Penny Ordway at Eviama Life Spa
She knows how to keep you comfortable, where your kinks are, what scents will appeal, where the baby is resting; she even offers holistic solutions to pregnancy-related aches. (Heartburn, be gone.) As one mommy-to-be staffer put it, "An hour with Penny feels like getting massaged by Mother Earth." 109 South 13th Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107, eviama.com.
Henry's Floor Sanding
There won't be many surprises when you hire Henry (he's out in the time he promises; his estimates are right on), except for how beautiful your warped, squeaky, water-damaged hardwoods look when he's through. 114 East Cuthbert Boulevard, Unit 1-2, Haddon Township, NJ 08108, .
Family Food
Think your kids won't eat carrots unless you pay them? Philly dietician Krista Yoder Latortue and her staff of 25 RDs know how to change their minds. Plus, they'll help you tackle your diet goals once and for all. Call or see website for consultation, 00000, familyfoodllc.com.
Beke Beau Cosmetic "Audit"
A seasoned makeup artist, Beau will help purge and de-clutter your cosmetics, teach you how to wield that contouring brush, and streamline your beauty regimen. Say good-bye to your wild, desperate CVS makeup-buying sprees. 4001 Main Street, Suite 300, Philadelphia, PA 19127, bekebeau.com.
Abe Fisher
Anyone who thinks America's best Ashkenazi and Sephardic foods are locked up in some Lower East Side deli simply hasn't tasted the matzo brei and pastrami-style short ribs at this Rittenhouse newbie. And how a restaurant with a checkerboard-tile floor ends up with a cocktail bar this sexy is a Talmudic mystery. 1623 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, abefisherphilly.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.
Belovely
Co-owner Lauren Weintraub instructs on how to make a beautiful, professional-quality handwritten board (for a wedding, a birthday, a shower ... ), and she lets you drink (BYO) while you learn. 1005 Farm Lane, Ambler, PA 19002, blvly.com.
Shake Shack
Readers' Choice: The surprising thing here isn't that the 2012 New York transplant's dense, decadent shakes won the vote, but just how much of a landslide win the Shack enjoyed against its extremely formidable competitors. 2000 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, shakeshack.com/location/philadelphia.
Paragon Skin Center Medical Spa
Women in the know head to this Jersey medspa where the funky atmosphere is neither sterile nor your typical candle--illuminated every-spa for tightening, wrinkle-correcting, skin-rejuvenating, and, most importantly, a comprehensive education (with complimentary follow-ups!) from licensed pros on how to maintain your best visage. 620 North Broad Street, Woodbury, NJ 08096, paragonmedspa.com.
Chris Fluck, Bikram Yoga Philadelphia
It's easy to forget yoga is good for the body as well as the mind. But Chris will teach you how to detox, de-stress and get in shape. His easygoing instruction (less hippie-dippie, more athletic) makes the 100-degree heat not only survivable but enjoyable. And trust us, tight abs are the ultimate soul soothers. 1520 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, bikramphiladelphia.com.
Jane Winchester Paradis of Jane Winchester Jewelry
Oversize coin pendants emblazoned with symbols and words (and, soon, zodiac signs) without any cheesy trappings are what make this Wayne designer’s necklaces smart. What makes them brilliant? How they only get cooler when layered. janewinchester.com.
Still Waters Holistic Health Therapies
Massage therapist Dan Johnson is an expert at dealing with chronic pain, and he checks in on how you’re feeling so often that it’s disconcerting (only because so many other therapists don’t). Cash or check only if you pay on-site. 2305 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130, Stillwaterstherapies.com.
Mariel Freeman
A skilled yogi in her own right, Freeman is the mentor behind other top Philly yoga instructors who have come through her Queen Village studio. She’s down-to-earth, and her myofascial release technique will teach you how to use a tennis ball like you never have before. 410 Monroe St, Philadelphia, PA 19125, threequeensyoga.com/mariel.
The Flwry
No one really needs fresh flowers, but how happy would you be to have a new batch brightening your space on the regular? Sign up for a Flwry subscription and you'll get cut-that-day locally grown blooms automatically supplied once or twice a month. Theflwry.com.
Paradigm Salon
Donna Visco is the stylist other stylists seek out to learn how to transform plain ol’ hair into fabulously colorful shades. One look at her rainbow work and you’ll never go back to blond or brunette again. 18 Summit Square Center, Langhorne, PA 19047, paradigmsalon.com.