Tim Capone
When a guest needed his clothes laundered late one night, Capone took them home to his apartment in the South End and washed them himself. The Westin Hotel-Copley Place, 10 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA .
Recollective
Kate Straley Marx and Hthaiwon Layne know that two hands are better than one—and in the case of their vintage collective, many hands: Vendors from all over New England stock the racks with well-sourced styles, from Escada denim to ’70s tees. This past spring, Recollective moved into a larger space in Southie and added a home-goods vendor into the rotation, making it the rare vintage store in town where you can buy a ’90s Champion sweatshirt and a midcentury-modern lamp in one visit. 416 W. Broadway, Boston, MA 02127, shoprecollective.com.
Simcha
Adrien Shemtov/Yemenite fried chicken Ari Shemtov’s Israeli-fusion menu is full of gems such as deep-fried feta, chickpea poutine with brisket, and couscous arancini, but it pays to time your contactless pickup order to one of the chef ’s weekly specials (don’t miss the Wednesday-night barbecue package complete with ribs, chicken wings, and a whole smoked snapper). That’s not the only way Shemtov is feeding the community in these tough times: The restaurant also offers a food-share program that provides a “one-size-fits-all” box of provisions at restaurant cost. 370 S. Main St., Sharon, MA 02067, simcharestaurant.com.
Avenue Victor Hugo Bookshop
The Avenue Victor Hugo Bookshop is still unpacking from its move up the block. Even so, there's a comfortable slovenliness in the remaining unopened boxes, a librarian's jumble that reminds you not to hurry past that sleeping treasure on the untouched shelf. Classics, history, 1950s sci-fi magazines—the aisles are silent feasts, and the selection is for gluttons. A self-described "outpost of civilization," perhaps the store is better dubbed the Black Hole of Newbury Street, because once you walk in, it's almost impossible to extract yourself. 353 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Cheryl Ann's Bakery
Try as we did, we couldn't find another plait of challah that came close. We always buy two at a time, one for scarfing in the car, another to eat more ceremoniously at home. 1010 W. Roxbury Parkway, Putterham Circle, Brookline, MA .
Solus
Surrender your soles to Kathy for a luxurious and relaxing pampering. One of her secrets: she wraps your toes in saran before you slip on your shoes so as not to disturb the polish—your pedicure will last for weeks. 115 Newbury St., Suite 301, Boston, MA .
Al Giordano, the <em>Boston Phoenix</em>
Don't take Giordano to the racetrack. In one year, he has championed the campaigns of Rosaria Salerno for mayor, Janet Jeghelian for Senate, and Joe Kennedy for governor. Let's hope Al doesn't pick the Patriots in the AFC East.
South End Formaggio
Here's one neighborhood shop that wins big on several fronts. Hardcore foodies drool over its petite but unparalleled stock of spreads, produce, and exotic cheeses. Culinary novices appreciate such hard-to-find items as mini-Turkish plums, wild asparagus, and "capers in salt from the Islands of Salinas," thanks to the detailed descriptions that accompany them. Even grifters (the avid samplers and snitchers in all of us) find solace here in the many free tasting plates so generously left about. Don't cook? Take home a helping of duck breast or one of the other carryout dishes. 268 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA southendformaggio.com.
December Thieves
Ever feel like you can’t find everything you need to complete your outfit in just one shop? Never fear: Lana Bakarat’s accessories empire spans two storefronts just blocks apart in Beacon Hill. Her collection includes graphic silk scarves from the French label Année, silver-leather open-toed booties from the Berlin brand Trippen, and cowhide clutches handmade in Oregon. And if you get home and realize you still need one last piece to put it all together, click over to her new online store. 51 and 88 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, decemberthieves.com.
Renae Connolly, Moëca
Nothing ends a meal better than an ethereal dessert, and no one makes one quite so otherworldly as Renae Connolly, who’s been spinning sugary tales throughout Boston’s restaurant scene for years. These days she’s at Moëca, the year-old seafood spot from the Giulia team, creating gorgeously executed desserts with a lightness that expertly complements the fish-focused main menu. Her creative frozen treats often play a starring role: think smoked-vanilla-mascarpone gelato with spicy caramel popcorn or a lemon bombe with basil meringue, raspberry-hibiscus purée, and pistachio gelato. 1 Shepard St., Cambridge, MA 02138, moecarestaurant.com.
Summer Shack
There's not a lot of in-between with fried clams. They're either great—or awful. Summer Shack's whole Ipswich clams, though, are beyond excellent: fried to a deep gold, crunchy on the outside and tender within, and not an oily, mushy, or rubbery one in the bunch. A squeeze of lemon is all they need. 149 Alewife Brook Pkwy., Cambridge, MA 2140, summershackrestaurant.com.
Claudiane Philippe
Contributed photo UX designer, Maggie fashion model, and influencer extraordinaire, Claudiane Philippe is one busy gal:The 30-year-old Waltham native creates content for not one but three Instagram accounts: @cphilipp, a lifestyle blog; @itsclaudiane, focusing on all things beauty; and @nailthecocktail, highlighting Boston’s best cocktails. She’s also bringing awareness to social justice. To wit: To celebrate Black beauty, she posted a different look each day in honor of Black History Month, and throughout the pandemic, she named each of the DIY drinks on her cocktail blog after a person of color who died at the hands of police. Call it style with a whole lot of substance.
George Wright Golf Club
This Donald Ross-designed course is tucked deep in the heart of Hyde Park. Once you're there, you'll find a challenging Depression-era par-70 layout that calls for patience: The two par fives are reachable in two shots only for the longer hitters, while the par fours vary from the very long (the 450-yard #10) to the very short (the 313-yard #2). Holes 8 through 10 can make or break a good round. Expect a good test of all facets of your game, in addition to some considerable time waiting to tee off. This is city golf, after all. 420 West St., Hyde Park, MA .
Garden of Eden
With seven sumptuous sandwiches named after South End streets, you may have trouble choosing just one. Our favorite: The Union Park a stack of moist chicken breast, melted Swiss cheese, parsley, and mustard vinaigrette served on whole wheat pecan raisin bread. 577 Tremont St., Boston, MA .
Kendall DaCosta, Out of Many One People
Kendall DaCosta. / Photo by Pat Piasecki Chef Kendall DaCosta has his mom to thank for the title of his supper club, “Out of Many One People.” Shortly before his kickoff event in June 2022, he was chatting with her about how he wanted to celebrate Caribbean cuisine when she reminded him that “Out of Many, One People” is the national motto on her native Jamaica’s coat of arms. Bingo. It was a light-bulb moment that illuminated the whole vibe that he was trying to create with his experiential meals, which use flavors from around the world to highlight Afro-American and Caribbean cuisine. “I just ran with that,” he says, his voice crackling with excitement. Read more here. chefkendalldacosta.com.