Art in the Age
Consider the "He's so hard to shop for" dilemma a thing of the past. From heritage clothing (Penfield and Woolrich) to cologne (he can smell like evergreens!) to a fully stocked camping cocktail kit (complete with a flask and booze, of course), it's hard to find something here he won't like. 116 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, artintheage.com.
Philly Vintage Bazaar
Photograph by Jeff Fusco Located in Queen Village, this year’s best vintage shop is run by Tracy Feldman, Jen Zimmerman and Abby Codrea, who have been peddling groovy pieces from the ’60s through Y2K since opening last fall. 744 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, phillyvintagebazaar.com.
Herbiary
In the past year, this cute little apothecary packed up its shop in the southwest corner of Reading Terminal Market and moved to a much bigger stall in the northeast corner, with twice as much space for well-priced herbs, teas, essential oils, crystals, candles, books, and other spiritual and self-care goods. 1136 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, herbiary.com.
Yoga at the Art Museum
How's this for an evening out? During Wednesday's pay-what-you-wish nights at the Art Museum, there's a free hour-long yoga class on the second-floor east balcony overlooking the Great Stair Hall. Afterward, you can explore the collections for nearly two hours until close. Feel free to tell your date you thought of this brilliant plan yourself. 2600 Ben Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130, philamuseum.org/wednesdaynights.
Tommy Oliver and Mike Africa Jr. for <em>40 Years a Prisoner</em>
With their critically acclaimed HBO documentary, this dynamic duo led the way in a year when the city is finally — finally — confronting its fraught dealings with MOVE, from the 1978 shoot-out that sent Africa’s parents to jail to the infamous 1985 bombing of its compound. Oliver’s filmmaking gave Africa Jr. the opportunity to exonerate his family and reframe not just how we view that family, but how we see Black activism in Philadelphia. hbo.com/documentaries/40-years-a-prisoner.
Kate Rohrer of ROHE Creative
Remember the moment when you first stepped inside Harp & Crown? Of course you do. And surely you remember how cool you felt ducking through Double Knot’s moody basement dining room. How about the transportive mid-century modern digs at Bud & Marilyn’s? That’s all Kate Rohrer, the vintage-loving visionary outfitting Philly’s most showstopping dining rooms. 2424 East York Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125, rohecreative.com.
Sugarcube
Each pair of jeans here has a little something special. Asbury Park Clothing Company’s options have Springsteen-rocker flair (Alice Cooper’s a fan); Williamsburg Garment Company’s raw versions are exclusive to this shop; and the ones from DU/ER are stretchy and breathable — bike commuters, take note. 124 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, sugarcube.us.
Addison Bay
Ready to look beyond Lulu? Local gal Marguerite Adzick’s e-comm shop carries cheery sweats, capris, sports bras and travel apparel from brands like Spiritual Gangster, Sundry and Michi, and her own line of AB leggings, too. addisonbay.com.
Read & Return Program at Heritage Books
You can get a 50 percent refund on the paperback you picked up by returning it to this bookstore (or any of the other 850-plus Paradies Lagardère-owned airport shops throughout North America) within six months of purchase. Terminal B/C Connector. heritagebooks.com.
A. Brandt + Son
People all over the world shop A. Brandt online, but we’re lucky enough to get to browse its extensive collection of museum-quality jewelry – an antique Tiffany zodiac pendant, a $19,000 pair of Victorian teardrop earrings – in person. 223 Haverford Avenue, Narberth, PA 19072, abrandtandson.com.
2nd Swing
Those worn-down grips, that scuffed driver, the irons that need grinding down and cleaning up ... this new shop has experts on hand to give your clubs a tune-up (even while you wait), because they know that at all costs, you don’t want to toss a lucky set. 3626 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803, 2ndswing.com.
Moore Vintage Archive
At this shop in the Bok Building, you can level-up your wardrobe with vintage women’s wear from Issey Miyake and John Paul Gaultier and expand your mind with rare books from writers of color like Sonia Sanchez and Toni Morrison. 1901 South 9th Street #1H, Philadelphia, PA 19148, instagram.com/moorevintagearchive.
Damari Savile
Here’s your chance to cop the style of a professional athlete. Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins teamed up with business partner Jay Amin on a new men’s shop where they stock immaculate ready-to-wear pieces alongside expertly tailored custom suits. 709 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, damarisavile.com.
Preservation Fine Goods
We’ll admit: Not everything in this sparsely furnished shop is the most practical. (Really, who needs an artisanal dinner bell?) But its tabletop goods are so refined, so unassumingly cool, we can’t leave without an heirloom-quality cheeseboard or a gilded candlestick. 9 Church Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530, preservationfinegoods.com.
Wardrobe Clinic
Ron Wilch, designer by trade, is a fit genius: Everything that goes into his two-year-old tailor shop—bridesmaids’ dresses, old suits, new suits, slacks, sundresses, you name it—looks custom by the time it comes out. Fast turnaround times, too. By appointment only. 1500 Walnut Street, Suite 408, Philadelphia, PA 19102, wardrobeclinic.com.