Spring 2012 Shopping Guide

shopping guide

February 22, 2012

34st.com

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6 T H & B A I N B R I D G EC R E P E R I E H O U R S TUESDAY-FRIDAY 12 NOON-11PM, SATURDAY 10AM-11PM, SUNDAY 10AM-10PMC A B A R E T H O U R S TUESDAY-THURSDAY & SUNDAY 7:30PM-1 AM, FRIDAY & SATURDAY 7:30PM-2AM

B E S T F I R S T D AT E S P O T

www.creperie-beaumonde.comFOR A GOOD TIME CALL 215-592-0656

Elizabeth Horkley, Editor–in–ChiefJoe Pinsker, Managing Editor

Adrian Franco, Online Managing EditorHilary Miller, Design EditorChloe Bower, Design Editor

Sarah Tse, Photo EditorLaura Francis, Asst. Photo Editor

Zeke Sexauer, Associate Design Editor

Cover Photo: Sarah TSe

Contacting 34th Street Magazine: If you have questions, comments, complaints

or letters to the editor, email elizabeth horkley, editor-–in–Chief, at [email protected]. You can

also call us at (215) 898-6585. to place an ad, call (215) 898-6581.

ViSiT our web SiTe: www.34st.com"I feel like we just didn't have fun this week."

©2012 34th Street Magazine, the Daily Pennsyl-vanian, Inc.

No part may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express, written consent of the editors (but I bet we will give you the a-okay.) All rights reserved. 34th Street Magazine is published by the Daily Pennsylvanian, Inc., 4015 Walnut St.,

Philadelphia, Pa., 19104, every thursday.

34th Street Magazine

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REviEwS3 BriAr vintAgE4 frEE PEoPlE6 BEAutiful World7 rosEnBAch10 milk And honEy, BondEd11 PiPEr12 Art in thE AgE of mE-chAnicAl rEProduction, JAck Wills13 Astro, kAlEidoscoPE14 vix, housE of tEA

PHoTo ESSAy – 8MAP oF SToRES – 15

In case you haven’t noticed (do you have the DP delivered to your door every morning?), it’s warm outside!

Relatively warm – but then again this winter was only rela-tively cold. It hasn’t been an especially long or bitter winter, but that hasn’t kept any of us from using it as an excuse to not venture out of the Penn ‘hood.

Is there a better day to venture eastward (or westward, if you’re looking for VIX Emporium or Milk and Honey), in search of a new wardrobe to match the lukewarm weather?

Street presents its annual Shopping Guide, timed per-fectly to the rise in temperatures (and your spirits).

We’ve got bowties. We’ve got lacey dresses. We’ve got teddy–

bears that turn into TOTE BAGS.

No more of that Urban bullshit. We’re sick of seeing all of you in the same oversized sweaters and neon jeans. And we hear American Apparel has started attaching anti–theft sen-sors to its clothing, so that’s an-other option gone.

If you’re like me, and dress-ing room lines are akin to the ninth circle of hell, why not take the longer walk down to South Philly and pick up some cheap records?

You can play them on your porch, in your new vintage clothes.

You look fresh.

FroMtheeDiTor

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shopping guide

Read this, go shopping and we'll see you tomorrow as usual.

Also, a PSA: Today is National Marga-rita Day, so, yeah, do what you want with that information.

34st.com @34st

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spring shopping guideLIFE OF BRIARStarring Vin(tage) DieselBy ZacchiauS mckee | PhotoS By Sarah tSe

From the outside, Briar Vin-tage looks like a store where

your grandfather or that weird thespian kid from high school might shop. But inside, this Old City men’s vintage clothing shop offers an inviting atmo-sphere that encourages you to look at the multitude of 1800s cufflinks and 60s–era blazers on display. Some jaunty 1930s music plays in the background, contributing to the feeling that you’re spanning 100 years of history in one confined space.

And you are. Complete with three–piece suits, top hats, let-ter jackets, suspenders and bow ties, Briar Vintage features male fashions that range from the ear-ly 1800s to the 1960s. Polyester is a big no–no in this store.

Each piece sold is hand–se-lected from estate sales and flea markets, with an emphasis on Union– and Philadelphia–made clothing, ensuring that only the highest quality of merchandise is displayed. Worried you’ll end up looking like too much of a dandy in these vintage digs? Bri-ar offers personal on–site styling advice so you’ll know exactly what shapes and colors work for your body. You’ll go from di-sheveled to dapper in no time.

But the real value in Briar Vintage comes from its dedi-cated and enthusiastic staff. Tat-tooed and pierced, store manag-er David Lochner seems like the last person you’d expect to find in an impeccable suit working in a vintage fashion store, but he’s

clearly passionate about what he does. He discusses different types of tie bars, cufflinks and suspender buttons for nearly 10 minutes before giving me a full breakdown of what clothing and cut would go best with my col-oring, complete with a reference to illustrations from a pre–1960 Gentlemen’s Quarterly. And he’s absolutely insistent that I try something on before I leave.

