Dan Gordon Landscape Architects
Photo by Neil Landino Dan Gordon understands that our outdoor spaces set the backdrop for the special times in our lives. That’s why Gordon and his close-knit team are methodical and precise in studying the settings they work in long before the design phase begins. The most beautiful aspect of the firm’s work, from city roof decks and historical-inspired parterres to lush, tree shrouded lawns and extensive pool areas, is its timelessness: The landscapes never feel new or contrived, but rather as if they’ve always been there. dangordon.com.
Landry & Arcari
At first glance, we were overwhelmed by the sheer number of options at Landry & Arcari (15,000 rugs and counting across its three showrooms — not including the infinite custom options). That is until we got a little help from the experts, who guided us through the seemingly endless piles of beautiful handwoven rugs and helped us decide on our perfect match: a lattice-woven, silk-piled masterpiece straight from India. It was like finding our needle in a well-appointed haystack. Boston, Salem, and Framingham, landryandarcari.com.
Jill Lepore
DARI MICHELE Hamilton taught us there’s a fierce appetite—not to mention need—for well-told stories of American history, and few writers bring our country’s saga to life like Lepore. She tackled both our past and present with her 2018 epic These Truths and, more recently, her brief look at rising nationalism in the U.S., The Case for the Nation—each so good they don’t even need a soundtrack. history.fas.harvard.edu/people/jill-lepore.
Ini Spahiu, Salon Mario Russo
Spending time in Ini Spahiu’s chair feels just like catching up with an old friend — albeit one who knows her way around a set of foils. After a quick consultation to suss out our transformation goals, the longtime colorist got to work, whipping up and applying just the right formula while we chatted. And the results? Let’s just say our sun-starved locks, which Spahiu thoughtfully brightened with perfectly placed balayage highlights, have never looked better. 9 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, mariorusso.com.
GreenOp
This team can mow, mulch, and garden with the finest of green thumbs, but it’s the crew’s refreshing customer service that truly sealed the deal. When we left a message about our troublesome yard, we were delighted to receive an immediate reply — and carefully considered feedback on why our shaded space hasn’t been able to support a lawn. green-op.com.
Monique's Bath Showroom
When we called Monique’s for help with our ancient bathroom, the sales associate listened carefully as we described our chipped fixtures and tiles — and immediately set aside time for a one-on-one appointment to browse the company’s showroom, where modern MTI Baths sinks mingle with Gatsby-esque Jaclo faucets in gold. The consultation felt so comfortable, it was like sinking into a warm bubble bath. 123 N Beacon St., Watertown, MA 02472, moniquesbathshowroom.com.
Mystic Brewery
In 2011, Bryan Greenhagen founded Mystic on saisons, gruits, and other Old World styles. So when trendy, hop-forward beers such as Voltage IPA first hit shelves last year, he certainly had our attention. The brewmaster’s fruity, dry, farmhouse-style Table Beer is still our favorite, but even with a generous dose of hops, his suds are balanced, aromatic, and lush like no others. 174 Williams St., Chelsea, MA 02150, mystic-brewery.com.
Michelle Lee, Salon Eva Michelle
Michelle Lee's haircuts are shear genius. / Photograph by Toan Trinh, styling by Taylor Greeley/Ennis Don't let Michelle Lee's warm, chatty demeanor fool you. This woman is absolutely ruthless with a pair of shears—in the best way possible. She pulled no punches when telling us the problems with our current haircut (too heavy in the back, weirdly choppy in the front, not enough movement anywhere), and promptly got to work trimming and styling with aplomb. Thirty minutes later, it looked like half our mane was on the floor. The style left behind, however, was nothing short of impeccable. 118 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, salonevamichelle.com.
Punjabi Dhaba
On our first visit, a pair of regulars told us, completely unprompted, that we’d love this place. Why? Is it Mohan Singh’s meltingly tender, bone-in goat masala, accompanied by hubcap-size naan? The sitar-heavy soundtrack? Or the adrenaline-fueled open kitchen, where a cluster of cooks pile steaming vindaloos and curries onto metal trays? By the end of our meal, we’d answered that question: all of the above. 225 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA 02139, punjabidhaba.co.
Boston Calling
Okay, so maybe this isn’t a surprising choice. But when a three-year-old music festival is already bringing the likes of Sia and Janelle Monáe to our fair town, we must tip our hats. The band choices are solid, and there’s actually enough space for food, fans, and giant Jenga. With a big move to Allston planned for next year, we can’t wait to see what Boston Calling will bring to the city next. bostoncalling.com.
I.D. Salon
We stumbled into this much-buzzed-about salon as the worst of our possible client selves—no appointment, unwashed hair under a ballcap, jittery with caffeine—and were frankly blown away. They graciously squeezed us in but never rushed things, first consulting, then checking and rechecking our cut so we'd look better than we had any right to. We walked in as the Hopeless Mess, but walked out the Devoted Fan. 241 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 2481, .
BodyScapes
No pain, no gain? We so understand that phrase. Our first day at BodyScapes was a bit of a shock: Our butts were kicked—hard—as one of manager Jerry Labbate's six smiling trainers guided us through a series of squats, lunges, lifts, and sprints so intense we ached for days. But then one morning, two months later, we suddenly awoke with abs. Real, defined abs. And biceps. And calves. And—did we mention?—abs! One Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 2116, bodyscapesinc.com.
Victoria Turovsky, Blü Salon
We're not kind to our feet. We shove them into toe-squishing shoes, pound them on rough pavement, and expose them to God knows what in the locker- room shower. Not to worry: Victoria Turovsky smoothes over all these small cruelties. She sculpts away unsightly calluses and banishes dead skin before shaping and shading our toenails into polished perfection. 118 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
When it comes to outfitting our home, we want it all—high style, gorgeous fabrics, American-made pieces—at a fair price, of course. That's why we always make this Boston-area furniture chain our first stop. Whether we're placing a custom order or browsing higher-end brand knockoffs, we get the same white-glove service, without breaking the bank. 142 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 2116, mitchellgoldboston.com.
Barneys New York
A wise woman once said the only thing separating us from animals is our ability to accessorize. (Actually it was Olympia Dukakis in Steel Magnolias, but still, she was on to something.) What luck that Barneys has arrived to pacify our inner savages. The new two-story spot features bags, bangles, and beaded things from 220 designers, including totes by Goyard, shades by Oliver Peoples, pendants by Sonya Ooten, and cashmere scarves by Evelyne De Clercq. 100 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 2116, barneys.com.