Hot Chocolate Bombs at Hey Sugar!
Davina Soondrum crafts tangerine-hued, googly-eyed chocolate orbs, filled with hot cocoa and Lucky Charms marshmallows, that when doused in hot milk dissolve into a frothy winter treat. It’s the next best thing to meeting the Orange King himself. heysugarphilly.com.
Ryan Christopher
Charming enough to feel special but casual enough that you can bring the kids, with food everyone will ooh and ahh over: French toast stacked with sausage and egg, a Benedict topped with chili con carne, and a Thanksgiving-style sandwich available all year. 245 Woodbine Avenue, Narberth, PA 19072, ryanchristophersbyob.com.
Meister's Barbershop
This handsome addition to East Passyunk is everything it needs to be and nothing it doesn't: a smartly designed space, a simple first-come, first-served system, and four chairs where owner Rob Baumiester and his team will deliver the finest fade you've ever received. 1810 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, meistersbarbershop.com.
Tonino Montella
With the patience of a saint and a charming Italian accent -Montella will teach you and yours to play the guitar, banjo, mandolin or electric bass (he plays 'em all, professionally) over a series of laid-back $35-an-hour lessons. It so beats Banjo for Dummies. 806 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, toninomontella.com.
Shakespeare in Clark Park
Thespians take over “the Bowl” section of Clark Park for several days of edgy but family-friendly (and free!) takes on the Bard. It’s a bring-a-lawn-chair-and-sneak-in-a-bottle-of-prosecco (or sixer of PBR) kind of affair. Chester Avenue and 43rd Street in University City. Shakespeareinclarkpark.org.
Swaddle
Megan Sabia’s charming shop brims with baby clothes, accessories, nursery decor and toys, and is a beloved destination for parents in Montco. Kids love the friendly atmosphere (and the rubber ducky they get when they visit), while parents appreciate the first-rate customer service and selection. 18 East Butler Avenue, Ambler, PA 19002, swaddleambler.com.
Trail Creek Outfitters
From hiking to trail running to yoga, the selection at TCO is vast. But what will keep you coming back are the friendly, knowledgeable staff, who are more than happy to chat about their own outdoor adventures and share insider know-how to make yours unforgettable. 487 Glen Eagle Square, Glen Mills, PA 19342, trailcreekoutfitters.com/site.
Cafe Lutecia
Soup isn't a last-minute dump-in-the-scraps-type deal at this charming little cafe, which is owned by a French couple. The choices are constantly rotating but always superlative, whether you get the just-a-little-spicy tomato bisque, hearty lentil or African peanut. 2301 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146, .
Ari Miller
Ari Miller. Photograph by Colin Lenton Musi, Miller’s neighborhood BYO, has all the expected trappings: It’s charming and delicious, and it offers a menu that changes often and relies heavily on what his purveyors have available. But the food is never too serious, and neither is Miller. And that’s what sets it — and him — apart. 100 Morris Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, musiphilly.com.
Lingual Institute
You won't be memorizing conjugations at this school. Its emphasis on practical conversation and interactive lessons in small group classes will get you talking and really learning immediately, so you'll be able to chat away when you visit Madrid (or Paris, or Taiwan) in a couple months. 100 South Broad Street, suite 622, Philadelphia, PA 19110, .
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.
Dave Torres
It’s not the kind of delivery the North Philly tow-truck driver normally makes, but while en route to visit his daughter, he saw Latasha James frantically flagging down motorists and stopped. She wasn’t having car trouble; she had just given birth. He pulled over, called 911, and, taking his lead from the voice on the phone, helped ensure her baby boy was safe until an ambulance arrived. Then he took care of James’s car while mother and son were in the hospital.
Foreign Fix Auto Center
Whenever you move to a new neighborhood, you get your bearings: grocery store, parking rules, which bar you can stumble home from. The thing you always forget to find until it’s too late is a car mechanic. That changes today. Jason Capone and the fellas at Foreign Fix will not only get you in and out in the time most shops take to get your car up on the lift; they’ll talk you through the cheapest options first. What are you going to do with all that extra money? Well, there is that bar. 822 Reed Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, facebook.com/Foreign-Fix-Auto-Center-140122042683245.
Luis Pedrogo at Noord
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more experienced and charming personality in the biz. Pedrogo is always cool under pressure and knows his stuff, and everyone—everyone—likes him. He’ll even be nice to your gluten-intolerant vegan (but sometimes pescatarian) cousin who’s allergic to onions. 1046 Tasker Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, noordphilly.com.
Spa Terme di Aroma
A chair massage at this Old City spa is quite possibly the best $15 you'll ever spend: Expert hands melt away tension while you zone out for 15 minutes. Call ahead and you can usually score an appointment just a few minutes in advance. 32 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, termediaroma.com.