Stargazy
London native Sam Jacobson has packed his tiny South Philly pie shop with nothing more than a sprinkling of tables, some mismatched spoons, free tea, and, oh yeah, two bakery cases brimming with flaky sausage rolls, an ever-changing roster of pastries and meat pies, and traditional beef pies with mash and parsley liquor, fresh from the bakers working in the back. It's the best thing to come from Britain since Kate Middleton's hair. 1838 East Passyunk Avenue, East Passyunk, Philadelphia, PA 19148, facebook.com/StargazyPhilly.
Jimmy DeLaurentis
Prospect of unearthing an outfit from your stuffed-to-capacity closet make you collapse upon the duvet in a fit of fashion anguish? Enter DeLaurentis. The former Ralph Lauren-ite will help sort through the mess those 1980s palazzo pants havegot to go without making you feel bad, and leave you with numerous "new" outfits plucked from the very racks of clothes you stood before only hours earlier, wailing, "I have nothing to wear!" 00000, jimmydelaurentis.com.
Gabrielle
When you need a dress for a special occasion, it's not just about finding it; it's about theexperience of finding it. At this petite Bala Cynwyd spot, you can choose a sexy satin Andy the Anh cocktail dress, flowing floor-length Marchesa Notte gown, or tailored silk pants and a bright chiffon top to pair with them, all with owners Susan and Marilyn Cooper right there to help you until you're happy making you feel like the belle of the ball. 200 Monument Road, Suite 9, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, gabriellebala.com.
Greendesign
Even if youre the type to turn up your nose at hippie-dippie eco-stores, this year-old shop might have you on Al Gores side. The sister store to a Princeton flagship eschews bad design (who needs a shirt made from a recycled burlap sack?) in favor of minimalist bamboo serving wares, reclaimed wood furniture, ridiculously cozy organic-latex pillows, and adorable stationery (printed with soy-based ink on recycled paper, of course). 8434 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118, greendesigncorp.com.
Bloom Bold Co.
Photograph by Ta'Tra Bradshaw There’s nothing like a hand-tied bouquet to say “I’m thinking about you,” and the iterations by West Philly florist Rashawn Scarbo express that sentiment and more. Her non-traditional arrangements appeal to the more daring eye — they’re resplendent with flowers in spirit-lifting hues (she loves garden roses and dahlias) and interesting foliage. Stop by her regularly scheduled drops around the city to pick up a pre-arranged creation for anyone in your life who needs a burst of color in the day. instagram.com/bloomboldco.
James Ijames
Ijames has been on the Philadelphia theater circuit for nearly two decades, writing and directing plays across town. His reward? Just a little moment in the spotlight in the form of a Pulitzer Prize for his latest opus, Fat Ham, a reimagining of Hamlet set in the South. The show just capped a three-month run at New York’s Public Theater — the place that once put on a plucky little production called Hamilton — but nothing will change the fact that the premiere was here, at the Wilma Theatre, where Ijames serves as an artistic director. jamesijames.com.
SuitShop
There’s nothing more anxiety-inducing than walking into the average suit store and feeling like you’re standing trial before a court of stuffy, three-piece-wearing macho men. Not here, where the looks are size- and gender-inclusive and, now, sustainable. The eco-stretch fabric is made of nearly 40 percent recycled materials — that’s about 25 plastic bottles in each suit! Book a one-on-one fitting with your choice of stylist (they’re all chill people like yourself) to try one on. 65 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, suitshop.com.
Kent Studios
Remember the utter shock you felt the first time you tried to have a beloved band poster professionally framed? Nothing, you thought, will ever be worthy of hanging on a wall at that price. There’s an alternative. Opened in 1953, Kent Studios is still offering top-notch framing with thousands of options for frames and matting, and the prices still feel fair. So top-notch and fair, in fact, that customers and designers come from New York, New Jersey and Delaware to get their artwork (and band posters) custom-framed. 190 Fairview Road, Woodlyn, PA 19094, kentstudios.net.
