GrimGrimGrim
Mosh-pit fiends, rejoice! You can proclaim your love for heavy metal and all the strange, delightful parts of our city at the same time with this brand’s line of ghoulish yet comic tees, posters and bumper stickers. For more than a decade, graphic designer and printmaker Jim Anderson — a.k.a. GrimGrimGrim — has been creating and screen-printing odes to local sports events, celebs and history, from Gritty to the great water calamity of 2023 to the Sixers’ recent near-win. grimgrimgrim.com.
Bloom Bold Co.
Photograph by Ta'Tra Bradshaw There’s nothing like a hand-tied bouquet to say “I’m thinking about you,” and the iterations by West Philly florist Rashawn Scarbo express that sentiment and more. Her non-traditional arrangements appeal to the more daring eye — they’re resplendent with flowers in spirit-lifting hues (she loves garden roses and dahlias) and interesting foliage. Stop by her regularly scheduled drops around the city to pick up a pre-arranged creation for anyone in your life who needs a burst of color in the day. instagram.com/bloomboldco.
Shannon Turner
This Philly cabaret performer can belt. She’s the only person we know who can pull off the biggest Broadway tunes in history, Black Sabbath, and Pink Floyd’s vocally exacting “Great Gig in the Sky,” which we once saw her sing from the roof of the Bok Bar in front of a sold-out crowd as the sun was setting on the horizon. Magical. The good news is that she’ll teach you all her secrets at your place or hers, or virtually. At the very least, your karaoke game will never be the same. instagram.com/shantasm29.
Kaz Tire Center
Tires are one of those things you don’t think about until tractor-trailers are whizzing by as you stand on the side of I-95, sweating. If, in this hypothetical, you find yourself on a stretch of I-95 near Port Richmond, call Kaz Tire Center. They’ll fix your flat, and if you need a whole new set, they’ll get you back on the road in 30 minutes. And owner Kazem Nabavi might even show you the small backyard farm where he raises chickens, ducks, and a couple of peacocks. 2400 East Somerset Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19134, .
Zakian Rugs
When you spend upwards of $5,000 on an Oriental rug, you don’t want to cut corners on its upkeep, so take it to the guys who have been doing this for more than 100 years. Pets? Red wine? Toddlers who make you question why you have nice things? They’ve seen it all. They’ll pick up your rug, give you a rundown on its condition, provide services from cleaning to restoration (they’ll match the yarn and then weave or hand-knot to mirror the style), and bring it back to you as good as new. 4930 West Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131, zakianrugs.com.
Philadelphia Furniture Workshop
Photograph by Jeff Fusco Looking for a new hobby that makes you feel like you’ve actually accomplished something? Try a beginner class at this Germantown nonprofit. The workshop starts small — like, pencil-case small — but the skills acquired are applicable across the woodworking spectrum. From there, take a learning-series course to master the craft’s tools and techniques; you’ll be making your own furniture in no time. (Okay, it will probably take a long time.) 5212 Pulaski Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144, philadelphiafurnitureworkshop.com/learning-series.
Flourish Market
Photograph by Jeff Fusco This nook from Allison Hendler and mom Patricia Van Hook will wrap you in a warm hug — it’s thoughtfully stocked with local or sustainable goods that support the community. (Hendler’s a champion of circular retail.) A Hendler favorite: baby products from B Corp-certified Bello Tunno. For Van Hook? Vintage glassware. There are tea towels hand-sewn in Bucks County, fresh bouquets, and new philanthropic partnerships — a bit of everything to help you flourish. 2227 Grays Ferry Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19146, flourishmarketphilly.com.
New June Bakery
Photograph by Annie Paige Imagine cutting into a four-tiered, ultra-frilly Lambeth-style cake on your Big Day — you’ll slice through prettily piped garlands and scrolls and frosting on frosting to reveal a vanilla confection with layers of tangy lemon cream and raspberry cardamom jam. The micro bakery and cake studio’s self-taught baker, Noelle Wheatley Blizzard, is embracing retro maximalism with her ’60s-inspired designs, and they’ve become wildly popular among the soon-to-be-wed crowd. new-june.com.
Wayne Edwards Workshop
With 50-plus years in business and a move to a new 1,500-square-foot shop and studio — the former home of Joseph Fox Bookshop — the Wayne Edwards team has more room to tailor your tux, plus a ready-to-wear section with luxury duds for your honeymoon. (Pair those Rubirosa sneakers with Candiani Italian denim.) And in the workshop? On average, 37 measurements to perfectly match your silhouette. 1724 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, wayneedwardsworkshop.com.
WatchBox
The sister concept of Govberg Jewelers is a global destination and community for collectible, secondhand luxury timepieces. Novices head here to build their watch wardrobes, but it’s discerning collectors who’ll appreciate the veritable treasure trove of authenticated, highly sought-after pieces from names such as Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe and F.P. Journe, as well as hard-to-find independent makers. 166 East Levering Mill Road, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, thewatchbox.com.
Fabiola Lara’s Instagram "I Voted" stickers
We think it’s okay to admit that a small part of the appeal of voting is getting that sticker upon exiting the polling place and parading it around for the rest of the day. Illustrator Fabiola Lara gets that. So when Instagram reached out to her in March of last year for a series of digital election-season-themed stickers, she delivered. The colorful set of four, available in English and Spanish, has been shared by everyone from Joe Biden and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Selena Gomez and Kerry Washington.
You Can't Kill a Poet
These semi-regular readings upstairs at South Street dive Tattooed Mom (and occasionally elsewhere) are now in their ninth year, which may be a new record for a local poetry-reading series. The success stems from host and curator Boston Gordon’s mission to bring together the best queer and trans writers from the Philadelphia area — and from the fact that these readings are often visceral, incisive and funny, all meant to bring you a little closer to the city’s literary community. The next reading is set for September 24th. bostongordon.com.
Philly Bike Ride
Last October, this truly epic social ride closed down 20 miles of city streets so 3,000-plus cyclists could pedal worry-free for the first time ever. (That’s right: no cars!) Not needing to dodge SEPTA buses or opened-out-of-nowhere car doors? Let’s make that a permanent thing. The next Philly Bike Ride is scheduled for October 14th. phillybikeride.com.
Brandywine Museum of Art
When we think about art museums, we tend to think only about the Barnes and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. But don’t sleep on Chesco’s 52-year-old museum along the Brandywine Creek. It’s sometimes referred to as the Wyeth museum because the collection includes so many works by that family — but the 1,500 pieces here represent many other American artists as well. Right now, featured exhibits focus on Andrew Wyeth and 20th-century futurist Joseph Stella. 1 Hoffmans Mill Road, Chadds Ford, PA 19317, brandywine.org.
HQ2
The DJs spin well into the wee hours at this two-level club, since there’s no such thing as closing time in an A.C. casino. 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, hq2ac.com.