Pink Penny Awards
PGN Staff Reports
© 2007 Philadelphia Gay News

Welcome to the first annual Pink Penny Awards — PGN’s two cents about what we like in Philadelphia. This is a compilation of staff favorites with a little bit about why we like them. You might discover some new favorites of your own here. Granted, you may not agree with all of our choices — we didn’t even agree on all of them. But don’t worry: We are planning a Readers’ Choice for later this year — we’ll need your opinion then.

WHEN YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A LONG SCREW WITH A LITTLE HEAD: A hardware haunt for decades, what used to be Washington Square Paint and Hardware is now 10th Street Hardware. Owner/proprietor Troy Usnik is seen juggling pansies ... a sure sign of spring. Photo: Christopher Potter

DINING/BARS/CLUBS
Restroom in a restaurant: POD, 3636 Sansom St.; (215) 387-1803. Pod’s retro décor reminds us of spaceships and Barbarella. And the bathrooms. Unisex, steel and über-cool. And we love the food too.

Restroom in a bar (women’s): Upstairs at the Trocadero, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-LIVE. Betimes we are afraid to void our bladder lest the grime come alive and eat us. Not so at the Troc. The upstairs women’s room is clean, there’s rarely a wait and the décor is pink and fun.

Restroom in a bar (men’s): Woody’s 202 S 13th St.; (215) 545-1893. It’s big, it’s open, it’s clean. It used to have neon. That’s all we have to say.

Brunch: Sabrina’s Café, 910 Christian St.; (215) 574-1599. Don’t let Sabrina’s tiny interior fool you. This charming little brunch destination serves robust portions of all the pancakes, sandwiches and tofu scramble your heart and belly desire. With lots of cute servers (of both sexes) and addicting menu choices, Sabrina’s is well worth the wait (which is almost always over 30 minutes).

IS IT COFFEE OR COMEDY?: When the business is called Brew Ha Ha! it’s a good question. Our pick for newcomer, “Brew” occupies the former space of Millennium Coffee and is already a neighborhood favorite. 214 S. 12th St.; (215) 893-5680. Photo: Christopher Potter

Cruising spot, sans alcohol: Village Coffee Shop, 1112 Locust St.; (215) 923-1992. The cozy surroundings of the Village Coffee House is perfect for those times when you want to cruise but you don’t want your judgment hampered by martini goggles or UFO-intensity club lighting as it strobes off of a disco ball.

Independent coffeehouse: Joe Coffee Bar, 1100 Walnut St., (215) 592-7384. We like that Joe Coffee takes care of the environmental and socially responsible decisions for us with recycling, fair trade and organic coffee. We like that it’s their mission to be socially just and morally responsible. We like their quirky space and their events (men’s knitting, GLBT game night). And yeah, we like their coffee.

Creative idea that works: Cereality, 3631 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1162.Long before Cereality came to be, we wanted this: An eatery that served cereal to go. Cereality lets us mix and match our bowl and even take home our own cereal concoction in a box. We can go healthy with hot oatmeal and fresh fruit or go for the sugar overload. We can mix our own creation or order one of their versions. We can add candy or espresso or fruit. We can go every day.

Place to get “cheap eats” and enjoy eye candy in the Gayborhood: More Than Just Ice Cream, 1119 Locust St.; (215) 574-0586.When we are looking for a quick lunch, low- maintenance dinner or late-night snack, More Than Just Ice Cream hits the spot. And the servers are cute too.

Free samples (grocery store): Whole Foods, 929 South St. and 2001 Pennsylvania Ave.; www.wholefoods.com. Who doesn’t love free samples? But at Whole Foods, it’s actually things we’d like to try and even better, like them once we’ve tried them. Seafood, cheese, chips, dips. It’s nearly enough to skip dinner.

Hot and cold lunch bar: Essene, 719 S. Fourth St.; (215) 922-1146.
The challenge of lunch is to find something interesting that isn’t too heavy and isn’t too light. Enter Essene. It’s vegetarian and healthy as can be. So you can splurge on dinner.

Reason on South Street not to get a cheesesteak: Maoz Vegetarian, 248 South St.; (215) 625-3500. Even the most hardcore carnivore could be tempted to go vegan for a day with a Maoz meal of perfectly formed falafel swimming in hummus and fixings from the veggie bar all in a fresh pita. And the fries are tasty enough to keep you tethered to the South Street cheesesteak-eating world.

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK: Thankfully they don’t have to — their guest speakers handle that job just fine. Our choice for the best place for lectures: Central Library, Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322. The Central Library offers lots of ways to inform and entertain, from career workshops to computer training and a gay men’s book group. What we love best are the lectures. The library brings us new writers and veterans, locals and non-locals, fiction and non-fiction. Photo: Christopher Potter

Meatless alternative to the Philly cheesesteak: Gianna’s Grille, 507 S. Sixth St.; (215) 829-4448. Looking for a place to satiate your Philly cheesesteak yearning, but maintain your Lisa Simpson school of militant vegetarianism? Gianna’s serves up huge portions of meatless alternatives, like the GG Special — a heaping mound of savory faux meat smothered in regular or soy cheese, nestled in a warm, chewy roll for just $6. Trust us, you won’t miss the grease dripping from the sandwich into your lap.

Place to sacrifice your veganism but remain a vegetarian: Vesuvio,
736 S. Eighth St.; (215) 922-8380. Let’s face it – veganism is a life of sacrifice. If you’ve been having cheese-related fantasies and are itching to cheat on your dairy-free, low-cholesterol diet, check out Vesuvio. With its modern Italian menu, Vesuvio offers countless meat-free dishes covered in all the gooey, melted cheese you’ve been secretly craving.

A ROOM WITH A VIEW: Perched among the treetops of Rittenhouse Square, it’s hard to find a table without a great view at Smith & Wollensky. Photos: Christopher Potter

Place for a vegan to be able to order anything off the menu: Horizons, 611 S. Seventh St.; (215) 925-6117. This vegan paradise is a welcome departure from the typical Chinese or Indian meat-and dairy-free eateries around the city. Horizons is a breath of fresh air, offering exotic, island-themed dishes that we guarantee you’ve never had anywhere else.

Vendor in Reading Terminal Market: Pennsylvania Dutch OK, we know it’s more than just one vendor. But, how is it that the Amish accept credit cards? It doesn’t matter, because every once in a while we like to pig out “Little House on the Prairie”-style with corn, meat and dairy as fresh and straight from the farm as humanly possible.

