Valerie Grant
Grant, a Pilates and Feldenkrais instructor (the latter discipline focuses on the relationship between movement and thought), will help you strengthen weak core and back muscles to reprogram the way your body naturally carries itself. Which means no more ugly rolled shoulders and bowed back. Bonus: You'll look skinnier, too. Club La Maison, 215 Sugartown Road, Wayne, PA 19087, clublamaison.com.
West Philly Tool Library
Need a large mortar chisel? A rawhide mallet? Perhaps a saber saw? For just $20 to $50 annually, you can borrow tools from this nonprofit's 2,500-item-strong library for up to a week at a time, and you only pay more ($1 a day) if you don't get them back on time. Take that, Money Pit. 4620 Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143, westphillytools.org.
Mike Smaltz of Platoon Fitness
Your paunch doesn't stand a chance against this dude, a trainer for the past 20 years who'll whip your wimpy butt into shape with kettlebells, gymnastic rings (yeah, you heard us) and nonstop body-weight intervals. See website for locations, 00000, platoonfitness.com/Platoon_Fitness/Locations.html.
Lisa Korn, Saks Fifth Avenue
Sixteen years at Saks and eight before that at Nan Duskin and Lisa Korn is still as fashion-obsessed as ever. The secret to her coveted status as one of the 5th Avenue Club's top sellers? Could be her elite buying access to every designer out there (even ones the Bala Cynwyd Saks doesn't carry). Could be that when it comes to that Oscar ball gown you just have to have, she'll be absolutely relentless until you're in it. 2 Bala Plaza, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, saksfifthavenue.com.
Lacquer Lounge
Dream up your wildest design (peachy ombr, metallic dots, neon chevrons), and the friendly techs at this pretty salon will turn your nails into tiny, perfectly manicured works of art. And for a song, too: Lacquer charges just $3 a nail. 501 Fitzwater Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, lacquerlounge.com.
Sean Agnew
Fourteen years ago, Agnew, an Ardmore native, started booking bands occasionally as a hobby. Now 32 and a Drexel dropout, he's the biggest independent promoter in the region, producing close to 300 shows a year via his company, R5 Productions, at venues like Johnny Brenda's and the First Unitarian Church, in warehouses and basements, and even at a private airport/pool/motel complex in South Jersey. "I have absolutely no musical ability," says Agnew. "That's why I started doing shows because I was frustrated I couldn't play." 00000,
Cantina Los Caballitos
Not everything on the menu at the Cantina is cheap, but many of the best basics are, like the giant bowl of citrus-tinged guacamole ($7), the massive, overstuffed Tex-Mex-style burritos ($8 to $11), and the real-deal tacos ($8 to $11), all of which come with a healthy dusting of cilantro and a lime wedge for squeezing. After one bite of the menu stars the crunchy-soft fried plantains with melted cheese ($6), and the tamarind barbecued pork ribs paired with pickled jalapeos ($12) you'll forgive this hipster hang in South Philly for its long waits and too-cool-for-school crowds, and just order another $6 frozen blood-orange margarita. 1651 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, cantinaloscaballitos.com/main.html.
Barneys CO-OP
Paul Smith. Vince. Rag and Bone. Onitsuka. Loomstate. Opening Ceremony. If you're a city dude, consider yourself edgy-natty-preppy-buttoned-up, and like to moan about commuting to KOP/NYC for your fashion fix, you'll need to find something new to gripe about. Thanks to the Co-op's well-stocked second floor, not having somewhere to shop is no longer a valid complaint. 1811 Walnut Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103, barneys.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-BNY-Site/default/Stores-Details?StoreID=335.
Black's Bag and Baggage
Remember when travel used to be glamorous? Sigh. But staffers here certainly make preparing for modern travel feel glamorous. They know their Briggs and Riley from their Samsonite (i.e., theyve got your price point, whether you prefer to journey in style or think a Hefty bag will do), and theyll help you explore every zipper and side pocket, clucking sympathetically all the while about overhead bins and checked-bag fees. Even better, theyve got a gorgeous selection of purses, weekend bags and computer carriers to coordinate. 117 South 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, .
Kids 'N' Kribs
Shopping here is like going into one of the big-box kiddie stories with your been-there-done-that mom friend and having her point out the exact products you'll love, from cribs and monitors to car seats and teddy bears. 112 North Wayne Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087, kidsnkribs.com.
Bob and Barbara's
In a world of Internet-connected jukeboxes, its great to see that this legendary dive has realized the inherent evil of the trend. I hated it! says Bob & Barbaras owner Jack Prince of the new-school play-anything model he acquired a few years back. Prince recently kicked it to the curb, replacing it with a traditional box containing a well-curated selection of R&B, jazz and funk thats appropriate for the space. In other words, youll never ever hear Margaritaville or Piano Man here again. 1509 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146, bobandbarbaras.com.
Dante and Luigi's
When your cousins visiting from out West ask to see the real Italian joints in the city, dress them up and bring them to the corner of 10th and Catharine, order anything with "gravy Corona di Ferro," and, just as they're tucking into their manicotti, lean over, point to a corner, and say, "I hear that's where they did the mob hit on Scarfo in '89." 762 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, danteandluigis.com.
Wesley Neves Painting
If all men were as reliable and communicative as Neves, there'd be a lot less angry chick-rock out there. He's also painstaking with everything from exterior work to crown molding. 8332 Alma Street, unit B, Philadelphia, PA 19152, wnpainting.com.
Wissahickon Valley Park
As an officemate with plenty of miles on him put it, "I'll drive for two or three hours to find a place to hike, but only because it's different. It's not any better than the Wissahickon. It's amazing to me that we have that right here." Start out anywhere, and follow your whimsy; thanks to the creek, it's easy to stay oriented. And you'll find history and landmarks all along the way: Lover's Leap, Mom Rinker's Rock, the Cave of Kelpius, Fingerspan, Devil's Pool, the Monastery ? 00000, fow.org.
Jen Luszczak at Salon Vanity
If we had a spare bedroom, we'd never blow-dry our own hair again. 1701 Walnut Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103, salonvanity.com.