Landry and 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 and 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 landryandarcari.com.
Leon & Co.
Remember when you used to sneer at bottle blondes? Stylist Leon deMagistris and his staff of colorists have changed all that with bold, rich hair colors that look better than the real thing. (His latest venture, known as California highlighting, mimics the look of sun-kissed hair without foil strips or hours of harmful sun exposure.) Moreover, deMagistris's talent and sway go far beyond the Boston-area beauty scene. He's the former U.S. creative director for the venerable Italian product line Tocco Magico and regularly grabs international attention with runway coiffures in Europe. None of which stops him from running his 33-year-old Belmont salon like a finely tuned machine. 84 Leonard St., Belmont, MA leonandco.com.
Littleburg
Quarantined herbivores rejoiced when vegan chef Graham Boswell replaced his beloved meze pop-up’s brewery appearances and ticketed dinners with convenient home-delivery service in March.He’s proven that he still has everything it takes to enliven animal-free cooking—namely, rich and creamy nut-based sauces to fill fluffy flatbreads, no cheese required; and the confidence to get creative with the Eastern Mediterranean pantry he learned as a line cook under Oleana’s spice queen, chef Ana Sortun. littleburgveg.com.
Tawakal Halal Café
You’ll soon need to adjust your GPS to get the city’s best soor iyo maraq, grits cooked with coconut milk and served with spicy fish, spinach, or chickpea stew: This family-owned Somali restaurant is leaving its small digs just outside Logan airport for a TBD new home later this year. One thing we definitely know: Somalia native Yahya Noor’s fabulously fragrant cooking — try the spaghetti with cumin- and cinnamon-seasoned beef, his nod to Italian East Africa — will take off wherever he lands. 389 Maverick St., Boston, MA 02128, tawakalfoods.co.
Serenella
Not since Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker's first date has understated elegance sat so close to attention-grabbing glamour. The frocks at Serenella—meticulously cut, pressed, and hung—are a whirlwind of sophisticated designs. Start with the impressive collection of European imports: whimsical Moschino ensembles, sexy Blumarine pieces by Italian designer Anna Molinari, and a sunny lineup of Roberto Cavalli gowns in saturated colors that will steal your heart (if not your paycheck). Your sensible side will be seduced by Narciso Rodriguez's latest lean looks. The compilation is so artistic, it even pulls in hard-core Pucci collectors, ardently looking for the Next Big Piece. As for the rest of us, we're just happy to wear the stuff, which we do whenever the evening calls for something special. 134 Newbury St., Boston, MA serenella-boston.com.
Bin 26 Enoteca
With a selection that runs from aglianicos through zinfandels and a wine list that reads like a guidebook, Bin 26 is an unknockable choice for novices looking to get their palates wet. Seasoned oenophiles will likewise have no quibbles with the 70-plus wines by the glass and more than 200 by the bottle. The interior—swaths of cork and wallpaper made from wine labels—might have come off too clever by half in the hands of anyone but the design savants of Office dA, who make it feel quirky, warm, and more than a bit European. Indeed, Bin 26 gets it so right that after a few glasses, you may think you're looking out on a side street in Trastevere, not Beacon Hill. 26 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, bin26.com.
Five Seasons
Out of the way but worth a look. 669A Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA .
Mamma Maria's
Zesty cooking, homey atmosphere. 3 North Square, Boston, MA .
Newbury Comics, Back Bay location
Now that antiseptic virgins have started selling overpriced CDs at the corner of Newbury Street and Mass. Ave., it's nice to know the bad girl still lives next door. The Back Bay Newbury Comics store looks like a pop-culture flea market, with everything from DVDs to T-shirts to X-Men action figures. But, ultimately, music is all that matters. If a rock anthem, hip-hop rhyme, or sugary pop song has been pressed into vinyl or onto a CD, no matter how obscure (or bad), odds are Newbury Comics has it. And the kids behind the counter might look like human graffiti thanks to their tattoos, but most are walking music encyclopedias who are usually glad to help out. 332 Newbury St., Boston, MA newburycomics.com.
Colorado Public Library
Aged prime, creatively cooked. 111 Washington St., Brookline, MA .
Limited Express
Mass-produced trinkets that look like one-of-a-kinds. 333 Washington St., Boston, MA .
Warren Tavern
Cooked with TLC—tender little clams. 2 Pleasant St., Charlestown, MA .