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76
neighborhood
gems
that make philadelphia
Philadelphia
gemsSome are hidden gems. Some are hiding in plain sight. Together, these places tell the story of the city Philadelphians know and love.
Philadelphia is a city of favorites.
Ask someone for the best cheesesteak, neighborhood bar, park, bookstore, view, or place to spend a Saturday afternoon, and you’ll get an answer — often delivered with the confidence of someone who believes every other answer is objectively wrong.
That’s what made this list so difficult to assemble.
Together, they tell the story of a city that rewards curiosity, where a quiet garden, a neighborhood dive bar, a train-watching bridge, a community garden, or a bench with a view can become someone's favorite place.
This is not a ranking. No. 1 isn't better than No. 76, and No. 76 isn't lesser than No. 1. It’s also not an exhaustive list — we could have done 176, or 1,760, and still not captured everything that’s great about Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.
So think of this less as a ranked, definitive list and more as a collection of recommendations from people who spend their days exploring Philadelphia.
You may discover a new favorite. You may wonder how we left yours off. Honestly, we hope both happen. — Sam Ruland
1
Navy Yard
What first brought me to the Navy Yard was the bench in the rickety ferry terminal — the wobbly old shack at the tip of the yard, the very southern terminus of Broad Street and South Philadelphia. It became a staple of my daily runs, the objective. “Make it to the shack.” What kept me coming back was the beauty of the place. The oldness. The newness (and there’s a lot more newness these days). The wide-open spaces. The feeling of being set apart, even with the skyline looming. I’ve done the math and I think my old Australian cattle dog, Sadie, who died last year at 14, must have walked close to 10,000 miles through the Navy Yard. On her last day, we took her to her favorite bench — one not so rickety — to put her face in the sun one last time. I swear she smiled. — Mike Newall
4747 S. Broad St.
2
Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center
Peace and quiet are hard to come by in a city as big as Philadelphia, but the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center in Fairmount Park tries to offer both in a manicured environment, in a way that feels otherworldly. Shofuso is a 17th-century-style Japanese house surrounded by gardens and ponds filled with orange-and-white koi. It was built in Japan and shipped to New York City’s Museum of Modern Art for a show, where it became a hit. After its run, cities put in bids to house it, and its builders chose Fairmount Park. It’s listed as a potential urban quiet park on Quiet Parks International, and you can spend hours there, staring off into the landscape with only the occasional car horn or leaf blower. — Jason Nark
Horticultural and Lansdowne Drives, in the western section of Fairmount Park
3
Singing Fountain
To me, the Singing Fountain is the heart of my East Passyunk neighborhood. An enchanting, transporting intersection of neighborhood gems like Urban Jungle plant shop, Dutch, Stateside, and Superette. All the old charms and new energy that define East Passyunk are on display daily at the Singing Fountain. Old men play chess and chew on cigars. Young coffee-fueled parents frolic with toddlers. Lovers swoon to the trickling rhythms of the fountain. Bands play. There’s a tiny free library. All in a space smaller than a baseball diamond. Everybody stops by the Singing Fountain. Eventually, you probably will, too. — Mike Newall
Cultural landmark, South 11th Street and East Passyunk Avenue
4
Magic Gardens
With Isaiah Zagar’s death in February, we lost a monumental artist and champion for the city. His murals live on walls throughout the city, a fixture in the city’s visual identity, particularly South Philly, where his work lives in public view, on commutes, across from parks, and down random alleys — his art is among us, not cloistered away in white-walled galleries and magazine-ready estates. Magic Gardens is his masterpiece. A labyrinth of tile and glass created by a visionary who saw a different future for South Street. The place is no secret, even to tourists, but its programming is what keeps locals returning — activities for kids, outdoor concerts, and workshops. We’re lucky to have it. — Evan Weiss
1020 South St.
5
Boathouse Row at night
Some Philadelphia views never lose their ability to stop you in your tracks, and Boathouse Row glowing at night is one of them. The lights ripple across the Schuylkill while runners, cyclists, and late-night walkers move along Kelly Drive with Center City glowing in the background. There’s something about the contrast that makes it special: grand historic rowing houses sitting beside one of the busiest roads in the city, rowers still cutting through the water after dark, planes occasionally passing overhead. It’s the kind of view that makes people slow down mid-run, pull over on Kelly Drive, or sit by the water a few extra minutes to take it in. — Sam Ruland
Kelly Drive, Fairmount Park
6
Pennypack Trail
People love to stereotype Northeast Philly as rows of identical houses and strip malls, but Pennypack Trail proves it all wrong. Stretching through some of the city’s least “trendy” neighborhoods, the sprawling trail cuts through creeks, wooded paths, fishing spots, and long scenic stretches perfect for biking or walking for miles. Parts of it feel surprisingly remote, like you’ve accidentally wandered out of the city altogether. It’s one of Philadelphia’s best outdoor spaces, but because it sits largely in the Northeast — far from the cafes and boutiques that define “cool Philly” to some people — it still feels oddly overlooked. Which honestly makes discovering it even better. — Sam Ruland
Multiple addresses, 8750 Pine Rd.
7
Halloween
I had barely moved to the U.S. when I first visited Philadelphia in 2016 to see a friend. She had defended her Ph.D. thesis and I wanted to buy her “something nice.” She said she knew just the place and took me to Halloween. If you have to get to Henri David’s jewelry store in a converted rowhouse on Pine Street, you do have to know just where it is; there are no signs outside. But inside, there is a cave of endless baubles and curiosities. Earrings, rings, necklaces, pendants hanging on walls, pillars, cases built like painting frames, and glass-topped tables. And all of it is handmade, either by staff or collected from all over the world. Then there are statues, antique busts, chandeliers, patterned wallpaper, showcases, and more showcases. We went in wanting to buy “something nice quickly” while it was still light out and emerged God-knows-how-many hours later with a little bag of jewelry we still wear. Every time we wear them, someone has something to say (usually nice) about the pieces. And we always have a story when people ask where we got them. Halloween will always remain my favorite place in Philly. It’s advised you call before you go. Don’t worry, if you’re nice to the person on the phone, they’ll be nice right back. — Bedatri D. Choudhury
1329 Pine St.
8
Strolling Delancey Street
The closest we can get to walking in our founding heroes’ shoes is to walk where they walked. I can't say for certain whether Ben Franklin hobbled down the silver cobblestones lining the 300 block of Delancey Street, but it's the closest I feel I can get. Maybe it's the rowhouses, with the low-set windows so colonial-era residents could peek inside and see if the candles were on and their friends were home. Maybe it's the brick-lined sidewalks, or how well the current inhabitants pay homage to the past with blooming window boxes and colorful shutters. Maybe it's the air of quiet sophistication. Whatever it is, you feel as though you are walking in a different time, one step closer to the past. — Tommy Rowan
100-300 blocks of Delancey Street, Society Hill
9
The Dream Garden
On a nice day, Independence National Historic Park can be the busiest part of the city — teeming with tourists and office workers (including our very own Inquirer staff). To escape the (relative) madness, you can sneak into the Curtis Center, sit on a bench, and stare at a splendor of Tiffany glass tiles. The work of Maxfield Parrish was almost taken away from Philadelphia in the late ’90s, but we kept it and it is always surprising to me that people aren’t lined up to view the vibrant wonder. So sit there and take it in. Sometimes the player piano is going. Move closer to see the detail and then sit again. Then head back out into the world. — Evan Weiss
