5 Philly shopping districts we love

PHILADELPHIA is a city of neighborhoods - and neighborhood shopping districts. We're particularly fond of Chestnut Hill, Rittenhouse Square, Midtown Village, Old City and Baltimore Avenue, where unique, often locally owned shops offer holiday gifts and decor you're less likely to see elsewhere. Here are some stores and stuff we have our eyes on.

A few steps south of the Wanamaker's light show at Macy's, this shopper's wonderland has four choice gift shops with well-priced little luxuries, all situated on one short block between Chestnut and Sansom streets.

Verde specializes in accessories. Prim felt cloche hats ($48) and Alex and Ani charm bangles ($28-$58) are trending this year.

Open House has cooking gear, winsome serving ware - like matryoshka nesting tumblers ($22) - decorative accents, a sweet collection of baby gifts, LOVE statue tree ornaments ($12) and . . . terrariums ($44-$48, also trending for Christmas 2013).

Duross & langel makes luxe soaps and candles (about $5-$35) that smell subtly amazing. (Pomander, a citrus-and-spice fragrance, is the new fig.) Paper on Pine carries Crane's note cards ($18-$29 for a box of 10) and other classy stationery.

Verde, 108 S. 13th St.; Open House, 107 S. 13th St.; Paper on Pine, 115 S. 13th St., duross & langel, 117 S. 13th St. Details and more Midtown Village shops, midtownvillage.org.

The stylishly artsy crowd in this historic/warehouse district between 2nd, 3rd, Market and Race streets makes every block feel hip. There are too many cool boutiques (and galleries!) to mention, but a few not to miss.

Funky newbie Scout has vintage Bulgarian officer's wool blankets ($65) and mason-jar cocktail shakers ($29). Brilliant Jonathan Adler offers swank ceramics, including menorahs (from $68).

Nearby Sazz Vintage runs the Ugly Christmas Sweater Store, where perfectly hideous reindeer cardigans start at $10. For more fashionable knits by Stellapop (amazing caps from $34, alpaca sweaters from $130 - all made in Philly) go next door to Vagabond. Bonejour has Fido all hooked up with squeaking chewable Santas and such (from $7).

Across Arch, Art in the Age sells rustic sassafras soap ($7). Among Sugarcube's endlessly cool togs are Orchill's Italian leather iPhone cases that double as wallets ($70) and wool felt fedoras and more by San Diego Hat Co. (from $35).

Scarlett Alley's offering its on-point jewelry, holiday and dining items (ceramic olive-oil dripper, $49.95) for 21 percent off next Wednesday, 5-8 p.m. The coolest mugs in the city sell this time of year at The Clay Studio (from $30).

Got a sexy sweetheart's stocking to fill? Smak Parlour sells the cutest pearl-and-bow earrings ($16) and bright, lacy underthings (from $6). Next door, Pinot sells bottoms-up Mr. and Mrs. Claus bottle stoppers ($12.95 each).

Scout, 21 N. 3rd St.; Jonathan Adler, 33 N. 3rd St.; Ugly Christmas Sweater Store, 35 N. 3rd St.; Vagabond Boutique, 37 N. 3rd St.; Bonejour, 53 N. 3rd St.; Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, 116 N. 3rd St.; Sugarcube, 124 N. 3rd St.; Scarlett Alley, 241 Race St.; The Clay Studio, 139 N. 2nd St.; Smak Parlour, 219 Market St.; Pinot, 227 Market St.

Like an alfresco King of Prussia, the blocks below Rittenhouse Square from Broad to about 20th Street, Walnut Street to Chestnut burst with top-notch chains, from Apple to Zara.

Newcomers include Madewell (a J. Crew brand) and Theory (with its perfect women's pants). But we like the fancy indies.

Take the 1700 block of Sansom, where you'll find Philly designer Sarah Van Aken's made-next-door line of flattering women's clothing along with great handmade men's silk ties ($45) at Sa Va. A few doors up is Joseph Fox Bookseller, for the smartest, latest releases plus locally flavored tomes such as photog David S. Traub's stunning Searching for Philadelphia: The Concealed City ($24.95) and Larry Gets Lost in Philadelphia ($16.99).

A few steps down is Stadler-Kahn, for awesome home goods and brilliantly colored, investment-worthy wool scarves ($190). Between the cashmere and silk at relocated Knit Wit are rugged-chic gold-cuff bracelets with pointy ends ($255). Although it's a toss-up between those and the cursive initial necklaces by Jennifer Zeuner at Town Home (from $200).

Then again, if you really wanna impress, pick up a gift certificate for a transformative facial at the newly relocated Rescue Spa (from $100) along with a "creme de peche" Voluspa candle (from $20). Stuff caffeine-aholics stockings with a pound of deep, dark La Colombe Corsica coffee ($11.25).

Tony togs from Born Yesterday and Children's Boutique are practically de rigueur in this 'hood, Santa oughta invest in Rubbaby's soft backhoe ($27.50) from the former, and the ride-on biplane ($186) from the latter.

