My mother is the consummate hostess. People think she’s Martha Stewart. They’re wrong. She’s a small Jewish woman in Philadelphia who slaves over every side dish, neurotically arranges flowers and sets a table with panache. I was taught from a young age that the 11th commandment is “Thou shalt nevah evah show up to a party empty-handed. It’s not classy.” She’s right. In this modern age of the casual hang, a hostess gift has become a six-pack of Bud and a Starbucks gift card. Don’t get me wrong, I love a free grande soy latte, but this is about paying proper respect and gratitude toward your host(ess). After all, if it weren’t for the party, you’d never have that great story where you stumbled home drunk off your ass and woke up amid Fat Burger wrappers with some phone number written on your left breast. After dashing out the door, pulling on my slingbacks while simultaneously checking my smartphone to see if MapQuest is going to fuck me up again, I usually grab a bottle of wine from Cap N Cork. Wine is an appropriate gift, but it isn’t very personal. Here are a few local gems filled with perfect gifts that say, “Thanks for inviting me to gorge myself on your free food whilst enabling my alcoholic tendencies.” Incidentally, they’re great places to find a last-minute... More >>>