Best of Boston

An Armenian religious icon watches over Valeriy Gazaryan and his customers at Alton Place Shoe Repair, in Brookline, and indeed, his work seems to border on the miraculous. Gazaryan is a man of few words. He silently examined our tired boots—scuffed leather, busted zippers, worn-out heel—and agreed to see what he could do. Four days later, our boots came back shined, rezippered, and reheeled, all for about $25.