The music changes to some Bing Crosby as I don a grey plaid blazer, as suggested by Lochner. With his proposal of a light blue button–down, chinos and a green bow tie, I end up looking rather debonair (if I do say so

myself). After that, I feel slightly underdressed in my T–shirt and jeans, but it speaks to the abil-ity of Briar Vintage to transport you to a different time. A com-bination of the music, that an-tique smell and the collection of vintage suitcases makes you slow down just a little bit and forget

about the hustle and bustle of the city around you.

One final look through the scarves, shoes, bowler hats, car-digans and suits (both single– and double–breasted) solidifies the charm and excellence that pervade Briar’s pieces. While the items might be a tad pricey for the average college student, with blazers ranging from about $60–$100 and suits going for a little more, the quality of the pieces is unparalleled. This store is no place for the hipster look-ing to branch out from Urban — only true vintage lovers will find what they’re looking for here.

BRIAR VINTAGE62 N. 3rd St.briarvintage.com

What you'll find here: Vin-tage menswear going back to the 1800sBottom line: Vintage purists — look no further

spring shopping guide

Berger PropertiesUniversity Court

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414-24 S. 48th Street

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☛ 24-hour maintenance.

www.bergerproperties.org215-771-1036

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DEFINITELY NOT FREE CLOTHINGMass–produced indie imitator isn't worth its price tagBy nina wolpow | pHoToS By SaRaH TSE

Though its tassel–toting tees and bright peasant

skirts scream indie, Free Peo-ple — a chain from the Urban Outfitters fam — is not exactly not mainstream. The decor at the brand’s new flagship store at 17th and Walnut, howev-er, is worth a visit if you find yourself in Rittenhouse. Plus, the clothing line, begun in the 70s, is native to Philly.

Opened a few weeks ago, the store is curated as if it were a gallery, with space sufficient and simple enough to exhibit its more embellished pieces. Clothes — like the aforemen-tioned tops and skirts, plus this season’s lace–laden sundresses and cutoff shorts — are for the most part on the first floor, with lingerie and loungewear upstairs by the dressing rooms. The latter two are, by the way, the store’s most noteworthy elements. Each dressing room is designed by an artist at Free People’s Home Office (locat-ed at the Philly Naval Yard); folksy doodles adorn white-washed walls shuttered by col-orful curtains.

Folk art — or art that is modeled after it — is featured on the downstairs walls as well, and it too is for sale (most of it is in the $50 to $150 range). Other adornments have been imported from India, which, though cool and exotic–look-ing, are not so unusual.

I tried on two pairs of wide leg jeans and two tops and left with one piece — a long–sleeved blue and white tie–dyed tee with wide, hippie sleeves. The jeans fit nicely, but were nothing special — midway between mass–pro-duced (like American Eagle) and designer (like MiH). The second top (the one I decided against) was a cropped suede shift–like piece, with scalloped edges and tiny cutouts at the

borders. It was pretty enough, but the $228 price tag and my past experience with less–than–well–tailored Free Peo-ple pieces killed the deal.

In sum, the new Free People store is a good idea, but it's filled with the same stuff you’d find anywhere else, and it's just as overpriced as its peers. If this merchandise is what you’re looking for, though, the experience at the Walnut St. outpost is preferable to dig-ging through department store racks and can be followed by a turn at Urban, which is just next door.

FREE PEOPLE1725 Walnut St.freepeople.com

What you'll find here: Ex-pensive clothes for wannabe hippie chicksBottom line: May as well go to Urban

La Fontana Della Citta215.875.9990215.875.9990215.875.9990

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15% off with Fixed Price Sunday-Thursday

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spring shopping guide34TH

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When you fi rst step into Beautiful World Syndi-

cate, it may seem like any old record store. Vinyl is every-where (the tables, the walls, the stairs), and visitors are imme-diately greeted by collections of punk and indie music, two genres that fi t the preferences

you might expect from the type of people you’d conjure up when you envision “vinyl enthusiasts.”

But we promise you, if you roll up your sleeves, look past the charming fi lm of dust set-tled over everything and give yourself at least a half hour to

browse, you’ll be surprised. And then delighted. And may-be a bit confused. And then confusedly delighted. Beautiful World Syndicate offers one of the most wide–ranging music collections that can be found anywhere in Philly, not just among retailers specializing in

vinyl. Arranged faithfully by genre and loosely by alphabet, their offerings move through rock (including classics, main-stream and metal) and into jazz, hip–hop, world music, soul and reggae.

In a world of iTunes and Spotify, this store genuinely makes you feel like an active participant in the act of lov-ing and learning about music. Even if you don’t recognize half the artists in a given sec-tion, seeing them lined up next to some of your favorite bands prompts a curiosity to explore. And there really is something for everyone. In the 12” New Arrivals section — separated from used arrivals, which are on display next to a record player for sampling albums — I came across a Hot Chip EP, Madonna’s original single re-cording of “Like a Virgin” and something by Quincy Jones collaborator James Ingraham. Music snobs or exclusionary purists these people ain’t.

