Wellesley Center
With the exception of a few tolerable chains like LF and the Rugged Bear, this tony town remains largely true to the efforts of owners with local ties: Jill Goldberg's home shop Hudson, Gretchen Monahan's temple-to-chic Gretta Luxe, Georgie Hotchkiss's crafts showcase the Gifted Hand. Everything from books to $2,000 Italian handbags can be bought from a familiar face (and when dining apré-spree, we especially like the one in the kitchen at nearby Blue Ginger). MA
Neiman Marcus
Smaller boutiques deserve snaps for cleverness and class, but no one touches Neiman's when it comes to sheer selection. Sole searchers here can browse through zebra-print Manolos, steel-heeled Kors slingbacks, Marc Jacobs espadrilles, and bejeweled Christian Lacroix sandals. And with plenty of stock and attentive service, it's that much easier to walk out with your best foot forward. Copley Place, Boston, MA neimanmarcus.com.
Montage
If couture décor is fashion for the home, then Montage is the Gucci of interior shops. Store owners Chris and Liz Bates have assembled an enviable collection of Italian "sleek-chic," meaning everything from B&B Italia to Cassina. Classic Barcelona chairs nestle up to the new Mister sofa designed by Philippe Starck, forming one of the most impressive conglomerations of high-end lines this side of Milan. 75 Arlington St., Boston, MA montageweb.com.
Julie Michaud
If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, do yourself a favor and let brow virtuoso Julie Michaud hold the tweezers. Her sense of shape and color are perfect on every brow, and her insistence on a clean line is nothing short of exacting. Don't come looking for a harsh, surprised expression; Michaud's watchwords are flattering, subtle, and pretty. With such attention to detail, the petite and affable artist doesn't just do natural: She is one. 297 Newbury St., Boston, MA prettyology.com.
Marathon Sports
This is not your average athletic-shoe store. The staff will study your strut to determine whether your feet pronate or roll outward, and whether you need a wide shoe or a skinny one. Then they'll hold your hand and guide you through a sea of brands, sizes, and models until you find the perfect fit. Athletes swear their knees, heels, and other weak points improve after a proper fitting at Marathon. 255 Washington St., Wellesley, MA .
Canyon Beachwear
There's something disconcerting about trying on swimsuits in badly lighted dressing rooms that seem to highlight every wrinkled lump on your legs. Canyon Beachwear feels your pain: It offers mix-and-match tops and bottoms for whose who fit into a 12 on the bottom but a 6 on the top. The store carries one-piece suits, bikinis, tankinis, and wraps from Domani, Calvin Klein, Anne Cole, Manuel Conovas, Jag, Esprit, and Mossimo, among others. 229 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
B&G Oysters
Maybe it's the two dozen varieties of oysters talking, but we've fallen hard for B&G. Barbara Lynch's imaginative takes on the standards—a lobster roll lined with bacon, Portuguese clam stew accented with pork belly—pair seamlessly with an ever changing menu of flounced-up yellowfin, sole, perch, and halibut. Wash it all down with one of 40 wines on offer and you, too, will feel a wave of affection coming on. 550 Tremont St., Boston, MA 2116, bandgoysters.com.
Sadie Higgins, Sarra
There are plenty of beauty rituals that can survive a rushed appointment. Eyebrow shaping is not one of them. Sadie Higgins spends a full 45 minutes studying the shape of your face while tweezing (no wax) a natural arch precisely where it was meant to be—even if nature had other ideas. She also dispenses at-home maintenance tips, all in a gorgeous loft space. 840 Summer St., Boston, MA sarrastudios.com.
The Independent
In the past year, Somerville has exploded as a culinary destination. And while the Union Square food scene may change as a result, there's one constant: our beloved Indo,with its relaxed service, bacon deviled eggs perched atop cucumber slices, and stacked beer list featuring favorites from both home (High & Mighty's Beer of the Gods) and away (Six Point Brewery's Sweet Action). 75 Union Square, Somerville, MA 2143, theindo.com.
Wine Sense
Wine Sense is small, but that's a good thing, because you can feel confident that owner Samanta Ettore has vetted every single bottle on display. Don't want any part in the picking? Grab one of the tailored-to-the-season wine six-packs she puts together each month. Ettore also holds public tastings from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, and arranges private tastings upon request. 166 N. Main St., Andover, MA wine-sense.net.
Yale Appliance & Lighting
The kitchen, they say, is the heart of the home, which may explain why an outdated one can be such a source of agitation for image-conscious homeowners. Yale Appliance + Lighting can ease the pain. Its Dorchester headquarters packs in Thermador refrigerators, Viking stovetops, Sub-Zero wine coolers, and Bosch dishwashers. The store will deliver your purchase and remove your old gear for free, and also offers cooking and appliance seminars run by its resident chef, Kurt von Kahle. 296 Freeport St., Dorchester, MA 2122, yaleappliance.com.
Pure Glow
One session with owner Lauren Rampello, and you’ll never hop into an automated spray-tan booth again. Her paraben-, formaldehyde-, and retinol-free formula is meticulously applied by hand, leaving no room for streaks or missed spots. Stop into the recently opened studio for a custom color consultation, or let Rampello bring her pop-up tanning station to your home. Either way, 20 minutes is all you’ll need for a subtle glow that lasts for the better part of a week. 176 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, pureglowtanning.com.
Catalano Architects
Classic, timeless, and inspiring are words that come to mind when you see a house designed by Tom Catalano. Committed to designing spaces that are both functional and enduring, his firm’s number one goal is to create homes that suit their inhabitants’ lifestyles. Equally as important is honoring the integrity of the structure and seamlessly integrating it with its surroundings — which imbues even newly designed abodes with a sense of permanence. 125 Pearl St., Boston, MA 02110, catalanoarchitects.com.
Franklin Park Zoo
It doesn’t matter where in the zoo you are — when the big cats make a sound, you’ll hear it. Of course, the facility’s two majestic lions are just one of the 100-plus amazing animal species your kiddos can check out here. Watch the gorillas scramble around their outdoor grove, see the giraffes and zebras grazing on the zoo’s savannah, or catch the kangaroos bounding along the Outback Trail. Then talk about it on repeat all the way home. One Franklin Park Rd., Boston, MA 02121, zoonewengland.org.
Love Notes by June
Known by one bride as “nothing short of a miracle worker,” Love Notes by June owner June Leung pulls off everything from simple romantic sweeps and tousled curls to textured low ponies and effortlessly stunning chignons accented with bedazzled combs. Hoping to add volume? The beauty buff and her talented team of stylists will gladly hook you up with extensions, too. lovenotesbyjune.com.