System 7
For those of us who find navigating the myriad of home-technology systems overwhelming and stressful, System 7’s Experience Center is a godsend. The pros at the company’s two locations in Boston and Wellesley are as tech-savvy as they are patient. They’ll enlighten you on intuitive access controls, motorized shading systems, lighting, and about integrating it all together through wireless networking. And when you’re ready, they’ll create a plan tailored to your home’s specific needs. Boston Design Center, Ste. 130W, Boston, MA 02210, systemseven.com.
Chuck Bass, Patrice Vinci Salon
Why do we love Chuck Bass? Let us count the reasons. For one, he comes in as early as 6 a.m. to accommodate busy schedules. Two, he works quickly and quietly. Most important, his talent for creating gorgeous textural haircuts — including on curly hair — is unmatched, having honed his craft throughout Boston and New York City. Whether you’re looking for a big makeover or a subtle upgrade to your signature style, you’ll always leave his chair happy. 91 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, chuckbass.com.
Polkadog
Baked fresh every day at the company’s Boston Fish Pier kitchen, the “Chicken Littles” bones — made with simple ingredients such as poultry, long-grain brown rice, and potato flour — are better quality than anything you’ll find at the grocery store. The brand’s dried cod skins and chickenstrip jerky are also guaranteed to say “top dog.” Multiple locations, polkadog.com.
Table & Tulip
No cookie-cutter bouquets here: At this floral haven, owner Andrea Halliday and her team transform everyday blooms into extraordinary masterpieces filled with color and life. And Boston has taken notice; the shop recently doubled its design team to meet the demand for its work and has even introduced a monthly subscription service for those who like to beautify their home on the regular. 461 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA 02118, tableandtulip.com.
The Dubliner
Irish cuisine in America has long been stuck in a pub-food rut, despite Ireland’s steady evolution into a destination for European fare. Chef Aidan McGee, formerly of Michelin-starred restaurants in the U.K., is nudging Boston in that fresher direction at this bustling hot spot opposite Government Center, which plates exemplary versions of classic dishes, including the finest fish and chips in town and a spectacular take on the traditional Irish Sunday roast while pouring a proper pint of Guinness and a global slate of whiskeys. 2 Center Plz., Downtown, MA 02108, thedublinerboston.com.
Micro Plant Studio
Invite a little life into your workspace with help from this South Boston shop, which carries and delivers all things leafy and green (bamboo palm, burro’s tail, Venus flytraps), plus fun pots to display them in. Even better: You can brighten two households with Micro’s “buy to give” initiative, which lets you sponsor a succulent to send to a local essential worker. 365 W. Broadway, Boston, MA 02127, microplantstudio.com.
My Big Hair Day
Stylist Sarah Naslund may specialize in updos — headband braids, intricate twists, sleek buns — but you’d be hard-pressed to find a look this Boston-based expert hasn’t mastered. That’s because she carefully evaluates the length, texture, and color of each bride’s locks to help her choose a style that will look flawless in photos — and stay put on the dance floor. 56 Wareham St., Boston, MA 02118, mybighairday.com.
Green Turtle Floating Bed and Breakfast
Want to get away without actually going anywhere? Book a night aboard one of the Green Turtle’s floating guest rooms. Docked in Boston Harbor, the comfortable 45-foot yacht and houseboat lovingly tended to by proprietors Jon Dolence and Karen Maciejewski feel like they’re a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city, even if you can still see the skyline while savoring breakfast and coffee from the dock. One Pier 8 13th St., Charlestown, MA 02129, greenturtlebb.com.
"Letters from an American"
Anxious readers seeking comfort and perspective at a time when both were in short supply found solace in Heather Cox Richardson’s daily newsletter, turning it into an unlikely smash hit. Each morning throughout the COVID crisis, the Boston College professor has penned a crisp summation of the news that is free of panicked hyperbole, heavy on context and warmth, and sprinkled liberally with historical tidbits. It’s no wonder more than 600,000 subscribers still hang on to her every word. heathercoxrichardson.substack.com .
Roche Bobois
With locations in Downtown Crossing and Natick, the vividly colored Roche Bobois showrooms deliver innovative, boundary-pushing pieces (including Jean Paul Gaultier’s playful chariot-inspired "Ben Hur" armchair with wheels) and patterns from designers such as Cécile Maia Pujol and Kenzo Takada without sacrificing comfort.
2 Avery St., Boston 617-742-9611
395 Worcester St., Natick 508-650-5844
roche-bobois.com.
Dutch ReBelle
This Haitian-born, Massachusetts-raised performer has been releasing music steadily for years, but you might have caught her most recently tearing it up at one of the Late Nite events at the MFA or braving the frosty temperatures during 2018’s First Night festivities. Named best hip-hop artist at the Boston Music Awards in 2014, she’s accomplished all of this largely outside the music-label system, raising the funds for her newest album on Kickstarter last fall. MA dutchrebelle.com.
Bootleg Special
Let the rest of New England have their boiled lobster, clams, and corn; here in Boston, we’ve become increasingly enamored with the Cajun-style seafood boils favored in the Deep South. Among them, Bootleg Special shines. Here, guests crack apart bowls of spicy crab legs, crawfish, and other crustaceans in fashionably distressed, Bourbon Street–style environs that put appealing polish on this hot-but-messy communal experience. 400 Tremont St., Boston, MA bootlegspecial.com.
The Mapparium
The three-story stained-glass-and-bronze globe depicting the world as it was in 1935 is a quirky introduction to the oft-overlooked history of Mary Baker Eddy and the Christian Science movement in Boston. Designed to capture the spirit of Eddy’s publishing empire, the globe is a snapshot of a moment, one informed by her goal of building a transparent, positive press in the era of tabloids gone wild—a goal that might feel just as urgent today. 200 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA marybakereddylibrary.org/project/mapparium.
Sue O'Connell, The Take
There are plenty of people who can tell you what’s happening in Boston, but if you want to know what to think about what’s happening, watch O’Connell. With stellar guests, tough but noncombative questions, and a real interest in talking about ideas, the host of NECN’s The Take avoids the pitfalls of partisan talking heads, and always leaves us asking: Why can’t more newscasters be like O’Connell? necn.com.
Rectify Barbershop & Beauty Alcove
After amassing a loyal following at Love and Mercy salon in Boston, Dayna Gamba and her wife, Shalyn, a brow expert, have struck out on their own with this Mansfield beauty and barbering haven. Opened just last year, Rectify has fast become a go-to shop for those looking for a sharp cut and color or life-changing brow upgrades. rectifybba.com.