Reward Yourself While in Philly!

Compiled by June Fulton

Champagne
Swanky Bubbles
Swanky Bubbles is an upscale Champagne Bar in Olde City. It opened in late 1999 and is located on Front Street, a few doors in from Market Street. The menu offers 12 champagne-spiked specialty drinks, in addition to a dozen champagnes by the glass and nearly 30 in bottles. If you decide to dine there, the menu is Asian-inspired.
Hours: Daily, 5:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m.; walk-ins accepted; Telephone: (215) 928-1200
Address: 10 South Front Street, Philadelphia
URL: http://www.swankybubbles.com/

Chocolates
Flying Monkey Patisserie
Flying Monkey Patisserie is located in the Reading Terminal Market and serves handcrafted sweets, confections and cakes made with the finest ingredients and a touch of whimsy. Of note to chocolate lovers are the dark chocolate ganache sandwich cookies, brownies amped with cayenne, chocolate-dipped handmade marshmallows, cupcakes (a best seller), and deep, rich dark chocolate layer cake, sometimes available by the slice.
Price: Cupcakes from $1.75 to $3.25; Marshmallows, 75 cents; Brownies, $2.50.
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Sunday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Address: 12th and Arch Streets
URL: www.flyingmonkeyphilly.com/index.html

John & Kira’s
West Philly is proud of these locals whose chocolates have been featured in Gourmet Magazine, the New York Times, Business Week, Wine Spectator, Money, Oprah, Food & Wine, and, most recently, Consumer Reports. Best of all, John Doyle and Kira Baker run one of the country's foremost socially conscious confection businesses. John and Kira's uses mint grown at local public school gardens, organic cream from grass-fed cows, strawberries and lavender from local farmers and cocoa beans from cooperatives to make their dark-chocolate delights, sold online or by telephone, fax, or mail (no retail store).
Price: From $25 for a 15-piece box to $175 for a three month chocolate journey.
Telephone: (800) 747-4808; E-mail: support@johnandkiras.com
URL: www.johnandkiras.com/site/Welcome_business.htm

Naked Chocolate Café
The stylish shop feels like a European coffee house and serves a wide variety of chocolates and desserts handmade on the premises. Sit down and sip a hot or frozen drinking chocolate, pop a freshly whipped buttercream truffle, or nibble on “heart-healthy” dark chocolate piped with antioxidant blueberry, pomegranate, and green tea. Lots of baked goods on the menu, too.
Price: Chocolate drink, $4.50; Truffles, $1.00 each; Chocolate bar, $2.00; Pack of flavored savouries, $5.00.
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 p.m.; Sunday, 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Address: 1317 Walnut Street, Philadelphia; Telephone: (215) 735-7310
URL: www.nakedchocolatecafe.com/



High Tea
Four Seasons Hotel’s Swann Lounge
Tea sippers can choose between “Social Tea” and “Royal Tea,” both of which include tea, scones, finger sandwiches, desserts and fruit tartlets. The “Royal Tea” includes the addition of sparkling wine, sherry, or a raspberry cocktail.
Price: Social Tea is $26; Royal Tea is $32.
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 3:00-4:15 p.m.; reservations required (215) 963-1500.
Address: 1 Logan Square, Philadelphia
URL: www.fourseasons.com/philadelphia

Rittenhouse Hotel’s Mary Cassatt Tea Room and Garden
Guests can nibble on scones, pastries, and tea sandwiches while enjoying afternoon British tea and cocktails. A floral garden provides a scenic vista and warm weather seating just beyond the tea room’s French doors.
Price: The Rittenhouse Signature Tea is $24.95; The Queen Victoria Tea (with champagne) is $29.95; in addition, there is an a la carte menu.
Hours: Daily, 2:00-5:00 p.m.; reservations recommended during the week, required for week-ends (215) 546-9000.
Address: 210 W. Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia
URL: http://www.rittenhousehotel.com/

Ritz-Carlton
Guests can sample an array of light British fare, including tea, sandwiches, pastries and champagne, in the grand, neo-classical Rotunda lounge amidst soaring white marble columns and the oculus of the hotel’s historic architecture.
Price: Traditional Tea is $30; Royal Tea (with champagne) is $35.
Hours: Sunday only, 1:00-2:30 p.m.; reservations required (215) 523-8000.
Address: 10 Avenue of the Arts, Philadelphia
URL: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Philadelphia

