Yunnan Kitchen
Chinese cuisine in Boston got a welcome expansion with the arrival of this South End spot showcasing Dian fare, which dazzles with eye-watering mala heat (fresh chilies and Sichuan peppers), fierce raw garlic, and novel aromatics like the gingery tsaoko. Bring friends to share huge, fragrant, bubbling pots of pork in chili oil and Yongping braised chicken, and learn why chef Yisha Siu has already garnered a James Beard Award nomination for Best Chef Northeast. 1721B Washington St., South End, MA 02118, yunnankitchensouthend.com.
Rare Steakhouse
Seamless service and melt-in-your-mouth beef make Rare an oasis inside the hustle and bustle of Encore Boston Harbor, especially if you’re willing to fork over some of your casino winnings for, say, caviar service, a seafood tower, and Japanese Wagyu. The luxurious steakhouse harkens back to a golden age of fine dining, with white tablecloths and a fiery tableside preparation of baked Alaska, but the tiny, fancy chair just for your purse is a 2020s luxury through and through. Encore Boston Harbor, 1 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149, encorebostonharbor.com/dining-and-nightlife/dining/rare-steakhouse.
Nightshade Noodle Bar
After stints at Clio and Bondir that earned breathless praise from the likes of Zagat and this magazine, chef Rachel Miller’s first solo venture has Boston foodies programming Waze for Lynn and coming back with the zeal of converts. Miller’s tasting menus of up to 14 courses feature wildly inventive Vietnamese- and French-inspired seafood and noodle dishes — such as uni brûlée with red-curry hollandaise and torched cinnamon — that are so delicately perfect, 14 courses might not be enough. 73 Exchange St., Lynn, MA 01901, nightshadenoodlebar.com.
Hummingbird Bridal & Events
As couples grapple with uncertain wedding plans during the coronavirus outbreak, virtual celebrations have emerged as promising alternatives—and Hummingbird Bridal & Events as the firm to make them happen. Helmed by planner Mandy Connor, the nearly 11-year-old Boston-based company can help coordinate an intimate live-streamed ceremony before whisking you away for a festive meal for two, complete with a bespoke playlist, to keep the party going. Want to make sure your guests feel the love? Connor is happy to send out DIY cocktail kits to your nearest and dearest so they can join in on the fun from afar. 213 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, hummingbirdbridal.com.
Get Konnected!
There would be a lot more strangers in Boston without this multicultural networking group, which aims to remind business leaders of all backgrounds that our economy is a web, stronger when we work together. Run by public relations maven Colette Phillips, the organization has long linked a diverse range of professionals through job listings, a digital magazine, and high-profile events honoring influential people of color. Now it’s doing so through webinars about how small businesses can survive the pandemic, mentoring sessions with senior execs, and more—all online for everyone to take part in. getkonnected.com.
Lauren Genatossio, Sarra Studios
There are plenty of ’90s trends we’re glad to welcome back into our repertoires—chunky sandals, slip dresses, high-waisted everything—but one thing that can stay in the last century? Pencil-thin eyebrows. Thankfully, Lauren Genatossio is firmly on the same page, creating nothing but lush, full looks from her South Boston and Hingham studios. Bring your out-of-control brows to Genatossio and watch as she plucks and trims them into goddess-like arches, creating the exact shape needed to make your eyes and cheekbones pop. 840 Summer St. , Boston, MA 02127, sarraboston.com.
Recreo Coffee & Roasterie
Any java can wake us up in the morning—but Recreo’s also help us sleep at night. Though much coffee production is notorious for labor exploitation, this hyper-responsible West Roxbury café sources its single-origin beans from co-owner Miriam Morales’s family farm in Nicaragua, which uplifts area workers and their children with free lodging, schooling, and healthcare. Not only is this a coffee shop with a conscience, but Recreo’s rich, full-bodied espresso is so good, the team even won the chance to set up a high-traffic takeaway counter right inside Boston City Hall. 1876 Centre St., West Roxbury, MA 02132, elrecreoestatecoffee.com.
