Unless you work in a pharmacy or hospital, volunteer opportunities to help roll out the vaccine in Philly might not seem super apparent. BUT they exist and I’m trying to list them as I go.

• Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps – This group includes local volunteers to assist with public health emergencies as well as day-to-day tasks like health screenings and community education. They’ve existed long before the pandemic, but could use help from anyone with medical background OR not! If you register through THIS SITE select COVID Support and there is an option for COVID mass vaccination
• Multilingual COVID19 Vaccine Champion – Imagine a census worker but in your own community, helping educate your neighbors about the vaccine. A Vaccine Champion is a trusted messenger trained to deliver accurate information about the vaccine to their peers. The COVID-19 Vaccine Champion training will be a 90-minute multilingual session that covers a variety of topics related to the COVID-19 vaccine. 
• Black Doctors COVID19 Consortium – I’m BLOWN away by the grind of BDCC. They’ve done 24 hour vax-a-thons, serving the hardest hit communities in Philly. They could REALLY use your help.
• MANNA – they’ve been feeding those with chronic illnesses for decades now, and they could really use your help these days.
• Everybody Eats: A group of Philly chefs host this traveling food drive that lands in different neighborhoods to give out free meals and essentials. Follow Everybody Eats on social media to see where the next one will take place and sign up to volunteer.
• Jewish Relief Agency: This organization uses volunteers to distribute pantry staples and fresh produce to 6,000 low-income people in the region. The food is kosher, but clients do not need to be Jewish to receive assistance. Sign up to volunteer.
• Philabundance: Philly’s hunger relief powerhouse distributes more than 24 million pounds of food a year to those in need with the help of a robust volunteer program. Get involved.
• Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission: This century-old organization serves those experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia by providing three meals a day to anyone in need. Get involved.

Happy to add more when I see them, but wanted to throw some opportunities out there to kick things off!

• Philly-based Studios that are hosting classes online  (I’m  a sucker for my city)
  • Three Queens Yoga is offering streaming classes via their Instagram Live! Venmo the instructors directly, get a great workout, and wear your pajamas while doing it!
  • Got a kettlebell or some weights at home? Need some coaches to tell you how the heck to use them? KG Strong has got you covered with online sessions and virtual training.
  • Unite Fitness has started releasing some At-Home Workouts that only require some space, no equipment.  This is accessible via their Instagram, and the always-badass Juliet Root kicked things off with this badass post. They’ve also got live classes now, and you can sign up via their website HERE. First class is free with code LIVE1.
  • Got any weights at home? For $27.99/month, RippedPHLis offering an on-demand service with streaming videos for those of you aiming to get RIPPED at home!
  • CarlyFit – queen of beach workouts and the Rumble boxing room – is hosting 2x daily workouts on Zoom (classes cost $5 each or 5 for $20). DM heryour email to get in on it!
  • City Fitness, despite closing their doors, has the inimitable Jon Lyons dishing up videos on the WE/FIT YouTube page!
  • Tuck Barre & Yoga had to shut down all of their locations, including one that was due to open over the weekend! Lucky for you, they’re hosting Facebook Live sessions a few times a day FO’ FREE!
  • The triplets of Triyo Fitness are bringing their signature sweat sessions to your door, and already released their first at-home workout that requires ZERO equipment, but breaks one hell of a sweat. They collectively teach all over the city, from Unite to Rumble to Barry’s, so trust me, you’re gonna work.
  • Serena Fit’s virtual studio has been a favorite of mine for years – she’s got #athomeworkouts down to an art, and you can get two weeks for $24.99. She’s got a buttload of styles to sweat, and does a great job of correcting form from afar!
  • Mackie Root from Unite Fitness has 20 at-home workouts available for free download! Need more personal attention? There’s an option for that, too if you want to level-up your attention (trust me, this guy could teach you on a desert island and you’d get jacked).
  • BPM Fitness is going to be delivering some streaming at-home options soon (written 3/16, will update when live)
  • Kim Harari – from the Fitler Club to your front door (but not literally), she’s bringing together fitpros from around Philly and getting live-streaming and at-home workouts via PDF. Keep an eye on her Insta.
  • Remix Fitness is based in Horsham, but NOW their online workouts can be based from ANYWHERE in your home! Follow their social for some lockdown workouts.
  • Peace at the Park would typically be kicking off another season of outdoor workouts at Washington Square Park this time of year, but due to Covid 19, they’re switching gears to virtual classes. Follow their Insta for more details.
  • Motion Melissa has been doing virtual training for basically ever BUT she’s offering a few freebies via THIS LINK. Try the quickie arms – it’s no joke! And other classes range from $2-6 to rent.
  • Fit Academy is offering space at the studio to come in still – but if you’re trying to sweat from the safety of home, they’ve already got a handful of workouts on their insta and are going to be posting regularly on IG TV.
  • Follow Focus Barre & Yoga for some streaming classes soon! (nothing as of 3/16, will post when live)
  • Kate DeGennaro of Flywheel and SLT infamy is also offering four weeks of equipment-free workouts Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 7:15am (great for us early-birds!) for the next four weeks (just email her at kate.degennaro11@gmail.com)
  • Sydni Arnett from Barry’s and Everybody Fights has just posted her first at-home workout on Youtube! What a doll.
  • Want something a little more one-on-one? Jackie Dragone of Rhythm Lab is offering privates via Facetime – DM her for pricing and details. BUT if you’re down for a group style, she’s also got Live Streaming workouts from 3/18-3/22 daily (schedule here).
  • Teagan Schweitzer of @yogawithteagan  has a lot of video content of yoga in some GLORIOUS spaces (like Rome!) already, but she’s adding new classes this week. Easy payment, soothing visuals, namaste.

