Latitu
While studying abroad, Tanya Pham logged a lot of time in airports—enough time to hear plenty of fellow female travelers complain about their bland, bulky luggage. She’s used their feedback to design her Boston-based brand of sleek weekenders, duffels, and backpacks, crafted from Italian leather in Vietnam, where she lived for a year while vetting the production process. Equipped with thoughtful details (hidden compartments, magnetic closures), the bags are made in limited runs from custom materials—so your travel companion will stand out in a sea of scuffed-up carry-ons. MA latitu.com.
Tony Messina, Uni
Sometimes it’s good to let your roots show. At Uni, Tony Messina unexpectedly draws from his Eastie-Italian heritage to bring something new to the burgeoning-in-Boston izakaya genre. That translates to dishes like his signature lubina sashimi with gremolata and chermoula, and hot plates such as spaghetti with nori. And Messina and partner chef Ken Oringer aren’t afraid to have fun within the luxe dining genre, either—as anyone who’s eaten one of Uni’s cheeseburger sushi rolls can attest. 370A Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, uni-boston.com.
Legal Harborside
Or views, more like it: Nowhere else in Boston will you find three options for al fresco dining under one roof. All you need to do is pick your floor. Snag a coveted seat on the ground level’s harborside deck and tuck into fried clams while listening to the concert rocking at the nearby Pavilion; savor a splurge-worthy meal on the second floor’s secluded outdoor patio (complete with fireplace); or head all the way up to the third floor’s roof deck, where you can sip, snack, and savor views of the water and the city skyline rain or shine thanks to retractable glass walls. 270 Northern Ave., Boston, MA 02210, legalseafoods.com.
Nuggets
One of the last survivors of Kenmore Square’s sterilizing overhaul, Nuggets gets you back in touch with old weird Boston and encourages you to bring that history home. Since 1978, obsessed musicologists have explored its wide range of rock, R & B, folk, jazz, and classical box sets, then dug through shelves of books and other tuneful memorabilia. If you’re looking for an old 12-inch dance single or an LP by a long-neglected local band like Heretix or the Real Kids, check out the racks in front and keep an eye on the store’s Facebook updates. 486 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA nuggetsrecords.com.
Huntington Theatre Company
There’s plenty of good theater in Boston, but if you want to see something really innovative, chances are you’re going to the Huntington. Its most recent season included a production of a Sherlock Holmes play melded with Fujiko Nakaya’s wildly popular outdoor fog sculptures, as well as the brilliantly staged Indecent. The company has also proven it can attract—and retain—big names: Pose star and Met gala trendsetter Billy Porter will be returning this fall to direct The Purists. We can’t wait to see what the Huntington thinks of next. 264 Huntington Ave. , Boston, MA huntingtontheatre.org.
December Thieves
When Lana Barakat decided to rethink her two Beacon Hill clothing-and-gift boutiques, she envisioned one store catering to home décor and another specializing in apparel and accessories. This divide-and-conquer strategy created more room for something Boston has been sorely lacking: high-end women’s footwear. Handcrafted by European and American designers, Barakat’s collection includes everything from metallic leather boots with an offset heel to cheetah-print loafers to sneakers with a velvet knot tie—perfect for navigating the cobblestones in style as you stroll up Charles to check out what other treasures await at the December Thieves home store. 51 Charles St., Boston, MA decemberthieves.com.
Sault
When Philip Saul said he intended to celebrate the New England gent's wardrobe with the opening of Sault, it seemed a somewhat lofty goal; after all, the region is known more for jerseys and button-downs than high-end men's fashion. Six years later, he has proven to naysayers that Boston boys do, in fact, appreciate good style. They appreciate the South End shop's selection of classic Grayers sweaters and Penfield outerwear. They appreciate the Jack Spade bags and the occasional vintage accessory. And the rest of us appreciate our guys' newly spiffy style. 577 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02118, saultne.com.
Patrice Vinci, Patrice Vinci Salon
Patrice Vinci is the beauty fairy godmother you never knew you needed. With an old-school Boston accent and gorgeous golden tresses of her own, the colorist wields her brushes like magic wands and her dyes like potions. Case in point: a visit that turned our thick blond curls a rich, multi-toned copper that looked so incredibly natural, even our mother swore we must have entered this world a redhead. Expert or enchantress—why can't it be both?—Vinci will help your hair live happily ever after. 91 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, patricevinci.com.
