Travel With the Twins: 24 Hours in Philadelphia
Kathryn here! It was my husband Nick’s birthday, and for the guy who loves clothes (and already knows what he likes and buys it!), gifting can be tricky. So, I decided to go the travel route and booked a 24-hour getaway to the City of Brotherly Love. It’s so close to New York, yet 24 hours felt like a whole lot more. The mix of pampering, art & culture, and amazing food made for a super successful birthday weekend.
Philly-bound! Nick in a Wythe New York coat (that got him compliments all weekend) and me in my favorite new Gigi Burris Sharina hat.
Getting there:
One of the biggest perks of Philadelphia is its proximity to NYC. We drove (~2 hours), but Amtrak is fast and efficient (book early for much better rates).
Lunch en Route to Center City:
We stopped in Philadelphia’s cool Fishtown neighborhood en route to Center City for Saturday brunch at Bastia, the Corsican-inspired restaurant inside Hotel Anna & Bel (which looked lovely and where I’d absolutely book if we return with Johnny in the summer months—check out their courtyard, pool, and outdoor dining spaces).
It just so happens that one of our dear friends from growing up, Tyler Akin, is the chef-partner, and wow—was the meal, setting, and overall experience phenomenal. From my perfectly spiced Bloody Mary to the Mediterranean-inspired brunch, to the extra dishes Tyler sent so we could experience the dinner menu (at 11 a.m.), we loved every bite. This is a must-visit.
Walk Off That Meal with Some Neighborhood Shopping:
As mentioned, Nick knows and loves great menswear, so he was excited to check out Junior’s, a dapper made-to-measure and clothing shop near Rittenhouse. This felt like the exciting, small-boutique, designer-owned shopping that I loved exploring in NYC 15 years ago and is harder to come by these days. By the way, I am no football fan, but for all of you Eagles fanatics, check out this collaboration.
I asked the guys at Junior’s where they recommended as the equivalent womenswear offering in the neighborhood, and they sent me to Rennes, an Old City-based, multi-brand boutique. I’m surprised I wasn’t already familiar with it, given my obsession with regional boutiques and their stock of some covetable, hard-to-find designers.
I respect (and relate to) the founder’s description on the About page:
"Still fiercely independent, and most certainly not a trust fund project or something VC has gotten its tentacles into (yes, accusations of both have been leveled—as if?!), the shop is a labor of love and true grit. We like to keep things just a little bit different, so if that rings true—please feel right at home here and come say hi. We believe in celebrating independent design, craftsmanship, and people who are doing cool stuff."
I’ve also heard Vestige is another amazing Philadelphia boutique (our BFF says that in her dream life, she’d only shop there). I’ll have to visit on my next trip!
Candles and incredibly realistic fruit soaps at Rennes. Trying on Skall pants and a High Sport top—two aspirational brands.
Lastly, be sure to check out Quail Store, a super well-curated shop of homewares and accessories. This is one of those places that Lizzie and I love—where we need nothing but adore everything!
Hotel Check-In and a Little R&R:
I splurged and booked us a night at the Four Seasons Philadelphia, which I must say, was worth every dollar. The hotel has been recently renovated and is housed inside the Comcast Center, with check-in on the 60th floor of one of the tallest buildings in the city. Our room had a sprawling view and was plush, spacious, and luxurious. I checked out the gym and steam/sauna areas and can confidently say you could spend a weekend in the spa alone.
Be sure to grab a drink at the Four Seasons’ SkyHigh bar for fancy cocktails and spectacular views.
Image by @fsphiladelphia. Dinner look: Pleats Please pants, a Kallmeyer sheer turtleneck, Rachel Comey black boots, and my LF Florence belt.
Dinner Out:
One of the main reasons we chose a weekend in Philly was to visit our close friends Hannah & Claudio. Hannah is quite senior at Resy, and through her work (and their love of good food and good people), she and Claudio have become friends with Mike Solomonov, the incredible chef and restaurateur championing Israeli cuisine in Philadelphia and beyond.
Mike is super well-known for his first restaurant, Zahav, as well as Laser Wolf (which has an outpost in Brooklyn). We dined at the recently opened Jaffa Bar (also in Fishtown) and ate (and loved) practically every item on the menu. Everything was delicious, but be sure not to miss the Endive Salad and Honeynut Squash (both weirdly delicious), Shabazi Shrimp, and Scallops & Merguez.
Oysters at Jaffa Bar. After-dinner drinks at SkyHigh at the Four Seasons.
Sunday Morning: A Cultural Excursion Before Hitting the Road
On Sunday morning, we picked up bagels and headed to The Barnes Foundation, the exceptional private collection of Dr. Albert C. Barnes, which includes an incredible collection of works from Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, and Picasso.
I highly recommend the one-hour guided Highlights tour to hear extraordinary anecdotes about Barnes and his ahead-of-his-time aesthetic and collection. You could spend hours here—there are SO many pieces. It’s a really special and remarkable stop.
Kathryn's Packing List:
1. For anyone who follows Lizzie and me, they know we are Gigi Burris fanatics. Her pieces are the perfect outfit toppers, and I absolutely adore the Sharina Hat. I’ve been wearing it non-stop, both outside and inside, as part of my ‘look.’
2. I’ve also been living in our Piet Hoops in Silver. They’re so lightweight that I forget I’m wearing them, plus they go with everything. I feel like a ‘cool girl’ in our recent silver jewelry drop. I’m pairing these earrings with our Luna Pendant and Organic Cuff— all in silver tones.
3. This is my color! I love this precious (but not too precious) shade of lavender, and I really like Lisa Yang’s pieces. They’re flattering and wear so well.
4. Where have these gloves been for the past two freezing NYC winter months?! I’ll take one in every color, please. ;)
5. Such a good coffee table addition!
6. Lizzie and I recently discovered this Scandinavian, sister-led brand. Their denim is amazing, and I’m so into these wool trousers—comfortable enough for a day of running around, yet they feel grown-up and chic!
7. I wear our belts a lot—they make my outfits feel put together and complete. The Florence Belt is my preferred topper!
8. Our Lamai Heart Necklace is a premade neckmess at its best. Turquoise stones with a chrysoprase heart are both sweet and cool—we guarantee compliments.
9. I’m not a huge 'bag' gal. I’m not a fan of the logo-bag-as-status-symbol and prefer timeless—not trendy—pieces. That’s why I’m lusting after Toteme’s T-Lock clutch. The shape is fabulous, the cross-body strap is a must, and I love how subtle and refined it feels.
10. And while we’re on Toteme, here are my ideal city-walking shoes.
11. I’m a big fan of snail mail, and what better souvenir from our morning at the Barnes Foundation?
12. Okay, I know I said I wasn’t a 'bag' gal, but this weekender is perfection.
13. Lizzie is going to want to fight me for these!