The store’s welcoming vibe is rounded out by reasonable pricing, as most records go for between $2 and $5, and there’s a vast collection of $1 vinyls. You can also pick up something cheap from their used CD, DVD and cassette offerings, which are small and fi lled with non sequiturs, but are still worth perusing. The lack of utility for something like a cassette (or even a CD, these days) is balanced out by the sheer awesomeness of be-ing able to say that you now

own some late 80s music in a format for which the words “Side A” have meaning and you can actually go through the liner notes.

Because Beautiful World Syndicate is all about discov-ery, it’s best not to go in with a particular objective. Head out with an open mind and a friend or two in tow; you’re going to want to chat about your fi nds, especially when you hit the hodgepodge weirdness at the back of the store that in-cludes — I kid you not — a $5 LP of Nikolai Gogol’s short story “The Overcoat,” with a label helpfully indicating that it was recorded in the U.S.S.R. You can even make a day of it, since this block of Passyunk also has a vintage shop and a couple intriguing restaurants (and its very own Capogiro — see, it’s not that different from campus after all!). The 20 or so minutes you’ll spend each way on SEPTA are well worth it. Where else in the city can you get go–go beats, garage rock and Gogol all in one stop?

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WORLDBreak out of University City for some of Philly's best vinyls — and moreBY ELENA GOORAY | PHOTO BY SARAH TSE

BEAUTIFUL WORLD SYNDICATE1619 E. Passyunk Ave.(215) 467–0401

What you'll find there: Vinyls, DVDs and cassettes, featuring both rarities and old favoritesBottom Line: Good music, low prices, a sprinkling of oddi-ties in a cool pocket of the city — what’s not to like?

4040 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19104; 215-387-BIKE (2453)408 N Easton Rd., Glenside, PA 19038; 215-885-RIDE (7433)305 E Route 70, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034; 856-795-0079* Parking is available at all locations

I NEED: A) A BIKE B) SERVICEC) PARTSD) ACCESSORIES

WE HAVE:E) ALL OF THE ABOVEKeswick Cycle has everything you need to get going on two wheels. Stop by one of our 3 shops today.

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spring shopping guide

The townhouses at 2008 and 2010 Delancey Pl.

are nestled in a quiet, upscale and largely residential Ritten-house Square neighborhood. Baby strollers are parked on stoops of the surrounding residences. Fancy cars sit si-lently on the clean side streets and young, wealthy parents walk their golden retrievers. But amongst the domestic affl uence lie these two town-houses, which together com-pose the Rosenbach Museum & Library.

Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach and Philip Rosenbach were two brothers who collected various rare books, manu-scripts and decorative arts in the early 20th century. Their acquisitions helped build Harvard’s Widener Library. The museum on Delancey houses some of the Rosenbachs’ most priceless possessions, such as original documents from the age of exploration and the American

Revolution and manuscripts and rare editions of works by such authors as James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and Lewis Car-roll.

The gift shop, according to the cashier, caters both to patrons on their way out of the museum and to book-worms and tourists looking for children’s books or other writerly souvenirs. The shop is a single, small room with a lone worker (and, when I was there, a lone customer: me). Shoppers can browse orga-nized, small sections relating

to exhibits in the museum, like original facsimiles of Joyce’s Ulysses, the works of and biographies of the mod-ernist poet Marianne Moore, and posters, prints and books by the children’s author and illustrator Maurice Sendak, who is heavily featured in the museum.

Also included are sections for “books about books,” Ju-daica, the Rosenbachs them-selves, and posters (from Where the Wild Things Are to “Map of the Exodus from Egypt”). The Moby Dick section includes various edi-tions of the book as well as illustrated versions and Why Read Moby Dick? Plus, there are literary chocolate bars and $2 children’s “Pig Splat Balls.”

Additionally, pricey litho-graphs are for sale, like rare Sendak books and illustra-tions for $500–$700. Clearly, the shop aims to attract cus-tomers with varying budgets.

Adorning a wall is a massive canvas with an original 2003 Maurice Sendak illustration of a “Wild Thing” drawn for the Rosenbach Museum & Library (not for sale).

Overall, the shop’s selec-tion is limited by its size, but this charming shop may be worth it for those interested in rare literature or the au-

thors featured at the muse-um. This may mean offering more from your pockets, but the shop's friendly staff and logical organization make for easy shopping. For those wary of making the trek to 20th for a tiny shop, you can make a day of it and check out the museum too ($5 stu-dent admission).

ROSENBACH MUSE-UM AND LIBRARY GIFT SHOP2008 Delancey Pl.(215) 732–1600

What you'll find here: Literature and knickknacksBottom line: A small but very worthwhile collection that will delight book enthu-siasts

ENTER THROUGH THE GIFT SHOPA book museum's tiny, quaint gift shop will have you coming Rosenbach for more.BY BEN LERNER | PHOTOS BY SARAH TSE

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9Jack Wills|Photo by Sarah Tse

VIX Emporium|Photo by Megan Ruben

Briar Vintage|Photo by Sarah Tse

Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction|Photo by Sarah Tse

Piper|Photo by Sarah Tse

Bonded|Photo by Sarah TseHouse of Tea|Photo by Adrian Franco

Milk & Honey|Photo by Sarah Tse

Free People|Photo by Sarah Tse

Astro|Photo by Frida Garza

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GOLD BONDEDExactly what you wouldn't expect to find inside of a dry cleanersBy lEah stEinBErg | photos By sarah tsE

HONEY BUNCHES OF AWESOMEput on your locavore hat and hop on over to 45th and BaltBy laurEn rEEd–guy | photos By sarah tsE

One part deli counter, one part food market, Milk

& Honey is a slice of foodie heaven for West Philadel-phia’s organic, locavore set.

