It has been a pleasure writing about Philadelphia for About.com for the past few years, but my time here is coming to a close. I will miss seeing you here.

All the best!
Karrie

Until a few years ago, Pat's and Geno's were East Passyunk's most notable culinary offerings. There were still long-standing, classic and delicious Italian restaurants like Marra's, but there was a lack of variety and lots of empty store fronts. Now the adorable avenue is a major destination for dining and retail. In 2010 Passyunk Avenue was profiled in the travel section of the New York Times for it's cool cafe culture and hip boutiques. After the young art crowd helped established East Passyunk Avenue as an exciting place to be, culinary heavy weights followed suit. In May of 2013, East Passyunk Avenue was named one of the 10 Best Foodie Streets in America. They have it all: great cafes, cozy BYOBs, progressive gastropubs, specialty food markets and sophisticated fine-dining. Here are some of the best places to eat and drink on East Passyunk Avenue.

May is a busy, beautiful month in Philly. In addition to Mother's Day and Memorial Day, and all the brunches and barbecues that entails, there are some great festivals. Definitely don't miss South Street's "new signature event," the South Street Headhouse District Spring Festival. Lots of great things have been happening in that area and on May 4th you can sample them all at once. Enjoy food and cocktails from nearby by restaurants while the young ones hang out in the "kid zone" at this massive street festival. Read more about what May has in store here.

In Philly, Spring can be rather fleeting. The cold subsides, the sun comes out, everyone is ecstatic... for a moment. The next thing you know It's 100 degrees with suffocating humidity. Early Spring is the best time to take advantage of Philadelphia's increasingly awesome outdoor seating options. While any restaurant can throw some tables out on the side walk, the best outdoor seating combines ambiance with open air. These restaurants have thoughtfully designed patio seating that feels like taking a mini vacation. Read more here.