Home of the Philadelphia Geek Awards, the nearly 200-year-old Academy is the place where you can hold a butterfly, catch a naturalist presentation and see the world's first mounted dinosaur skeleton.
With local, national, international and classic titles, you'll never get bored with the selection. Special guests and galleries every First Friday. Stop by and take a picture with the giant Hulk!
Visit this historic Old City bar, which the techie community loves so much it's like a modern day Cheers -- where everyone knows your Twitter name!
Explore Isiah Zagar's magical art space that seems to transform every time we visit. Admission is just a fiver, but you can support this local treasure by joining as an annual member, for just $25.
Even big kids like us love this science museum. We can't get enough of the astronomy tower, IMAX theater, and yes, giant heart. It's also where you'll find many Philadelphia Science Festival events!
The city's premiere coworking space is a safe haven for designers, developers, writers, artists, entrepreneurs, small business owners and more. Their motto: JFDI. We'll let you figure that out.
Go back in time at this Old City ice cream parlor, where the Berley brothers geek out about historic techniques and handlebar mustaches. Try one of the old-timey sundaes, like the Maple Leaf Rag.
Winners of 2011's "Best New Blog" Geek Award, Drink Philly brings us together for the common goal: enjoy good booze. Go here every First Friday for free art show, drinks & snacks from local eateries.
Stop by this charming boutique for an amazing collection of Japanese trinkets, cutesy cameras, hip clothes and designer stuff you can say you found here way before it was cool.
Though you'll find a vast number of comics, graphic novels and awesome titles at this South Street comic spot, we love browsing the collection of imported toys. And geeky jewelry. And witty t-shirts.
Nominated for two Geek Awards in 2011, this philly-based game studio specializes in music games worth downloading, like the supremely addicting Pulse (named Apple's iPad game of the week).
Karaoke lovers unite! We like to eat in the sleek Japanese restaurant first, then rent a private room at the upstairs karaoke lounge. Where else can you sing your heart out to embarrassing 90s hits?
This cam store is like a playground for snap-happy professionals, but amateurs can benefit from the frequent classes and knowledgeable experts at every counter. They rent, too, with a hefty deposit.
Philly brewery Yards made a sudsy ale specially for the 2011 Philadelphia Science Festival: E=MC Beered. Don't miss the free weekend brewery tours and tasting room, or Tuesday night beer Quizzo.
This oddity museum is not for the queasy. Steel your stomach and learn how a local woman turned into soap after burial. Read more.
Want to clear your media shelf? They'll buy used DVDs and games for cash, but you'll get a significantly better rate if you choose store credit. Go during mid-afternoon for faster service.
If you can find this hidden basement bar, don't forget some quarters (and maybe some wet wipes) to play the sweet 80s pinball machines, foosball and pool.
This is the spot to get your "We the People" on. Did you know that the dimensions of Signers’ Hall are the same as the room where the document was signed in Independence Hall, only two blocks away? Read more.
Plug-and-play office space, support services and high tech labs have everything you need to incubate your new business. Remicade, used to treat autoimmune diseases, was "discovered" here.
The menu delivers small cheese & meat plates, but let's face it, you want to be here for the 25-tap bar and 25-cent arcade games. Read more.
Where do you go when you want to print something in 3-D? Or use a laser cutter to make jewelry? To NextFab's high-tech workshop and prototyping center, the "gym for Philadelphia's innovators."
Awesome Old City-based indie book publisher. You'll recognize bestselling titles like the Worst Case Scenario guides, "Miss Perigrine's Home for Peculiar Children" or "Pride & Prejudice & Zombies."
One of the best places to catch an indie film screening, we've seen everything from riveting documentaries to old B&W flicks. Buy tickets online early; this spot is so popular they often sell out.
While you're there checking out some slick creative, enjoy some TuB Gin on the terrace and take in the city views. Read more.
This cool hacker space offers classes to empower, featuring inspired new uses of technology, like mixing electronic circuits and sewing, basic web development or crafting with LED lights.
They have all the safe science stuff that won’t land you in jail or on a watch list. Stop by here for science gifts, astronomy gear, fun chemistry sets and robots. ROBOTS!
These artists whip up impressive displays in buttercream and cake, but we love them most for their geekiness, like Ron Swanson sugar cookies (available on Etsy) or a Battlestar Galactica wedding cake.
Johnny Brenda's is something to everyone. Home of educational IGNITE PHILLY. A bar for beer enthusiasts. A stage for indie music lovers. Or sometimes, where you'll catch D20, geekiest burlesque around
The best spot to find cool retro gifts and housewares, art toys, hip shirts and collectibles - from vintage typewriters to Kid Robot swag.
Hang out with these makers, crafters and DIYers. Learn how to build robots or *engage* in one of the regular Star Trek Meetups that occurs in this space.
The only museum dedicated to just insects! See creepy crawly live specimens, a kitchen full of cockroaches or crawl through a giant spider web.
Probably the best bowling alley ever. A slew of tater tot flavor choices, awesome music, private lanes, just plain great.
One time, I saw a coffee table with live goldfish in it. From sleek kitchen gadgets to Über mod furniture, this chic and worldly boutique has everything to trick out your sweet apartment.
Drinks like the Cowboy Killer and Oh, Sweet Nothing will change the way you think about cocktails. And the fact that you get to drink them underground and in the dark just makes them double-awesome.
Check out one of the oldest mineral collections in the country and the first American saber-toothed tiger. Read more.
Coming soon, this 7,500-sq-foot sculpture studio will include a wood shop, a metal shop, mold making and casting, classes and a gym-like membership. The perfect place to make a very big mess.