Claudiane Philippe, @nailthecocktail
In the beforetimes, Philippe used her Instagram blog to hype Boston bars and booze brands—and show off her always-on-point manicures. Since the city’s first Black Lives Matter protest of 2020, though, her platform has also reminded us to #SayTheirNames with a compelling photo series of original drink recipes dedicated to Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, and others lost. The poignant project importantly helps Philippe’s 35,000-plus followers get educated about systemic racism, even as she continues sharing top-shelf cocktails we can actually handle making at home. instagram.com/nailthecocktail.
Jenny Luu Hair + Makeup
Trust Jenny Luu with your bridal makeup, and she’ll do so much more than expertly blend your foundation and apply false lashes. Weeks before you walk down the aisle, Luu (a self-proclaimed “skinthusiast”) will equip you with a personalized skin-care routine to ensure that your face remains blemish-free. Then, on the big day, the Boston-based artist will use products from Charlotte Tilbury and Dior, among others, to create a look that not only highlights your natural beauty, but also outlasts the after-party (seriously). 460 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118, jcluu.com.
SchnelleCares
If you have kiddos under 12, chances are you still need plenty of masks. Thank goodness, then, that Schnelle Shelby’s hand-sewn face coverings come in three adult sizes and two children’s sizes. Choose from a wide variety of styles, from quirky mermaid scales and spaceships to tasteful plaids and beautiful African and batik patterns. And know that by ordering from SchnelleCares, you’re supporting a business that donates masks to food pantries and health centers in the city, as well as gives a portion of sales to the Boston Resiliency Fund for COVID relief schnellecares.com..
Pure Oasis
As the first recreational pot shop in Boston proper, and the first Black-owned one in the state, Pure Oasis carries the weight of history on its shoulders. From the moment it opened in early 2020 (unluckily, mere moments before COVID lockdowns set in), the store has been embraced by its community. Stocked with an impressive array of flower, tinctures, THC-infused chocolates, and even a line of locally made cannabis seltzers, it certainly has the goods. But a year later, shopping at Pure Oasis still feels like a celebration — of a ceasefire in the war on drugs that caused immeasurable harm in its backyard, and of all that’s yet to come as the industry flourishes. 430 Blue Hill Ave., Boston, MA 02121, mypureoasis.com.
Drinkwater's
Drinkwater’s might be small, but its shelves contain countless sartorial gems—all thanks to Gary Drinkwater, who earned his stripes at Louis Boston. Now, 15 years into running his own brick-and-mortar, Drinkwater uses his discerning eye to curate only the best clothing and accessories for his customers: suits from Samuelsohn, shoes from Paraboot, and neckties from Seaward & Stearn, to name a few. Want to go bespoke? Take advantage of the shop’s Made to Measure program to ensure the perfect fit for a sure-to-be perfect day. 2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140, drinkwaterscambridge.com.
See
You own more than one shirt, right? And probably a couple of pairs of shoes? Well, See is committed to making sure you have glasses to match every outfit, too, working with designers from all over Europe and the United States to create on-trend specs that look more like fashion accessories than vision enhancers. The bright boutique displays all of its eyewear on open shelves, never in locked cases, so you can try on pair after pair until you find the perfect fit. 115 Newbury St., Boston, 617-236-0105; 1276 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-868-1500; seeeyewear.com. 115 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, seeeyewear.com.
Drinkwater’s
Chinos have their charm, but when the occasion calls for something dignified, Dapper Dans make a beeline to Drinkwater’s. Owner Gary Drinkwater, formerly of Louis Boston and Stonestreet’s, presides over a small but expertly curated collection of modern classics: made-to-measure suits from Samuelsohn, custom button-downs from Individualized Shirts, and footwear from legendary French cordonnier Paraboot. Correction, June 28, 2016, 4:30 p.m.: This post has been updated to reflect that Drinkwater's carries custom button-downs from Individualized Shirts, not custom shirts from Engineered Garments. We regret the error. 2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140, drinkwaterscambridge.com.
Palehound
Ellen Kempner’s vocal melodies have a tendency to shoot up high without warning, just like her hands on the fretboard of her guitar during bouts of frenzied rocking. It’s this unpredictability that brings excitement to Dry Food, the debut album from her band, Palehound. The trio recently made an appearance at Boston Calling, where after their last song, Kempner said, appropriately enough, “We’re Palehound, from right here!” The band plans to record their follow-up in the fall. Here’s hoping they go far, but always remain nearby. palehound.bandcamp.com.