601 Walnut St.
10
Museum of the American Revolution
The Museum of the American Revolution isn’t just a Philly neighborhood gem. It’s a national gem. Its grand 250th exhibit, “The Declaration’s Journey,” is a must-see for anyone in town serious about the Semiquincentennial — or who just has a passing interest in understanding the ongoing experiment that is modern democracy. We’ve become regulars and have our own favorite little spots inside the thriving museum that opened in 2017. My son, who is almost 6, is a total sucker for Revolution Place, the museum’s family-friendly discovery center. Every single time, he runs to the center’s digital screen to enlist in the Continental Army with the swipe of a quill pen, before donning the child-size colonial garb and hats (the home screen image on my phone is a photo of him wearing … a pint-size replica British military redcoat uniform! Call me Benedict Arnold, but it’s just too cute). When he’s fully reenacted his heart out, we bring him upstairs to the final section of the museum’s core exhibition. The haunting display includes photos of Revolutionary figures who lived long enough into the 19th century to sit for portraits (the last known Revolutionary War vet died shortly after the Civil War). Looking into the eyes of the aged Revolutionary generation — I am pretty sure one dude is actually dead in his photo — is where I can most easily conjure the ghosts of America’s beginnings. There may be no more powerful reminder of America’s painful contradictions than staring into the dignified portrait of Isaac Jefferson, a man born into slavery on Thomas Jefferson’s plantation in 1775. — Mike Newall
101 S. Third St.
11
Bartram’s Garden Community Boathouse and Dock
Bartram’s Garden has a way of making Philadelphia feel very far away. Tucked along the Schuylkill, the historic garden and boathouse area feel almost suspended in time, with quiet trails, shimmering creeks, towering trees, and stretches of water where birds glide past the shoreline. On warm days, people launch kayaks from the dock, wander through the gardens, or sit near the river listening to little more than rustling leaves. You can spend hours there without feeling the need to do much of anything at all. — Sam Ruland
5400 Lindbergh Rd.
12
For Pete’s Sake on Phillies game days
Anyone can tailgate in a parking lot, and Eagles games demand it. But sometimes, particularly for a Phillies day game, the corner of Front and Christian also beckons. Sit outside on game day at For Pete's Sake, underneath the faded Phillies flag, and fire up the beers and bloodies and roasted potato and chorizo hash. Is it always sunny at Front and Christian? Then it's just a quick drive down Columbus Boulevard and around Pattison to snag some free parking on Lawrence or Darien Streets. — Amy S. Rosenberg
900 S. Front St.
13
Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar
Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar feels like the kind of place Philadelphia doesn’t make enough of anymore. The tiny South Philly dive, wedged near Pat’s and Geno’s, has sticky floors, cake-flavored birthday shots, bad karaoke, old regulars at the bar, and a room full of people who somehow all end up talking to one another by the end of the night. If it’s your birthday, expect strangers to sing to you. If it’s not your birthday, there’s a decent chance they’ll sing to you anyway. Longtime owner Lou Capozzoli — a musician, jokester, and South Philly character who died earlier this year — helped make the bar feel less like a business and more like one long-running neighborhood bit everyone was invited into. — Sam Ruland
1200 E. Passyunk Ave.
14
Masonic Temple
Despite its imposing, cathedral-like structure and prominent location across from City Hall, the headquarters of Pennsylvania’s Freemasons remains an enigma to many and a hidden-in-plain-sight gem. Guided tours offer an inside look at the stunningly ornate interior, which features rooms inspired by Greek, Egyptian, and other cultures. But it’s the symbolic details — from the fossils embedded in the floor to a towering statue of Freemason Benjamin Franklin — that truly stir the imagination. Stepping inside this secret society’s headquarters feels like being transported into an Indiana Jones movie while standing right in the center of Philadelphia. For tour information and reservations, visit pamasonictemple.org. — Stephanie Farr
1 N. Broad St.
15
Burholme Park on a snow day
A real snow day in Philadelphia feels rare now, but Burholme Park still brings back that old feeling. As soon as enough snow sticks, the sledding hill fills with kids, teenagers, parents, and adults pretending they’re just there to supervise. The massive hill, with the historic Ryerss Mansion rising behind it, becomes one of Northeast Philly’s great winter scenes: people flying downhill on sleds, wiping out, laughing, trudging back up to do it all over again. And somehow it keeps going after dark, when the white snow lights up the whole park and the cold sends everyone toward the local pizza shops afterward. Spending a few hours there reminds you what snow days used to feel like as a kid: exciting, chaotic, and like the entire neighborhood was in on the same tradition. — Sam Ruland
401 Cottman Ave.
16
Edgewood Lake at FDR Park
We always look forward to a stroll around Edgewood Lake in FDR Park. And not just because our city dog Buttercup revels in the lush wild smells of the marsh grasses that fringe this man-made lake, one of the key features the famed Olmsted brothers designed in 1913, when it was originally called League Island Park.
This nearly one-mile loop also offers one of the most joyful snapshots of the widest array of Philadelphians at play you’re likely to find in one place. On any given weekend, we can inhale the aromas of lemongrass-stuffed chicken wings and pungent papaya salads at the bustling Southeast Asian Market, or fragrant al pastor tacos being carved from turning trompo spits at pop-up food stands erected beside the fields near where Mexican soccer league teams play. There may also be a Little League baseball game underway, or skateboarders zooming the ramps of the skatepark tucked into the shadows under I-95. And on calm days, the families peacefully fishing crappies (and sometimes even snakeheads!) from the floating dock bobbing gently in front of the boathouse are having luck, too. By the time we usually arrive there, our lake loop stroll is almost done. But not before stopping for a treat at the chiming Mister Softee truck that parks beside the boisterous new playground, where the fun never really ends. — Craig LaBan
FDR Park at 1500 Pattison Ave.
17
The hideaway bench at historic Gloria Dei Old Swedes Episcopal Church cemetery
The creaky centuries-old church, tilted tombstones, and lovely green space are reasons alone to make Old Swedes a Philly favorite. Not to mention the rock and roll shows and mainstay musicals the Sextons run all year to make money for the landmark church. But what brings me back to the church at the hardest times, is the bench tucked between some tall trees in the back of the cemetery. It’s a memorial tied to a story I won't get into here — but has a peacefulness to it. You're hidden away from the bustle of the world a stone’s throw from Delaware Avenue. I’ve lost myself there for hours, writing or reading, or thinking through a thing. You’re alone with the ghosts and the greenery and yourself. And we all need that from time to time. — Mike Newall
916 Swanson St.
18
Ontario Street Comics
The shy shop with a faded blue-and-white facade is set on a throwaway stretch of Port Richmond, and a tree blocks the marquee sign. You have to be looking for Ontario Street Comics. Inside, the warehouse is not exactly disorganized, but it’s not quite tidy, either. It’s where you can spend an entire afternoon stumbling through side rooms and tripping through aisles formed from stacks of action figures. Getting lost is the point. Director M. Night Shyamalan was so enthralled with the shop’s authenticity that he filmed scenes there for his 2000 thriller Unbreakable. It’s best to poke around its sea of slim white boxes of back-issue comics and pull out a title you weren’t looking for and follow the thread until you can’t help but search for more. Consider it the beginning of a new adventure. — Tommy Rowan
