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Around the corner from the Liberty Bell, The Bourse Food Hall is adapting to COVID-19. The 130-year-old commodities-exchange-turned-food-hall, well known as a gathering for good food and good variety, has removed their chairs from indoor tables. If you want to sit and eat, there are tables set up outside. The lines are marked with social distancing diamonds that read “STAND ON THIS JAWN” (jawn is Philadelphian for “thingamajig”).

Last week, The Bourse is welcomed a new vendor: The Original Hotdog Factory. Any other time, this might be routine. The Original Hotdog Factory franchise specializes in a wide variety of hotdogs alongside wings, fried Oreos, and other delicious goodies. During COVID, though, opening any new food location is an aberration. But for franchise owner Aaron Anderson this is nothing new.

Anderson is quiet and friendly. For a man with a dozen successful businesses, including 5 Original Hotdog Factory locations in Philadelphia, he carries himself like a mom and pop shop owner–a modest smile, quiet voice, and focused attention. But he dreams big, including owning a sports team (his first choice is the Philadelphia 76ers) and running for office in Philadelphia.

This is the second Original Hotdog Factory that he has opened since COVID hit Philly.

Technically, it’s his third.

Anderson opened his fourth location in February of 2020, right before COVID. The location focused on indoor seating, and the sudden desertion of foot traffic drove it to extinction in weeks. So Anderson turned around and reopened in a new location in March. This time, he focused on takeout. He reached out to first responders and offered meals and services with organizations like the Ronald McDonald House. And the store thrived.

If other companies want to survive, he says, they’ll have to adapt. “Pivot in everything that you know. You’ve just got to change it…Stay focused no matter what. Times are definitely tough, but if you stay strong and sustain (then) on the other side is success for sure.” It is also, he says, about who has your back, including yourself. “It’s just being self-motivated and having a strong support team that keeps you motivated, and that’s always got your back.”

The next time you’re in Philadelphia, you can stop by The Original Hotdog Factory in the Bourse Food Hall, now open for business. Top options to check out at the Bourse location include the Surf n Turf (beef hotdog with crab meat), Fire Dog (loaded with peppers), and a damn fine Coney Dog. You’ll have to leave the Hall to eat them, but it will be worth the extra steps when you order the deep-fried twinkie for dessert.

Clearly, we’re all about the wonder and intrigue of New York City. If you ask us, it’s the best city on the planet, and it has enough going on to keep you occupied for several lifetimes – maybe without even leaving one borough. Partly because of this, however, New York is also exhausting, and that means some people visiting might feel the need to get away now and then.

We don’t recommend leaving for too long because you might just miss something. But these are a few ideas for easy day trips from the city.

The Hamptons

Because homes in the area are very expensive and there’s something of an “old money” vibe to a few neighborhoods, the Hamptons area is sometimes thought of as being exclusive. However, while it may be difficult to procure a permanent vacation home there, it’s certainly a reasonable day trip from the city – whether you drive up and back in one day or look to rent a place for a night. Offering an atmosphere, not unlike some famous New England getaways, it’s full of excellent beaches, stunning homes, and even famous lighting that draws artists. Yet as one insider put it, there are also low-key seafood shacks, quirky antique shops, and placid bays. All in all, it’s both a pristine beach destination and a place with some character.

Atlantic City

Aerial views of Atlantic City, New Jersey.. Photographs © 2012 Bob Krist.. www.bobkrist.com

Atlantic City kind of sounds busy given that it’s known as a casino destination. But really, it’s a pretty relaxing place. There’s a legendary boardwalk, there are beaches nearby, and keep in mind that casinos are resorts too – not just poker halls. For that matter, people even head to Atlantic City specifically to enjoy those resorts and play games online without ever heading down to the casinos – just because it’s legal. Online gaming activity is regulated by the state’s government which means even this kind of leisure activity is a full-blown tourist attraction in New Jersey. But whatever the case – walking the beaches, exploring the boardwalk, checking out casinos or just booking a nice cozy room – Atlantic City can make for a nice one- or two-day retreat. The

Catskills

The Catskills are some of New York’s mountains, located just over an hour’s drive from the city itself. They’re rolling, green mountains dotted here and there with small lakes and vacation homes, and actually make for a beautiful area to explore. There’s something to be said even for just driving through, with small cliffs on either side of the winding road and all kinds of small, pretty towns – some of which seem wonderfully old-fashioned – along the way.

Hudson Valley Wineries

New York doesn’t exactly seem like the sort of state renowned for wine production, and to be sure it isn’t on the level of, say, California or Oregon. That said, New York has gained some recognition over the past decade or two, and it’s largely as a result of some thriving Hudson Valley wineries. Called“the perfect place for fine wining” by Time Out New York, the Hudson Valley wineries are just a short trip outside the city and offer pretty tours, tasting opportunities, classy wine bars, and even some relaxing places
to stay. It’s not quite Napa, but when you’re taking a break from the city it can almost look and feel that way!

Philadelphia

Finally, there’s Philly. Granted, heading to another big city doesn’t constitute much of a break from the hustle, but we’re including it on this list because too many people don’t realize just how close the two cities are. By car, it takes only a couple of hours. So, if you’d just like to explore something new during a longer stay in New York, keep it on your list! It’s a brilliant city.