Romantic restaurant: Beau Monde, Bainbridge and Sixth streets; (215) 592-0656. The beauty of Beau Monde is its simplicity. It’s not overly foufy or gaudy. It’s cozy and intimate without being stuffy. The floor and tables are hardwood and there’s outdoor seating when it’s warm. The menu is uncomplicated, the crêpes are wonderful.

First-date restaurant: Valanni, 1229 Spruce St.; (215) 790-9494. We don’t know what “medi-latin” is. And we don’t care. We only know that we like it. We think it has to do with the selection of dolmades, empanada, skewers, kabobs and paella. And we know that it gives us enough to talk about on a first date so that the conversation never lulls.

GET THE SKINNY ON THE SCOOP: Mary-Kate dishes out samples for sophisticated palettes at Capogiro on 13th Street (above); the masses have been flocking to Bassetts in the Reading Terminal for more traditional frozen fare for decades. Photos: Christopher Potter

Second-date restaurant: North 3rd, 801 N. 3rd St.; (215) 413-3666. If we decide that we like you enough to ask you on a second date, we’ll take you somewhere we feel comfortable and snotty is not on the menu — somewhere like N. 3rd. The menu ranges from burgers to fish and chips to baby-back ribs and the daily specials are always worth checking out.

Authentic Irish pub: The Plough and the Stars, 123 Chestnut St.; (215) 733-0300. We may like to dance and drink like the Irish from time to time but we don’t necessarily get off on eating like them, which is why the Plough gets the gold shamrock in our book. Traditional Irish music and beer selections abound, but the menu eschews mundane items like shepherd’s pie (which is perfect for people who plan to be blotto and vomiting in the street later in the evening) for more-worldly tapas and seafood dishes.

Authentic Italian: Villa di Roma, 936 S. Ninth St.; (215) 592-1295. When you go to an Italian restaurant situated in an Italian market, it’s bound to be excellent. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself ravenously mopping up whatever is left on your plate with the garlic bread.

Authentic Japanese: Fuji Mountain, 2030 Chestnut St.; (215) 751-0939.We’ve been to Tokyo and it looks like this. OK, so the buildings are bigger there, the spaces are smaller and there are lots more Japanese people, but it’s almost exactly the same. From the sake bar to the karaoke, from the yakitori to the sukiyaki, Fuji Mountain reminds us of Tokyo. Oh, but we can actually read the menu at Fuji Mountain.

Authentic Mexican: El Azteca II, 714 Chestnut St.; (215) 733-0895.The chips and salsa at El Azteca are always fresh and plentiful and it’s hard to top their siesta-inducing 5-for-$8 lunch special — soup, a quesadilla, a taco, an enchilada and Spanish rice for $8.

YOU’VE HAD WORSE THINGS IN YOUR MOUTH: Looking for that great dessert spot? Try Naked Chocolate Café, 1315 Walnut St.; (215) 735-7310. They had us at naked. Photo: Christopher Potter

Authentic Thai: Pad Thai, 604 S. Second St.; (215) 592-1168. Spring rolls, dumplings, pad thai, drunken noodles, curry and lots of other things we can’t pronounce but sure will eat. Bring on the spicy.

Place to take someone you’re trying to impress: Le Bec Fin 1523 Walnut St.; (215) 568-1511. It’s worth the trip to Le Bec Fin just to catch the scent of the dessert cart as it passes by. This five-star restaurant specializes in the kind of French Cuisine and opulent interior that will have even the most jaded aristocrats raising their pinkies in approval.

Tapas: Gigi, 319 Market St.; (215) 574-8880. We love the idea of tapas — swapping plates and sharing morsels of this and that. But so rarely do we find a tapas menu where the selection is almost overwhelming and we want to order multiple dishes. Gigi does this wonderfully. And if you don’t want to share, Gigi has appealing entrées too.

Seafood: Oceanaire, 700 Walnut St.; (215) 625-8862. When our fortunes here at PGN allow us to indulge in a seafood dinner that doesn’t involve the Gorton’s fishermen, we like to take our nets to Oceanaire. The selection of fresh-off-the-boat seafood is nothing short of impressive and impeccable.

PISS ELEGANT: Favorite restroom in a bar (men’s): Woody’s (upstairs) 202 S 13th St.; (215) 545-1893 It’s big, it’s open, it’s clean. It used to have neon. That’s all we have to say.

Sushi: Haru, 241 Chestnut St.; (215) 861-8990. The décor makes us think of spring. The lobster miso is delectable. The sushi is fresh enough to convert raw-food phobics. The tofu is still moving when it gets to the table. The banana spring roll is delicious. And we love the brightly colored sake drinks.

Pre-dinner drinks: Vintage Wine Bar & Bistro, 129 S. 13th St.; (215) 922-3095. We can’t think of a better way to start a romantic evening out than at the charming confines of Vintage, with its rustic décor and impressive yet easy-to-navigate wine selection.

Pre-theater dining: Bliss, 224 S. Broad St.; (215) 731-1100. Yes, it’s close to the theaters. But even if it wasn’t, it would be worth going out of our way to dine in this picturesque and serene establishment serving creative American dishes.

Best restaurant table with a view: Smith and Wollensky, 210 W. Rittenhouse Square; (215) 545-1700. Any table along the windows gives a great view at treetop level on Rittenhouse Square — pure magic if there’s fresh snow or the trees are in bloom. Impeccable food and service are added bonuses.

Pizza: Lorenzo and Son’s, 305 South St.; (215) 627-4110. No-nonsense service and a price you can’t beat make this the best place to grab a slice. For less than the price of a gallon of gas, we can get a slice of cheese pizza the size of a boat sail with the perfect balance of cheese, sauce and a crisp, floppy crust.

UP, UP AND AWAY: For a condominium with a view look no further than Society Hill Towers. Photo: Christopher Potter

Dessert spot: Naked Chocolate Cafe, 1315 Walnut St.; (215) 735-7310. They had us at naked. This place could even make a diabetic go Willy Wonka ga-ga with its bordering- on-obscene selection of decadent chocolate goodies. Make sure you try the . . . aw hell, try everything. Oompa Loompas not included.

Ice cream: Bassett’s Reading Terminal Market and beyond; (215) 925-4315. Any fool can churn out a decent premium vanilla, chocolate or even a chocolate-chip cookie dough ice cream these days, but Bassett’s throws down the gauntlet down by reaching deep into their bag of tricks and conjuring up frozen treats like champagne sorbet, peanut-butter swirl and raspberry truffle.

