CHOP Safety Center
Baby gates. Cabinet locks. Outlet covers. And all the other gear you need to baby-proof, well, your entire life. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia sells everything at cost, which means you can pick up a car seat for $50 or a bike helmet for $10. Here's to totally Bubble Boy-ing your tiny cherub. 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, chop.edu/centers-programs/safety-center.
Provenance
If this acclaimed arch-salvage outfit is good enough for Wm. Mulherin’s Sons, Lokal Hotel and Barbuzzo, it’s good enough for you. 1801 North American Street, #1E, Philadelphia, PA 19122, provenancecompanies.com.
United By Blue
Here, an eco-minded lifestyle shop (high-quality tees, wovens and accessories) is coupled with an in-store coffee shop so great that you'll leave thinking it's just plain wrong that you can't enjoy a donnoli (that's a cannoli-doughnut hybrid) and iced hibiscus berry tea during all your shopping ventures. 3421 Walnut Street and 144 North 2nd Street, 19104, unitedbyblue.com.
Knead Bagels
The most tiresome phrase in the English language: "Philadelphia doesn't have bagels like New York has bagels." Now that Knead has arrived, we don't just have great NY-style bagels -- we also have togarashi bagels, za'atar bagels, and a selection of other chef-inspired combos that you can serve up to any smug New Yorker right after telling him to shut it. 725 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, kneadbagels.com.
Upstairs at Vetri
What was once a storage room where chefs used to nap is now a Napa-esque private space with a giant wooden table, a beautiful demo kitchen, and glass cases that show off the wine collection. If you see it firsthand, that means you're partaking in an intimate and enviable experience: one of the regular small-group demos, classes or dinners with the region's top tastemakers. A recent lineup on the calendar? A cocktail class with L� from Hop Sing, a BYOB dinner with Vetri's sommelier, and a pasta-making class with Marc himself, which cost $300 but was sold out in mere minutes. 1312 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, vetriristorante.com.
Time Out Charters
If you enjoy fishing on an overcrowded boat with gruff crew members who are just in it for the paycheck, look elsewhere. Captain Scott Newhall, who works out of the Absecon area, has been catching big ones at the Jersey Shore for most of his 40 years, and he loves showing newcomers the ropes on his modern 21-foot fishing charter, which holds up to four passengers. The boat is outfitted with top-of-the-line equipment, and Newhall knows where the fish are and will put you on top of them, whether you want flounder or striped bass for dinner. Absecon, NJ timeoutfishingcharters.com.
Tyrese Maxey
Post-game press conferences are where original quotations go to die. Not so with Maxey. In January, the point guard showed up after a victory and started singing the Sixers fight song. Then, when the soporific sportswriter hive failed to react, he asked them: “Why y’all always so serious?” That joyful spontaneity is what makes Maxey such a compelling player on the court, too — and why we’re starting to think he’ll have plenty more singing opportunities in years to come. Clap your hands, everybody …
JohnnyDents
Owner John Guglielmucci spent more than 19 years perfecting his top-secret technique for smoothing out bangs and dings without the need for paint repair. He’s quick, too, so your spouse doesn’t need to know a thing. 2710 Haddonfield Road, Pennsauken, NJ 08110, johnnydents.com.
Oranges and Lemons
If you can't find something for your tot or someone else's in this darling selection of clothing and accessories for girls and boys (up to 10 years old or so), which includes squeal-inducing tutus and mini-me Hunter rain boots, toys and books, strollers and bibs, then, you, good reader, cannot be pleased. Powder Mill Square, 3828 Kennett Pike, Greenville, DE 19807, oranges-lemons.com.
Latchkey
This quirky shop owned by a former DJ is all that and a bag of chips — the best place to relive your misspent youth or buy some gifts for the millennial in your life. Browse a curated selection of vinyl records (from Britney Spears to Das EFX) as well as items like custom bath bombs and turntables. In true ’90s fashion, there’s a listening station at the front, so you can try before you buy. 1502 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19147, Shoplatchkey.com.
Normal Gossip's Kelsey McKinney
Gossip makes the social world go round. Gossip is the foundation of many a friendship. Yet it doesn’t always get the respect it deserves. Kelsey McKinney, author and host of the podcast Normal Gossip, which chronicles anonymized tales of quarrels and petty drama between regular people, seeks to do a little reframing. McKinney moved to Queen Village last year, shortly after launching the program, and since then has taken to our city like a fish to water. The show has similarly earned a rightful place in podcastdom, with thousands of listeners, inclusion in Vulture and Time’s best podcast roundups, and a national tour. But you didn’t hear that from us.
Fishtown
Where else to go but Fishtown? Start with the $2 tacos and tasty $4 margaritas at Loco Pezs lively happy hour (5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 1 to 3 p.m. on weekends; 2401 East Norris Street, 267-886-8061) before challenging your date to a few rounds of Asteroids and Donkey Kong (and beers, of course) at Barcade (1114 Frankford Avenue, 215-634-4400). If things are going well, proceed to nearby Kung Fu Necktie (1250 North Front Street, 215-291-4191) for some affordable live music many shows are just $10. 00000,
Mtter Museum Store
Four words: conjoined-twin cookie cutter. Yep, it's exactly what it sounds like. Gingerbread men will never be same. 19 South 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, muttermuseumstore.com.
Kiss and Makeup
Fact: A bottle of makeup-brush cleaner from this boutiques house brand, Darci by Di Caprio, found its way into the Academy Award swag bags last year. The line also includes high-quality lipstick, eye shadow, mineral powders and more. So while you may not look exactly like Angelina, you can at least say you use the same makeup. Hey, its a start. 2 East King Street, Malvern, PA 19355, .
Dave's Appliance Repair
Keep Dave's on your speed dial: Response times are ridiculously quick, even at clutch moments like busy holiday weekends (which are, of course, the fridge's favorite time to fail). 280 Horsham Road, Horsham, PA 19044, davesappliance2.com.