Located a hop, skip and a jump away at 45th and Bal-timore, the little corner store boasts hardwood floors and a whole lot of natural light,

thanks to floor–to–ceiling windows looking out on the West Philly streets. There are a few tables along the windows for Milk & Honey’s dine–in clientele to eat lunch and peo-ple–watch.

Behind the counter, Milk & Honey serves up sand-wiches, pastries, smoothies,

coffee and ice cream (house–made milk-shakes will return in the spring). In addition to (notably delicious) prepared foods, the counter also offers a selection of cheeses (some lo-cal and some Eu-ropean) and meats

from the farms of Lancaster County.

Though some things, like hummus, are made in–house, Milk & Honey brings in a lot of its offerings from other Philadelphian eateries: they sell Bassett’s ice cream, bread from Metropolitan Bakery, cheese made by Claudio’s in the Ital-ian Market and so on.

In the grocery department, the selection is somewhat lim-ited, but if you’re in the market for specialty and organic food, Milk & Honey is a welcome alternative to Fresh Grocer — if you can afford it.

Their high prices and rela-tively limited selection will probably prevent Milk & Hon-ey from becoming your go–to source of food, but where else are you going to find your fa-vorite locally–harvested honey and apple butter?

Local food is Milk & Hon-ey’s battle cry, so when it comes to produce, expect seasonal — don’t hold your breath for Chilean blueberries or Califor-nia avocadoes. What they do offer is a decent selection of organic fruits and veggies from small Pennsylvania farms. For those with dietary restrictions, Milk & Honey is a good store to add to your grocery reper-toire, as they stock things like soymilk and gluten–free flour and cake mixes.

Next time you’re in the mood to wander down to Bal-timore, stop off for a sandwich or a croissant and boost your foodie cred by supporting local and sustainable food.

Bonded Boutique is cleverly situated in the

dry cleaners near 37th and Spruce. It’s kind of like the candy strategically placed next to grocery store check-outs because it gets you when you’re bored and a little des-perate. It’s brilliant.

Clothes might look nice and gleaming when they’re picked up from the dry cleaner, but when you drop them off, they’re rumpled and stained, and Bonded capitalizes on this moment of optimal retail vulnerability — anything that isn’t yours looks desirable. And the price? Money never seems to be worth so little as when you are paying $30 to dry clean a dress. Bonded Boutique has its customers cornered.

Bonded is pretty small. It has a table with tanks and gifts and a rack of nicer clothes, like dresses and coats. One black dress was form–fitted with a mesh neckline that ended in dainty cap sleeves, resulting in a more demure take on the ubiquitous ban-dage dress. A brown tweed coat didn’t look very warm, but it also didn’t look like ev-erything you’ve been seeing on everyone for the past few months.

The boutique itself is a good place to grab a dress for a date party or some other glitzy event, especially if you’re short on time and determined not to match with everyone who had the same Urban Outfitters idea that you did. All the while, an armoire of jewelry and a spacious and fancy dress-ing room with a pretty chair and flowing drapes make you forget you’re sandwiched be-tween Tbowl and that uni-form place.

The best thing they had, though, was nylon teddy bears ($15) that unzip to re-veal a useful tote. They’re a

perfect impulse buy to maybe regret later. They’re so cutesy that they’re ridiculous, but they’re also sort of utilitarian, so it’s easy to talk yourself into making the purchase. If you reason that it’s a last minute birthday present for just about anyone, you’ve crafted a sound rationale.

Is this the best boutique ever? No. But a lot of the things are really cute, and it’s an effective diversion from a mundane errand. It also gets you thinking about the pos-sibilities of two–timing store-fronts. Clothes and frozen yogurt? Donuts and maga-zines? OK, well clearly nei-ther of those ideas are great, but it’s a process.

Oh, and at Bonded, a gumball machine dispenses buttons for 25 cents. Kind of a rip–off, but it’s also pretty cute. Like the rest of the store.

BONDED BOUTIQUE3724 Spruce St.(215) 382–1890

What you'll find there: Standard boutique–wear and a few cute surprisesBottom line: Nothing wrong — and even quite a bit that’s right — with a boutique that's in a dry cleaning place

MILK & HONEY4435 Baltimore Ave.milkandhoneymarket.com

What you'll find there: Hard–to–find and high–qual-i ty (and often local) food-stuffsBottom Line: Way fresher than FroGro, but with less variety or choice

Unique Gifts & Cardsmade by independent artisans

Local Crafts & Artful Waresjewelry. art. home & bath goods.

gifts for you & you. babies too.apparel. accessories. novelties.