Other spots to stream online workouts

• Big shouts to City Fitness’ Riley Stanford for putting together this YouTube Playlist of some of Les Mill’s Finest! Great if you need a little longer, and all equipment-free.
• Barre buddies? Sign up for a 15-day FREE trial of Barre3 and get unlimited access to the at-home workouts.
• CorePower Yoga has a special selection of on-demand classes totally FREE. And as of 3:54pm 3/16 this link is a little wonky, but generally it should work!
• obé Fitness – they’ve been doing the “streaming workouts” basically forever, and they’ve got a GREAT variety of classes. PLUS if you use code SWEATSANDTHECITY you can get a 30-day free trial.
• NEOU Fitness – stream for 30 days, free for first-timers!
• Tone It Up Fitness – longtime favorite of fit-heads who love to sweat at home, they’re offering a free 30-days for first-time users!

I couldn’t really tell you offhand, but a quick scan of social suggests Instagramming my food, going to Mexico in some strange semblance of a 28 year old’s spring break, dressing for theme parties, and dating like it was a part-time job.

What Instagram won’t tell you is that I was also questioning my career choices, occasionally lonely and missing the friendships of my college days (despite graduating in 2009), and trying desperately to figure out how to be:

a) Authentically myself

b) Cool

c) Satisfied

If that’s not PostGrad Problems, I don’t know what is.

During this time, I stumbled across the content of one Will deFries, through his iconic series “Things Girls Do After Graduation“. And after devouring everything he’d written about these ladies (worth a read, but that’s not what this post is about), I stumbled onto this podcast, Touching Base. Turns out these guys, too, were gearing up for a “Spring Break Cruise” with people way younger than they were, and so I decided I’d give it a listen.

I didn’t work in a corporate environment (just a big hospital), I didn’t play golf, I could care less about most professional sports, and I wasn’t watching The Bachelor OR The Bachelorette. But listening to these three (eventually four) Austin-based hosts, David Ruff, Dillon Cheverere, Micah Wiener, and Will, speak about their day-to-day lives, their takes (hot or lukewarm as they may have been) on Instagram, socializing as an adult, and dating, and the politics of that elusive check mark on Twitter, made the commute to work, the long days occasionally devoid of real human interaction, and the occasional train ride peppered with laughter, insight, and, somehow, camaraderie.

The boys

It’s pretty wild that we can get so invested in someone’s voice. People we have never met, and likely never will (though if any of you boys join Dan on a Philly trip, I’d love to buy you each one beer). But for over two years, I’ve listened to these guys “talk about nothing” more than most of my family and friends. I’m a part of inside jokes that none of my friends know about, and whether it’s waxing nostalgic about Old Gene, stifling laughter any time someone asks what time the rest of the guests are coming (the rest of the guests are what?) or laying out my weekend in fun on Instagram, these guys became like a second family (or at least like, a second friend group).

