Brewerytown: Coffee Shop Doubles as a Resource for Former Foster Youths
Though it seems like an ordinary coffee shop, The Monkey & The Elephant in Brewerytown is an entirely unique organization. Its only employees, besides management, are young people who have just recently exited the foster system. Lisa Miccolis, the founder and executive director of The Monkey & The Elephant, pictured above, had years of experience working […]
South Philadelphia: What’s Brewing? Coffee — And Plenty Of It
In the neighborhoods east of Broad Street and south of Washington Avenue are a handful of coffee shops that are no more than 10 years old. They’re not Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks, but they’re staffed with families and baristas who consider coffee brewing their livelihood. Despite their young stature, employees from each of the five […]
Feltonville: Roastmaster Joe Cesa Heads Fair Trade Bean-Team
Fair trade is no sales gimmick for pioneering coffee roaster Joe Cesa.
It takes a special person to coax a smile out of a caffeine addict who has yet to have their morning cup of Joe. Or maybe it just takes a guy named Joe. Enter Joe Cesa. He has both categories covered. Bonus: He’ll make you coffee. It’s 10 a.m. on a Tuesday and Cesa is […]
Olde Kensington: Five Creative Places for Your Artistic Palate
Olde Kensington is a close-knit community with a thriving arts and culture scene (watch out, Fishtown). On every street you will encounter anything from an art recycling center to a monstrous exhibition hub. Want to brush up on your photography skills? Grab a cup of premium-sourced coffee? Network at a trendy gallery event? In Olde […]
Fishtown: Tea Making its Mark in a Coffee Culture
In a city where coffee shops and roasters trump nearly every other food service market, cafes continuously strive to stand out above the rest. For many of these businesses, tea may be the answer. Throughout Fishtown, where independently owned coffee shops populate the majority of the retail business in the neighborhood, coffee is nearly a […]
Chestnut Hill: Five Places to Escape Philadelphia Without Leaving the City
The concrete jungle of Philadelphia can sometimes drive citygoers mad. Regardless of your love or hate for city life, sometimes you just need an escape. Whether it be to a park to collect your thoughts or just a trip to a bookstore for some much needed “me” time, Chestnut Hill offers places for residents to […]
Old City: Coffee and Cleanups at United By Blue
United By Blue is a clothing store and café that focuses on keeping oceans and waterways clean and beautiful through community cleanups and sustainable business practices. While the storefront officially opened in the fall of 2013, the company has been operating since 2010, hosting 102 cleanups across 21 states. While these outdoor events have helped […]
Brewerytown: Mt. Airy’s High Point Cafe to Add Life to Girard Avenue
The Brewerytown section of Philadelphia has had its highs and lows but right now, it’s on the rise. Businesses are moving in and plans are being made for the part of the city that was once left in the dust. Entrepreneurs and development planners alike are devising their own ways to bring the Brewerytown section […]
Feltonville: Colombian Bakery Cooks Up Treats
Though the name may make someone think Delicias Criollas Colombians Bakery only caters to the large Latino community in Feltonville, shop owner Rosemary Paicedo said part of the reason why she loves owning the bakery in this area is the diversity of the clientele. “So many different races in this area like different treats, we […]
East Falls: Inking through Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Last year Sean Murray was looking for a space in Philadelphia to open a tattoo parlor. He ended up with not only a tattoo parlor, but also a cafe and art gallery. Located at 3720 Midvale Ave. in East Falls, Java Ink has been open since July. Murray took the cozy three-room shop after his […]