Joy Cleaners
No matter how much you throw down for your boyfriend/skinny/rocker/boot cuts, theres only one way to ensure the perfect fit: The denim fairy godmothers here have mastered reattaching original hems and cinching in waistbands, all while maintaining the flair of your new pair. 221 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, .
Le Virtù
How can you choose between chef Luciana Spurio's fresh fazzoletti "handkerchiefs" with rich duck ragu, the feathery crepes layered with itty-bitty meatballs, or the paper-thin pappardelle? Take our advice: Bring a crowd, and order 'em all. 1927 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, levirtu.com.
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.
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.
Barcade
How geeky is this nirvana of tap craft beers and 25-cents-a-round arcade games of Tetris and Tron? The $10 "lunch special"-any sandwich (try the grilled cheese), chips and beer-runs till 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. 1114 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, barcadephiladelphia.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, .
Fiorella Pasta Bar
Fiorella Pasta Bar. Photograph by Michael Persico Look, we love Vetri Cucina. It’s inarguably one of the crown jewels of our dining scene — a place that constantly reinvents the very notion of what Italian fine dining can be. But with Fiorella Pasta Bar — his pre-pandemic experiment — Vetri might have inadvertently shown us what a post-fine-dining world can really look like: a place where short-order counter-service dining can be just as delicious (and twice as fun). Absent the pomp, circumstance, reverential quiet, fancy crystal and sky-high prices of the Cucina, Fiorella delivers a raw, vital and delicious experience proving that what’s on the plate matters more than anything else. 817 Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, fiorellaphilly.com.
Lititz
This quaint but increasingly sophisticated Main Street town offers a taste of Lancaster County without the Amish tourist-trappiness. Be sure to grab tomato pie (literal tomato pie, not the saucy pizza-like stuff we get around here) and a pear-and-blue-cheese salad at the aptly named Tomato Pie Caf (23 North Broad Street, 717-627-1762). Throw back a few craft beers (and even craft sodas!) at Appalachian Brewing Company (55 North Water Street, 717-625-0300). And poke your head in at the numerous shops and boutiques selling everything from vintage guitar amps and local art to hand-made stationery and rare books. If you decide to make a night of it, the new upscale Rock Suites at the General Sutter Inn (14 East Main Street, 717-626-2115) are inspired by rock bands (and are totally cool). 00000, lititzpa.com.
Collective Strength
This grassroots strength-training community turned barbell gym was founded on accessibility, inclusiveness and joyful movement, especially for groups not typically represented in power lifting. How’d they do it? Through flexible pricing, sliding-scale “Badass Barbell” workshops, size-inclusive equipment, and a future co-op model, so members have a real stake in the biz. 3245 Amber Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134, collectivestrengthphl.com.
West Philly Porchfest
More than 100 DIY front-porch stages featuring 300-plus performers in genres ranging from bluegrass to classical to hip-hop to heavy metal — all 100 percent free. The bad news? You have to wait until June for the next one. The good news? Somebody is organizing a spinoff in Roxborough-Manayunk this October. And you can set one up in your neighborhood, too; visit porchfest.org to learn how. We’re looking at you, South Philly. We’ll call it Stoopfest. westphillyporchfest.com.
Avalon Bistro
There are lots and lots of bars on the Main Line, but it’s surprising how few serve a proper cocktail. That’s not the case at Avalon. Whether you’re in the mood for a boulevardier, an old-fashioned, or a Hendrick’s three-to-one martini, extra-cold, served up with three olives and made with Dolin vermouth (one of our staffers is very particular), they always seem to come out perfect here, and both the stemware and the vibe are impeccable. 818 Lancaster Avenue , Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, avalonrestaurant.net.
Cantina Los Caballitos
A good summer evening involves sitting on an outdoor patio and exchanging jaw-dropping gossip over chicken enchiladas and maybe a little tequila. But when we’re at Cantina Los Caballitos and someone passes by with a refreshing passion fruit (or cucumber, or guava, or whatever) margarita in a gorgeous hand-blown glass, how could we possibly say no to another one? Or three? 1651 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, cantinaloscaballitos.com.
Crisp Chik'n
So you’ve been boycotting Chick-fil-A for God knows how long, but you’re really craving one of those fried chicken sandwiches and some waffle fries. You need to get to know this Delco spot that’s just over a year old. The food is strikingly similar to Chick-fil-A’s, but better. 27 North Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, PA 19050, crispchikn.com.
Questlove
Photograph by Daniel Dorsa How Philly’s coolest hometown hero just got cooler, in four steps: 1) Directed the riveting Summer of Soul. 2) Won an Oscar for it. 3) Gave an unruffled (heartfelt, human) acceptance speech mere moments after Will Smith’s slap heard ’round the world. 4) Admitted he missed the whole shebang because he’d been meditating. At the Oscars. Questo forever!
Dottie’s Serenade Service
How do you make loved ones feel special on their birthdays when they can’t have their friends and fam all around them? A Zoom party? Pfft. You send them the marvelous Dot Levine of Dottie’s Serenade Service, where the apt motto is “Give the Gift of Joy.” Prices start at $76, and Dot has a pretty vast repertoire, ranging from Willy Wonka to the Cure to traditional Yiddish ditties. dottiesserenadeservice.com.