CENTER CITY EAST

Shane’s Confectionery & Franklin Fountain***
An ice cream and candy shop like no other.

Walk through Society Hill
Amble up and down the streets between S. 2rd to S.6th and Walnut and Lombard. You’ll walk by all the historic shit, the signing of the constitution, Ben Franklin, yada yada, but it’s really about the architecture.

Philly AIDs Thrift
Wacky thrift shop benefiting AIDS research and survivors

Wayward Collection
My friend Shannon’s store Cuttalossa closed, but her business partner opened up a shop on S. 4th. Great vintage selection.

Yowie
You know it, you love it. Small but fun.

Redding Terminal***
Where the Amish have brought their goods to be sold for over a century, but now a market of all types.

Middle Child
I have to admit I’ve never been but this place looks bomb and sells out early so that’s a pretty good sign it’s worth it. Gnarly looking sandos for breakfast and lunch only I believe.

Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art
One of the three schools I attended in Philly. Lol. Super small museum almost not worth going in except to see the Frank Furness designed building.

CENTER CITY WEST

Goldies***
Best damn falafel sandwich you may ever have. Truly the DAIRY FREE tahini shake is game changing. I’d walk on over to Rittenhouse Square and eat in the park. Philadelphia has some of the best city parks around.

Metropolitan Bakery***
Can’t go wrong with anything from here, though I’m partial to the millet muffin, the chocolate cherry bread, fennel pretzel and I HIGHLY recommend getting a lemon Pequea Yogurt. May ask you to pick me up a quart…

Mutter Museum***
If you’re feeling up for it and you can stomach this after all the food this is one of the greatest museums in America. It’s a medical oddities museum.

Philadelphia Museum of Art
Just a fantastic museum that’s Met quality but a lot easier to manage. Armory collection, Cy Twombly room and the Duchamp peep hole are not to be missed.

Stephen Starr Restaurants
I hate to say it but any of the Stephen Starr restaurants are gonna be crowd pleasers. I think Parc is the most fun, but you really can’t go wrong.

Grace Tavern
If you’re looking for more casual spot Grace has my favorite burger in town. It’s messy and the blackened green beans are great too.

Curtis Institute of Music***
One of the most esteemed music schools in the nation where you can catch free performances by students and visiting musicians.

WEST PHILLY

Locust Walk
If you feel like walking, the path through UPenn’s campus (my actual alma mater) is beautiful. Fisher Fine Arts Library is another Frank Furness building and is normally open to the public. I’d also say a drive around Baltimore Ave and Spruce Street between 40th and 48th streets. Old Victorian homes that’ll make you want to move.

Queen of Sheba
An old haunt of mine. Part dive bar, part Ethiopian restaurant. Great place to watch daytime TV over injera.

Reanimater Coffee
Solid third wave coffee spot but I mainly go cause they carry the pretzel shortbread from Lost Bread Co. that’s to die for!

NORTH PHILLY

I’d stick to the neighborhoods of Fishtown and Northern Liberties, particularly N. 2nd or Frankford Ave.

La Colombe Coffee
HQ for my fav coffee around.

Pizza Brain***
Metal head pizza shop.

Architectural Antique Exchange and Provenance
Both are competing historical architectural warehouses.

Wagner Free institute of Science
Like no place on earth. A free natural history museum that’s frozen in time. Once went to a lecture on botched taxidermy here.