West of Broad

Fairmount, Fitler Square and Rittenhouse


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Published: Dec 8, 2010

Apparel + Accessories

PUMA 700 LEVEL SNEAKERS, Ubiq: It's your last chance to snag these limited-edition Ubiq/Puma 700 Level sneakers for the devoted Eagles fan in your crew. A throwback to the team with its old-school colors, the kicks pay homage to the old Veterans Stadium. Its insoles form the stadium's seating arrangement, and the laces sport the stadium's nickname: The Nest of Death. Ask for these by name at Ubiq, where sneakers are treated and displayed as precious relics.

$85 (low-top)- $95 (high-top), 1509 Walnut St., 215-988-0194, ubiqlife.com.

Books + MagaZines

SIGNED COPY, LUKA AND THE FIRE OF LIFE, Joseph Fox Bookshop: Joseph Fox Bookshop is bright, spacious and easy to maneuver, and because of its partnership with the Free Library of Philadelphia, it's the only place in the city where you can get signed copies of the latest releases. So if your Midnight's Children-loving friend missed Rushdie's recent reading at the library, it's no longer an issue.

$25, 1724 Sansom St., 215-563-4184, foxbookshop.com.

Food + Drink

CHEMEX COFFEE MAKER, Kitchen Kapers: It's coffee-shopping heaven over at the family-owned Kitchen Kapers. The open sacks of coffee beans, the intoxicating smell and the coffeemaker of your dreams: the Chemex. Featured in New York's Museum of Modern Art for its design, the Chemex allows you to control every aspect of coffee-making. "People are extremely devoted to it," says Kitchen Kapers manager Theresa Hill. Give it to that friend who's always running over to Brew/Ultimo for their Chemex fix.

$40, 213 S. 17th St., 215-546-8059, kitchenkapers.com.

Home + Garden

BOSKKE SKY PLANTER, Omoi: Designed to promote an appreciation for nature in the city, the Sky Planter allows you to grow plants suspended in the air, making it perfect for friends who dwell in tiny, cluttered apartments. Its porous clay reservoir conserves water and keeps the apparatus mess-free. Get it in three different sizes at the kitschy Japanese treasure trove that is Omoi. Upside-down tomatoes, orchids, mint, strawberries ... the possibilities are endless.

$25-$75, 1609 Pine St., 215-545-0963, omoionline.com.

Kids + Pets

FREE TRADE BOOTIES, Ruka: The thick, earthy scent of incense draws you into Ruka, but it's the feeling of being transported out of Rittenhouse and into a Far East land that makes you stay. It's an adventure discovering each of owner Cindy Raimondo's Southeastern Asian finds, like these fleece-lined booties made in Nepal. Get them for your favorite toddler and he'll be the warmest (and most sustainable) kid on the block.

$18.50, 114 S. 19th St., 215-751-0331, ruka.com.

Mind + Body

FURTHER HAND SOAP AND CANDLE, Ali's Wagon: Search through the delightful, homey clutter of Ali's Wagon to find Further: hand soap made from the byproducts of biofuel distillation. The scent is piny and earthy and the minimalist bottle looks great on any countertop. This Fairmount shop is one of the only places to get Further products in Pennsylvania, and store owner Jessie Menken is such a fan that it's in the bathroom of the store's back-room parenting center.

$17 (soap) and $29 (candle), 2017 Fairmount Ave., 215-787-0611, aliswagon.com.