Have you seen your elbows lately? I’m sure they are a dewy as a morning rose, but mine? Well, I hadn’t seen mine in a bit, thanks to all those chunky sweaters I’ve been sporting, and wow. The winter weather paired with dried-out, heated air indoors causes serious trauma to your skin, and just because you’re not thinking bikinis yet doesn’t mean you should let your skin dry up. Instead, indulge in a little relaxation and a body scrub at one of our favorite spas. Your elbows — and knees, and everything in-between — will thank you.

I admit it. When I first heard the term picklebacking, all sorts of sorted, random things popped into my head. So I’ll give you all a few moments to do the same and get it out of your system….

OK. Now know that unless you have been frequenting New York City bars and come across the real thing, none of your initial thoughts were right. Picklebacking is one of the newest trends on the mixology scene, although the recipe, rumored to have originated in Russia, is as simple as it gets. Take a shot of your favorite poison, then chase it with a shot of salty pickle juice. Certainly covers the flavor more than a beer, I’d think.

Half of Philadelphia is currently scheming up an oh-so-perfect plans for loosing those 10-odd pounds that, in a champagne-induced euphoria, you declared would be gone in time for shore season. Maybe you will run Kelly Drive every morning. Maybe you’ll order every Jillian Michaels DVD on Amazon and turn your living room into a fitness club. Or maybe you need a creative, new way to burn those calories. If you’re in the latter category, check out one of these fun Philly workouts. Here’s to that two-piece by June!

Back in July, I penned a post for this site that saddened me more than just a bit. While I understood that the trends and tastes in the Philadelphia dining scene had changed dramatically since Le Bec-Fin had its heyday, the news that Georges Perrier was going to close the once five-star Mobile restaurant was hard to swallow for area foodies. Today I’m back, but with better news: Le Bec-Fin will not close as planned.

You know that saying that the only sure things in life are death and taxes? I honestly believe there’s a third item that I can confidently add to that list: that if it’s January, the gym will be full. New Year resolutions are a habit we cannot break, and loosing weight seems to always top the list, no matter how in shape we are. If you are joining the masses and planning to make 2011 The Year of the Six-Pack,tour one of these top Philadelphia fitness clubs before you sign on the dotted line.

While checking your email can sometimes cause heart palpitations (How may assignments am I supposed to be working on right now!?), it can also lead to the discovery of something new and fun. Just like when we were kids and we ran to the mailbox looking for that first birthday card, we now scan the spam looking for exciting little messages. For many of us, one of those has been the daily Rue La La sales email. The thrill just got better, through, as city-specific Rue Philadelphia launched yesterday.

Whether you are new to the Philadelphia area or just visiting us during this holiday season. there are a few things you need to know when it comes to New Year’s Eve. First, Philadelphians like to party. There is not a restaurant, bar, ballroom, living room or basement that will not be hopping with the sounds of revelry come midnight. Second, being a historical town, we honor tradition. And on New Year’s, that means two things: fireworks on the river and Mummers on Broad Street.

As the days have grown shorter and the winds colder, the question has been circulating the streets of Philadelphia: Where are you going for New Year’s Eve? With everything from your cousin’s house party to three-day hotel packages up for grabs, there is a celebration with your name on it. We’ve combed through the flyers and email blasts to find five of the most festive and frequented parties for you to snap up tickets to. Happy New Year!

It’s the time of year to start drafting your New Year’s resolutions, a task that isn’t too difficult as most of the country jots down the same three or four every year. And loosing weight seems to always top that list. Perhaps it’s the post-candy cane hangover (or the real one caused by one too many mini mugs of egg nog), but we want to be leaner and lither by the first day of spring. So start counting your calories. Enroll in that Zumba class. And look good dropping the pounds with workout gear from one of these top Philadelphia sports shops.