United By Blue
UBB’s woodsy new flagship is thrice as big as its former location, so you’ll want to devote serious time to shopping its coveted supply of urban-lumberjack goods, like durable bags, clothing, tents, paddles and enamelware. Fuel up mid-visit at the in-store coffee bar (which looks like a cabin), and pretend – if just for an afternoon – that you’re out in Mother Nature and not, you know, smack in the middle of Old City. 205 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, unitedbyblue.com.
3000BC
After a spin in 3000BC’s Visia Complexion Analysis booth to see all the sun damage, wrinkles and discoloration hiding beneath the surface of your skin, you’ll be good and ready for the spa’s laser treatments, chemical peels, hydrafacials and, really, whatever else they recommend. 834 Chestnut St #104, Philadelphia, PA 19107, 3000bcspa.com.
Baldwin’s Book Barn
This place has the location (an 1822 dairy barn built by a local Quaker family), volume (almost 300,000 books for sale), and quirky, creaky charm (it’s a Hobbit-like warren of rooms and corridors), but on top of that, it also has first editions from Hemingway and a $1,400 leather-bound set of Jane Austen tomes. 865 Lenape Road, West Chester , PA 19382, bookbarn.com.
Whole Foods
Sure, it’s not quite as luxurious a shopping experience when you’re tossing your BB cream into a cart alongside butter and bananas, but consider this: While the FDA has pretty strict standards for the food we eat, it’s way more lax about the stuff we put on our skin. (Go figure.) This means the beauty market is flooded with products containing phthalates and formaldehyde – both no-no’s for their potential links to cancer. Whole Foods, however, has banned more than 100 such ingredients from its shelves, and it prioritizes plant-based and naturally sourced ingredients, so its serums, masks, cleansers and cosmetics are practically pure enough to eat. So yeah, the brands WF carries may not be designer, but I’ll take a clean ingredient list – and, fine, the free food samples – over a luxe lipstick any day. – Caroline Cunningham wholefoodsmarket.com.
Vault + Vine
This shop has the four C’s: cacti, ceramics, coffee and croissants, the latter of which you can enjoy in the shop’s sun-soaked cafe. 3507 Midvale Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19129, vaultandvine.co.
State & Union
Come for gear from brands you already know: Pendleton beach towels, Red Wing shoes, Filson bags. Leave with goods from the brands you don’t: Charlotte’s Weld bottle openers made from repurposed horseshoes, J.R.Burd leather wallets and keychains, and lisa b. cashmere socks. 103 West State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348, stateandunion.co.
Little Moon + Arrow
The problem with this dreamy bohemian shop is that no visit will ever be a quick one. On every shelf and table are the most adorable artist-crafted animal dolls, rainbow puzzles, dress-up masks, baby mocs and fuzzy blankets; you’ll have to inspect them all. (And we’ll admit: We buy gifts for grown-ups here, too.) 729 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, littlemoonandarrow.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.
Tacos El Rodeo
Look for the colorful muraled truck surrounded by a big crowd of people, rain or shine. They’re all there for perfect al pastor (carved fresh off the rotating spit), and they’re ordering it “with everything” – which at El Rodeo means shredded lettuce, a slice of avocado, and zingy pickled carrots. 1000 Washington Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19147, facebook.com/pages/Tacos-El-Rodeo-Food-Truck/1090310424393491.
Chirashi at Double Knot
We’re not exactly sure why Double Knot doesn’t just put it on the menu, but if you sit at the downstairs sushi bar and politely ask chef Iwan Susanto to make you his chirashi, he’ll craft a seafood ensemble bejeweled with golden slivers of uni, a healthy spoonful of salmon roe and textbook tamago, almost too lovely to eat. 120 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, doubleknotphilly.com.
Bud & Marilyn’s
There’s no screwing around with clownish garnishes at Bud & Marilyn’s. Here, it’s just a tall glass of tomato-y tang and spice, courtesy of a nice heaping of horseradish and herbs, and a spear of celery and guindilla peppers. 1234 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, budandmarilyns.com.
Abe Fisher
At Abe Fisher’s happy hour, everything is $7. The chicken liver mousse with pastrami onion jam, the pickled mackerel dip, the boozy cocktails, the fine wines – all just $7. Well, except for those off-menu smoked short-rib sandwiches. Those are just $5. 1315 Walnut Street Suite 700, Philadelphia, PA 19107, abefisherphilly.com.
Hale & True Cider Co.
We didn’t think we were cider people. But then we sampled these dry, subtle ciders (made with juice from Pennsylvania apples!) and, well, we changed our minds. Now you’ll find us in this airy tasting room, sipping pints of Lil’ Sunshine, made with orange peel and wildflower honey, and tucking into French-inspired snacks brought over from the neighbors at Good King Tavern. 613 South 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, haleandtrue.com.
IV Therapy at City Hydration
Cost of a healing B-vitamin IV infusion after a night of heavy drinking: $179. Not dry-heaving in the office bathroom: priceless. 1315 Walnut St Suite 1403, Philadelphia, PA 19107, cityhydration.com.
The Borgata’s Event Center
This intimate venue is relatively small–only 2,400 seats–but the acts that perform here are anything but. Last month, headliners included Britney Spears and Barry Manilow. This month: Stevie Wonder and Cher. Good luck getting tickets! 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, theborgata.com/shows/venues/event-center.