Feast & Fettle
Work, school, soccer practice, dance, repeat: When life gets too busy to spend time in the kitchen, Feast & Fettle is there with fully cooked, locally sourced, restaurant-quality meals. Born from a chef’s desire to nourish busy families, the service caters to all needs and appetites with flexible delivery plans, allergy-conscious options, and kid-friendly menus. Bonus points for an eco-friendly delivery model that leaves customers with zero (yes, zero) waste thanks to reusable delivery containers. feastandfettle.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.
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.
A House on the Cape
What do you do when you’re craving that #beachlife but can’t get on a plane? You start searching for a home across the bridge. As legions of the region’s newly minted WFHers began a mass exodus down Route 6 last spring and summer, house prices skyrocketed, leaving those who didn’t find their slice of paradise early in the pandemic in the dust. Our advice if you’re still desperately scanning Zillow this summer? Beg your friends for an invitation (or blow up a kiddie pool in your landlocked backyard).
William Browne & Sons
Another 50th anniversary worth celebrating this year? That of this family-owned tailoring business, which the late William Browne first opened in Mattapan in 1974. Now his oldest son, Paul, is carrying on his legacy, deftly altering suit jackets and pants, dresses, and anything else that needs a little nip and tuck — with very little turnaround time to boot. 862 Morton St., Mattapan, MA 02126, facebook.com/usewhatisaround.
Select Oyster Bar
Nineteenth-century urban planning may have transformed an ocean inlet into the Back Bay neighborhood, but about 150 years later, inspired chef Michael Serpa is still filling it with (fabulous) Mediterranean-inspired fish: sea bream, whole-roasted and sauced with parsley, mint, and oregano; swordfish with champagne mango and rose harissa; and salmon crudo augmenting towers of oysters and crab salad. A whip-smart wine list—including a nice pool of reds—pays equal attention to terroir. 50 Gloucester St., Boston, MA selectboston.com.
David Kelly, Grettacole
Don't plan on accomplishing much of anything after you've been under the nearly mystical hands of David Kelly, whose clients have been known to cancel meetings just so they can better enjoy the aftermath of his massages. Kelly's steady pressure, strength, and calming manner (his soothing voice could relax even Richard Simmons) work deep into muscles you didn't know you had. Copley Place, Boston, MA grettacole.com.
Le Couturier House of Alterations
Favored by some of the city's most discriminating boutique owners and clotheshorses, Dick Robasson is a stitch wizard straight out of another era. Holed up in his spartan Central Square space, with two sewing machines and a radio humming jazz in the background, the one-time Zegna staffer employs the same concentration when hemming pants as he does when whipping up a suit from scratch. 550 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2116, lecouturierma.com.
Lululemon Athletica
Because the pants are preshrunk and consummately flattering. Because the tops are sexy and comfortable. Because (heads up, yoga dudes) the men's apparel is styled like normal, nonhumiliating athletic gear. And because Lululemon's eco-friendly workout mats, gym bags, and other yoga accessories mean that you can strike a pose, discover your center, and leave behind the outside world—in more or less the same pristine shape in which you found it. 337 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, lululemon.com/boston/newbury.
Karma
Everyone loves a bargain. But few of us love sifting through piles of used clothes. That's why those in the know head to Karma, where the owners carefully edit the racks of gently worn wares. Trina Turk blouses, Ruth pants, and Escada shoes are just some of the treasures you might find in this sunny North End boutique, whose seasonal goods are always in fashion. 26 Prince St., Boston, MA .
Audio Concepts
Audio Concepts Home Theater After you're done drooling over Audio Concepts' fantasy home-theater setups—massive TVs, booming speakers, George Jetson-worthy remote controls—find a salesperson and tell him your audio-visual dream. No matter the budget, be it $1,000 or $20,000, he'll briskly and breezily sketch out a plan to turn your underutilized family room or basement into the neighborhood cinema. 870 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA audioconcepts.com.
Alpha Omega
Can't face the three-month wait for that perfect stainless steel tank watch? With more than 30 brands of watches, including Rolex, Omega, TAG Heuer, and Breitling, you would be hard-pressed not to find a suitable alternative. Alpha also has factory-trained, certified watch technicians on-site, and is planning to open a super store in the Burlington Mall this fall. 57 JFK St., Cambridge, MA .
Il Casale
When dining at Il Casale, don't be surprised if your companions—having mopped the last bit of tangy, rich marinara from their plates—start hatching a plan to move to the suburbs. Who wouldn't want to get closer to food like this? Dante de Magistris's newest venture is not only stylish and affordable, with most entrées under $20, but it also does full justice to the Italian home cooking that inspired it: rustic minestra, feathery gnocchi, seriously good meatballs. 50 Leonard St., Belmont, MA 2478, ilcasalebelmont.com.
The Roof at the Ritz-Carlton
Plan ahead if you want to trip the light fantastic at this, the city's chicest summer dinner-cum-dancing destination for those of us who outgrew Landsdowne Street years ago. Seating, especially for groups, is booked weeks, sometimes months, ahead. The good news is your alfresco evening will take place regardless of weather: A huge tent encloses tables, band, and dance floor, keeping well-coifed guests warm and dry. 15 Arlington St., Boston, MA .
La Saison Bakery
Be the hero of the next family gathering by showing up with La Saison Bakery’s rich, heavenly chocolate cake — or treat yourself to a slice any old day, ideally paired with a cup of iced Persian tea or sweet masala chai. Dense, moist, and just the right balance of sweet-but-not-too-sweet, the treat will put all your plans on hold for the day as you sit and savor bite after irresistible bite. 407 Concord Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, lasaison-bakery.com.