New bites, sweet treats & Poconos adventures on FYI Philly
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- This week on FYI Philly, we visit a new plant-based place, a new all day breakfast and lunch cafe and a winning new spot for ice cream!
Plus, we have a cycling mechanic who comes to you, a special exhibit for Philly Sports fan and Pocono Mountains getaways.
At Cheezy Vegan, Chef Reeky is reinventing Philly favorites with plants and a side of Philly grit
Cheezy Vegan is what Tarik Ryant, aka Chef Reeky, calls a Food Lab.
The Point Breeze restaurant serves hearty plant-based comfort food, including the McReeky, made with American cheese, crispy tofu, sausage and a spicy English muffin.
Other menu items include the Morning Breeze breakfast sandwich, an Italian hoagie and a buttermilk "chicken" sandwich.
Tarik grew up in South Philadelphia surrounded by family members who loved to cook. He says his grandmother was "a chemist in the kitchen" and his uncle was a pit master.
But his path to becoming Chef Reeky was not straight. After getting into trouble in the 1990s, he spent several years at SCI Somerset, where he entered a prison apprenticeship program for cooking.
After his release, Tarik says he focused on educating himself, earning degrees from Temple's Fox School of Business and Walnut Hill College's Restaurant School.
He also attended Community College of Philadelphia, earned a degree in healthcare management and later returned to Temple to study real estate.
His hard work paid off with a pardon by the governor.
Tarik opened restaurants in Southwest Philadelphia and Delaware County, but two years ago, he faced what he calls the biggest challenge of his life.
He says he was shot four times, the victim of a random act of violence.
Afterward, he started a mentorship program for young people called Cloud Safe Kitchen, designed to put people in front of opportunities before they make a critical error.
With Cheezy Vegan, Tarik is returning to his roots.
His specialties include a vegan Philly cheesesteak, which he says can stand up against anybody's cheesesteak.
The restaurant is filled with references to South Philadelphia and his childhood, from mural artwork featuring Eagles Super Bowl scores and SEPTA tokens, to menu items like the Veggie Jawn omelet.
Chef Reeky also created a line of fresh juices named for Philadelphia neighborhood. The cafe serves house-roasted coffee, makes milkshakes and carries locally made vegan desserts.
Tarik says his goal is simple: he wants customers to feel like they ate clean and got their money's worth.
Cheezy Vegan | Facebook | Instagram
1216 S. 17th Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19146
610-543-2300 | chefreeky@cheezyvegan.com
Sandpiper Café brings breakfast and lunch favorites to Graduate Hospital neighborhood
At Sandpiper Café is a daytime destination for comfort food, coffee drinks and smoothies. The refreshing space is a bright new addition to the Graduate Hospital neighborhood with grab-and-go options or tables to sit and work or hang with friends.
The restaurant is a partnership between Gunner Raharjo and Deddy Pornomo. Gunner is also a partner at Indo Spice on West Passyunk and Olivier Café in Old City. The two decided the neighborhood needed a space for casual morning fare.
Inside you can order at a counter or a screen. The menu features favorites like the customizable breakfast burrito or class bacon egg and cheese. They also serve salads, smoothies and a barista-led coffee program.
Sandpiper Café | Instagram
1640 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146
Winners Ice Cream a celebration of flavor and life's wins
Winners Ice Cream serves homemade ice cream flavors created by owner Anh Nguyen. He also turned the parlor into a place to celebrate life's wins, combining his sweet treats with a wall of inspiring messages.
The idea has been a lifelong dream for Anh. He learned the craft of ice cream making and created his own flavors. Each made on site and chock full of flavor. He believes ice cream is a celebratory dish and he wanted to pair that feeling with a wall of wins.
Each guest is encouraged to write down something special happening in their life. Big wins, small wins and everything in between are posted on the wall creating an inspired space.
Winners Ice Cream | Instagram
1610 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146
Cape May shop Collar & Bone serves up ice cream for dogs
Collar & Bone in Cape May is giving pups a sweet reason to visit. The shop's dog-friendly ice cream comes in flavors like peanut butter, pumpkin, bacon, birthday cake, and prime rib, with limited ingredients made just for four-legged customers.