2235 E. Ontario St.
19
Rizzo Rink
Rizzo Rink is the charming youth hockey arena located under I-95 in South Philadelphia. The traffic zooming by overhead sounds like rolling thunder and shakes the concrete pillars over the single set of bleachers. Pigeons coo in the rafters. It’s a lovely place to play hockey. Since 1979, boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 13 have skated in the instructional leagues running between November and March. In the heyday, fans jammed the cramped arena and toted homemade Stanley Cups. But the rink still thrives. And that’s because what really makes Rizzo Rink so special is the people. The dedicated volunteer coaches and administrators at the Ralph R. Rizzo Rink, named after the former mayor’s father, have more than made do at the tiny city rink. They've made it a neighborhood institution. When my boy is old enough to be on skates, I’ll bring him to Rizzo Rink. — Mike Newall
1001 S. Front St.
20
“We the Youth” by Keith Haring
When I used to walk home from the Inquirer offices near the Liberty Bell to Point Breeze, the Keith Haring mural on the corner of Ellsworth and 22nd Streets was how I knew I was in the home stretch. We the Youth is the only collaborative Haring mural that remains intact on its original site with Haring’s signature primary-colored characters brightening an otherwise drab stretch of brown rowhouses and former warehouses. That’s kind of the point: After the city rejected Haring’s initial proposal to graffiti a roving trash truck with Philadelphia high school students, he settled on this wall in Point Breeze (and the vacant lot next to it) to call attention to the neighborhood’s potential. Whether it succeeded is debatable, but I am certain that the mural served as a constant reminder to allow color — and spontaneity — into my life as I settled into the doldrums of my first post-grad job. — Beatrice Forman
2147 Ellsworth St.
21
Café Lutécia
Valérie Blum will tell you the magic trick that transforms her corner cafe near Fitler Square into a genuine slice of France is the red wine vinegar she ferments from a “mother” starter handed down through three generations of women in her family. Indeed, that vinegar shines like a burst of bright Biarritz sunshine over the simple composed salads topped with olives, goat cheese, Southern French salami, or anchovies that have anchored the home-style menu of this mainstay at 23rd and Lombard for 36 years. But that sells Blum’s underrated skills as a chef too short. Her talent with soups like tomato bisque and coconut-curried lentil is legendary. Her pâté and brie-stuffed baguettes and croque monsieur are unparalleled. And she was baking super creamy Basque cheesecakes from her homeland long before they were trendy. But the true magic here is the tight-knit family hospitality that keeps it humming. Blum’s husband John is a fixture at the register and the espresso machine, and their daughter Jordane — just a baby when Café Lutécia opened — now cheerfully takes orders in front while her own young children prop up server’s trays in the corner to pass the time doodling colorful pictures of life growing up in one of Philly’s most beloved neighborhood cafes. — Craig LaBan
2301 Lombard St.
22
Avril 50
Admittedly, this was the spot where all the coolest University of Pennsylvania students would buy cigarettes between classes. But Avril 50 is also a portal into the bygone era of newsstands. An Iranian immigrant who came to Philly for college, owner John Shahidi opened the store on the 3400 block of Sansom Street in 1984 when it became clear he would not be able to return home after graduating. After that, the shop’s collection of international magazines, tobacco products, and imported snacks kept growing year after year. Avril 50 is known for its array of international coffees (which Shahidi will gladly brew samples of on the spot) but also its owner’s uncanny memory. He holds on to everything about his customers — their routines, their coffee orders, their preferred cigarette brand, the class you told him you hated — and is able to pick up right where you left off, even if there’s been a graduation and several years since your last purchase. — Beatrice Forman
3406 Sansom St.
23
Borski Park
Bridesburg tends to be defined by its factories, and, depending on the day, the chemical smell that drifts through from nearby industrial plants. For generations, the neighborhood’s waterfront belonged more to industry than to the people who lived there. That’s why Borski Park feels so special. Tucked along the Delaware River, the relatively new green space offers something Bridesburg long deserved: a place to simply sit outside and breathe in peace. There are benches overlooking the water, quiet walking trails, native plants, and surprising moments where the industrial backdrop fades just enough for you to think, Wow, this is beautiful. It’s not flashy, but that’s part of the charm — a reclaimed piece of calm in one of the city’s most overlooked corners. — Sam Ruland
Bridesburg waterfront, 3150 Orthodox St.
24
“Playing Angels” sculpture
Boathouse Row might be the star of the Schuylkill River Trail (and not without reason), but don't sleep on the public art. Keep heading north and you'll eventually run into an impressive assortment of statues, sculptures, and monuments — among them, a trio of frolicking bronze angels by the Swedish-born artist Carl Milles. Installed in 1972, the three slender figures ended up in the city's hands after a serendipitous series of events several decades ago. Now, they hover above the river atop slim pedestals. Time your stroll for after dark and treat yourself to an especially majestic view: the angels, lit, with the glow of the city's skyline as a backdrop. — Dugan Arnett
25 Schuylkill River Trail
25
Knock Restaurant and Bar
Knock's welcoming vibe hits you the moment you walk in. And you might think, as I did, “this feels like Cheers.” Regulars pack a rhomboid-shaped bar mostly in small groups; denizens of every age, every stripe, all mirth, and whiskey sours. Out-of-towners and newbies are soon drawn in and the warmth spreads like gossip. Since soon after Knock’s opening 19 years ago, a beaming Trevor Powell has presided over the bar. It’s the multigenerational aspect of the clientele that he loves most about Knock. And the history: “You hear fascinating stories about the AIDS era,” Powell says. “Great retellings of Philly history happen here.”
“Knock is really like the Cheers of the Gayborhood. I know all their names … or at least what they’re drinking.” — Anton Klusener
225 S. 12th St.
26
Chestnut Hill Skyscape, "Greet the Light"
A feat of astonishing magic sits quietly in Chestnut Hill. Contemporary Quaker artist James Turrell has built his career using light as a medium of creative expression. His enchanting series of skyscapes — enclosed spaces with cutouts in the ceiling and a lighting design that changes the color of the incoming sunlight — make site-specific performance art out of every sunrise and sunset. It’s a meditative and calming immersive installation that can only be experienced in some 90 locations worldwide. One of those just happens to be in Philadelphia, at the Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting Room. The work earned the title “Greet the Light” in reference to Turrell’s grandmother, who once brought him to a Quaker meetinghouse and encouraged him to “go inside and greet the light.” The 83-year-old artist recently said in an interview that his fixation on light is part of his attempt to call attention to the truth through creative illumination: “I’m interested in the thingness of light — not that light is revealing something about an object or another thing, but that light becomes a revelation itself.” Visitors can see Turrell’s artwork every Sunday at sunset (except during winter months), with select dates offering sunrise programs and accompaniments like harmonic music. — Rosa Cartagena
20 E. Mermaid Lane
27
Woodmere Art Museum
Housed in two historic houses a little more than a block apart, Woodmere’s Smith and Maguire Halls offer a diverse range of Philly-centric art that is both historic and contemporary. Some pieces at Woodmere, like George Beck’s Romantic Landscape, Schuylkill River, date to the Revolutionary War era. While others like that of mixed media artist Barbara Bullock speak to Woodmere’s dedication to representing the work of Philadelphia’s diverse community. The Victorian mansion and former convent that is now Maguire Hall houses Woodmere’s permanent collection, the most definitive group of paintings, sculptures, and prints by Philadelphia artists in the region, if not the world. — Elizabeth Wellington
Smith Hall, 9201 Germantown Ave.; Maguire Hall, 9001 Germantown Ave.
