M.Gemi
You may not be able to take the Italian leather artisans out of Italy, but with the power of the Internet, you can bring their buttery-soft shoes and handbags to footwear lovers anywhere in the world. That’s the smart business model, at least, behind Boston-based M.Gemi, which since 2015 has been collaborating with family-owned factories across the Boot to craft high-style,high-quality kicks. A snakeskin block-heel pump from Toscana? A supple jewel-green slide from Lucca? Che bello. MA mgemi.com.
Fasika Café
Before it was a hub of urban life in Boston, Roxbury was a farming community. Fasika seems to feel that agrarian soil in its bones, seeding it with Ethiopian flavors to create something truly magical. Its bountiful portions of kikk ali-cha, stewed split peas in garlic and turmeric, and spiced red lentil wot (swiped up with spongy injera), have a fresh-tasting satiety that can only come with a deep connection to the land(s). 51 Roxbury St., Boston, MA 02119, fasikarestaurants.com.
Feast & Fettle
After a few years of prepping three squares a day, it’s only natural to want to outsource the task of home cooking to someone, you know, outside the home. Thankfully, Rhode Island–based Feast & Fettle expanded its family-style meal delivery service to Greater Boston last year, and there’s something for everyone on the extensive menu. Bonus: The company has also been known to partner with local faves like Flour bakery and Blackbird Donuts for add-on treats. feastandfettle.com.
Great Blue Hill Trail, Blue Hills Reservation
Slightly challenging — yet mercifully short — bursts of uphill that give kids a sense of accomplishment. A tower to climb at the top. And, most notably, absolutely killer views of the Boston skyline. This roughly 1.5-mile-long round-trip trail has it all for a family outing — especially when you consider that native wildlife such as river otters and red foxes are just a few steps away from the parking lot at the Blue Hills Trailside Museum. 1904 Canton Ave, Milton, MA 02186, mass.gov/locations/blue-hills-reservation.
Get Konnected!
Forget the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon — in Boston, you can connect just about anyone who’s anyone within one or two degrees of Colette Phillips and her everexpanding cross-cultural business networking organization, Get Konnected! Now in its 16th year, Phillips’s group is renowned for creating specialized lists that shine a much-needed spotlight on people of color making an impact on life in and around the Hub. And her events are the premier opportunities to hobnob with the people who matter most. getkonnected.com.
Haven Beauty
It’s not just our hair that has grown great lengths since Haven won Best Salon west of Boston last year: The team has since added a stylist, massage therapist, and two aestheticians — with plans to keep expanding. Needless to say, your options for a day of pampering are plentiful at this holistic salon, but we’ll be back for the refreshing cut and meticulously painted balayage that left our locks looking like a work of art. 14 Church St., Hopkinton, MA 01748, havenbeautyma.com.
Simon Pearce
Though widely regarded as the master of handcrafted glassware, and rightfully so (see: its shapely decanters, artistic champagne flutes, and soapstone-bottomed whiskey tumblers, to name just a few), Simon Pearce’s Boston and Chestnut Hill showrooms also offer an array of other tantalizing tableware. The Vermont-made stoneware bowls, minimalist dinner sets, and freehand-style coffee mugs beg to be admired (and brought home), too. Multiple locations, simonpearce.com.
System 7
For those of us who find navigating the myriad of home-technology systems overwhelming and stressful, System 7’s Experience Center is a godsend. The pros at the company’s two locations in Boston and Wellesley are as tech-savvy as they are patient. They’ll enlighten you on intuitive access controls, motorized shading systems, lighting, and about integrating it all together through wireless networking. And when you’re ready, they’ll create a plan tailored to your home’s specific needs. Boston Design Center, Ste. 130W, Boston, MA 02210, systemseven.com.
Chuck Bass, Patrice Vinci Salon
Why do we love Chuck Bass? Let us count the reasons. For one, he comes in as early as 6 a.m. to accommodate busy schedules. Two, he works quickly and quietly. Most important, his talent for creating gorgeous textural haircuts — including on curly hair — is unmatched, having honed his craft throughout Boston and New York City. Whether you’re looking for a big makeover or a subtle upgrade to your signature style, you’ll always leave his chair happy. 91 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, chuckbass.com.
Polkadog
Baked fresh every day at the company’s Boston Fish Pier kitchen, the “Chicken Littles” bones — made with simple ingredients such as poultry, long-grain brown rice, and potato flour — are better quality than anything you’ll find at the grocery store. The brand’s dried cod skins and chickenstrip jerky are also guaranteed to say “top dog.” Multiple locations, polkadog.com.
Table & Tulip
No cookie-cutter bouquets here: At this floral haven, owner Andrea Halliday and her team transform everyday blooms into extraordinary masterpieces filled with color and life. And Boston has taken notice; the shop recently doubled its design team to meet the demand for its work and has even introduced a monthly subscription service for those who like to beautify their home on the regular. 461 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA 02118, tableandtulip.com.
The Dubliner
Irish cuisine in America has long been stuck in a pub-food rut, despite Ireland’s steady evolution into a destination for European fare. Chef Aidan McGee, formerly of Michelin-starred restaurants in the U.K., is nudging Boston in that fresher direction at this bustling hot spot opposite Government Center, which plates exemplary versions of classic dishes, including the finest fish and chips in town and a spectacular take on the traditional Irish Sunday roast while pouring a proper pint of Guinness and a global slate of whiskeys. 2 Center Plz., Downtown, MA 02108, thedublinerboston.com.
Micro Plant Studio
Invite a little life into your workspace with help from this South Boston shop, which carries and delivers all things leafy and green (bamboo palm, burro’s tail, Venus flytraps), plus fun pots to display them in. Even better: You can brighten two households with Micro’s “buy to give” initiative, which lets you sponsor a succulent to send to a local essential worker. 365 W. Broadway, Boston, MA 02127, microplantstudio.com.
My Big Hair Day
Stylist Sarah Naslund may specialize in updos — headband braids, intricate twists, sleek buns — but you’d be hard-pressed to find a look this Boston-based expert hasn’t mastered. That’s because she carefully evaluates the length, texture, and color of each bride’s locks to help her choose a style that will look flawless in photos — and stay put on the dance floor. 56 Wareham St., Boston, MA 02118, mybighairday.com.
Green Turtle Floating Bed and Breakfast
Want to get away without actually going anywhere? Book a night aboard one of the Green Turtle’s floating guest rooms. Docked in Boston Harbor, the comfortable 45-foot yacht and houseboat lovingly tended to by proprietors Jon Dolence and Karen Maciejewski feel like they’re a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city, even if you can still see the skyline while savoring breakfast and coffee from the dock. One Pier 8 13th St., Charlestown, MA 02129, greenturtlebb.com.