Petrova Chocolates
Courtesy photo When the pandemic sidelined her pastry gig at the Back Bay’s iconic Uni, Betty Petrova didn’t sit on her couch eating bonbons; instead, she took to the kitchen to start making them. Handpainted with colorful, glossy brushstrokes of cocoa butter, the bite-size works of art quickly caught the eye of fans — so much so that now she’s focused full time on crafting delicate Valrhona chocolate shells generously filled with exquisite, inventive flavors like honey elderflower, rose pistachio, and rosemary caramel, many using ingredients plucked from local gardens. petrovachocolates.com.
Lunette Optic
An eyewear shop needs two things to be successful: an ample selection of designer brands and a sales staff that’s willing to tell it to you straight. In the case of the fine folks at Lunette Optic, that meant stopping one tester from splurging on a pair of Chanel frames that made him look like an art-school dropout. Instead, they pointed the way toward face-flattering specs from a diverse lineup that includes hard-to-find international labels such as Anne et Valentin, from France, and Eyevan, from Japan. Perfect vision, indeed. Multiple locations. 121 High St., Boston, MA 02110, lunetteoptic.com.
December Thieves
When Lana Barakat decided to rethink her two Beacon Hill clothing-and-gift boutiques, she envisioned one store catering to home décor and another specializing in apparel and accessories. This divide-and-conquer strategy created more room for something Boston has been sorely lacking: high-end women’s footwear. Handcrafted by European and American designers, Barakat’s collection includes everything from metallic leather boots with an offset heel to cheetah-print loafers to sneakers with a velvet knot tie—perfect for navigating the cobblestones in style as you stroll up Charles to check out what other treasures await at the December Thieves home store. 51 Charles St., Boston, MA decemberthieves.com.
Valentino
Unlike the fable told about bridesmaids' gowns, a piece from Valentino can actually be worn again, and not just to another black-tie event. The current line of classic silhouettes and punchy colors is on-trend without being trendy, so the garments won't quickly look dated. The designs can also be taken from night to day with toned-down accessories and a more-casual shoe, so that printed crՎpe de Chine dress that made you feel like Cinderella at the fundraising gala doesn't need a glass slipper to stun again. 47 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, valentino.com.
Patrice Vinci, Patrice Vinci Salon
Patrice Vinci is the beauty fairy godmother you never knew you needed. With an old-school Boston accent and gorgeous golden tresses of her own, the colorist wields her brushes like magic wands and her dyes like potions. Case in point: a visit that turned our thick blond curls a rich, multi-toned copper that looked so incredibly natural, even our mother swore we must have entered this world a redhead. Expert or enchantress—why can't it be both?—Vinci will help your hair live happily ever after. 91 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, patricevinci.com.
Covet + Lou
The expectations were high when Tina Burgos, the fashionista behind Newbury Street boutique Stel's (RIP), announced she was taking her popular online store to a Needham brick-and-mortar. By any measure, Burgos's new endeavor has well exceeded the hype, with a tightly curated selection of the same indie designer fashions (clean, classic pieces from Ilana Kohn, minimalist looks from Maryam Nassir Zadeh) we love to shop online, not to mention an expanded home-goods section. Something else the Needham store has that the website doesn't? Burgos herself, who often plays hostess to her loyal shoppers. 947 Great Plain Ave., Needham, MA 2492, covetandlou.com.
Marathon Sports
There's a myth that says running requires nothing more than comfortable sneakers and willpower. Untrue: If you're serious about the sport (or are merely trying to look as if you are), you're also going to need some sweat-wicking shorts and shirts, a cardiac monitor, several pairs of cushy socks, a hat and/or sunglasses, maybe a windbreaker, and, oh yeah, one of those belts that holds little water bottles. Marathon Sports has all the gear you need, and some you probably don't. And its running-obsessed staff is clued in and honest enough to help you sort out which is which. 671 Boylston St., Brookline, MA 2445, marathonsports.com.
Louis Boston
Here is where to head when you want to dress like the models in Esquire and GQ. Doing so ain't cheap, mind you, but the expert and generally courteous staff will steer you toward top-notch renditions of whatever look you're seeking. The specialized heme rooms—like the Corner Office, Paddock by Kiton, Helmut Lang, On-the-Road with Gianluca Isaia, etc.—make the large selection a bit more manageable. And while it may be a trifle difficult to imagine Jack Kerouac walking into the one named for his beat masterpiece and dropping $195 on a button-down black shirt, that doesn't mean you won't be sorely tempted to. 234 Berkeley St., Boston, MA louisboston.com.
