Brant Point Light Station
As the sun sinks into the rocky base of one of Nantucket’s oldest lighthouses, families wave as the ferry chugs by, fish- ermen cast their reels in ankle-deep water, and happy couples celebrate after the occasional surprise proposal. Want to see for yourself what’s making them all so jubilant? All you need is a beach chair and a bottle of something bubbly to toast to the happiest moments in life unfolding before you under a cotton- candy pink sky. Easton Street, Nantucket, MA 02554, nps.gov/nr/travel/maritime/brn.htm.
Leonard Hair Transplant Associates
The stunning before-and-after photos (not to mention testimonials from current and former pro athletes) say it all: These guys know how to bring hair back to life. Doctors Robert Leonard and Matthew Lopresti offer a range of options for the follicularly challenged, including hair transplant surgery (which they say is less painful than a visit to the dentist) and noninvasive treatments. Whatever you choose, one thing’s for certain: You’ll never cover up with a hat again. Multiple locations. hairdr.com.
Bloom Couture Floral Studio
Flowers, at their essence, are really just plain fun. And no one has more fun with flowers than Suphoj Chancheaw, who infuses each of his arrangements with a sense of effervescence and a clear appreciation for sculpture. Whether you opt for next-day delivery on a custom or pre-designed arrangement or join a floral workshop led by the master himself, you’ll find it’s easy to transplant Chancheaw’s passion for blooms into your own life. 769 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02118, bloomcouturestudio.com.
The Smoke Shop
With the pandemic-time addition of a fourth Smoke Shop location — this one in Harvard Square — we’re now never more than a fork’s distance away from Andy Husbands’s tender pulled chicken or best-in-class burnt ends. The chef recently released his sixth cookbook, The Smoke Shop’s Backyard BBQ, but we’ll still leave our smoked-meat cravings to the pitmaster as often as possible. Multiple locations, thesmokeshopbbq.com.
Boston Hairnista
Healthy hair is owner and lead stylist Andrea Sealey’s main goal—and it shows in every masterful style she creates inside her chic Dot. Ave. salon. Sealey’s recently expanded list of services makes the space a one-stop shop for everything from kinky twists and micro-link extensions to always-silky silk presses. Her braids, meanwhile, are true works of art—no surprise given the Roxbury native has been at it since she was 10 years old. 1690 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA 02122, bostonhairnista.com.
Forty Winks
Handsome, flirty, and extremely supportive: No, we’re not talking about our latest flame, we’re talking about the underpinnings from this one-stop Cambridge shop. Situated outside the store, Forty Winks’ new walk-up bra bar is an easy, safe way to upgrade your lingerie drawer—or opt for a gratis 30-minute virtual fitting and browsing session with a sales associate and pick up curbside. 56 John F. Kennedy St., Cambridge, MA 02138, shopfortywinks.com.
Formaggio Kitchen
When you need to provision aperitivo hour, head to one of Formaggio’s three local shops (pictured) to chat up staffers overflowing with cheese-world facts. The original location in Cambridge’s Huron Village is the real mothership, though, thanks to the widest assortment of accoutrements, as well as America’s first basement cheese-aging cave, where globe-spanning wheels, from rare imported blues to New England–made craft Camembert, are tended daily to ensure a perfectly ripe taste. 244 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, formaggiokitchen.com.
Gourmet China House
One day, the Lyft-and-tunnel pilgrims lined up outside Chinatown institution Gourmet Dumpling House will discover that the Taiwanese and Sichuan eats are even better at its spacious sibling across the street — with enough awfully (often offal-y) tasty options on its menu for the kung-pao-basic and goose-intestine-with-chive-flower-curious alike. 55 Beach St., Chinatown, MA 02111, gourmetchinahouse.com.
The Citgo Sign
Hitching your sense of self to a big ol' oil company's logo might seem like a manifestation of corporate personhood, but the sign advertising the Venezuelan energy outfit Citgo, which towers over Kenmore Square, provides a quick way for people to situate themselves in Boston. Not only does its design make it one of those rare neon signs that looks good when the sun's shining, Fenway Park and its Instagram-ready tableaux are just a stroll away. Kenmore Square, Boston, MA 02215, .
Quadrum
Farewell, diamond studs and plain strands of pearls: At Quadrum, each piece is a one-of-a-kind work of art, sourced from the world’s most talented jewelry makers. That means you’ll find dramatic earrings encrusted with moonstones and white diamonds, rose-cut sapphire sparklers, and chunky quartz necklaces flecked with gold—future heirlooms that will stand out today, tomorrow, and for generations to come. The Shops at Chestnut Hill, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, quadrumgallery.com.
KM Hudson
An ill-fitting bra can ruin your outfit and your mood. Thankfully, the experienced staffers at KM Hudson understand shape and comfort, sizing clients up with just a look before taking precise measurements. Of course, proper sizing is only one part of the equation: After measuring, they’ll happily sift through their enviable stock of 6,000 bras to find the perfect undergarment for your shape. 125 Charles St., Boston, 02114, kmhudsonltd.com.
Committee
Not to diminish the culinary efforts of consulting Greek-cuisine guru Diane Kochilas, but this hot spot is one chic meat market (and we’re not talking about the keftedes). Singles sip cocktails at the three-sided bar that dominates the industrial-inspired dining room. As the hour gets later and the Euro house beats thump harder overhead, sharply dressed twentysomethings are the biggest catch. 50 Northern Ave., Boston, MA 02210, committeeboston.com.
Fenway Park
For baseball fans, it's the ultimate only-in-Boston venue. Get married behind third base in Section 32 before moving your celebration to one of 14 reception options: For Green Monster vistas, you can't beat the Dell EMC Club; for a skyline tableau, the State Street Pavilion or the right-field roof deck hit it out of the park. 4 Yawkey Way, Boston, MA 02215, redsox.mlb.com.
Frank Celeste, Gibson Sotheby's International Realty
Charlestown-based broker Frank Celeste lays claim to some of the most eye-catching listings in Boston, from historical townhouses in Monument Square to sparkling condos in Southie. He's one of the top-grossing real estate agents in the city (and the country), not to mention a lifelong Bostonian and a walking encyclopedia of nearly every local market. After all, the industry vet has been at it for more than 25 years. 529 Main St., Charlestown, MA 02129, frankceleste.com.
Redbones
The years-long influx of challengers has ebbed, the smoke has cleared, and the winner and still champion is...Redbones. This is barbecue the way it's meant to be: noisy, messy, and crowded, with a selection of thick, meaty ribs that reads like a geography lesson—Texas, Memphis, Arkansas, St. Louis. Not in the mood? Try the fried Louisiana catfish or grilled sausage sandwich, or skip straight to the pecan pie. And don't forget to wash it all down with one of the 24 beers on tap. It's enough to make even a southerner all weepy. 55 Chester St., Somerville, MA redbones.com.