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SOTA is a great place all around. I can't walk by their Antique Row shop without at least stopping to see what's new outside or in the window, and it's the first place I go when I want to buy a...
SOTA is a great place all around. I can't walk by their Antique Row shop without at least stopping to see what's new outside or in the window, and it's the first place I go when I want to buy a special, unique gift for someone.
The shop offers a wide variety of artisan-made, well, everything--photo frames, puzzles, dinnerware, jewelry, yarn decorations, wall decorations, clocks, wind chimes, coasters, bookmarks, ornaments, stamp dispensers, business card holders, vases, contact lens holders...well, you get the picture. I've bought gifts here for adults of all ages--college to elderly.
The prices are great for hand-crafted goods, and the quality of the items is phenomenal. If you want something cheap and tacky, this is not the place to go.
The owners are really friendly, and even though I only pop in once in a while, they always remember that I've been there before.
Basically, go here if you want to find something memorable and useful to give someone. You won't be disappointed.
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This place is definitely a gem. If you've ever been the only vegan in a group of non-vegans or if you're the only meat-eater in a group of vegetarians--or even if you're somewhere in...
This place is definitely a gem. If you've ever been the only vegan in a group of non-vegans or if you're the only meat-eater in a group of vegetarians--or even if you're somewhere in between!--you'll find something to love at this place. They offer an extensive menu of traditional Philly restaurant foods (hoagies, cheesesteaks, pizzas, fried things, etc) that will please people who eat meat, vegetarians, and vegans because they clearly label everything, and they offer a lot for each group.
The food is really good--I've enjoyed their krabby fries (Old Bay seasoned french fries), their vegan meatball hoagie, their vegetarian cheesesteak, and their desserts, and my companions have enjoyed their chicken cheesesteaks and regular cheesesteaks and fries with rave reviews all around. The portions are huuuuuuuge, so you can always save some for later if you like. Mostly, I'm just ecstatic that they offer me everything I want whether I eat meat or eggs or dairy or not. I'm not excluded, and I love that.
They deliver, and the atmosphere of the restaurant is great because the customers are so diverse. I highly, highly recommend it!
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I've recently fallen in love with Middle Eastern cuisine, and this place always fits the bill for me. They have excellent portions and prices and variety, and their service is wonderful--never...
I've recently fallen in love with Middle Eastern cuisine, and this place always fits the bill for me. They have excellent portions and prices and variety, and their service is wonderful--never pushy or hovering.
What I love the most about the food is that you can tell it was made by a human on the day you're eating it. I've gone there and had hummus that was very garlicky (still good) and hummus that was very lemony (a little tart, but enjoyable) and hummus that was somewhere in the middle. To me, that's an excellent sign. I don't want a cookie cutter meal when I go out to eat. I like knowing that there was a person behind the meal, and if that person happened to like a little more garlic in the hummus, I'm happy to experience it that way.
Their salad is the best I've ever had, hands down. I don't know what kind of dressing they use or how they season the veg, but I adore it.
Definitely go here if you want a good, honest, Middle Eastern meal in an unhurried atmosphere that's convenient to everything in the heart of the Avenue of the Arts.
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Sophie's Yarns recently relocated from Antique Row to Fabric Row (4th and Bainbridge), and their new shop is spacious and bright. The two regular staff members, Rachel and Ubaldo are absolute...
Sophie's Yarns recently relocated from Antique Row to Fabric Row (4th and Bainbridge), and their new shop is spacious and bright. The two regular staff members, Rachel and Ubaldo are absolute knitting gurus, and if you ever need help with anything you're knitting or even thinking of knitting, they are an excellent resource.
The store's best asset, in my opinion, has always been the cats. Two cats call the store their own, and they can often be found lounging on a table or a window sill, and most of the time (like all cats), they love a bit of attention. So if you're allergic to cats, keep that in mind.
