tried nearly every item on the menu and can confidently report that no other traditional Indian restaurant in the region even comes close. From the goat and chicken curries to the papdi chaat to the extensive sweets case (after all, theres a world beyond gulab jamun), you simply cant go wrong here. And its cheaper than Ti_ffin! Just get there now and thank us later. 6443 Castor Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19149, facebook.com/pages/New-Azaad-Food/226414474482?rf=117920948233669.
Di Bruno Bros.
Sande Friedman has bought and sold a lot of wine as the Di Bruno Bros. wine buyer. Now, in collaboration with some of her favorite wineries, Friedman helped create two new bottles — a barbera-Âzinfandel blend from La Clarine in California, and Rosé of Carmine, with WayVine Winery & Vineyard in Chester County — with stellar results. 1730 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, dibruno.com/9th-street-bottle-shop.
Philadelphia Film Socieity's Aquisition of the Ritz at the Bourse
We don’t normally give Best of Philly to the same business or organization twice in the same issue, but, well, when the Ritz at the Bourse closed in January 2020, film lovers shed a collective tear or 12. So we have high hopes now that the film-snobby Philadelphia Film Society has recently taken over the space, bringing the best of independent films back to the block. 400 Ranstead Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, filmadelphia.org/.
Paesano's Philly Style
We've been waiting for someone to come along and give all the best parts of a sandwich good bread, melty cheese, that bitter/spicy/meaty contrast a face-lift. Which is why Paesano's stole our hearts (and stomachs). There's the Arista, for which a whole suckling pig is house-roasted, pulled, and served on Liscio's bread with broccoli rabe; the Gustaio, in which house-made lamb sausage is slathered with a sweet-cherry mostarda, gorgonzola and roasted fennel before being wrapped up in a buttery pita; and the namesake Paesano: slow-roasted beef layered on a substantial hoagie roll with gorgonzola, roasted tomatoes, pepperoncinis and house-made cole slaw. 1017 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, paesanosphillystyle.com/.