Townsman
Photograph by Adam Detour It's certainly an achievement to draw in diners on the virtues of your food, your bustling crudo bar, and your top-notch bar program. It's another entirely to knit together a string of neighborhoods in the process. Since landing with a blast in the Radian building in February, chef-owner Matt Jennings and team have given the Downtown Crossing, Chinatown, and Financial District areas the buzzing destination restaurant they've sorely needed. 120 Kingston St., Boston, MA 02111, townsmanboston.com.
Hive Events
It doesn’t get much cooler than throwing back an Old Fashioned while lounging in a 1983 Airstream. Let the team from Hive Events curate (or create) the perfect beverage selection for your wedding and then bring it to sweet, sippable life in one of their retro trailers, which they’ll park outside your venue. Posh glamping tents offer additional, highly ’Grammable space for relaxing and imbibing. Good luck getting your guests to leave after last call. MA hive-events.com.
Ball and Buck
Take a look in the mirror: What’s your outfit missing? Elk-skin-suede gloves to complement your favorite jacket? A pair of sleek brass earphones for your walk to work? Or perhaps a star-spangled bow tie? Whatever you need to assemble the perfect look, you’ll find it in this handsome man cave of a shop, where the shelves are lined with high-quality, American-made accessories you never knew you needed. 144B Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, ballandbuck.com.
Jasper White's Summer Shack
Fasten your plastic bib, roll up your sleeves, and park your party at one of the long picnic tables inside Jasper White's Cambridge clam shack, where the meal itself is the evening's entertainment. Dunking steamed clams into warm butter, cracking lobster claws, and nibbling on ears of corn are all good fun. With a daily selection of seafood—and balloons for the kids—the warehouse-sized restaurant will please every age. Oh, and there's no need for reservations: Priority is given to parties of eight or more. 149 Alewife Brook Pkwy., Cambridge, MA summershackrestaurant.com.
Santarpio's
A warning sign should be posted on Santarpio's front door: EAT THESE PIES AT YOUR OWN RISK. Because when those pepperoni-and-sausage-strewn slices hit your table just seconds after being pulled from the oven, you will dive in too quickly, and you will burn your tongue. Oh, the bubbly, runny mozzarella; the tangy sauce slathered on top of the cheese. These pizzas are irresistible. Consider yourself warned. 111 Chelsea St., East Boston, MA 2128, .
Jody Adams
If she's good enough for the James Beard Foundation, she's good enough for us. Some people complain about the through-the-roof prices—they're just whiners. Not only is the food inspired, fresh, and beautifully presented, your waiter is also professional and friendly (without crouching by your table to become your new best friend). Ritalo, 1 Bennett St., Cambridge, MA .
Maxime Salon
Nothing disappoints like a colorist who listens to your needs, then executes an entirely different shade. Swear off such nasty surprises by enlisting Ronit Enos to help your hair. Her expert team does an exhaustive preprocess consultation with every client before creating intricate highlights and lustrous glazes. The only surprise here is a pleasant one: how natural your hair looks afterward. 124 Washington St., Norwell, MA maximesalon.com.
Bouclé Salon & Spa
Being on vacation is no reason to neglect your tresses. So bring your salty, sun-damaged, unruly mop to Bouclé for some deep conditioning and a sleek, sophisticated cut. The young staff—including one cab driver turned stylist—is professional without the pomp. Getting your hair done with Bumble and Bumble products and a healthy helping of island gossip can be even more rewarding than a do-nothing day at the beach. 71 Main St., Edgartown, MA bouclespa.com.
West Medford Spa
You can't really improve the crummy lottery odds by changing your ticket source—the Lottery Commission takes care to spread the winners around town—but if your misery loves company, you should take your transaction to this high-volume newsstand. It sells more total lottery ticket,—winners and losers—than any other outlet. West Medford, MA
Hitched Studios
In a perfect world, your wedding photographer would be an ace professional and your best friend. In the real world, superduo Tara Morris and Ben Wight come pretty darn close. The pleasant pair transcend the typical shutterbug-client relationship not only by taking top-notch photos, but also by making you and your guests feel shockingly comfortable. Be forewarned: Before the evening ends, you will get attached. 75 Walk Hill St., Boston, MA 2130, hitchedstudios.com.
Dependable Cleaners
Maybe you sipped cabernet on your wedding day—and spilled. Maybe, three years later, your stained, crumpled gown is still gathering dust in your closed. Dependable Cleaners has seen worse. There's not an "oops" moment these pros can't handle, and with more than a dozen outlets in and around Boston, you won't have to drive far to complete this most essential errand. dependablecleaners.com.
Hitched Studios
In a perfect world, your wedding photographer would be an ace professional and your best friend. In the real world, superduo Tara Morris and Ben Wight come pretty darn close. The pleasant pair transcend the typical shutterbug-client relationship not only by taking top-notch photos, but also by making you and your guests feel shockingly comfortable. Be forewarned: Before the evening ends, you will get attached. 75 Walk Hill St., Boston, MA 2130, hitchedstudios.com.
Petite Étoile
Whether you’re looking for a mini Stella McCartney dress for your toddler or a sophisticated Roberto Cavalli button-up for your nephew, Petite Étoile has every fashion accessory your little trendsetter needs. And because Mom deserves a treat every now and again, owner Nicole Ablitt stocks a fashionista-approved Fendi diaper bag as well. 318 Derby St., Salem, MA 1970, petiteetoile.com/childrens-clothing.html.
Flair
Despite some fierce new competition (BHLDN in Chestnut Hill, we’re looking at you), this boutique still offers the most swoon-worthy in-store frock selection in the area. No matter how picky or size-diverse your bridal party, the associates here will help you find dresses from designers like Jenny Yoo and Lynn Lugo that’ll match your vision and keep your ’maids happy. 140 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, flairbridesmaid.com.
Somerville Car Wash and Detail Center
You care about your car. Somerville Car Wash and Detail Center does, too. With tons of affordable options, from hand wheel-polishing to an odor-control treatment (we’re looking at you, pet owners), this is the perfect place to get your ride looking like new. Bonus: The guys here are so well trained in the art of customer service that you’ll never feel judged, no matter how dirty your car was when you pulled up. 680 Somerville Ave., Somerville, MA 2143, seeyoushine.com.