Trail Creek Outfitters
This outdoor emporium is as huge as a big-box chain but as welcoming as a tiny local shop, thanks to the community-oriented owners and staffers who have been hand-selecting and testing for themselves top-quality running, climbing, camping and sporting apparel and footwear for 30 years (and still love to chat about your adventures and needs). 487 Wilmington Pike, Glen Mills, PA 19342, trailcreekoutfitters.com/site.
Art in the Age
Consider the "He's so hard to shop for" dilemma a thing of the past. From heritage clothing (Penfield and Woolrich) to cologne (he can smell like evergreens!) to a fully stocked camping cocktail kit (complete with a flask and booze, of course), it's hard to find something here he won't like. 116 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, artintheage.com.
Philly Vintage Bazaar
Located in Queen Village, this year’s best vintage shop is run by Tracy Feldman, Jen Zimmerman and Abby Codrea, who have been peddling groovy pieces from the ’60s through Y2K since opening last fall. 744 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, phillyvintagebazaar.com.
Herbiary
In the past year, this cute little apothecary packed up its shop in the southwest corner of Reading Terminal Market and moved to a much bigger stall in the northeast corner, with twice as much space for well-priced herbs, teas, essential oils, crystals, candles, books, and other spiritual and self-care goods. 1136 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, herbiary.com.
Tommy Oliver and Mike Africa Jr. for <em>40 Years a Prisoner</em>
With their critically acclaimed HBO documentary, this dynamic duo led the way in a year when the city is finally — finally — confronting its fraught dealings with MOVE, from the 1978 shoot-out that sent Africa’s parents to jail to the infamous 1985 bombing of its compound. Oliver’s filmmaking gave Africa Jr. the opportunity to exonerate his family and reframe not just how we view that family, but how we see Black activism in Philadelphia. hbo.com/documentaries/40-years-a-prisoner.
Kate Rohrer of ROHE Creative
Remember the moment when you first stepped inside Harp & Crown? Of course you do. And surely you remember how cool you felt ducking through Double Knot’s moody basement dining room. How about the transportive mid-century modern digs at Bud & Marilyn’s? That’s all Kate Rohrer, the vintage-loving visionary outfitting Philly’s most showstopping dining rooms. 2424 East York Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125, rohecreative.com.
Bella Turka
If you like it when people say, “Ooooh, where did you get that?” — shop here. The rainbow beaded necklaces, amethyst rings and chandelier earrings are handmade and hand-sourced by owner Koray Avci here and overseas. Additional location in Rittenhouse. 113 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, .
United Upholstery
After being quoted almost $900 in the city, a Philly Mag staffer drove the 30 minutes to Au Nguyen’s shop in Delco and got her great-aunt’s scallop-back chair meticulously re-covered in luxe raspberry velvet for a cool $395. 201 North Springfield Road, Clifton Heights, PA 19018, Unitedupholsterypa.com.
Vernick Coffee Bar
It presents like a coffee shop, but don’t be fooled: This second-floor oasis — hidden behind a grove of trees — in the new Comcast Technology Center serves an excellent wild mushroom grain bowl, a fancy porchetta sandwich, and an elegant chicken ballotine. 1800 Arch Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103, vernickcoffeebar.com.
Leroy Mapp
Considering Mapp’s humor, versatility, and infectious energy, it’s no surprise he was named one of the two top Philly instructors by ClassPass users for the second year running. Find him calling shots at Rumble Boxing or on Instagram @fitliferoy.
Franklin & Poe
For the stylish and the wannabe-stylish, this men’s (and women’s!) shop stocks wares both hipster (Fishtown t-shirts) and rugged (jeans from Swedish brand Indigo-fera Prima and Iron Heart jackets). The overall look: quietly – but completely – cool. 1817 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, franklinandpoe.com.
ReDecor Home Consignment
If all of the Main Line got together and had a communal yard sale, it’d look something like this shop, where very gently used French marble sideboards, antique claw-foot dressers and rich leather love seats find fresh life in new – equally fabulous – homes. 880 West Lancaster Ave, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, redecorhome.com.
Uncle Dave’s Ice Cream
There’s a reason the best ice-cream shops are always located on farms. Peak strawberry season? Mix ’em into ice cream. Blueberries are plump and ripe? Blueberry ice cream it is. Pumpkins ready to be picked? Well, in Bucks County, the entire month of October is basically dedicated to Uncle Dave’s pumpkin ice cream. 931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley, PA 19067, uncledavesicecream.com.
Textile
The vintage goods in this Kennett Square shop form a well-curated collection — a Wynona Rider ’90s flowered dress, a Working Girl ’80s white blouse, a Michelle Pfeiffer puff-sleeve jumpsuit from the ’70s — that says, “I’m cultured and deep but never over-the-top.” 210 South Mill Road, suite 103, Kennett Square, PA 19348, shop-textile.com.
Four Seasons Total Landscaping
Their time in the sun may have only lasted five minutes. But the memory of Donald Trump promising an election-theft press conference at the Four Seasons only to end up instead with henchman and Madame Tussauds figure Rudy Giuliani standing next to a porn shop and a crematorium in Northeast Philly will last a lifetime. 7339 State Road, Philadelphia, PA 19136, fstl1992.com.