Holistic Home
In 2010, Ginger Kuczowicz, an accountant by trade, and Mark Swoboda, her bioengineer business partner, decided to make their own cleaning supplies, eschewing harsh chemicals for effective non-toxics like baking soda, vinegar, salt, grated soap and essential oils and then started offering housecleaning services with their products. You can also check out their new store, Soap Box, stocked with their products. 616 South 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, myholistichome.com.
Snacktime
What started in the early days of the pandemic as a bunch of horn players and a drummer who would set up shop in Rittenhouse Square and South Philly to bring joy to the neighbors has become the coolest and hardest-to-book band in town. They just dropped their debut album, Sounds from the Street: Live, which is a must for your summer backyard playlist. Find them in September at the XPoNential Festival in Camden. snacktimephilly.com.
DanDan
Because sometimes all the people you know are busy or awful or both, there's DanDan. The menu features a long list of small plates, soups, noodles and vegetables that encourages grazing, and if you're looking to be left alone, the far-less-crowded upstairs dining room will give you space to enjoy your own company. Who knows? Maybe you'll meet some better friends while you're there. 126 South 16th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, dandanrestaurant.com.
Val’s Lesbian Bar
Philadelphia hasn’t had a lesbian bar worth going to since Sisters closed in 2013. But South Philly couple Julia Harris and Clover Gilfor are working to change that by opening one in Old City, hopefully within the next year. Meanwhile, the pair hosts a bevy of pop-up parties, mixers and other events for the sapphically inclined, whether you’re into poetry, DJs, flea markets or live music. @Valslesbianbar. instagram.com/valslesbianbar.
Wayne Edwards Workshop
With 50-plus years in business and a move to a new 1,500-square-foot shop and studio — the former home of Joseph Fox Bookshop — the Wayne Edwards team has more room to tailor your tux, plus a ready-to-wear section with luxury duds for your honeymoon. (Pair those Rubirosa sneakers with Candiani Italian denim.) And in the workshop? On average, 37 measurements to perfectly match your silhouette. 1724 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, wayneedwardsworkshop.com.
Head House Books
As Philly’s local bookshop scene shrinks — Shakespeare and Co. and Joseph Fox Bookshop both shuttered this year — Head House Books is turning the page on 17 years in business. Owner Richard De Wyngaert’s self-proclaimed “fiercely curated” selection resonates with his fiercely loyal customers, who line up for the latest thought-provoking titles and author events from the likes of Jennifer Weiner. 619 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, headhousebooks.com.
Trace Shop
Come for the cool wares — like cement-and-geode planters or Lord Jones CBD — but stay for the pillar of Marny Baxt’s business: the art. The former talent management exec dreamed up Trace after the passing of both of her parents, when she was faced with sorting through their personal art collection. Baxt wants to connect the community with creatives and make it easy to obtain and custom-frame one-of-a-kind works. 80 Rittenhouse Place, Ardmore, PA 19003, thetraceshop.com.
worKS
The region’s most revered makers joined forces to create this market-like mecca last year. All our favorites—leather bag gurus Arden + James, upholstery savants Chairloom, French-inspired apothecary Zoet Bathlatier—have carved out nooks in the cavernous warehouse, and it seems there’s always a deal (an upscale yard sale) or event (live folk music) gracing its grounds. 432 South Walnut Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348, workskennettsquare.com.
The Good Deal at Stock
Everything about this soup-focused restaurant—from the size to the decor to the menu—is intentionally pared down. It’s that way because chef- owner Tyler Akin wants to keep it focused. Kempt. And while most of the offerings rival those of more authentic noodle shops, it’s his fiery, zingy, aromatic pho (with a surprise Thai twist) that makes Stock a must-hit destination on any noodle tour 308 East Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, stockphilly.com.
Sitter Select
Tired of planning your life around the social calendars of your teenage babysitters? Submit an application to this local sitter-matching business, run by partners and sisters Rachel and Rebekah Lee with their mom Andi, and they'll send you the bio of one of their nearly 30 sitters, all of whom are CPR-certified and ba-ckground-and-reference-checked. And they never cancel because they have a surprise chem test the next day. sitterselect.net.
South Jersey Smoke House's Pastrami Burnt Ends
The sweet and peppery aroma of pastrami. The drool-inducing smoky flavor of burnt ends. The moment one of these morsels hits your palate, all your senses will ignite. This small-batch purveyor pops up at farmers markets, local grocers, and other small businesses across South Jersey. So track them down and grab an order or two, because once you start eating, it’s hard to stop. instagram.com/southjerseysmokehouse.
Black Buttafly
The 28-year-old Philly-based singer-songwriter and pianist, whose real name is Kayla Childs, proudly carries on the soul and R&B roots laid generations before her. She’s a little bit Stevie, a little bit Herbie, a little bit Erykah, and a whole, whole lot herself, with a little gospel thrown in for good measure. See her on the opening day of the XPoNential Music Festival in September. instagram.com/blackbuttaflyofficial.
Together Athletics
Three years (and studios) since opening, Together has become the place to work out. Kate and James Connelly and their crew continue to show us what wellness in action looks like: modern mat and Reformer Pilates workouts that keep you coming back, a show-up-as-you-are (and crush it!) ethos, collabs with other local small businesses, and community events that foster friendships with the ease and playfulness of summer camp. Multiple locations., togetheroldcity.com.
TKTS Booth
Thousands of people have saved tons of money over the last year since New York City’s popular last-minute discount ticket booth opened an outpost inside the Independence Visitor Center. You can buy rush tickets up to 72 hours in advance and get discounts of up to 50 percent. We recently found $20 tickets to Rent at the Arden and $64 tickets to The Wiz at the Academy of Music. 599 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, phlvisitorcenter.com/tkts.
The Philly Pops
After a long and ridiculous legal and corporate saga in which our favorite pops orchestra was forced to change its name, the Philly Pops officially reclaimed its original name during our July 4th festivities, and it’s here to stay. They’re accompanying Jacob Collier at the Mann on August 7th before returning to the Kimmel Center on October 25th for “Luck Be a Lady: The Music of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.” phillypops.net.