Uniform
A small but well-thought-out selection of hats, bags, bathing suits, shirts, and pants from brands both familiar (Levi's) and niche (the U.K.-bred collection Brixton) means that even if you don't know your way around a dressing room, you'll walk out of here looking like you do. 511 Tremont St., Boston, MA uniformboston.com.
Great Eastern Trading Co.
Make sure you clear your schedule before stepping inside this time warp of a store, which stocks clothing and accessories dating to the 1920s. You’ll need plenty of time to browse rack after rack of still-good band tees, three-piece crochet sets, ’70s-era palazzo pants, forever-stylish leather jackets, quirky vests, and just about anything else your vintage heart could desire. Multiple locations, greateasternvintage.com.
Bespoke of Winchester
Photo by Jessica Delaney Bespoke of Winchester’s custom kitchens look kind of like the ones you see on celebrity cooking shows (who hasn’t lusted after Ina Garten’s sophisticated backdrop?). Perhaps most important for the heart of the home, though, they also feel welcoming. That’s thanks to the team’s expertise in architecture and interior design, which allows them to offer clients a full-service experience, from space planning and custom built-ins to countertops, lighting, and hardware. 25 Thompson St., Winchester, MA 01890, bespokeofwinchester.com.
MWI Fiber-Shield
In this day of open-plan living, and with pets and children in all areas of the house, stains happen. Thankfully, when your carpet takes a hit or the sofa gets spotted with red wine, the folks at MWI Fiber-Shield are there to help. It’s miraculous, really: With Michelle and Wayne Southworth at the helm, technicians clean furnishings using ecofriendly products that remove or rinse out even the most daunting stains and spills to reveal clean rugs, draperies, window treatments, and fabric and leather upholstery without changing the item’s texture or appearance. 516 E 2nd St., Ste. 3, Boston , MA 02127, mwifibershield.com.
East Meets West
This caterer has been a mainstay at Boston’s classiest affairs since 1989, for good reason: Its food is all over the map, in the best way. Proper salmon with dill? Taco buffet? Pork-belly sliders? There are no fixed menus or cookie-cutter ideas here; the only limit is your imagination. Best of all, the team behind East Meets West doesn’t stop with menu planning: With such deep industry ties, they’ll recommend just the right DJ, florist, and venue to suit your vision. eastmeetswestcatering.com.
FBN Construction
Transparency tops FBN Construction’s list of priorities, and that’s a good thing. The firm’s commitment to communication—to say nothing of its proven planning and building skills—practically guarantees satisfaction, whether you’re overhauling the kitchen in your high-rise condo, creating the ultimate master suite in your suburban Colonial, or simply designing a functional yet elegant home office with loads of built-ins. 17 Wolcott Ct., Boston, MA 02136, fbnconstruction.net.
Rafanelli Events Management
Bryan Rafanelli is the Keith Lockhart of party planning: able to orchestrate a dizzying number of players to masterful effect. Even more impressive is his repertoire. He and design partner Billy Everse have personalized and pulled off nearly every memorable wedding modern-day Boston has seen, from the stately and elegant to the outrageous. With impeccable taste and a knack for details, the team provides everything from invitations and tunes to food and decorations. All you have to provide are the tears and hugs. 450 Harrison Ave., Suite 401, Boston, MA rafanellievents.com.
Stephen Smith
He can find that extra inch in the Prada pants on sale that you can barely squeeze into, transform a jacket so it looks custom-made, and miraculously mend that favorite outfit, which is beginning to look a little on the shabby side. Check with Stephen before you break down in despair over the dress you coveted all season—now that it's available...two sizes too big or one size too small. Barney's New York at the Mall at Chestnut Hill, Chestnut Hill, MA .
agnes b.
There is an art to dressing down, but most people usually head to the nearest Gap or Banana Republic. Throw the flair back into casual Fridays with a visit to agnes b. The place is a gold mine for fashionable yet fuss-free clothing. Signature pieces like fleece cardigans with snaps, well-cut t-shirts and simple dresses, pants and skirts fit nicely into a working girl's wardrobe and her budget. 172 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Phoenix Landing
You're only as old as you feel, so throw on some track pants and a baby-tee and join the high-energy kids at this "alternative Irish bar." After midnight, the Phoenix transforms itself into the hottest dance club on the left bank of the Chuck—with zero attitude and some of the best trance and drum 'n' bass nights in the city. Owners Kevin Treanor and Joey McCabe have as much fun as they provide, hosting creative events like an independent film night, a rooftop rave, and an annual harbor cruise. 512 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA phoenixlandingbar.com.
TD Garden
It's a vaunted sports temple, of course, but the Garden had a banner year for music, with appearances by everybody from the current stars Museto the stalwart Rolling Stones, on their 50th-anniversary tour—plus Justin Bieber, Mumford & Sons, and Coldplay. Lady Gaga had to cancel her show to undergo hip surgery, but the fact that she planned to perform here, for the second tour in a row, is a testament to the arena's go-to status. 100 Legends Way, Boston, MA tdgarden.com.
Zero Arrow Theatre
This Harvard Square spot was designed for experimentation, and that's exactly what the American Repertory Theatre is doing with its flexible, intimate new venue. The unadorned black-box design allows the theater and actors to adapt to any performance, while the ART's planned collaborations with other local cultural groups, such as World Music and PEN New England, promise a steady flow of interesting productions. Zero Arrow St., Cambridge, MA americanrepertorytheater.org/venue/zero-arrow.
Tremont India Pale Ale
Used to be this hophead's delight was available only on the occasional tap at, say, F.J.Doyle's in Jamaica Plan. As of April, though, the good people at the Tremont Brewery, way over in Charlestown, started running product through their million-dollar bottling line. The ale is alty, extremely well-hopped and just the right shade of light copper. By now, it should be flying off the shelves at your neighborhood's finest packy.
42 North
A bagpiper who leads guests through a forest to the reception, a private fireworks display above a string-lit al fresco dinner party—with Britt Cole and Francie Dorman running the show, the sky is the limit. The luxury event planners work with only 10 couples a year, so you know you'll have their full attention—and all the unbridled creativity that comes with it—throughout the planning process. 42northweddings.com.
Cusser's
No offense to the North Shore’s many landmark sandwich shops, but Boston’s Cusser’s is simply a cut above. Not only does the three-location outfit pile homemade onion rolls high with juicy pink slices of Wagyu beef, but the flagship Back Bay restaurant lets you pair a classic barbecue-sauced “three-way” with fancy-pants cocktails from local legend Todd Maul, who uses high-tech gadgets (a centrifuge, a blast freezer) to craft his top-shelf libations. 304 Stuart St., Boston, MA 02116, cussersboston.com.