Elisabeth Accardi, Upon a Star Events
With the friendliest vibe in the business, Accardi pinpoints your vision (and budget), creating kid-friendly bashes with unforgettable touches—ice-blue marshmallow fondue, retro toy stations, DIY designer-bag crafts. Employing former babysitters as her high-energy helpers, the Andover mom and former stage actress specializes in birthdays and bar/bat mitzvahs, but can make magic wherever you need to keep a group of kids entertained. uponastar.net.
The Kirkland Tap and Trotter
This mellow gastropub goes beyond carnival fare with nourishing plates like house-made spaghetti with meat sauce, or fish and chips, all accompanied by fresh, organic veggies. The space is so big that yowling tots won't raise brows, and servers happily accommodate the smaller set (in other words, modifications aren't frowned upon). 425 Washington St., Somerville, MA 02143, kirklandtapandtrotter.com.
Eyestarr
Not to be confused with those glue-on falsies of yore, lash extensions are painstakingly applied, one by one, to your own lashes. Sound extravagant? Perhaps, but skilled lash masters like Andrea Starr, of Eyestarr, have begun taking extensions from special-occasion accessory to daily must-have. Starr's work is both meticulous and natural-looking. From her bright, sunny shop on Newbury Street, a boldface clientele emerges batting a thousand. 291 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02115, eyestarr.com.
The Druid
Within the enormous spectrum of Irish-ish spots in Boston, what ultimately sets the Druid apart is its unwavering commitment to the basics (a perfectly poured Guinness, traditional live music sessions, an affable barkeep), plus some surprises, including a seasonal braised oxtail soup, Pretty Things Meadowlark IPA on draft, and trivia nights that pay cash prizes. 1357 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02139, druidpub.com.
The Sinclair
With top-notch bookings (courtesy of promoters Bowery Boston) and the city's best-designed concert experience, the Sinclair is the House of Blues, only more intimate; the Paradise, without poles obstructing the sightlines; the Middle East downstairs, with a balcony and style. And no other venue can sustain this level of buzz, with surprises like Converse's weeklong run headlined by Passion Pit, Slayer, the Replacements, and Chance the Rapper this past spring. 52 Church St., Cambridge, MA 02138, sinclaircambridge.com.
Children's Beach
As its name implies, Children’s is a pint-size beach perfect for the entire family and delightful in its proximity to the cobblestone streets of the historical downtown. Lifeguarded — and with restrooms! — the shoreline comes complete with a grassy park, a playground, a bandstand, and the Surf, a kid-friendly restaurant where your crew can eat grilled cheese and hot dogs to their heart’s content while watching the ferries come in and out of the harbor. We can almost guarantee everyone will fall asleep on the ride home. 15 Harbor Way, Nantucket, MA 02554, nantucket-ma.gov.
Catalano Architects
Classic, timeless, and inspiring are words that come to mind when you see a house designed by Tom Catalano. Committed to designing spaces that are both functional and enduring, his firm’s number one goal is to create homes that suit their inhabitants’ lifestyles. Equally as important is honoring the integrity of the structure and seamlessly integrating it with its surroundings — which imbues even newly designed abodes with a sense of permanence. 125 Pearl St., Boston, MA 02110, catalanoarchitects.com.
Glossier
Shopping for cosmetics is a tactile experience; how else can you know whether the lip gloss or foundation you’re buying actually works for your face? That’s why we’re so glad this cult-favorite beauty brand recently landed in Boston. Brimming with testers of all the must-haves — from the miracle-working brow pomade to the heavenly gel-cream blush known as Cloud Paint — the pink-hued shop is designed for experimentation and delight. 120 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, glossier.com.
Amy Bailey, Townhouse Beauty Bar
Want the secret to fabulous lashes? You’ll find it at Townhouse Beauty Bar, where lash guru Amy Bailey has been perfecting the art of sultry eyes for more than 15 years. What makes Bailey’s method unique is her custom approach, which involves meticulously selecting lashes with the perfect curl and length to give each client a natural but voluminous look. The result? No one will know your secret except you and Bailey. 28 Charles St., Boston, MA 02122, townhousebeautybar.com.
Newbury Tailoring Co.
Finding a good tailor isn’t easy. Some will promise alteration results that can’t realistically be achieved; others will totally butcher the hem of your bridesmaid dress just weeks before a wedding. Thank goodness for Newbury Tailoring. The longtime Back Bay staple can always be relied on to be trustworthy and honest — and, most important, deliver impeccable work under even the tightest time frames. 324B Newbury St., Boston, MA 02115, newburytailoring@gmail.com.
Dream Spa Medical
With age comes wisdom — and, for better or worse, wrinkles, sunspots, hair loss, cellulite… the list goes on. The good news is none of those conditions is a match for the skilled practitioners at Dream Spa Medical, where the variety of laser treatments and injectables offer real results. And with a new location at Patriot Place slated to open this summer, it’ll soon be easier than ever to look and feel your best every day. Brookline and Canton, MA dreamspamedical.com.
Concepts
You know a store has serious cred when it expands from Boston to New York, Dubai, and Shanghai. The international expansion is no surprise, though, when you consider Concepts’ selection of high-end streetwear from sensations like A Bathing Ape, Ami, Rick Owens, and Common Projects — not to mention its exclusive in-house label, which just so happens to be unveiling a sizzling new women’s line soon. 18 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, cncpts.com.
Talia Don
So often, fine jewelry has a formulaic look: a dainty gold necklace here, a simple diamond tennis bracelet there. The bold pieces from artisan jeweler Talia Don, however, are anything but predictable: Layered with sparkling semiprecious stones and freshwater pearls and fashioned in unique shapes, her showstopping designs beg to be worn and cherished for generations. Stop by the studio and workshop (by appointment only) to find the statement piece of your dreams. 288 Walnut St., Newton, MA 02460, taliadondesigns.com.
Franklin Park Zoo
It doesn’t matter where in the zoo you are — when the big cats make a sound, you’ll hear it. Of course, the facility’s two majestic lions are just one of the 100-plus amazing animal species your kiddos can check out here. Watch the gorillas scramble around their outdoor grove, see the giraffes and zebras grazing on the zoo’s savannah, or catch the kangaroos bounding along the Outback Trail. Then talk about it on repeat all the way home. One Franklin Park Rd., Boston, MA 02121, zoonewengland.org.
School of Rock
Got a budding rock star on your hands? Sign them up for afternoon classes at this edgy music academy, with locations everywhere from Wakefield to Watertown. Here, wannabe drummers, keyboardists, guitarists, and more jam out alongside professional musicians (many of whom trained at Berklee). And forget traditional recitals: Lessons culminate in a full-throttle rock performance that’s more Boston Calling than Beethoven. Multiple locations, schoolofrock.com.