This shop opened around 1997 when I still lived in the neighborhood. I've bought countless gifts…read morehere over the years. These are usually locally sourced from artists. Jewelry, glass, vases, ornaments and more. Fairly priced and a knowledgeable owner.

This has got to be one of, if not the coolest and most unique gift stores around! This place is…read morealso known for their Christmas window and entire store display as the store owners (long time gay couple) go all out with hanging decorations literally everywhere! They literally have thousands of different ornaments in all different kind of shapes and sizes! Also, a big attraction at that time of year would be the famous Merman and what they look like this year lol

A wholly original and beautiful little spot with an incredible story behind it. Really cool to see…read morehow one man's vision endured against long odds and now has left a great space for other artists to share their work too. The gift shop also has great, unique stuff. Worth making a little trip here and strolling the neighborhood to see the vendors and Isaiah's other work nearby. Pro tip: Get your ticket in the gift shop and don't worry about timed entry!

We love quirky places like this. There are a number of these "weird" art installations in our home…read morestate of Wisconsin so we knew we had to visit this when in Philadelphia. We bought timed ticks online a couple of weeks in advance - with our reciprocal museum membership we got free admission. The history of this place and the artist who created it is fascinating. There is so much to see in each area and around each corner. It's easy to miss stuff. Don't forget to walk around the block to see the exteriors of nearby buildings. They have all been given the "mosaic" treatment! We were here a bit under one hour. Definitely worth a stop!

Such a great gallery. Beautiful prints and incredible store. The gallery store manager, Melissa,…read morewas great. Will return when they have an exhibition, it was between shows at the moment.

The venerable Print Center of Philadelphia is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2015. Special…read moreexhibitions in honor of this anniversary are taking place in the gallery spaces at the charming Print Center itself as well as other cultural institutions in Philadelphia such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art. They def are worth seeing. And if you're on the lookout to purchase art, the store in the Print Center always has a lot of things on offer. Here's hoping for another 100 years from the Print Center as one of the driving cultural institutions on the Philadelphia scene!

I happened to walk past Paradigm Gallery + Studio on Saturday when I was walking around Old City. I…read morelooked their large glass windows on the front of the building and decided to pop in to see what I could tell from outside was quite fun and colorful and playful art. I'm sure the artists they're showing changes, but the art when I visited was youthful and fun. It perhaps wasn't quite to my taste for purchasing, but I enjoyed seeing what they were exhibiting. They also had small shop area for making purchases beyond he art they had displayed. A fun stop whether you're in the market for some art or not.

I love going to this gallery, especially for First Fridays. I've discovered many new artists and…read morealso seen artwork by artists I already knew. I love how they curate the art and have a variety of different art beyond paintings. The large sculptural works have been my favorite.

Honestly, I had no idea this place existed until I saw it advertised and decided to check it out…read more I'm glad I did because it ended up being one of the more unique museums I've visited in Philadelphia. It's a relatively small and intimate space. The first floor has a gift shop and an area for workshops and activities, while the galleries are spread throughout the building. When I visited, the first-floor exhibition featured quilts, while the upstairs gallery focused more on themes of American culture. Both were fantastic. The quilt exhibition was probably a traveling show, and I absolutely loved it. I know several quilting enthusiasts, so I have at least some appreciation for how much time, patience, and technical skill goes into creating these pieces. Some of them felt less like blankets and more like full-scale tapestries. The level of detail, color work, and craftsmanship was incredible. The upstairs exhibition had a much stronger political and social commentary element, which I personally enjoyed. Art doesn't have to exist solely to be beautiful or entertaining. It can challenge ideas, express opinions, document experiences, and start conversations. I appreciated that the museum embraced that side of art rather than shying away from it. One of the coolest parts was the workshop area downstairs. There was a small market set up and plenty of people actively crafting and creating things. For a moment I wanted to join in, but the space was packed. Then I watched what everyone was making and quickly realized these people were good. Very good. At that point I remembered I was in a fabric museum and workshop and that my own sewing abilities are... let's politely call them limited. The only thing that felt a little awkward was how often the museum reminded visitors about the recommended donation. I completely understand why. Free museums need support, and I have no issue contributing. It just came up enough times that I started feeling a little self-conscious about it. I was already planning to donate on my way out, but repeated reminders always make me feel slightly uncomfortable even when I understand the reason behind them. Overall, this was a wonderful surprise. Thought-provoking exhibitions, beautiful craftsmanship, active creative spaces, and a welcoming atmosphere. If you're interested in textiles, contemporary art, or just want to discover a museum that's a little different from the usual Philadelphia lineup, it's definitely worth a visit.

