The Secret Garden Pet Resort
Situated on 30 acres of lush green fields, this full-service grooming and boarding facility offers large private kennels for all of its four-legged guests, each of whom get a gated outdoor space and a deluxe doggie bed. If you’d like to treat your pampered pooch to a vacation as lavish as your own, upgrade to a luxury suite and take advantage of à la carte services such as nature walks, play sessions, and face time with Fido (via Web cam). 1040 Central St., East Bridgewater, MA 2333, secretgardenpetresort.com.
Sorellina
Dinner at Sorellina can cost as much as a flight to Italy, but at least here the life-altering food comes without jet lag. The hearty pappardelle with rabbit ragu is a bowl of Bologna, the delicate beet-filled ravioli further evidence to support the Italians' long-held claim that they taught the French everything they know about gastronomy. The only inauthentic items—and this is a good thing—are Shane Gray's desserts, which best their often disappointing Italian counter-parts: The impossibly light semifreddo is the finest we've ever had, here or abroad. One Huntington Ave., Boston, MA sorellinaboston.com.
International Bicycle Center
IBC mechanics are so thorough in teaching you to fix your bike, you may never need to go back to their Boston or Newton shops. But go back you will, if not for a new ride, then for parts, accessories, and clothing by brands such as Trek, Giordana, Nike, and Pearl Izumi. The store also organizes group rides along scenic city routes, plugging new pedalers into Boston's bike-loving community. 88 Brighton Ave., Allston, MA 2134, internationalbike.com.
C.O. Bigelow
Cracked elbows, oily T-zones, and damaged locks all require different care routines, which is why C.O. Bigelow fills its floor-to-ceiling shelves with enough creams, soaps, balms, masks, and bath salts to satisfy even the biggest product pack rat. Favorites include Kevyn Aucoin makeup, Frederic Fekkai hair care, and exclusive skin-care treatments from Patricia Wexler M.D., as well as the store's eponymous line of quince and grapefruit hand and body lotions. Copley Place, Boston, MA 2116, bigelowchemists.com.
Good
From the moment you walk up the narrow stairway, you sense something unique about this chic interior design boutique. The collection is defined by rare vintage glass vases from Denmark, rich Belgium linens, and cashmere throws from Scandinavia. Each piece feels hand-picked with deliberation, rather than part of a cluttered consortium of ideas. And little surprises, like a linen dress or a leather handbag, make each visit a Good reason to splurge. 88 Charles St., Boston, MA .
Audio Concepts
Put down the Consumer Reports and delete the electronics in your Amazon cart. No one's going to be impressed by the shoddy home-theater system you're trying to jury-rig. Instead, go to the Audio Concepts near BU, a playground for audio- and cinephiles alike. The top-notch systems here are custom-designed to fit each home—and, mercifully, don't resemble the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. 870 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, audioconcepts.com.
Louis Boston
With its efforts this past year focused on footwear, Louis Boston now rivals national department stores in quantity—and beats them outright in quality. Delicious flats by Devotte and Gryson line one wall, while heels both timeless (Mayle) and risk-taking (Proenza Schouler) perch along another. And although $800 Balenciagas remain part of the offerings, it's possible to score an equally dynamite pair of Coclico sandals for a few hundred bucks (as, unable to resist, we did). 60 Northern Ave., Boston, MA 2110, louisboston.com.
Eliza Dushku and Peter Palandjian
The hush-hush August wedding of Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress Eliza Dushku, a Watertown native, and local real estate exec Peter Palandjian started with the bride and groom joining the Boston Bike Party and ended with a bash (and this sweet photo) at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln. The dreamiest part of the festivities, though? Their intimate ceremony in the courtyard of the Boston Public Library, where the couple swapped vows.
L'Etoile
Located in a former whaling captain’s house, this bistro’s bar earns top honors for versatility. Begin with the aptly named “startini” (citrus vodka, Cointreau, lime juice, pomegranate, and prosecco) or another creative cocktail. The singlemalt scotch and bourbon selections are impressive, while wines by the glass cover a lot of terroir in price, varietal, and geography. Then there’s the atmosphere, always lively without being obnoxious: Guests can choose between a seat at the bar, a banquette, or the porch, although the Adirondack chairs on the lawn beckon on balmy nights. 22 North Water St., Edgartown, MA 02539, letoile.net.
Haven Beauty
Forced to shut down just months after opening due to the pandemic, Emily Sobers had a challenging start to her new business. But there’s no sign of those early struggles today inside her aptly named clean-beauty salon and wellness space, which offers flawless cuts, highlights, facials, and more. And Sobers and her team seem to be adding more ways to unwind every day, first with yoga and Pilates classes and most recently with their “Relax and Restore” room, complete with an infrared sauna. 14 Church St., Hopkinton, MA 1748, havenbeautyma.com.
Roadrunner
THE SCENE: Built by the same people who brought us the Sinclair, the area’s largest (and newest) indoor live-music room has a similar flair for ultra-cool minimalism, pristine sightlines, and industry-leading acoustics — at more than six times the capacity. THE LINEUP: A who’s who of 2022 touring acts, from Gen Z pop darling Olivia Rodrigo to multi-night runs by LCD Soundsystem and Lake Street Dive. 89 Guest St., Boston, MA 02135, roadrunnerboston.com.
Olives & Grace
In a year when sending love meant more than ever, Sofi Madison’s “Local Maker Gift Box” provided a much-needed dose of TLC, in the form of delectable shortbread cookies from Lark Fine Foods, peanut butter patties from Seacoast Sweets, and a Well Told rocks glass engraved with a city map. The best part? Purchasing one for your favorite cousin or college bud is a gift to the community, too, as every small-batch, handcrafted item inside is produced right here in the Bay State. 623 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02118, olivesandgrace.com.
M. Flynn
Sure, we’d all love to have the Hope Diamond in our jewelry box, but it’s those pieces we wear every day that become part of who we are — and nobody understands that better than M. Flynn founders and sisters Moria and Megan Flynn. Their impeccable taste, refined over more than a decade in business, is what keeps their loyal fan base coming back for bold, statement earrings, colorful bracelets, and everything in between. 40 Waltham St, Boston, MA 02118, mflynnjewelry.com.
Ultra Safe Pest Management
We’ve all experienced it: the unmistakable squeak from inside a wall, those dreaded droppings on the kitchen counter, or — worse — a face-to-face encounter with an eight-legged or winged intruder. When bats, rats, spiders, termites, or other pests worm their way into your humble abode, call this fearless team pronto. Not only will they safely trap and remove the uninvited guests, they’ll also repair minor damage, decontaminate the site, and seal up potential reentry points to ensure your home remains trespasser-free. ultrasafepest.com.
Tawakal Halal Café
This national-caliber Somali kitchen makes and bottles its own luxuriously supple-textured mango-habanero hot sauce, which adds just the right zhoosh of incendiary complexity to coconut-milk grits with slow-cooked chickpeas; unctuous braised goat (hilib ari) bursting with turmeric and cardamom; and, honestly, any leftover taking up space in your fridge right now. 389 Maverick St., East Boston, MA 02128, tawakalfoods.co.