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A product photo of a black leather low-profile sneaker.

5 Things I Didn’t Buy From Quince

Published by welcomeobjects

It’s been a while since I put together one of these not-buying posts. It’s good to praise items that work in our wardrobes. But let’s also talk about when we don’t buy things — especially when the price is tempting. Just because the price is right doesn’t mean you should buy it!

In striving to shop more mindfully, I’m also trying to avoid making returns. After all, returning stuff takes resources (my time, plus fuel and labor to process the return — if the brand even processes returns instead of trashing them). Sure, buying things online is often a crapshoot, but sometimes there are clues to whether something might work or not. Sometimes I miss those clues.

So today, I’m examining five things I didn’t buy from Quince, a brand I shopped the most from last year, to see if I can learn anything from these unsuccessful purchases.

100% Organic Poplin Longsleeve Shirt

Why I Bought It: I’ve been in the market for a white button down since I accidentally shrunk the one I used to own.

Why I Returned It: I thought the 100% Organic Poplin Longsleeve Shirt would be a good idea since I like the idea of a crisp shirt. But the cut didn’t work for me. It was also too long for me. (I am petite.) Since this was a shirt I’d have to tuck in for the proportions to work in my favor, the crispness of the poplin seemed like it would be annoying in that context. It did seem like a fine poplin shirt, just not for me.

Cotton Modal Muscle Tank

A person poses wearing a black muscle tank.

The same tank on 5’4″ me.

Why I Bought It:  I wanted to relive the early 2000s, in which I wore a lot of muscle tanks.

Why I Returned It: The Cotton Modal Muscle Tank is not petite-friendly. I’m wearing my normal size here, a small, and it was too long as well as too big on me. I liked the fabric, though. It was soft and smooth. But I should have paid more attention to how the tank looked on the model and realized it wasn’t going to work for me.

Washable Stretch Silk Notch Collar Blouse

A person poses wearing a leopard print shirt.

The same blouse on 5’4″ me. Also wearing Uniqlo jeans and dr. Liza flats [review]

A person poses wearing a leopard print blouse tucked into jeans

And tucked in, like the model. But the sleeves are still too long for petite me. See that lumpy arm on the left? That’s because the sleeve is too long and bunching up.

Why I Bought It: Quince’s silk offerings have generally worked for me — see my review of several silk garments — so I gave the Washable Stretch Silk Notch Collar Blouse a try.

Why I Returned It: It’s way long for petite me. And even though I can tuck it in for a more flattering look, the sleeves are still too long. A size small runs 26.5″ long in the front and is longer in the back by 2″. Otherwise, it fit true to size. (The small is approximately 20″ pit to pit.)

While Quince only shows the model wearing the leopard print shirt tucked in, I should have paid attention to the photos of the other colors, which showed how long the shirt runs.

Organic Cotton Bucket Hat

Why I Bought It: Because the sun is my enemy. I thought that the Organic Cotton Bucket Hat could be useful on days I didn’t want to carry my wide-brimmed hats around as those take up more space. The idea was I could easily keep a bucket hat in my bag.

Why I Returned It: The material felt too thick and stiff, like it might make things hot underneath there. It was hard to tell what the fabric would be like from the photos. Since I tried this cotton hat, Quince has come out with a nylon version, which might be thinner? But the brim also looks too short.

100% Leather Everyday Sneaker

Why I Bought It:  I could use a simple black sneaker, something that goes with almost everything and the 100% Leather Everyday Sneaker seemed like it might fit the bill with its simple design. Out of all the things I bought and returned on this list, this one seemed the most reasonable purchase — one that actually filled a gap and was on my Wardrobe Wants list.

Why I Returned It: I wear a 6.5 in most brands. For some reason Quince doesn’t make the smaller sizes in half sizes (at least not in the black, though the white does come in 6.5). I’m not sure if this just means that my size has been sold out in the black for a long time, or if it doesn’t come in the black to begin with.

My feet are on the wide side, and I read a few reviews where wide-footed people say they sized up. So I ordered a 7 to try. But nope, too big. The interior did have some cushioning though, so I could imagine these being comfortable if they come in your size. Then again, the leather itself seemed a bit stiff so they’d require breaking in.

UPDATE 8/25/25 – Just noticed that this sneaker now comes in size 6.5! The smallest size is 5, but there is still no 5.5.

My Takeaways

From all this buying and returning, I’ve learned that a lot of Quince items are not petite-friendly. While Quince has a generous return policy (a whole year to make a return of an unworn item), to avoid unnecessary transactions I should pay closer attention to how the clothes look on models. Most models are taller than me so if it looks long on them, it’s going to be too long on me.

Plus, I resolve to continue being picky. This is one of my shopping rules. If the details aren’t quite right, you’re not going to be comfortable. Which means you’re not going to wear it much. A good deal is not a good deal at all if you don’t wear it!

This post contains affiliate links but was not produced in partnership with any brand. You can find a directory to all my clothing reviews here.

A small plan in a white pot, a bottle of Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum, and a jar of Mario Badescu Brightening Mask.

Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum & Brightening Mask Review

Published by welcomeobjects

Today’s review of two Mario Badescu Vitamin C products is nine months in the making. With skincare, I like to test over a significant stretch of time before writing a review.

What I Like About Mario Badescu

Mario Badescu (who was a real person — a chemist, pharmacist, and immigrant from Romania) is a brand I’ve used on and off for many years. It was one of the first department store brands I tried when I graduated from drug store brands. And it made a difference! Friends noticed and commented on my skin’s improvement.

When I showed the products to one friend, she wasn’t impressed by the brand’s plain packaging. But I actually love that about them. The use of simple plastic containers or glass bottles means that I’m not paying for fancy packaging, which often doesn’t seem easily recyclable anyway.

Other pros in my book: the brand is cruelty-free and also privately owned by a family, not a multi-conglomerate. (The Cabasso family bought the brand in 1984 after Badescu’s death.) The pricing is also moderate and not as expensive as other skincare brands.

I’ve been a long-time user of their best-selling drying lotion for zits and for many years I used their enzyme cleanser, which left my face feeling squeaky clean. So, when the brand reached out to me to try some products, I was all in.

Benefits of Vitamin C

Now, before we get on with the review, some relevant info: I have combination skin and am Asian.

