Anthony's Skincare Lounge at Jason Matthew Salon
Let's face it: Waxing will never be a pleasant experience. But Anthony Guerrera's no-nonsense demeanor (who really wants to chat up his waxer, anyway?), coupled with the ability to rip incredibly quickly and cleanly, at least makes it bearable. You'll leave with an arsenal of smart post-wax tips. 1735 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, skincareloungespa.com.
Catch and Release Merchants
Picking through the retro finds at this charming shop is what we imagine peeking through June Cleaver's and Carol Brady's kitchen windows would be like: peach lusterware, Depression-glass shakers, a mid-century pink Waring blender, and even an antique Philco fridge (that works). 1832 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, catchandreleasemerchants.com.
Main Line Baking Co.
The growing number of gluten-free Philly Mag staffers can't get enough of Main Line Baking Co.'s baked goods. Even the wheat-eating among us scarfed down the chai cupcakes and pumpkin muffins and—here's the true feat—couldn't tell the difference. 75 East Wynnewood Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096, mainlinebakery.com.
Noord Eetcafe
Every afternoon, Noord’s longtime chef de cuisine, Jonnathan Yacashin, bakes big, hulking boules of tangy rye and buttery milk bread. And every night, you’ll get a big, hulking bowl of it, served grilled, with a hefty smack of garlic butter on the side, completely free of charge. 1046 Tasker St, Philadelphia, PA 19148, noordphilly.com.
BDDW
This Port Richmond firm is responsible for the most gorgeous, refined furniture to come out of our area since Nakashima: grand live-edge walnut dining tables with cast-bronze wishbone bases, sculptural leather sling chairs, and the coolest ping-pong table we've ever seen. 3450 Salmon Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134, bddw.com.
Fond
If the note-perfect dishes and simple, spare charm of this tiny, golden South Philly BYO don't land you a second date, it really is you who's doing something wrong. But hey, at least you'll have the malted milk-chocolate ice cream with peanut brittle to console you. 1537 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, fondphilly.com.
Fiore Fine Foods
There are two kinds of people in this city: the ones who love Justine MacNeil’s otherworldly gelato, and those who just haven’t tasted it yet. Keep a special eye out for masala chai gelato, with fennel shortbread and swirls of spiced caramel, and brown sugar gelato, with bourbon caramel and toasted peanuts. 757 South Front Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, fiore-finefoods.com.
Philadelphia Seed Exchange
I'll give you mine (extra marigold seeds, that is) if you give me yours (rare Italian tomato-plant seeds). So it goes at this budding exchange program, whose members meet at places like Essene or Weavers Way Co-op to swap surplus seeds, free of charge. 00000, phillyseedexchange.org.
Betsu Studio
Laura Weiszer’s showroom is filled with retro and modern gently used objects — pink suede dining chairs; sumptuous Børge Mogensen camel leather sofas; Italian marble arc lamps — that have most likely already been somewhere pretty cool, like in magazine photo shoots or TV commercials. 3232 Collins Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134, betsustudio.com.
Elmwood Park Zoo Cub Climb Ropes Course
This charming suburban zoo has a challenging ropes course for anybody four and a half feet tall or taller. For smaller adventurers, there’s this course that’s just five feet off the ground at its highest point but still features more than 15 games and a 100-foot-long zip line. 1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, PA 19401, elmwoodparkzoo.org/treetop-adventures/courses.
New Leaf Cleaning Co.
This tiny team of Philly-based all-natural cleaners is polite, communicative, and so committed to your total satisfaction that members practically beg you to critique their work, then keep scrubbing until you give the thumbs-up. They'll also do your dishes and laundry at no extra charge, if you ask. newleafcleaningcompany.com.
Bona Cucina
At this 31-year-old cash-only BYOB, charming Frankie will take your order while her husband Pat cooks in the tiny kitchen — and never emerges. Come for ravioli, shrimp scampi, red-gravy dishes, and a homemade cannoli that we'll gladly put up against anything in the Italian Market. 66 Sherbrook Boulevard, Upper Darby, PA 19082, .
Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse
You get a party room (best for kids five and under) or porch (10 and under) and access to the charming 24,000-square-foot playhouse and six-and-a-half-acre playground in Fairmount Park. Smith is extremely popular so plan well in advance. They're usually booked up to two months ahead. 3500 Reservoir Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19121, smithplayground.org.
Baldwin’s Book Barn
This place has the location (an 1822 dairy barn built by a local Quaker family), volume (almost 300,000 books for sale), and quirky, creaky charm (it’s a Hobbit-like warren of rooms and corridors), but on top of that, it also has first editions from Hemingway and a $1,400 leather-bound set of Jane Austen tomes. 865 Lenape Road, West Chester , PA 19382, bookbarn.com.
Smoked Herring Spaghetti at Friday Saturday Sunday
Chad Williams and his sous- chef, Sashia Lariano, like to break rules by combining unexpected ingredients, with surprisingly delicious results. Case in point: these expert noodles, which only get better with a sauce of briny smoked fish (for depth), crab (for sweetness), chili (for heat), and anise seed (to perk it all up). 261 South 21st Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, fridaysaturdaysunday.com.