Eat. Pray. Shop.

Like Northern Liberties five years ago, the stretch of Girard Avenue between Frankford Avenue and 6th Street is suddenly - exuberantly - a full-fledged destination.

"There's new stuff opening up all the time, little stores, little restaurants," said Nick Cassway, executive director of the Nexus art gallery, which has relocated from Old City to the brave new Crane Arts complex just north of the avenue, off 2nd Street.

Along with the little places to shop and eat, there's a vibrant new Girard Avenue art scene that's starting to draw Old City-size crowds to its monthly Second Thursday gallery openings.

The National Shrine of Saint John Neumann is here, too, quietly attracting about 15,000 visitors a year, many with tour groups. The Vatican has attributed three official miracles to Bishop Neumann, whose body lies encased in glass beneath the altar of Saint Peter the Apostle church at 5th and Girard.

Put it all together, as we've done here, and you can map out an itinerary for a lively day trip to these former badlands, now considered by real-estate types to be part of "the greater Northern Liberties community."

Be forewarned that some of the entrepreneurial young Girard Avenue shopkeepers run a loose ship when it comes to business hours. Saturdays and second Thursdays are your best bet to catch the majority of them.

As a bonus, the alt-music club The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) is running an outdoor Saturday evening summer concert series this year at the Curbside Chef parking lot down the street. The 7 p.m. concerts, which began last week, are free, all-ages shows.

Tiffin

710 W. Girard Ave.

Universally acclaimed Indian food. The saag paneer, especially, comes highly recommended.

Tequila Sunrise Records

525 W. Girard Ave.

Friendly, obsessively organized indie record store, specializing in obscure reissued LPs and other boutique vinyl.

National Shrine of Saint John Neumann

1019 N. 5th St.

Bishop Neumann is entombed here in a glass coffin. Prayers for requesting a miracle through his intercession are posted in the pews - and online at stjohnneumann.org.

Taco Riendo

1301 N. 5th St.

A counter-service Mexican restaurant known for its posoles (thick soup), tortas and tacos. From the family behind the popular Las Cazuelas.

Orlando Art Collections

433 W. Girard Ave.

A gallery space as baroque as the paintings it showcases, by the Cuban-born, globally acclaimed Orlando Rafael Quevedo.

Las Cazuelas

426 W. Girard Ave.

The pioneering restaurant that first put Girard Avenue on the Philly foodie map. Known for its mole poblano and other authentic Mexican dishes.

Curbside Chef

376 W. Girard Ave.

A casual food joint with posted hours until 11 p.m. on weekends, sometimes extended. The swanky, secret "back bar" seating area is a hidden gem.

Project Basho

1305 Germantown Ave.

A photography school, darkroom, photo gallery and organizer of well-priced "photographic excursions" to destinations in the U.S. and overseas.

Hanusey Music & Gifts

244 W. Girard Ave.

Selling all things Ukrainian for 56 years at the same location, including pysanky Easter eggs, pysanky supplies, Ukrainian embroidery, Ukrainian cookbooks, Ukrainian soccer jerseys and more.

Urbanite Baby

219 W. Girard Ave.

Selling cute, edgy baby T-shirts, a nice selection of wooden toys and chic shower gifts like the $38 "bucket of burpies" - patterned burp cloths packaged in a decorative paint can.

Quince

209 W. Girard Ave.

For shopping: foodie gear like paella pans and decorative nail brushes for cooks. For eating: packaged fancy foods like artisanal preserves from Armenia, plus homemade gourmet soups and sandwiches. Its lunch line is one of the neighborhood's most popular attractions.

Reverie

205 W. Girard Ave.

Nice vintage clothing, housewares and small furniture. The shop also consigns local artists' handmade jewelry and craft items, with a generous 70 percent cut for the artists.

Crane Arts complex

1400 N. American St.

Home of the Ice Box - an art gallery the size of a football field in what used to be a refrigerated warehouse. Also home to Nexus, the 201 Gallery and the InLiquid art network, among a growing roster of arts groups. Open Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

Rebekah Templeton Contemporary Art

173 W. Girard Ave.

A collaboration by avant-garde curators Sarah Eberle and Ben Will, who have art-world roots in London, Berkeley, Calif., and New York City.

Modo Mio

161 W. Girard Ave.

The neighborhood's hottest draw. Diners say the Italian BYOB's pasta dishes leave happy memories for days.

Ototlith

143-47 W. Girard Ave.

Restaurant-quality sustainable seafood, shipped direct from the owners' own fishing vessel in Alaska and sold in pre-packaged assortments. Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays only.

Coffee House

113 W. Girard (Front and Girard)

Serving La Colombe coffee and fancy pastries just steps away from the Market-Frankford El stop. The garden patio out back is a semi-secret oasis. The artwork hanging inside is for sale.

Cornerstone Market & Produce

19 W. Girard Ave.

Visitors can have sandwiches made to order at the deli and eat in at a small but pleasant counter. The store also sells homemade Mediterranean salads and spreads.

Villa & Hut

1105 Frankford Ave.

The first U.S. location of the global chain, which is based in Australia. Includes exotic, inexpensive "eco-friendly" finds like coconut-wood salad servers ($5) and colorful cloth winebags ($4), and the proceeds support AIDS orphans in Malawi.

Johnny Brenda's

1201 N. Frankford Ave.

An anchor of the Girard revival. This Joe Sixpack-approved beer bar has just expanded its dining room and its menu, with more seafood entrees and some Caribbean-influenced grilled foods.