ToBox
Boyds expat Tung To only stocks options with quality and style (handmade-in-Paris loafers by La Cordonnerie Anglaise, Scarpe di Bianco monk straps, John Lobb oxfords) and offers $6 on-site shoe shines. 25 South 19th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, toboxshoes.com.
El Rey
Had a long night? Get this nacho-like dish: marinated skirt steak for heft, crispy tortilla chips for salt, a zingy salsa for a kick in the pants, and a fried egg, just because. 2013 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, elreyrestaurant.com.
Chris Painter, Il Pittore
Quietly, without much fanfare, Chris Painter, who spent years as culinary director for Starr Restaurants before opening Il Pittore, has been stuffing, rolling and saucing thoughtful pasta dishes, garden-fresh apps and big-flavor entrees. 2025 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, ilpittore.me.
El Secreto
The pandemic-born pop-up peddles Argentine-style empanadas with flaky, delicious dough and fun fillings like buffalo chicken, Big Mac, pork banh mi and pop tart. It’s business on the outside, party on the inside, which maybe makes them the mullets of empanadas? instagram.com/elsecretosnacksphilly.
Irwin’s
Remember how excited you were when BOK Bar first opened, with its cool unfinished vibe and expansive views? Well, this is just like that — only with excellent cocktails, Mediterranean small plates and table service. 800 Mifflin Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, irwinsupstairs.com.
The Shop on Girard
Trigger warning to those over 35: “Vintage” today means Backstreet Boys concert tees, Starter jackets and high-top Jordan 1s. If this makes you feel old, shop here anyway, if only because they play Goonies on a VCR. 316 East Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, .
Madalynne Intimates
You can be underwire-free! Local maker Maddie Flanigan’s comfy, sexy, stretchy-yet-supportive Barrett bralettes fit up to a 48.5-inch bust and come with matching panties. madalynne.com.
Sammi Kwon at Ma Belle
If your nails are 10 tiny canvases, Ma Belle owner Sammi Kwon is Picasso. Bring in a picture of what you want, and she’ll match it. Or, better yet, give her a general idea — marble! Mosaics! Watercolor flowers! — and let her do her painterly thing. 40 South Main Street, Yardley, PA 19067, .
Spruce Men’s Hair Lounge
A complimentary whiskey. A hot shave. A precision haircut. What more do you need? The pleasant conversation with Aimee Haupert, the owner of this stylish year-old joint, is just a bonus. 131 West 4th Street, Bridgeport, PA 19405, sprucemhl.com.
Porscha Weeks
Weeks’s full lace wigs, made of Indian and Chinese human hair, are so insanely realistic that they’ve been called “miraculous,” garnered widespread internet fame, and earned Weeks a star-studded client list (entertainers Teyana Taylor and DeJ Loaf). No wonder there’s a roughly three-month wait list. 2121 East Chelten Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19147, bapshair.com.
VIX Emporium
Here, you’ll find a boutique filled with quality items by Philadelphians (Vellum Street Soap Company’s matcha mint bars) and for Philadelphians (SEPTA-coin earrings). 5009 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143, vixemporium.com.
Sierra
Consider this the HomeGoods of sporty life: You’ll find everything from Schwinn bikes to North Face rain jackets at such steep discounts that it’s NBD if you give up your newfound paddleboard obsession by next summer. Additional location in Moorestown. 107 East Swedesford Road, Exton, PA 19341, sierra.com.
Avo Toast at La Colombe
The fact that you can drink Corsica instead of settling for too-bitter Starbucks is already a big win. Add La Colombe’s more-than-generous avocado toast to your order, and you might not care if your flight ever takes off. Terminals A, B and E and B/C Connector. lacolombe.com.
Wine to Go From Vino Volo
For those who want nothing more than to sip on a healthy pour of pinot grigio while thumbing through Us Weekly at their gate, we’re happy to report that your wish has been granted. B/C Connector and D/E Connector. philamarketplace.com/store/vino-volo.
Queen of Wands Tarot
What Jenna Matlin is not: a hocus-pocus street psychic charging $100 to fix “curses” found during $5 tarot card readings. What Jenna Matlin is: an intuitive woman with a master’s in organizational psychology who dispenses insightful life advice, balances chakras, and even provides spiritually guided business consulting. And you don’t have to travel: All her sessions can be done via phone or webcam. Queenofwandstarot.net.