I’ve developed sun spots on my cheeks, so I picked out the Vitamin C Serum and Brightening Mask with Vitamin C. Vitamin C (aka ascorbic acid) is supposed to even out skin tone, resurface the skin, and reduce the signs of aging, like fine lines. I’ve attacked my sun spots with various serums from other brands in recent years. But my spots have remained stubborn, so this would definitely be a test.

A word of caution if you’re new to Vitamin C: It does not play well with AHA (such as glycolic, lactic, tartaric, citric, malic, mandelic acids), BHA (salicylic, benzoyl peroxide acids), and retinols/retinoid products. Do not use them at the same time as Vitamin C!

Mario Badescu gave me these products to me and this post contains affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. As always, I decide what to write about and all opinions are my own.

Vitamin C Serum

Key Ingredients: Mario Badescu’s serum formulation contains 7.5% ascorbic acid. It also includes sodium hyaluronate (a smaller molecular size of hyaluronic acid for hydration) and collagen. (Though I’m not convinced you can get the firming effects of collagen from a bottle).

How I Used It: The instructions on the bottle say to use it every other night. But I use the Vitamin C Serum nearly daily (either as part of my daytime routine or at night). After I cleanse and tone, I use three drops and pat them into my skin. (Well, it’s more like I spread them around with my finger tips.) The serum has an oily feel, but absorbs pretty quickly into my skin. Some Vitamin C serums smell funky, but this one doesn’t. In fact, it barely has a scent, just a very light one I find pleasant. Afterwards, I apply my moisturizer. And if it’s daytime, my sunscreen — a must as vitamin C makes your skin more sensitive to sun.

How Long it Lasts: After nine months, I’m about 75% of the way through the 1-oz bottle, so a bottle probably lasts a year.

Cost: $45

Brightening Mask with Vitamin C

An open jar of a white-colored facial mask.

After 10 months of use, I’m getting close to hitting the bottom of this jar of Mario Badescu Brightening Mask.

Key Ingredients: Kaolin (a clay mineral that absorbs oil and exfoliates), THD ascorbic (an oil soluble form of Vitamin C), oatmeal (which is soothing). You can find a list of the full ingredients on the Mario Badescu site. I appreciate how you can click on each ingredient and a drop down will give you more information about what the ingredient does.

How I Used It: Two to three times a week I apply the Brightening Mask in the morning as I get ready for my day. I leave it on for 10 minutes before washing it off. The mask is white with a thick consistency. It feels nice and smells good. It has a light powdery scent. I enjoy the ritual of it.

How Long it Lasts: A 2-oz jar lasts about a year. At about the ten-month mark, the mask starts to dry, so perhaps I should try using it up more quickly. When it gets to that point, I wet my fingers to help make the mask easier to apply.

Cost: $22

Did I Get Results?

I took photos of my progress, though with differing light conditions (I have a skylight in my bathroom), I’m not sure how reliable my photos are. But after nine months of using both products consistently, I believe there’s a slight improvement in my skin tone. My spots are definitely still there, but they do seem a bit lighter.

Now, is there something out there that might work better? Perhaps. But I’ve tried at least four other serums in recent years, and this one seems to be the only one that’s made a difference, subtle though it may be. Once I use up these products, I plan on re-ordering them since they’ve yielded some results. So yes, I do recommend them. But I’ll probably keep trying out other serums as well.

Mario Badescu Coupon Code

UPDATE 2/23/26 – Mario Badescu gave me a code to share with Welcome Objects readers. Use WELCOME15 to get 15% off through 4/21/26.

A flatlay of clothing featuring a pleated gray skirt, white poplin shirt, and plum belt bag.

Consumption Accountability: My 2024 Shopping Recap

Published by welcomeobjects

Hello from the laundromat where I’m doing multiple loads of laundry. Since I’m cleaning clothes, I thought it would be a good time to write my annual consumption accountability recap (a different recap from the blogging one). Yes, it’s time for opening my spreadsheet entitled “Clothing I Have Bought” and analyzing my spending habits of the past year.

I had three goals for 2024:

  1. Do a No Buy January
  2. Keep my clothing purchases to 20 items
  3. Make 50% of my purchases secondhand

I achieved one of my goals, came close to another, and failed miserably on a third. Read on for my reflections.

Pictured above: three of the items I acquired this year, including a secondhand skirt, a Quince shirt, and a Lo & Sons bag, courtesy of (reviewed here).

What I Bought in 2024

A bar graph showing clothing acquisitions from 2011 to 2024, with 2013 being the most with nearly 80 items and 2024 with a little over 20.

In 2024, I acquired 22 items, so I came close to my low buy goal. (My count, BTW, does not include jewelry and undergarments. It does include shoes and bags.)

Technically, 23 items came into my life. However, I’ve decided that one of them doesn’t count. As I shared in this post from the first quarter of 2024, in January the Mister bought some secondhand boots on eBay, but the seller got the size wrong. Coincidentally, the boots fit me, so suddenly I was the owner of some L.L. Bean boots. But I wouldn’t have gotten them for myself and eventually decided not to keep them. If we don’t count these boots, then I met my goal for a No Buy January.

In terms of annual count, 22 items is nearly half of the number of items I acquired in 2023. Though, I must say that 2023 was an anomaly. Since I started paying attention to my consumption in 2017, I had been trending down for the most part. So 2024, was a return to shopping less, and similar to my numbers from 2018-2021.

What did I acquire? Here’s a breakdown by category:

Shoes – 1
Tops – 8
Sweaters – 1
Dresses – 1
Skirts – 3
Pants – 2
Outerwear – 3
Bags – 3

Tops has been a top category for the past three years. The majority of what I bought were tank tops and T-shirts, though I did add two nicer shirts. I’ve been stocking up on summer basics since moving to the East Coast three years ago. I think I’m all set now.

Brands

A person wearing a cropped black moto jacket and a black maxi skirt moves forward in front of a brick wall.

Kotn was a new-to-me brand. Knit skirt, courtesy of – $148. Photo from this post.

Brands I bought from include Pact, Quince, and Uniqlo, which in my mind are listed in descending order of sustainability and ethical practices here.

Quince was the brand I shopped the most. While Quince has certifications for many of their clothes and uses compostable plastic bags, they get a Not Good Enough rating from Good on You for lack of transparency about labor and environmental practices. They sure keep adding to their catalog, which feels fast-fashiony. At the same time they offer the same items year after year, which I appreciate. (Full disclosure: In addition to buying things from Quince myself, the company also gave me several items, which I reviewed on the blog.)

