Your final summer checklist: New restaurants, Philly sights and sounds

COVID-19 has led to fewer tourists, making it a great time to get out and fall in love with Philly all over again - minus the long waits.

How to be a tourist in Philly

Labor Day is fast approaching and with it the unofficial end to summer.

If you don't feel safe hitting the road, you can take advantage of the smaller tourism crowds to see the historic sites in Philly. from Independence Mall to Elfreth's Alley, the Betsy Ross House to Franklin Square.

At City Hall's Dilworth Park, kids can cool off on the splash pads while adults enjoy lunch or dinner with live music. Then pose for a picture with the Love sculpture and the Rocky Statue then run the Art Museum steps and take in the iconic skyline view.

You can also travel to the top of One Liberty for 360-degree panoramic views.

Cultural institutions are reopening along Philadelphia's Museum Row.

You can marvel at the wax Presidents at the Franklin Institute, enjoy one of the world's greatest collections of art at the Barnes Foundation and see the sloths at the Academy of Natural Sciences.

When it's time to eat, there are the quintessential Philly foods-cheesesteak, water ice and a Philly soft pretzel.

Historic Philadelphia, Inc | Visit Philly

Jim's Steaks South Street

4th & South Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. 19147

215-928-1911

Pop's Homemade Italian Ice

1337 W. Oregon Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. 19148

215-551-7677

Mural Mile Walking Tour | Tickets

Tours start at PAFA's Lenfest Plaza. Groups are limited to 10 due to COVID-19. Private and virtual Tours are available

1537 Cherry St, Philadelphia, Pa. 19102

215-925-3633

Hotel Sofitel

120 S. 17th Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103

215-569-8300

Four Seasons Philadelphia

1 N. 19th Street (The Comcast Center), Philadelphia, Pa. 19103

215-419-5000

Southgate, Northbound and Friday Saturday Sunday have unveiled three new menu items you must try this summer.

Local chefs put a new spin on BBQ favorites

Summer is all about backyard barbecues. But why not leave the cooking to someone else and give some much-needed support to.a local restaurant?

We found three chefs putting a creative spin on some summer staples, from a decadent pulled pork grilled cheese to a beach vibe-y grilled lobster mixed with a Japanese condiment on a Jamaican Coco bun.

Plus, the Bulgogi burger- an American burger topped with traditional Korean barbecue.

Northbound | Facebook

2 West Broad Street, Souderton, Pa. 18964

267-203-8076

SouthGate | Facebook | Instagram

1801 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19146

215-560-8443

Friday Saturday Sunday | Facebook | Instagram

261 S. 21st Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103

215-546-4232

After he was told he's too young to get a job, this 10-year-old took matters into his own hand with a business plan to help the homeless.

Micah's Mixx stirs up tasty lemonade for a good cause

10-year-old, Micah Harrigan, decided to start his own business, a lemonade stand called Micah's Mixx.

This isn't your typical lemonade. He infuses them with fruit, offering a variety of flavors, from blue raspberry to watermelon.

He even does tea! He sets up his stand a few times a week and typically sells out in the hour.

Micah uses his business to give back. For every $3 donated, he gives out lemonade to the homeless.

Pizza Jawn went from pop-up to Manayunk's latest pizzeria, while you can gran great French at The Wayward in Market East.

Philly adds Pizza Jawn, The Wayward French bistro to dining scene

Two more new eateries just popped up on the scene, one that actually started out as a pop-up.

Pizza Jawn evolved from a hobby into a mobile pizza business, with owners David and Anna Lee making the circuit of festivals and private events.

Now they have a brick-and-mortar location in Manayunk that is open for takeout.

In the burgeoning Market East, The Wayward is an American brasserie serving French-inspired bistro favorites from Chef Yun Fuentes. The spot features a raw bar and the largest gin collection in Philadelphia.

Until they are able to open for dine-in, their outdoor terrace is going full-steam.

The Wayward at Market East | Facebook | Instagram

1170 Ludlow St, Philadelphia PA 19107

215-258-9430

Pizza Jawn | Facebook | Instagram

4330 Main St, Philadelphia, PA 19127

A Logan Square tavern is serving up the sounds of Philly jazz along with the traditional flavors of Southern India.

Thanal Indian Tavern reopens with great food, live jazz

Philadelphia's live music scene has suffered during the pandemic, but a Logan Square tavern is serving up the sounds of local jazz along with the traditional flavors of Southern India.

After a two-month closure, Thanal Indian Tavern at reopened with live jazz Friday and Saturday nights.

The co-owners are two brothers, Mohan Raj Devarajulu and Hari Haran Karmegam, who grew up in Southern India and all of their chefs are from India. They specialize in house-made yogurts and coconut milk that add the perfect creaminess to complement their spices, and they claim to be the only place in Philadelphia where you can get the Malabar fish curry.

The naan is baked in-house in the traditional tandoori oven, and there's quite a variety to choose from. Along with tandoori salmon and chicken, you can also sample a taste of Indian street food with the deep-fried "Indian Railway" pepper, a highlight of the menu.

Once they open for indoor dining, there's a fully stocked bar that includes unique cocktails such as a spicy house-infused green-chili vodka with ginger beer and a spirit they call the "cocktail doctor."

Thanal Indian Tavern | Facebook

1939 Arch Street, Philadelphia 19103

Live Jazz every Saturday & Sunday nights, starting 6.30 p.m. until 8.30 p.m. Call for reservations (215) 515-2511

After experiencing burnout in her healthcare job, this "city gal" moved to the burbs, started a farm and a mission to do good for her local community.

FarmerJawn on a mission to fight food insecurity

Christa Barfield is a Green Acres kind of gal; a city native turned suburban farmer on a mission to fight food insecurity.

At FarmerJawn, she's growing a variety of herbs and vegetables on her one-acre farm, providing affordable organic produce to the community. She runs a farmer's market on the weekends and also sells a weekly CSA box.

The mother of two tells us it all started when she experienced burnout working long hours in the healthcare industry. Barfield then went on a life-changing trip to the Caribbean where she was deeply inspired by seeing the connection people there have to nature. When she returned home, she began growing seedlings in her backyard, having no knowledge of how to grow anything. She taught herself how to farm.

As her dreams blossomed, she also created Viva Leaf Tea, blending the different herbs she grows on the farm with flavors such as Raspberry leaf, ginger, lavender, hibiscus and sage.

Another important pillar of her mission is to address food injustices for families and food insecurity in our region. And she plans to open a new plant café in Germantown, a space where plant lovers can come, hang out, trade plants and talk shop.

FarmerJawn and Viva Leaf Tea | Instagram | Facebook

770 Jenkintown Road, Elkins Park 19027

Hours: Friday 12-7 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sophy Curson has survived the Great Depression and two World Wars. It's now going up against COVID-19, with new ways to outfit Philly's most fashionable women.

Sophy Curson: A Fashion Institution Evolving with the Times

Sophy Curson opened in Rittenhouse Square 90 years ago, just before the 1929 Stock Market collapse.

The boutique has survived the Great Depression, a recession and two World Wars and it's now going up against COVID-19.

The store's tagline is dressing the world's most fashionable women but in a pandemic, even the most fashionable women are dressing differently so you'll see lots of chic face masks along with colorful tops and big bling-y jewelry for that waist-up zoom cocktail parties.

The shop always had a one-on-one doorbell entry system and now clothing is being quarantined for 24 hours between customer try-ons.

Sophy Curson | Facebook | Instagram

122 S 19th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

215-567-4662

A Century of Suffrage: Special Exhibits at The Clay Studio & The National Constitution Center