Seven Moving
Upgrading to a new neighborhood or swapping your city digs for a spot in the ’burbs? The efficient team at Seven—armed with protective stretch film, blankets, and pads—makes sure the least stressful part of your move is actually moving things. sevenmoving.com.
Arteriors
When your project calls for more than a coat of paint, Arteriors dials up the drama. Whether you envision a metallic-infused ceiling finish or a custom mural in your playroom, the Natick-based business comes prepared with designer paints and plenty of know-how. 45 Lakeview Ave., Natick, MA arteriors.net.
Outdoor Voices
Whether your idea of a workout is a leisurely stroll around Jamaica Pond or endless squats at Burnin’ by Ray, this newcomer to the Boston fitness scene has you covered, with lightweight athletic dresses, super-soft knit hoodies, and color-blocked leggings designed with performance and comfort in mind. The Seaport outpost of the chainlet even hosts a hikers’ club, rock-climbing outings, and ’90s-themed yoga, should you need a place to put your new duds to good use. 31 Northern Ave., Boston, MA outdoorvoices.com.
Adamas Fine Jewelry
The engagement rings on the second floor of his Newton shop are certainly gasp-worthy (you’ll swoon over brilliant-cut sparklers, halo settings, and pavé-diamond-encrusted split bands), but Adamas Fine Jewelry co-owner and master craftsman Anto Aboyan thrives on one-of-a-kind creativity. If your ideas aren’t set in stone, he can help you build a ring from scratch, hand-casting your custom design into an instant heirloom at his on-site workshop. 22 Lincoln St., Newton, MA adamasfinejewelry.com.
A Street Frames
You’ve finally chosen the perfect masterpiece for your living room—why ruin it with a cheap, mass-produced frame? Go where the top galleries, museums, and collectors go, and you can rest assured that your artwork or favorite family photo will remain in mint condition for years to come thanks to A Street’s archival framing techniques. It’ll look sharp, too, courtesy of hundreds of handcrafted frame styles in materials such as steel, hardwood, and even gold leaf. 755 Concord Ave., Cambridge, MA astreetframes.com.
Heartbreak Hill Running Company
On the Esplanade sporting this shop’s iconic logo? You can bet you’ll get a few high-fives along the way. That’s because Heartbreak Hill is a bona fide pavement pounders’ haven, stocked with top-rated sneakers, breathable T-shirts, ergonomic water bottles, and anti-chafe balm (because…sweat). As avid runners themselves, staffers intuitively know what you need along your journey—most important, free running clubs to help you find your tribe. 294 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA heartbreakhillrunningcompany.com.
Bellacquer
Word to the wise: Arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment, because you’ll need extra time to choose from Bellacquer’s seemingly endless wall of colors—more than 1,500 hues, actually. Once you’ve picked your polish, it’s time to move on to the pampering, administered by technicians who wield a nail file and cuticle trimmer with particular precision. Salon connoisseurs will appreciate the blissful hot-stone massage that comes standard with each classic pedicure. 1389 Beacon St., Brookline, MA bellacquer.com.
The Boylston Rooms
Nestled inside a former textile factory, this alluring Pioneer Valley venue offers everything you’ll need for a killer party: a talented catering team to prepare your wedding feast, access to scenic outdoor areas for endless photo ops, and a much-needed bridal suite for when you need a break from schmoozing with guests. Dress up either of the Boylston Rooms’ function spaces with your choice of décor, or simply let the celebration spots speak for themselves: Effortlessly cool with swaths of white-painted brick and oversize windows, the high-ceilinged rooms are already rich in character. 122 Pleasant St., Easthampton, MA boylstonroom.com.
Spectacle
Choosing a new pair of glasses or sunnies is one of the most difficult shopping tasks, second only to shopping for jeans. One glance in the mirror is hardly enough to determine whether you’ll like this new addition to your face next month—to say nothing of whether the style will still look au courant next year. Enter Spectacle, a small shop that sells logo-free, non-branded glasses in a bevy of timeless shapes and colors. Its 60-day exchange policy lets you actually live with your new look before making any major commitments. Imagine if the same rules applied to denim. 505 Tremont St., Boston, MA spectacle-eyeware.com.
Polkadog Bakery
Walk your pooch within a block of any Polkadog location, and you’re guaranteed to feel a sharp jerk on the leash pulling you toward the store’s front door. Perhaps Fido can smell the drool-inducing Clam Chowda strips. Maybe he remembers the free snacks generously doled out by pet-loving staffers. Whatever the reason, it’ll be worth the embarrassment of being walked in by your dog, given that you’ll also love browsing the shelves stocked with colorful toys and leashes. Too bad most cats don’t go for walks, because a lot of this is available for felines, too. 256 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA polkadog.com.
Sky Salon
Elizabeth Smith to the rescue: When we rang needing immediate attention for our graying tresses, the stylist fit us in the next day—and matched our brunette locks perfectly, all while maintaining an intuitive balance of chattiness and quietude as we lounged on a couch, waiting for our color to develop. The best part? The salon’s gentle, ammonia-free dye meant we didn’t leave with a burning scalp after color correction—just glossy, shiny hair. skysalonlincoln.com.
Turtle Swamp Brewing
Gone are the days when Sam Adams was J.P.’s only claim to brewery fame. Opened in 2017, Turtle Swamp serves IPAs, porters, sours, and ales all made with local ingredients. turtleswampbrewing.com.
Tadpole
Forgo the soulless online registry in favor of this family-owned baby wonderland, where a turquoise door leads to all the quirky cotton onesies, ultra-modern cribs, and baby carriers your little angel will ever need. 58 Clarendon St., Boston, MA shoptadpole.com.
State Road
Want a meal to match your ideal summer day—unpretentious, nourishing, and simply delicious? State Road has the breakfast for you, from the rustic mushroom toast with a fried egg to the hearty lemon-ricotta pancakes with blueberry coulis. stateroadrestaurant.com.
Marathon Sports
Marathon Sports’ Brookline outpost stocks shoes galore, from old standbys to coveted limited releases. Not sure where to start? Let a staffer diagnose your stride. marathonsports.com.