Adult ice cream: Capogiro, 119 S. 13th St. and 117 S. 20th St.; www.capogirogelato.com. So technically not ice cream, Capogiro and their handcrafted gelato is love. The flavors — like pear with bourbon, Meyer lemon with vodka, burnt sugar, hot pepper, lime cilantro and Mexican chocolate — will spoil you for plain-jane ice cream. And you can sample the flavors to find the perfect combination. Did we mention they ship?

Water ice: Rita’s, Various locations on the East Coast; www.ritasice.com. Existing somewhere in the summer-treat universe between the snow cone and the Slurpie, Rita’s water ice is too good and comes in too many flavors for us not to risk a crippling brain freeze. We like that they make the flavors onsite too.

WELL, I’M IMPRESSED: When it’s time to wow that special someone (or his mother), it’s time for the gilded elegance of Le Bec-Fin. Photo: Christopher Potter

Place to go off your diet: Swiss Pastry Shoppe, 35 S. 19th St.; (215) 563-0759. If you must take a “Leaving Las Vegas”-style fall off the diet wagon, we, the pastry connoisseurs at PGN, recommend Swiss Pastry Shoppe — because nothing raises a middle finger to your gastronomic discipline quite like eating a bag of oatmeal-raisin cookies while you wait for your made-to-order apple caramel pie to cool.

Bar in which to have a serious conversation: The Café at Woody’s, 202 S. 13th St.; (215) 545-1893. The Café at Woody’s is just far enough away from the action upstairs where you can tell that certain someone that we (translation: you) need to see other people, but close enough to be able to snag Mr. Rebound soon after.

FROM BONWIT’S TO BARGAINS: For the young professional on a budget: Daffy’s 1700 Chestnut St.; (215) 963-9996. Life at the bottom of the corporate ladder is one of sacrifice. Groceries or rent? Updated wardrobe or student-loan payment? Daffy’s makes those choices a little easier with brand-name clothes that let you at least look like you’re not totally broke. Photo: Christopher Potter

Happy hour: Bump, 1234 Locust St.; (215) 732-1800. Hands-down the best happy hour. The ultra-shagadelic atmosphere and $3 martinis make Bump the place to go to wind down after a long day.

Pregame: Bob & Barbara’s, 1509 South St.; (215) 545-4511. Everybody knows that you have to stretch and loosen up before any serious physical activity, lest you cramp up at an inopportune moment. So make sure you warm up at B&B’s before you slide over to the big leagues.

Club: Pure, 1221 St. James St.; (215) 735-5772. In clubland, no one place can be everything to everyone, but Pure is as close as anyone can get to covering all the bases. From the lounge to the dance floor to the DJ booth, Pure has enough energy bouncing around to get asses moving.

Karaoke: Sisters, 1320 Chancellor St.; (215) 735-0735. All right, so we’re biased. We admit it and we can’t help it. It’s true that we don’t really like karaoke. (If we were really performers, we wouldn’t be working for a newspaper, now would we?) But, after some liquid courage and some prompting by Suzi, we can lose our inhibitions and terrify the masses. Well, someone has to.

Place to sing obscure karaoke: Rainbow Mountain Resort, 210 Mt. Nebo Road, East Stroudsburg; (570) 233-8484. If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? If you drunkenly belt out Sylvester’s “Do Ya Wanna Funk?” in the mountains, will anyone back home hear about it?

Gay bar to take straight friends: Tavern on Camac, 243 S. Camac St.; (215) 545-0900. We all know that our straight friends get all Chihuahua-nervous when it’s our turn to pick the bar for the night out. So we take them to Tavern on Camac, where we can get them fed at the restaurant and drop them off in the straight-person daycare that is the tavern’s piano bar while we dip on over to the club bar to prowl.

ONE BATTY BELFRY: For unusual home décor, sometimes you just need a P•H•A•G Photo: Christopher Potter

Place to ditch your friends: 12th Air Command, 254 12th St.; (215) 545-8088. If we don’t ditch our friends here, they will ditch us. Beat them to the punch and make sure they have cab fare.

Place not to go home alone: The Bike Stop, 206 S. Quince St.; (215) 627-1662.
Leather pants: $300
Jock strap: $20
Hanky: $4
Knowing what’s- his-name won’t be putting a dent in your Pop Tart supply in the morning: Priceless.

Bar with sofas: Shampoo, Willow Street between Seventh and Eighth; (215) 922-7500. Sometimes we are lazy at the club. We’ve had a hard week and it’s all we can do to sit on the sofas and be catty. This is when we love Shampoo. The downstairs lounge area is perfect for chilling out and actually talking to our cohorts. And when we wrangle our strength, we can make it back to the dance floor.

Jukebox in a bar: Tattooed Mom, 530 South St.; (215) 238-9880. Mom’s has something for everyone and its eclectic jukebox is no exception. Whether you want to swivel your hips to some Biggie while shooting pool upstairs or unwind to some instrumental post-rock downstairs, this jukebox delivers.

ENTERTAINMENT/ACTIVITIES
Place to get a workout without a gym membership: Go Vertical, Indoor Rock Climbing, 950 N. Penn St.; (215) 928-1800. Commitment is not our strength. And if we can’t commit to our S.O., why even ponder the possibility of committing to a gym? This is where Go Vertical comes in. We can go for the day or buy a set of passes. Perfect for our commitment-shyness. Then they sweeten the deal with climbing classes for newbies and kids, men-and women-only classes, climbing parties and one-on-one instruction if you need it. (Oh, and Go Vertical offers monthly and yearly memberships for the more committed.)

How You Doin': 12th Street Gym is a fave gym to flirt. Photo: Christopher Potter

Gym with the least intimidating members: Pennsport FIT 24-7, 325 Bainbridge St.; (215) 627-4900.The gym can be intimidating. We worry that we aren’t fit enough, our abs aren’t ripped enough, we’ll look stupid on the equipment and everyone is going to stare at the junk in our trunk. And so, we don’t go. At Pennsport FIT 24-7, we can go to the gym in the middle of the night and no one will look at us. There won’t be any testosterone competitions. No one cares if we are in our navy-blue sweat pants and our painting T-shirt. And we can get over our gym anxiety.

Gym to actually get a workout: Sweat, Four locations around Philadelphia; www.sweatfitness.com. With all the other reasons we go to the gym — to see and be seen, to find a date, to find a life partner — there are times when we really just want to work out, and work out hard. Sweat lets us. The staff is friendly without being overbearing, the members are unassuming. There is always equipment available and the group class schedule works for our schedule. In a word, it works. And that’s what we want our gym to do.