28
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
A delicate coexistence seems to hang in the balance when you’re at this 1,000-acre wildlife refuge nestled in an urban setting. The dozens of species of birds feel no less present than the planes alighting nearby at Philadelphia International Airport. For anglers, it’s snakehead heaven, though you probably don’t want to eat anything you catch. Visitors who just want to get in their steps often find themselves bumping up against the encroachment of civilization, but there are enough pockets of thick flora and vistas across the marshy water that a few hours here — a 20-minute drive from Center City — make you feel like you’ve gotten away from it all. — Peter Dobrin
8601 Lindbergh Blvd., Tinicum
29
Darien Street on game day
There are flashier ways to tailgate in South Philly, but Darien Street has its own magic on Phillies and Eagles game days. A few blocks from the stadiums, it becomes a gathering place where people line up lawn chairs, crack open coolers, and settle in before heading toward the crowds. Walking up the street, you pass waves of jerseys, smoke from portable grills, and vendors weaving through with bootleg playoff shirts and ice-cold water. You can hear the energy from the lots nearby, but it feels less frantic and more like a ritual. It’s one of those game-day traditions that’s just as memorable as whatever happens inside the stadium. — Sam Ruland
Darien Street, near the South Philadelphia stadium complex
30
“ContraFuerte”
Halfway down a dark, narrow alley across from Reading Terminal Market, one of the city’s most impressive pieces of public art, ContraFuerte, hides in plain sight. A group of eight 15-foot-tall human figures made from thousands of aluminum plates grapple to hold up a bridge between two buildings while suspended 20 feet in the air. The musculature of the sculptures is stunning, particularly given the medium, and the subject matter is haunting. Are these people working together to hoist the bridge up or to keep it from falling? Are they working together at all or are the groups on either side of the bridge at odds? What does the bridge represent? Artist Miguel Antonio Horn, who completed the piece in 2021, won’t say. “My job is to inspire curiosity that never goes away,” he told The Inquirer. Tip: To check out the sculpture up close, head into the Parkway parking garage to which it’s attached. — Stephanie Farr
Cuthbert Street between 12th and 13th Streets
31
The Rosenbach Museum and Library
The Rosenbach is more of a cultural safe-deposit box than a museum. The 1860s townhouse and garden, nestled between Rittenhouse and Fitler Squares, wears its age well, as does its array of priceless and rare pieces of Americana. The collection was the brainchild of colorful book dealer A.S.W. Rosenbach, who founded the library and museum with his brother Philip in the mid-20th century. What has survived them is an entity that shares its small but rich collection of rare books, paintings, sculptures, and manuscripts with the city and the Free Library. Among their treasures is the only surviving copy of Benjamin Franklin’s first Poor Richard’s Almanack, James Joyce's manuscript of Ulysses, Bram Stoker's notes for Dracula, Thomas Jefferson's inventory of slaves, portraits by Thomas Sully and Gilbert Stuart, and more than 100 of George Washington’s letters. It’s more diamond than gem. — Tommy Rowan
2008-2010 Delancey St., between Rittenhouse and Fitler Squares
32
Smith Playground Giant Slide
How can an institution be a hidden gem? In 2024, we had a story about how Abbott Elementary recreated the slide for its show. The comments were filled with love and nostalgia for a place people fondly remembered as kids or as a place they brought their own kids, and grandkids. Many, though, had never heard of it. The slide is older than the Ben Franklin Bridge and looks like it was made from vintage bowling alleys. And you don’t have to be a kid for it to make you smile. Show up and just watch as kids from all over the city gleefully slide. Close your eyes and you can hear them squeal. It is pure joy — free and simple. — Evan Weiss
3500 Reservoir Dr.
33
Stone Spiral Arch Bridge
Tucked into a quieter corner of Fairmount Park, the Stone Spiral Arch Bridge feels like one of Philadelphia’s best hidden discoveries. The winding paths leading to it pass the Chamounix Equestrian Center — where horses often peek over fences as people head down toward the trails — before opening up to the bridge’s striking stonework tucked among the trees. It’s peaceful in a way that’s hard to find in the city, with long stretches where all you hear are birds, rustling leaves, and the occasional dog collar jingling on the trail. The bridge itself feels almost transportive, the kind of place that makes you stop for a minute just to admire how much beauty can hide in plain sight. — Sam Ruland
50 Chamounix Dr., West Fairmount Park
34
Clark Park Farmers Market
credit: Ron Tarver / Staff PhotographerRon Tarver / Staff Photographer
Every Saturday, the Food Trust transforms Clark Park into a community hub that feels less like a farmers market and more like a giant picnic with great party favors. Yes, the market has many of the same vendors as Philly’s other excellent farmers markets: Fresh produce from Hands on the Earth Orchards, artisan pastries from Lost Bread Company and Manna Bakery, brews from Triple Bottom, fancy pasta, and so much local honey. But what Clark Park has that those other markets don’t is spirit, a real sense that it could only exist in West Philly. Neighbors are known to set up informal tables next to the Food Trust’s official vendors, and the real magic is found in the hodgepodge of wares that shift from week to week. I’ve left with custom jewelry, vintage clothes, cheesecake, and even handmade ceramic tchotchkes (and sometimes all that and more in one trip). The best part is unpacking your haul with friends on a blanket near the dog bowl. — Beatrice Forman
4300-4398 Baltimore Ave.
35
Fairmount Hardware
You might walk in looking for just the right size screw to reinforce your loose fireplace andiron, and walk out with the cactus-specific soil you never knew you needed. Plus a box of chocolate-covered pretzels. Old-timey in the best sense, Fairmount Hardware manages that great clown-car trick of the retail subgenre: the illusion that almost no matter what you’re looking for, it’s waiting for you somewhere on the shelves. — Peter Dobrin
2011 Fairmount Ave.
36
Skyline view at Bok Bar
It's very Philly that the most sweeping and panoramic views of the city’s skyline are found at a rooftop bar on a shuttered public high school. And what seals its elite status isn't just the view, but the journey to reach the view. Uber drivers dropping riders off at the front doors of a hulking old school building is a peculiar though oddly familiar sight, as is walking past an old gymnasium and an auditorium to wait in an orderly line for the elevator. The doors open to a scene out of a Batman cartoon, and you start questioning the decision to attend this $14-a-cocktail party. And then you take your final walk out onto the deck, and the city's splendor spreads out before you, and the wind catches you off guard, and you need a minute to take it all in. — Tommy Rowan
