Philadelphia Folk Festival
After a spectacular and controversial collapse, the legendary folk fest, which started in 1962, has a new director and is back in business at Montco’s Old Pool Farm. The resuscitated festival runs August 16th to 18th, with acts including John Oates, Gangstagrass, and renowned banjoist (yes, banjoist!) Tony Trischka. We hope it will continue for many years to come. folkfest.org.
LIZA Denim
LIZA Denim. Twenty-one-year-old Drexel fashion student Elissa DeFranceschi thrifts vintage denim, then paints the jackets, jeans and overalls she finds with delicate faces, crawling flowers, pastel shapes, and Expressionism-inspired scenes. lizadenim.com.
Carriage Trade Cleaners
The pros at Carriage will remove your buttons to clean (then sew them back on), de-fuzz your cashmere and wool, and make red wine stains disappear. Plus, they pick up and drop off. 1108 Bustleton Pike, Feasterville, PA 19053, .
Pretzel Melt at American Sardine Bar
Chef Doreen DeMarco takes a Philly pretzel, splits it, crisps it, and stuffs it with Country Time ham, American cheese, mustard and a pickle. Even better: It’s just $5. 1800 Federal Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146, americansardinebar.com.
Ambra
When it comes to making an Italian meal feel extra-special, Chris D’Ambro and Marina de Oliveira’s 16-seat dining room is the only restaurant in Philly giving Vetri Ristorante a run for its money. 705 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, ambraphilly.com.
Di Bruno Bros. 9th Street Bottle Shop
When the PLCB temporarily closed all its stores, Philly wine shops stayed open and kept us drinking and drunk during the apocalypse. And they deserve all the attention in the world. 920 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, dibruno.com/9th-street-bottle-shop.
Noord Eetcafe
Every afternoon, Noord’s longtime chef de cuisine, Jonnathan Yacashin, bakes big, hulking boules of tangy rye and buttery milk bread. And every night, you’ll get a big, hulking bowl of it, served grilled, with a hefty smack of garlic butter on the side, completely free of charge. 1046 Tasker St, Philadelphia, PA 19148, noordphilly.com.
Rockwater Pools
Anthony DeFazio and his team expertly handle all the annoying stuff that comes with owning a pool: chemicals, cleaning, repairs, and, in one case, evicting a pesky family of ducks. Plus, they answer texts and calls quickly. (We’re talking within the hour.) rockwaterpools.com.
HipCityVeg
The Arugula Taco Salad keeps it interesting at every bite with a medley of black beans, grilled corn, pico de gallo, tortilla strips, avocado, and a cilantro dressing so good that you'll want to lick the bowl (which we did). 127 South 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, hipcityveg.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.
Sampan
Although Double Knot is getting all the love for being the cool new thing on the block, its next-door sister still kills it at happy hour, doing some of the same dishes you'll find at Double Knot (edamame dumplings, satay, kimchi fried rice) but with fewer crowds. 124 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125, sampanphilly.com/#sampan.
Beke Beau Cosmetic "Audit"
A seasoned makeup artist, Beau will help purge and de-clutter your cosmetics, teach you how to wield that contouring brush, and streamline your beauty regimen. Say good-bye to your wild, desperate CVS makeup-buying sprees. 4001 Main Street, Suite 300, Philadelphia, PA 19127, bekebeau.com.
Chance Anies
A good chef has to know how to cook well, plate beautifully and run a kitchen efficiently. A great chef has to be able to do all that and work the dining room with grace and humor. Chance Anies of Tabachoy does all that in a small, bright, crowded BYO in Bella Vista and still makes a meal of vinegar-sharp adobo, coconut milk-braised broccoli rabe and garlicky little-neck clams one of the most comforting and memorable dinners in the city. 932 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, tabachoyphilly.com.
The Edge Fitness Clubs
It sounds like an infomercial – for only $9.99 a month, you can have all this! – but in this case, it’s legit. For less than a sandwich at Di Bruno’s, you can have access to marble locker rooms, cardio theaters, sprint tracks and ... oh, what the hell. We’ve been doing this for 45 years. Just take our word for it. 50 Boston Post Road, Orange, CT 06477, theedgefitnessclubs.com.
Boricua #2
The original shop in Northern Liberties is more of a takeout place, but with his new spot in Port Richmond, owner Hector Serrano encourages customers to sit in the dining room. Order the Boricua platter, with arroz con gandules (yellow rice and beans), pollo guisado with potato salad, and some pastelillos and relleno de papas, too. Before you leave, get some kola champagne from the fridge. It’s the soda you find around the way at the papi store. 3843 Aramingo Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19137, .