South 13th Street from Walnut to Lombard
"I'll have the carciofi alla giudia from Amis, orange-ginger carnitas from Lolita, a Corpse Reviver #2 from the Corner and a scoop of Lancaster-sourced fior di latte gelato from Capogiro." We wish there were a street in Philadelphia where we could say that. Oh, wait ... 00000,
Ranstead Room
Walk up the dark street, go through the unmarked door, enter this den of grown-up amusements, admire the nudes on the wall, and knock back artful cocktails while reveling in the kid-free atmosphere. (We mean Penn kids, too.) 2013 Ranstead Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, .
Wharton Esherick Museum
Sculptor Esherick's former home is now a please-do-touch-the-art, worth-the-advanced--reservation gem (without the bitter Barnes neighbors), and it displays more than 200 of his works mostly wood furnishings that haven't been moved since the artist's death in 1970. $12 for adults; $6 for children. 1520 Horseshoe Trail, Malvern, PA 19355, whartonesherickmuseum.org.
Barcade
How geeky is this nirvana of tap craft beers and 25-cents-a-round arcade games of Tetris and Tron? The $10 "lunch special"-any sandwich (try the grilled cheese), chips and beer-runs till 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. 1114 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, barcadephiladelphia.com.
City Planter
No matter how small the space or how black the thumbs, the gardening whizzes, plants and tools at City Planter can make any and all parts of a city dweller's urban abode into a flower-filled retreat, a veggie-lover's paradise, or a lush and lovely place to entertain. 814 North 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, cityplanter.com.
Mike's Furniture Refinishing
With more than 20 years in business, owner Mike McCarron looks at every piece of furniture he strips, shellacs, varnishes or lacquers as an opportunity to preserve a familys history. His craft can turn any ugly old chair into an heirloom worth putting in your will. 5101 Comly Street, Philadelphia, PA 19135, mikesfurniturerefinishing.com.
Strut-This
This line, co-founded and designed by Gladwyne-raised Raquel Lessner, is one hell of a secret weapon for sticking to any fitness regimen. The leggings, tops and shorts are as stylish as workout clothes come, with bright colors, cool patterns and comfortable fits that make shrugging on a sports bra at 6 a.m. way less painful. Strut-this.com.
DIG Yoga
You might come to either location of this airy, white-walled studio to get your downward dog on, but after spotting the well-stocked corner full of ultra-soft leggings and handstand-friendly tops, you'll leave with a new workout wardrobe in hand. 204 North Union Street, Lambertville, and 410 Monroe Street, Queen Village, digyoga.com.
Rowhouse Gin
Complex but not overly botanical and crafted in small batches by a microdistillery on Frankford Avenue, it makes for a great gin and tonic (or any cocktail, really) and is one of those incredibly rare, non-infused gins that can even be drunk straight, over rocks, with nothing but a squeeze of lime. rowhousespirits.us/rowhouse-spirits-distillery/brands/gin.
Fishtown Pickle Project
Whether you want classic sour, Philly dilly deli, zesty sweet garlic or habanero, these handcrafted pickles match any hoagie (and mouth) they meet. Plus, what other crew could conceive of its own pickle-centric remix to the Feast of the Seven Fishes? Pass the brined bounty, please. fishtownpickles.com.
Rachel Street of Hestia Construction
Any DIY Network star can spruce up a 1970s suburban colonial, but it takes special finesse to rehab a centuries-old city rowhome. Philly Revival host Rachel Street — who’s also a real estate agent — does so using locally made and reclaimed materials whenever possible. Hestiaphilly.com.
The Blue Béret
Like walking into the pages of a Madeline, Paddington Bear or Winnie the Pooh book — or any other tome that’s European and ultra-sweet. What started as an online shop last spring is now a pop-up shop (open until January at least …) that’s shared with other local makers and artists. 122 East Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087, theblueberet.shop.
The Colored Girls Museum
Contact the museum to set up a time, then let the guide wind you through the three-story Germantown home, where an intimate collection of art, literature, scents and sounds will open your eyes to something often overlooked or altogether erased: the everyday experiences of black and brown girls. 4613 Newhall Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144, thecoloredgirlsmuseum.com.
Printfresh
The short sets, robes, sleep shirts and separates are soft but breathable, sustainably produced, and sexy without being revealing. But the real appeal is that these items were created by a printmaker, not a pajama maker, so the patterns and colorways — pink cheetahs, navy moons and stars, flamingos and elephants hidden in a vine design — are like wearable works of art. printfresh.com.
Streeteries
Time was, people complained about sidewalk dining here, claiming that our pavements were just too narrow. They weren’t wrong, but now that streeteries are everywhere, we simply demand that they stay. Any concession to concerns as mundane as parking would signal a total failure of civic imagination.