Viviane Aires
A native of Brazil, Aires approaches self-care as a calling--and will make you more comfortable than ever in your own skin. Keep reading here. 1601 Walnut Street, Floor 3, Philadelphia, PA 19102, bebonita.com ; vivianeaires.com.
Northern Arms
The city's most compelling band is a curious amalgam of jazz, gospel and old-time rock-and-roll that WXPN once aptly labeled "dark Americana." Find and download the self-titled debut album on iTunes. northernarms.org.
Art in the Age
Consider the "He's so hard to shop for" dilemma a thing of the past. From heritage clothing (Penfield and Woolrich) to cologne (he can smell like evergreens!) to a fully stocked camping cocktail kit (complete with a flask and booze, of course), it's hard to find something here he won't like. 116 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, artintheage.com.
Cry Baby Pasta
Squid ink linguine with clams and chilies at Cry Baby Pasta. Photograph by Stuart Goldenberg Against all odds, spaghetti pomodoro, fancy fried potatoes and an obscure movie theme became a place so popular that you need reservations on a Tuesday night. 627 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, Crybabypasta.com.
Love & Honey Fried Chicken
Learning to make perfect fried chicken is easy – all it takes is a decade of practice and a willingness to spend the rest of your life in pursuit of one thing. Lucky for us, Todd Lyons made that sacrifice, and he and his wife, Laura, showcase the results in this little takeaway spot on the ragged edge of NoLibs, serving excellent plates of chicken, drizzled with a kiss of honey, to an ever-growing legion of fans. 1100 N Front St, Philadelphia, PA 19123, loveandhoneyfriedchicken.com.
Yoga at the Art Museum
How's this for an evening out? During Wednesday's pay-what-you-wish nights at the Art Museum, there's a free hour-long yoga class on the second-floor east balcony overlooking the Great Stair Hall. Afterward, you can explore the collections for nearly two hours until close. Feel free to tell your date you thought of this brilliant plan yourself. 2600 Ben Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130, philamuseum.org/wednesdaynights.
Amy’s Pastelillos
After years of pop-ups and collaboration dinners, Amaryllis Rivera-Nassar finally has a brick-and-mortar takeout spot, where you can get her flaky Puerto Rican-style turnovers in flavors like beef picadillo and guava pulled pork. You could go out on your lunch break and bring a half-dozen of Amy’s pastelillos back to the office. Or go to a park, sit in the sun, and eat them all yourself. We promise you won’t regret it. 2001 Memphis Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125, amyspastelillos.com.
Amy and Leo Voloshin
Amy and Leo Voloshin in their new showroom. Photograph by Jillian Guyette As makers, the husband-and-wife team are crushing it with their textile design firm Printfresh Studios and clothing line Voloshin. And as the developers behind maker spaces Paperbox Studios and Jasper Studios, they’re at the center of Philly’s fast-growing creative universe. Keep reading here. printfreshstudio.com; voloshin.us; paperboxstudios.com; rentjasperstudios.com.
Art Star Craft Bazaar
Each spring, we gladly brave the concrete heat of Penn's Landing to check out the 150 or so artisans selling the coolest presents we've ever laid eyes on. Now in its sixth year, Art Star cops to being a craft show, but feels like a shopping bonanza of handmade stationery, irresistible knickknacks, and a bunch of other stuff that keeps gift closets stocked into winter The Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, PA 19106, artstarcraftbazaar.com.
Fairmount Park Art Association
Download the Fairmount Park Art Association's new and free audio guide to about 50 of our city's public sculptures (museumwithoutwalls-audio.org) to your iPod and start walking. You determine the pace and how much ground to cover, all the while getting a thorough oral history of each work of art. And nobody will stop you from sipping a $5 black-and-white milkshake from Frog Burger (222 North 20th Street, 215-448-1100) while you take it all in. 1528 Walnut Street, Suite 1000, Philadelphia, PA 19102, associationforpublicart.org.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art
For $125, two adults and all the kids in your life (seriously!) get a year's worth of admission; free tickets to special exhibits; and discounts on parking, shopping, food, events and the amazing art classes. But the really irresistible part of the deal is that you get access to all the rad and free family activities the PMA hosts -- play dates, drawing classes, art projects, stroller tours, themed story times and more. Hear that? That's free climate-controlled, culture-focused year-round activities, people. 2600 Ben Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103, philamuseum.org/_.
Michener Art Museum
American novelist James Michener gave away much of the money he earned during his lengthy career, including the funds used to establish this museum, which focuses on the art of our region. It just wrapped a retrospective of Reading native Keith Haring, but there’s still plenty to see, including furniture by renowned Bucks County woodworker George Nakashima (his tables can sell for more than $100,000) and the paintings of PAFA/UPenn grad Elizabeth Osborne. 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown, PA 18901, michenerartmuseum.org.
Crab Fries at Varga Bar
There are Crab Fries and there are crab fries. The former are a bunch of crappy fries dusted with Old Bay and presented as though that idea deserves to be celebrated. The latter are fries covered in lump crabmeat, fontina bechamel and a drizzle of truffle oil that actually deserve to be celebrated. 941 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, vargabar.com.
Art Museum steps
Yes, it’s obvious. And yes, you have to dodge hordes of hyperactive children and hawkers slinging overpriced Gatorade. But the best place for an alfresco sweat session in this city will always be the Art Museum steps, 72 tiny limestone mountains that will kill your calves and tone your butt. At the bottom, you roll your eyes at the selfie-taking out-of-towners. On the way up, you curse the goddamn class trips blocking your ascent. But once you’ve made it, you turn around – legs aching, lungs burning – and look back over the city and feel like you’ve conquered it. And that will never not be a rush. So go practice yoga on some fancy rooftop, or do your Pilates in the park. As for me, I’ll be running the Art Museum steps with the tourists. See you at the top. – Gina Tomaine
The Philadelphia Museum of Art
Each Friday, the city’s buttoned-up institution lets loose with extended hours (it’s open till 8:45 p.m.), cocktails, tapas, live music, and access to the galleries. Go, so that you don’t feel as guilty about spending the rest of the weekend binge-watching Netflix on your couch. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130, philamuseum.org.