Gilda Miranda Andrade, Styled by Gilda
Allie Dowd If this spring’s closet purge is still in progress, it may be time to bring in a professional. With the click of a mouse, this fashion maven (pictured) will help you virtually edit your wardrobe and put outfits together with what you already own—then send you a shoppable list of new pieces you’re sure to love. Need a little extra help? Andrade also offers personal-styling services at a store of your choice. styledbygilda.com.
Jeremy Ogusky
You get a CSA box from your local farm and you’re on a first-name basis with your butcher, but what about the plates and bowls you set the table with every day? A worthy addition to any Boston cabinet, potter Jeremy Ogusky’s durable, unpretentious pieces can be purchased on Etsy; biannual open-studio days at his J.P. workspace, meanwhile, welcome all to come learn the art of pottery. claycrocks.com.
Eye and Eye Optics
It’s not easy finding a pair of frames that harmonize with your face just so. But if anyone can do it, it’s father-and-son opticians Bobin and Tariq Nicholson, both of whom studied music in college and now bring their artistic vision to this one-stop shop for glasses, contacts, and eye exams. Whether you prefer your specs colorful and funky or sleek and understated, you’ll find them in the cases here—along with warm, personable service that turns a chore into an outing to look forward to. 2271 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA 02124, eyeandeyeoptics.com.
Assembly Showroom
Los Angeles native Matt Gallagher brings the West Coast to the South Shore with Assembly Showroom, a boutique offering casual-cool styles for men and women. With a wide selection of clothing from brands such as Marine Layer, Faherty, and LNA — not to mention ultra-helpful, knowledgeable staffers that make upgrading your wardrobe a breeze — you’re guaranteed to drop in more than once. And your options for visiting are plentiful: Within three years of opening, Assembly already has three locations on the South Shore. Hingham and other locations 24 North St., Hingham, MA 02043, assemblyshowroom.com.
Sweat Fixx
Pat Piasecki What should you do if you miss pumping iron with your crew, but you’re still not ready to step foot inside a gym? Grab your yoga mat and some optional weights and head to Sweat Fixx for an outdoor fitness class, pronto. Offering al fresco strengthening sessions at its Southie location seven days per week, this woman-owned studio makes it (mostly) painless to squeeze in a low-impact workout filled with squats, biceps curls, planks, and more planks whenever the mood strikes. 323 Dorchester Ave., South Boston, MA 02127, sweatfixx.com.
Ultra Safe Pest Management
We’ve all experienced it: the unmistakable squeak from inside a wall, those dreaded droppings on the kitchen counter, or — worse — a face-to-face encounter with an eight-legged or winged intruder. When bats, rats, spiders, termites, or other pests worm their way into your humble abode, call this fearless team pronto. Not only will they safely trap and remove the uninvited guests, they’ll also repair minor damage, decontaminate the site, and seal up potential reentry points to ensure your home remains trespasser-free. ultrasafepest.com.
MKS Design
Courtesy Photo A former pastry chef, MKS Design owner Adam Simha deftly marries form and function with his steely treasures, crafted from scratch for novice home cooks and local celebrity chefs like Jody Adams. Just tell him your culinary aspirations and material preferences, and he’ll deliver your one-of-a-kind gyuto, petty, boning, steak, or cimeter knives in six to eight months. mksknife.com.
Guarino's Swimming Pool Service
If you dove headfirst into last year’s pool-installation craze, a professional maintenance team is likely top of mind. Who better to look after your new oasis than a firm that builds some of the finest swimming holes around? Trust the experts at Guarino’s Swimming Pool Service — a subset of acclaimed pool contractor SSG — to open and close your in-ground gem each year, keep the water clean and balanced, and respond swiftly and skillfully to leaks and faulty equipment. ssgpools.com/guarinos-pool-service.
Fasika Café
Brian Samuels From the springy tear of tangy injera cr&_ecirc;pes to the supple pillowiness of raw chopped beef leavened with gobs of fiery-orange spiced butter (kitfo), the tactile pleasures of Befekadu Defar’s traditional (read: silverware-free) Ethiopian fare are just what the doctor ordered to reward your Purell-chafed hands for 16 months of ablutionary abuse. Your gustatory receptors will thank you, too. 51 Roxbury St., Roxbury, MA 02119, fasikarestaurants.com.
MiniLuxe
Germaphobes, this is your safe haven. From the single-use buffers and nail files to the individually packed, disinfected trimming tools, MiniLuxe feels cleaner than most hospital rooms. But just because the place it practically sterile doesn't mean it lacks artistry: The nail techs scrub and polish till your ragged fingertips gleam like jewels. 296 Newbury St, Boston, MA 2116, miniluxe.com.
Timmy Quirk, I Soci Salon
The Newbury veteran combines a metalhead exterior with an endearing madcap streak. He'll regale you with tales from a recent ski weekend; he'll require a few 'namaste's to calm himself after hearing about your brutal heat-styling addiction; he'll expound on the importance of 'hair condoms' (a.k.a. leave-in conditioners). And in between, he'll casually give you a precision cut that 'frees your hair to do what it's been dying to do.' 8 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Sean Kavanagh, Shag
Underneath all those tattoos and piercings is a man deeply committed to hair. Kavanagh combs, coddles, and coerces your strands to suit any occasion, with a down-to-earth bonhomie rarely seen among big-city stylists. Trained at Vidal Sassoon, this locally grown talent is now a disciple of Sandy Poirier's Shag principles, which include rocking out while preening the clientele and getting 'Princess' tattooed on your knuckles. (Alas, his mother nixed that last part.) 840 Summer St., South Boston, MA 2127, .
Violet Mkhitaryan, Violet Skin
After three decades in the business, spa owner Mkhitaryan has developed a rare power: the ability to make the most uncomfortable of beauty rituals a bit less so, and with pristine results. Whether it's your first time or your 50th—and whether it's a standard cleanup or something "a little more expensive"—the motherly aesthetician gets the job done with speed, all the while chattering on amiably in a way more commonly associated with less compromising activities. Boutique, 257 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Jake Tedaldi
Making house calls in a black Hummer (license plate: 'ANIMAL') roomy enough to house a small petting zoo, Dr. Tedaldi pulls up to his patients' homes with examining table, medical kit, and biscuit bribes at the ready. Believe us: Never having to haul out the carrier or spike the water with sedatives makes annual checkups and shots almost pleasant. vetcall.com.
Winnetu Oceanside Resort
Staying here is like weekending at your rich best friend's seaside retreat. Except your best friend isn't rich, and she certainly doesn't have a seaside getaway. But you both do have the Winnetu on South Beach, a collection of 53 quaint suites and a private cottage. Eleven acres of lawn and sandy beach out front include the requisite pool and tennis courts, as well as funky outdoor sculptures and a life-size chess set. 31 Dunes Rd., Edgartown, MA winnetu.com.