Tom's Dim Sum
The new Tom's Dim Sum squats under a bridge on 11th Street like some kind of troll's shack in a culinary fairy tale. The treasure here? Soup dumplings as big as toads, thin-skinned, juicy and perfect in their tin basket steamers. 59 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, tomsdimsum.com.
Fink's
The longtime Northeast Philly shop expanded into Center City last year and showed a whole new audience that the city's very best Italian hoagie comes on a seeded roll with chopped (not sliced) provolone and the gotta-have-it secret ingredient, olive spread. (Center City and Northeast Philly.) 132 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, finkshoagies.com.
The Universal Sphere
Make a reservation for the Universal Sphere in the upper lobby of the Comcast Technology Center. It looks like a mini EPCOT globe from the outside, and you step in for a dome theater experience that kind of feels like a ride. It’s hard to explain, but it’s only seven minutes long, so you’ve got time. 1800 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, comcastcentercampus.com/universal-sphere.
Restoration Hardware Outlet
Savvy shoppers (and interior designers) hit this outlet–and hit it often–to score up to 40 percent off on gorgeous chairs, chaises, sofas, soft goods, tables and lighting. Tips for the semi-savvy: Come prepared with room measurements, be ready to comb through a lot of inventory, and ask the staff about any unmarked sales. 2100 Route 38, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002, restorationhardware.com.
Vaux Studio
Why go to Vegas when with as little as one week’s notice, you can get hitched in the company of up to 25 guests in a cozy, light-filled space on Spruce Street? Package rates vary, but each comes with an on-site officiant who definitely won’t be dressed like Elvis. 1209 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, vauxstudio.com.
Rockwater Pools
Anthony DeFazio and his team expertly handle all the annoying stuff that comes with owning a pool: chemicals, cleaning, repairs, and, in one case, evicting a pesky family of ducks. Plus, they answer texts and calls quickly. (We’re talking within the hour.) rockwaterpools.com.
Via Bicycle
Curtis Anthony’s shop looks like your granddad’s garage, and it has bikes and parts older than your granddad. (Some date back to the 1890s.) And Anthony won’t try to sell you $700 in new gear if a $7 part will do the trick. 622 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146, Bikeville.com.
Cathy's Half-Price Books
Most of the 60,000 or so gently used items at this 17-year-old stalwart are, indeed, half their original price or less. Then there are new reads and rare works — some with a Philly provenance — all stocked by bibliophilic owners Shannon and Cathy Rutherford. 7 Manoa Shopping Center, 1305 West Chester Pike, Havertown, PA 19083, cathysbooks.com.
Rundiscover
If you’re in a running rut and in need of views other than the Schuylkill River Trail, this virtual running challenge sneaks your routes through some of the area’s hidden gems — Wissahickon Valley Park, historic Valley Forge, the streets of West Philadelphia, and Brandywine Creek State Park. gorundiscover.com.
One-on-One Skateboard Lessons With Skate the Foundry
For $70, Skate the Foundry’s expert skateboarders will spend an hour one-on-one with your budding Lizzie Armanto or Tony Hawk at a variety of skate parks throughout the region. For $80, they’ll even come to your driveway. Because the coolest kid on the block is always the one who knows how to ollie. 120 Yorktown Plaza, Elkins Park, PA 19027, skatethefoundry.com.
Juju Salon and Organics
Forget its holistic mission, earth-friendly product lines and semi-crunchy following. The styles coming out of this five-year-old salon are nothing short of sublime, which is why even the what-the-eff-are-Birkenstocks crowd is now booking here. 713 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, jujusalon.com/juju-salon.
Han Dynasty
This is where we go when we want the best. This is where we send our friends when they come to town asking about places they shouldn't miss. This is the place that, months later, those same friends are still thanking us for recommending. 260 North Pottstown Pike, Exton, PA 19341, handynasty.net.
Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival
Readers' Choice: When more than 50,000 people show up one one Saturday a year to eat, shop, drink, and hang around for some live entertaiment, it's going to end up giving every other festival a run for its money. (Even the Italians, who know how to throw a party.) 00000, rittenhouserow.org.
Bonjung
A fine-dining BYO sushi bar and traditional Japanese restaurant (with some Korean dishes thrown in) isn't exactly unheard-of in Philadelphia. But in the 'burbs? You'd have better luck finding a unicorn. And a unicorn wouldn't be nearly as delicious. 50 West 3rd Avenue, Collegeville, PA 19426, bonjungsushi.com.
Mica
Chef Chip Roman has done more than just open a couple of restaurants Blackfish is extraordinary, and Mica shows great promise. What's more: he and Mica partner Jason Cichonski have brought culinary hope to the many diners living in areas overlooked by Starr, Garces, Vetri and Billy Penn. 8609 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118, micarestaurant.com.