Pop-ups appear in cities everywhere, but mostly selling European sneakers and street artwork. In Philadelphia, things are a bit more down to earth, literally. The Philadelphia Horticultural Society (PHS) recently teamed up with a variety of local businesses, star chefs, academics, artists and urban farmers to create the PHS Pops Up, a temporary garden carved out of a once-gritty vacant lot at the corner of Market and 20th streets.
The nearly 32,000 square-foot temporary oasis—unveiled on June 13th—is home to a seasonal mix of herbs, vegetables, flowers, and grains, all planted in a pattern inspired by Piet Mondrian’s geometric grid compositions. Arching over the entrance to the space is “écolibrium,” an exhibit of sustainable greenery erected by Temple University Ambler for this year’s Philadelphia International Flower Show. Visitors can check out the verdant spot every Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 2p.m., when the grounds will host tours, fitness classes (botanical bootcamp?), and workshops on topics like container gardening and edible landscapes.
Another way to get a taste of the PHS Pops Up: Book a table at some of the city’s best restaurants. Six famed Philadelphia chefs—Daniel Stern of R2L, Guillermo Tellez of Square 1682, Chris Scarduzio of Table 31, Michael Schulson of Sampan, Marcie Turney of Barbuzzo, and Lynn Rinaldi of Paradiso—will create special dishes using the produce currently taking seed in the garden, with proceeds being donated to City Harvest.
It’s a cool concept that gives back to the community and elevates Philly’s rapidly growing locavore food scene. If you don’t have time to sample all six of the restos and you only have time for one stop, we suggest Barbuzzo—the experience of dining there recently was so flavorful and brilliantly balanced that we can only describe it as food nirvana. Eco enthusiasts should plan a trip soon, as the PHS Pops Up will only be on display until October. At that point, it will be dismantled but bloom again next spring in a new location.
To learn more about PHS, visit pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org
For tips on things to do and places to stay in Philadelphia, read offManhattan’s article, Beyond the Liberty Bell: Finding What’s New in an Old Town.
How to get there: Consult the Philadelphia Transportation guide in the Transportation Advisor section of offManhattan.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram