The Wave at Middlesex Lounge
Independent promotions company CLLCTV Boston is combatting the Hub's puritanical closing hours by starting the party earlier. Once a month on Sunday afternoon—a time typically reserved for wallowing in Saturday's mistakes and digesting hollandaise—the Wave invites a rotation of homegrown and visiting DJs to the Middlesex to close out the weekend right. Just over a year old, the daytime dance party provides good beats, promotes good vibes, and attracts a multicultural crowd in an oft-segregated club scene. 315 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, thewaveboston.splashthat.com.
Lash L’Amour
So long, lackluster lashes and sparse brows: Lash L’Amour’s specialists have easy fixes for bigger, better volume. For over-tweezed arches, a set of eyebrow extensions restores original glory. For next-level flirting, a volume extension treatment, which isolates individual hairs and allows up to 500 ultrafine extensions per eye, will have you batting those lashes in no time. 129 Newbury St., Boston, 617-247-1871; 55 Langley Rd., Newton, 617-916-1209. 129 Newbury St., Boston, 02116, lashlamour.com.
Bagelsaurus
Thanks to pop-ups Exodus Bagels and Better Bagels, we can now confidently say that Boston is (finally!) a bagel town. That wouldn’t have been possible without the grand carb doyenne, Bagelsaurus’s Mary Ting Hyatt. Alongside her already-famous lye-dipped pretzel bagels, Hyatt has also given us game-changing schmears and the area’s first bona fide bialy. 1796 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140, bagelsaurus.com.
Bantam
When Dana Masterpolo and Michelle da Silva introduced Wunderkind to Boston drinkers four years ago, the dry, fruit-forward drink helped usher in a New England cider revival. These days, the small but mighty outfit reliably offers at least seven different ferments on draft every weekend in its taproom, and three year-round blends are available in cans, including in new markets such as New York and Chicago. 40 Merriam St., Somerville, MA 02143, bantamcider.com.
Moonshine 152
To fry up the greatest golden bird in Boston, chef Asia Mei eschews thighs and breasts in favor of the lowly wing. Butchered in-house, dry-brined in a secret spice rub, and marinated for two days in a pool of buttermilk and herbs, the meat melts off the bone. Add in the delicate crust and side of poblano-laced ranch dressing, and you have the epitome of southern-fried goodness. 152 Dorchester Ave., South Boston, MA 02127, moonshine152.com.
Simco's
What, you might ask, is the only thing better than a hot dog? A footlong. And what’s the only thing that can improve such perfection? The addition of a buttered, griddled bun, and a generous topping of chili and melted cheese. There’s no seating at this Mattapan institution—just a pickup window—but when you factor in that prices range from $3.50 for a naked dog (with classic toppings) to $4.75 for chili-cheese, there may not be a tastier value in Boston. 1509 Blue Hill Ave., Mattapan, MA 2126, .
Nicole Simeral, Simeral & Co.
No-show rabbis, MIA groomsmen—Nicole Simeral has seen (and fixed) it all. But the Boston-based planner does much more than fight wedding-day fires; she also recommends vendors, handles contract negotiations, and thoughtfully coordinates each and every detail (lighting, linens, late-night taco stations) throughout the process, all the while keeping each couple’s distinct vision in mind. simeralco.com.
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental
Even if you don’t spring for the absurdly indulgent six-hour "Boston Breather" package—including a scrub, pedicure, facial, and more—it’s easy to while away the day at this 16,000-square-foot oasis four floors above Boylston Street. Book an aroma stone massage, detox wrap, or just a mani/pedi, and come early to relax in the vitality pool and steam room. Extend the aah with healthy bites at the Spa Café. 776 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2199, mandarinoriental.com/boston/luxury-spa.
Barneys New York
You have nothing to wear to the Best of Boston party, which is tomorrow. Hustle your Manolos over to Copley's new superstore, where clothing designers both ultrafamous (Marc Jacobs) and ascendant (Jovovich-Hawk) merge with bags, jewelry, and 3,700 square feet of shoes. What's more, an in-house concierge will offer opinions, fetch you lunch, and even arrange your ride home. (The hot date you'll have to get on your own.) 100 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 2116, barneys.com.
Marathon Sports
From the crowds who cheer on marathoners to the city-dwellers who do bridge loops along the Charles, Boston is a runner's city. And no place helps locals log the miles like Marathon Sports. Marathon has the largest selection of shoes from Adidas, New Balance, and Nike, and an all-star staff that will pick out just the pair you need. Throw in a great selection of sports bras, wicking shirts, shorts in any length, and information on local races, and you have everything you need to get moving. 671 Boylston St., Boston, MA marathonsports.com.
Blades Board and Skate, Cambridge location
Boston has no shortage of snowboard shops. Some have good selections, some good service. One has both. Whether you huck in the halfpipe or just concentrate on getting down the hill with your tailbone intact, the folks at Blades will steer you toward the perfect board. Chances are, they have it in stock, too. And if not, chill out. They'll happily order it for you. 38 JFK St., Cambridge, MA .
Serenella
Serenella's racks are to Boston shoppers what the sirens were to Odysseus: pure, unadultered temptation. Maybe it's the thoughtfully edited assembly of Pucci brights, quivering with delicious swirls of aqua, canary yellow, and bubblegum pink. Or it could be the crisp Balenciaga skirts, the tasteful cashmere twinsets, or the Roberto Cavalli numbers that are, by turns, over the top and tame. Whatever your particular weakness, prepare to abandon all reservation when you enter. Everything here sings, and—like a siren—even when it's loud, it's beautiful. 134 Newbury St., Boston, MA serenella-boston.com.
Marc Jacobs
When the store was robbed late last year, staffers sprinted down Newbury in dogged pursuit—these are people who take their fashion very seriously. Though the retailer deals solely in its namesake designer—and some seasons will inevitably outshine others—it's general manager and retail vet Mary Nobile-King's trained eye that shapes the mix of bags, shoes, and women's wear that fills the store. The result is a collection that comes together as if Jacobs were designing specifically for Boston itself. 81 Newbury St., Boston, MA marcjacobs.com.
City Sports
Okay, the size of the shoe wall doesn't exactly bowl us over, and the array of athletic equipment is a mite thinner than what the big boxes carry. But when we want to swim, run, bike, stretch, or lift, this Boston-bred chain comes through with apparel, gear, and even energy gels to keep us fueled. Bonus points for its signature line of athletic clothing that blends quality and affordability. 480 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2116, citysports.com.
Smokehouse Inc.
After a three-year apprenticeship with a fine-sausage maker in Germany, Dave Nosiglia returned to Boston and started stuffing and smoking his own. By now, his clients include the restaurants, wholesalers, and gourmet retailers around. Look for his chicken sausage with fresh rosemary and brown sugar (or with Marsala and mushrooms); or the smoked prosciutto, provolone, and pepper sausage—then stoke up the grill. 15 Coventry St., Roxbury, MA .