Petit Jardin en Ville
True to its name, Petit Jardin en Ville will both show you really cool ways to outfit your tiny backyard with French (and Belgian, and Scandinavian and Spanish) furniture and decor, and sell you the plants and flowers you need to turn it into a little green oasis. 134 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, petitjardinenville.com.
Petit Jardin en Ville
Claudia and Vincent Roux have re-created a little bit of Paris in their charming shop. Their arrangements are beautiful, and the attentive service is extraordinary, whether you’re planning a wedding or just need a hostess bouquet. 134 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, petitjardinenville.com.
Petty's Island Driftwood Dream
Give this one to people who say they don't like rum. The creation of Camden's Cooper River Distillers, it is smooth, complex, sweet and hauntingly dark with brown sugars, and it'll make them rethink their prejudice against one of the world's more maligned spirits. cooperriverdistillers.com.
Aux Petites Delices
Napoleons filled with kirsch mousseline, boxes of pear bonbons, almond croissants, plus that namesake “Delices” pastry with chocolate mousse and hazelnut crunch: It’s no wonder you’ve smudged the bakery case with your noseprints. 162 East Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087, auxpetits.com.
Pretzel Melt at American Sardine Bar
Chef Doreen DeMarco takes a Philly pretzel, splits it, crisps it, and stuffs it with Country Time ham, American cheese, mustard and a pickle. Even better: It’s just $5. 1800 Federal Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146, americansardinebar.com.
Kellijane
They say we spend 13 years of our lives in bed, which totally justifies the four-jillion-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets in this petite Rittenhouse boutique and the gorgeous Ann Gish chiffon pillows, too. Right? 1721 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, kellijane.com.
Pittsburgh Cheesesteak at American Sardine Bar
Stacks of seasoned quality beef piled to the rafters with coleslaw and salt-and-pepper fries, all atop a crusty hoagie roll: This behemoth has us saying nice things about the Burgh and a cheesesteak for the first time in longer than we can remember. 1800 Federal Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146, americansardinebar.com.
Gabrielle
When you need a dress for a special occasion, it's not just about finding it; it's about theexperience of finding it. At this petite Bala Cynwyd spot, you can choose a sexy satin Andy the Anh cocktail dress, flowing floor-length Marchesa Notte gown, or tailored silk pants and a bright chiffon top to pair with them, all with owners Susan and Marilyn Cooper right there to help you until you're happy making you feel like the belle of the ball. 200 Monument Road, Suite 9, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, gabriellebala.com.
Casa Papel
On a side street in the Marais, you might expect a shop like this one, so petite and pretty, with papers and envelopes in exotic colors and embossed designs that you'd like to wear, if one wore paper. But here, on a busy Northern Liberties thoroughfare, this small spot where the invitations are to die for, and yes, they can make your baby book out of that amazing Chiyogami feels entirely unexpected, like a best-possible surprise. 804 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, casapapel.com.
Hawthornes Cafe
The fire that ravaged Hawthornes last year didn't keep 'em down long: The cafe and beer shop are both back and better than ever. If those coolers full of the newest releases and old classics aren't enough, thanks to owner Chris Fetfatzes's petitioning of the PLCB, you can order online and have your beer delivered right to your front door. 738 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, hawthornecafe.com.
BE NUE
Forget the DIY Manic Panic dye jobs of your youth. Jennifer Bisicchia Farrell and Kait Gannon, who opened this petite luxury salon in 2021, are turning out rainbow locks in contrasting tones of the same color — making bold shades like flamingo pink, shimmering amethyst and steely blue-gray look totally grown-up. A vibrant crown of emerald green strands just may leave onlookers with a hint of envy. 401 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, msha.ke/benuestudio.
Nam Son Bakery
There are a lot of banh mi joints in Philly. But not many offer everything from tofu to barbecued beef to sardines on bread they bake in-house. 1601 Washington Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19146, .
Groundswell Design Group
That they'll swing by your place to do a quick spruce-up or plant a few flowers a year after your project was finished "just because" is only one reason to love David Fierabend, John McDowell and their Jersey-based crew, who score our top nod for the second straight year. In their creative hands, your patch of green will receive the same loving care and attention whether you inhabit a petite city plot or a rambling estate. P.O. Box 438, Hopewell, NJ 08525, groundswelldesigngroup.com.
Juliet Hope Wayne
You wouldn't know it to look at her petite frame and cute smile, but this neurotic 35-year-old Havertown native is funny as hell-and also a masterful storyteller, which gives her the edge over her (mostly male) competition. Catch her at various stand-up spots around town or as a frequent guest storyteller at the First Person Arts StorySlams at World Cafe Live and L'Etage. 00000, twitter.com/juliethopewayne.
Anchor Rock Club
If you like the aesthetic and programming of Johnny Brenda’s and Union Transfer, you’ll love this indie venue within feet of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s the brainchild of South Philly Tap Room and American Sardine Bar owner (and now Atlantic City developer) John Longacre. This month, look for Guided By Voices (August 20th), the Mountain Goats (August 29), and Philly’s own Low Cut Connie (August 27th). 247 South New York Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, anchorrockclub.com.