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.
Coco Academy
“We just want to teach kids to make cool things” is the tagline for this STEAM-centered maker space that offers classes for kids ages five through 14. And what cool things they will make as they learn all about laser-cutting, 3D printing and circuitry. You can buy a series of classes or drop in for a single project-focused open studio on Saturdays. Just think of how your kids’ gift game is going to be upped by the time the holidays roll around. Everybody wins, especially because Isgro Pastries is a couple of doors down. 1001 Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, cocoacademyphl.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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
<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.
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.
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, .
Zoey Smith
Michael Smith was a basketball player as a kid, but he taught himself the game of golf when his daughter Zoey showed an interest in the game as a four-year-old. When Michael died unexpectedly in 2019, Zoey abruptly quit golfing — it just wasn’t the same without him. But the athletic director at her high school, the Science Leadership Academy at Beeber, coaxed her to pick up her clubs again, and last fall, she became the only player on its spanking-new girls golf team. How’d that work out? Pretty darned well: The sophomore won the Public League individual championship despite being the youngest competitor there. Fore!
Joey Bachmann
Still preening about your high school sports career? This Quakertown wrestler really has something to crow about. The 15-year-old student at Faith Christian Academy was ranked first in the nation in his 106-pound weight class last season by every single ranking service — and proved it by winning the gold medal at the state championship in Hershey in March. His budding career has already taken him to competitions in Mexico and Turkey. Now, what were you saying about riding the bench in the big playoff game?
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.