That’s why, five days ago, after reading Will’s post explaining the layoffs that affected Dave and Dillon, I found myself sitting at 40th and Market, waiting for Philadelphia’s rapid transit system after a particularly painful eyebrow wax in preparation for a bachelorette party,  crying into my Lululemon thumbholed-sleeves, wondering how the hell my weeks were going to be half as pleasant without the calming voices of my four favorite strangers. Reading through the comments on the post, I was not alone, not by a long shot.

So I just wanted to say thank you. Though Will and Micah seem to be safe for now, I know things won’t really ever be the same. You all stumbled across something pretty magical. I would be thrilled to learn that something comes together and that lightning strikes twice. But, if it doesn’t, thanks for the memories. The FMK (but with other stuff), the music advice, the chumps, the champs, the bracket, the Homie, Rosie and Randy, Cabeza-watch, the brunches, the Lost Tapes, the SZNs, the kings, the mamis, the savage cuckery, the Bean, the worst weekends, the Best ofs, the Vice headlines, the Gas Station, the Bunsen Burner, two minutes in Paradise,  and the popcorn lung.

Still waiting on that mousepad, Micah.

Okay, we love you, bye.

But maybe you’re just here because you wanna know about Philly Free Streets this year. In that case, read on.

I was pumped for this year’s event. I even wrote a feature about this year’s Philly Free Streets over on Fitt Philly. I’d checked my bike tires, woke up early (well, for a Saturday), suited up, and rode over with my pal Sammy. We were hype to take a power walk with Mayor Jim Kenney before riding our bikes along the 3.5 mile route.

The kickoff schedule

Best laid plans, amirite?

The hour of 9 came and went, and then so did 9:30. We actually stuck it out until 9:40 before deciding it was time to get busy living, but this was an inauspicious start…

Let’s break it down a little bit:

THE GOOD

Free Streets – not much can be bad about that, right? The weather was crisp and wonderful, there were different city groups and services out doing demos, offering goodies, and beautifying spaces.

I really loved the Pedestrian Plaza by the Al Aqsa Islamic Society, Parks & Rec, and Mural Arts Philadelphia – adirondack chairs, chalk, lots of conversations and connections.

People brought their A-game for riding (loved this skeleton from the Kidical Mass ride, and penny-farthing in blue – snaps to this guy for balance!)

Click to view slideshow.

There was an area at the end of the route, El Centro de Oro in the Fairhill neighborhood that I can almost guarantee I never would’ve explored otherwise. I jumped into a Zumba dance class with strangers. I helped paint a mural. It was wonderful.

Shoutout to Mural Arts!

THE BAD

Two words:

Pokémon

GO.

This app was released in summer 2016. I vaguely remember some friends and peers getting obsessed, and then losing steam & interest, and then never discussing it again. Flash in the pan, right?

Wrong.

Pokémon GO’s creators, Niantic, Inc., partnered with Philly Free Streets for an epic Pokémon GO integration along the route. And, up until about two weeks before the event, this was the ONLY information available on the PFS “Program Details” Page. Neverthless, I was shocked at the sheer volume of Pokémon GO players, teams, swag, etc that clogged the event. People were walking around armed with maps, portable chargers, wearing Pokémon swag, and meeting up with their “teammates” from around the country. The event was listed on the Niantic, Inc. website, and considering the game still has about 65 million active monthly users, that brought folks from far and wide.

Being on a bike during the 3 hours that I was out at the event was incredibly challenging, as clusters of players would stop in the middle of the streets, intently staring at their phones, enjoying this augmented reality. They wouldn’t look up, they rarely reacted to calls of “on your left” and it felt dangerous.

Thanks to @joey4017 for this shot of folks glued to their phones, catching them all.

I don’t know if there was some sort of benefit the city got from this Pokémon partnership, but as someone trying to enjoy the event without the app, it was painful. I almost think I would’ve been supportive of cutting my “free streets” time down by an hour and giving these Poké-people an hour all to themselves, if it meant they weren’t clustering in the streets for the other 4 hours.

