The Newbury Boston
What better place to celebrate your future than in a glamorous ballroom steeped in Boston’s past? When the former Taj reopened in 2021, the 1927 landmark building was reimagined as the Newbury Boston, complete with updates to the hotel’s storied party spaces. Book the Assembly Ballroom for thoughtfully preserved crystal chandeliers, silver-leaf-adorned ceilings, and dramatically draped, floor-to-ceiling windows that frame sweeping Public Garden views. 1 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, thenewburyboston.com.
Young Love & The Thrills
Think a wedding can’t feel like a concert? It can when this beloved eight-person band takes the stage. With high-energy vocals, creative mashups and medleys, and songs that span the tastes of everyone from Grandma (Frank Sinatra) to your teenage cousins (Lizzo), they keep even the most timid of dancers up and moving all night long. youngloveandthethrills.com.
Tiffany Von
No one encapsulates the “fine art” photography style of atmospheric, painterly perfection better than Tiffany Von Noronha. Although she’s been cultivating national clientele with weddings in far-off destinations and appearances in Martha Stewart Weddings, the Boston-based virtuoso is still right at home in the Hub’s finest indoor and outdoor venues — effortlessly capturing moments and details in romantic, unposed shots you’ll want to hang on your wall forever. tiffanyvon.com.
Plymouth G Pub
Hoops and hard cider make a great pairing. That’s the thinking, at least, behind this newly opened spot in West Plymouth Square, which serves up local brews and fanciful cocktails alongside a variety of nostalgic arcade games (pinball, anyone?) that’ll make you feel like a kid again. Elevated pub fare, meanwhile — short-rib poutine, tuna poke bowls — make it a one-stop spot for kicking back when your own kids are with the babysitter. 101 Carver Rd., Plymouth, MA 02360, gpubrestaurants.com/plymouth.
Mida Newton
Does a plate of gnocchi change when it moves from the city to the ’burbs? In the case of Mida, the answer is definitely not. At his bigger Newton outpost, chef Douglass Williams churns out the same house-extruded bucatini all’amatriciana and springy focaccia as at the lauded South End original — with a notable addition: charry New Haven–style pizza pies perfect for treating the kids (and yourself) after a Little League game. 261 Walnut St., Newton, MA 02460, midarestaurant.com.
deWolfe Leather Goods
A good handbag is like a fine meal: simple ingredients, but only the best of them. Gina deWolfe knows this. Her eponymous bag collection consists of minimal cuts with top-quality leathers (plus a few metal garnishes for pizzazz). The “Wolfe-pack,” a supple backpack available in luxe neutrals, provides a sturdy and stylish friend for all of your adventures; the “Bettie” clutch, meanwhile, stands out for its pebbled leather and oversize belt buckle and grommets. All in all, a delicious result. 250 Newbury St., 1st Fl., Boston, MA 02116, dewolfeleathergoods.com.
Garden Remedies
Photo by Michelle Newman You can find candy-colored cannabis fruit chews pretty much anywhere. But for some THC made with TLC, you’ll want to stop by this Newton shop. Its seed-to-sale chocolates are made in-house with Belgian Callebaut, in mouth-watering varieties like Campfire (with graham crackers and mini marshmallows) and Wake & Bake (crafted using coffee and doughnuts from a local bakery). Not a chocoholic? Come Halloween, look for the devilishly hot Spooky Spicy Gummy, made with ghost-pepper extract, and take the #spicygummychallenge. Multiple locations, gardenremedies.com.
Riccardi
There’s streetwear, and then there’s mad-cool streetwear. Repping brands like Off-White (RIP, Virgil Abloh), Chrome Hearts, and Thom Browne — not to mention a colossal jeans-and- tees collection from Amiri and Saint Laurent — this boutique’s wares definitely fall into the latter category. Riccardo Dallai, who launched his family fashion business in 1978, has also broken into the exclusive collab category with limited-edition hoodies, beanies, and sweat- pants. Your threads will be lit. 116 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, riccardiboston.com.
Soma Optical
Photo by Pat Piasecki The future of Soma Optical is so bright, you better, well, wear shades. Home to exclusive sunglasses from around the world — some of them handmade and some you won’t find elsewhere in the area — the sleek South End shop is the passion project of married couple Alissa and Christos Karabelas, who are so knowledgeable about their inventory that just trying sunnies on with them is a treat. But wearing a pair home just might make your summer. 8 Union Park St., Boston, MA 02118, soma-optical.shop.
Eye & Eye Optics
It’s not just your vision that’ll be sharp after shopping for specs here. The gem of a store carries a wide variety of frames — including brands like Versace and Tom Ford — to suit whatever look you’re going for, and at almost any price point, from $60 to $1,000. The father-and-son team behind the counter, meanwhile, are so easy to work with, you might just be happy you need glasses. 2271 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA 02124, eyeandeyeoptics.com.
Styled by Gilda
Personal stylist Gilda Miranda / Photo by Courtney Ryan If the last time you spent money on real clothes (not, ahem, yoga pants) was February 2020, it may be time to call in a professional — namely, personal stylist Gilda Miranda. The shopping pro offers everything from brief virtual consultations to a complete “wardrobe rehab process” that includes a closet edit, a shopping trip, and an at-home styling sesh, all with an eye toward what works best for your style and body type. styledbygilda.com.
Newbury Tailoring Company
For two decades, Boston’s style mavens have trusted this family-owned business with their most valuable wearables, and for good reason. Whether you need your entire wardrobe taken in or a few nips and tucks on an extra-special evening gown, you can trust tailor Flavio Antonio Rivas to get the job done masterfully — and efficiently. 324 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02115, newburytailors.com.
Midori Dowdie, MAD Soleful
Photo by Michele Constantini/Getty Images Dowdie’s credentials are impressive, to say the least: She’s a former bodybuilder and marathon runner who’s certified in personal training. She’s also a certified holistic health coach, meaning she understands that training is about more than just showing up at the gym. Rather than simply focusing on weight loss and toning, Dowdie helps find your “why” and encourages healthy and sustainable habits — which goes way further than any workout ever could. madsoleful.com.
Dream Spa Medical
With all the focus on looking and feeling your best, it’s sometimes easy to forget what medspas are really offering: medical-grade aesthetic services. That’s why we love that this gorgeously appointed facility is led by a Harvard-trained plastic surgeon, adding a level of expertise to the body-contouring procedures, injectables, and laser treatments that goes well beyond skin-deep. The results speak for themselves. Multiple locations, dreamspamedical.com.
The Centerpiece Flower Shop
Photo by Mona Miri Nothing cheers up a space like a gorgeous bouquet of fresh flowers. And these days, no one’s spreading more flower-powered joy than ángel Diaz. With an eye for design, the Venezuela native and owner of the Centerpiece Flower Shop — founded in 2020 — uses seasonal blooms and greenery to create artful arrangements bursting with color and texture. Bonus points for his monthly subscription service, which promises mood-boosting handtied bouquets delivered on your date of choice. 2051 Centre St., West Roxbury, MA 02132, thecenterpieceflowershop.com.