Pocono Modern
If one-of-a-kind pieces are more your leaning, Pocono Modern's furniture has ski-lodge leanings and clean lines, and is made from some of the prettiest woods we've ever seen. 1550 State Route 903, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229, poconomodern.com.
Paddle Pool Class at Main Line Health and Fitness
MLHF members tone backs, shoulders, cores and more with a splashy 60 minutes of dragon- boat-style paddling in a specially designed pool that's a lot warmer than the Schuylkill. 931 Haverford Road, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, mlhf.com.
Go Fox
The perfect solution for anyone too busy, important, lazy, fancy, rich or cool to wait in line anywhere. And honestly, who doesn't fit into one of those categories at some point? Call or see website for consultation, 00000, gofoxonline.com.
900 to 1100 North 2nd Street
What with local food and beers at longtime neighborhood anchor Standard Tap (901 North 2nd Street, 215-238-0630, standardtap.com), cupcakes, tapas and corsets at Bart Blatstein's Liberties Walk (1022 North 2nd Street), and dance parties, art galleries and alcoholic milkshakes at the surprisingly resilient Piazza at Schmidts (1001 North 2nd Street, atthepiazza.com), this is the city's new adult urban playground. 00000,
Our Robust Therapy Scene
There’s a lot to process right now, but there are also lots of ways to get help doing so. Options include LGBTQ+ outfits like Emerge Wellness (emergewellnessphilly.com), which was founded by Kristina Furia to provide a safe and accessible space for therapy, as well as millennial-oriented organizations like the Shrink Chicks of the West Chester Therapy Group (wctherapygroup.com), who post almost daily on Insta, host a free podcast, and offer virtual therapy sessions starting at $75. Nonprofits like the LiveWell Foundation (livewell-foundation.org) offer free Zoom support groups for those struggling with depression, while A Better Life Therapy (abetterlifetherapy.com) has online sessions for $80 to $175. For Black Philadelphians working through the trauma of racial injustice, Black Men Heal (blackmenheal.org) provides free therapy from Black therapists, and Oshun Family Center (oshunfamilycenter.org) recently raised more than $80,000 to offer free counseling services.
Longwood Gardens
Philly has some beloved, beautiful fountains. But you have to go out to Longwood Gardens to see what a real fountain display is all about. Their main fountain garden includes almost 2,000 fountain jets, synchronized music, and remarkable landscape design. Look for fireworks nights into October and make it a twofer. 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, longwoodgardens.org.
Katherine Gilmore Richardson
The newly minted majority leader hit the ground running by fighting to end financial mismanagement in the Office of Homeless Services. At-large member KGR got a resolution passed to provide an ombudsperson at OHS to advocate for some of the most at-risk and powerless Philadelphians. Exactly the sort of leadership and make-stuff-happen energy we like to see.
Common Beat Music
Is that used Technics SL1200 you bought at the start of the vinyl craze on the blink? The turntable tech at this little store is an expert in bringing it back to life. Plus, they have a wonderfully curated selection of LPs for you to spin once your baby is back home. 4916 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143, commonbeatmusic.com.
The Colored Girls Museum
Contact the museum to set up a time, then let the guide wind you through the three-story Germantown home, where an intimate collection of art, literature, scents and sounds will open your eyes to something often overlooked or altogether erased: the everyday experiences of black and brown girls. 4613 Newhall Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144, thecoloredgirlsmuseum.com.
The Universal Sphere
Make a reservation for the Universal Sphere in the upper lobby of the Comcast Technology Center. It looks like a mini EPCOT globe from the outside, and you step in for a dome theater experience that kind of feels like a ride. It’s hard to explain, but it’s only seven minutes long, so you’ve got time. 1800 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, comcastcentercampus.com/universal-sphere.
Callowhill Archery
Make like Cupid and take aim with Callowhill Archery’s “Love and War” date-night package. This 90-minute tryst includes intro-to-archery lessons and some games to inspire a little friendly competition. Bull’s-eye! 446 North 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, phillyarchery.com.
Wonderspaces
Head to Wonderspaces for a night full of interactive art that will spark discussion, imagination, and some unique Instagram snaps. Bonus: A stroll through the thousands of lights of Squidsoup’s Submergence puts candlelight to shame. Another bonus: There’s an on-site bar so you can tote cocktails on your gallery jaunt. 27 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, philadelphia.wonderspaces.com.
Green Pest Solutions
What’s grosser: cockroaches laying siege to your house, or the chemicals used to kill them? If your answer is “All of the above,” you’ll be beyond thankful for these West Chester-based pros who rid your home of pesky vermin in the most environmentally friendly ways possible. (And they’ve got a guarantee.) greenpestsolutions.com.
Leahy Learning
It’s not all Harvard and Hopkins: Founder Meghan Leahy homes in on your children’s strengths, weaknesses, interests and goals in order to get them into a college that most suits their needs. Along the way, she’ll teach them skills – independence, time management – to thrive on campus once they get in. 50 East Wynnewood Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096, leahylearning.com.
The Spicy Belly
Jamaican food and Korean food, two cuisines that have no business getting in bed together, somehow made it happen in Manayunk, where Korean-style double-fried wings look right at home next to a basket of smoky, spicy jerk chicken. 3847 Terrace Street, Philadelphia, PA 19128, thespicybelly.com.