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.
True Bistro
There are many places to eat meatless meals in Boston these days, but only one place to enjoy a truly sophisticated, fine-dining experience with an entirely vegan menu. Dishes like the crispy oyster mushrooms in guajillo chili sauce with a horseradish-dill aioli will not only dazzle the vegan and vegan-curious in your crew — they’ll also win over the carnivores. 1153 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144, truebistroboston.com.
Madhouse Café
Iced tahini lattes, Lebanese meat pies, sticky-sweet baklava, motorcycles…wait, what? Madhouse Café debuted in Roxbury in late 2022, connected to — and looking into, via a giant window — the acclaimed bike shop Madhouse Motors. (Got kids? They’ll be mesmerized, and you’ll have a chance to sip your espresso in peace.) Dripping with greenery and intricately patterned tables and pillows, the space is lovely, as is the staff, making this a destination whether or not you have a motorcycle that needs fixing. 24 Blue Hill Ave., Roxbury, MA 02119, madhousecafe.com.
Mida Newton
Does a plate of gnocchi change when it moves from the city to the ’burbs? In the case of Mida, the answer is definitely not. At his bigger Newton outpost, chef Douglass Williams churns out the same house-extruded bucatini all’amatriciana and springy focaccia as at the lauded South End original — with a notable addition: charry New Haven–style pizza pies perfect for treating the kids (and yourself) after a Little League game. 261 Walnut St., Newton, MA 02460, midarestaurant.com.
Frank Vocals
You know you’ve made it when your song has soundtracked not one but two TV shows. The embodiment of modern-day R & B, Frank Vocals’s delicate, sexy croon can now be heard on an episode of the Starz series BMF, as well as Power Book II: Ghost. No surprise when you consider the lyrical vulnernability and pure romance of his 2020 EP Cure. frankvocals.com.
Camp
Forget ball pits and bounce houses: Hidden behind a bookcase at the Burlington Mall’s Camp toy store are endless hands-on adventures for birthday groups. This summer’s theme is retro summer camp, with a “disco” cabin for dancing, a splatter art room, and slides. Keeping parents happy? The squeaky-clean environs and partnership with next-door neighbor Shake Shack. Burlington Mall, 75 Middlesex Turnpike 1st Floor, Burlington, MA 1803, camp.com.
Roxbury International Film Festival
Twenty-four years after its debut, this summer festival’s commitment to showcasing vibrant, dynamic films by, for, and about people of color remains as strong as ever. This year’s fest premiered its offerings in person and online, and handed out awards for categories including Narrative Film, Documentary Short, Audience Favorite, and more. And for those interested in making their directing debut, the fest has long offered abundant networking opportunities, as well as panels and workshops. Multiple Locations, Boston, MA 02111, roxfilmfest.com.
Cumar
Dramatic granite fireplaces. Soothing white-quartz vanities. Calacatta marble countertops. Whatever stone statement piece you envision for your home, you can rest assured that this Everett firm — which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year — not only carries the unique slab you need, but staffs the skilled craftspeople crucial to cutting and installing it correctly the first time. 69 Norman St., Everett, MA 02149, cumar.com.
Systems Design & Integration
Ever come across a new gadget so handy, you wonder how you ever made do without it? That’s how we feel each time we dig into the work of these Needham-based pros, who specialize in all the things that make life at home just a little bit easier: smartphone-controlled lighting and heating, audio distribution systems to fill your space with music, security cameras to make sure you always feel safe, and other essentials. 33 Highland Ave., Needham, MA 02494, sdiboston.com.