Keytar Bear
Photograph by Alex Lau Boston has a long, rapturous history of genius buskers, from Susan Dietrich Schneider, the infamous "Space Lady" of the ’80s, to such future stars as Tracy Chapman, Mary Lou Lord, and Amanda Palmer. But none has so captured the soul of the city as Keytar Bear, our unofficial musical mascot. Yes, our funky spirit animal—the furry king of costume-core—has been twice attacked by thugs. But he's now back in action, appearing with Guster in January and welcoming the Fenway faithful with slinky grooves on Opening Day.
French + Italian
What was once considered a fleeting sojourn into sweatpants has now become the new virtual-business casual — but when you want to step it up a bit for your video calls (while still remaining comfy, of course), you’d do well to pop into Aimee Lombardi’s chic Beacon Hill boutique. Slouchy but well-tailored, classic but vibrant enough to stand out on camera, the carefully curated racks of linen button- downs from Aspesi and sunflower-yellow jersey pants by Sofie D’Hoore will carry you from Zoom calls to a nap to dinner al fresco. Multiple locations, frenchitalian.com.
Hacin
When David Hacin opened his firm in the South End in 1993, the neighborhood was full of old warehouses and vacant parking lots. Once developers discovered the neighborhood, they tapped Hacin to design Laconia Lofts — the artists’ building that sparked the area’s transformation to its present incarnation as Boston’s art and design hub. The new spaces Hacin and his team design are sleek and innovative, yet the veteran architect is also a passionate preservationist; in fact, some of the interdisciplinary firm’s most compelling designsare its renovations of existing buildings in which old and new elements exist in cohesion. hacin.com.
La Padrona
Photo by Brian Samuels Yes, it’s practically brand-new, but — alacazam, alacazoo! — renowned chef Jody Adams and her prolific business partners, Eric Papachristos and Jon Mendez, have already conjured a breathtaking Italian restaurant inside the luxurious Raffles Boston hotel. Start with drinks downstairs before ascending the eye-popping staircase into a dazzling brown-and-gold-toned dining room with a showstopper of a bar in the center. And with Adams’s food on display, you’ll likely agree she and her partners have taken the promise of an empty shell just off Stuart Street and turned it into the dreamiest of dining experiences. 38 Trinity Pl., Boston, MA 02116, lapadronaboston.com.
Fox & the Knife
Matt Kalinowski The restaurant industry reeled when Governor Charlie Baker banned on-site dining in March. Top Chef alum Karen Akunowicz, though, rolled with the punches like a champ. Somehow, she successfully translated her sophisticated Italian menu items—such as saffron-bedecked spaghetti with clams—into takeout and delivery. She also slyly launched Fox Pasta to sell house-made spinach mafaldine and other varieties by the pound, plus sauces by the pint. And she quickly readied her patio for devouring personal pizzas and frosé once outdoor dining was allowed again. Adaptability, thy name is Akunowicz. 28 W. Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127, foxandtheknife.com.
Moshup Beach
New England Images by Allan Wood/Alamy Stock Photo We’ve finally ditched the masks. Now it’s time to … ditch the clothes, too? Embrace the Roaring Twenties on this remote stretch of sand and boulders at the foot of the Gay Head Cliffs, where nudity is the norm (though you’ll at least want to bring a pair of sturdy, waterproof shoes for the 10-minute walk from the public Philbin Beach parking lot). Once you get comfy with the clothing-optional dress code, you’ll be able to marvel at the vibrant clay that makes up the cliffs surrounding the beach. Just don’t touch: The natural treasures, sacred among the native Wampanoags, are under environmental protection to thwart erosion. 71 Moshup Trail, Aquinnah, MA 02535, .
Brix
Carri Wroblewski and Klaudia Mally founded Brix in 2003 on a radical idea: that inventory should be determined not by household-name popularity or distributor pricing windfalls but the owners' discerning tastes. Apparently, believing in every last bottle on your shelves wasn't a bad business model, as evidenced by their expansion to two additional locations, and by the city's patiently groomed taste for high-toned Burgundies, off-the-oaken-path Italians, and deep-track rosթs. Multiple locations. Correction, June 26, 12 p.m.: In the July issue of Boston, Carri's name was misspelled. We regret the error. 1284 Washington St., Boston, MA 02218, brixwineshop.com.