My major issue with the store is the yarn selection. There is never, ever a constant brand or type of yarn available--it changes constantly. This would be great if you liked a lot of variety, but the fact that I can't expect to find something there all the time (a staple, if you will) really bothers me. They offer a huge assortment of novelty yarns and luxury yarns, and there's always a decent stock of baby yarns, but there's never really much else. They've recently moved, so their selection is a bit slim, but their stock has always been a bit on the small side.
This is definitely the place to go if you need some assistance, and I recommend their classes, but don't expect to find yarn or patterns or notions that you'll definitely want most of the time.
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A C Moore
Category:
Craft Supplies
1851 S Columbus Blvd
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19148
(215) 465-0930
It’s the only large craft store anywhere near Center City, and has a large selection of scrapbooking and kids-crafts supplies. It also has a nice selection of knitting supplies (yarn, needles,...
It’s the only large craft store anywhere near Center City, and has a large selection of scrapbooking and kids-crafts supplies. It also has a nice selection of knitting supplies (yarn, needles, notions, some patterns), though the yarn is more of the low to mid-end stuff. No Rowan or anything like that. A lot of fun fur. But if you’re just starting, it’s good knitting materials. The hours are pretty decent too, though they’re closed most holidays. The patrons often have tons and tons of crying kids and are slow slow slow in line. Bathrooms are not the best and not the worst.
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Large selection of gay and lesbian books, magazines, and porno.
The book selection ranges from fiction by and/or about gays/lesbians to nonfiction written by gays/lesbians and everything in...
Large selection of gay and lesbian books, magazines, and porno.
The book selection ranges from fiction by and/or about gays/lesbians to nonfiction written by gays/lesbians and everything in between. Lots of erotica.
They have the standard magazines (Out, OOB, etc), but lots of stuff that you’d never find at Borders or B&N.
They also have lots of pride stuff: stickers, postcards, calendars, jewelry, etc.
A really unique and enjoyable local establishment.
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Great location at Broad and Chestnut and great hours, though the door on Broad (the revolving one) gets locked might early.
No bathrooms that I know of.
Music is EXPENSIVE.
Sometimes you...
Great location at Broad and Chestnut and great hours, though the door on Broad (the revolving one) gets locked might early.
No bathrooms that I know of.
Music is EXPENSIVE.
Sometimes you can find a deal on DVDs, but anything new or popular is going to be pricy.
Staff is as helpful as can be expected.
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Great location at Broad and Chestnut, but their shelves are sloppy and disorganized, with piles of books sitting on the floor in the aisles. Unless you’re looking for a new release or a ‘classic’,...
Great location at Broad and Chestnut, but their shelves are sloppy and disorganized, with piles of books sitting on the floor in the aisles. Unless you’re looking for a new release or a ‘classic’, it’s unlikely that you’ll find what you’re looking for.
Good selection of magazines, okay selection of music and DVDs.
Women’s bathroom is often lacking TP.
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Friendly staff, though the store itself was a bit disheveled and unorganized when I was there. They go up to size 26 and have jeans, shirts, blazers, tanks, slacks, dresses, and some ‘hoochie’...
Friendly staff, though the store itself was a bit disheveled and unorganized when I was there. They go up to size 26 and have jeans, shirts, blazers, tanks, slacks, dresses, and some ‘hoochie’ clothes. I don’t think they had underwear or bras. Not a lot of stuff that you could wear to work; more weekend or after work wear. Prices were very reasonable.
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Staples
Category:
Office Furniture & Supls
1500 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
(215) 864-9520
For a Staples, they have hardly any office supplies. No file cabinets, no chairs, no desks, nothing. And a very small selection of printers and other electronics. They do have pens and paper and...
For a Staples, they have hardly any office supplies. No file cabinets, no chairs, no desks, nothing. And a very small selection of printers and other electronics. They do have pens and paper and stuff like that, but for the bigger office supply needs, you’re better off ordering online or going to one in the suburbs.
They were very easy on me when I returned a printer though—no hassle at all (and I was ready for one).
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