Yoga studio: Wake Up Yoga, 2329 Parrish St.; 4916 Baltimore Ave.; (215) 235-1228; www.wakeupyoga.com. Stress is a killer. Though we, as a paper, face it daily, to keep our life balance we need to step away from it and find our joy. Wake Up Yoga is our answer. When we go to class, the instructors help us to be present in the moment, accept our limitations and celebrate our strengths. After practice, we are refreshed and relaxed, ready to face the next issue.

Dance lessons: Society Hill Dance Academy, 409 S. Second St.; (215) 574-3574. We do like to cut the rug. And to make sure we don’t look like we have two left feet and crush our partner’s toes, we polish our skills at Society Hill Dance Academy. We don’t have to bring a partner (so we can practice in private), and they offer four-week and drop-in classes. Whether it’s tap, salsa, tango or swing, they have us covered. And through Diversity Dancers, they host a monthly GLBT tea dance.

Place to see a touring company of a Broadway show, comfort: The Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut St.; www.forrest-theatre.com. We know the Great White Way is close. But, honestly, we can’t make it to New York City to see every show. So, when the shows come here, we love the Forrest and its cushy seats. We’re currently holding our breath for “Avenue Q” in January.

BROADWAY ON BROAD: Kimmel Center’s Academy of Music is the place when you want the Great White Way to come to you.

Place to see a touring company of a Broadway show, variety: Kimmel Center’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 893-1999 .With its Broadway at the Academy series, the Kimmel brings Broadway to us. (Really, who needs New York with all those people?) This season, we’ve got “Spamalot” and “Wicked,” and next season, we can’t wait for “The Color Purple,” “My Fair Lady,” “The Drowsy Chaperone” and “Mamma Mia!”

Theater company: Philadelphia Theatre Company, 1714 Delancey St.; (215) 985-0420; www.phillytheatreco.com. We can appreciate the old standards that more traditional theater venues give us. After all, they are standards for a reason. But we really like the fresh, creative voices that the Philadelphia Theatre Company brings.

Sound stage system for live music: World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400. The café has a bit of the coffeehouse feel and we’re OK with that. Besides, they bring us new talent, rising stars and old favorites, with a healthy dose of GLBT artists. And our ears don’t ring the next morning.

Music venue atmosphere: The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-5483. There might be better sightlines and sound systems in the city, but the Troc is still the coolest place to see a show. While newer venues busy themselves with modernizing and putting plasma TVs on any flat surface, the legendary Trocadero maintains its grip with a spooky retro vibe that lends itself to everything from drag shows and DJs to punk rock and death metal.

Stand-up comedy club: Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; (215) 496-9001. It seems like anyone with an exposed brick wall, a microphone and a two-drink minimum can open a club nowadays. Helium exceeds expectations with its modern-lounge aesthetics, bistro-centric menu and some of the best national comics working the club circuit.

Bar service at a music venue: Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St.; (215) 922-1010. We do not appreciate bartenders who act like we are bothering them when we ask for an alcoholic beverage. (Forgive us, we thought that was your job.) Thankfully, we never have that problem at TLA. The bartenders are always friendly and we never have to wait for our drinks.

Outdoor venue: The Mann Center for the Performing Arts 5201 Parkside Ave.; (215) 893-1999.We like fireworks. We like the lawn. We like the view. And k.d. lang is coming June 19.

Guided tour: Once Upon a Nation, www.onceuponanation.org; (215) 629-4026. We live in Philadelphia. We have history. But in truth, sometimes we get used to having so much history around us, we don’t absorb it and just drive by the historical sites. When we need a refresher, we check out the Once Upon a Nation tours. We can learn about Independence Hall, the taverns and spies. OK, and yes, we are looking forward to the fall tour featuring one of our favorite spooky writers, Edgar Allen Poe.

First Friday destination: Gargoyle’s Gallery, 120 N. Third St.; (215) 629-1700. Hadassah travels the world to bring us both antiques and new, original art. The collection is eclectic, feeding our sometimes diverse tastes. First Friday’s wine and cheese spread is worth it.

Movie theater: The Ritz, four locations in Philadelphia and New Jersey; www.ritzfilmbill.com We like the movies. And when we go, we don’t like to deal with screaming kids, brain-dead staff or chatty audiences. We do like good seats, clean theaters and great snack selections, not to mention wonderful movie options that the non-art-house theaters pass over. We pick Ritz.

Place to rent/buy GLBT movies: TLA Video, five locations in Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr; www.tlavideo.com. Staying in on a Friday night with a movie, well, sometimes it’s all the excitement we can handle. And when that ennui hits, we hit TLA. They always have the new releases we want and the independent films we didn’t know we wanted. Add to that a knowledgeable staff and being open until at least 11 p.m. 365 days a year. And they have porn.

Bowling: Lucky Strikes, 1336 Chestnut St.; (215) 545-2471. Growing up, we never quite understood Grandma’s fascination with the “sport” — it seems so blue-collar, common. But that’s just it. Anyone can bowl and you don’t have to have a bowling trophy to have fun doing it. Lucky Strikes takes the bowling experience up a notch with their menu and their contemporary decor. OK, you can still get burgers and pizza, but they also have warm brie, homemade roasted garlic hummus, fresh-baked cookies and a full bar.

Place for book readings: Robin’s Bookstore, 108 S. 13th St.; (215) 735-9600. When we feel overwhelmed by corporate machines and mindless entertainment, we head to Robin’s. Here, we can challenge our minds, learn new ideas and appreciate new poetry, literature, autobiographies and social commentary. At Robin’s, we can engage ourselves in society and come away enriched and enlightened.

Place for cabaret: L’Etage, Sixth and Bainbridge streets; (215) 592-0656. On the first Thursday of the month, L’Etage hosts the Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret featuring Pig Iron Theatre Company’s Dito Van Reigersberg as the fabulous Martha. It’s not our fault if you haven’t been yet.

PLACES
Place for pet people to meet other pet people: In the Doghouse, 706 N. 24th St.; (267) 514-1949. Because pets are good people. And also because In the Doghouse lets us pamper our pooches with style, hosts doggie-centric events and facilitates adoptions.