Sa Va Fashion, 1700 Sansom St.; Joseph Fox Bookshop, 1724 Sansom St.; Stadler-Kahn, 1724 Sansom St., lower level; Knit Wit, 1724 Chestnut St.; Town Home, 1616 Walnut St.; Rescue Spa, 1601 Walnut St.; La Colombe, 130 S. 19th St.; Born Yesterday, 1901 Walnut St.; Children's Boutique, 1702 Walnut St.

More than most, Germantown Avenue, from the 7600 to the 8700 blocks in Chestnut Hill, offers a lively balance of chain and independent retailers, such as Ten Thousand Villages, the fair-trade-everything chain, right next door to From Bali to Bala, a holiday pop-up store filled with Indonesian handiwork.

A scan up and down the hill - and there really is one, so wear comfy shoes - finds shops selling everything from sofas to cigars, lots of antiques, serious art, sportswear, five bakeries for humans - and one for dogs (Bone Appetite, where you can get a photo of your pet with Santa from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, $12.95).

"Updated American classic" is the style sense at clothier J. McLaughlin, a chain that doesn't feel like one. Grab a silk bow tie decorated with black dogs wearing Santa hats ($65), or fur women's hats and scarves (from $75).

Funky fun's the theme at Mango, which stocks unique, affordable clothing, jewelry and accessories to suit your hippie aunt or hipster daughter.

We found ankle-length, Navajo-patterned, acrylic cardigans ($65), and richly colored alpaca/acrylic blend caps ($30), scarves ($45) and essential fingerless gloves ($30). Grab whimsical Espe wallets adorned with flowers and owls ($28 to $38). Or, if they aren't all gone, fleece-lined leggings and tights ($22).

Score a dramatic poinsettia at upscale Robertson's Flowers (three-stem, $50; eight-stem, $135) or more bargain blooms at Chestnut Hill Flower & Garden, where Christmas trees are one-price-fits-all ($25).

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Holiday Pop-up Shop is still stocking garlands, centerpieces and other live things to supplement its seasonal decor for home or tree. Try fragrant, pine-cone-adorned natural wreaths ($30), a steam-punky wrought-iron and glass-tube cutting vase ($24.75), or woolly Santa wine toppers ($10).

Typical of Chestnut Hill's price-point spread is Caleb Meyer Studio, for fine jewelry and American crafts. A handmade, 30-inch 18K gold chain sells for $6,476. An iridescent art bowl is $189. Or grab a parliament of adorable beeswax owl candles ($34).

Let the bubbles lead you to O'Doodles Toy Store, in its new location at the top of the hill. The Doodle-Track Car follows any mark on any piece of paper ($18.99); it's a guaranteed kid mesmerizer. For Hanukkah, O'Doodles sold out of The Mensch on a Bench, a doll and book package ($36) modeled after The Elf on the Shelf. Or there's Putty Peeps, shape-shifting putty creatures - with features ($12.99), including a snowman who melts like Frosty. Free gift-wrapping here, too!

Ten Thousand Villages, 8331 Germantown Ave.; From Bali to Bala, 8335 Germantown Ave.; Bone Appetite, 8517 Germantown Ave.; J. McLaughlin, 8401 Germantown Ave.; Mango, 8442 Germantown Ave.; Robertson's Flowers, 8501 Germantown Ave.; Chestnut Hill Flower & Garden, 7639 Germantown Ave.; PHS Holiday Pop-up Shop, 8433 Germantown Ave.; Caleb Meyer Studio, 8520 Germantown Ave.; O'Doodles Toy Store, 8532 Germantown Ave. Details and more stores at chestnuthillpa.com.

A newly formed business association is eager for your holiday business along Baltimore Avenue from 42nd to 52nd streets.

At Milk & Honey Market, build a gift basket ($15 to $50) of locally sourced goodies such as Pb&Jams Nut Butters, Saint Lucifer Spice, Soom Foods Tahina and Fifth of a Farm Creations jam. Add hard-to-find Urban Apiaries Honey ($8 for 6-ounce jar), produced exclusively by Philly bees.

The crafty elves at Dock Street Brewery have been busy coming up with beer-lover gifts such as Dock Street T-shirts ($14) and hats ($15) and a German flip-top growler ($17.95). Gift certificates are a size that fits all. So are specialty sixpacks.

Right next door at Firehouse Bicycles, a 10 percent discount will be in place for all new or used bikes in December.

Got wheels? Go for accessories like rechargeable (through your USB port!) Knog Blinders bike lights ($26). Or what might be the area's largest selection of Bern helmets ($70 to $90).

VIX Emporium sells independently made gifts of all sorts, from baby things to jewelry and home accents, and most everything's under $50, like heart-shaped pot holders ($12), cedar coasters etched with Philadelphia maps ($36 set of four), hand-knitted wool-blend infinity scarves ($30-$35) and leather-covered flasks ($26). See VIX and 50 other vendors from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Go West Craft Fest at the Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St.

Milk & Honey Market, 4435 Baltimore Ave.; Dock Street Brewery, 701 S. 50th St.; Firehouse Bicycles, 701 S. 50th St.; VIX Emporium, 5009 Baltimore Ave. Details and more stores at Baltimore Avenue Business Association, babawestphilly.org.