Uniqlo is the fast fashion retailer I shop the most from (because of fit and a good quality-to-price ratio). I try to shop sparingly from them, but I did buy three items this past year. And admittedly there was some impulse shopping happening as in the case of this limited-edition Marimekko sweater.

This is the first year in many that I didn’t add any Everlane. They’ve gotten a bit too trendy for me. And while I still like some of their staples, I don’t need to replenish any right now.

Favorites

A person holds up a black moto jacket from Able in front of their face.

Able Leather Jacket, courtesy of – $398. Photo is from this review post.

Most Practical Purchase: Quince Revive Nylon Zip Top Tote. After seven years, my trusty Everlane totes were finally getting too beat up. This bag fits quite a lot and I appreciate its many pockets. It’s no longer on the site, which is too bad as I recommend it and planned to write a detailed review.

Unexpectedly Great: I bought this Quince boxy poplin shirt (shown at the top of this post) on a whim, and really like its relaxed modern shape. I didn’t have anything like this in my wardrobe.

Expectedly Great: I’m getting good mileage out of the Maha Leather Jacket from Able. Its petite-friendly proportions make it a great fit. (Review here).

Style Evolution: I fell in love with wide leg pants towards the end of the year and added two: a Marimekko for Uniqlo cotton-linen blend that was a secondhand find (shown here) and these denim trousers, also Uniqlo. (Mindful of shopping for my changing body, I like that they both incorporate elastic waists, which means they should continue to work if my weight changes.)

More Numbers

Only three, or 14%, of my acquisitions were secondhand. Making more of my purchases secondhand has been a goal for many years now, and I keep coming up short. I need to implement a stricter process for myself to check secondhand first.

Another indicator I look at every year is how many retail regrets I have. To me, if I’m shopping more mindfully, I should have fewer misses. Looking at my list, to be honest I’m not sure about three of them. I’ve been trying hard to only get things that feel like a resounding yes. But sometimes I just want to experiment and that means trying something I may not be sure about.

I also decluttered 7 items, mostly for fit. I’ve not been doing as thorough a decluttering as I usually would these past two years due to health issues. Medication caused me to gain 20 pounds in 2023. In 2024, I shed half of it. But I’m still a bigger size than I used to be and not sure if I should hold on to my old clothes. I think I’ll hang on to them for now, though I have a feeling there are certain items I may not fit into again.

Welcome Objects 2024 Wardrobe Count 
Additions: 22
Number of Additions That Are Secondhand: 3
Subtractions: 7

2025 Wardrobe Consumption Goals

I am mostly keeping the same goals this year, but adding a new one.

  1. Keep my clothing acquisitions to 20 items
  2. Half of them should be secondhand.
  3. Dress more colorfully! You know I love wearing black (as evidenced here, here, and here) but I think I should break out of that and incorporate more color as a small way to add joy in a year where I’m bracing for awfulness.

I like to keep my goals simple so that they feel achievable. Do you have any consumption or style goals for this year?

A stack of blue bowls and plates.

Year in Review: Top Posts of 2024

Published by welcomeobjects

New year’s greetings, dear readers. I meant to blog more in December, but the month got away from me with family obligations and holiday travel. Before I dive into 2025, I wanted to take a look back at the past year in blogging.

It’s been many years since I’ve done one of these year in reviews rounding up the most popular posts. I don’t know why I stopped doing these, but I think I will make this an annual tradition. It’s interesting to see what brings readers to the blog. Who knew that one of my most popular posts of the year would be about dishwashing?

Top 10 Popular Posts

Here are the most-viewed posts of 2024 — regardless of when I first published them.

1. Easy Ikea Hack: Adding Legs to a Kallax Shelf– Even though Ikea now sells a base with legs for its ubiquitous modular bookcase, this post remains popular. I guess many people are still interested in DIY-ing legs to their shelf.

2. Bed Sheets Review: Brooklinen vs. Quince vs. Pact– I had a feeling this would be a hit when I first wrote it in 2023. Who doesn’t like an in-depth brand comparison post?

3. Carry-On Only: What I Packed For 3 Weeks in Japan – From my social media and in real life, it seems that many people are traveling to Japan. No wonder this post is popular!

4. Thuma Bed Review: A Sturdy & Worthy Upgrade – I’m three years into owning this bed, and I have no regrets about this purchase.

5. Switching to a More Eco-Friendly Dishwasher Detergent – There are only two posts from 2024 that made it into the most popular list and this is one of them. I’m glad so many people care about choosing more environmentally-friendly detergents.

6. Baggu Nylon Crescent Bag: For Travel & Everyday – This is the other 2024 post that made it onto the list. It’s a thorough review if I do say so myself and includes a comparison to Uniqlo’s similar-looking crescent bag.

7. Everlane Review: The Original Cheeky Jean – It seems I’m not the only one who still loves mom jeans.

8. Motorcycle Jackets: Madewell vs. AllSaints vs. Quince – I think most people who end up finding this post are curious about Quince’s motorcycle jacket since the price is so low. But it was not my favorite of the bunch.

9. Nail Polish Review: Londontown Lakur & Instant Smudge Fix – I’m surprised that this post from 2018 is doing numbers. Suddenly this year, it got popular. I have no idea why.

10. The Best Slim Space-Saving Hanger – I’ve been slowly replacing my old hangers and bought another batch this year.

Some Thoughts About Blogging this Past Year

A person with dark hair poses in front of a red brick wall wearing an oversized gray wool blazer.

This photo is not from a particularly popular post. But I did want to point out that I did some comparisons of similar clothing this year, from blazers to T-shirts. Quince Blazer c/o // Mott & Bow T-shirt c/o // Mott & Bow Jeans c/o [review] // Nisolo Boots [review] // Narragansett Leathers Belt

Of the 32 posts I wrote in 2024, half of them are about style. But from the most popular list above, home goods posts perform the best. Hmmm. Maybe I should write more about home stuff.

2024 was a year of ups and downs in blogging. On the one hand, this little blog had some of the best traffic in its history this summer. But this was followed by a noticeable drop in the fall. Like many blogs, Google sends the most traffic my way. But after one of their updates, my blog suddenly didn’t perform as well. It felt like Google defriended me or something.