5009 Baltimore Avenue, West Philly215.471.7700 vixemporium.com









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THE PENN PIPERA new campus boutique has three legs up on its competition: Location, Location, LocationBy ALexA nicoLAs | Photos By sArAh tse

You are a customer of Ales-sandra Coffenberg, the

owner of Penn's latest bou-tique. You've got style and, since you’re at Penn, you’re probably busy. Piper’s ob-scenely convenient location right off of Walnut on 34th means there’s no excuse not to at least peruse the bou-tique’s collection. Bombing that Econ exam might be ex-actly what you need for a lit-tle post–Van Pelt marathon shopping escape.

As you enter Piper, a friend-ly salesperson and a standard boutique set–up will greet you. The store is arranged in a typically minimalist man-ner. A nature–themed jewel-ry display with necklaces laid atop branches lies in the cen-ter of the small space. Racks of brightly–colored clothes line the walls. Unlike many of the other campus cloth-ing stores, where dozens of duplicates await like–minded customers, Piper carries only a few of each item. So while the convenient location may mean everyone knows where you got that cute top from, you may be one of the only lucky girls to have snagged it.

Though small, Piper carries a variety of colors, styles and cuts of dresses, skirts, sweat-ers, jeans and shirts, which makes for a versatility that al-lows for a broader customer

base, but it also detracts from the boutique’s personality. The clothing is "Penn afford-able," with tops in the $40 range, skirts at about $60 and denim just topping $100. If that doesn’t suit your style, a 40%–off sale rack neatly graces a side wall.

The real disappointment comes in quality. An unde-niably synthetic spectrum, from polyester to rayon and blends in between, inundate the racks of otherwise decent fashions. And honestly, for the prices and boutique labels,

one can’t help but notice the made–in–the–third–world tags. In the end it’s up to you as you eye that reasonably–priced, vivid yellow crocheted sweater whether to take the plunge or not. And honestly, since it's right on campus, you have the gift of time to mull it over; just don’t wait too long or it could be gone.

A safe alternative to dime–a–dozen chain stores, Piper is a pleasant and hassle–free shopping experience that ca-ters to just about all of the Penn ladies.

PIPER140 S. 34th St.facebook.com/piperboutique

What you'll find there: On–trend but unremarkable women's wearBottom line: Just close enough to be worth going to

Make your dollar go the extra mile at...

THRIFT STORE

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214 S. 45th

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Mon. - Sat. 10 AM - 8 PM

www.TheSecond

MileCenter.comWant to Donate? Call for pick-up: 215-662-1663

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APTLY–NAMED STOREThe title says it allBy paTrick del valle | phoTos By sarah Tse

THE BRITISH ARE COMINGor rather, they’re already here, and they’ve brought with them a bloody brilliant collection of preppy basicsBy Zeke seXaUer | phoTos By sarah Tse

The best way to describe Art in the Age of Me-

chanical Reproduction is if your standard hipster–hang-out had a love child with a general store from The Or-egon Trail. Part apothecary, part distillery, part printing press and part boutique, Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction is eclectic to say the least. The long, open space exudes an artisan sen-sibility and, despite its broad offerings, the sense of being highly–curated.

In between racks of well–chosen earth–tone coats and glass cases filled with handmade jewelry (one standout is a necklace with desert crystal wrapped in a bullet casing, for a cool $340), you’ll find beautiful house–made wall prints and cashmere beanies. And then there are the perfumes.

Oh, the perfumes. The fragrances in Art in the Age are a far cry from the often artificial and sickly sweet scents you might find at Sephora. Even the most un-trained nose can tell that the fragrances here are markedly more complex, smelling like something that was made in small batches, rather than in a factory — perhaps the best of these is Hunter by MCMC ($45 for 9mL), which smells like summer.

The clientele and workers at Art in the Age are what you might expect at such an establishment. Customer service was quite standard, though the two women working behind the counter seemed a little more inter-ested in exchanging the re-sults of their star chart read-ings than with helping the next person in line.

Something that Art in the Age certainly emphasizes is its line of organic spirits. With names such as “Root” and “Snap,” these artisanal

alcohols focus on the use of carefully–selected ingredi-ents and small–batch brew-ing. Though the walls of Art in the Age are decorated with bottles of the alcohol, you’ll have to make the trek to your local Wine and Spirits to pick up a bottle ($36.00 for 750mL).

In general, Art in the Age is something of an expe-riential store, with plenty of items that are better off observed than actually purchased — e.g. a hand–stitched quilt ($1150), or a “deluxe coffee thermos” ($200). In fact, going to Art in the Age is a treat in and of itself. Picking through well–constructed shirts and tak-ing in the smells of tobacco, old wood and vanilla makes Art in the Age of Mechani-cal Reproduction feel like a relic of a time when true craftsmanship was valued.

Jack Wills, purveyor of all things preppy and British

(and a favorite of Princess Kate and her regal hubby) opened up shop in Philadelphia back in September. The Rittenhouse Row boutique is the retailer’s 11th location in the U.S., but its first to be located in a city as decidedly non–preppy as Philly (its other stores tend to be located in the meccas of American prepdom known as New England and D.C.).

