Gemma Hayes

The Roads Don't Love You. This is an import CD from an Irish singer-songwriter. But don't think traditional Irish jig. This album is a mix of wall-of-sound guitars and acoustic ballads. She has an edginess and vulnerability to her. The album is like part Laura Veirs, part Throwing Muses, part Harriet Wheeler of The Sundays. And her voice is so beautiful. She's just this small Irish girl in a thrift store T-shirt, jeans and Chuck Taylors wailing on her guitar or singing gently. The title is a reference to a Magnetic Fields song, and you gotta love that.

Maerten van Heemskerck

I'm way into the drawings of 16th-century Netherlandish artist Maerten van Heemskerck. He produced a sketchbook of over 100 views of the "Eternal City," among the earliest drawings of Rome: ruins, panoramic landscapes and Renaissance buildings. This summer, I went to Berlin on a Kress Fellowship to see them in person. I stayed in Kruezberg with Maxx, of Goats fame, and Dean from the Cream Chargers. While they were sleeping off their hangovers, I'd get up with the sun and take the trains to the Kupferstichkabinett in the Kulturforum. I'd spend all day long looking at the drawings. They're among the most beautiful objects produced by human hands I think I'll ever see.

NYPD Pizza

What's the deal with Philly's Greek-style pizza joints? It's the single thing I miss most about my move from NYC. The trade-off for quality 'steaks is quite nice—but I still miss a good slice. I stopped into NYPD Pizza at 11th and Chestnut, and speaking to the owner, Guy, a Brooklynite, he informed me that many Philly pizza joints aren't using real mozzarella (that's pronounced mutzarell)! How to tell? Real mutz doesn't stay pure white when baked and the fake stuff sits atop the sauce not blending in. Guy's got the thin crust goods I love.

Kidrobot.com et al.

With two kids under 3, I'm always searching for unique things to clutter up our house with and ultimately trip over in their bedrooms. There are heaps of small companies designing cool stuff for kids these days (and redesigning stuff we grew up with). For breeders out there who want to covet some cool collectibles for their wee ones and beat the Barney blues, visit kidrobot.com, luckylittledevil.com and babywit.com.