BUTCH OR BLANCHE?: Still haven't found Mr. Right tonight? You can always hit on the help, like Mike at THE Bike Stop. Photo: Christopher Potter

Place to walk your dog if you are trying to cruise: Judy Garland Park a.k.a. Schuylkill River Park Once a popular “lunch-hour beach” for gay men in the ’80s and a notorious night-time cruising ground, The Schuylkill River Park Trail has made Judy Garland the anchor of a riverside biking and hiking utopia in the middle of our urban jungle. The occassional passing freight train or the fairly unobtrusive hum of nearby highways are quickly forgiven for the postcard views of Center City, the Art Museum and the hills that mask Fairmount Park.

Tourist trap to take your out-of-town family (whom you like): Elfreth’s Alley, Second Street between Race and Arch. Elfreth’s Alley is quaint, tiny and old. Most of the 33 houses on the strip were built prior to the birth of our nation, making it the country’s oldest residential street. Now we can’t complain about the width of our townhouse.

Tourist trap to take your out-of-town family (whom you don’t like): Ride the Ducks 437 Chestnut St.; www.phillyducks.com. Technically, you’ll get to see some of the big tourist spots: Independence Hall, The Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross’ House and the National Constitution Center. But it will be in a WWII DUKW amphibious vehicle and they’ll give you obnoxious quackers.

Best supermarket to cruise for young, hottie queer women: Whole Foods, 929 South St.; (215) 733-9788. We’re not exactly sure when we noticed the phenomenon of an unusual number of young hotties at Whole Foods on South Street, but it keeps us coming back. We think they might have special hiring policies to encourage cuties to apply, or maybe like attracts like. We do all of our shopping here.

Condominium with a view: Society Hill Towers 210-212 Locust Street. It’s all about the view. In a city that continues to build — and renovate — upward, Society Hill Towers still stands alone in an area with no other high-rise casting shadows on it’s acropolis. The three 32-story towers, designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei, won the Progressive Architecture Award for Design in 1961. The property features an ingenious hidden pool garden and barbeque area but it’s the killer unobstructed floor-to-ceiling views on all sides that make this one a winner.

Romantic hotel in the city: Park Hyatt at The Bellevue, Broad and Walnut streets; (215) 893-1234. She’s “The Grande Dame of Broad Street.” Built on the site of two boutique hotels, The Bellevue and The Stratford, by Philadelphia’s Boldt family, the French Renaissance Bellevue-Stratford was Philadelphia’s answer to New York’s Waldorf-Astoria. Hosting royalty, society and every U.S. president from Theodore Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan, the hotel’s largest headlines were made by the first outbreak of what has become known as Legionnaire’s Disease in July 1976. The hotel closed and reopened several times with spotty success until now. Under Hyatt management, its current incarnation features guest rooms on the 12th-18th floors and the 19th-floor baroque space remains wonderfully intact.

Best weekend getaway (summer): Cape May, N.J. Long before Kennebunkport and Martha’s Vineyard (not to mention Crawford, Texas, and we won’t!), Cape May was the vacationland of presidents. The southernmost peninsula of New Jersey, once known as Cape Island, is the oldest seaside resort in America, dating back to the 1700s. Known for its endless rows of wood-framed Victorians, “The Painted Ladies of Cape May” helped put the entire city on the map as a National Historic Landmark.

Best weekend getaway (winter): New York City. We know that it gets colder as you head north. And in the winter, you are supposed to go south, where it’s warmer. But we just can’t manage it. We are drawn to the nightlife, the theater, the shopping, Central Park. When we have to get out of Philadelphia, we just can’t help it. We love New York.

Place to propose: Fairmount Waterworks, end of Boathouse Row, just behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art; (215) 334-3472. This National Historic Engineering Landmark built in 1815 is overflowing with romance, and is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful sights in the city. Complete with an art gallery, outdoor marketplace, musicians, jugglers and a wide array of unique entertainment, the Waterworks is our choice destination to get down on one knee.

Place to break off your 5-year relationship: Club Body Center, 1220 Chancellor St.; (215) 735-7671. If “new, now, next” is your relationship motto, then we suggest you split from your sweetheart here. With over 60 private rooms, this hopping club delivers a cornucopia of potential future mates. And while you’re cruising for a new date, your recently single former partner can do the same instead of sulking over a pint of ice cream.

Place to fantasy house-hunt: Gladwyne, Main Line/Lower Merion suburb, www.gladwyne.com. Living in a tiny apartment squeezed on a crowded city block, it’s nice to pretend we can afford a big, beautiful house out in the suburbs sometimes. Gladwyne’s winding, tree-lined roads, breathtaking creeks and streams and huge old homes with perfectly manicured lawns and sweeping greenery make it an ideal area in which to pretend we’re rich and in the real-estate market — just for the afternoon.

Outdoor date destination: Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, 100 Northwestern Ave.; (215) 427-5777. Morris’ 92-acre Victorian gardens contain the kind of stunning natural beauty that makes everyone want to relate to the birds and the bees. It’s the ideal spot for strolling down winding paths while holding hands or picnicking under a gigantic blooming tree.

Place to forget you live in a major city: Fairmount Park; www.fairmountpark.org. When we’ve had our fill of bus fumes and need an escape from Philly’s overwhelming hustle and bustle, Fairmount is the answer. With over 9,200 acres, it’s made up of 63 regional and neighborhood parks ideal for reconnecting with nature and getting our vitamin D.

Best place to be transfixed by life’s tragedies: Mutter Museum of College of Physicians of Philadelphia, 19 S. 22nd St.; (215) 536-3737. Deformed fetuses in jars, weird tumors, a chest filled with strange objects that people have swallowed — what more could you want from a museum? Mutter gets our pick for making us thankful we have all our fingers and toes.

Place to play hookey from work: The Philadelphia Zoo, 3300 Fairmount Ave.; (215) 387-1051. Philly is home to America’s first zoo, so skipping work to play here is not only fun, it’s historically enriching. We here at PGN strongly advise leaving the cage of your cubicle once in a while to check out the camel safari or the tortoise trail. All those faxes and e-mails are for the birds anyway.

Fave exhibit at the PMA: Japanese Tea House, Pennsylvania Museum of Art, 26th Street and the Ben Franklin Parkway; (215) 235-3200. Traveling exhibits aside, the PMA has some incredible permanent features. We are particularly fond of the Japanese Tea Room. It’s like stepping back in time to an Eastern Zen paradise. Trust us, you won’t want to go back outside to the bustling city when you’re done.

Best nature hike: Wissahickon Valley Park; Chestnut Hill to Manayunk, Forbidden Drive, This gem in Fairmount Park runs parallel to the Wissahickon Creek and contains more than 50 miles of trails ranging from flat to rugged. We can hike, bike, run or mosey along.