Walking into the historical limestone mansion that houses the store is like walking into a WASP’s wet dream — Jack

Wills is selling a lifestyle, and it’s selling it hard. Vintage books, antique clocks and the occasional taxidermied pheas-ant rest atop racks of cordu-roy pants and shawl–collared cardigans. In the back, a Vic-torian couch upholstered with Union Jacks sits in front of a foosball table while Vampire Weekend plays in the back-ground. Portraits of British royalty and vintage posters from Oxford–Cambridge rug-by matches line the walls of the gigantic staircase that takes you to the women’s section, where a headless mannequin in pink

lingerie lies on a mat-tress in such a way that makes you feel mildly paraphilic.

Jack Wills brands itself as a “Univer-sity Outfitter,” and its clothes are made to appeal to the college–aged crowd. If Ralph Lauren had a hip younger brother who picked up a British ac-cent while at Eton, his name would be Jack Wills. And like Ralph

Lauren, Jack Wills excels at making simple, high–quality preppy basics, but with a cut that’s more SoHo than Upper East Side.

Jack Wills is a godsend for skinny white boys who are picky about the fit of their clothes (surely I’m not the only one?). Their Bayswell Chinos ($89.50) and Calver Slim–Leg Cords ($98.50) fit perfectly, and come in a num-ber of bright yet versatile col-ors. I tried on a pair of jeans that were a bit too tight — not quite moose–knuckle tight, but they still made me feel like I should cut my bangs asym-metrically and get a job at Hot Topic in order for them to tru-ly fit. The blazers seemed very nicely–tailored, and there's a good selection of button–downs, polos and sweaters in classic colors and patterns.

The women’s line contin-ues the trend of simple, clas-sic prep items. The mixture of menswear–inspired pieces like trousers, button–downs and boyfit blazers, and more feminine items like the high–waisted Ashcott Skirt ($79.50) and the Farelton Dress ($148)(with little sailboats on it!) form the staples of any New England chic wardrobe.

While the clothes aren’t cheap, they're made well. As long as you stay away from the overly–branded T–shirts and stick to the classic, well–made pieces, Jack Wills is the perfect place to stock up on essential items that will remain an es-sential part of any prep ward-robe for years to come.

ART IN THE AGE OF MECHANICAL REPRODUCTION116 N. 3rd St.artintheage.com

What you'll find there: Well–made clothing, booze and fragrancesBottom line: Artisinal items that are worth the splurge

JACK WILLS1617 Walnut St.jackwills.com

What you'll find there: Preppy wardrobe basics with slimmer cuts than its American counterpartsBottom line: Expensive but classic, well–made items that should last years

37 N. Third Street · Philadelphia, PA 19106 · 267-671-0737 ·· vagabondboutique.com ·



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THE REAL DEALA vintage store that’s worth the tripBy FridA GArzA | Photos By FridA GArzA

Astro Vintage on 5th and Passyunk does not use

the term “vintage” lightly. When you step into this bou-tique, you’ll find yourself transported into a time full of snazzy bowties, prim hand-bags and crazy fuzzy sweaters. The store’s wide selection, combined with their homey atmosphere and great cus-tomer service, makes this lo-cale a must for any seasoned (or novice) thrifter. Located

just a few blocks away from the heart of South Street, As-tro Vintage will help you get in touch with your inner hip-ster grandma.

The place is quaint but edgy, consisting of two rooms painted bright blue. There’s a dressing room in a corner sectioned off by sheets and clothespins. Despite the store’s modest dimensions, Astro is jam–packed with quality vintage gear. Each

rack is bursting with clothes of every color or geometric print. The store also features jewelry, old–fashioned analog cameras and luggage pieces that inspire wanderlust. The whole place has a distinctly welcoming vibe and stor-eowner Karin Tyburczy, a petite blonde woman with librarian eyeglasses and a bubbly personality, will guide you through the store to find whatever you’re looking for.

But the most refreshing thing about Astro is that the clothes sold are actually vin-tage. The boutique houses an eclectic collection of clothes from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s — and they’re always receiv-ing new additions. Peruse the racks and you’ll encounter chiffon dresses, pencil skirts, and leather jackets that har-ken back to a simpler time. Explore a little more and you’ll find animal–print sec-retary blouses, rugged cowboy boots and varsity stripe sweat-ers. There are hats for every occasion and long–sleeved

lacey dresses of every shade of pastel. Some of the clothing selection may not be practi-cal for a modern–day college

student — but their timeless style will inspire you to dress up for no reason at all.

If you’re not used to this kind of vintage shopping ex-perience, it may take some courage to approach the clothing racks — but the re-ward will be great. Astro Vin-tage can be the solution to your everybody–wears–the–same–shirts–I–do problem. Take the plunge and see what they have in store for you.

w 5 BARS UNDER 1 ROOF44 TAPS - CRAFT BEERS AVAILABLE

HOME OF THE 20 OZ IMPERIAL PINT

SIXERS/FLYERS GAMESBEER AND FOOD SPECIALS

NEW POOL TABLEEnglish Premier League and European Champions League Soccer on

over 21 TV’s throughout all the bars.