The decline of Instagram has also been discouraging. It used to be a place where I could connect with like-minded people and gain an audience. But whatever they’ve done to their algorithm is so frustrating. It’s full of ads, and I don’t even see many people that I follow. They probably don’t see me, too, as engagement has gone down every year since 2020. I used to get more than 50 likes on a post. Now I get 7.

I’ve tried doing the things they’ve pushed, like Reels, but to no avail. It’s not fun anymore and doesn’t seem like a good use of my time now so I’ve been on there less. I recently started a Threads account to try it out. But it’s yet another Meta product so I can’t say I’m optimistic.

Anyhow, this is all to say that for a small blogger like me, I sometimes wonder: Is this thing on? Is anyone reading this? If you enjoy what I have to offer in this little corner of the internet, please say hi.

First Image: Monika Borys/Unsplash

2 gusseted pillows on a bed

Is Saatva’s Latex Pillow Worth the Splurge?

Published by welcomeobjects

I’ve been happily sleeping on a Saatva mattress for three years now. So when the brand offered some pillows for me to try, I heartily said yes. I chose their most popular pillow, the Saatva Latex Pillow, which at the time of this post has a 4.8 star-rating from 190 reviews. But does this luxury pillow live up to the hype?

Size & Loft Options

When the package arrived, I was surprised by how heavy it was. Inside were two plush and hefty pillows in a clear plastic carrying case. The fill for each pillow weighs 3 lbs, 4 oz. This is a substantial pillow!

Pillows in clear packaging

Saatva Latex Pillow – $165 for a queen, $185 for a king

I was also surprised by how big they are. The pillow comes in two sizes: standard/queen and king. For a moment, I thought I’d made a mistake and ordered the king instead of the standard/queen. But I checked the tag and it says, “queen.” To be honest, I didn’t even know there was such thing as a queen-sized pillow.

Saatva gave these pillows to me. As always, I decide what to write about and all opinions are my own.

At 28″ x 18″, it’s too long to fit in most of my standard sized pillowcases. I haven’t seen anyone else mention this in their reviews, but I think that’s an important thing to know! If you order Saatva’s standard/queen latex pillow, you’ll most likely need to use king pillowcases for them. The standard pillowcases I own from various brands range in length (see my bed sheets review here), and only the ones from Pact provide enough coverage. That’s a con in my book. I wish the pillow was shorter.

The pillows are gusseted and come in two lofts: standard (4-5″) or high loft (6-7″). The lower one is recommended for stomach and back sleepers while the higher loft is for side or combination sleepers. I ordered the standard loft.

Closeup of a pillow with gusset

The height of the standard loft is 4-5″

Materials & Construction

Saatva is known for using premium materials. The Saatva Latex Pillow has an organic cotton cover with a sateen weave and brown piping. It feels silky to the touch. One thing I’m not a fan of, though, is the company’s branding all over the cover.

You can unzip the cover at the side. Inside, you’ll find the pillow body, which also has a zipper. That’s because it consists of two parts: an outer layer and an inner core. The outer layer is microdenier fiber fill (made of polyester). This is the fluffy part of the pillow.

The side of a pillow zipped open revealing another zipper inside.

Unzip the cover and you will find another zipper.

Unzip that, and at the core you’ll find a sack with shredded latex. This two-layered construction results in a buoyant center surrounded by plushness.

A hand holds open a pillow to show a core of latex material in an encasement.

The Saatva Latex Pillow has two layers. At the center is shredded natural latex.

The pillow is designed this way so that you can wash it. Latex is not washable, so you can remove the latex core, set it aside, and machine wash the cover and fiber fill layer.

A closeup of the encasement holding latex pieces.

The sack containing the latex.

Saatva also touts the pillow’s hypoallergenic properties from the down-alternative fill to the latex, which is put through a washing process to eliminate proteins that may trigger allergies.

How Does the Saatva Latex Pillow Feel?

Feel & Firmness: At first, I was kind of put off by the weight of the pillow. Why does a pillow need to be so heavy? But I quickly got over that. It’s not like I’m moving the pillow a whole lot as I sleep. The pillow is what I’d consider medium firm. My head sank into the fluffy outer layer, but at the same time, the latex core provided noticeable support. It felt a little bouncy, certainly different in feel from a more conventional pillow with just a down or a down-alternative fill.

Comfort: As a small person and a combo side and back sleeper, I found it quite comfortable. I tend to fall asleep on my side and wake up on my back and did not experience any neck or shoulder pains. The standard loft was sufficient for me; I think the high loft would have been too tall even though it’s meant for combination sleepers like myself.

But the Mister, who is a back sleeper, felt the standard loft was too tall. If you prefer a flatter or softer pillow, this isn’t for you. I also think it’d be too tall for a stomach sleeper. Sure, you could remove the latex core to create a lower profile, but that’s the most unique thing about this pillow.

Is It Worth the Price?

Price: At $165 for a standard/queen and $185 for a king, this is a pricey buy. It’s a luxury pillow — one that comes with a 45-night return window and a one-year limited warranty. But I’m at that age (in my 40s) where I will splurge on comforts for my declining body.

Latex pillows are also generally pricier than conventional pillows. So in that sense the Saatva pillow is not outrageously priced. SleepOnLatex’s pillow, which comes in one size, is $99. Avocado’s Molded Latex Pillow runs $129-$149 depending on size. And European Sleepwork’s Oxygen Pillow, which comes in a variety of lofts and firmness is $185. However, these other latex pillows consist of a single piece of latex. Saatva’s multi-layered construction is unique.

Since this pillow is about three times the price of a more conventional pillow, this begs the question: is the Saatva Latex Pillow three times as comfortable? That is subjective, of course, but I don’t know that it is. It certainly provides a more supportive feel owing to the latex, and it will keep its shape and not flatten much over time. But you could also find a perfectly fine pillow in the $50 range.

Concluding Thoughts: Overall, I think the Saatva Latex Pillow is a luxurious and comfortable pillow. While expensive, it’s not unreasonably priced with its materials and unique construction. And though I found it more supportive than the average pillow, it wasn’t life-changing, at least for me.

If you have neck or shoulder issues, then it’s probably worth a try to see if it can help alleviate pain. If you sleep hot, this could also be a good option as latex is naturally more breathable and should run cooler. Or if you just want a luxe sleep experience with a fancy hotel feel, this is a worthy candidate for a splurge.