800 Mifflin St.
37
“Freedom”
Four human figures emerge from a 20-foot-long bronze wall in artist Zenos Frudakis’ Freedom, a powerful monument exploring humanity’s struggle to break from that which binds us, whatever it may be. All of the figures represent the same person in various stages — captive, writhing, and reaching — with the final figure placed on the sidewalk, his arms outstretched and face lifted toward the sun. Behind that last figure is an empty space in the wall, indicating where he broke free. The emotionally stirring sculpture is along heavily trafficked Vine Street, but the small details Frudakis included within it can be easily overlooked without a careful eye. The model he used to conceptualize the sculpture, which is just a few inches high, was cast in the lower left corner; in the lower right corner is a cast of Frudakis’ hands holding a sculpting tool; and the faces of the artist, his mother, father, and cat are all sculpted into the wall as well. Inside of the empty space from which the final figure appears to have broken free, Frudakis wrote the words, “stand here,” inviting the viewer to become a part of his art. — Stephanie Farr
1600 Vine St.
38
Prime Halal Meat Market
For years, Prime Halal Meat Market has sold a wide selection of beef, poultry, lamb, goat, seafood, dairy, and deli items on South 23rd. But the long-standing establishment is not just a butcher and market. It was founded in 1975 by Vietnam veteran Wali Scott, who saw the need for a halal meat supplier in the Philadelphia area. Today, Prime Halal is a mainstay for the Muslim community and anyone looking for the religiously halal meat options — including local restaurants looking to convert their menus. — Hira Qureshi
500 S. 23rd St.
39
Schuylkill River Trail
It’s become Philadelphia’s great civic space, a half-sylvan, half-industrial winding path carved out along the river. The stretch from the Art Museum through Center City and down south near Bartram’s Garden has a particularly utopian feel, whether you’re a runner, stroller, fisher, or student of the human condition. — Peter Dobrin
On the banks of the Schuylkill
40
Material Culture
If you're looking for an interesting and eclectic retail experience in the city, visiting this 60,000-square-foot emporium of antiques and artwork is a must. Located in a former radio manufacturing plant in East Falls, this purveyor of all things pretty and peculiar is filled with objects from around the world including furniture, sculptures, and an endless variety of beautiful rugs. On my last visit, they had a life-size standing bear statue decked out in sequins and a fez. There was also a large replica of the Eiffel Tower made of sprockets and various other mechanical parts. The high ceilings, vast inventory, and expansive layout make exploring this space feel more like an anthropological adventure than a trip to the store. — Stephanie Farr
4700 Wissahickon Ave.
41
Morning Glory Diner
They might not be for everyone, but the daily specials menus at Morning Glory Diner at 10th and Fitzwater are a bracing celebration of free speech, strong opinions, and left-wing politics. After you've walked past the "Donny is a pooper head!" and "We the people will never forget the cowards in congress who kept quiet" signs, you can order your "Krasner ‘f Around and Find out’" chorizo burrito or your "Dr. Stanford eats free triple 'shroom frittata" (an election day special) or the "draft Fetterman then eat choconana cakes" glory cakes. The lovingly made food, signature metal coffee mugs, and homemade and bottled ketchup, jam, and hot sauce complete the experience. — Amy S. Rosenberg
735 S. 10th St.
42
You & Me
On its surface, You & Me is a fun Chinatown toy store. Walk in and you’ll see shelves of mystery collectibles, plushies, model build kits, and a row of neon blue claw machines that look like they came from an arcade in Tron: Legacy. But it’s what’s below the surface here that’s the real treat. In the back of the shop is a set of rainbow steps leading down to an expansive Asian grocery store called EnJoy Market that’s stocked with imported food, beverages, condiments, cosmetics, and gifts. Here, you can find snacks you won’t find anywhere else in Philly, like coriander-flavored Doritos, cucumber-flavored Lay’s, and peach-flavored Oreos, or you can buy a knock-off Lego kit of a sushi restaurant (which I did). I’ve never spent less than an hour in this store and when I took my friend’s 12-year-old there recently she proclaimed she’d “Died and gone to heaven,” so plan your time accordingly. — Stephanie Farr
143 N. 11th St.
43
The Oval Movie Nights
There’s something about watching a movie outside on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway that feels like peak Philadelphia summer. Maybe it’s spreading out on a blanket with snacks and a cooler as the sun goes down behind the Art Museum. Maybe it’s seeing families, friend groups, and couples all settling in together for a free screening of favorites like The Goonies or A League of Their Own. Or maybe it’s the way the Oval manages to feel both timeless and distinctly Philly — the kind of summer tradition that makes you nostalgic for an era you might not have even lived through. Either way, it’s one of the city’s simplest and best warm-weather rituals. — Sam Ruland
Benjamin Franklin Parkway
44
Drexel Park
A little pocket of land on the west side of the Schuylkill has a crystalline view of the city skyline and, if you’re in the right spot, the bonus of watching trains rumble slowly by on the nearby trestle bridge. It’s also a great perch for watching the Parkway’s Independence Day fireworks. — Peter Dobrin
32nd Street and Baring Street, Powelton Village
45
The Woodlands
The Woodlands feels less like a cemetery and more like a hidden pocket of calm tucked inside West Philadelphia. On warm spring days, people read beneath blooming magnolias and forsythia while runners weave through winding paths lined with centuries-old mausoleums and gravestones. Trains rumble past in the distance — SEPTA and Amtrak cars cutting through the landscape above the Schuylkill — while people walk and bike along the nearby Grays Ferry Crescent Trail below. The whole place somehow feels both peaceful and deeply alive. It’s one of the rare spots in the city where history, nature, transit, and neighborhood life all seem to overlap at once. — Sam Ruland
4000 Woodland Ave.
46
Boxers’ Trail
Philly boxers Joe Frazier, Mathew Saad Muhammad, and Benny Briscoe are among the pugilists honored at the start of the Boxers’ Trail, which gets going at the corner of 33rd Street and Reservoir Drive in Strawberry Mansion. Then it heads into East Fairmount Park, through old growth forest of ivy-covered ash, elm, and maple trees, winding its way by 18th-century mansions Mount Pleasant and Ouriston, before becoming a secluded dirt track as it moves to a ridge high above Kelly Drive and the Schuylkill. Fighters still train here, and there’s a Boxers’ Trail 5K every September, but every time my dog and I have walked here, we have pretty much had the trail to ourselves. — Dan DeLuca
33rd Street and Reservoir Drive
47
Sue’s Produce Market
Sue’s is a throwback to the days when independent merchants anchored nearly every neighborhood in Philadelphia specializing in produce, seafood, or butchery before the rise of supermarkets and online delivery services put them nearly all out of business. Sue’s staying power over the past 50 years in its cozy storefront near Rittenhouse Square has been the story of one family’s tireless hard work, making early morning stops to the wholesale produce market to procure the ripest berries, romaine, and tomatoes ever since Soo Yang Chang founded it in 1976. It’s currently co-owned by Chang’s grandnephew, James Shin, who not only has expanded the business to another location with a deli in Society Hill Towers (275 St. James Place, Philadelphia, 215- 982-1678) where he makes bulgogi cheesesteaks to supplement the produce sales, but has also continued to evolve 18th Street into a destination for all-natural smoothies and homey Korean specialties, from kimbap to kimchi and mini-seafood pancakes, made early each morning by his mother, Mi Ja Shin. “People don’t cook as much as they used to,” Chang laments. But for those who do, Sue’s still has some of the best fresh herb prices in town. — Craig LaBan