HAPPY HOUR 5-7PM

421 S. 2nd Street • 215-928-9307 • www.darkhorsepub.com

PRETTY COLORSAn old City standout with old City pricesBy LAurA FrAnCis | Photos By sArAh tsE

Kaleidoscope Boutique holds true to its title. It’s

a trendy little store, hosting a variety of chic designer cloth-ing with a psychedelic twist. A sapphire dress, simple in the front and flashy in the back, greets passers–by from the door and shows off the flair of the place. It’s classy, but with a funky edge.

The whole ambiance of the place plays off of this vibe, making Kaleidoscope a fun walk–through, if nothing else. A mannequin strapped in a leather jacket sits atop a motorcycle behind the counter, and plush chairs and couches are scattered about the space's open floor. A chain–link curtain drapes from the ceiling, and mirrors reflect wall–to–wall. Despite

the potential for discordance, however, Kaleidoscope man-ages not to feel too cluttered. It’s cleanly–designed and doesn’t act pretentious.

In fact, the mix proves to be one of the store’s high-lights. Whatever a shopper’s taste, Kaleidoscope likely has something to fit. Shirts studded with skulls hang on racks not far from under-stated dresses. The boutique offers cutout swimsuits from designers like Chio — think Sports Illustrated — along with flowy pieces from de-signers like Miki Mialy — think springtime and nature. There’s Brian Lichtenberg across from vintage Chanel. It’s like having the essences of Lady Gaga and Zooey De-schanel somehow coherently

embodied in the same place.Kaleidoscope's selection of

accessories adds spark to the already eclectic collection. Retro hats with wispy feath-ers seem almost like decora-tions. Miniature busts don necklaces with scissors and

mustaches, and other jewelry made with guns and crosses gleam inside their cases. It’s the combination of classy clothing and a slightly off-beat atmosphere that allows the boutique to hold its own with other shops in this strip of Old City.

What makes the store stand out, however, also produces its drawback. All that ambi-ance doesn’t come cheap, so make no mistake — they have designer clothes at de-signer prices. Much of the boutique’s merchandise rises over several hundred, easily busting most student bud-gets. If you’re looking for a splurge, then Kaleidoscope delivers. If not, a trip here could turn to a quick browse through high price tags.

Kaleidoscope Boutique151 N. 3rd St.kaleidoscopeboutique.com

What you'll find there: Trendy and cool designer clothing with psychedelic ac-centsBottom line: A notable boutique even among its nu-merous Old City competitors

astRo ViNtaGe702 S. 5th St.

What you'll find there: Unique vintage women's wear and home accessoriesBottom line: This place is the shit

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TEAS FOR ALL SEASONSAn impressive selection of teas for anyone who likes the occassional cuppa to the most discriminating connoisseurBy IAN "SPOOKy" BUSSARD AND elIzABeth hORKley | PhOtO By ADRIAN fRANcO

The creation of an ar-chitect–turned–circus

clown–turned–pastry chef–turned tea connoisseur, The House of Tea greets one with a surprisingly subdued interi-or — aside from the Barnum and Bailey Clown College class photo that hangs omi-nously over a doorframe.

Despite the shop’s zany or-igins (the store is now owned by the aforementioned re-naissance man’s daughter), it offers a truly remarkable vari-ety of teas from every corner of the world, with a friendly staff happy to share their vast knowledge of the store’s of-ferings.

The intimidating number of teas, stored in beautiful brass jars of black and gold, are stacked atop one another in apothecary–style mahog-any compartments covering

an entire wall. There’s even a ladder that scales the wall, able to swing from one side to the next.

The tea selection comes from Germany by way of China, Japan, Taiwan and Sri Lanka. Some of the jars still even bear the picturesque logo of France’s world–class Mariage Freres house of tea, who they used to partner with directly. Looking past their impressive pedigrees, glamorous packaging and

names like “Sword of the Emperor,” these teas really have been lovingly curated for every taste.

With over 200 choices to pick from at any time, you’ll find dozens of greens, rows upon rows of blacks and even a sprinkling of the rarer (and more steeply–priced) pu–erh and white teas. Though some may be disappointed by The House of Tea’s scant selection of tisanes, the other

choices more than compen-sate for this lack — try (and by try, we mean smell) the Gold Yunnan, the Gyokuro Jade Dew and the Lavender Earl Grey. And if you have no idea what any of this means, don’t despair — the staff will lead you toward the tea of your dreams by way of your olfactory senses. Take

your time and ask as many questions as you want.

Some of the prices may prompt a raise of the eye-brows, but a hearty whiff of most blends will subdue any nerves and justify any sur-prising price tags. You get ex-actly what you pay for at The House of Tea, in the most complimentary sense.

HOUSE OF TEA720 S. 4th St.houseoftea.com

What you'll find there: A well–stocked variety of luxury teas, from greens to blacksBottom Line: Exceptionally helpful service and exception-ally aromatic teas

VIXTEEN CANDLESthis West Philly institution lets local crafters hawk their waresBy MegAN RUBeN | PhOtO By MegAN RUBeN

We know, Mommy and Daddy have warned

you about the perils of West Philly. Well, VIX Emporium and its number of visitors beg to differ. Sporting West Philly pride in everything from badass sweatshirts to the works of local artisans, this gift/craft/body care store fails to confine itself to a single category.