Marian Anderson Hall
We always bristled at the name of the Kimmel Center’s main concert venue, in part because it reminded us we had to pay our phone bill but also because there was nothing at all “Philadelphia” about “Verizon Hall.” Now the room bears the name of the South Philly opera singer who famously performed an open-air Easter concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1939, became the first Black lead singer to grace the stage of the Metropolitan Opera, and went on to win all sorts of awards and honors. Much better. philorch.org.
VIRIDA
It was nothing short of lightning in a bottle when florist Hannah Spivak and creative director Sarah Leonard teamed up to convert a shed into what they’ve deemed their “botanical playhouse.” Spivak’s installations hang in the lush space, where you’ll find dried bouquets as well as vintage goods, housewares, jewelry, and vases. Want to take one of Spivak’s designs home? You can do that — or tap her for a custom creation. And don’t miss out on the array of workshops on subjects like bookbinding and making herbal bath soaks. 1800 North American Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, virida.co.
Ali’s Wagon
Fairmounters heaved a collective sigh of disappointment when home and gift shop (and 2017 BOP winner) Division IV shuttered earlier this year. But we needn’t have despaired: Owner Jessie Menken simply moved all of her gift-able goodies down the block to sister shop Ali’s Wagon, so we can still buy those terrifically thoughtful hostess gifts – candles, tote bags, tea towels, olive oils, salt scrubs, simple syrups, mugs – for anyone kind enough to invite us over for dinner. 2017 Fairmount Ave , Philadelphia , PA 19130, aliswagon.com.
Vetri Cucina
Twenty years ago, Marc Vetri came onto the scene with an Italian restaurant for the ages. He taught us about the magic of braised goat, and he spooned puffy clouds of Swiss chard onto our plates and convinced us they were gnocchi. He proved to us that Italian food can look a certain way – a way we weren’t yet acquainted with, but a way we should get used to. Now, practically every restaurant in Philly braises goat and makes homemade pasta. But for whatever reason, none do it quite like Marc. 1312 Spruce Street , Philadephia, PA 19107, vetricucina.com.
Hathaway Hutton
Photograph by Claudia Gavin Leave it to founder Jen Risk — the Wayne designer who turned upcycled Goyard totes into wearable works of art when she launched her accessories label in 2017 — to dream up this summer’s most coveted frock. Her new line of made-to-order pool dresses transforms vintage towels from fabled maisons like Hermès into chic shifts cut from original patterns from the ’60s, designed with throwback details like vintage faux mother-of-pearl buttons and flirty front pockets. So much for inconspicuous sunbathing. 303 West Lancaster Avenue , Wayne, PA 19087, hathawayhutton.com.
Little Water
Randy and Amanda Rucker’s new Rittenhouse spot explores everything the couple loves about a life spent close to the land, close to food, and in those intersections where earth and water meet. The smartest dish on a menu full of culinary digressions is the highbrow/lowbrow combination of an excellent peekytoe crab salad mounted atop a sharp-edged, perfectly architectural block of golden hash brown. The best is a piece of halibut, beautifully cooked and set adrift on a cloud of aerated potatoes. There’s nothing here that isn’t brilliant, considered, and heavy with personal history. 261 South 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, littlewaterphl.com.
Saté Kampar
This cool, new and very popular addition to the East Passyunk restaurant scene offers excellent Malaysian food and a killer coffee service. The one thing it doesn't have? A bar. So the pro move here is to bring a bottle of vodka, ask for a tall glass of ice and a shot of Ribena (a black-currant cordial that, when drunk straight, tastes like the decorative soaps in your grandmother's bathroom), and then just thank us later. Because nothing goes better with a plate of goat satay and some coconut-sweet chicken kurma than this DIY cocktail. 1837 East Passyunk Avenue, East Passyunk, Philadelphia, PA 19148, facebook.com/SateKampar.