Dock Street Brewery

Only Microbrewery In Town

by Augustin Kendall

That's right -- Philadelphia, a city that celebrates beer year-round, a city voted one of the top five beer towns in the country by highly esteemed authorities, has only one microbrewery. Fortunately for all of us, it's a good one. Dock Street might also be called a pizza restaurant. They serve excellent pizza of the gourmet variety, along with some good appetizers and desserts, complete with vegan options. Though I don't recall a vegan pizza option... Beer-wise, Dock Street holds up pretty w ... Continue

Sweet Freedom Bakery

A Healthy Dose

by jaimie KREMS

Philadelphia is a city where bakeries aren't just places to get your sweet on; they're institutions. But Philadelphia is also a city whose residents were voted the some of the homeliest in the country. Leave it to the rebel friends behind the brand spankin' new Sweet Freedom to shake things up. Nestled next to vegan haven Govinda's, this Center City sweet spot serves up gluten-free, dairy-free fare that is seriously satisfying despite bei ... Continue

Bindlestiff Books

Books for Smart People

by Augustin Kendall

Bindlestiff Books is a purveyor of fine literature for the young and the old. In this case, fine literature = books that are new and exciting and off-kilter. And purveyor is an appropriate term--just look at their quaint sign. Anyone who frequents bookstores regularly probably can't avoid the big box ones anymore, and has hopefully noticed the woefully low selection of quality books compared to the disturbingly high selection of mediocre (or worse) new releases. Not at Bindlestiff. Whenever I ... Continue

Gold Standard Cafe

Disappearing Veggies

by Laura Amann

Gold Standard Cafe in West Philly reminds me of the used bike that I bought off of Craigslist a few years back. It was a shiny blue cruiser, and it looked great in the pictures. I jumped on the $150 deal, making the transaction without ever riding said bicycle. Well, one broken pedal, faulty gear-shifts and an over-priced tune-up later, the bike still ran pretty poorly. Still, something about it being a shiny blue cruiser made me want to love it, delaying its inevitable sale for a few months. We ... Continue

Palm Tree Market

Upscale Convenience

by Nathan Fried

Forget that last spice? Let's hit up the Palm Tree. It's Northern Liberties' answer to a 7-11 or a WAWA. However, you won't get that deliciously sweaty conglomerate of meat they call the "hotdog" which has been slowly cooking in its own greasy juices all day. Instead, think of Palm Tree as an upscale quick stop--minus the witty jersey lingo spit out by the immortalized clerk, Randal. It's the place to grab a gourmet panini, some fresh produce, or that last exquisite ingredient for your foie ... Continue

Banana Leaf Malaysian Cuisine

Beyond Chinese

by Mary Elizabeth Sullivan

With the crazy amounts of restaurants in Chinatown, it is hard to pick just one to satisfy your Asian-food craving. Banana Leaf is hands down one of the best eateries Chinatown has to offer. This Malaysian establishment has an extensive menu that is sure to please all types of Asian food lovers. Pad Thai? Got it. Sushi Bar? Check. Wonton Soup? Yup, got that too. Banana Leaf has all the favorites, and over 100 items to choose from, but I suggest going for an original creation. If you li ... Continue