The most important opening … since Anthro

Sometimes, something happens in local retail that is so big, so obvious, so overwhelmingly amazing, that the local retail/style media kinda misses the boat on actually reporting on it. This recently, shamefully, happened with we, Philadelphia magazine, and them, Terrain at Styer’s.

Terrain, Urban Outfitters’ brand-new concept, a garden lifestyle center that should arguably have previewed weeks ago, is now in full operational mode. All 11 acres of it. Gardeners — you know who you are — probably know the location, which, until last year, went by J. Franklin Styer Nurseries, a century-plus old spot that was once housed one of the country’s first mushroom farms.

Anyways. Now, thanks to no small amount of Urban magic — which included a Best in Show award at this year’s flower show — the place is something else, something else indeed. It’s hard to describe, but I think utopia kinda fits the bill. Apparently, the concept is geared toward the post-Anthro (read: 40-plus) set, but I can’t imagine anyone not absolutely falling in love with the barns o’ plants and antique tools and crazy-chic patio furniture and silver plant spritzers, and even elegant rolls of twine, not to mention the botanical skin care and sculptural fountains and full-fledged café (with living wall of thyme varieties and — get this — a toast bar).

I suggest going, just to wander. Maybe taking Mom for a treat this weekend. Or, pitching a tent and moving in.

Photo by Jeff Fusco

Just in time for must-mani, must-pedi season, two new nail salons have been added to the healthy mix of Rittenhouse-adjacent walk-ins. First, I got a very serviceable, 12-buck manicure at Jeans — without a wait and with a friendly greeting and a little nails-drying shoulder knead. They’re extending their grand opening giveaways with promises of fresh flower bouquets the first few weeks of May. If you don’t see him (and he’s tiny so you might not), ask to meet the house’s adorable 6-week-old Maltese puppy.

Second, Nail Bar (above Leehe Fai), with its actual sparkly mosaic-tiled bar, should be open Saturday for cuticle cocktails and the like. I’ll report back on them in an upcoming blog. Until then, here’s to a chip-free week.

Philly’s very own super-smart CN8 host Lynn Doyle is apparently super-hot too. She was selected as a top 10-finalist from more than 14,000 entries in a 40+ model search (hosted by MORE mag and Wilhelmina). At 51, she’s the oldest of the top 10.

Here she is at the runway show that took place on February 20th at Cipriani in New York (a photo which reminded us of the similar bright-eyed moment just seconds before Carrie Bradshaw bit it in her big runway debut. Which, in turn, led us to count the days until the Sex and the City movie comes out … and by days, we mean 13 weeks.) in a Heidi Weisel design, a 40+ designer herself. And apparently Lynn’s tip to staying so baby-faced is $3 drugstore emu oil. Sounds gross, but whatever works.