The Philly Curator

05/24/2026

Coming to Philly for FIFA? I’ve got your weekend covered.

Where to stay, what to eat, what to see, and how to soak up the energy of the city before and after the match.

Check out my new blog with all the details. If you want a personalized itinerary, I can help with that too.
https://www.thephillycurator.com/blog/how-to-spend-your-fifa-weekend-in-philadelphia

05/11/2026

One of my favorite weekends of the entire year is almost here — the Italian Market Festival is back on May 16–17! 🍕🎶

Seven blocks of South Philly at its absolute best. We're talking live music, incredible food vendors, Di Bruno Bros, Isgro's cannoli, and yes — the greased pole. It's loud, it's packed, and it is pure Philadelphia.

If you've never been, this is the one to put on your list. If you're a regular, you already know.

I've got everything you need on the blog — plus the full 2026 Philadelphia events calendar so you can plan your whole year. https://www.thephillycurator.com/blog/philadelphia-knows-how-to-throw-a-street-festival

04/24/2026

I had the opportunity to volunteer at a special event this morning at Independence Hall: a dedication celebrating new window treatments for Independence Hall being created just in time for the Semiquincentennial.

The Pennsylvania Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) has raised $70K of their $100K goal to fund this project. Their support will allow artisans to recreate the window treatments using true 18th‑century materials and techniques (currently being hand woven and hand dyed), restoring the way light originally entered the room. This is the same light that fell across the desks of Franklin, Jefferson, and the delegates shaping the Constitution.

As Superintendent Steve Simms said, standing inside Independence Hall feels like stepping into “an immersive history book of our nation.” And projects like this are what make that possible — the details that help us see the room as they saw it, and feel the weight of the work they did here.

A meaningful reminder of the care, craft, and collaboration that keep Philly’s history alive.

Independence Historical Trust

04/19/2026

If you’ve ever asked me, “Where should we go in Philly?” this one’s for you.

After years of walking these streets, designing itineraries, and watching people fall in love with this city in real time, I put together the list I recommend first to anyone visiting Philadelphia.

Not the obvious tourist stops. Not the trendy-for-a-minute places. These are the spots that never miss — the ones that feel warm, walkable, historic, a little scrappy, a little elegant, and unmistakably Philly.

Think:
✨ A Queen Village park glowing at dusk
✨ The smell of Italian cookies drifting out of Isgro’s
✨ A museum gallery people often walks past
✨ A historic market that still feels like a gathering place
✨ A restaurant that shows off Philly’s confidence
✨ A rooftop view that stops people mid‑sentence
✨ And a mosaic‑hunting walk through South Philly that makes visitors say, “Oh… I get it now.”

If you want to see the real Philadelphia, the one locals love, this list is where to start.

Read the full guide here:

Discover the seven Philadelphia spots I always recommend first — from a Queen Village park at dusk and South Philly’s mosaic‑lined streets to iconic bakeries, unforgettable restaurants, and skyline views. This curated, insider guide captures the real heartbeat of Philly through walkable neighb...

04/19/2026

So much history in just a few city blocks....

04/17/2026

Indoor bar, rooftop bar, waterfront views… the Moshulu really delivered. We stopped in for happy hour and ended up turning it into a full friends‑night‑out reset. Great drinks, great energy, and one of those classic Philly spots that always feels like a mini escape on the water.

04/14/2026

I walk past Ben Franklin’s grave at Christ's Church cemetary almost every day, and I always toss a penny on the stone. It's my way of saying "hello" to Ben each day.

Fun fact: Christ Church Cemetery collects about $3,000 a year from all those pennies. People toss them for all kinds of reasons, but my favorite is this one — Ben said “a penny saved is a penny earned,” so of course we’re out here giving them right back to him.

There’s a local legend: if you toss your penny at night and walk away, you might hear it bounce back out of the cemetery. As if Ben’s like, “No thanks, keep it.”

I still toss mine every time.

04/12/2026

Philadelphia wasn’t founded by Italians… but Italians helped shape the heartbeat of this city in ways we still feel every single day.

The accent, the food, the stoop culture, the Sunday gravy drifting out of rowhome windows. So much of what we call “Philly” carries an Italian echo.

I just published a new blog exploring how South Philly’s Italian community shaped our neighborhoods, our restaurants, our traditions, and even the way we talk.

If you love the Italian Market, red‑gravy spots, handmade pasta, or the old‑school South Philly accent… this one’s for you. ❤️🇮🇹

Read it here: https://www.thephillycurator.com/blog/the-italian-heart-of-philadelphia-how-a-heritage-became-a-way-of-life

04/10/2026

On my walk home today, I passed the National Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia on Broad Street. Saint Rita is the the patron saint of impossible causes and I swear she gave me a wink.
Starting a new business from scratch isn’t impossible, but let’s just say St. Rita would make an excellent honorary team member on certain days.

Fun fact: St. Rita’s South Philly church actually began in a converted stable in the early 1900s before transforming into the beautiful landmark you see today. Philly has always believed in glow‑ups and second acts.

If you’re exploring Center City, you can visit the shrine or the church yourself. Sometimes it’s good to get a little backup for your own impossible causes and this city is full of places that remind you what’s possible.

04/09/2026

For visitors who want to take a little Philly home with them. Something that feels personal, stylish, and rooted in the real city — East Passyunk has two absolute gems.

Red Gravy Goods and Occasionette are my go‑tos for Philly-themed gifts that don’t feel like souvenirs. No kitschy Liberty Bell ashtrays or Rocky shot glasses (well, you might actually find a Rocky shot glass at Red Gravy, but I promise it will be charming). Instead, you’ll find beautifully curated, design-forward treasures: pillows, prints, clothing, kitchen goods, clever cards, stickers, neighborhood-inspired pieces, and the kind of small delights that make you think, “Oh… this is so Philly.”

What I love most is that everything feels intentional. These shops capture the warmth, creativity, and quiet charm of the city. The version of Philadelphia you only discover when you wander a little deeper into its neighborhoods.

Whether you’re visiting, hosting visitors, or just want to treat yourself, Red Gravy and Occasionette are perfect places to find something that carries Philly’s heart home with you.

04/08/2026

A new Philly attraction, The Ministry of Awe MoA Philly, has opened inside the old Manufacturers National Bank building in Old City and it’s one of those places that refuses to tell you what it is. Part art installation, part old‑bank fever dream, it’s a maze of rooms that dares you to slow down and actually notice something.

More than 100 Philadelphia artists, performers, and makers contributed to the space, creating something that feels less like an installation and more like a living, collaborative imagination.

I visited on a quiet Tuesday afternoon and had the place almost entirely to myself, which made everything feel even stranger and more intimate.

My favorite spot ended up being the Conference Room — a glowing oval table lined with old candlestick telephones and surrounded by oddities and half‑told stories. Maybe I’m too literal, but it felt like an escape‑room puzzle I couldn’t quite solve.

If you go, don’t expect anything specific. Just wander. Notice what you notice. Let the place work on you in its own strange way.