Moxie
Moxie’s Kerry Zirpolo is the secret weapon for many a suburban doyenne, not to mention quite a few city dwellers who appreciate her warmth and value. There’s just one chair, so you’ll receive plenty of personal attention as Zirpolo dishes out honest feedback about what will work for your face and then takes her time snipping and highlighting. Known for her ability to fix color conundrums, she’s also eager to go edgy with balayage and asymmetrical cuts, if you so please. 691 Belmont St., Belmont, MA 02478, moxiebelmont.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.
Thos. Moser
There’s hardly a bolt or screw in sight on a Thos. Moser original: The Maine-based company’s sleek wooden creations, ranging from masterfully sculpted side chairs to one-of-a-kind bed frames, nix metal fasteners in favor of visible joinery. The result is a timeless form that revels in simplicity, allowing the craftsmanship to shine through. 19 Arlington St., Boston, MA 02116, thosmoser.com.
Ceremony
The dress of your dreams is out there, indie brides—and there’s a good chance it’s waiting for you at Ceremony. With lacy numbers from Rue de Seine and Sarah Seven and beaded overlays from Limor Rosen, this Beacon Hill shop does stunning, come-run-away-with-me chic like no one else. Even if you’re not getting married on a secluded beach or in a grassy meadow, a dress from Ceremony is guaranteed to make your free spirit sing. 53 River St., Boston, MA 02114, ceremony-boston.com.
Hive Events
It doesn’t get much cooler than throwing back an Old Fashioned while lounging in a 1983 Airstream. Let the team from Hive Events curate (or create) the perfect beverage selection for your wedding and then bring it to sweet, sippable life in one of their retro trailers, which they’ll park outside your venue. Posh glamping tents offer additional, highly ’Grammable space for relaxing and imbibing. Good luck getting your guests to leave after last call. MA hive-events.com.
Life Time Fitness
Is it a gym or a wellness oasis? Actually, it’s both. In addition to offering the essential yoga and indoor cycling classes, Life Time Fitness lays on the extras: nutrition counseling, weight-loss support, even chiropractic care. Feeling guilty about leaving the tots while taking time for yourself? There are kids’ classes, too, even for infants. Why not send your little one to preschool yoga while you visit the spa? 300 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, MA 02459, lifetime.life.
Peabody Essex Museum
The longest continuously operating museum in the U.S. is also one of the area’s best for kids. Model ships anchor the vast maritime collection, while rotating exhibits are often colorful and interactive, not to mention displayed in large, disaster-proof open spaces. There’s more fun to be had in the Maker Lounge, where children take part in arts and crafts activities. Expect even more to explore when the new wing opens in 2019. 161 Essex St., Salem, MA 01970, pem.org.
Gronk
Who captures the spirit of the city of champions in this era of prosperity and decadent joy better than Rob Gronkowski? The man who brings raucous mischief wherever he goes, who both wins and dents championship trophies, and whom everyone loves both in spite of and because of his flaws, Gronk may be retiring from the Patriots, but he’s still number one in our hearts.
Down Island
Longtime Vineyard chef Scott Cummings made Down Island one of last summer's most popular island debuts (and an Obama family favorite) by eschewing the stuffiness—and the dress code—found at most fine-dining spots. Each week, he creates a new six-course menu using produce, meat, and fish from only sustainable sources, then serves it up in a relaxed, you're-with-friends setting. 6 Circuit Ave., Oak Bluffs, MA 2568, downislandmv.com.
Ports & Company
Along Route 3, it's the same sad story: shopping plaza after shopping plaza, each offering a slightly different version of the pants you've seen on every one of your coworkers. Break away from the crowd with a stop at this under-the-radar Cohasset storefront, which packs AG jeans, Nicole Miller dresses, cashmere sweaters, and other individualistic pieces onto shelf and rack. 23 S. Main St., Cohasset, MA 02025, portsandcompany.com.
Alan Rouleau Couture
If you're going to drop a few grand on a suit, you might as well have it built from the ground up. Alan Rouleau—called one of America's finest suit makers—can design, cut, and sew a custom ensemble made from your choice of fine Italian and British fabrics. Select the lining, buttons, and lapel, then consider a pair of custom python boots, sold exclusively through Rouleau. 85 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, alanrouleau.com.
Singh's Roti Shop
Drawing influences from Indian and Caribbean cuisines, this Trinidadian shop's roti wraps—pizza-size flatbreads griddled to order, then stuffed with meat (curried goat!), vegetables (sautéed cabbage, potato), and a house-made spicy pepper sauce (also available to go by the bottle)—are hearty and bold. Share one with a friend to leave room for the rest of the menu's treasures, which include curried chickpeas, garlicky puréed pumpkin, and spongy pholourie fritters with sweet-sour tamarind sauce. 692 Columbia Rd., Dorchester, MA 02125, singhsrotishop.net.
Patrick Gaggiano, Vialé
There are a couple of reasons to visit a bar. One is to sip masterful cocktails. The other is to savor the charms of the bartender, a pleasure you'll discover in less than five minutes when the lighthearted Gaggiano is behind the stick. At Vialé, he's as likely to pour you a shot of cheap whiskey for the hell of it as he is to whip up an inspired creation filled with infusions and specialty liqueurs. 502 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, vialecambridge.com.
Sarah Dussault
Some trainers tend to give pointless cues, like “Lengthen your muscles!” and offer nauseating advice straight from The Secret. Sarah Dussault isn’t one of them. She tells it like it is, whether you want to hear it or not. No, you can’t lengthen your muscles in real life—but you can have the best body for your body. Dussault’s believable, refreshing approach has made her a YouTube star. sarahfit.com.