Vernick Wine
When the PLCB temporarily closed all its stores, Philly wine shops stayed open and kept us drinking and drunk during the apocalypse. And they deserve all the attention in the world. 2029 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, vernickphilly.com/vfd.
Bar Snacks at V Street
There are three snacks on the happy-hour menu: spicy cold chiu chow noodles, tacos with cured tofu and Peruvian chilies, and chocolate beignets. Order all three, then order them again. 124-126 South 19th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, vstreetfood.com.
Jezabel’s Argentine Cafe & Bakery
When Jezabel Careaga moved her Fitler Square Argentine cafe west, she combined it with a teahouse and retail shop, and it immediately became a hit — a place to eat, work, study, host events, and run into the neighbors. 206 South 45th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, jezabelscafe.com.
Cafe Clover
Cafe Clover’s taiyaki cone. Photograph by Stuart Goldenberg This Korean sweets/scoop shop is the only place in the region making taiyaki cones — fish-shaped, waffle-like baked shells that hold scoops of gelato in flavors like Oreo, Thai coconut and green tea. 1333 West Cheltenham Avenue, #103, Elkins Park, PA 19027, .
Givens
At this colorful Cape May shop, the homewares are quirky, the jewelry is delightfully offbeat, and the labels are hip enough to make you forget there’s a boardwalk mere blocks away. 418 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ 08204, givenscircle.com.
J & J Motors
It’s not unusual to see a Porsche or Ferrari or Maserati on the lift at this shop, where they specialize in European models—but customers nevertheless rave about the unpretentious down-home service, surprisingly reasonable prices and spot-on estimates. 1111 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, jandjmotors.com.
Passyunk Beer and Java Runners
If your personal slogan is "Will run for coffee and beer," meet your tribe: This South Philly-based group hosts evening and morning runs that end at different East Passyunk bars and coffee shops. Pbandjrunners.com.
Lilly Pulitzer Sample Sale
Three days. Thousands of women. Endless racks. One dressing room. In short: It's the shopping equivalent of the Super Bowl. The next one's in June 2016. Work on your game plan now. Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Avenue, Oaks, PA lillypulitzer.com.
South Street Bagels
The bagels here have too many "Best of" wins to count, but now there's another reason to swing by this shop: red sauce and gooey cheese plopped right on top. Perfect at room temp. 613 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, southstphillybagel.com.
Danzeisen & Quigley
They've got the square footage of a Dick's or Modell's, but the personalized expertise of a specialty bike, ski or snowboard shop. It's no wonder D&Q has stayed in business for the past 52 years. 1720 East Marlton Pike, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003, dandq.com.
Deck's Hardware
The anti-Lowe's. The staff at this rambling, pleasantly dusty hardware shop take the time to discuss whether you need turkey wire or chicken wire to bolster your fence, and prices are rock-bottom. 27 North Main Street, Ambler, PA 19002, facebook.com/deckshardware.
Philadelphia Mycology Club
On the hunt in Ridley Creek State Park. Photograph by Jauhien Sasnou You probably didn’t realize that Philly’s parks, trails and even sidewalks are home to a huge variety of mushrooms, many of them edible. But how do you begin? And how do you not, you know, die from ingesting, oh, say, a death cap? Simple: Find the Philadelphia Mycology Club on Facebook. They host mushroom hunts all over the region, and if you’re lucky, you’ll come home with some tasty hen-of-the-woods or morels for supper. facebook.com/phillymycoclub.
Du Jour
With steakhouses and burger shops crowding the city's noontime dining scene, we appreciate that Du Jour has put heart and flair into this zingy veggie option, a lusty mix of brown rice, chickpeas, lentils, feta and Moroccan harissa sauce. Take note, burger kings. 379 Lancaster Avenue, Haverford, PA 19041, dujourmarket.com.
Morey's Piers, The Wildwood Boardwalk
It doesn't matter if you're looking for shriek-inducing roller coasters, the 140-foot free fall of AtmosFEAR or the absolutely insane SpringShot; no place else has as many extreme thrill rides in one place. Eat the funnel cake after you ride. 3501 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ 08260, moreyspiers.com.
Stateside under Elijah Milligan
When lauded chef George Sabatino abruptly left this award-winning restaurant for his tour of duty at Morgans Pier, Phillys food scenesters were worried no one else would be able to fill his shoes behind the line. Now they can stop fretting and just go eat. 1536 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, statesidephilly.com.