114 S. 18th St.
48
Tildie’s Toy Box
There’s something comforting about an old-school toy store, especially now when so much shopping happens with a few taps online. Tildie’s Toy Box, tucked along East Passyunk Avenue, feels like the kind of place people worry doesn’t exist anymore. Inside, you’ll find shelves packed with games, stuffed animals, puzzles, and gifts that kids actually get excited to pick out in person. It’s the type of shop that turns a quick errand for a birthday present into wandering around for 20 extra minutes saying, “Oh wow, I had one of these.” It captures a little bit of the magic toy stores used to have before everything came in a cardboard box on your porch. — Sam Ruland
1829 E. Passyunk Ave.
49
Wooden Shoe Books
This volunteer-run anarchist bookstore has stood on South Street since 1976 and has some of the most unique after-hours events offered by a bookseller, from stick-fighting and lockpicking classes to monthly Know Your Rights and de-escalation trainings. The book selection at Wooden Shoe leans esoteric (so no Emily Henry, sorry!), but it’s a great place to let your curiosity guide you while perusing rows of books that, taken together, form a syllabus about how to be civically engaged. Think titles about how to start a mutual aid group, organize a union, or learn about systemic inequities. An added bonus: there are steep discounts. The Wooden Shoe offers year-round markdowns on hardcovers and children’s books, plus 20% off for book club orders. — Beatrice Forman
704 South St.
50
Brave New Worlds
Brave New Worlds is the kind of comic shop you won’t be embarrassed to bring your boyfriend or girlfriend to. The Old City mainstay — it opened in 2007 — is art-gallery pretty, with elegant showcases of statuettes, toys, games, and carefully curated back issues. The back wall — beautifully arranged with rare gems from the Golden and Silver Age of comics — is a heartstopper. But what makes Brave New Worlds truly special is the staff: Rob, Cacey, and Brian, all gems themselves, and fully welcoming to newbies and old heads alike. It’s the type of place that makes you fall in love with comics again, and nostalgic for the time when you first did. — Mike Newall
55 N. Second St.
51
Yamatorium
Philly’s most absurd immersive art experience isn’t found in a museum, but in the basement of artist Steven Erdman’s West Philly home. Created during the pandemic, this two-room imaginarium is a weird and wonderful world in which yams reign supreme. Here, there are yamophones, yamlights, a yamtrain, and even yam people, all of which Erdman created himself. Partially inspired by Pee-wee’s Playhouse, the Yamatorium is a panoply of the peculiar and a totally tubular time. As your host and tour guide, Erdman — who introduces himself to visitors as an alien who came from Planet Belopio aboard his Dreamotron machine — is along for the ride (and he often breaks out in song). Magician Teller (of Penn & Teller fame) stopped into the Yamatorium when he was in town last year to get his yam on. Visits are by appointment only and can be scheduled on Erdman’s website at yam-on.com. — Stephanie Farr
501 S. 47th St.
52
The Universal Sphere
Tucked inside the second-floor lobby of Philadelphia’s tallest skyscraper is a free, cinematic attraction within a 34-by-39-foot gleaming-white orb. Born out of collaboration among several companies owned by Comcast — including Universal Destinations & Experiences and DreamWorks — the sphere is an immersive theatrical experience with a rotating platform, vibrating seats, and short films custom-made for its curved screen. A new 15-minute movie, How to Train Your Dragon: Flight Academy, is running now through Nov. 20. The film is available in English, American Sign Language, French, German, Hindi, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Spanish. Reservations are recommended but can be made on-site on your phone. For more information visit comcastcentercampus.com/universal-sphere. — Stephanie Farr
1800 Arch St., Comcast Technology Center
53
Richmond Street Flea
This flea is analog. The street-wide market along the 3100 block of Richmond Street, between Allegheny Avenue and Clearfield Street, is a personal experience as much as a business transaction. The soul of the event is vintage clothing and local art and collectible records, but the event runners wisely open up their stalls to vendors and traders of all kinds and from every neighborhood. It's more of a block party than a pop-up mall, but it still offers a wonderfully tactile experience. It transports attendees back to a time when a stroll through the market was a chance to connect with their community, and find something they didn't realize they needed. — Tommy Rowan
3100 block of Richmond Street
54
Philly Typewriter
In an age where most of us can barely remember a phone number, Philly Typewriter feels like a portal to a slower, more deliberate world. Inside the East Passyunk shop, rows of lovingly restored machines clack and ding while mechanics and apprentices keep alive a craft that has all but disappeared. Writers, collectors, passersby, and even Tom Hanks — who gifted the shop a typewriter from his personal collection — have fallen for its charm. Recently, a North Carolina pilot even flew his late mother’s IBM Selectric to Northeast Philadelphia so the shop could restore it. But beyond the celebrity stories and rare machines, what makes Philly Typewriter special is the feeling that history is still alive here — and that you’re encouraged to touch it, type on it, and maybe even leave with a page of your own. — Sam Ruland
1735 E. Passyunk Ave.
55
The Tioga Ballfield
In a world of cookie-cutter youth sports complexes, Kenderton Field — or “The Tioga ballfield,” as it’s better known — is a young ballplayer’s daydream. Thirty years ago, a man named David Fisher realized his beloved childhood baseball field had fallen into disarray and set out to do something about it. “It wasn’t always easy,” says Fisher, a retired Philadelphia Police detective – but the result is a baseball oasis. Home to the Tioga United Baseball Program, which Fisher oversees, the field features a perfectly cut grass infield, crisp chalk lines, brightly-colored wooden flower boxes filled with joyful summer blooms, and bleachers in a shady spot that also offers the perfect vantage point to watch a beaming 10-year-old who just ripped a triple celebrate with their third-base coach. The field is nestled between a lovely community garden and an elevated section of SEPTA’s regional rail, so the soothing sounds of the train complements the crack of the bats as silver rail cars glide past the outfield. Though owned by the city, it is maintained by a collection of volunteers and aided by donations, serving as a source of pride for the neighborhood and as a kind of holy grail for youth baseball teams throughout the city. — Dugan Arnett
North 20th and West Tioga streets
56
Forbidden Drive
For a city trail, Forbidden Drive somehow never feels like just a trail. Stretching through the Wissahickon, the wide gravel path winds past creeks, stone bridges, dense trees, and pockets of quiet that make it easy to forget you’re still in Philadelphia. But part of what makes it special is the people, too: runners weaving past families with strollers, cyclists ringing their bells, friends walking dogs, horseback riders trotting through the park, and couples moving slowly hand in hand beneath the trees. In every season, it feels alive in a calming way — one of those rare places where the city collectively seems to exhale for a minute. — Sam Ruland
Valley Green Rd., Wissahickon Valley Park
57
Fountain Porter
The only hint at what goes on behind the double black doors and timeless brick facade at the corner of 10th and Tasker Streets are the iconic red-and-yellow neon signs glowing in its picture windows. Inside, Fountain Porter delivers ideal servings of the things that get working people through the day: 20 drafts on tap, affordable wine, and a life-affirming $6 cheeseburger. Just about every night of the week it provides its diverse crowds with a taste of the neighborhood, and a confined dark space to take a breath. It opened in 2012, but it feels like a place that has always been there to provide the basics: a burger and a beer. Nothing snooty. — Tommy Rowan