The Catered Affair
Your wedding caterer should be, above all else, a perfectionist. You don't want boring and bone-dry chicken any more than you want poorly timed service or cheesy table settings. The Catered Affair owner Holly Safford is just that—a perfectionist who runs her tight ship with equal parts creativity, fabulous taste, efficiency, and soul. What's more, she's been doing it for decades, and her seamless organization and calming demeanor has kept many a girl from turning into Bridezilla. Take that, Martha Stewart. Accord Park, Hingham, MA thecateredaffair.com.
Paws to Consider
Even the bad pun can't keep us away from a pet service this efficient, loving, and dependable. Owner Scot Jones clearly cares for his four-legged commissions with the same passion he does his business, keeping an organized staff of five fully briefed in everything from pet first aid to the fundamentals of TLC. Whether it's cat sitting (litter changes included) or dog walking (rain or shine, 365 days a year), Paws to Consider makes as many visits as you want—and will even care for plants, collect mail, and make veterinarian or grooming runs. 24 Halifax St., Jamaica Plain, MA pawstoconsider.com.
Nick's Moving Company
In a town where moving is a way of life (and everyone moves at precisely the same moment), finding a mover to do the job quickly and affordably can be a challenge. When we needed to move on a Sunday and at the last minute, though, the friendly people at Nick's said it wouldn't be a problem. And it wasn't. The courteous, energetic moving team got the job done quickly, safely, and efficiently, with no complaints about fourth-floor walkups. What's more, this moving service is comparatively inexpensive, with hourly rates of $115 for a three-man team or $90 for a two-man team—all of which makes the yearly relocating habit in this town affordable vice. 495 Columbia St., Somerville, MA bostonmamovers.net.
Guiliano
Although we've officially gone into mourning with the recent closing of the Spa on Newbury, Guiliano makes us want to throw our black veils to the wind. Whether you're a stressed bride-to-be in need of that mandatory glow for the big day, or a burned out businessperson ready to toss your computer out the window, a visit to Giuliano will restore your sanity as fast as you can say "detoxifying body wrap." Guiliano's "optimal beauty through nature" offerings include everything from old standbys like facials, manicures, and pedicures to more trendy pamperings like self-tanning-lotion applications, reflexology, glycolic treatments, and acupuncture. In a word: Heaven. 338 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Viola
Who isn't a sucker for greatest-hits collections? With all of the must-haves and none of the duds, Viola comes on like a Time Life champ. The spacious boutique in the Shoppes at Hamilton Crossing (recently joined by a sibling store in Concord) wraps up the best of Barneys and Louis, putting Anya Hindmarch bags and Loeffler Randall footwear within reach of suburban stylistas. Word to the wise: Owner Lisa Cancelli is big on locking in local exclusivity, so those who have their eye on a particular pair of Barton Perreira sunglasses or a Leigh & Luca wearable-art scarf are advised to snap it up, or else risk the drive of shame to a big-city department store. 15 Walnut Rd., South Hamilton, MA 1982, .
Paul McWhirk and Tony Antoniou
McWhirk and partner Antoniou work out of A&M Motors, 47 Webster Ave., Somerville. A&M won't do body work, and 90 percent of their effort is put into foreign cars, but they're reliable and will work on American models if asked (reasonable, too; sixteen dollars an hour for labor). "We do repairs, and we stand behind them," McWhirk says. "We're pretty open. We figure out what has to be fixed, what should be done first. I treat each job like my own car." A & M Motos, 47 Webster Ave., Somerville, MA .
Zaftigs Delicatessen
Who needs the Lower East Side when you have Zaftigs? This nouveau deli bustles with families, couples, and lone regulars who come in for its "new Jewish" cuisine (just like old Jewish, but with a few twists, including a flavorful Oriental noodle salad for those nights when you just don't feel like gefilte fish and corned beef). For that, and for those more traditional moments when you can't fight off that craving for chopped liver, Zaftigs offers a colorful café atmosphere (and café prices) and rye stacked to the ceiling with a choice of two dozen meats. 335 Harvard St., Brookline, MA zaftigs.com.
The Sports Depot
Reigning sports bar champ Sports Depot almost lost its title this year to a cozy little bar in Coolidge Corner—that is, until the latter invoked a 90-minute table rule. Which is why the Sports Depot takes the trophy once again. Sports lovers can lounge at this sprawling former railroad station as long as they like, noshing on burgers, fries, and other pub standards and sipping on ice-cold drafts until long after the game has ended. With 80 TVs, a $9.99 all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch, and seating for more than 300, there's plenty of room to settle in for a long debate on the merits of Nomah versus Jeetah. 353 Cambridge St., Allston, MA sportsdepot.com.