Welcome additions to Philadelphia in 2013

2013 in Philadelphia was marked by the fleeting, spontaneous phenomenon known as "pop up." From shops to beer gardens, and Orchestra performances to winter wonderlands, many of the best attractions to hit Philadelphia this year were ephemeral delights. In a year thats number signals bad luck, we can only hope that by some stroke of good fortune, many of these find a way to stick around.

We break down some of the welcome additions to Philadelphia this year, but dont be surprised if some of these hot spots dont return in 2014. Sorry triskaidekaphobes, but we're keeping our list count in theme with the year.

13. Shawmont Trail. Thanks to a $1.4 million project led by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, Philadelphia and Montgomery counties are now safely connected via a new one mile trail renovation. Its no Panama Canal, but the expanded portion of the 23-mile Schuylkill River Trail allows runners and cyclists a safe passage away from automobile traffic.

12. SEI Innovations Studios. Just when we think the Kimmel Center cant get any cooler, it goes and opens studio space to attract and cultivate new talent. The intimate theater is aimed at a younger demographic than those in the parquet boxes, and its 200-hundred seat theatre promises to host a variety of performances. The buildings Spruce Street entrance displays a stylish 22-foot-tall glass panel structure that allows for changeable graphics.

11. Franklin Flea. Upscale flea might seem like an oxymoron, but the temporary shopping spot managed to bring some much-needed foot traffic to Market East. A veritable bazaar including art, funky fashion, live music, hot food, and eccentric wares, Franklin Flea enjoyed a November-through-December run as a weekly winter flea market at the old historic Strawbridge & Clothier building at 8th and Market. Borne from the ashes of Brooklyn Flea, this indoor market with a hometown name and feel still has room to grow, and will reopen in April 2014. Well see what effect, if any, it will have in a Market East strip starved for shopping options outside of The Gallery.

10. Hollywood Recognition. Its been a while since Philadelphia got its due respect on the big screen. Sure theres been the odd Jennifer Wiener or Alice Sebold adaptation, plus that streak of biennial efforts from M. Night Shyamalan, whose caliber of work seemed to weaken with each new film, but our fair city finally basked in the limelight of silver screen recognition when Silver Linings Playbook was up for Oscars in all the major categories in this years Academy Awards. The Llanerch Diner, a City Line staple affectionately known as The Big L provided the setting for a key scene by this years Best Actress winner Jennifer Lawrence, and Delco and city residents alike could point out familiar spots as the world watched. Major films such as World War Z with Brad Pitt, and Fanny with Richard Gere were set or filmed in Philly this year. Could more Hollywood crews be on their way?

9. Philly Pheud. The concept is simple: A local TV game show based on the familiar format of Family Feud, but with a Philly twist. Our sports teams may not have been very competitive this year, but this new game show tests Philly groups on their knowledge of city history, culture, traditions, and sports, and provides both audiences and contestants the chance to trade trash talk and flaunt the competitive edge that defines our sports fans. The fight cards so far have showcased such heavyweight match-ups as St. Joes versus Temple, The District Attorneys office versus the Defense Attorneys, The Inquirer versus the Daily News, and of course, Pats versus Genos. Disclosure: This writer and his philly.com colleagues recently set a record for the shows highest score. Challengers are welcome.

8. The Cronut. Its not our creation. We recognize that. The delectable, calorie-count-be-damned fusion of croissant and doughnut started in New York with chef Ansel Dominique in SoHo. Thankfully, local bakeries like Swiss Haus, Potitos, and Frangellis cooked up their own versions of the glazed craze soon after to meet the growing local demand. Swiss Haus jumped on the scene early, creating a concoction of fried dough, glaze, and cinnamon with cream inside for $5 each. The taste? Who cares if we didnt invent it? Who cares if it launches us back among the ranks of fattest, ugliest cities? Theyre just that good.

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Welcome additions to Philadelphia in 2013