Micro Plant Studio
Invite a little life into your workspace with help from this South Boston shop, which carries and delivers all things leafy and green (bamboo palm, burro’s tail, Venus flytraps), plus fun pots to display them in. Even better: You can brighten two households with Micro’s “buy to give” initiative, which lets you sponsor a succulent to send to a local essential worker. 365 W. Broadway, Boston, MA 02127, microplantstudio.com.
Micro Center
A supermarket for wireheads. All the little doodads and connectors you need for housekeeping in cyberspace, plus decent deals on hardware, and you don't have to drive to the 'burbs to find it. The many disappointed hackers roaming the parking lot after 6 on Saturday suggests a need for longer hours. 727 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA .
Micro Center
With heavy hitters like Lenovo, Apple, and Sony to call upon, the sole Bay State outpost of Ohio-based Micro Center stocks the best personal computers on the market, along with a bevy of cameras, scanners, monitors, and other peripherals. But what really gets local tech-heads powered up is the vast BYOPC (Build Your Own PC) section, replete with all the components needed to pimp that desktop—or build one from scratch. Free in-store clinics on such topics as VoIP and network security further cater to IT acolytes who aspire to true geekdom. 730 Memorial Dr., Cambridge, MA 2139, microcenter.com.
Micro Center
The Toys R Us of the tech set: aisle upon aisle of goodies like joysticks, books, laptop bags, and SCSI cables. There's a well-stocked book department, and even a good-sized Macintosh section jammed with software, hardware, and accessories. The employees are friendly—though they're sometimes overwhelmed by the sheer number of desperate computer users who stumble into the place like nomads into a desert oasis. 727 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA .
Wilson Farms
The healthiest tomato seedlings in town. 10 Pleasant St., Lexington, MA .
Boston Hairnista
Healthy hair is owner and lead stylist Andrea Sealey’s main goal—and it shows in every masterful style she creates inside her chic Dot. Ave. salon. Sealey’s recently expanded list of services makes the space a one-stop shop for everything from kinky twists and micro-link extensions to always-silky silk presses. Her braids, meanwhile, are true works of art—no surprise given the Roxbury native has been at it since she was 10 years old. 1690 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA 02122, bostonhairnista.com.
Rachel's Make-up and Brow Studio
Why bother with waxing, threading, or micro-needling when all you really need to achieve flawless brows are Rachel Lockhart’s tweezers? After years of working in the local beauty biz, the shaper extraordinaire has amassed what can only be described as a cult following, garnering praise from legions of longtime clients for her meticulous technique. Call or text for face time with the Sharon native, and watch in amazement as she whips even the most unruly of brows into shape with just a few strategic plucks. 271 Newbury St., Boston, MA rachelsmakeupstudio.com.
Bodega
Is it uncool to call this store cool? Regardless, it’s hard not to get excited once you open the door camouflaged as a vending machine and step inside the sleek, well-lit space, where the latest and greatest styles from Nike, Adidas, and Puma are lined up like artifacts in a museum. And just to ensure Bodega continues its reign of cool, the brand opened Series, a constantly evolving micro art space just a couple of doors down that offers buzzy limited releases and serves as a mecca for local sneakerheads. 6 Clearway St., Boston, MA 02115, shop.bdgastore.com.
Andrea Sealey, Boston Hairnista
Mona Miri The pandemic didn’t seem to put a damper on Sealey’s beloved Dorchester salon: In fact, the talented stylist recently launched her own online shopping portal, Hairnista Market, with same-day local delivery of her clients’ favorite products, and is booking up to six months out for services. Take a peek at her impressive work, which includes micro-link extensions, kinky twists, silk presses, and braids in all shapes and sizes, and you’ll understand why. 1690B Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA 02124, bostonhairnista.com.
The Herb Lyceum at Gilson's
Micro weddings are here to stay — and no venue caters to them quite like the Herb Lyceum. Its amenity-laden package includes access to party spots such as an airy greenhouse; locally sourced cuisine prepared by catering partner Puritan & Company, which uses herbs grown on-site; and an in-house planner to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. 368 Main St., Groton, MA 01450, herblyceum.com.
Manuel de Santaren and Carolina Tress-Balsbaugh of Manuel Santaren, Incorporated
These two designers are as ease working with chintz as they are with sleek, minimalist, and modern. That's largely because they have an eclectic clientele ranging from the Brahmin variety to dotcom whiz kids. No request is too obscure, and no historical period too difficult to recreate. In addition to transforming your abode into a house of style, de Santaren and Tress-Balsbaugh will micro-manage contractors and ensure the finished product is picture perfect, right down to the linens. 1 Designer Center Place, Boston, MA manueldesantaren.com.
Bogosplit
This innovative Assembly Row showroom isn’t just a place to browse cutting-edge clothing and accessories from a variety of independent designers, many of them local; it’s also a place for style-minded people to gather and exchange ideas (see: the artist meet-and-greets and micro fashion shows). It all proves that shopping small can reap big rewards. 431 Artisan Way, Somerville, MA 02145, bogosplit.com.
The Studio
Formerly the Nail Studio, this salon has an intimate atmosphere and good-quality service, giving owner Tom Green a devoted clientele. Try the hot protein treatment. 164 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
The Studio
The maternity section is tiny, but the saleswomen fit you with "regular" clothes that will look smart postpartum. 233 Harvard St., Brookline, MA .
The Studio
Tom Green's place offers a soothing atmosphere and a friendly staff. 164 Newbury St., Boston, MA .