Moon + Arrow
You won't find anything flashy here. That's the beauty of this flea-market-like store, which brims with handcrafted, low-key-cool treasures like fringed yarn wall hangings,unglazed earthenware air-plant slings and gorgeous jewelry, so you'll never have to scrape off a "Made in China" sticker before wrapping. 754 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, moonandarrow.com.
HopHands
Despite all the excellent beers the mad geniuses of Ardmore-based Tired Hands Brewing Company come up with, we always find ourselves returning to this one. It's a crisp, refreshing American pale that drinks like a perfect sweet summer beer, without any unnecessary complication to the flavor save a mild undertone of pine needles. tiredhands.com.
Jim Kenney
Kenney is bringing new meaning to the term “lame duck” as he comes up with increasingly lame and uninspired ways to duck any kind of public scrutiny. Refusing to meet with a Democratic state Senator, forcing that Senator to resort to a sit-in outside Kenney’s office? Check. Publicly stating he’s looking forward to the day he’s no longer mayor? Check. Who knows what new, magical disappearing acts Kenney will pull off in the 17 months between now and Inauguration Day 2024?
Primp & Play
It’s a genius concept: Mom gets a massage or facial while her little one is entertained with arts and crafts or mini beauty services like chocolate facials and glitter manis. Primp & Play is perfect for spa-day birthday parties, too — and no need to worry about stuffing goodie bags at 2 a.m., because your kid’s besties will make their own lotion, lip gloss or jewelry to take home. 1520 Locust Street, second floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102, primpandplay.com.
Summit Acupuncture
Rumor has it Summit Acupuncture in Callowhill is the place where Philly’s top athletes and fitness trainers go to heal and repair their bodies, and we get why. From an airy, light-filled loft, founder Jason Krantz and his team provide traditional Chinese medicine treatments like acupuncture, cupping and gua sha — plus practical, easily incorporated holistic health advice — that’ll leave you feeling like you finally got a good night’s sleep. 421 North 7th Street, suite 205, Philadelphia, PA 19123, summitacuphilly.com.
Philly's Fake-Injury Cops
As if the police department needed any more PR problems, the Inquirer reported that more than 650 officers — 11 percent of the force — are out on full-pay injury leave, many of them spending their “recuperation” doing things like running a roofing business or winning an MVP award in a slow-pitch softball league. This is the same department that just received a $30 million budget increase, mostly to cover — what else? — rising officer salaries.
Prajjé Oscar Jean-Baptiste
The Haitian-born, Fishtown-based women’s fashion designer — who stole the TV world’s most stylish hearts on Season 19 of Project Runway — produces gorgeously intricate, brilliantly colorful ready-to-wear and custom gowns, dresses and matching sets influenced by his former home. Don one for your next gala or wedding or simply for going to the grocery store — any way you wear it, you’ll demand attention. prajjeoscar.com.
Supply Library
Books? Who reads books anymore? West Philly’s free Supply Library is far more hands-on. The dropbox on South 50th Street from multimedia artist Cassie Jones, with its “Leave what you don’t need. Take what you want” sign, is a spot for DIYers to drop off or pick up arts-and-crafts odds and ends, from leftover yarn to fabric scraps to … well, the only limit’s the imagination, right? Jones hopes it’s the first of many.
Stacey's Surf & Paddle
This surf school, from Margate native Stacey Alper, trains newbies of any age to use balance, focus and strength to catch their first wave. Options range from private lessons to kids’ and teens’ surf camps to adult community nights — including a weekly meetup specifically for women. Opt for a sunset or full-moon stand-up paddleboard session if you want to float amid golden-hour rays or moonlight sans catching a wave. 9511 Amherst Avenue, Margate City, NJ 08402, staceyssurf.com.
Roberto Lugo
No less an authority than Vogue shouted out the Elkins Park/Temple ceramicist/activist in December. Lugo, who calls himself the “ghetto potter,” creates fine-art ceramics, notably a Kamala Harris teapot and urns honoring AOC and Kobe Bryant. His work sits in galleries and museums (includingvw PMA) and goes for big bucks to private collectors. wexlergallery.com/roberto-lugo.
Busybee Homestore and Design Center
Make an appointment, and an onsite designer will give you a 30-minute planning consultation, present a library book of furniture options, and walk you through the small but mighty floor selection of staples (dressers from Oeuf and Argington) and accessories (mini Eames-like chairs and Stokke high chairs). For $500, the designer will do more, like dream up art installations or help with paint colors. 734 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, busybeephilly.com.
Balance Chestnut Hill
At the beleaguered behest of their devoted clientele (among them, local socialites, CHA's varsity football team, Springside's track-and-fielders, and Jimmy Rollins), this personal-training power trio Aaron Sistrunk, Amy Carolla and Johari Smith (who also happens to be Rollins's fiance) have finally opened a place of their own. It's just big enough to host group classes, but we're signing on for Sistrunk's intense 30-minute sessions, one-on-one Pilates with Carolla, and speed-conditioning with Smith. 12 West Willow Grove Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118, balancech.com.
Janice Martin
When the exhibit featuring Princess Grace's wedding came to town in 2006, the Art Museum called on Martin to restore Grace's famous -cathedral-length veil. So you can go ahead and trust her to get your grandmother's gown into ready-to-wear shape or, if you'd like, have her design one from scratch. She'll sketch, do fittings in muslin, and then source fine fabrics from Europe. How delightfully retro is that? 41 Cricket Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003, janicemartin.net.
Headlong Dance Theater
In 1993, three local dancers got together to form this company, dedicated to creating groundbreaking original works that span nearly a dozen styles and offer commentary on the world we live in. In September, they make their fifth Live Arts Festival appearance with This Town is a Mystery, which takes the notion of site-specific work to the extreme-Headlong convinced four real Philadelphia families to perform original dances in their own homes. For audiences. 1170 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146, headlong.org.
Juliet Hope Wayne
You wouldn't know it to look at her petite frame and cute smile, but this neurotic 35-year-old Havertown native is funny as hell-and also a masterful storyteller, which gives her the edge over her (mostly male) competition. Catch her at various stand-up spots around town or as a frequent guest storyteller at the First Person Arts StorySlams at World Cafe Live and L'Etage. 00000, twitter.com/juliethopewayne.