If you’re interested in Saatva, here’s my referral code, which will take $100 off your order of $1,000 or more. When you click through to the site it should say, “$100 Referral Offer” at the top. (I will also receive a monetary gift, so thank you!)

A person wearing a cropped black moto jacket and a black maxi skirt walks in front of a brick wall with chalking on it.

Outfit: Sweet & Edgy with a Maxi Skirt from Kotn

Published by welcomeobjects

Today’s outfit is built around a new piece I recently added to my wardrobe after thinking about it for a while: the Gezira Knit Skirt from Kotn. I’ve been eyeing this maxi skirt since the summer.

Kotn is Canadian maker of cotton clothes like shirts, pants, and sweaters in modern silhouettes. A certified B Corp, they give back to the community in Egypt where they source their cotton. Traditionally for Black Friday, they don’t hold a sale. Instead, they donate their proceeds to build schools in the rural area where the cotton is grown. So far they’ve funded 21 schools! (This year’s campaign runs from November 29 to December 3, and if you shop during this time, Kotn will give you a $25 coupon towards your next post-December 3 purchase.)

Kotn gave me this skirt and this post contains affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. As always, I decide what to write about and all opinions are my own.

A person wearing a cropped black moto jacket and a black maxi skirt stands in front of a brick wall.

Kotn Skirt, courtesy of // Oak & Fort Top [similar] // AllSaints Jacket [review] // Lo & Sons Bag c/o [review] // dr. Liza Shoes [review] 

I paired the skirt with an oatmeal-colored cropped boxy top to maintain the long, elegant look of the skirt. This helps visually lengthen me (and since I’m short, I could use all the help I can get). And I topped it all with a cropped motorcycle jacket (reviewed here) to contrast with the feminine feel of the skirt. I like this mix in materials as well as the mix in sweet and edgy.

A closeup of a dome-shaped purse worn by a person who is also wearing a black motorcycle jacket.

Different textures of black: The nylon bag from Lo & Sons has the slightest of sheens.

For accessories, I went with a dome-shaped crossbody bag from Lo & Sons reviewed here. I thought I’d keep things simple by having the skirt, jacket, and bag all in black, though all in different materials. As I wrote in another outfit post, when you’re wearing a lot of the same color, you can keep things interesting with different textures.

A person wearing a cropped black moto jacket and a black maxi skirt moves forward in front of a brick wall, with their hand on a cross body purse.

Yes, leopard print is a neutral. The shoes tie everything together.

The finishing touch to my outfit was my trusty leopard print flats (reviewed here), which ties in the color of the top with the rest of the black pieces.

A Review of the Kotn Gezira Knit Skirt

A person wearing a cropped black moto jacket and a black maxi skirt moves forward in front of a brick wall.

Kotn Skirt, courtesy of // Oak & Fort Top [similar] // AllSaints Jacket [review] // Lo & Sons Bag c/o [review] // dr. Liza Shoes [review]

The Gezira Knit Skirt is at once elegant and easy to wear.

The Gezira Knit Skirt is at once elegant and easy to wear. The construction of this skirt, made out of viscose, is impressive. It somehow manages to be lightweight and breathable — if you hold it up, light comes through it, so it has some transparency — yet it also has a heft that gives it wonderful drape and fluid movement.

The vertical lines in the skirt give the appearance of pleats and makes it visually interesting. Plus, it has an elastic waistband, which makes sizing more forgivable (something that’s important to me with a changing body). The A-line shape falls nicely away from the body, leaving ample room for the stomach and hips. The only thing that this skirt doesn’t have is pockets.

A person wears a long black maxi skirt, posing with hands on hips.

The tonal vertical lines add visual interest to the Kotn skirt.

I’m a small in most brands and ordered my usual size, though that made me a bit nervous. The waist measurement, measured flat, is listed is 13″ across, which seemed too small to me. But when the Gezira arrived, I was relieved to find that there’s a decent amount of give in the elastic waist. The elastic comfortably accommodated my larger-than-26″-waist. I was also afraid it might be too long. Kotn calls this a midi skirt. But to me it’s a maxi. I’m (almost) 5’4″, but it works, falling above my ankles.

The price of $148 seems more than fair for an ethically-made garment of good quality. Style-wise, it strikes the right balance of a classic look updated with modern details. It also comes in olive, and over the summer there was a light blue version. I simply love this skirt. While this is my first Kotn item, I suspect it won’t be my last. I’m now eyeing the Leila cardigan, which looks to have petite-friendly proportions.

A table with desserts, viewed from above. There's pumpkin pie, bread, and a cake roll. There are pinecones, a candle, and flowers too.

3 Ideas to Avoid Overconsuming on Black Friday

Published by welcomeobjects

The early Black Friday sales are already here, flooding my inbox and following me around on Instagram. This time of year, I remind myself that the sense of insistence around Black Friday is a scam that leads to overconsumption. You might have heard about a report that found that some 80% of Black Friday purchases, including the packaging, are discarded after minimal or no use. I do not want to contribute to such waste!

Here are three ideas that I personally employ to keep myself from overconsuming during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This list does not include tips like unsubscribing to email lists or avoiding social media, though you can do that too. This is more about creating new behaviors for myself instead of avoiding temptations.

1. Make a list

This is the number one thing that helps me. In the calm before the holiday shopping frenzy, I make a list and do my research. This forces me to take an inventory of what I already own, whether we’re talking about household goods or the clothes in my closet.

I’m all about saving money, so Black Friday can be helpful for stocking up on those items that I use regularly throughout the year like skincare or say, small batch spices. But it’s important to see what you already own so you don’t buy something you already have.

When it comes to clothes, I already make it a habit to keep a Wardrobe Wish List throughout the year. This keeps me on task when I’m shopping. And if there’s something I covet, I often pin it to a Pinterest board and think it over for months. If it’s an item I’ve decided yes on, and it happens to go on sale, then that’s a happy, but slowly-thought-out, acquisition.

2. Do some Thanksgiving KonMari-ing

2 espresso cups, a measuring cup, and a cup with a pear pattern on it on a wooden table.

Some items I decluttered from my kitchen one Thanksgiving holiday.

Six years ago, I decluttered during the long Thanksgiving holiday and found it so satisfying (and poetic) that I’ve made it an annual tradition. Granted, this only works if you’re not traveling or busy hosting. But if you find yourself with some downtime, try going through your things and doing a purge of what you no longer want or need. (If doing a big decluttering is too much, then just focus on one room or category.) And in Marie Kondo fashion, I like to thank the items for their service before letting them go. It is Thanksgiving, after all.