Spas
Body Restoration
This center city skin and body work day spa specializes in massage therapy, skin treatments, body therapies and waxing. Signature treatments include: deep tissue massage, warm stone facial, and Brazilian bikini wax. A spa specialty is LaStone Therapy, the original hot stone massage. Over 50 stones are used during a treatment. Different sizes and shapes correspond to body parts such as hand and toe stones.
Price: LaStone Massage is $85/120 for 55 or 80 minutes. Swedish Massage is $70/95 for 55 or 80 minutes. See Web site for other services and prices.
Hours: Monday-Tuesday, 12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.; Wednesday-Thursday, 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.; Friday, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; appointments required: 888-296-9327.
Address: 1611 Walnut Street, Philadelphia
URL: http://www.bodyrest.com/

Pierre & Carlo European Salon & Spa
Treat yourself to luscious treatments like full body massages, facials, body scrubs, aromatherapy and mud treatments. The salon, where makeup and hair can be touched up or overhauled, offers its own line of hair products. The best of each world comes together in the "Best of Philadelphia" package--a half-hour each of facial and massage, plus a manicure, pedicure and hairstyle.
Price: Best of Philadelphia package, approximately 4 hours ~ $189.00; Manicure, $20; Pedicure, $50; Massages, 1 hour, $80 to $100. See Web site for other services and prices.
Hours: Monday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Tuesday, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Wednesday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.; Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Sunday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; appointments required (215) 790-9910.
Address: Park Hyatt at the Bellevue, Broad and Walnut Streets, Philadelphia
URL: www.pierreandcarlo.com/Center_City/salon.html

Terme Di Aroma
A community of mind-body therapists offer services ranging from the spa's signature aromatherapy massage to wraps and educational seminars on feng shui. Terme was the first local spa to offer LaStone therapy, a massage using warm and cool volcanic stones aligned along the spine. Prenatal massage, shiatsu, Reiki, reflexology and an array of aromatherapy facials are also popular Terme treatments.
Price: Aromatheapy Massage (The spa’s signature full body massage combines aromatherapy with Swedish massage.) $75/110 for 75 or 110 minutes. A Special package is offered if booked by May 13, and consists of the Aromatherapy Massage (1 hour) and a facial (1/2 hour) for $105. See Web site for other services and prices.
Hours: Tuesday, 12:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.; Wednesday-Friday, 11:00 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.; Sunday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; appointments required (215) 829-9769.
Address: 32 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia
URL: http://www.termediaroma.com/

Theater
Carousel is the musical masterpiece and perennial favorite from Rodgers and Hammerstein. The sublime score includes “June is Bustin’ Out All Over,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” “If I Loved You,” and the infamous “Soliloquy.” When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high… Carousel is a thrilling, heartfelt testament to the redeeming power of love.
Ticket Price: $10 - $67.50.
Hours: May 15-July 15. During May, Tuesday through Sunday, 8:00 p.m., except on May 20, 23 & 27 at 7:00 p.m. Also at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Address: Walnut Street Theater, 825 Walnut Street, Philadelphia
URL: www.walnutstreettheatre.org/season/carousel.php

Menopause The Musical® is a hilarious celebration of women and The Change. It is a joyful parody of 25 re-lyricized classic baby boomer hits, the 90-minute show features such chart-toppers as "I Heard It Thru the Grapevine; You No Longer See 39" and the disco favorite "Stayin' Awake! Stayin' Awake!" Inspired by a hot flash and a bottle of wine, writer/producer Jeanie Linders created the show as a celebration of women who are on the brink of, in the middle of, or have survived The Change. (Note: the show’s run in Philly ends on May 20th.)
Ticket Price: $45.00.
Hours: Matinees -- Saturday, 2:00 p.m.; Sunday, 2:00 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. Evenings – Wednesday-Friday, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, 6:00 p.m.; Box Office telephone number (866) 468-7619
Address: Society Hill Playhouse, 507 South 8th Street, Philadelphia
URL: www.menopausethemusical.com/index.php