Community Servings
This charity gives non-cooks and harried cooks—the only two kinds during the holidays—perfect endings to Thanksgiving dinner: pumpkin, apple, or sweet potato-pie, from the kitchens of Julia Child, Jody Adams, Tony Ambrose, and dozens more. Proceeds benefit home-bound AIDS patients. 125 Magazine St., Roxbury, MA .
Community Servings
Community Servings believes that “food is medicine.” But what happens when you’re not able to give your body the right dose? That’s where this J.P. nonprofit steps in, delivering medically tailored, homemade meals to those who are chronically ill or unable to shop and cook for themselves. Not only does the valiant team of volunteers do the cooking and delivering, it also offers nutrition courses for vulnerable populations—and plenty of opportunities for those who want to lend a hand. 179 Amory St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, servings.org.
Olives & Grace
Mona Miri If you’re looking for Red Sox mugs or Revolutionary War gimcrackery, look elsewhere: Paul Revere is not here. Trust that you will find thoughtfully arranged displays and artisanal goods that this garden-level shop’s loyal legion of Instagram followers—more than 30,000 strong—simply crave. Whether shipping a present to the happy couple whose wedding you couldn’t attend or treating yourself to a locally made treasure, purchasing a gift from Olives & Grace comes with the added joy of plugging into your community. 623 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02118, olivesandgrace.com.
Ball and Buck
Take a look in the mirror: What’s your outfit missing? Elk-skin-suede gloves to complement your favorite jacket? A pair of sleek brass earphones for your walk to work? Or perhaps a star-spangled bow tie? Whatever you need to assemble the perfect look, you’ll find it in this handsome man cave of a shop, where the shelves are lined with high-quality, American-made accessories you never knew you needed. 144B Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, ballandbuck.com.
Bobby from Boston
Proprietor Bobby Garnett is no longer with us, but his spirit lives on at his eponymous South End shop. Looking for a vintage hatbox? Aviator shades? A bejeweled belt that makes you look like a country-and-western diva? Chances are you'll find it here, plus racks of $2 blazers during Bobby's legendary sidewalk sales. Lots of vintage shops have style, but this one also has soul. 19 Thayer St., Boston, MA 02118, bobby-from-boston.com.
Dani Wagener, Shu Uemura
Too many makeup artists labor under the tragic misconception that "bridal" means caked-on foundation, tarlike mascara, and Dynasty-esque cheek contouring. Not Wagener, who studies the bride-to-be's everyday look, then simply ratchets it up for the nuptials. After a session in her cozy workspace—well worth her $125 hourly fee—we walked away feeling glamorous as hell, but looking like ourselves. 130 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 2116, shuuemura-usa.com.
Barneys New York
You wonder how some guys look so damn sharp all the time? We're betting it's the Barneys men's department. All the key pieces are in place here: suits, shirts, ties, and accents from heavy hitters like Etro, Zegna, and Isaia, plus a sales staff of dapper gents eager to lend a hand in putting it together. You'll emerge looking like your old self, only much, much sharper. Copley Place, Boston, MA barneys.com.
Boston Super Dog
Not all dogs are created equal. There are the flavorless grocery-store tubes (we're looking at you, Oscar Mayer), and then there is the behemoth from food truck Boston Super Dog (formerly Speed's). This half-pound frank is marinated in apple cider before it's smoked, grilled, and basted in barbecue sauce (go all the way with chili, mustard, chopped onion, and relish). You'll never look a packaged dog in the bun again. Roxbury, MA 2118, bostonsuperdog.com.
Gary Croteau, Salon Mario Russo at Fan Pier
If you're looking to keep your root touchups on the QT, Mario Russo's new outpost inside Louis on quiet Fan Pier offers an alternative to gossipy Newbury Street salons. A better reason to go, however, is Gary Croteau: His sure hand with blond tresses ensures full-bodied color from root to tip, plus sun-kissed highlights that look like the byproduct of a Saint-Tropez getaway. 60 Northern Ave., Boston, MA 2210, mariorusso.com.
Laurel Elliott, Vidal Sassoon
Laurel Elliott is not the colorist you run to for attitude, style hauteur, or outlandish color statements. The petite and down-to-earth workaholic does strong but natural color that simply makes her clients look like a million bucks. Sure, she'll do cranberry red tints or platinum washes (and do them exceptionally well) if you ask, but her forte lies in both the conception and execution: She knows what looks good (or doesn't) on everyone, and has the technique and patience to make it all work. 14 Newbury St., Boston, MA sassoon.com.
Magic Beans
First, the giddiness: Yippee! Look at all this stuff! Then, the apprehension: Yikes! Look at all this stuff! Owners Eli and Sheri Gurock stand ready to help new parents navigate the wealth of options at their tot emporium, from the dozen-plus car seats, Bugaboo-to-Stokke stroller lineup, and rarely seen crib lines like Cariboo and Cub 2.0. 200 Linden St., Wellesley, MA 2482, mbeans.com.
Bo Line
If casual men's clothes can look smart just as easily as they can look dumpy, why not go for smart? That's the question eloquently posed by Bo Line, the style-wise custom shop filled with perfectly tailored dress shirts, ties, and stretch tops that are equal parts comfortable and cool. Got a suit that won't hang right? Bring it in: the custom tailoring here is unassailable. 495 Washington St., Norwell, MA bolineboutique.com.
Glamour Cosmetics
There’s a difference between what makeup looks good in person and what appears best on camera. Thankfully, Garineh Ashjian has mastered the art of balancing the two. In the years that she’s been working with Boston brides, Ashjian has been lauded not only for her skill with cosmetics but also for her calming and upbeat demeanor. She listens carefully to her clients, with the goal of making them look like the best version of themselves — because no bride wants to be unrecognizable on one of the most important days of her life. glamourcosmeticsoffical.com.
Amy Bailey, Townhouse Beauty Bar
Getting your makeup done sounds glamorous—until you look in the mirror and don’t recognize the face staring back at you, that is. That never happens when Bailey is the one wielding the brush. The makeup artist has a light hand with foundation, skillfully applying just the right amount so your freckles still shine through, but your blemishes do not. You’ll leave every time looking (and feeling) like the best version of yourself. 28 Charles St., Boston, MA townhousebeautybar.com.
Michael Albor, The Loft
Photograph by Webb Chappell On nights when you need to make an entrance, make a pit stop at the Loft first. Miami-bred owner Michael Albor does gravity-defying updos and soft, luscious curls like no one else. More important, his looks are upscale, not uptight—meaning that after a few hours of cocktailing, dancing, and otherwise having a ball, your piled-up 'do will look even better than when you arrived. 253 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, theloftsalonanddayspa.com.