Jumbo Seafood Restaurant
On any given night you'll find some of the city's top chefs here after work with chopsticks waving. The eight water tanks filled with live seafood make fish and shellfish obvious choices. Crispy calamari with jalapeño peppers go down like popcorn. And whole fish in a sweet and spicy sauce may cause you to look left, then right, then lick the plate if no one's looking. They're all stellar examples of fresh and delicious Hong Kong-style cuisine, but the kitchen also soars with pork chops, garlic-laden fresh pea tendrils, and eggplant. Added bonus: Jumbo stays open into the wee hours of the morning. 5 Hudson St., Boston, MA jumboseafoodrestaurant.net.
Kitchen Arts
Stepping into this small Newbury Street shop is more inspiring than a cooking show could ever be. The shelves are crammed with bakeware, pots, pans, appliances, and an envy-inducing selection of knives from makers including Henckels, plus such tempting doodads as neon-colored silicone pot holders. It's easy to imagine whipping up perfect little pastries in those scalloped tartlet pans or hearty, crowd-pleasing casseroles in the brightly colored Le Creuset French ovens. Can't cook? Kitchen Arts has you covered there, too, with a supply of crime-scene tape for use when kitchen exploits go awry. 161 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Landry & Arcari
The qualities you seek in a fine rug, it could be argued, are not unlike those you might seek in a mate: Rich. Good-looking. Well traveled. If that's the case, your heart's desire awaits at Landry & Arcari. How about an antique wool rug handwoven in China? Or a sprawling geometric eye-catcher in bright silk? Perhaps a custom carpet inspired by a favorite artist's work or your child's drawing? (They can make even doodles look elegant.) The showroom has the finest broadlooms for those in search of something more expansive, while its repair service can help you patch things up with your current love. 333 Stuart St., Boston, MA 2116, landryandarcari.com.
East West Salon Co.
Select “A Cinderella Story” from the extensive menu of wedding offerings here, and the bridal party takes over the salon — mimosa bar included. Whether you’re in the market for beachy waves or structured chignons, there’s no look that the all-star team of stylists can’t create, and if you find yourself unable to choose between two hairstyles, you can have both! Just sign up for the “Second Look” add-on, and a stylist will accompany you on your wedding day to transform your hair after the ceremony. 120 West Broadway, Boston, MA 02127, eastwestsalon.com.
Jessica Thornton, the Green Room
Whether you’re looking for a few face-framing highlights or just need some serious corrective color after a botched lockdown dye job, the single chair inside Jessica Thornton’s cozy salon is waiting for you. The stylist begins with an in-depth consultation—like psychoanalysis for your locks—to learn your goals, then creates a look that’s everything you’ve dreamed of but could never quite put into words. 40 River St., Boston, MA 02114, greenroomboston.com.
My Big Hair Day
Stylist Sarah Naslund may specialize in updos — headband braids, intricate twists, sleek buns — but you’d be hard-pressed to find a look this Boston-based expert hasn’t mastered. That’s because she carefully evaluates the length, texture, and color of each bride’s locks to help her choose a style that will look flawless in photos — and stay put on the dance floor. 56 Wareham St., Boston, MA 02118, mybighairday.com.
L’elite Bridal Boutique
Saying “yes” to the most important dress you’ll ever wear is harder than it looks on TV. Thankfully, L’élite’s light-filled showroom makes the process painless, with both classic silhouettes and dramatic runway looks from such bridal-design powerhouses as Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, and Monique Lhuillier. Bonus: L’élite keeps on-site tailors and even designers on staff, should you wish to create your gown from scratch. 14 Newbury St., Boston, MA lelite.com.
SEE
If there were a law of relativity for optical shops, it would go something like this: The cheaper the eyeglasses, the less attractive they are. Bucking this trend, SEE is changing the way we look at specs by offering unbeatable bargains and an amazing selection. The boutique eschews name brands, and trades its own signature style. From unusual plastic frames to classic vintage glasses, this shop's picks capture the designer look—without the high-end prices. 125 Newbury St., Boston, MA seeeyewear.com.
The Abbey Lounge
"Cheap booze" and "rock 'n' roll," those twin sacraments of a great neighborhood bar, are in high evidence at this grungy yet lovable spot on the Cambridge/Somerville border. Tattoos abound on boozers of all ages in the cafeteria-style main room, while the sweaty stage area next door features loud up-and-coming (read: will play for drinks) bands, including the tavern's own Schnockered. Booze now, repent later! 3 Beacon Street, Somerville, MA .
Giblees
Giblees may not look like much from vantage of Route 114, but behind its inconspicuous storefront is an international array of the finest men's suits and casualwear this side of I-95. Lucky, Paper Denim & Cloth, Hugo Boss, and Coogi are just a few of the big-city brands you'll find at this surprisingly swank suburban haberdashery, whose cordial staff has 50 years of experience making the men of the North Shore look their best. 85 Andover St. (Rte. 114), Danvers, MA giblees.com.
Captain Marden's Seafoods
When restauranteurs like Gordon Hamersley, Barbara Lynch, or Frank McClelland order fish, they call Kim Marden's wholesale operation. But the pros aren't the only ones Marden's supplies. Amateur cooks can also get the and freshest fish by heading west to Marden's Wellesley retail shop for a dizzying selection of grilled wonders and shelled delicacies. Squamish about cooking fish? In the adjacent restaurant, there's a vast selection of fresh and frozen appetizers and entrées, and soups and sandwiches made to order. The stuffed lobster rules. 279 Linden St., Wellesley, MA captainmardens.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.
James Perse
One of the best things about a day off is having the ability to choose comfort above all else. At the Boston outpost for this popular designer, sartorial-minded gents can find soft, well-fitting tees and premium cashmere track pants that won’t look embarrassing in the produce section. And if an invite comes your way that involves meeting people you know in public, you won’t have to sacrifice said comfort when you swap the sweats for cotton pants, a linen shirt, and crisp, retro-looking sneakers. 17 Arlington St., Boston, MA jamesperse.com.
Cumar
This Everett-based fabricator boasts the largest showroom in New England, stocked with exotic stones, marble, granite,and limestone carefully sourced from all over the world — so if you can’t find what you’re looking for here, you likely won’t find it anywhere. It’s not just about the selection, of course: Cumar’s expertise runs deep, both in the knowledge of its consultants and engineers and the carefully honed skills of the stone artisans in its shop. As for the quality of their work, look no further than an entire bathroom wrapped in floor-to-ceiling marble or massive fireplaces encased in beautiful stone you’ve never seen before. 69 Norman St., Everett, MA 02149, cumar.com.
Soul Cake
COURTESY OF SOUL CAKE If you need another excuse to get married, look no further than Soul Cake’s Instagram. A casual scroll reveals masterpiece after masterpiece, thanks to pastry chef Gayoung Kim’s myriad textures and toppings: monstera leaf plastered to a pink-marble surface, blue watercolor fondant interrupted by flashes of gold, and sugar peonies placed by the bucketful. But of course, looks alone do not a wedding cake make—not only are Kim’s creations gorgeous, they’re also can’t-put-it-down good. Why double-tap when you could order one IRL? Woburn, MA 01801, soulcakeshop.com.