Robert Drake
Photograph by Linette Messina For more than two decades, DJ Robert Drake turned his deep love of ’80s New Wave into communal celebration — most famously at his long-running Sex Dwarf dance party, where Depeche Mode, New Order, and Erasure reliably fill the floor. A WXPN mainstay, Drake also created the beloved 24-hour Christmas Eve broadcast "The Night Before," co-founded Philly Loves Bowie Week, and hosts the enduring radio show Land of the Lost. At 62, he’s still spinning — always chasing that high of bringing people together through music. Read more in our Best of Philly spotlight. instagram.com/djrobertdrake.
Mark Horowitz
The next time you need a custom conducting baton, turn to this retired actuary and actuarial software developer. The Ambler resident (whose father was the late, world-renowned baton maker Richard Horowitz) crafted replicas of Leonard Bernstein’s originals for Bradley Cooper’s Maestro. He designed a beauty bearing a rosewood handle for the Curtis Institute of Music’s Benoit Gauthier, and has created wands for the Philadelphia Orchestra’s principal guest conductor Nathalie Stutzmann and Riccardo Chailly of La Scala. Horowitz makes only about 25 batons per year: After all, he is retired. He’s doing this for fun — which is music to our ears. Horowitzbatons@gmail.com
Abby Misbin
The humble cowboy hat has been reborn of late as the number one party-girl fashion staple. Fairmount-based Etsy seller Abby Misbin takes it to new heights with handmade designs, one of which has crowned the head of Beyoncé herself. Just two years after the Temple grad started her shop as a side hustle, she was personally contacted by one of Queen B’s stylists about using one of her disco-ball-inspired 10-gallons in Renaissance promotional material. Since then, Misbin has shot into local small-business stardom, and her hats are almost as hard to get as Bey’s concert tickets.
Ame Salon and Spa
Hitting up the "drip bar" is more than just Rihanna's latest obsession. The process fluids mixed with vitamins, taken intravenously seems to have legit health benefits. (We felt an instant boost that lasted all week!) Nurse Michael Anne McAllister spent years working with cancer patients and saw the power of this liquid firsthand, so she started Longevity Aesthetics, a business that treats everyone from those who are sick (cancer, Lyme disease) to your average run-down multi-tasker (i.e., all of us). According to McAllister, benefits include energy, glowing skin, shiny hair and our favorite removal of brain fog. 111 Waynewood Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087, amesalonandspa.com/index.html.
The Roof Doctor
When water is actively leaking into your home, the stakes are high for finding a roofer fast. So when you’ve gone down a list of recommended companies and none reply to calls, emails or carrier pigeons, you, wild-eyed and desperate, might believe that roofers in Philadelphia are an urban legend, like finding a parking spot in South Philly after dusk. Until you call the Roof Doctor, and a pro from the second-generation family business answers the phone. They’ll put you on the schedule and show up when they say they will. The reliability is only part of it, though; they also do quality work at a price that feels fair, even when not taking into consideration your level of desperation. 2315 A Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, roofdoctorphilly.com.
Chris Kearse’s Forsythia
Chris Kearse kicks a whole lot of ass for a whole lot of reasons, but one of the best things about him is the deep iconoclastic streak that made him close his dream restaurant — Will BYOB — and follow his muse, opening a perfectly realized modern French bistro at a time in Philly’s food history when fine dining, French influences and modernism were all on the wrong side of the curve. What’s more, he nailed it, serving things as simple as a perfect crab omelet, roasted duck with Bing cherries, and ham hock beignet with honey mustard — and making them all unforgettable showstoppers. Not every restaurant in Philly is going to survive 2020, but we’re lighting a candle for Forsythia. 233 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, forsythiaphilly.com.
Philadelphia Jewelry Appraisers
Jewelry Appraiser Joshua Hyman at work. / Photograph by Jeff Fusco Is that Rolex you inherited from your shady uncle real? Did you still go by your maiden name the last time you had your engagement ring appraised? Take your treasure to certified gemologist Joshua Hyman. The man knows jewelry: His parents were jewelers. His grandparents were jewelers. His great-grandfather sold precious metals door-to-door during the Depression. Hyman, though? He’s in the appraisal business — and the only independent appraiser on Jewelers’ Row. Make an appointment online, or just walk into his lab/office, and he’ll tell you all about your jewelry’s specifications — including its value for insurance — in a detailed report, right on the spot. He’ll even clean it for you while you wait. 126 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, philadelphiajewelryappraisers.com.
The Hooters
Philly band the Hooters made a big splash in the ’80s with hit songs like “All You Zombies” and by opening the Philly portion of Live Aid. And while they’ve always maintained a very strong following in Europe, they haven’t done a U.S. tour in decades. That all changed this summer with a new U.S. tour in support of their first full album since 2007, Rocking & Swing, which enjoyably has a lot more ska influence from their early days than the title suggests. Their three-night run at Ardmore Music Hall in May sold out well in advance. So get your tickets for their local August dates (in Atlantic City, Quakertown and Cape May) while you can. It’s good to see them back — even though they never really went away. hootersmusic.com.