Around since the 1940s, the venue maintains the same beautiful wooden displays that once held the quirky hat selections of Philadelphian fashionistas of yore. VIX still has quite the hat collection, but the store’s true bragging rights lie in its sheer variety of trinkets.

From Prince–inspired ear-rings to embroidered flasks, Vix is a small store with a not–so–small collection. Paintings, crocheted decor, T–shirts and photographs

climb the walls while Japa-nese–style ceramics and min-iature hand–painted sculp-tures decorate a long wooden display running the length of the room. Whether you’re looking for a quirky gift or some trendy houseware, VIX offers a quick route to Bo-hemian glory. A bath and body section offers soaps and perfumes with beautifully–detailed labels. A shelf over, drool–worthy hand decorated purses bask in vintage splen-dor, not to be outshined by a nearby display of boldly–col-

ored wallets. At the register, a glass case entertains both a fruit–inspired necklace collec-tion and a lace–based jewelry set, while pins featuring Tim Burton, Marilyn Monroe and a variety of skulls litter the counter.

Though the eclectic array of merchandise could occupy anyone for hours, one of the more unique aspects of this already unconventional store lies just to the right of the front door. A number of what can only be referred to as min-iature exhibitions inhabit this brightly–lit corner of VIX, a space surprisingly conducive to an artistic display. For the rest of February, the works of Corina Dross will grace this corner of crafty glory, with the winding black contours of her cartoon–like figures appearing on everything from postcards to calendars. Not only are her works reason-

ably–priced, ranging from around $3 to $25 for the larger illustrations, but they adopt an air of informal-ity that seems to encourage their candid humor. Her current series, titled "Por-table Fortitude," is based upon the backdrop of a deck of cards. These hand–decorated, doodle–esque playing cards are converted into magnets, each with an illustrated talismanic phrase to encourage good luck and protection. A new artist is featured and honored with a wine and cheese reception at the store every month.

So when you don’t have anything to buy, VIX can still offer you plenty to look at. If for nothing else, check out this corner of Baltimore to admire the quirkiness of style that silently reigns over the West Philly you thought you knew.

VIX EMPORIUM5009 Baltimore Ave.vixemporium.com

What you'll find there: Handmade trinkets, knickknacks, sweatshirts, purses and moreBottom Line: A hand–made haven not too far from campus



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MAPJack Wills1617 Walnut St.Page 12

Piper Boutique140 S. 34th St.Page 11

Kaleidoscope151 N. 3rd St.Page 13

Rosenbach Museum & Library2008 Delancey St.Page 7

House of Tea720 S. 4th St.

Vix Boutique5009 Baltimore Ave. (not on map)Page 14

Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction116 N. 3rd St. Page 12

Briar Vintage62 N. 3rd St.Page 3

Beautiful World Syndicate1619 E. Passyunk Ave. (not on map)Page 6

Milk and Honey4441 Baltimore Ave.Page 10

Bonded Boutique3724 Spruce St.Page 10

Free People1725 Walnut St.Page 4

Think inside the Square.

Food. Fashion. Fun. And more.On the Penn campus.

www.universitysquare.biz

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1923 Ice Rink Adof Biecker SalonAmerican Apparel Ann Taylor Loft Artisserie Choc Cafe Avril 50 Au Bon Pain Auntie Anne’s Baby Blues BBQ Beijing RestaurantBen & Jerry’s Blue Mercury Bobby’s Burger Palace Bonded Cleaners Campus Copy Ctr Capogiro Gelato Cavanaugh’s Chipotle Citizens Bank Citta Pizzeria

City Tap House Computer ConnectionCosi CVS Pharmacy Distrito Dolbey’s Medical Bookstore Drinker’s West Dunkin’ Donuts Eastern Mt Sports Eye EncountersFresh Grocer Furniture LifestyleGap Gia Pronto Greek Lady Han Wool Hilton Inn At Penn House of Our OwnHummus

International House Jimmy John’sJoseph Anthony Kiwi YogurtThe Last Word Mad 4 Mex The Marvelous Mediterranean CaféMetropolitan Bakery Modern Eye Nan Modern Food Natural Shoe Store New Deck Tavern New Delhi The Pastry Shop Pattaya Grill Penn Book Center Penn Bookstore Penn Bookstore Cafe Penn Campus Barber

Penne RestaurantPhilly RunnerPicnicPiper BoutiquePizza Hut/Taco BellPizza Rustica Pod Potbelly SandwichQdoba Mexican GrillQuiznos SubRadio Shack Rave Cinema Restaurant SchoolRose’s Florist The Rotunda Saladworks Saturn Hair Club SangKee Saxby’s Sheraton

Slought Foundation Smokey Joe’sStarbucks CoffeeSweetgreenT-BowlTD Bank Thai Singha HouseTrophy Bikes UPS Store Urban Outfitters US Post Office Vog International VerizonWawa White Dog CafeWon Oriental World Cafe Live

For a complete list of retail establishments in University Square, visit www.ucnet.com/universitysquare

Spring 2012 Shopping Guide

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Transcript of Spring 2012 Shopping Guide