Of course, after you’ve identified items to get rid of, you’ll need to well, get rid of them. Six years ago, I took my goods to various charity shops or programs, but these days I like giving things away on my local Buy Nothing group where items will, hopefully, actually get used.

3. Hold a Free Store or Swap

Speaking of giving things away, one year after my Thanksgiving KonMari-ing, I invited some friends over on Black Friday to shop the items I had ejected from my closet. (Here’s the post I wrote at that time about that experience, along with some questions to ask yourself when you’re shopping.) This was way more enjoyable than heading to a crowded mall. It was gratifying to see clothing that didn’t work out for me get a second life with friends.

You could also hold a swap where everyone brings items to share. Either way, this is a fun, free, and sustainable way to spend time together.

A flat lay of a black boxy shirt with a round oxblood purse from Baggu.

A shirt I barely wore that I passed along to a friend.

Well, that’s my little list of tips. I hope you found this helpful. And if you do shop this holiday season, consider shopping small businesses and shopping local where your dollars can go to helping out your community.

First Image: Element 5 Digital

A person poses with hands in pockets in a black trench coat.

Quince Review: Stretch Crepe Trench Coat

Published by welcomeobjects

It’s been a while since I’ve owned a trench coat. Or rather, my body has changed and I can’t fit into the ones I used to wear. This left a wardrobe gap for a longer, lightweight coat. Enter the Stretch Crepe Trench Coat from Quince.

The sleek and simple look of Quince’s trench coat appealed to me. Being a creature of habit, I ordered the black, though it comes in other classic neutrals like a beige color (morel) and navy.

Quince gifted this coat to me and this post contains affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. As always, I decide what to write about and all opinions are my own.

Closeup of someone's hands in a slash pocket of a trench coat.

The waist tie is removable.

A person models a black trench coat, showing the back.

The back vent is about 18″.

Details & Style

My style seems to be getting more minimalist as I age, and this Quince coat is a streamlined take on the trench coat. There are no buttons or tabs at the shoulders, though there are tabs at the cuffs. The only closure is a tie belt at the waist, which is removable. There’s also slash pockets and a center-back vent. This is not a fashion forward interpretation of a trench coat. I’d find it more exciting if there was some play in the shape — like a more oversized fit. Then again, it seems that Quince is going for a classic silhouette.

Materials & Quality

As the name implies, this is a trench coat with some give to it. It’s not made out of the stiff cotton of a more traditional trench, but instead is recycled polyester with a touch of spandex. (In general I try to avoid polyester clothing, but for certain articles of clothing  like outerwear it can have advantages. Polyester, for example, is water repellant.) The coat is fully lined. It has a medium weight to it, enough to give it a nice drape and movement — and perfect for transitional weather when you want a coat but not a heavy one. It is not water resistant like a rain coat.

While Quince says it resists wrinkles, mine came a little wrinkled in the packaging. But I gave the coat a good steaming, which took care of that. I have no complaints about the quality, which seems good. The material does not feel cheap. Pretty great for $100, actually.

Closeup of the front of the Quince stretch crepe trench coat review in black, as worn on a person.

Closeup of someone's arm in a trench coat.

Sizing & Fit

True to size. I am a small in most brands and ordered the small. It fits nicely in the shoulders. It’s slim, but also has enough room to comfortably wear over a light sweater.

At 5’4″ I’m at the tall end of petite, and while I found the body length worked fine for me, falling below the knees, the sleeves were a bit too long. I’ll need to take it to a tailor for hemming.

A person poses with a black trench coat worn open.

Sleeves are long for those of us with short limbs.

A person models a black trench coat, showing how it looks from the side.

Quince Trench Coat, courtesy of // Vetta Pants // Lo & Sons Bag c/o [review] // Nisolo Boots [review]

Styling the Stretch Crepe Trench Coat

I find that I prefer wearing it open for a more relaxed A-line silhouette. It goes well with both dresses/skirts and pants. While it lends itself naturally to dresses, I can also wear it more casually with sneakers. This is a piece that you can wear both to the office and on weekends.

A person wearing a black crepe trench coat over a red dress.

Curator SF Dress // Lo & Sons Bag c/o [review] // Quince Trench Coat // AGL Flats [similar]

You can find a directory to all my clothing reviews here.

Tiramisu in a stemmed glass

5 Spots for Outdoor Dining in Philadelphia

Published by welcomeobjects

One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to eat and a recent trip to Philadelphia did not disappoint. We had many tasty meals during a long weekend visit — and we didn’t even get around to Philly cheesesteaks. (See our 72-hour Philadelphia itinerary here).

In addition to deliciousness, another important factor for me these days when it comes to dining is outdoor space. As someone immunocompromised, I haven’t returned to indoor dining since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with the exception of a few times. I miss it so much! But whenever I think about whether getting (potentially very) sick would be worth a meal, the answer is no. (To be clear, you can also catch illnesses outside, especially if you’re dining close to someone who is contagious, but the risk goes down outside.)

Google’s filters for dining, annoyingly, don’t include outdoor dining. So here are five places I found. Not all of them had lovely outdoors spaces — sometimes it was just a few tables on the sidewalk, but hey, I’ll take what I can get. Of course, these outdoor tables probably won’t exist during colder months. But I hope this is helpful for anyone else who’s interested in eating outside.

Suraya

A plate of muhhamara

They ridiculously tasty muhamarra at Suraya, eaten in the spacious outdoor patio.

Suraya is a much-lauded Lebanese restaurant in Fishtown with beautiful tilework and spacious dining areas inside and out. It was our one upscale meal during our visit. The entry area has a pastry and coffee counter, as well as retail on shelves behind a long table. But past the host stand is a massive dining room. Beyond that is a large garden patio with a bar.

It was a bit buggy when we visited in September. We were seated at a table at the side near vegetation. While the waiter provided us with an essential oils wipe, mosquitos did take a few bites out of us. So, I recommend wearing long sleeves or applying mosquito repellent beforehand. I usually keep DEET insect repellent wipes in my bag during mosquito months just for this kind of scenario, but had forgotten to bring them.

We snagged a reservation to Suraya the day of. But I recommend doing it in advance and not last minute like us to have more time options. Also, note that for dinners on Fridays and Saturdays, there’s a required prix fixe at $75 per person.

