Hello World
Amp up your home bar with ultra-modern wine carafes, sleek flutes and cheeky cocktail shakers at the recently relocated University City shop. It's like Mad Men, but more fun. 3610 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, shophelloworld.com.
The Katacomb: Vintage
For some, the search is the best part of shopping vintage. For everyone else, there's Brooke Dillon's appointment-only boutique, where the best stuff (read: Chanel and YSL and Oscar) has already been found and dry-cleaned for you. 1514 Pine Street, 1st Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102, thekatacomb.blogspot.com/.
Majolica
When every table you pass in a cute little BYO on a teeny main street in suburbia features diners ignoring the cheese tray and attacking plates of grilled octopus ... well, you know it must be some swell octopus. And it is. 258 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460, majolicarestaurant.com/.
Moko Beauty Studio
It's known for its dry cuts and customized two-hour ayurvedic facials, but we also love the take-home treats: mango shea butter, lime body polish, Max Green Alchemy shampoo. 55 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, mokobeauty.com/.
Hot Diggity
It's about the full experience at Hot Diggity-the cone of fries, the house-made sodas, Hawk Krall's hot-dog artwork on the walls, and the Philadelphia classic, the fishcake-wrapped hot dog. 630 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, thehotdiggity.com/.
The Bronzed Bee
Be prepared to invent a story a surprise weekend trip to St. Thomas, perhaps? because tans here are so streak-free, so naturally hued, so perfectly applied, that no one will believe they came from an airbrush gun. 406 South 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146, thebronzedbee.com/.
Chick Invitations
Why wait a few weeks for some Etsy vendor in Moscow to make your monogrammed totes when Robyn Platoni can etch, embroider and foil-stamp her adorable goods in just a few days? 241 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, Shopchickphilly.com.
Terminal F
Flying JetBlue, Frontier or Southwest out of Terminal E? Walk five minutes to oft-forgotten Terminal F (home to only one airline, American Eagle) for shorter TSA lines.
Craft Hall
Craft Hall. Photograph by Jeff Fusco Whoever came up with the notion to build a playground inside a brewpub — with video games, a projector, Skee-Ball, and bunnies and chickens outside — deserves so much more than a Best of Philly. How about a Nobel Prize? 901 North Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19123, Crafthallphilly.com.
Nectar
Yes, cheese on an Asian menu seems odd, until you learn that chef Patrick Feury is like a Chester County cheese ambassador. He works directly with farmers and ages some of the offerings himself. 1091 East Lancaster Avenue, Berwyn, PA 19312, tastenectar.com/.
Executive Maids
One elderly client we know credits these maids with making it possible for her to remain in her home and the rest of the clientele just raves over the cleaners' trustworthiness, courtesy, meticulousness and reasonable pricing. Call or see website for consultation, 00000, executivemaids.com/.
Bons Reves
Step into this airy, sweet-smelling store and be instantly transported to Provence. Then buy the artisanal soaps, crisp linens, thick towels, and lavender by the sachet, to bring the feeling home. Way cheaper than a plane ticket. 18 North Union Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530, bonsreves.com.
Morimoto
It's pricey, preening, and seldom home to its eponymous chef-and still Philly's most complete Japanese restaurant, from the ramen to the mountain peach crowning the hamachi tartare. 723 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, morimotorestaurant.com/.
Rustica
Some swear by the exotically topped brick-oven beauties at Frank Maimone's Rustica, in NoLibs (cheesesteak pizza?), but the classic red adorned with Claudio's mozzarella and a naturally sweet tomato sauce is hard to beat. 903 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, rusticaphilly.com/.
900 to 1100 North 2nd Street
What with local food and beers at longtime neighborhood anchor Standard Tap (901 North 2nd Street, 215-238-0630, standardtap.com), cupcakes, tapas and corsets at Bart Blatstein's Liberties Walk (1022 North 2nd Street), and dance parties, art galleries and alcoholic milkshakes at the surprisingly resilient Piazza at Schmidts (1001 North 2nd Street, atthepiazza.com), this is the city's new adult urban playground. 00000,