Press Release

PHILLY EXCLUSIVE: GIFTS YOU'LL FIND HERE AND ONLY HERE
Holiday Presents To Fit Every Profile And Budget

PHILADELPHIA, November 22, 2005 - For every person on the holiday gift list who just so happens to have everything, Philadelphia offers loads of presents guaranteed to be thoroughly thoughtful, completely unique — and available exclusively in the region's shops. Even American history buffs will be satisfied this season with Philly-based goods commemorating Ben Franklin's 300th birthday in January. Here's a look at what's in store this holiday shopping season:

Shopping at Rittenhouse Square

Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC

• One-of-A Kind Girly Tees: Abby Kessler and Katie Loftus’ months-old boutique is the antidote to cookie-cutter chain stores. These Philly-born twenty-somethings left their Garment District jobs to create their own line of silkscreened, refashioned tanks and tee-shirts. When they couldn’t make their pieces fast enough for wholesale clients, they decided to go retail. Kessler and Loftus design, sew and sell their newly expanded line—which now includes tee-shirt dresses, tailored blazers and slacks and swingy skirts—at Smak Parlour, their girly Old City boutique. Their signature, however, remains their bright and bold tanks and tees, many printed with photos, embellished with stitching, ribbons, grommets and stones. ($20-$60) 219 Market Street, (215) 625-4551, www.smakparlour.com  
• Angela Link Jewelry: Jewelry designer-to-the-stars, Keith Scriven may be swamped with high-end custom designs, but he still finds time to fashion his favorite creation, a hand-carved convertible link named “Angela.” The veteran designer and shop owner created his first such piece years ago, and it continues to be the hottest seller at Scriven, his pristine, gallery-like boutique. Each link embodies nature and craftmanship, with metal (sterling silver, gold or platinum) both polished and carved, and semi-precious (blue topaz, garnet, amethyst) or precious (diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires) stones optional. Customers buy the link individually to wear as a pendant, two to wear as earrings or several strung together to make a bracelet or necklace. (From $200 through $80,000) 1602 Spruce Street, (215) 545-8820, www.scrivenjewelry.com 
• Loth & Volta Soaps, Salts and Balm: The Black Cat, the next-door neighbor of University City’s socially stalwart White Dog Cafe, practices a philosophy of fair trade and fine goods. Its less-than-year-old line of aromatherpeutic, all-natural Loth & Volta bath products comes from two entrepreneurial employees of The Black Cat. The beautiful, handmade bars of soap come in essential oil-based fragrances: peppermint and ylang ylang; lavender; rose, geranium and cinnamon; and "spicy kitchen." Bath salts are lavender wood, floral spice and ginger orange. Perfect little tins of lip balm are simply made of pure shea butter, sweet almond oil, beeswax, honey and essential oils. ($5-$15) 3426 Sansom Street, (215) 386-6664, www.blackcatshop.com
• DAPE Ape Figure: Graduates of the Transformer/Star Wars figurine crazes and fans of "Speed Racer" can take the next logical step at Ubiq, Philly’s street-smart version of Fred Segal. Store designers have collaborated with Tim Tsui of TeamZero to create the first publicly available version of "Penny," an ape with urban attitude. This six-inch vinyl figure comes with a removable hoodie and a "DAPE" (as in "The Ape") medallion necklace. Only 100 figures are available. ($87) 1509 Walnut Street, (215) 988-0194, www.ubiqlife.com
• Gregory Thomas Handbags: Bryn Mawr’s Skirt boutique features sophisticate-yet-cute, colorfully detailed baguette and half-moon handbags by emerging Manayunk designer Gregory Thomas. Like sculpture for one’s shoulder, these fun, swingy purses are perfect for going out. Most are patchwork-style, ranging from edgily preppy with grosgrain ribbons and gingham swatches to funkily urban with grained leathers and metal link straps. ($60-$85) 907 W. Lancaster Avenue, (610) 520-0222, www.shopskirt.com
• Ben Franklin Fireman Bear: Among the many inventions of Philadelphia’s favorite 300-year-old patriot son, Benjamin Franklin, was the first volunteer fire company. Wearing an official Union Company fireman’s hat and jacket, a Franklin-esque wig and spectacles, The Franklin Institute Science Museum’s plush and posable teddy honors this achievement. ($19.95) Also for sale exclusively here: A miniature, poly-resin replica of the Institution’s Franklin monument ($10.95) and colorful glass medallion sun catchers ($9.95), each with a sculpted impression of Ben’s profile. 222 N. 20th Street, (215) 448-1200, www.fi.edu
• Ben Franklin Bank: In the spirit of "A penny saved is a penny earned," the Philadelphia Museum of Art gift shop presents a Ben bust that doubles as a coin container. The bank is adapted from the famed marble bust sculpted in 1779 by French artist Jean-Antoine Houdon, a recent acquisition of the museum. ($36) Also for sale here: The Wit & Wisdom of Benjamin Franklin ($8.99), James C. Humes’ book of more than 900 quotations by the "first" American, and the Benjamin Franklin Action Figure ($10.50), a six-inch 18th-century hero, complete with key, kite and famous quotes. 26th Street & the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100, www.philamuseum.org

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) builds the region’s economy and image through destination marketing to increase the number of visitors, the number of nights they stay and the number of things they do in the five-county region. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit www.gophila.com or call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676.

Note to Editors: For photos of Greater Philadelphia, visit our Photo Gallery.

CONTACT:

Caroline Bean, GPTMC
(215) 599-7433, caroline@gptmc.com

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