MaidPro
When your abode has become inhabitable, call on this Boston-based cleaning service for quick, friendly, and professional help. Founded in a small Beacon Hill storefront 10 years ago, MaidPro now keeps houses spick-and-span here and in 10 other states. With its 49-point checklist (are the baseboards clean? Lamp shades dusted?) there will be no surface left uncleaned. of all, MaidPro's team is well versed in the art of straightening, rather than putting away, so that all of your belongings will be exactly where you expect to find them—only neater. 180 Canal St., Boston, MA maidpro.com.
The Liberty Hotel
When the Liberty opened last winter in the old Charles Street jail, following a $150 million building renovation, it was met with the requisite jokes about white-collar inmates and doing time in the Clink (one of the hotel restaurants). Penitentiary puns aside, the 298-room hotel has raised the bar for Boston accommodations: Its 24/7 fitness center, dining, and concierge services are all first-rate, and the rooms—exposed brick walls, Molton Brown toiletries, VoIP phones—are eminently comfortable. The magnificent vaulted lobby is worth a visit in itself. 215 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, libertyhotel.com.
Nicholas Penna Jr., Salon Capri
Nicholas Penna's cuts are like Zac Posen's best dresses: sharp but with great movement, clasically shaped, flattering, and tinged with modern touches. And like Posen, Penna is full of promise. The 30-year-old has already won the Guillaume Award in Berlin for his styling (putting him in the company of such names as Vidal Sassoon and Anna Sui), and he snips, razors, clevates, and layers like a rock star. Even so, Penna is one of the most laid-back personalities in the Boston style world, so you can count on a refreshing lack of attitude, and a heartening plenitude of talent. 31 Lincoln St., Newton, MA saloncapri.com.
Verrill Farm
Open year round, Verrill's is the kind of farm stand where you can find every single ingredient you'd need for a last-minute gourmet party. Which is why visitors often find themselves elbow to elbow with famous Boston chefs choosing the best of the crop from the rows and rows of crisp, fresh-picked local produce. In addition to fruits and vegetables, the stand also stocks gourmet supplies including imported olive oils, fresh breads, seasonings, and pastas, while the on-site deli offers cheeses, soups, sandwiches, prepared dinners, and freshly baked desserts. The wide and stunning selection of flowers means your table will look as fresh as your meal will taste. 11 Wheeler Rd., Concord, MA verrillfarm.com.
The Squealing Pig
With so many excellent Irish pubs in Boston, it's tough to stand out. The Pig, however, is where to go when you want to feel both at home and 'back home.' Proprietors Sara Cole and Diarmund O'Neal are Irish nationals who honed their barman's craft at local institutions like J. J. Foley's, and after 12 years, their Mission Hill establishment retains a homey charm. Save for the Pig's remarkably good bar food, it's the closest you'll get to a Dublin pub without a plane ticket. 134 Smith St., Boston, MA 2120, .
T.T. the Bear's Place
If you follow the Boston music scene, you already know you can find your favorite up-and-coming rock stars on an almost weekly basis at T.T.'s, the intimate, gargoyle-adorned Central Square club so important to the rock circuit that it might as well be the living room of the local music community. T.T.'s perfect rock club layout lets you skip the opening act and still catch the headliner—or vice versa—while playing pool or hanging out at tables away from the stage, thanks to speakers that let you actually carry on conversation. 10 Brookline Ave., Cambridge, MA ttthebears.com.
Melissa Ferrick concerts
With album titles like Valentine Heartache, you wouldn't think Boston lesbian cult singer Melissa Ferrick was the gushy romantic type. But her powerful acoustic melodies and seductive, throaty voice regularly whip concert audiences—at venues from Avalon to Club Passim—into frenzies of agitated estrogen. You can bet that more than one swooning girl has taken her up on the offer when she's sung: "Grab the hand of the person standing right next to you and show them we are not afraid of who we are...." MA