Cooke and Berlinger
When it's time to say "Happy birthday" or most importantly "I was a big jerk and I'm so, so sorry," sit down with Peter and Mark (respectively) at their relaxed upstairs jewelry salon in Haverford Square. This is no standard retail space; it's like shopping in your friend's living room (with proffered beverages and all). And if you don't see something you like amid their stunning inventory, they'll find it or have it made. (That includes creating a mate for that one lost earring.) There's also a beautifully curated array of gifts for home, men, women and children. 379 West Lancaster Avenue, Haverford, PA 19041, cookeandberlinger.com.
Le Virtù
This Abruzzo-focused Italian restaurant takes the prize in a city full of Italian restaurants because weve never had a bad meal, a bad time or even a bad moment here. There's always just one more thing on the menu you have to try the next time you come in no matter how many times youve already been. Plus, the bowl of sausage and polenta is as good as tube-shaped meats get. 1927 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, levirtu.com.
Bicycle Club of Philadelphia
Less injury-inducing than touch football and less awkward than dodgeball with co-workers is this band of 1,200 cyclists who offer camaraderie, a perfect way to blow off some steam after a long workday, and the chance to explore unknown corners of the city and 'burbs. Group rides are organized by skill level, and the membership fee is only $15 a year. All you have to do is show up with your bike and a helmet. Ride on. 00000, phillybikeclub.org.
Home
You can spend hours searching for home-decor inspiration on HGTV or just 15 minutes in this adorable South Philly b-outique. Owned by husband-and-wife (and architect-and-interior-designer) duo Eric Heidel and Sary Em, it houses feminine accent pieces patterned geometric pillows, gilded ceramics, glossy Sputnik lights that give a ho-hum home a real OMG factor. Which, of course, is exactly what youre looking for. 1815 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, homephilly.wordpress.com.
Nineteen
Leaving work to head to soaring, stunning Nineteen with that gorgeous view and those gorgeous people never stops feeling like an indulgence. Those $6 old-fashioneds and $4 drafts just mean we can indulge a lot more often. 200 South Broad Street, 19th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102, hyatt.com/gallery/nineteen/xix.html?icamp=nineteenrestaurant.
The Market at Comcast Center
So long, Liberty Place! Underneath the Comcast Center, the Suited masses can now craft lunches from the gourmet offerings at Di Bruno Bros., the homemade pastas at LaScala's, the hefty burritos at Mexican Post, the cheesesteaks at Frank's, and the udon soup and teriyaki at Tokyo Sushi. But this is so much more than your average food court. Dinner (and dessert!) are covered, too; pick up local fruit and veggies from Sook Hee's Market, the freshest halibut and lobster at Under the C fish market, and cannoli from Termini Bros. 1701 JFK Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19103, themarketandshopsatcomcastcenter.com/info/aboutshops.
Golden Nugget Antique Market
Get here early Sunday morning (6 a.m.), bring lots of cash (small bills are best for bargaining), wear old shoes (the open-air gravel lot is dusty), and, if you're smart, rent a U-Haul to lug home your treasures. 1850 River Road (Route 29), Lambertville, NJ 08530, gnflea.com.
International House
Philly may not have a repertory cinema, but the weekly screenings at this University City complex for students come pretty close. There are fun flicks, such as cheesy sci-fi tales (Star Trek III: The Wrath of Khan, 8/23) and bad 80s movies (The Legend of Billie Jean, 8/30), foreign classics (The Red Balloon, 8/10), and more serious and obscure diversions, like the upcoming Jacques Rivette (9/5-7) and Sergei Parajanov series (9/14-17). I-House, as it is known, is for the film fan who is just not satisfied by Netflix. 3701 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, ihousephilly.org.
Kate Brown at 3000BC
An appointment with Brown at Chestnut Hill's 3000BC is like a teeth-cleaning for your face. "I'm not who you go to if you want to chantom," she says, just as the whir of the microdermabrasion machine kicks in. But after you've seen the results of her methodical magic she uses everything from facial vacuum massages and microderm to biostimulatory light therapy and medical-grade masks and peels you'll forever trust your newly vibrant face to her very able hands. 8439 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118, 3000bcspa.com.
The Boutique at David J. Witchell
Herve Leger above a salon. Who knew? 25 South State Street, Newton, PA 18940, davidjwitchell.com/boutique/index.php.
Janice Martin
When the exhibit featuring Princess Grace's wedding came to town in 2006, the Art Museum called on Martin to restore Grace's famous -cathedral-length veil. So you can go ahead and trust her to get your grandmother's gown into ready-to-wear shape or, if you'd like, have her design one from scratch. She'll sketch, do fittings in muslin, and then source fine fabrics from Europe. How delightfully retro is that? 41 Cricket Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003, janicemartin.net.
David J. Witchell
The salon level is bustling chaos, which makes walking down to the subterranean spa called the Grotto a transformative experience from the start. The therapeutic massages (one even incorporates warm bamboo stalks) are muscle-melting bliss, but its the details that earn Witchell top billing: plush robes and slippers for padding around the cave-like space, headphones to wear during your massage to tune out, well, everything, and a steam room where you can linger long after your treatments (before you have to climb back up to the real world). 25 South State Street, Newtown, PA 18940, davidjwitchell.com.
Richel D'Ambra Spa and Salon at the Ritz-Carlton
Whether you opt for mani-pedi or detoxifying body scrub, the Ritz's soothing, tucked-away spa can trick any maxed-out mind into believing it's in the middle of a full-fledged vacay. And since you aren't paying for a room, you can guiltlessly book more than one appointment. 10 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, richeldambra.com.
Tim Tirendi of iHelp Computer Service and Help
This IT whiz will take the VHS recording of the time your Little Leaguer channeled Ryan Howard and transfer it to a DVD, so you can relive the grand-slam moment without lugging that sad, broken-down VCR out of the garage 200 Old Church Road, North Wales, PA 19454, .
Borgata Hotel, Casino and Spa
Sure, you get free drinks at the blackjack table. But by the time your waitress returns with your watered-down cocktail, you've blown a hundred bucks. In the Borgata's horse-betting lounge (how retro!), a $2 wager gets you a drink ticket (you may have to ask for it) good for most top-shelf liquor, including normally $10-a-shot Patrn. And by the time your (hopefully winning) race goes off, you'll be ready for another bet and another round. Even if you lose all your bets, you're only paying $2 a drink plus tip. Try scoring that deal at Churchill Downs. 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, theborgata.com.