Massage Bella Vista
First you'll choose your scented oil and your music, and then you'll be ushered into a dark, quiet treatment room where you'll meet your therapist. With any luck, you'll get Blue Simmons, whose expert hands will home in on your sorest parts like a missile on its target. After your 75-minute rubdown, she'll walk you through an at-home regimen to keep you loose between visits. 750 Fitzwater Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, massagephilly.com/bella-vista.html.
Fat Albert's
If you want to play a little pool while you drink with your friends, go to Buffalo Billiards. But if you want to master the art of pool and compete with some of the best players in the region, head to this formidable hall in South Jersey. As for the beers, you can BYO and stash 'em in the house refrigerators. Bonus: Play is incredibly cheap just $5 an hour on Friday and Saturday nights. 600 North White House Pike, #1, Somerdale, NJ 08083, facebook.com/FatAlbertsBilliards.
The Pigeon Presents: The Philadelphia Poetry Slam
Here's why the Pigeon's slam is different: They welcome new voices. Their headlining poets-mostly New York names-run pre-slam workshops for those at any skill level. And their audiences know well-edited, high-quality lyricism when they hear it. You want to see where the Philly slam-poetry scene is heading? Just follow this self-proclaimed "audacious bird that is everywhere." Check their Facebook page for the latest event updates. See website for schedule, 00000, facebook.com/thephillypigeon.
SparkPark
Theres no karate or gymnastics at this Main Line newcomer, which focuses on the sciences, arts and languages. So while your kid wont master cartwheels here, she can learn Mandarin, make a birdhouse in woodshop (watch those fingers!), and design her own robot. Just dont blame us when your progeny wind up smarter than you. 950 Montgomery Avenue, Narberth, PA 19072, thesparkpark.com.
Egan Day
Staying focused is tough in Kate Egan and Cort Day's clean, relaxed jewelry boutique: You'll be admiring every last piece in Ted Muehling's case when something in Maria Beaulieu's catches your eye or the gorgeous work of any of the other four minimalist, nature-inspired designers exclusively featured here. It's where you'll find the perfect gift for your mom, sister or gal pal and a very long wish list for yourself. 260 South 16th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, eganday.com.
Gregory Augustine of August Interiors
It's not the pale moon that excites us, that thrills and delights us, oh no, it's just ... every darned idea this young designer has, and how each and every space feels after its clever owner lets Augustine and associate Jenice Pencek have their subtly arty, totally sophisticated way with it. No wonder everyone wants him. 122 West Gorgas Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19119, auginteriors.com.
Kheli French at Le Pink Champu
When a Vera Wang model needs an updo, a Victoria's Secret catwalker requires blowing-out, or Lil' Kim, Anita Baker, Selita Ebanks or Lauryn Hill needs natural-looking extensions, a splash of color or an amazing cut, they come to Kheli (or Kheli comes to them). No wonder: From her salon's two-year-old Manayunk location, she modestly works magic on any kind of hair that walks through the door. That is, when she's back from Fashion Week. 4205 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA 19127, styleseat.com/lepinkchampusalon.
Jamie Hollander
Whether your kitchen skills rival those of Julia Child or a small child, the super-knowledgeable staff under the direction of the stores namesake (formerly the chef/owner of Doylestowns Knight House) will walk you through racks stuffed with top-drawer ingredients that will make any meal a culinary masterpiece. Bonuses: a staggering display of artisanal cheeses; a sumptuous salad bar and fresh, inventive gourmet sandwiches to go; and divine catering that will have guests clamoring for the phone number. Stuff here aint cheap but man, is it good. 415 South York Road, New Hope, PA 18938, jhollandergourmet.com.
The Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby
We're suckers for this gala procession of "art and human-powered transit," a two-mile-long obstacle course full of drag queens, sofa kings, oversized skulls, beer tanks, balloons, sharks and superheroes, all battling to make it to-what else?-a mud pit. And how can you not love a fest that invites notorious two-wheeler-hater Stu Bykofsky to judge what is, underneath all the papier-mach and twisted metal, a bike parade? 00000, kinetickensington.org.
Haegeles Bakery
Every year, come Fat Tuesday, Haegele's Bakery in Northeast Philly feeds a long line of indulgees their fair share (and then some) of the city's best doughnuts: airy ring doughnuts, perfectly sweet cream-filled doughnuts, iced cinnamon doughnuts, powdered jelly doughnuts, and, of course, fastnachts. Thankfully, we can go every other day of the year and, except for the fastnachts, gobble them up without a wait. 4164 Barnett Street, Philadelphia, PA 19135, .
Mr. Contractor
This family-owned Fishtown company is a shining light in one of the more, shall we say, challenging industries known to man. To wit: Mr. Contractor won't pull the sort of disappearing act for which industry losers are known; they have 22 staff members to keep your job on track; and a BBB accreditation means you can be sure they'll resolve any problems. There now, isn't that better? 2634-48 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19136, mrcontractorinc.com.
Hop Sing Laundromat
Youve heard the hype, the rumors about mysterious owner/operator Le, the jokes about the dress code and the hidden door. But forget about that. All you need to know is that in an age in which the mustachioed and be-vested cocktail slinger has risen to the same level of cultural importance as the celebrity chef, Hop Sing Laundromat opened as one of the best cocktail bars any of us had ever been to, anywhere. And since then, it has only gotten better. 1029 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, hopsinglaundromat.com.
900 to 1100 North 2nd Street
What with local food and beers at longtime neighborhood anchor Standard Tap (901 North 2nd Street, 215-238-0630, standardtap.com), cupcakes, tapas and corsets at Bart Blatstein's Liberties Walk (1022 North 2nd Street), and dance parties, art galleries and alcoholic milkshakes at the surprisingly resilient Piazza at Schmidts (1001 North 2nd Street, atthepiazza.com), this is the city's new adult urban playground. 00000,
Han Dynasty
We love a Chinese restaurant where they'll tell you where to go if you try to order the chicken fried rice. That's how confident Han Dynasty owner Han Chiang is that the Szechuan and Taiwanese cuisine he serves in Royersford and Exton (and Old City, for urbanites) will erase any notions you had about wanting greasy corner takeout. 260 North Pottstown Pike, Exton, PA 19341, handynasty.net.
Danish Bakers
If you've ever had the pleasure of eating real Philadelphia butter cake, you know that "cake" is entirely the wrong word. And if you've ever been to the Danish Bakers in Rockledge, you know that Philadelphia butter cake doesn't get any real-er than this, with a thin bottom layer that's more flaky pastry than crumbly cake and an ooey, gooey topping that's more, well, butter than icing. 107 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA 19046, danishbakers.com.