Accel Academy
In 1985, Korean immigrant and recent Penn grad In Pak had an idea: SAT prep. That idea started in the basement of a church and then, three years later, grew to a Melrose Park location. Today, the family-run Accel Academy has four locations across Montgomery County and has prepped thousands of students for the SAT, in addition to offering AP math and science enrichment, language lessons, and math and English tutoring for students as young as fourth grade. accelacademy.com.
Society Hill Dance Academy
Although yoga pants aren't the uniform de rigueur at SHDA, you'll still tango, fox-trot and waltz your way to a serious calorie burn. Once you've got the hang of it, show off your moves at the studio's dance party every Friday night. 00000, societyhilldance.com.
Osayi Osunde, Fit Academy
It takes nothing short of superpowers for a fitness trainer to make flutter kicks fun. So fun, in fact, that you leave the workout looking forward to doing more of them the next day, like some sort of masochist. Meaning: Osayi Osunde, who leads muscle-burning, laughter-filled boot camps at the Art Museum steps, might just be ... a superhero? Fitphl.com.
Bob Kramer's Golf Academy
Kramer, a multiple winner of Philly Section PGA's Teacher of the Year (and coach of several LPGA Tour winners), has a looong list of successful college stars. (Can you say "scholarship"?) Rivercrest Golf Club, 100 Golf Club Drive, Phoenixville, PA 19460, kramersgolf.com.
Society Hill Dance Academy
The world may feel like everything's going straight to hell, but it's hard to stay blue when you're doing the cha-cha. Lessons from SHDA's good-natured pros work magic on your mood (better than Paxil!) and on your moves (less like Jagger, more like Astaire). 409 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, societyhilldance.com.
Academic Access
Joan Koven and her team help students craft essays, practice interviews, and decide on campuses worthy of a visit. 9 Tenby Road, Havertown, PA 19083, academic-access.com.
Brian Quinn, BQ Golf Academy
You can't go wrong with a golf coach who lettered four times as a Temple Owl and spent 16 years on the pro circuit. Now he helms the Owl squad and helps weekend and lunch-hour golfers, like you, perfect their swings on the side. 707 Conshohocken Road, suite 200, Conshohocken, PA 19428, teesgolfcenter.com.
Philly Geek Awards
There's a reason this event sells out every August. Geeks -- especially geeks in tuxes and gowns -- are totally cool. Stroll the red carpet (or pet a snake; the event is at the Academy of Natural Sciences) with the region's top scientists, game makers and hackers -- and expect some Weird Science moments throughout the evening. Phillygeekawards.com.
<em>Hamilton</em>
Yes, the Broadway smash already came here. But that was at the Forrest Theatre. So we can’t wait to see it under the big chandelier when it visits us at the Academy of Music from October 20th through November 28th. 240 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, kimmelculturalcampus.org/Hamilton.
Kiss and Makeup
Fact: A bottle of makeup-brush cleaner from this boutiques house brand, Darci by Di Caprio, found its way into the Academy Award swag bags last year. The line also includes high-quality lipstick, eye shadow, mineral powders and more. So while you may not look exactly like Angelina, you can at least say you use the same makeup. Hey, its a start. 2 East King Street, Malvern, PA 19355, .
The Center on Central
The curricula are vast and eclectic-everything from Spanish tutoring to fashion design to theater arts to wheel pottery to fitness to cartooning to glass bead-making-at this kid-cademy founded by bubbly owner Katie Opher and her husband Ron. The lively instructors also oversee summer camps and "date nights" at which parents can drop off their offspring. There are classes for special-needs kids, too, including art and music therapy and social-skill building. 24 West Central Avenue, Paoli, PA 19301, thecenteroncentral.com.