Jean Wang
Dudes want to marry her. Dudettes want to befriend her. Everyone follows her — 733,000 people on Insta, to be exact. Maybe that’s because this fashion influencer’s classic-with- a-little-funk style perfectly fits the aesthetic of the Boston woman. Her roles as wife and mother also make appearances on her Extra Petite blog and Instagram page, where she offers cooking tips, lifestyle advice, date-night recommendations, and kids’ wardrobe ideas. You may find yourself asking, What would Jean do? The answer is a click away. extrapetite.com.
The ’Quin House
When the reimagined and redesigned Algonquin Club opened in 2021, the six-story mansion generated instant buzz for its gorgeously over-the-top design, from a button to summon champagne in the first-floor “speakeasy” to a Sinatra bust that you press to reveal a secret door. But its social capital is more than just aesthetics. The space has quickly replaced the old Bristol Lounge at the Four Seasons as the place for a power-rendezvous, except now the CEOs are rubbing elbows with social justice activists, and the membership is legitimately diverse. New Boston, indeed. 217 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA thequinhouse.com.
The Innovation Trail
Only in Cambridge can you take a scenic 10-minute stroll from the birthplace of a COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna’s headquarters) to a candy factory that supplies the world with Junior Mints. The area’s combined legacy as innovation hub and pedestrian paradise inspired Boston Globe columnist Scott Kirsner and Framingham State professor Robert Krim to connect such points of interest and create the Innovation Trail. Launched in 2022 and spanning from Downtown Crossing to Kendall Square, the walking tour visits more than 20 sites where seismic breakthroughs in science and technology took place. Follow along independently, or book a seasonal guide and prepare to be awed. theinnovationtrail.org.
Matt Shearer, WBZ
A video reporter for the radio station WBZ, Shearer has become a social media sensation for his spin on traditional man-on-the-street interviews, a freewheeling format in which he asks Bay State residents probing questions about their home localities. For example: How did Billericans feel when one of three Market Baskets on the same street (Boston Road, naturally) closed? “I actually cried,” a customer named Peggy told him gravely. “I felt like I lost a part of my family.” The accents always fly, but what makes the videos sing are heartfelt, hysterical contributions from subjects like these. twitter.com/MattWBZ.
Veiled in Motion
Who better to capture your wedding day than a couple of lovebirds themselves? The husband-and-wife team behind Veiled in Motion, Mark and Valery DerHovanessian, incorporate candid glimpses, toast highlights, and breathtaking drone footage to create a film that transports you back to the precious sights and sounds of your big day. Whether you choose New England nuptials or, when it’s safe to travel again, a destination elopement, the Boston-based pros will have you reliving those first married moments with the press of “play.” veiledinmotion.com.
Tipping Cow
Dave Lindsey’s secret ingredient? Joy. He says he never makes ice cream unless he’s in a happy mood—and you can taste the love in his Somerville scoop shop’s luscious yet light custard-based creations, which rotate among 100-plus flavors, from honey-roasted fig to a spin on Caprese made with tomato, basil, and balsamic. The ice cream is also stocked by gourmet markets and newly served by Earl of Sandwich on Boston Common, bringing many more much-needed smiles to the Hub. 415 Medford St., Somerville, MA 02143, tippingcowicecream.com.
Daniela Corte
When the pandemic hit, Daniela Corte quickly went into survival mode, shutting down her Newbury Street boutique and moving the business to her Back Bay residence. But her hibernation didn’t last long: Just six months later, the Argentine-born women’s clothing designer managed to reinvent her shop at the Mandarin Oriental Boston, dress Vice President Kamala Harris’s sister, Maya, for the inauguration, and produce a sold-out, day-long fashion seminar. Needless to say, Corte is back (as if she ever left). 15 Marlborough St., Garden Unit, Boston, MA 02116, danielacorte.com.
Glamsquad
It may feel safe to visit a salon now, but that doesn’t mean it’s always convenient. That’s why we’re grateful to have Glamsquad in our backyard: Serving busy beauty buffs throughout Boston since setting up shop here in 2018, the New York–based company’s services include top-notch blowouts, makeup application, and — as of summer 2020 — haircuts, all executed from the comfort of home. Book an appointment through the website or app for your next pampering sesh, and watch as a seasoned stylist deftly transforms your look in any indoor or outdoor location you choose. glamsquad.com.
Urban Grape
How does a boutique Boston wine shop become one of America’s most lauded? First, owners TJ and Hadley Douglas introduced the world to their proprietary Progressive Scale, a newbie-friendly system that smartly sorts wines by weight, from light minerality to full-bodied fruitiness. Now they’re working to change the industry by establishing a fully endowed, annual Wine Studies Award, which provides university education and work experience to promising professionals of color, and by curating the country’s coolest collections of wines by female, BIPOC, or LGBTQ+ producers. 303 Columbus Ave., South End, MA 02116, theurbangrape.shop.
Cambridge Naturals
If a family business is expanding after 40 years, you know they’re doing something right. And Cambridge Naturals, which is opening a second location at Boston Landing this summer, does a lot of things right. In addition to its unparalleled selection of bulk dried herbs and spices, it stocks organic, non-GMO vitamins, beautifully crafted bath products, and local and fair-trade grocery items. Don’t worry if you’re a newbie to the all-natural world: Employees are deeply committed to nurturing the ever-growing wellness community and will gladly help you navigate the shelves. 23 White St., Cambridge, MA 02140, cambridgenaturals.com.
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.