We Love Junk
During a home reno, this junk removal company will take everything you want gone — from drywall and unusable bricks to leftover concrete and shingles — and then recycle and donate anything salvageable. It’s all stuff the regular city dump won’t touch, and these guys whisk it away quickly and cleanly for a very reasonable fee. welovejunkphilly.com.
Farina Di Vita
Since evolving from an online operation to a brick-and-mortar, Farina Di Vita — which translates to “flour of life,” and rightfully so — has quickly earned a rep as the new Italian-grocery darling. The shop sells everything from a very good tuna hoagie to olives and peppers to portioned entrées like handmade stuffed shells and what are easily some of the best chicken cutlets around. 250 Catharine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, instagram.com/farinadivita.
Lon Taylor
Cyrano de Bergerac has nothin’ on this Chester County newspaper delivery guy, who averted a Christmas Day disaster at the Ovations at Elk View 55-plus community by sniffing out and reporting a big gas leak while making his rounds. After evacuating residents, PECO found a broken gas line and high levels of natural gas throughout the community center’s basement. A Christmas miracle!
Vera Pasta
Joe D’Andrea makes extruded pastas the proper way—with bronze dies for texture and top-notch ingredients for maximum flavor. It’s why a bunch of our favorite restaurants and specialty shops (Di Bruno Bros., Green Aisle Grocery) serve and sell his goods. And now, with his new storefront, you can get those noodles faster and fresher. 319 Westtown Road, Suite K, West Chester, PA 19382, verapasta.com.
Evan Zelinger, Abington Aesthetic & Laser Medical Center
If you've noticed fewer '90s-era butterfly tattoos flitting across Philadelphia ankles, it's probably thanks to Zelinger, who has more than a decade of experience in non-invasive medical laser procedures. De-inked customers say he makes the process as painless as possible. So long, tramp stamp! (Plymouth Meeting and Old City.) 844 Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, abingtonaesthetic.com.
Philadelphia Vintage and Consignment Shoppe
It's got limited hours, many garments are encased in plastic, and there isn't much priced under $100. Which makes finding treasures from some of the most iconic names in fashion (Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, Dior), plucked from the closets of the most famous people in the world (Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston), all the more special. 111 South 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, facebook.com/philadelphiavintage.
Party Girl Bake Club
Chef-turned-corporate-worker Mallory Valvano started baking her Seussian cakes — unhinged flavor combos cloaked in saturated color palettes of icing — as a creative outlet. She might pair chocolate chip cookies with potato chips or orange creamsicle with dulce de leche, or whip up a Ferrero Rocher carrot cake. While Valvano is the van Gogh of birthday cakes, it’s a hobby she wants to keep a hobby. So continue to order her joyful masterpieces only through Instagram. @partygirlbakeclub. instagram.com/partygirlbakeclub.
RAM Floral
One of owner and founder Rebecca DePasquale’s favorite creations is a “floud” — a floral cloud that seems to hover on the ground, on tabletops, and on other surfaces. (She uses elements like pin frogs, shallow vases, and blooms in a cavalcade of colors, primarily sourced from local growers.) You can see the flower-filled feat come to life at your wedding — if you book her services. 660 West Washington Street, Norristown, PA 19401, ramfloral.com.
La Canasta
La Canasta opened deep in the heart of South Philly’s Whitman neighborhood doing a classic taqueria menu with a rotating list of specials (mango-glazed chicken sandwiches! Short-rib burgers!). But the thing to order here is the namesake tacos de canasta — tortillas stuffed with pork or beans and steamed in hot chili oil and onions, only available on the weekends. 2341 South 4th Street , Philadelphia, PA 19148, philadelphiamexicanfood.com.
Amuse at Le Meridien
A sexy, sophisticated hotel bar with spot-on service, sultry house music, provocative art, potent cocktails and, yes, delectable amuse-bouches. Room reservation upstairs, anyone? 1421 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, amusephiladelphia.com.
ReStore of Philadelphia
What happens to the gorgeous original finishes that are ripped out of historic Philly homes when they undergo renovations? They wind up in this two-story salvage warehouse, which is teeming with ornate crystal light fixtures, glass doorknobs, boxes of real subway tiles, carved wooden mantels and porcelain sinks and tubs. (Do with them what you will!) 3016 East Thompson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134, re-store-online.com.
Le Cat Cafe
Pay $12, get a coffee, tea or cocoa, and play with all sorts of felines for an hour. Pretty much the cutest way to take a java break. 2713 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130, lecatcafe.org.
DJ Lisa Parks
Delco DJ Lisa Parks has been hosting karaoke for 32 years and can be found at venues all over the region, from Great American Pub in Narberth to 39 North in Glenolden to the Media VFW to My Brother’s Irish Pub in Bridesburg. Click here for her karaoke tips. facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063615270738.
Brickbat Books
Sometimes all you need is a cozy spot in which to sit with a book. Brickbat provides both those things — plus records! — in excess at its low-key haunt. Its walls envelop you in new and used reads, many with eye-catching covers. Of note: The shop only accepts secondhand titles in the best condition from genres like poetry, nonfiction and genre fiction, so rather than a dog-eared James Patterson paperback, you might find a collection of journalist Martha Gellhorn’s novellas, or works by big names in lit fic like Don DeLillo. 709 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, brickbatbooks.blogspot.com.
Sa Bai Dee
A newcomer to the thriving ethnic dining scene just west of the Tower Theater, this BYO boasts what is easily the freshest, most reliable and fiery Thai food available outside the city, and could even give Circles a run for its well-earned money. Order anything and everything. You can't miss. 7038 Terminal Square, Upper Darby, PA 19082, sabaideethailaos.com.