To do this week: Take your good, good dog out
Pup-friendly spots, the best spring veg, and a new cool thing and the library.
On the to-do list this week: Leave the house; bring the dog. We have found the best pup-friendly destinations in the region, whether your pooch wants to walk, run, play, swim, or meet some other creatures. And we also have how to take the biggest bite out of spring, and make the most of spring produce like asparagus, ramps, and fiddleheads. Also, one cool new thing: You’ll soon be able to get plants from the library.
And remember: We’ve collected our best Philly tips all in one place here.
Stay healthy, stay safe, and, as much as possible, it’s still a good idea to stay home.
Know this
🧑⚖️ Who decides what’s in Philly’s budget? by Laura McCrystal and Sean Collins Walsh
🚴♀️ Where can I buy a bike in Philly? by Elizabeth Wellington
🛍️ What are the best places to buy cozy clothes in Philly? by Elizabeth Wellington
🥡 Where can I find good vegan Chinese food? by Grace Dickinson
🔫 How can you get rid of an unwanted gun? by Nick Vadala
» Ask us a question through Curious Philly: Inquirer.com/askus
Do this
Here is one highlight from our weekly events calendar:
🎤 First Person Arts Virtual StorySlam: Keep it Movin’ (Performance / virtual) Perseverance through tough times is the theme for this month’s pay-what-you-can First Person Arts’ virtual StorySlam. Listen to local storytellers share their tales of tenacity during a year-plus-long pandemic and through the reawakened pain that 2020 heightened for BIPOC communities. The mic is also open to guests who have stories to share. ($10-$25, April 20, 7:30 p.m., firstpersonarts.org, add to calendar)
🔎 Find more of this week’s events, and we even have a kid-friendly events calendar, too.
Bring the dog
You want to get outside. So does your dog. If you’re tired of your same old neighborhood routes, we’ve got some new destinations for you: 13 of the best dog-friendly parks, hikes, and beaches in the city, burbs and region. Some you may know, others not, but among the dog-friendly local destinations, we’ve got:
Play areas with artificial turf to keep your pup’s paws safe and clean (Schuylkill River Park, Philly)
A pool with pet-friendly saline, which can be reserved for private use, and you can swim in it too (Philadelphia Animal Hospital’s Second Chance Pool, Philly)
A zoo where your dog can check out the animals (Elmwood Park Zoo Dog Days, Norristown)
A spot with with splash pads, a tennis ball tree (with launcher), a dog tunnel, and more (Beau’s Dream Dog Park, Lancaster)
A park with agility equipment to train (and tire out) your pup (Freedom Barks Dog Park, Medford)
A (somewhat unofficial) beach just for dogs and their owners (Longport Dog Beach, Somers Point)
Frankly, that all sounds fun even if you don’t have a dog. Lots more in our full guide.
» READ MORE: 13 of the best dog parks, hikes, and beaches in the Philly area
Life advice
From Elizabeth Wellington’s story about why getting the vaccine is so emotional:
“The vaccine decreases our feelings of distress, stress associated with trauma and loss, and it amplifies eustress, stress associated with blessings and abundance. ‘Whether you have lost a loved one or taken a dream job across the country, the stress reactions are the same,’ says Heather Hersh, clinical psychologist and founder of Thrive Well-Being. ‘Even good stress can impact our heart rates, our sleep patterns and it makes it hard for our parasympathetic nervous system to kick in and self-soothe us.’”
» READ MORE: It’s normal to feel emotional about the vaccine. Here’s why it’s a rollercoaster.
Eat spring
What a relief spring is, hey? Not only because the weather is warmer and the trees are pretty; there’s a ton to nibble on as the first spring harvest hits our plates. Among the best stuff to seek out and snatch up: ramps, fiddleheads, morels, asparagus, green almonds and artichokes. Not sure where to find them or what to do with them? We have you covered with our guide to spring produce in Philly, including where you can eat them on city menus if you don’t feel like cooking yourself.
» READ MORE: Special spring produce is coming into season. Here’s what to look for and where to find it.
One cool thing
Pretty soon, you will be able to get a free plant at the library. You know you can grab a book at the library, but what about a plant? The Free Library is opening up a plant cutting swap station, where you bring a cutting, take a cutting. It’s a free way to expand your home jungle. Here’s how it works.
» READ MORE: The Free Library is opening a plant cutting swap station. Here’s how it works.
COVID-19 resources
More at Inquirer.com/covid-tips