Dear Annie
Find Dear Annie by the glowing eyes on Mass. Ave. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal Intimate and informal, Dear Annie is a wine bar for people who enjoy chatting with strangers at a communal table over glasses of intriguing natural wine and plates of pescatarian, locally sourced snacks. Find a seat and order at the counter, where the knowledgeable staff will help you choose a vino that’s just right as you cozy up among the plants for a delightful evening. 1741 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140, dearanniebar.com.
<em>Look to Your Elders,</em> by Victor "MARKA27" Quinonez
Mona Miri Street art in Boston got a thrilling new addition this past May with Quiñonez’s Look to Your Elders, a vibrant painting on the side of Grove Hall pot shop Pure Oasis depicting a woman and young man surrounded by Caribbean plants and Indigenous patterns. A heartfelt nod to Boston’s generations of Caribbean and Afro-Latino residents, the piece is more than just a mural: It’s a stop-you-in-your-tracks work of art that has turned the spot into a must-visit. 430 Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester, MA 02121, marka27.com.
Le Labo
With signature fragrances hand-blended and packaged right before your eyes, it's clear why this parfumerie's name translates to "the lab." The simply appointed Back Bay store's distressed apothecary cabinets and metal lamps make it easy to focus exclusively on the olfactory, and focus you should: The Audrey Hepburn-inspired "Iris 39" will transport you to a forest footpath dotted with violets, the "Bergamote 22" to a citrus grove planted in musky soil. 129 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, lelabofragrances.com.
Mahoney's Garden Center
Here's a new title for perennial champ Mahoney's: "Garden store most likely to sell a Christmas tree to Ben Affleck." The trove of plants, supplies, and tools is not only loved by in-the-know gardeners; it's where the Cambridge homey and his then-fiancée, J.Lo, picked out a fir back in December. Employees kept their cool, but rumor has it Ben had been here before—with Gwyneth. Now that'sa garden store. 889 Memorial Dr., Cambridge, MA .
Charles Street Flowers
If only all of life were as impeccable and seamless as it is inside these doors. We're talking nearly across-the-board perfection—blooms meticulously cared for and healthy enough to live more than a week; a selection that includes everything from puffy pastel hydrangeas to curly bamboo and pillowy peonies; and arrangements that veer from streamlined to intricate but never stray from tasteful. The attitude-free, personable staff offers arrangements, customized bouquets, and useful advice on plant care. 115 Charles St., Boston, MA .
Ilex Designs
Unlike those florists who oversalt otherwise decent bouquets with fillers and flourishes, Ilex co-owners Andrew Anderson and Carol Sharp are as restrained with their creations as gourmet chefs. Working with the freshest specimens of ingredients both familiar (peonies, roses) and less expected (pitcher plants, kale), they and their gifted design team put together naturalistic compositions that let each flower's individual flavor shine through. Delicate orchids are done especially well here, but rest assured anything from Ilex will be an absolute feast for the eyes. 73 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Beacon True Value Home Center
Squished into a Beacon Hill storefront is this incredible urban resource center. Need to rent a power drill? It's five bucks a day. Run out of paint in the middle of a job? Head right over. Want to plant a window box full of tulips? Seeds of every sort are out front on the sidewalk (in season). Plus, the store sells the entire Leatherman line of cool-dude tools, and the service is terrific; these guys make Bob Villa look like he needs a little renovating. 216 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA .
The Garden in the Woods
Don't dig up that lady's slipper! Come to the annual June plant sale at Garden in the Woods for wildflowers you can take home without fear of eradicating an endangered species. While the June sale is the largest, wildflowers are always available for purchase at the Garden, as well as books and other items in the charming gift store. But don't leave without a tour of the Garden itself, one of New England's unique treasures. Hemenway Road, North Framingham, MA .
Brown and Coconut
Courtesy of Brown and Coconut No unnecessary (or unpronounceable) ingredients here: Created by Medford-based sisters Letisha Izuchi and Zeena Brown, Brown and Coconut’s much- loved line of plant-based beauty products (think: cleansers, toners, body butters, and more) focuses on delivering results through gentle, non-irritating elements such as aloe vera and juniper berry oil. Take, for instance, the duo’s clarifying kale mask: Packed with French green clay, lemon verbena, and honeysuckle, it promises to fight blemishes in the healthiest way possible. brownandcoconut.com.
Beauport
COURTESY PHOTO Gloucester is now a destination thanks to this luxe beachfront retreat, which has been bringing sizzle to the site of a former frozen-foods plant since it opened in 2016. The long-weekenders come to lounge at the rooftop pool, dine overlooking Pavilion Beach, and pedal around town on complimentary beach cruisers. But they stay for the fresh, nautically inspired guest rooms, some of which offer water vistas and fireplaces. beauporthotel.com.
SoWa Vintage Market
If the thrill is in the hunt, then giddiness springs eternal at SoWa's weekly conglomerate of throwback merchants. Clothing hawkers come and go throughout the year, but you're always guaranteed a healthy stock of vintage couture, bargain furs, broken-in cowboy boots, Peggy Olson party dresses, Eisenhower-era cardigans, and outré scarves and costume jewelry. A springtime move from the drafty power plant to cozier digs beneath the galleries has reinvigorated the scene and attracted a host of new vendors. 450 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118, sowavintagemarket.com.
Razors Barbershop
Photograph by Jason Grow, hair by Sandy Poirier, Model: Louis/Maggie Inc. In a time of disposable blades and unisex salons, you’d be forgiven for thinking the straight razor shave had gone the way of Brylcreem and wooden teeth. But practitioners of the lost art still remain, including master barbers Anthony and Joseph Berriola. If you haven’t experienced the pleasure of shaving oils, hot towels, and a warm lather, do plant yourself in their Somerville barber chair. It’ll be the best $25 you’ve ever spent. 308 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02144, razorsbarbershop.com.
Petal & Leaf
Nothing spruces up a space like fresh flowers. And no florist arranges fresh flowers quite like Jamaica Plain's Petal & Leaf. From spare, arty decorations to lively, full bouquets, owner Cat Thomson's creative floral stylings include short-stemmed pavé groupings of Thai orchids and classic tulips, and pretty pitcher plants with water reeds. 461 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA .
Winston Flowers & Garden
There are a lot more reasons to visit Winston than birthdays, Mother's Day, and anniversaries. Beyond the profusion of cut flowers and potted greenery are all the accessories necessary to turn any thumb a deep emerald, including seeds, garden furniture, and three greenhouses filled with ready-to-go annuals and perennials. Two acres of plants and flowers will conjure images of your own private Eden, and the vast knowledge of the staff design consultants will ensure your vision lasts well beyond the parking lot. 11 Florence St., Newton, MA winstonflowers.com.
Mahoney's Garden Center
This longtime Boston area institution is justly famous for its vast selection of trees, plants, and gardening supplies. The original garden center, in Winchester, stocks everything from exotic specialty items like a spiral-cut dwarf Alberta spruce to the most prosaic perennials, all carefully labeled with growing information. In-town horticulturalists now have their own minibranch on Memorial Drive in Cambridge. 242 Cambridge St., Winchester, MA .