Black and Mobile
David Cabello, founder of Black and Mobile, is both incredibly ballsy and a little bit crazy. In a delivery economy dominated by behemoths like Caviar and Uber Eats, his idea was to launch a small, local delivery service that focused exclusively on Black-owned restaurants. He tried a Kickstarter campaign (which failed). He got hit by a car. He launched an app (that he designed himself) in Philly in October, with the goal of keeping jobs and money inside the Black community, and it worked. In March, he expanded to Detroit — right before coronavirus hit. And now he’s looking at Atlanta, too, with his biggest challenge being managing the speed at which his business is growing. All of this in under a year. Oh, and also? Cabello is 25 years old, so he’s just getting started. blackandmobile.com.
Duross and Langel
We'll try not to gush too much but these guys are everything that's right with the city. It's not just the products (though truly, there isn't a soap, lotion, candle or hair-care product we haven't nearly tried to eat). It's what's in them (preservative-free ingredients derived from botanicals), how they're made (in small batches, in the in-house soap kitchen or nearby lab), how they're done up (in 100 percent recyclable packaging), and how they're sold in a way that totally builds up the community the store is part of (joining with other Midtown Village businesses for sales and events, and employing local Service and Help), that make this a model for how to run an independent shop in Philadelphia. So, the gushing thing? Yeah, we take it back. 117 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, durossandlangel.com.
Megan Bridge
See Brat Porductions' newly appointed artistic director, the always-daring Jess Conda, in Pig Iron Theatre Company's Pay Up at this year's FringeArts Festival and in Brat's own Eternal Glamnation, also part of FringeArts. Philadanco alum Jesse Sani is a rising star on the Philadelphia dance scene: Look for him to shine at the Wilma in the upcoming season's offerings from BalletX, which he joined in 2011. And find dancer-choreographer extraordinaire Megan Bridge performing and producing modern dance all season long at her Kensington-based warehouse performance venue, The Fidget Space. Well-rounded actor/director James Ijames is also keeping busy this season, starring in Maukingbird's adaption of the Importance of Being Earnest and InterAct's We Are Proud to Present. Plus, he's directing shows for Simpatico and Theatre Horizon. 00000, thefidget.org/directors/megan-bridge.
Jess Conda
See Brat Porductions' newly appointed artistic director, the always-daring Jess Conda, in Pig Iron Theatre Company's Pay Up at this year's FringeArts Festival and in Brat's own Eternal Glamnation, also part of FringeArts. Philadanco alum Jesse Sani is a rising star on the Philadelphia dance scene: Look for him to shine at the Wilma in the upcoming season's offerings from BalletX, which he joined in 2011. And find dancer-choreographer extraordinaire Megan Bridge performing and producing modern dance all season long at her Kensington-based warehouse performance venue, The Fidget Space. Well-rounded actor/director James Ijames is also keeping busy this season, starring in Maukingbird's adaption of the Importance of Being Earnest and InterAct's We Are Proud to Present. Plus, he's directing shows for Simpatico and Theatre Horizon. 00000, bratproductions.org/about/brats/jess-conda.
Jesse Sani
See Brat Porductions' newly appointed artistic director, the always-daring Jess Conda, in Pig Iron Theatre Company's Pay Up at this year's FringeArts Festival and in Brat's own Eternal Glamnation, also part of FringeArts. Philadanco alum Jesse Sani is a rising star on the Philadelphia dance scene: Look for him to shine at the Wilma in the upcoming season's offerings from BalletX, which he joined in 2011. And find dancer-choreographer extraordinaire Megan Bridge performing and producing modern dance all season long at her Kensington-based warehouse performance venue, The Fidget Space. Well-rounded actor/director James Ijames is also keeping busy this season, starring in Maukingbird's adaption of the Importance of Being Earnest and InterAct's We Are Proud to Present. Plus, he's directing shows for Simpatico and Theatre Horizon. 00000, balletx.org/dancers.html.
James Ijames
See Brat Porductions' newly appointed artistic director, the always-daring Jess Conda, in Pig Iron Theatre Company's Pay Up at this year's FringeArts Festival and in Brat's own Eternal Glamnation, also part of FringeArts. Philadanco alum Jesse Sani is a rising star on the Philadelphia dance scene: Look for him to shine at the Wilma in the upcoming season's offerings from BalletX, which he joined in 2011. And find dancer-choreographer extraordinaire Megan Bridge performing and producing modern dance all season long at her Kensington-based warehouse performance venue, The Fidget Space. Well-rounded actor/director James Ijames is also keeping busy this season, starring in Maukingbird's adaption of the Importance of Being Earnest and InterAct's We Are Proud to Present. Plus, he's directing shows for Simpatico and Theatre Horizon. 00000, jamesijames.weebly.com.
Dom Fixes Bikes
Photograph by Jeff Fusco You know all those articles you’ve seen about Kids Today, and how All They Do Is Mess Around Online? Dominick Pecora is the perfect antidote to that world of woe. Last year, the 16-year-old was honored as one of Time magazine’s “Kids of the Year” for the ingenious business he started back when he was just 10 and had his eye on a pricey mountain bike. He figured out how to repair bicycles via YouTube, then put his knowledge to work out of his parents’ house, then a rented garage, and finally the storefront known as Dom Fixes Bikes. He not only saved up enough dough for that bike he yearned for; with the help of sponsors and donations, he gave away 260 free bikes to local kids last year. “My bike represents a lot of freedom,” he told Time. “It’s like that for a lot of other people as well.” 393 Lancaster Avenue, Malvern, PA 19355, domfixesbikes.com.