Shane's Confectionery
Readers' Choice: We told our nominees to bring their best. The diversity was exciting rare Peruvian cacao, caramel highlighted by salt and pretzels with peanut butter. Shane's Confectionery's Whirly Berley Bars (chocolate nougat with salted chocolate caramel and Mast Bros. Nibs) took home the top honor but it came down to one vote! 110 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, shanecandies.com.
We Love Junk
During a home reno, this junk removal company will take everything you want gone — from drywall and unusable bricks to leftover concrete and shingles — and then recycle and donate anything salvageable. It’s all stuff the regular city dump won’t touch, and these guys whisk it away quickly and cleanly for a very reasonable fee. welovejunkphilly.com.
Settlement Music School
If being at home with your kids 24/7 has changed your attitude toward screen time, it’s okay. Allay your guilt (if you still have any) by registering for one of the many local kids’ classes that have popped up on YouTube and across social media. See the full write up at Virtual Classes. settlementmusic.org/music/settlement-digital.
Kampar Kitchen
One day, it’s Vietnamese home cooking — chilled silken tofu in a mushroom XO sauce, or stuffed squid in tomato sauce. Another day, it’s Sri Lankan curried vegetable buns and string hoppers. The options are always different because Kampar Kitchen is many things all at once: a restaurant incubator, an outlet for cooks with big ideas, a way for food-obsessed Philadelphians to try something new. 1901 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, kampar-kitchen.square.site.
Kennett Square
Kennett Square. Photograph by Jeff Fusco Think this town’s only got mushrooms? Chic kids’ shop Penny Lane Emporium shills fun items like rainbow ukuleles and Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls books; Marché is rich with boho home wares; Clean Slate Goods eco-boutique has ceramics, totes, and apothecary items; and trendy Urban Outfitters-inspired shops like Green Eyed Lady abound. State Street. historickennettsquare.com.
Train & Nourish
Personal trainer Jenna Fisher’s bright, clean studio is designed to make her all-female private and small-group clients feel right at home. (The entryway literally looks like somebody’s living room.) And then of course there’s Fisher herself — the chill cheerleader every strong woman needs in her life. 1621 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, trainandnourish.com.
Millay
One part ladylike sophistication (tailored silk jackets), two parts dreamy romanticism (ruffled frocks galore) and a dash of boho-cool (fringed shawls from the ’30s) make up this tidy vintage boutique on Manayunk’s main drag. Don’t miss the home selection, either; it’s brimming with Persian rugs, paper goods and darling jar candles. 4390 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA 19127, millayshop.com.
Scout Clothing & Decor
This isn't your typical Shore shop, heaped with flashy tanks, ankle bracelets and beach-themed trinkets. Here you'll find vintage treasures (embellished clutches, sparkly jewelry, retro glassware) tucked among relaxed denim, soft tees, and light, airy dresses you need for summer. Leave room in your weekender for the covetable gifts and home goods, too, because there's no way you're walking away without a rosemary sea salt candle or Jonathan Adler decorative dish. 7817 Ventnor Avenue, Margate City, NJ 08402, scoutclothinganddecor.com.
Millésimé
How to turn your home into a place that looks as if it's been plucked from the pages of a modern-design magazine: Let owner Jinous Kazemi walk you through her collection of Ligne Roset couches; customizable wall hutches by USM Modular Furniture; and decadent leather armchairs, side tables and headboards by Poltrona Frau — and then buy it all. 33 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, millesime.us.
Studio 882
Bigger doesn't always mean better, but in the case of this Delco design store — which in June upgraded from a 3,000-square-foot showroom to a cavernous, gallery-like 12,600-square-foot space — bigger actually means best, if only because there's extra room for more than 75 lines of high-end furniture and home decor, artfully arranged in vignettes so lovely, you'll want to move right in. 101 Applied Bank Boulevard, Glen Mills, PA 19342, studio-882.com.
Cella Luxuria
As furniture shopping becomes increasingly big-box and catalog-focused, this growing local shop delivers exactly what we want: options. The Chestnut Street flagship has soft leather sofas and industrial-cool accent pieces; the next-door sister store is dedicated to mid-century modern, and the newest Queen Village annex has all the same great brands, plus more of those home-making accessories. 1214-1216 Chestnut Street and 331 South Street, 19107, cellaluxuria.com.
Paint Nite
You wouldn't think a couple of hours with a drink and a paintbrush would be such a hilarious experiment in bonding, or such an oddly satisfying creative release, but there you have it. The increasingly popular Paint Nite franchise, which sends local artists and teachers to bars all over the city every single night, is a happy respite from the ubiquitous sauv-blanc-and-pommes-frites routine. You might even go home with a painting you're proud of. (Okay, probably not. But still.) paintnite.com/pages/home/index.
Per Lei Boutique
The haute women's clothing boutique has initiated a Buy Now, Wear Now, Pay Later program: Spend $1,000, pay half, bring it all home, and pay your balance within 30 days. When your significant other asks how you scored so much for so little, just shrug and tell him you're a savvy shopper. 2 East State Street, Media, PA 19063, perleiboutique.com.
Family Food
One of Philadelphia registered dietician Krista Yoder-Latortues staff of 25 registered dieticians will meet with you (or the whole fam) at your home to tackle your health objectives, whether they include weight loss, sustaining energy, blood-pressure regulation or cancer prevention. From the foods you need to eat to a customized phone app to help you track your goals, they'll have you thinking about food in a whole new way. Call or see website for consultation, 00000, familyfoodllc.com.
Cajun Kate's
Philadelphia natives Don and Kate Applebaum spent seven years in Louisiana before bringing their N'Awlins specialties back home. We're sure happy they did. Fridays and Saturdays, the longest lines at the Booth's Corner Farmer's Market are at Cajun Kate's, where Don's in charge of the gumbo (shrimp and sausage, duck, or slow-roasted pork, depending on the day) and Kate provides the sweets (fresh-from-the-fryer, dredged-in-powdered-sugar beignets). 1362 Naman's Creek Road, Boothwyn, PA 19061, cajunkates.com.