1601 S. 10th St.
58
Uncle Bobbie's Coffee & Books
For eight years, Uncle Bobbie's Coffee & Books has been an institution in Germantown. It’s one place where you can settle into plush couches, sip delicious lattes, read James Baldwin or bell hooks, and catch an event with the country’s most sought-after authors at sold-out appearances, from scholar Ta-Nehisi Coates to Supreme Court justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. The bookstore, owned by college professor and political pundit Marc Lamont Hill, is moving to a new location — a 3,000-square-feet space on the ground floor of a 47-unit apartment building with a rooftop terrace — this fall. — Hira Qureshi
5445 Germantown Ave.
59
Sally and the nearby birdhouses
Sally, the bar at 23rd and Spruce Streets, is a much-loved happy hour spot. After many a hard day at work, I have met up with colleagues, comrades, and friends there; chomping on some excellent small plates which come with one of the best sourdoughs in the city. A post-Sally ritual for me is to walk two blocks up to the corner of 23rd and Rittenhouse Square and stand in front of what I call the “birdhouse” house, for a few minutes. It’s the wall of someone’s home (I don't know them!) — decked with about 20 birdhouses of different sizes that peep out amid growing creepers on the facade. Sometimes the sun falls in a slant, sometimes I catch some birds hovering around, sometimes there’s a slow breeze, and sometimes there is the thick heat of the summer. But there is always a moment of stillness, a moment of quiet satisfaction before someone blares a horn close by. It’s whimsical, it’s beautiful, and it’s one of my favorite corners in the city. — Bedatri Choudhury
2229 Spruce St.
60
Independence Seaport Museum
It’s not inconspicuous or even out of the way, but it feels like Penn’s Landing’s Independence Seaport Museum floats just below the radar for most people in the Philadelphia area. You can never go wrong spending time at Penn’s Landing, but the Seaport Museum can surprise you. Founded in 1961, the museum documents the maritime history of the Delaware River, the reason Philadelphia exists. Outside, you can board the Olympia, “the oldest steel warship afloat in the world,” and the Becuna, a World War II submarine. There are also swan paddleboats and kayaking available on the river. Inside exhibits include “Patriots & Pirates” and a working boat shop where students and craftsmen make their own boats. — Jason Nark
211 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
61
Green space by Society Hill Towers
Tucked away under a canopy of trees, the green space surrounding the Society Hill Towers offers a blink-and-you'll-miss-it oasis in the heart of the city. There's green grass, sprawling shrubbery, and oh-so-much shade (the three, 30-story towers help with that). A sizable fountain helps drown out the sound of traffic on nearby Dock and Spruce Streets. A short asphalt walking path is a nice touch, and the small collection of benches provide a perfect place for a private phone call or lazy lunch. If you need a (brief) break from the hustle and bustle of the city, stop here. — Dugan Arnett
285 St. James Place
62
Bocce court at Bardascino Park
There are beautiful pocket parks all across the city where neighbors meet, eat, relax. Some have playgrounds, some have spraygrounds, some are lined by benches, some a city oasis filled with flowers. A block from the heart of the Italian Market, across from a coffee shop, you’ll see the expected: people eating hoagies on benches, sharing pizzas at tables, but also … a well-kept bocce court. If it’s after 5, there will probably be kids running around, neighbors drinking a few glasses of wine, and generally serious players rolling for points. The court is well kept and has a few basic rules but is open for all to play when there is no league play. — Evan Weiss
1000 S. 10th St.
63
Fountain of the Sea Horses
Four horses with fish tails sit in the center of a traffic circle on one end of a parking lot behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art. They were a gift from the fascist regime of Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini for the American sesquincentennial in 1926, though they didn't arrive in time for the celebration. Modeled after Cristoforo Unterberger’s 1791 neoclassical original in the Villa Borghese in Rome, over the years the Mussolini fountain fell into disrepair, got back in working order for the bicentennial in 1976, then got a major makeover in 2012-13. It’s a reassuring sign of spring every year when the waters start flowing, and the benches that surround it are a prime rest stop on a bike ride down Kelly Drive on the way to Schuylkill Banks. — Dan DeLuca
Aquarium Drive west of Azalea Garden, behind Philadelphia Museum of Art
64
Academy of Music Art Museum
The room feels like a secret and holds just a handful of paintings, but the tiny gallery at the stage entrance to the Academy of Music is well worth seeking out. The theme? Music, of course. Among the residents is a Violet Oakley portrait of Albert Spalding, known as soloist in the world premiere of Barber’s Violin Concerto with the Philadelphia Orchestra right there on the Academy stage. — Peter Dobrin
240 S. Broad St.
65
Spruce Hill Bird Sanctuary
Established in 2011 by two landscape architects with a community grant, this volunteer-run bird sanctuary is surrounded by rowhouses on a quiet block of West Philly. Yet when you step inside the pop-up park thick with trees and bird feeders, everything somehow manages to get more serene. Bucolic even. Roughly 16 different bird species have called this sanctuary home at one point or another — from blue jays and doves to, yes, mostly pigeons — but the true magic is in the stillness the space invites. Make a ruckus and the birds fly to hide on the nearest branch, but if you sit patiently (and maybe pretend not to be watching), a chubby chickadee or purple finch might emerge for a snack. And when they do, it’s such a worthwhile reward for attempting to touch grass. — Beatrice Forman
233 S. Melville St.
66
John B. Kelly Pool
In the 2,000-acre sprawl of Fairmount Park — where the long list of attractions includes everything from zip-lining to zoo — it's inevitable that some things are going to get lost in the shuffle. But you'd be wise not to miss this summertime gem. Even in a city boasting 60-odd public pools, the Kelly Pool stands out. Anchored in the shadow of the Please Touch Museum, this summer staple boasts an eight-lane, Olympic-size pool that serves as a haven for serious lap swimmers, while also accommodating the countless kids and families that flock to the facility on summer afternoons. After a dip, stroll over to the vast expanse of green space that surrounds the pool for a post-swim picnic. Best of all, it's free. — Dugan Arnett