Banq
You could go for the smoked quail and date appetizer. You could go for the now-famous undulating wood ceiling. But the reason to go to Banq is to simply sit, and watch the social hopefuls preen. When the French-Asian fusion spot made its debut in the South End this winter, boldfacers came from far and wide. These days, Banq still draws its share of top chefs, fashion insiders, and media darlings—who cluster around the low-lit tables, sipping Collalbrigo prosecco and air-kissing passing acquaintances—but the dressed-to-the-nines newcomers looking to hobnob are themselves the show on all of Washington Street. 1375 Washington Street, Boston, MA 2118, banqrestaurant.com.
Uncle Pete's
A welcome addition to gifty, girly Beacon Hill, this new boutique is as hip as it is friendly. On any given day, you'll find Uncle Pete's proprietor Peter Tam chatting about everything from dark denim to indie music. His fashionable menswear lines include Rag & Bone, Tretorn, Cloak & Dagger, and Surface to Air, and he's eager to chime in with helpful, practical advice on what goes with what. Bonus: A women's section means your lady friend can look as cool as you, sir. (Buy her something nice, why don't you?) 119 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, .
Dorfman Jewelers
Sitting on a block somewhere between Juicy Couture and Newbury MedSpa, Dorfman's looks a tad out of place among its campier neighbors. Chalk it up to the stately facade and, no doubt, to the fact that this store practically oozes staying power. For two generations the Dorfman family has dealt exclusively in European-cut diamonds and other gems; these days they also sell such illustrious names as Harry Winston, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Breguet. Perhaps most representative is the in-house Barbara Collection, open-link gold pieces inspired by the clan matriarch that are at once unpretentious and enduring—much like the venerable Dorfman itself. 24 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Tu y Yo, Mexican Fonda
At first glance, Tu y Yo looks like a fiesta—as if someone broke a piñata and candy-colored tables and chairs spilled out. But what comes out of the kitchen isn't child's play by any means. This is serious Mexican food, like pan-fried Atlantic pollock in a spicy chipotle cream sauce or chicken breast stuffed with cuitlacoche and drowned in a zingy spinach sauce. And the flan à la Doris has an intriguing twist: cinnamon cream sauce. Sure, Powderhouse Circle is a little out of the way, but it's easier than going to Guadalajara. And it just might be more fun. 858 Broadway, Somerville, MA .
Bella Santé
You could get a less expensive manicure at any of the walk-in salons that line Newbury Street, but will it last a blissful, chip-free week? A manicure at Bella Santé will, and that, combined with the friendly service, exceptional cleanliness, and immaculate attention to detail (excess polish is erased with a tiny paintbrush), makes the service worth the (slightly higher) price. The staff here can create a flawless French manicure and recommend a regular maintenance program to keep nails strong and healthy. An added bonus: the extensive collection of O.P.I. and Essie polishes to keep you looking fashion-magazine fresh. 38 Newbury St., Boston, MA bellasante.com.
Ski Haus
When you're looking for the deals on gear, the most helpful staff, and the widest array of clothes, you have to go a few miles out of town. That's because Ski Haus, on Route 129, is the black diamond of ski shops. Its package deals of skis and bindings beat all the better-known ski shops in the area, and staffers don't try to push the newest (read: most expensive) equipment. In fact, they volunteer last year's cheaper model if the design is basically the same. Plus, the hospitality while you wait for your new bindings to be mounted is first-rate. 320 Lowell St., Wilmington, MA .
Evenfall
On the approach—down a dismal stretch of highway, across from a gas station—Evenfall scarcely looks the date-night part. Enter, though, and the picture improves as you discover a space that's cozy but not cramped, dim but not dark. Things get better still with chef Scott Pelletier's seasonal dishes, which are too good not to share; a recent evening saw couples swapping forkfuls of braised Kobe beef cheeks and chestnut ravioli. By the time you're stealing bites of your companion's warm apple strudel, the iffy setting outside feels like a benefit. After all, what's romance without surprise? 8 Knipe Road, Haverhill, MA 1835, evenfallrestaurant.com.