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So, it’s Tuesday afternoon. And you’re having a fancy murder mystery dinner party at your house (why not). You’ve been planning to make a deliciously beautiful spread for your guests, and you have all you need except that gorgeous fruit and cheese that you were hoping would be the center piece. And now you’re running out of time. Go to visit & Judy’s!

They’re just a quarter block south of Christian and 9th Street in the Italian Market. Scott and Judy have the prettiest vegetables, the sweetest fruits, and the freshest herbs of any of the historic market’s vendors. Scott and Judy offer a wider array of exotic foods than any of the others that you will find on Ninth St. It’s the only place you will find Korean sweet potatoes, Japanese apricots, Hawaiian grapefruits, or Concorde grapes. They offer the best of the best, and at a very nice price. Scott and Judy are both sweethearts and they want to help you get what you need. Just don’t serve yourself! Otherwise, you’ll get sassed by Judy and she might give you the evil eye.

Scott & Judy’s Produce Market
9th and Christian
Philadelphia, PA 19147

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Sean McGinnis.

Small Change film screenings are supposed to be only once a month, but lately the calendar has been filling up with an extra event here and there. The folks who run it (blog contributor Ted Passon and Dave Dunn) do a great job, keep it simple, and play host to works you’ll find at the best international festivals. Their programming style is advanced yet accessible, and reflects progressive politics without being preachy. Mostly what you’ll get is sophisticated, exciting new work you won’t see consistently anyplace else in the city.

Check out the schedule on the Small Change site.

Apparently, Deuce has the best BLT’s in Philly, at least according to Gridskipper.

Stephen Colbert would be so proud.*

Deuce Restaurant & Bar
1040 N. 2nd ST.
215-413-3822

* Colbert has called the BLT the greatest sandwich of all time. He also recommends the “BBBLT” with extra bacon.

The lighting and textiles by Manayunk’s Galbraith & Paul studio have a tremendous presence in big-time home and garden photo shoots. For 20 years now, this little Philly company has been creating colorful and bold patterned textiles and lighting. Without a shop open to the public, for 363 days a year the studio focuses principally on trade customers. The rest of us get to sample their sophisticated wares at their annual post-Thanksgiving-weekend sample sale on Saturday, December 2.

Light it up.

Galbraith & Paul Lighting + Textiles
116 Shurs Lane, Manayunk
Philadelphia PA, 19127
215-508-0800

The lighting and textiles by Manayunk’s Galbraith & Paul studio have a tremendous presence in big-time home and garden photo shoots. For 20 years now, this little Philly company has been creating colorful and bold patterned textiles and lighting. Without a shop open to the public, for 363 days a year the studio focuses principally on trade customers. The rest of us get to sample their sophisticated wares at their annual post-Thanksgiving-weekend sample sale on Saturday, December 2.

Light it up.

Galbraith & Paul Lighting + Textiles
116 Shurs Lane, Manayunk
Philadelphia PA, 19127
215-508-0800

I used to work at a job where we received mail from all over the world, and my favorite part of opening up all the packages was taking time to examine the more beautiful stamps from other places. I’d silently thank the sender for being so incredibly thoughtful and sending little old me something so nice.

At the Philly Stamp & Coin Company it’s an absolute pleasure to peruse the small collections they have on sale at very reasonable prices, categorized according to place and topic. If you like, for $5 you can find a sorted bag of exotic animals or, more specifically, horses, if that’s more your thing. China got your fancy? Well, OK! What a nice way to add a more personal touch to a gift. And since they’re for collecting or decorating, there’s no limit to the possibilities of a beautiful bag of stamps, a reminder of places far and exotic.

Philly Stamp & Coin Co Inc.
1804 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-563-7341

Image courtesy of greenvillelibrary.org.

Want to know a secret? They best cheesesteak in Philadelphia does not come from Pat’s, Geno’s, Jim’s, or Gooey Luey’s. It’s not even in South Philly. It’s at Fifth and Poplar Street in a little bodega called Rodriguez Grocery.

You’d never guess it, but Rodriguez has been serving up the best cheesesteaks for as long as I can remember. The regular steak is $2.50. But the real deal is the double cheesesteak hoagie, which will run you $4.50. It’s dynamite. Lettuce, onion, tomato, pickles, steak, with salt-pepper-ketchup my friend. And the cheese–provolone. Man, for my money, it can’t be beat. And it’s huge! Get into it.

Rodriguez Deli & Grocery Store
883 N. 5th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19123
215-627-3969

Chris DiPinto plays guitars and makes guitars right here in Philadelphia. And he does both very, very well. So being a Philadelphian guitar craftsmen, and a local guitar god, he decided to make a guitar he calls The Philadelphian.

And it’s a truly beautiful creation. A classy single cutaway, arched top hollow body delight. Single humbucker pickup, pretty block inlay on a rosewood neck. Two knobs: tone and volume (keep it simple). Headstock’s wide and graceful. Looks like a six you might see hangin’ round that handsome Chet Atkins fellow from Tennessee. But it was born here in Philly, you see?

It comes in natural color with chrome hardware or honeyburst with gold. The Philadelphian sells for between $700 and $1000, which is a steal for an instrument that’s so masterfully crafted.

If you’d like to pluck it, go see Chris at his shop in Fishtown.

DiPinto Guitars
407 E. Girard Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 1912

I counted up my “going-out” shirts the other day, and came up with”¦ four. I only have four shirts I like enough to wear out at night. One of the four is a great brown-and-gold cowl-neck tee shirt (who ever heard of such a thing?) from designers Abby & Katie of little Old City shop Smak Parlour. I think I have to head back there soon to increase my nighttime clothing options, and here’s the incentive: If you spend fifty bones at Smak Parlour on Black Friday, they’ll give you a free rose ring, bird necklace or skull ring… your choice, for free!

Thank you in advance Abby & Katie, for giving me something more interesting than work clothes to wear, and a free accessory to boot.

Smak Parlour
219 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-625-4551

Happy Thanksgiving from your friends at uwishunu. Be safe and don’t forget the elastic pants.