Nouveau Fashion Gallery
Wallflowers need not apply: Made from materials such as Lucite and even recycled paper, the bold, chunky necklaces at this Copley Place boutique owned by the ultra-stylish Ophelia Bakon and her sisters are conversation pieces that can turn even the simplest outfit into a showstopper. Throw one on with a pair of jeans and a T-shirt or your favorite LBD, and you’ll be hearing “Where did you get that?” all day long. Copley Place, Boston, MA 02116, stylenu.com.
Platemark Design
Picture a living room, bathed in natural light. A handsome wood buffet rests along one wall. Bold artwork hangs above it, adding color to a neutral palette bolstered by sofas in creamy beige. It’s the type of tableau we’ve come to expect from creator Craig Tevolitz, of Platemark Design. Balanced. Refined. Exceptional. 45 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, platemark.com.
Puppet Showplace Theater
This Brookline institution is known for its top-notch puppetry shows in all different traditions, served up with sightlines designed for the little ones. But did you know you can also have the puppets take the stage just for your munchkins? Schedule a private performance or a workshop to give the kiddos an inside look at what happens behind the backdrop, or simply block seats at a regular showing. Then take over the lobby to blow out the candles on the most memorable of celebrations. 32 Station St., Brookline, MA 02445, puppetshowplace.org.
Viyada Thai Spa
What separates a good massage from a great one? The subtle distinction between attentive and overly chatty; the iota of pressure that wobbles on the line of satisfying pleasure and wince-inducing pain. At Viyada, the Thai-inspired décor creates a serene space, with thoughtful comforts at every turn; most important, though, are the expertly able massage therapists, who specialize in techniques ranging from Thai and Swedish to deep-tissue. All you have to do is show up—and relax. Multiple locations. 437 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116, viyadathaispa.com.
9Tailors
Everyone knows ladies wear suits, so why is it still so difficult to find one that fits properly? Samantha Shih, of 9Tailors, is out to change that. In March of this year, she launched a collection of suiting designed especially for the female form. Choose the right look and fabric during an individual style consultation to customize a suit that’s as powerful as you are. 132 Lincoln St., Boston, MA 9tailors.com.
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club
Spend one evening lounging around a fire pit on the water-view terrace with your family, and you just might decide to make a stay at this Brewster retreat, centered around a Victorian-style mansion, an annual tradition. And why wouldn’t you, when there are enough amenities here—a Nicklaus-designed golf course, bar-adjacent private beach, luxe day spa, and full-service tennis courts—to make it so you never have to leave? oceanedge.com.
Lisa Jean-Francois (@LisaalaMode)
Boston gal Lisa Jean-Francois longed for a place where she could share her love of beauty and fashion from her viewpoint as a black feminist—so she created one, launching her website to dish on pop culture, natural hair, and Beyoncé as well as post photos of her head-to-toe outfits. Almost seven years and 35,000-plus Instagram followers later, Francoise is a full-time content creator who’s served as an official influencer for companies such as Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson. N/A, .
Half Crown Design
With two decades at the company, designer Jodi Robbins combines a deep admiration for the beauty of high-quality wood with a keen consideration for each client’s unique style and vision. The result? Expertly designed, one-of-a-kind pieces—such as a sleek walnut dining table with stainless steel accents and a cherry-and-walnut storage bed—individually bench-made by New England craftspeople to last a lifetime. halfcrowndesign.com.
Formaggio Kitchen
Overflowing with the region’s best aged and fresh curds, Formaggio is a bona fide turophile’s haven. But even those without extensive cheese knowledge will enjoy popping into one of the three Hub-area outposts, where sample-dispensing staffers serve as ace guides for navigating cases stocked with bloomy hills of chèvre and Camembert; nutty, crystalline hunks of aged Parmesan; and fat wedges of blue cheese. 244 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA formaggiokitchen.com.
Faherty
Recycling has never looked better. Founded by twin brothers and self-professed beach bums Mike and Alex Faherty, this company is making waves by blending salvaged plastic into fabric to create quick-dry bikinis, reversible one-pieces, and custom-printed swim trunks. And unlike your post-vacation glow, these suits won’t fade, thanks to natural indigo dyes and a special finishing technique that protects against chlorine and saltwater. 115 Newbury St., Boston, MA fahertybrand.com.
Michelle Lee, Salon Eva Michelle
When we showed Michelle Lee our hair inspiration—a shot of actress Kate Mara’s chic and shaggy shoulder-length bob—she nodded knowingly and got to work. As she snipped, she explained that razor-cutting the ends would create a perfectly imperfect base for her volumizing vertical layers. And she wasn’t kidding. On our way out, our tresses bounced with vigor, proving that you don’t need to be a superstar to look like one. 118 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, salonevamichelle.com.
European Wax Center
Let’s get one thing straight: A bikini wax is not a spa treatment. We’re here to break the news that a wax requires—above all else—cleanliness and precision. That’s how it is at European Wax Center: Employees wear medical scrubs, and all locations use a special pre-wax cleanser and oil. The hard wax (no strips), meanwhile, is made in Europe with 100 percent natural beeswax. 309 Cambridge St., Boston; and other locations, waxcenter.com.
South End Athletic Company
Neighborhood running shops really have to go the extra mile (sorry, we couldn’t resist) to compete with the big guys these days. And South End Athletic Company does just that, with a carefully chosen selection of footwear and apparel from Mizuno, Brooks, and more. Staffers use video gait analysis to put you in the right shoes, then invite you to christen them at one of their free running clubs. 652 Tremont St., Boston, MA 2118, southendathleticcompany.com.
Magic Beans
Local parents, rejoice: Magic Beans more than fills the void left behind when one-stop baby-equipment shop Isis Parenting shuttered last winter. At the Coolidge Corner flagship and various outposts, employees steer moms and dads through the wheeled forest of UPPAbaby and Bugaboo strollers and offer guidance on endlessly confusing car seats, childproofing items, and nursing gear. Parenting may be hard work, but Magic Beans makes shopping for all the necessities as easy as 1-2-3. 312 Harvard St., Brookline; and other locations, mbeans.com.
The Handel and Haydn Society
The august ensemble approaches its bicentennial season in peak shape, with an artistic director, Harry Christophers, who understands that early music should be not just "authentic" but also, you know, musical. With excellent guest conductors like Scott Metcalfe and Richard Egarr—and programming that last year ranged from Purcell’s The Indian Queen to Beethoven’s Seventh to Christmas music by four different Bachs—it’s not only the oldest continuously performing arts group in America, it’s also one of the best. handelandhaydn.org.