Best people-watching spot in the city: South Street, between Front and Sixth. No, South Street isn’t what it used to be. Corporate chains have moved in (The Gap, Starbucks). Zipperhead is gone. But you can still find some interesting sights. Some of them make us thank the genetic gods, some make us glad we have friends who don’t let us out of the house in those pants we think we look hot in. If we can, we grab a table overlooking the sidewalk and just watch the world go by.

Best running path: Boathouse Row, 26th Street. We aren’t all the most athletic of folks. But we do like to pound the pavement now and again. And from this level, even the Schuylkill looks good.

Biking path: Manayunk Canal towpath; behind Main Street between Green Lane and Lock Street. This quiet byway lets us get away from the din of the city, stretch our legs and take in some foliage. Perfect.

SERVICES
Auto Repair: 11th St. Auto Repair Center, 820 S. 11th St.; (215) 928-0376. The service is fast and friendly and they know what we mean when we roll in talking about the drive-shift thingy on the passenger side sounding all grindy and weird.

IT DOESN’T GET ANY COZIER THAN THIS: For attentive service nothing beats Deux Cheminées 1221 Locust St.; (215) 790-0200. The level of service, from the first course to the last, is excellent in every detail from the humility of the staff to the exquisitely prepared cuisine to the way they throw rose petals at your feet everywhere you walk. OK, we’re kidding about the rose petals, but you get the picture. Photo: Christopher Potter

Body piercing: Local Color, 1316 West Chester Pike, West Chester; (610) 918-1920. It doesn’t matter if it’s your naughty bits, your really naughty bits, places you need a few mirrors to see or your more vanilla regions. If you’ve got it, Lisa and the gang at Local Color will pierce it quickly, cleanly and with the utmost authority in the field.

Baker: Homemade Goodies by Roz, 510 S. Fifth St.; (215) 592-9616. Like grandma used to make, only 100 times better. Roz’s pastry wizardry is so amazing that even a responsible choice like carrot cake can seem decadent and sinful.

Caterer: The People’s Chef, www.thepeopleschef.net; (267) 235-9176. Far beyond the standard chicken or beef routine, Dominick Zirilli can provide a wide range of dishes guaranteed to impress the pickiest of palettes at an affordable price.

Day spa (men’s): American Male, 37 S. 16th St., second floor; (215) 496-0229. At some point we all need our rough edges smoothed out. American Male is fully equipped to get anyone looking super-clean and ultra-sharp with an extensive and efficient menu of head-to-toe grooming services.

Day spa (women’s): ToppersSpa,117 S. 19th St.; (215) 496-9966. With 25 years of experience, ToppersSpa is the place to go for high-end luxury, fuzzy bathrobe-clad, royal-family grade pampering in Philadelphia.

Place to get a facial, laser hair removal and find a new OB-GYN: Metro Laser, 1528 Walnut St., Suite 2002; (215) 73-LASER. Not all of us appreciate the bear aesthetic. In fact, some of us find it downright scary. Which is why we love Metro Laser. They are courteous, professional licensed physicians. In addition to laser hair removal, they also specialize in microderm abrasion, facials and waxing.

Hair salon (men’s): Cut, 204 S. 13th St.; (215) 545-3930. Cut offers more than the average barber trim, with waxing and tanning services to get you ready to hit the town.

Hair salon (women’s): Ettore Salon and Spa, 1200 Market St.; (215) 928-9010. When you want to get made over and primped like Oprah was paying for it, few places can hook up your ’do like Ettore, which offers everything from a simple shampoo and cut to cornrows and dreadlocks.

House cleaners: Shawn’s Cleaning Service; (609) 471-5143. There is no job too big that the scrub-masters at Shawn’s Cleaners can’t have eat-off-the-floor clean when they’re done.

Massage: Triune, 325 Cherry St.; (215) 627-6279. Whether you have legitimate physical-therapy needs or you just need a Calgon-take-me-away moment on the table, the expert staff at Triune knows how to knead the pain and stress out of your weary flesh.

PETAL POWER: For creative floral arrangements, it’s Chartreuse 1200 Spruce St.; (215) 545-7711. Flowers can say a lot — “Let’s get back together,” “I’m sorry your beloved pet gerbil died,” etc. But if you’re looking for extra-special flowers and unique arrangements, our vote goes to Chartreuse. Nestled in the heart of Wash West, Chartreuse’s skilled designers and selection of fresh international flowers make it our floral favorite by far. Photo: Christopher Potter

Movers: Mambo Movers, 1440 Lombard St.; (215) 670-9535. With a staff made up solely of local artists and musicians, we were kind of disappointed that they don’t actually mambo while moving. But the hard-working professionals at Mambo Movers can have you moved and into your new digs so fast, you won’t mind the lack of dancing.

Plumbers: Robert Metzger Plumbing, 1150 S. Watts St.; (215) 467-3335. Fast and professional. What more could you ask for?

Tattoo artist: Carla Hopkins at No Ka Oi Tiki Tattoo and Body Piercing, 610 S. Fourth St.; (267) 321-0357. Carla is always personable and striving for perfection. Her meticulous needlework can make everything from unicorns and fairies to demons and space aliens seem like they could come to life and jump right off your flesh.

Pet Groomer: Bow Wow and Meow, 801 S. 24th St.; (215) 763-3213. Bow Wow and Meow specializes in getting even the most hygiene-resistant four-legged members of your family comfortable with a thorough wash and have them leaving happy and looking so fresh and so clean.

Pet sitter: Central Bark, 2001 S. 29th St.; philly1@centralbarkusa.com. It’s hard to know who suffers from separation anxiety the most: the pet or the owner. Central Bark eases our minds with its excellent reputation for pet care that is more like leaving your pet with a trusted friend than dropping him or her off at the local kennel.

Way to feel like we are being chased by paparazzi: Preferred Car and Limousine Service, (856) 220-9628; www.preferredcar.com. We here at PGN are not well off. But at times, we just want to feel a little famous — not a full-on Britney and Paris moment, but just a little more important than we really are. That’s when we call Preferred to come pick us up and limo us around all night.

SHOPPING
Body/skincare products: Kiehl’s, 1737 Walnut St.; (215) 636-9936.
When it comes to body and skincare, knowledge and experience are big pluses. And this company has been at it for over 150 years. Started as a small apothecary in New York City, Kiehls offers high-end soaps, lotions and just about everything you can imagine to pamper your body. And if you’re into pampering your pooch too, Kiehl’s sells its very own line of doggy-skin and fur-care products.