Owner Kate Robbins' love for rescue dogs inspired the unique treats and products found at the store, which also gives back to local animal rescues.
Collar & Bone | Facebook | Instagram
421 Washington St #103, Cape May, NJ 08204
The Mittens Pop-Up Bike Shop brings bike repair service right to your door
When owner Lauren Mitten was considering names for their business, The Mittens Pop-Up Bike Shop won out -- based around Lauren's nickname, "Mittens." Lauren travels around Philly and the Western suburbs making housecalls for bike repairs of all sorts. Lauren works on most types of bikes -- from road bikes to cargo bikes, and everything in between -- and can also help with non-electric components of electric bikes. Fees are listed on their website, as well as the form to schedule service (by appointment only).
The Mittens Pop Up Bike Shop, LLC | Instagram | Facebook
Two Poconos getaways worth the trip
PAID SPONSOR PARTNERSHIP with Pocono Television Network
Trade snow for summer tubing or slow down lakeside at a family-run resort. These two Pocono destinations offer outdoor fun, history and memories for all ages.
At Pocono Mountain Villas by Exploria Resorts in East Stroudsburg, visitors can experience the thrill of tubing year-round on Blue Lightning, the only all-season tubing facility in the Pocono Mountains.
The hill offers the same ride as the resort's winter tubing attraction, White Lightning, but without the snow.
After sliding down the mountain, riders take the magic carpet back to the top for another run.
The resort also features horseback riding, a treetops ropes course, an 18-hole golf course, and dining at its tavern and grill, with amenities open to both guests and the public.
Summer Tubing at Pocono Mountain Villas by Exploria Resorts
124 Golf Drive, East Stroudsburg, Pa. 18302
pmvamenities@exploriaresorts.com
Keen Lake Camping and Cottage Resort in Wayne County has welcomed visitors for more than 70 years, while the land itself has been in the Keen family since 1813.
Today, sisters Janet Keen and Jennifer Wertz continue the family legacy, caring for a property rooted in generations of history.
The resort has grown from its early cottages into a destination built around family and community.
Leaders say it is a place where families can step away from everyday routines, reconnect with one another, and create lasting memories year after year.
Keen Lake Camping Cottage Resort
155 Keen Lake Rd, Waymart, PA 18472
(570) 488-6161 | camping@keenlake.com
Sports Jawn brings Philly sports treasures to the National Liberty Museum
Sports fans can now check out the new pop-up exhibit inside the National Liberty Museum in Old City called Sports Jawn. The collection features about 100 pieces of memorabilia, including Mike Schmidt's locker, jerseys worn by Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, and artifacts from iconic Philadelphia stadiums.
The exhibit is part of the museum's larger Freedom of Assembly experience, which explores how Americans gather for everything from protests and social movements to concerts and sporting events. Visitors can also see artifacts tied to civil rights, labor movements, pop culture, and Philadelphia history.
Sports Jawn, along with the Freedom of Assembly exhibition, is on view at the National Liberty Museum until the end of 2027.
National Liberty Museum | Instagram | Facebook
321 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Act II Playhouse presents "Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground" through September 13
Anthony Lawton plays former president Dwight D., reflecting on life and legacy in "Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground."
"The question that he starts with is, 'Am I getting my due in the way of recognition?'" says Lawton, who's also directing the production.
"People might say, 'He won World War II. He was president for a while. And there's a button called 'I Like Ike,'" says Tony Braithwaite, artistic director for Act II Playhouse. "There's a heck of a lot we don't know about Eisenhower."
The solo show, on now at Act II Playhouse, pulls back the curtain on the 34th president.
"Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground" runs through September 13, 2026 at the Act II Playhouse in Ambler.
"Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground" | Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground - Act II Playhouse
Link to Tickets at Act II Playhouse | Buy: Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground
Act II Playhouse
56 E. Butler Ave. Ambler, PA 19002