OK, on to the food. Everything — from appetizer to cocktails to dessert — was great! But the appetizer and dessert were the most memorable. We started with the muhamarra, seasoned with chili, cumin, and  pomegranate, which came with fresh-from-the-oven pita. It was ridiculously tasty. Our mains, djej meshwi (young chicken) and samke harra (grilled branzino), were moist and not overdone. For dessert, (pictured at the top of this post) we tried a tiramisu with a surprising play of flavors like pistachio and orange. Service was attentive and we left very happy with this meal.

Blue Corn Mexican Restaurant

A plate of sopes from Blue Corn

Though there are not any vegetarian sopecitos on the menu, Blue Corn made them for us.

I learned about Blue Corn from Reddit, where Redditors recommended it. It’s also on Eater’s list of essential Philadelphia Mexican restaurants. Located in the South 9th Street Italian Market, this modestly-sized, family-run Mexican restaurant has multiple tables on the sidewalk, which are first come first served. Make sure to stop by an ATM before you come as it’s cash only.

The staff at Blue Corn accommodated modifications with grace. (I have a food allergy.) We started with the sopecitos. While the options for the sopecitos are all meat on the menu, they made vegetarian ones for us. For my entree, I ordered the blue tacos. I figured if the restaurant is named Blue Corn, I better try the blue corn tortillas, and they lived up to the hype. Everything was fresh. Another satisfying meal.

K-Far Cafe

The interior of K'Far cafe, with pink and gold wallpaper.

K-Far Cafe was a quick walk from our hotel in City Center. Its interior is chic and magazine-photo-shoot-worthy with gold accented pink wallpaper, sputnik chandeliers, and arched shelves. We took our food to go as we were walking along the Schuylkill River Trail that morning, but I noticed they had a sizeable outdoor patio as well.

We tried the Jerusalem bagel sandwich with egg and cooper sharp cheese. Texture-wise, the crisp, thin bagel contrasts nicely with the melty, gooey cheese and egg on the interior.

As I write this now, I’m baffled as to why I didn’t try any pastries. They all looked amazing, and K’Far is known as an excellent bakery. Next time, I will not make this mistake!

Almaz Cafe

A plate of vegetarian Ethiopian food from Almaz Cafe

The vegetarian sampler at Almaz Cafe.

Almaz Cafe, near Rittenhouse Square, is a small spot with American dishes (sandwiches, soups, and salads) on half of the menu. But we came for the other half, which is Ethiopian. There were just two tables outside, if I recall correctly, on the sidewalk out front.

The vegetarian sampler was tasty, the injera plentiful, and the service friendly. If you’re from a place like Oakland, CA, which has several good Ethiopian restaurants, then this probably wouldn’t be a must-try spot. But we hadn’t had Ethiopian food since we moved from California three years ago, and this hit the spot for us.

Reading Terminal Market

Reading Terminal Market from the exterior, people are walking outside in front of it.

With more than 80 vendors at Reading Terminal Market, you’re sure to find something you’ll want to eat. In fact, you might be sad that you don’t have multiple stomachs so you can eat more. We went twice and honestly, that was not enough.

Is this top foodie destination outdoor dining friendly, though? Not really. The dining areas are inside. However, there are a few high-top tables outside the building on Filbert Street. And they’re covered as they’re actually in a tunnel. (In the photo above, that’s Filbert Street on the right.) So that’s where we ate, standing at a table. Not ideal, but at least there was something.

We tried a pastrami sandwich from Hershel’s Eastside Deli, a simple turkey sandwich from The Original Turkey, and a chocolate walnut cookie from Famous 4th Street Cookie Company. All were solid and respectable. But my favorite — and the most unique — thing that we ate there was the Philly cheesesteak pretzel roll-up from Miller’s Twist.

I already have a list of other things to try the next time I’m there, like the pupusas from El Merkury and the chicken from Dienner’s Bar-B-Q. There was a long line at the latter and I intend to get in it next time.

All in all, Philly was a good food town. We didn’t have a single bad meal while there!

Independence Hall, a historic building with a spire, in front of modern buildings. There are orange trees surrounding it.

Travel Diary: 72 Hours in Philadelphia

Published by welcomeobjects

In September, the Mister and I spent a long weekend in Philadelphia. I usually like to do some planning before I leave for a destination. But with a work deadline right before our trip, I only read a bit about the city while in route.

And you know what, it went just fine! We took it day by day and had a lovely time. Here’s how we spent 72 hours in Philadelphia. Plus, I include some tweaks to our itinerary with the wisdom of hindsight.

How to Get Around Philadelphia

Renting a car is not necessary. We took public transit — the system is called SEPTA — and one Lyft. You don’t even need to purchase a ticket. Simply tap your phone or card. While there are three-day passes and one-day passes that can be loaded on a SEPTA card, those are only worth it if you’re taking a lot of transit. We paid as we went, which ended up being the most cost effective for us.

Where We Stayed

Club Quarters Rittenhouse Square, which adheres to the tradition of hotels not really being in the neighborhoods they purport to be in. The hotel is in City Center (but the fancier Rittenhouse Square neighborhood is adjacent). While the rooms are pretty standard and not particularly notable, I do want to praise the chilled water stations on each floor. I appreciated being able to refill my water bottle on the floor. And if you forgot yours, they also provide empty bottles.

Attractions & Museums

  • Benjamin Franklin Museum
  • Magic Gardens
  • Mural Arts Philadelphia
  • Mütter Museum
  • Schuylkill River Trail
  • Terminal Reading Market

Shopping

  • Fishtown
    • Jinxed Fishtown
  • South Street
    • 2nd Street
    • Greene Street
    • The Raxx Vintage Emporium
    • Retrospect Vintage
    • Philly AIDS Thrift
  • Rittenhouse Square & City Center
    • 2nd Street
    • Long in the Tooth

Our 72-Hour Itinerary in Philadelphia

Day 1 (arrival day): Thursday

A mural of a fish on a wall

Formerly a working class neighborhood, Fishtown is now home to some of the highest income earners in Philadelphia.

We took the train from Penn Station in NYC. It’s a pleasant 1.5 hour train ride, which left me wondering why we haven’t done this before! We arrived at Philly’s 30th Street Station in the afternoon and simply walked to our hotel in City Center (about a 25 minute walk), with a stop at Trader Joe’s for snacks.