Cosmetics: MAC, 1427 Walnut St.; (215) 568-2282. We have a slight obsession with good cosmetics. Don’t give us that dime-story eyeshadow that is gone in an hour. When we put makeup on, we want it to stay. And so we love MAC. We also love the color selection — Jewel Blue, Chrome Yellow, Paradisco and over 160 eyeshadows make us happy. And the staff is always willing to help us experiment with a new shade.

Accessories: Hello World, 257 S. 20th St.; (215) 545-5207 and 1201 Pine St.; (215) 545-7060. With a constantly changing selection of new and used handbags, scarves, jewelry and knickknacks, you won’t want to say goodbye to this charming boutique. Hello World is a great spot to pick up an unique gift or spice up an outfit or apartment.

SAY WHAT?: The Café at Woody’s because some of them you actually want to hear what your drinking partner has to say. Photo: Christopher Potter

Women’s shoes: Stiletto, 124 S. 18th St.; (215) 972-0920. Think of the glitzy shops Julia Roberts visits in “Pretty Woman” minus the snooty sales staff — that’s Stiletto. This high-end shoe store carries top-notch brands like Manolo Blahnik and Giuseppe Zanotti. And Stiletto’s amiable sales staff will help every woman express her right to shoes.

Reason to stock up on batteries and go to bed early: The Pleasure Chest, 2039 Walnut St.; (215) 561-7480. The Pleasure Chest is one of Philly’s finest grown-up toy stores, and we always like clever store names. With a wide selection of erotic games, toys, lotions and lubes, this is one of our favorite places to shop with a partner or prep for a “quiet” night in.

Place for fetishwear: Passional, 704 S. Fifth St.; (215) 829-4986. Passional carries a dizzying and naughty array of corsets, bustiers, cat suits, costume dresses and platform heels. They carry clothes for women, too.

Place to buy a custom corset: Delicious Corsets, 1040 N. American St., #901; (215) 413-0375. You cannot truly vamp it up without rocking a corset. Period. Luckily, Delicious can get you fixed up for everything from a ritzy period costume ball to fetish night at the club.

Leather shop: The Gear Box, 206 S. Quince St.; (215) 627-1662. Located in the basement of staple leather bar The Bike Stop, The Gear Box is the finest leather shop in the city. So, should you find yourself meeting a leather man you fancy while you’re drinking upstairs, you can simply wander down to The Gear Box and pick out that special leather jock strap for a night of fun and excitement.

Business clothing, no budget: Boyds, 1818 Chestnut St.; (215) 564-9000. Life at the top of the corporate ladder, however, is one of indulgence. For those who can afford to splurge, our pick is Boyds. With European tailoring services, fine fabrics and exclusive seasonal lines, Boyds’ top-notch threads will make you the fashion icon of your office.

Thrift store: Philadelphia AIDS Thrift, 514 Bainbridge St.; (215) 922-3186. PAT gets two big thumbs up from PGN. Sales revenue from this nonprofit thrift shop goes to the AIDS Fund, which allocates funding to 29 AIDS organizations in the Philadelphia region. So those among us with spending problems should definitely empty their pockets here. Social consciousness aside, PAT sells lots of unique, interesting finds in a friendly environment.

Socially conscious shopping: Uhuru Furniture and Collectibles, 1220 Spruce St.; (215) 546-9616. Uhuru is yet another place to feel good about spending your hard-earned cash. Proceeds from this second-hand furniture store go to the African People’s Education and Defense Fund, an organization that works to better African-American communities. Uhuru sells a wide variety of dining-room sets, dressers, bookshelves and more, and its staff will pick up furniture donations from around the Philadelphia region.

Retail therapy: H&M 1530 Chestnut St.; 1725 Walnut St.; www.hm.com
Nothing fixes a sour mood like a healthy dose of consumerism. We like to purchase our bad days away at this affordable European-owned retail mecca, which specializes in designer knockoffs, mod attire and reasonably priced professional wear.

Most slimming fitting-room mirror: Lucky Jeans, 1634 Walnut St.; (215) 732-8934. A good fitting-room mirror can make or break any shopping experience. And who doesn’t love the unbeatable self-esteem boost of a slimming fitting-room mirror, especially on those awful chunky-feeling days? Lucky Jeans delivers not only with chic, fashionable clothes, but also with dressing-room mirrors that inspire true brand loyalty.

Affordable jewelry: Armed & Dangerous, 623 S. Fourth St.; (215) 922-4525. If you’re looking for a fancy diamond ring or a dainty gold pendant, keep moving. But if it’s heavy-metal, gothic-looking jewelry reminiscent of century-old styles, this is your place. And while the merchandise here may be sharp and heavy enough to break many things, it won’t break your bank account.

Body jewelry: Infinite Body Piercing, 626 S. Fourth St.; (215) 923-7335. Though we don’t flaunt it, we have a few body piercings here at PGN. When we need new jewelry, we head to Infinite. They have all the shapes and sizes we need, in steel, stone, Lucite, wood — everything we are looking for, and even things we weren’t.

Extravagant jewelry: Forever Diamonds, 127 S. Eighth St.; (215) 733-0515. Serious purchases require serious sales-staff attention, and the pros at Forever Diamonds are committed to fitting your unique needs. With more than 40 years of experience and a broad selection of precious metals and stones, Forever is our pick for all things pretty and pricey.

Apology jewelry: Deborah Finn’s Rittenhouse Jewelers, 220 S. 20th St.; (215) 665-1776. Just as a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, a ring, necklace or earrings help the apology go down in the most delightful way. Smooth over that relationship mishap with Finn’s high-end custom-made jewelry.

Commitment jewelry: Robin’s Diamonds Eighth and Walnut streets; (215) 925-1877. A diamond is forever, and your relationship had better be forever too if you’re going to splurge on these kinds of rocks. With years of experience and a knowledgeable, friendly staff, Robin’s provides the seriously committed with high-end, elegant stones.

New books: Giovanni’s Room 345 S. 12th St.; (215) 923-2960. Giovanni’s Room is the center for GLBT literature. With over 20 years of business, tens of thousands of titles, a professional staff and readings and events, Giovanni’s is sure to satisfy GLBT bibliophiles across the city.

Used books: The Book Trader, 7 N. Second St.; (215) 925-0511. This second-hand bookseller is a must-stop destination if you’re in the market for fiction or non-fiction titles at discounted prices. Book Trader carries a wide selection of rare, out-of-print and autographed books that you’d never see at bigger corporate stores.