Such an amazing exhibition to visit! Big fan of textiles, especially quilts! The staff at the front…read morewas very friendly and the art was lovely to see.

Unique doesn't even begin to describe this little shop of interesting, intriguing, rare, and creepy…read morethings -- if you're in Fishtown looking for something fun and different, this is definitely the place to go. Occult items, taxidermy, milk glass antiques and collectibles, vintage pins and jewelry, insects and bones of all kinds, and a Ouiji board collection that will shock and awe. The store posts some of their wares on Instagram, and you can follow them there for highlights, but this is a place you just have to see in person. I purchased a vintage copy of Alice in Wonderland based on one of those posts and opted for in-person pick up and am so very glad I did. I asked permission before taking photos (per the shop rules posted at the entry) but there's so much interesting stuff to check out, that these hardly scratch the surface. They cram a lot of incredible finds in a relatively small space, and you'll want to take your time investigating the shelves because you never know what you might find! Parking actually wasn't a problem on the busy Friday afternoon we visited, but there is a lot of construction in Fishtown, so it might just take an extra trip around the block to score a spot.

Extremely well curated collection. I would absolutely recommend this for anyone who is interested…read morein the strange, unusual, or interesting.

I visit museums without pre-conceived notions, reading reviews generally after the fact. PAFA --…read moreas it's known -- is a good one. Founded in 1805 the academy is the first school and museum of fine arts in the United States. The historic landmark building is closed for renovations with three stories of exhibits now housed in their Hamilton Building (which is NOT named for Alexander!) Several things impacted me: the galleries are wide open, light and airy. A pleasure to walk through. A number of items from the Atwater Kent collection -- formerly the Philadelphia History Museum -- are on display. The diverse collection ranges from baseball, department stores (Wanamakers, anyone?), civil rights ... the list goes on. There is student and alumni art for sale and casts of Greek and Roman antiquity located in an active student workspace. As with most museums, exhibits change. The gift store with its friendly proprietor, is as good as any I've been to. A beautifully curated collection, and after Thanksgiving, I believe everything is discounted 30% for the holidays.

The PAFA collection in the renovated 1800s building is amazing!! We really enjoyed the extensive…read moregalleries

As Nicole said it's more of a collective than a gallery. With that said Space 1026 has "art" that…read moregoes well beyond the ordinary. one time I came here and saw a really cool mixed media display that featured everyone favorite 8-bit video game characters. another time I came here and saw people in masks parading around like a bunch of weirdos. you never know what your going to get until you walk up those stares (or inquire with the people smoking outside) but it's always going to be pretty damn eclectic. as Nicole says the gallery also doesn't take itself too seriously which I find to be cool. You're never going to find an artist "who really connects with their viewers" try to sell a piece for $100,000 inside. half the time your not even going to find any art for sale. the Space is about the experience you take away from it . Recently Space 1026 has also started housing the occasional concert, and I couldn't think of a better spot for them to happen in. the past couple of bands who have played there have been as quirky as the art on and off the walls.

I have only been to 1026 once. It was for a free silk screening class in May but I found the place…read moreto be pretty cool. I found myself back in my childhood playing around in the pillow fort-like art which was actually hundreds of couch cushions covered and sewn together. There's also the felt fingers coming down the staircase that someone had to painstakingly weave together and the tons of old fat skateboards I found all over the place. Neat. The class was pretty cool. We learned how to make screens and different processes used to print on shirts, paper, etc. The crew was pretty cool and we even walked away with a free print on a blank shirt we brought. The place has a website with a cool blog and links to all their events. I have to go back again sometime; it was quite an experience. http://space1026.com/site.php