After a rest, we headed to Fishtown, named for the occupations of its prior residents. Today it’s a trendy neighborhood with shops and eateries. We visited a few stores and bought some vintage postcards at Jinx Fishtown, a reasonably priced vintage shop with mostly home goods (though there are a few racks of clothes).

A pink sofa in Jinxed Vintage, with shelves behind it with ceramics and glassware.

Jinxed Fishtown. There’s also locations in Manayunk and South Philly.

The main attraction for us in Fishtown was the highly rated Lebanese restaurant Suraya. We snagged a reservation day-of for 5 p.m. and ate a leisurely dinner in the spacious garden patio before returning to the hotel to chill.

Day 2: Friday

People walk through a Reading Terminal Market, a food hall

Reading Terminal Market is home to more than 80 vendors.

This was a packed day! After a bit of morning exercise, we headed to Terminal Reading Market, an indoor food hall with an impressive number of vendors. Choosing what to eat was hard because there were so many tempting options. (I will do another post just on the food we ate in Philly.)

Outside of a museum with columns at the entry.

Photos are not allowed in the exhibits at the Mütter Museum, so here is a photo of the outside.

Next, we checked out the Mütter Museum, a 19th century style cabinet museum of medical history and oddities. It’s not for the squeamish, as there are real human skulls and anatomical specimens preserved in jars. It was fascinating to see what the body can do. Philadelphia is known for many American medical firsts, such as the first hospital (1751) and medical school (1765), and the museum is located at The College of Physicians of Philadelphia.

A completely mosaicked installation with a walkway, also mosaicked.

The mosaicked world of the Magic Gardens.

From there, we took a Lyft to the Magic Gardens, an outdoor labyrinthine art installation by artist Isaiah Zagar, who spent decades beautifying the streets and buildings of Philly. Magic Gardens started off as an abandoned lot next to his art studio, which he cleaned up and mosaicked with found objects, ceramics, concrete, and more. It’s an impressive feat and we marveled at its details.

Afterwards, we walked around the neighborhood, South Street, where there’s a concentration of secondhand and vintage shops, including:

A vintage store with racks of clothing

Raxx Vintage Emporium. If you’re looking for something specific, they’ll most likely have a rack dedicated to it.

Racks of clothing, and vintage glassware on the shelves above the clothes.

Retrospect Vintage is actually a Goodwill. It’s owned and operated by Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia.

A thrift shop: in the foreground a table with vases and teapots and ceramics. In the distance, a rack with clothes hanging from it.

Philly AIDS Thrift has multiple floors with lots of rooms.

Then we walked to dinner at Blue Corn, considered one of the best Mexican restaurant in Philadelphia. It did not disappoint. That evening we saw PJ Harvey at The Met Philadelphia, which was the impetus for our trip.

Day 3: Saturday

A mural of a girl wearing a bold black print on a white jacket on the side of a building

Untitled by Amy Sherald is a a six stories high portrait of a young woman the artist met.

We returned to Terminal Reading Market because it’s walking distance from our hotel and there were still foods we wanted to try. Then we took a tour with Mural Arts Philadelphia, which offers walking tours on the weekends. You can also book private tours. Philly is known as “the mural capital of the world” for its more than 4,300 murals, many of them created as part of a city-run anti-graffiti program. On the 90-minute tour through different centrally-located neighborhoods, we learned about how innovative materials allow murals to be made in pieces and then assembled, allowing many people to participate off-site in creating them.

Afterwards, we walked into Chinatown for banh mi at QT Vietnamese Sandwich. Then, we walked back to the hotel, stopping by another outpost of 2nd Street along the way, which is right next door to Uniqlo. After a rest, we took the bus to the Benjamin Franklin Museum, which cost all of $5 for an adult ticket. We also watched a demonstration of the printing press in the nearby Printing Office, which was very cool and free.

The exhibit area of the Benjamin Franklin Museum

The Benjamin Franklin Museum is a manageable size and can been seen in an hour.

Old printing press with type set

The Printing Office is a recreation of an 18th-century printing press operation similar to what Benjamin Franklin would have used.

Then we got back on the bus to Rittenhouse Square, mostly to check out the record shop Long In the Tooth. We also sat in Rittenhouse Square itself to people watch before enjoying dinner at the nearby Almaz Cafe, an Ethiopian restaurant.

Day 4 (departure day): Sunday

View of buildings from across the Schuylkill River Trail

The Schuylkill River Trail has over 75 miles of paved and crushed stone trails.

In the morning we grabbed breakfast sandwiches from K’Far Cafe and walked along the Schuylkill River Trail. It took us past the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and if we weren’t leaving on this day, we would have went in. Instead, we took the bus back to our hotel so we could check out by noon. After meeting friends for lunch, we took Amtrak back to NYC, feeling satisfied with our long weekend away.

Tweaks I’d Make to the Itinerary

I think we packed in a decent amount in 72 hours, but with hindsight, I’d arrange some things differently. Mostly, I’d plan to arrive at certain places earlier so that we’d have more time to explore.

For example, on the first night, ideally we would have eaten later. That would have given us more time to explore the shops of Fishtown. By the time we were done eating at Suraya, most stores had closed. (Let that be a lesson not to make dinner reservations the day of!)

Likewise, Blue Corn is located in South 9th Street Italian Market, a historic shopping district with food vendors and groceries. I didn’t even realize this until we arrived. We didn’t have time to check it out since we had to make a show. Next time I’d build in some time to walk around this area.

But adding time there means taking time from something else. I’d move the Mütter Museum to the same day of the mural walk and Rittenhouse Square, since those are close to each other. (We had decided to go to the Mütter Museum on a Friday, reasoning that it’d be less crowded than on a Saturday. On Friday, we just walked up. But on a weekend, you’d probably want to buy timed tickets in advance.)

We also got to the Benjamin Franklin Museum in the late afternoon, and thus only really had time to see it. But the neighborhood it’s located in, Old City, offers many museums and historic attractions, such as Independence Hall, Elfreth’s Alley, and the African American Museum in Philadelphia. We should have forgone shopping that day and budgeted more time to take in a few more things. And, if you’re visiting during the summer, the National Parks Service runs free tours in the evenings.

In any case, we just barely scratched the surface of what there is to see and do in Philadelphia. I guess we’ll just have to come back!

First Image: Jimmy Woo/Unsplash