4231 Lansdowne Dr.
67
Sixth Sense Street
The brick-lined pedestrian street is packed tight between two rows of classic Second Empire-style townhomes. So close it seems the front doors glare at each other with resting Shyamalan-twist face. There's no asphalt between them, only a narrow yet carefully cultivated strip of garden. It feels like a block out of place in Devil’s Pocket. Walking beside marble steps you'll come across wrought-iron and wood benches, reminiscent of the perch from which Bruce Willis' character sat and studied the boy who saw dead people in M. Night Shyamalan's 1999 horror hit Sixth Sense. The benches will be an inviting sight, waving you over to sit and relish in all of the absurd novelty. But right before you commit, you'll sense you're being watched. And you'll swing your head around, and you'll meet the judging gaze of the door across the garden. — Tommy Rowan
2300 block of St. Albans Place, Devil’s Pocket
68
The train bridge at Schuylkill River Park
It's not really a bridge. Just an elevated walkway that connects the dog park to the river trail. But it’s the perfect place to watch the big trains zoom by. I used to take my son as a toddler. The rumbling freight cars and roaring locomotives put him to sleep. Now, a few years later, he likes to go on weekends and look down and call out passing trains. I used to think it was a city thing. But it’s not, of course. It’s one of the places in the city that could be anywhere in America. And there’s a connective comfort to that. If it's fun for him, it's fun for me. And it always reminds me of the Ginsberg line, “Boxcars Boxcars Boxcars.” — Mike Newall
300 S. 25th St.
69
Whispering benches
In West Fairmount Park, a monument to Civil War heroes holds a quiet secret. Completed in 1912, Smith Memorial Arch — which is more of a concave gateway than an overhead arch — is a bronze-and-limestone monument featuring 14 sculptures. While many people drive through it on their way into the park or the Please Touch Museum, take time to explore the memorial with a friend to experience a little bit of everyday magic. Behind the monument are two curved benches. If you and your friend sit on opposite benches and whisper into the wall behind you, you’ll be able to hear each other clearly, even from 50 feet away. This is due to the parabola effect, a phenomenon in which sound waves become more focused around a curved surface. Philadelphians have been sitting at these benches for generations whispering secrets to each other, including Rob Mac (formerly McElhenney) whose dad whispered to him on the benches when he was a kid and his parents were going through a divorce. “He said, ‘I love you, and I always will, and so will your mom. You belong here and you belong with us and you belong with both of us. And I thought it was magic, I truly thought it was magic,” McElhenney recalled in 2023. — Stephanie Farr
Avenue of the Republic and Lansdowne Drive
70
Village of Arts and Humanities
While out reporting a few years ago, I stumbled upon the Village of Arts and Humanities’ stunning public art in North Philly and it felt like one of those magic moments this city gives you sometimes, if you’re open to them. The village’s brightly colored mosaics, murals, and statues span several noncontiguous blocks and can be found adorning 15 art parks and 10 buildings in the city’s Fairhill-Hartranft neighborhood. The imagery is fantastical and inspiring, the colors are bold and brilliant, and it feels like art is just waiting to be discovered around every corner (and it’s even embedded in the sidewalks too!). Founded in 1986, the village is a nonprofit organization that promotes artistic expression and community revitalization. A good place to start exploring their public art is at Ile Ife Park, next to the village’s headquarters at 2544 Germantown Ave. — Stephanie Farr
2544 Germantown Ave.
71
Upstairs Bar at Saloon Restaurant
Stepping into the upstairs bar at the Saloon in South Philly is transporting. By the time your cocktail hits the wood, you feel firmly planted in the 19th century. By the time you’ve sipped your second Fool’s Gold (a perfect blend of bourbon, Fernet-Branca, lemon, and honey) you feel perfectly muggleheaded. The dark wood, brick, old-time decor, and sepia-toned light slipping in from Seventh Street all bleeds authenticity. My wife and I first supped at the Saloon 18 years ago on one of our first dates (I of course spent a bunch of money I didn’t have; but hey it worked!). It’s never lost its allure. — Mike Newall
750 S. Seventh St.
72
The Book Trader
The shop cat inside this overflowing Old City bookstore is a local celebrity — he even has his own postcards. Dr. Abraham Horatio Pickles has lived inside the Book Trader since 2019 under the care of manager Miro Bullo, drawing in even the most casual readers for pets and games of hide-and-seek. This bookstore is so much more than its live-in tabby, though, with a collection of used books that spans two floors. Its name is also very literal. Trade in a stack of books and get up to 20% of the original sale price in store credit. I strongly suggest capping off your visit with at least 15 minutes of reading in one of the second floor’s cozy chairs. Dr. Pickles might just come by to keep you company. — Beatrice Forman
7 N. Second St.
73
LeSouk Market
In Northeast Philly, there’s a market filled with North African and Arab sweets, nuts, spices, and gifts. Bishara Kuttab and Zohra Saibi opened a space to share their home countries’ delicacies for the local Middle Eastern community. Bottles of Palestinian olive oil and jars of Algerian green olives line the shelves; and dried fruits, aromatic spices, and fresh coffee beans are up for grabs, too. While you’re there, visit the counter serving bubble waffles, sweet crepes, Turkish coffee, and a menu full of Dubai chocolate treats. — Hira Qureshi
7952 Oxford Ave.
74
Pine Street, from river to river
Pine Street flows like a canal through Center City. It starts at a small park off the Schuylkill and dead-ends at Front Street, which if not for I-95 would lead directly into the Delaware River. The stretch between the rivers is a roughly 1.7-mile runway that covers nearly 30 blocks, crossing through some of the city's bougiest zip codes and past some of its most exquisite public spaces. On a Saturday morning, sipping from a hot drink, the mostly residential strip dazzles with its tree-shaded calmness and buttoned-up townhomes and welcoming green spaces. You don't walk down Pine Street as much as you glide among the dog walkers who make way for the runners who yield to the strollers. It's like a cruise with a full-access backstage pass to watch Philly put its best foot forward. — Tommy Rowan
75
SEAMAAC Growing Home Community Garden
In the middle of South Philadelphia rowhouses and city blocks, the SEAMAAC Growing Home Community Garden offers something slower and deeply human. Gardeners tend plots overflowing with vegetables, herbs, and fruits from all over the world while conversations drift through the air in different languages. People swap growing tips, recipes, stories about home, and ideas for what they’ll cook once harvest season arrives. It’s a shared space where neighbors connect through food, culture, and the simple ritual of taking care of something together. — Sam Ruland
728-42 Emily St.
76
Ubuntu Fine Art Gallery
Photographer Steven CW Taylor has a gift for telling universal stories of discovery, joy, and sadness in a black and white photo of a little girl standing on a street corner in Germantown. He shares this gift on the stark white walls of 1,300-square-foot Ubuntu Fine Art Gallery. Taylor’s photography is bold. Some are simple black and white. Others are in dazzling technicolor. They all transmit an array of feeling, from immense joy to immense pain. Taylor’s photographic eye is nonjudgmental, but his vision of shared humanity is clear in every print and portrait. Taylor’s art often serves as a backdrop to Germantown community events from book signings, to bookmark making. Here locals have a chance to see, be seen, and enjoy art on their own terms. — Elizabeth Wellington
5423 Germantown Ave.
Staff Contributors
- Design: Julia Duarte
- Development: Julia Duarte and Charmaine Runes
- Reporting: Sam Ruland, Tommy Rowan, Stephanie Farr, Mike Newall, Beatrice Forman, Peter Dobrin, Amy Rosenberg, Anton Klusener, Bedatri D. Choudhury, Craig LaBan, Dan DeLuca, Dugan Arnett, Elizabeth Wellington, Evan Weiss, Hira Qureshi, Jason Nark, Rosa Cartagena
- Editing: Sam Ruland and Kate Dailey
- Photo Editing: Jasmine Goldband
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