Pennsylvania
Food|Bakeries & Dessert

The Best Little Bakeshop In America Is Right Here In Philadelphia

The Sweet Life Bakeshop in Philadelphia is renowned for its exceptional banana pudding and creative cupcakes.

Published Jan 12, 2018

Written by 

Kim Magaraci

Philadelphia is a city known for its bakeries, and it takes a lot to stand out from the crowd. We have hundred year old bakeshops serving cannoli to die for, and bakeries who throw parties in the long lines during the Christmas season, so when a tiny South Philly bakeshop starts to gain attention from the local press, it's time to investigate and find out what makes it so good. The Sweet Life, located on South Street, holds up to the test, and just one bite of their perfect banana pudding proves that it's the best bakeshop in Philadelphia

The Sweet Life Bakeshop is located at 740 South St., Philadelphia, PA 19147.

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This little family-run bakery has been creating some of the best sweets in the city for years.

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Facebook / The Sweet Life Bakeshop

They feature creative cupcakes with fruit in the frosting - a small detail that earned them the title of "Best Cupcake in Philadelphia" by CBS Philly.

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Facebook / The Sweet Life Bakeshop

Their delicious, made-from-scratch cookies are better than any you've ever tried.

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Facebook / The Sweet Life Bakeshop

And their mouthwatering pound cake is perfection!

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Facebook / The Sweet Life Bakeshop

But what they're most famous for is their perfect banana puddings.

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Instagram / The Sweet Life

Try it in as many variations as you can. You'll be coming back for more!

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Instagram / The Sweet Life

The Sweet Life also makes some of the prettiest cakes you'll ever see.

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Instagram / The Sweet Life

But that's no secret - if you want them to make a cake for your occasion, get planning! They book over a month in advance.

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Facebook / The Sweet Life Bakeshop

All it takes is one bite of the Sweet Life's pastries, cupcakes, carrot cakes, or banana puddings to understand why this is the best little bakeshop in America.

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Instagram / The Sweet Life

This tiny, unassuming bakery will truly make a lifelong customer out of anyone who samples their delicious baked goods. In a city with an extensive bakery history, that's impressive! The shop is typically open Tuesday through Sunday, but their January hours are:

Thursday & Sunday: 12 PM - 8 PM

Friday & Saturday: 12 PM - 9 PM

If these photos don't have your mouth watering yet, tantalize your taste buds by checking out their sweet-as-can-be Instagram page here.

Have you satisfied your sweet tooth at The Sweet Life? What tasty treat did you try while you were there? We always love taste-testing the goodies here! Share your favorites in the comments below.

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Food|Bakeries & Dessert

9 Staggering Photos Of An Abandoned Pier Hiding In Philadelphia

Discover the top hiking trails that offer breathtaking scenic views and unique natural experiences.

Published Dec 13, 2017

Written by 

Kim Magaraci

One of the best public art spaces in Philadelphia is hidden along the river at Pier 18. Once a busy Conrail stop along the Reading Railroad, Pier 18 is now Philadelphia's worst kept secret, and dozens of people flock to "Graffiti Pier" every day to take photos that will take your breath away.

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Pier 18 used to be a critical point at Port Richmond Yards, the sprawling Reading Railroad landing spot.

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Flickr / Sara Castillo

Workers would load anthracite coal from the pier into waiting trains. To everyone, it was just another pier along the yard.

In 1991, Conrail decommissioned and abandoned Pier 18. It didn't take long for the city's urban explorers to investigate the newly vacant site.

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Flickr / pwbaker

Soon, artists from around the city began tagging Pier 18, and it quickly took on the name "Graffiti Pier."

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Flickr / pwbaker

Though it is still marked as private property, it's one of the most Instagrammed places in Philadelphia.

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Flickr / PWBaker

In fact, you'll see cars lining up on beautiful weekend days as they try to find nearby parking before exploring this stunning art space.

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Flickr / pwbaker

Adventurous Philadelphians come here to enjoy the balance of nature and urban decay, as the pier is in disrepair and it's common to see trees, shrubs, and weeds poking their way through the concrete.

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Flickr / pwbaker

The viewpoints you can find at Graffiti Pier are unlike any others in the city. No wonder so many people come here for art projects or photoshoots!

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Flickr / pwbaker

Recently, there has been a big movement to turn Graffiti Pier into a public park, but that would require a lot of site cleanup, so plans have not yet been set by the city.

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Flickr / pwbaker

Regardless of its future, one thing Philadelphians can all agree on is that this abandoned pier-turned-public-art-space is one of the most uniquely beautiful and captivating places in the city.

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Flickr / pwbaker

Did you know Philadelphia has more public art than any other city in the country? No wonder we seem to love Graffiti Pier!

Here are a few more facts about Philadelphia to impress your friends - or to get ready for Trivia Night in Old City.

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Food|Bakeries & Dessert

The Oldest Ice Cream Shop In America Is Right Here In Philadelphia And It’s Amazing

Discover the best hiking trails with breathtaking scenic views.

Published Nov 10, 2017

Written by 

Kim Magaraci

Did you know that the oldest ice cream shop in America is located right here in Philadelphia? Bassett's Ice Cream may have been dreamed up in New Jersey, but it's move to a Market Street storefront and later to Reading Terminal Market makes this spot the oldest ice cream shop in the country! Next time you enjoy an oversized cone of this classic Philly treat, be sure to appreciate it for what it is: over 150 years of experience in making the best ice cream possible.

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In 1861, Lewis Dubois Bassett began making ice cream in his backyard using a mule-powered churn.

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Facebook / Bassett's Ice Cream

Bassett was a Quaker school teacher and ran a small farm. The demand for his ice cream skyrocketed once word got out about how great it was.

In 1885, Bassett was able to start selling his ice cream in Philadelphia from a storefront at 504 Market Street.

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Facebook / Bassett's Ice Cream

When Reading Terminal Market opened in 1892, Bassett's Ice Cream moved and began making their ice cream on site in the basement.

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Facebook / Bassett's Ice Cream

You could feel the trains shake the building from above!

Bassett's has been a family owned and operated business since it opened. Each generation has passed down the shop to their children - for over 156 years!

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Facebook / Bassett's Ice Cream

Bassett's location in Reading Terminal Market hasn't changed much.

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Yelp / KR

It's still an old fashioned ice cream shop serving up delicious flavors of homemade treats.

You can order a scoop (or four) in a cup, sugar cone, cake cone, or a gourmet homemade waffle cone.

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Yelp / Gary L.

I always splurge for the waffle cones - the last time I was there, they even had a chocolate-dipped Heath Bar cone!

Bassett's Ice Cream serves up a ton of flavors, from unique ones like cinnamon to traditional favorites like butter pecan and cookies & cream.

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Yelp / Kimberly J

No matter what flavor and cone you pick, grab your ice cream and walk around Reading Terminal to enjoy one of the best food markets in America.

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Yelp / Sujung E.

Bassett's makes for a great dessert for any meal you will find here!

Do you have a favorite flavor at Bassett's? Let us know in the comments - we're always ready to taste-test new treats!

Reading Terminal Market really is one of the most incredible places in the world - you can find the best sandwich in the country at DiNic's and the best donuts you'll ever try right at Beiler's Bakery.

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