Villavillekula
The whimsical moniker -- also the name, you may recall, of Pippi Longstocking's house -- sets the tone for the magical goods you'll find inside this new(ish) Chestnut Hill children's boutique: paisley bloomer short sets, nautical sleepers, baubles and bangles for your girly-girl, and hand-sewn superhero capes we wish came in adult sizes. 8135 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118, pippisvillavillekula.com.
Life's Patina
Imagine if Terrain and Restoration Hardware had a European baby and you've got Life's Patina,a 19th-century barn that's packed with a jaw-dropping spread of salvaged and restored furniture and home goods. While the barn is open by appointment year-round, the seasonal sales are what you really should go for, with ticketed, catered preview parties the night before so you can get first dibs. (Psst: There's one next month!). 1750 North Valley Road, Malvern, PA 19355, lifespatina.com/.
JG Domestic
There are bad locations, and then theres JG Domestics location on the first floor of the Cira Centre, directly across the street from the train station cab stand. The place has virtually no visibility from more than 10 feet away. Its hard to find, and difficult to get to. And yet, the facts that 1) people who know good food still go there, and 2) some of us go out of our way to go there a lot, really speak to the amazing things the kitchen at JG Domestic is capable of. 2929 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, jgdomestic.com.
Oyster House
Honest to Jesus, we just don't comprehend how anyone can get any work done or deals made over the massive plates of red meat offered up at so many of this town's supposed power-lunch spots. Chasing a lobster roll with a couple of cold beers at Oyster House, on the other hand, leaves us with the energy and inspiration to do something other than sleep off a beef coma beneath our desks. 1516 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, oysterhousephilly.com/.
Townsends Inlet, Sea Isle
Some of the Shore's best surf-fishing is at Townsends Inlet on the southern tip of Sea Isle, where you'll find plenty of good-sized stripers and flounder. Because this is saltwater fishing, you don't need a license and you can actually eat what you catch, though you'll have to draw straws to see who gets to do the cleaning. See website for tackle shops, 00000, hookandbullet.com/fishing-townsends-inlet-avalon-nj/.
South Street Philly Bagel
You'll justify waiting in the steamy, cramped, un-air-conditioned quarters for these just-baked, crunchy-crusted, doughy rounds, which put other area bagel makers to shame. Health nuts can go oat or whole wheat, and there are powder-sugar-dusted French toast and chocolate chip varieties. But true bagelphiles simply order an everything smeared with the superb whipped cream cheese and then a plain to eat on the walk home. 613 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, southstphillybagel.com/.
Showing With Style
If there was a collective shriek of horror from soon-to-be-moms when Manayunk's Belly closed in 2008, there was an equally loud sigh of relief when Chelsea Ivsin and Elizabeth Long, then-employees of the store, kept the lease and reopened last May all during their senior year at Philadelphia University. Their selection of flattering, easy-to-wear maternity clothes, handbag-pretty diaper bags and It strollers has us just as impressed as the story of how their shop came to be.
4321 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA 19127,
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Kwi Restaurant and Noodle Bar at Caesars
After a long night of drinking, gambling and partying in our own Sin City, it's good to put good food in your belly. Lucky for you, Caesars' Asian noodle bar-which makes some of the best and most consistent Chinese food in the entire region, let alone Atlantic City-is open until 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 a.m. Fridays, and 6 a.m.(!) Saturdays. 2100 Pacific Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, caesarsac.com/restaurants/kwi-restaurant-and-noodle-bar.html.
Philadelphia Salvage
Greening your home takes on a whole new meaning at this dusty shop where old doors, claw-foot tubs and antique tile are rescued from crumbling spaces and repurposed for modern pads. If owner Chris Stock doesn't have exactly what you need, he'll keep an eye out-and chances are he'll see it soon enough. 542 Carpenter Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19119, philadelphiasalvage.com/.
ReStore of Philadelphia
What happens to the gorgeous original finishes that are ripped out of historic Philly homes when they undergo renovations? They wind up in this two-story salvage warehouse, which is teeming with ornate crystal light fixtures, glass doorknobs, boxes of real subway tiles, carved wooden mantels and porcelain sinks and tubs. (Do with them what you will!) 3016 East Thompson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134, re-store-online.com/.
Joan Shepp
Unless you’re a celebrity, you probably don’t often have the chance to rub elbows with fashion’s in-crowd – think Yves Spinelli (founder of cool-girl jewelry line Spinelli Kilcollin) and Jonathan Simkhai (founder of the eponymous clothing line). Enter Joan Shepp, which throws must-attend parties featuring the designers behind some of your favorite brands. The best part? You don’t need to be an A-lister to get in. 1811 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, joanshepp.com/.
PlayArts
Three times a week, you can blow kisses to the littles before climbing the stairs to the wi-fi-and-coffee-equipped loft. You’ll get in some work (define work any way you want) while the kids are supervised and entertained in the giant play area. Register 24 hours in advance; the first hour is $18, and prices drop from there. 1241 North Front Street, Philadelphia , PA 19122, playartsphilly.com/.
Guisados Don Roman
These homemade Mexican stews have always been tough to find in Philly, even in our city’s deepest Mexican enclaves. Then came Roman Figueroa and Raquel Rodriguez’s little kitchen on South 7th, where everything is deliciously authentic, from the soulful pork ribs to the tortillas you’ll use to eat them. 1629 South 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, guisados-don-roman.business.site/.
Resting Gift Face
A Resting Gift Face care package. Photograph by Ian Shiver When coronavirus dried up their busy season, publicist Kylie Flett and event designer Donielle Powell pivoted to a new venture: rad gift boxes filled with ways to pass the time during the stay-at-home order. Their first run-through sold out, as did a second batch dedicated to moms, but the just-released ’90s kit (pictured here) is designed to make a Zoom or socially distant happy hour as fun as, well, the real thing. restinggiftface.com/.