State & Union
Come for gear from brands you already know: Pendleton beach towels, Red Wing shoes, Filson bags. Leave with goods from the brands you don’t: Charlotte’s Weld bottle openers made from repurposed horseshoes, J.R.Burd leather wallets and keychains, and lisa b. cashmere socks. 103 West State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348, stateandunion.co.
Little Moon + Arrow
The problem with this dreamy bohemian shop is that no visit will ever be a quick one. On every shelf and table are the most adorable artist-crafted animal dolls, rainbow puzzles, dress-up masks, baby mocs and fuzzy blankets; you’ll have to inspect them all. (And we’ll admit: We buy gifts for grown-ups here, too.) 729 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, littlemoonandarrow.com.
Cruel World Vintage
There’s nothing like a good vintage t-shirt, and there’s no such thing as too much merch. At Cruel World Vintage, a highly curated collection of vintage clothing is available to suit every nostalgic mood. From Whitney Houston tour memorabilia to dark-wash Levis 501s, you’ll be thrown back to your chosen decade in a flash. Shop online, or email to make an appointment at their private West Philly location. shopcruelworld.com/shop.
Cultured Couture’s Honesty Collection
If you only know Erik Honesty because of the choice vintage finds (hi, 1980s Gucci loafers) at his Cultured Couture shop in Brewerytown, you’re missing half the story. His true talent lies in his creative vision, which includes a line of museum-worthy whimsical-but-throwback capes and coats, all of which are hand-sewn from historic fabrics (some a century old) and feature cornucopias of color. Find the full collection online. 2639 Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131, culturedcouturegallery.com.
Le Virtù
It's hard to believe that any single bite can pack as much pleasure as one crisply fried olive at Le Virt. Each fruity green specimen is crammed with a potent mixture of three types of slow-braised meat (beef, pork and chicken), then breaded and fried for the ideal amount of crunch. The tangy-meaty-briny babies are a specialty in Marche, the Italian region that chef Luciana Spurio calls home, and theres no better place to taste them stateside. 1927 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, levirtu.com.
The Sexploratorium and Passional Boutique
The Sexploratorium offers toys, classes, art openings and expert advice for sexual enthusiasts of all manners, genders and preferences, and its partner store, Passional, can provide you with any necessary unmentionables, silky or otherwise. The atmosphere is welcoming, the offerings are endlessly diverse, and the staff is approachable but not pushy. (Because who wants pushy help in a sex shop?) 317 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, passionalboutique.wordpress.com.
Rittenhouse Square Farmers' Market
EXPERT PICK: "Open year-round every Saturday, this market packs so much into a single block. With the amazing produce from Beechwood Orchards, the swoon-worthy Buttercup Brie from Cherry Grove Farm and fresh scallops from Shore Catch, I can easily do a weeks worth of grocery shopping." — Marisa McClellan, local blogger author of the canning cookbook Food in Jars. 18th and Walnut streets, Philadelphia, PA 19103, farmtocity.org/FarmersMarkets.asp.
Healthy Bites
If there's one person in Philly who can get even the fussiest pint-size eater to clean his plate, it's Katie Cavuto, a registered dietician and mom who just launched her Picky Eaters Program. It's all about equipping parents with tools—recipes, grocery-shopping tips, a family cooking lesson—to help their kids become adventurous, healthy eaters, saving you from those "No dessert until you eat your peas!" fights once and for all. katiecavuto.com.
Gregory Benjamin
Benjamin's preserves made in Bucks County are a Good Lord type of good. (Dare you to even try to pick a favorite from among his magnificent strawberry rhubarb pie, spiced peach, raspberry and lemon blueberry varieties.) He sells them in a smattering of small shops ranging from Doylestown to Wayne you can find the retailers listed on his website (gregorybenjaminsbest.com). Of course, you can also just have them shipped directly to you. In bulk, preferably. Call or see website for retailers, 00000, gregorybenjaminsbest.com.
Art in the Age
Not only does it commission artists (most of them local) to design the clothes sold in its Old City shop (the tees are especially fantastic) even the outside brands it carries, from Lauren Moffatt to Good Society Denim, can't be found elsewhere in Philly. Plus, they've got housewares, stationery and artwork, and leather accessories crafted by local folk artisans. 116 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, artintheage.com.
Occasionette
Sara Selepouchins brand-new shop has all those handcrafted party goods (charming banners, stripy paper straws) that make any party look pulled-together. Her great gift-y items like pretty greeting cards and housewares (napkins, dishtowels, totes, etc.), which feature her own darling illustrations, are only a bonus. 1825 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, occasionette.com.
Garces Trading Company
Is it a gourmet grocery? A BYOB? A coffee shop? Who cares? Customers can't get enough of the convenience of a PLCB wine store plunked directly inside this market/cafe or of Jose Garces's pan-European fare. Could this be one tiny step for the modernization of the state store system and one giant leap for wine-lovers (and diners) in PA? Here's hoping. 1111 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, garcestradingcompany.com.
West Elm Market
You will literally want everything from West Elms new store-in-a-store kitchen shop. If you have the cabinet room, stock up on fire engine-red enamel cookware, glazed porcelain canisters (with adorable painted labels), monogrammed stemless glassware and pretty gold-plated utensils. On second thought, get it all and just make the room. 1330 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, westelm.com/shop/market-general-store.
Philadelphia Salvage
Greening your home takes on a whole new meaning at this dusty shop where old doors, claw-foot tubs and antique tile are rescued from crumbling spaces and repurposed for modern pads. If owner Chris Stock doesn't have exactly what you need, he'll keep an eye out-and chances are he'll see it soon enough. 542 Carpenter Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19119, philadelphiasalvage.com.
Philly Van Man
James Harvey -- a.k.a. the Philly Van Man -- isn't a mover in the traditional sense. He's more like a friend who's always available to help you schlep your heavy stuff from one place to another -- a friend who's so good at it, so careful and reliable, that he's actually the first-choice mover for several Philly antiques shops. Harvey can often squeeze in next-week (or even next-day!) moves -- just call or text him. phillyvanman.com.