Athleta
Sure, you can find on-trend (pricey) gear at Lululemon, and an encyclopedic selection at City Sports. But yoga pant for yoga pant, the bright, spacious Newbury Street branch of national chain Athleta comes out on top. Crucial free tailoring, meticulously clean changing rooms, and in-store boot camps from local trainers make this a supportive, stress-free place to get sporty. (Multiple locations.) 92 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, athleta.com.
Alan Rouleau Couture
Photograph by Pat Piasecki If you're going to drop a few grand on a suit, you might as well have it built from the ground up. Alan Rouleau—called one of America's finest suit makers—can design, cut, and sew a custom ensemble made from your choice of fine Italian and British fabrics. Select the lining, buttons, and lapel, then consider a pair of custom python boots, sold exclusively through Rouleau. 85 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, alanrouleau.com.
Kelly Gardner, Moxie Salon
Kelly Gardner has an eye for contrast, tone, and depth, with a particular fluency in the art of foiling—super up-close and personal with the root, mind you. Trend-seekers, fret not: Gardner will fearlessly dive into those edgy, ultramodern looks, too. For us, it was a bold white-platinum with an inch of blended root. Her second forte is of-the-moment, sun-kissed balayage. Talk about cutting-edge. 691 Belmont St., Belmont, MA 02478, moxiebelmont.com.
Orinoco
Orinoco has churned out irresistible arepas and empanadas for nearly 10 years—the only difference is that now you can enjoy the restaurant's slow-cooked baby-back ribs with guava barbecue sauce, juicy adobo-criollo chicken with malanga gnocchi, and gut-busting plates of shredded beef, rice, beans, and plantains in three neighborhoods. Whether you're in Boston, Cambridge, or Brookline, there's a killer empanada within walking distance. (Multiple locations.) 477 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA 02118, orinocokitchen.com.
Torbert MacDonald State Park
Enjoy lush greenery on the banks of the Mystic at Torbert MacDonald State Park. / Photograph by PJ Couture No need for hiking boots and day packs at this nexus of nature and urbanity. A stroll through Medford's Torbert MacDonald State Park provides ample fodder for urban birders, with sightings of red-tail hawks common. And though the stresses of the daily grind are just a few steps away, the sweeping views of the Mystic River and winding walking paths will make them feel a world away. 4253 Mystic Valley Pkwy., Medford, MA 02155, .
Pagu
The debut from chef Tracy Chang, cofounder of the pioneering pop-up Guchi's Midnight Ramen, is part izakaya, part pintxos bar, and fully the chef's "culinary diary." That means reverence paid to ramen, especially the original Guchi's version. Featuring house-made alkaline noodles, three rich broths, and a perfectly cooked six-minute egg, the luxurious bowl is even more satisfying in Chang's sleek permanent digs. 310 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, gopagu.com.
Ashley and Katie Hess
Photograph by PJ Couture The twin daughters of Linda Holliday (a.k.a. Bill Belichick’s main squeeze) aren’t afraid to take a risk and make it look effortless—be it with over-the-top faux-fur coats, nude body suits, or self-professed “mom jeans.” Their fashion-forward blog, the Party of Two, spotlights designers from Chanel to local darling Daniela Corte, and their joint Instagram account is the perfect place to pick up trendy outfit cues. thepartyof2.com.
Ball and Buck
Spend two minutes inside Ball and Buck’s Newbury Street boutique and try to resist the urge to find the nearest Douglas fir and chop it down with your bare, brawny hands. Steeped in Americana and testosterone, the store offers all the tools needed to fine-tune your urban lumberjack aesthetic, from waxed canvas Dopp kits and camo bow ties right down to the wild-boar brush you’ll need to prep your handstitched Red Wing boots for inclement weather. 144B Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, ballandbuck.com.
Smudge Ink
Your invitation sets the tone of the wedding—no pressure at all, right? Enter Smudge Ink, which has its own on-site letterpress to ensure complete control over quality and design. Work with the team to create a custom look, or choose from a selection of pre-made options (they lean swirly and feminine). They'll even incorporate your own artwork for a truly unique invitation. 50 Terminal St., Charlestown, MA 02129, smudgeink.com.
The Green Room
Tucked away on a quiet Beacon Hill side street, the Green Room is the perfect spot for anyone yearning for a sharp cut, but desperate to avoid the Newbury Street traffic. With just a single chair, Jessica Dill offers her undivided attention to one client at a time in a cozy studio that feels more like a private retreat. Discretion, personalization, and customer service are paid more than mere lip service, as she offers off-hour appointments and complimentary neck trims to ensure we’re always looking our best. 49 River St., Boston, MA 2114, greenroomboston.com.
Ore
Sophie Hughes’s charming South End store and workshop is stocked with her own designs (handforged sterling silver hoops, oxidized-silver-and-18-karat-gold cuffs), as well as with covetable pieces from emerging jewelers near and far (Hannah Blount, Todd Pownell, Emilie Shapiro). Leather handbags from Meg Erickson, MCMC perfumes, and other high-end accents round out the thoughtful selection for a look that’s on-trend as well as unique and handmade. 80 Dartmouth St., Boston, MA 2116, sophiehughes.com.
Cakes to Remember
Photograph by Scott M. Lacey This is the most important baked good you'll ever purchase. With that in mind, shop owner Ellen Bartlett has a simple philosophy: Every one of her confections should taste as heavenly as it looks. Flavor options like mocha-Frangelico infusion and strawberry-orange blossom, combined with Bartlett's exquisite floral and graphic designs, make for tiers of absolute joy. 248 Cypress St., Brookline, MA 2445, cakestoremember.biz.
Violet Furxhi, Salon Mario Russo
No post-appointment plans? You'll be scrambling to make some after a visit to this ego booster/blowout artist extraordinaire. Calling on fierce wattage and killer technique, Furxhi shapes locks into your desired frizz-free configuration, from stick straight to full-on Jessica Simpson—all the while complimenting in an exotic growl your "gorgeous," "hot" new look. One glance in the mirror, and you'll be hard-pressed to disagree. 9 Newbury St., Boston, MA mariorusso.com.
Desfina
Nowadays a lot of trendy kitchens are "interpreting" Greek classics. Hole-in-the-wall Desfina, by contrast, cooks up classics that taste just as they would at an Athens taverna. The pikilia, an appetizer plate with a handful of flavors, boasts a wonderfully tangy tzatziki. The grilled octopus app, zesty with lemon, will turn first-time tentacle tasters into devotees. And there's plenty to go around: The first course eats like a meal in itself. 202 Third St., Cambridge, MA desfina.com.
Rendezvous
No green apple martinis here. Only ingenious blends make it onto Rendezvous's cocktail list: gin blended with kaffir lime and curry, vodka stirred with pear brandy and cardamom. Like the formidable wine list, the mixed drinks are designed to enhance the Mediterranean flavors on the plate. Not too staid, not too trendy, and never too sweet—precisely what we (over 21) Goldilocks types are looking for. 502 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA rendezvouscentralsquare.com.