THE UGLY

Trash trucks – not vehicles that I spend much time around on a regular basis, but I respect the hell out of them. They keep our streets cleaner than several other cities I have visited.

Unfortunately, they served as the barrier between the (mostly) free streets. The new route was not TRULY a car-free 3.5 miles, as the north-south path crossed several major intersections that were not shut down. Good for traffic, but also challenging as a rider, a walker, and for anyone with strollers. The space they left on the road was about 2 people wide on either side, so there was a lot of stop and go along the way.

They were smelly, which I guess is the nature of trash cans, but it’s worth noting the aroma of garbage is what my mind recalls when thinking of sensory experiences at Free Streets.

Final thoughts

Did I have fun? Sure.

Could it be improved? Well, what event couldn’t.

Full disclosure: I am on the planning team for Dîner en Blanc Philadelphia and we spend at least a month following each event reviewing what went wrong, right, and what we could do better, and several months leading up to the next one reviewing those same issues.

But this Pokémon thing REALLY tainted the vibe of Philly Free Streets to me. I thought this year was supposed to be all about connecting neighborhoods (last year’s was mostly along South Street, connecting pretty much the same folks that go to all the summer festivals already). And, to an extent, I felt some of that. But mostly I felt like I was imposing on a Pokémon GO convention with the occasional table for IndeGo or the Philly Water Department.

Here’s hoping that some good times this year turn into better ones next year.

****UPDATE: I have actually been writing more than ever. Someone just decided that I could make a part-time gig out of it…. I’ve been channeling many of my words and social time to Fitt Philadelphia, so if you’re ever wondering what fitness events you should do each month, or when the new megaformer studio is opening, or where to find the most innovative workout spots in the city, I’d recommend hopping over there. ****

Promise, we can be nice, too.

There’s nowhere this is more evident than in the numerous collaborations our chefs, restaurateurs, and purveyors of adult beverages put together on a regular basis. I’ve noshed on lamb Barbacoa dumplings from Han Chiang of Han Dynasty & the gang from South Philly Barbacoa, nibbled Sweetgreen’s salad designed by Zahav’s Mike Solomonov, and, most recently, got to enjoy a pastry and drink pairing courtesy of two of Fishtown’s sweethearts (and neighbors!) – Cake Life and Kensington Quarters.

Last week, the team from Cake Life and Tim Kweeder of Kensington Quarters, along with Jason Malumed of MFW Wine, banded together for an epic guided pastry & beverage pairing. While the wines were sourced from the region of Southwest France, the pastries were the brain-children of the brilliant minds of Lily & Nima, Cake Life’s co-owners.

This was the fifth in a Summer Series the shop hosted highlighting either wines or spirits, and was one of the most fun nights I’ve had all summer. From 7:30-10(ish… five courses and wines in, and time was a loose concept), Jason and Tim led us through South by Southwest France – using tunes from the notorious music festival as a soundtrack.

This tray is what dreams are made of…

We enjoyed savory and sweet treats highlighting seasonal ingredients like melon, tomato, and peaches. We salivated over syrupy sausage rolls and SOME of us may have even licked our plates after a particularly mouthwatering almond-plum cake, our final course of the night.

Oh, that’s just a prosciutto crisp topping that Melon Tartlet

The time and consideration that went into the wine pairing was evident with each sip, and Jason and Tim brought us on a whirlwind tour through Southwest France that had me checking Google flights and vineyard tours.

Sauvignon Blanc & goat cheese / tomato jam Croisstini – think the most elevated take on pizza & wine 

While the Summer Pairing Series is done for the season, Cake Life has a lot more up their sleeves… Keep your eyes peeled for similar, seasonally appropriate pastry-pairings to go down monthly. PLUS if you wanna get an amazing taste-tour through Cake Life’s goodies, try one of their Second Saturday Tastings, where duos can eat their way through the shop’s pie, tart, or cake flavors and fillings (BYOB at night – making this the ULTIMATE date night activity!)

Thanks Cake Life for making Philly (and Fishtown) a little sweeter and to Tim and Jason for livening the mood and making us look at Sauvignon Blanc in a way we never had before.