Independent music store: AKA Music, 27 N. Second St.; (215) 922-3855. AKA is a welcome alternative to both the huge corporate mega stores and the snobby, hipster indie music stores around the city. This low-key, friendly shop offers a wide selection of new and used CDs and vinyl to satisfy music novices and serious crate-diggers alike.

Place to buy your first guitar: Bluebond, 511 S. Fourth St.; (215) 829-1690. Bluebond has been making local musicians happy since the ’80s. Located just off South Street, this staple music store specializes in custom-guitar building and repair. Its expert staff will help you pick out the best new or used guitar and even provide lessons to get you started.

Best place to buy a new bike: Bicycle Therapy, 2211 South St.; (215) 735-7849. There are lots of reasons to get some shiny new wheels — maybe you and the old steed have been in one too many fender-benders or maybe it’s just time for an upgrade. For whatever reason you’re bike shopping, Bicycle Therapy offers a wide selection of hybrids, road bikes, mountain bikes and much more. And with their fine expertise, you’ll be showing off your hot new ride in no time.

Place to buy a used bike: Firehouse Bicycles, 701 S. 50th St.; (215) 727-9692. Whether you’re in the market for a used bike, or just a tune up for your wheels, Firehouse is the place to find some of the city’s most knowledgeable experts. This worker-owned West Philly shop specializes in lovingly used road bikes, three-speed cruisers, single-speed conversions, mountain bikes and hand-built models.

LESS THAN AN ARM AND A LEG: Absolute Abstract for aesthetics on the cheap Photo: Christopher Potter

Original art at affordable prices: Absolute Abstract, 141 S. 13th St.; (215) 733-0190. It’s our absolute favorite place to hide those institutional white walls without breaking the bank. Specializing in cheap modern art, Absolute offers frameless canvas, most of which is at least 40-inches-by 40-inches. Most pieces are around $300, making it a dream come true for chic art-lovers with shallow pockets.

Art supply store: Pearl Art and Craft Supplies Inc., 417 South St.; (215) 238-1900. Get all the yarn, canvas and other craft supplies you need to fulfill your inner artist and hang out with fellow hipster crafters at this popular supply destination. With three spacious levels, Pearl is a one-stop destination for all things artsy. Discounted prices for students and teachers are an added bonus.

Kitchen/baking supplies: Fante’s Kitchen Wares Shop, 1006 S. Ninth St.; (215) 922-5557. Established in 1906, Fante’s specializes in all your core kitchen necessities like silicone splatter screens, cake-pan grippers, professional tube pans, pistachio openers and pizza pans with nubs! OK, so if you only have one pot that you use to make spaghetti sporadically, this may not be the place for you. But kitchen-savvy connoisseurs will revel in Fante’s wide selection of tools and accessories.

Catering dinner for 12: Whole Foods, 929 South St.; (215) 733-9788. When it comes to large dinner parties, cooking is pretty much out of the question for most of us. Once again, Whole Foods’ catering pros come to the rescue, whipping up savory, organic dishes that will impress the most fickle of your dinner guests.

Place to set up house with the date you brought home last night: IKEA, 2206 S. Columbus Blvd.; (215) 551-4532. You just met last night, yet you’re madly in love and ready to live together. Luckily, the furniture you pick out together at IKEA is easy to disassemble, move out the door and replace — just like your relationship.

Computer: Springboard Media 2212 Walnut St.; (215) 988-7777 In the market for a fancy new Apple? PGN tips its hat to Springboard. With a broad selection of new Apple products and a knowledgeable staff, Springboard will make you master of all things Mac.

Wine accessories: Pinot, 227 Market St.; (215) 627-9463. If you’re looking to bring out your inner Dionysus, PGN’s pick is Pinot. This charming boutique sells everything but the grape, including bar furniture, corkscrews and wine racks. With wine tastings every second and fourth Friday, Pinot will turn you into a sophisticated connoisseur in no time.

Last-minute dinner party: Chef’s Market, 231 South St.; (215) 925-8360. When you need a last-minute party spread that looks like you had it planned all week, Chef’s Market has you covered with an ample supply of festive food that complements any occasion.

Toy store: Happily Ever After, 1010 Pine St.; (215) 627-5790. Any place where you can find RuPaul, Wonder Woman and “I Love Lucy” dolls makes us as giddy and giggly as a schoolgirl.

Place to refurnish the McMansion: Somnia Furniture, 1811 Chestnut St.; (215) 569-3939. Whoever said you can’t buy class never shopped at Somnia. No matter how many rooms you have to fill, Somnia has the best selection of stylish furniture this side of MTV’s “Cribs.”

Unusual home décor: PHAG shop,1225 Walnut St.; (215) 627-0461. Philadelphia Home Art Garden caters to our need to stand out from the crowd. Sure, we can furnish the abode with cookie-cutter IKEA, but we want our personality to shine through. And so we turn to the PHAG. We can get quirky home accents, art and garden accessories without even leaving the Gayborhood.

Place to buy stuff you really don’t need: Art Star, 1030 N. Second St.; (215) 238-1557. Because there is no substitute for personal style, we recommend you check out the strange but alluring items at Art Star. The knickknacks and conversation pieces they have on display just beg to be taken home.

Carpet: Big Marty’s, Route 1 and Bellevue Avenue, Penndel; (215) 757-0565; 317 S. York Rd., Hatboro; (215) 674-5656. When we need floor coverings, we go to Big Marty’s. They have our floors covered with wall-to-wall, hardwood, laminates, tile and vinyl. And if we don’t like those choices, they have area rugs too.

Hardware store: 10th Street Hardware, 257 S. 10th St.; (215) 922-0720. Sometimes the big-box stores annoy us. They have a million things and we only need one. That’s when we go to gay-owned 10th Street Hardware, the former location of Washington Square Paint and Hardware. The staff is friendly and helpful, not indifferent or bored, and owner/proprietor Troy is quite easy on the eyes.

Best place for DIY home renovation: Lowe’s, 2106 Columbus Blvd.; (215) 462-1121. If you’re brave enough to trust yourself with power tools, we recommend picking up home-renovation supplies at Lowe’s. Regardless of the size of your project, this mega-store is sure to have everything you need and a friendly staff to help out with any quandaries you encounter. Just don’t forget to stock up on safety goggles.

Paint store: Southwark Paint Co., 801 S. Fourth St.; (215) 468-7000. This independent paint store is the place to find the perfect colors to make your house a home. Southwark’s friendly, personable staff will make sure you walk away with everything you need to be a painting pro.