Au Soleil Catering
Turning out memorable meals in private homes—which often means tight quarters and picky palates—is a task that could sap any chef's muse. No surprise the catering arm of the vaunted L'Espalier/Sel de la Terre group is more than up to the challenge. Planning a small fete, we laid out the hurdles: seafood allergies, vegan diets, decorating don'ts. Au Soleil fired back with scads of ideas, including using petits fours as favors and dressing the table with bouquets of our favorite blooms. From intimate dinners to 600-person galas, this event-maker handles every gathering with aplomb. 148 Hampden St., Boston, MA 2119, ausoleilcatering.com.
Sault New England
As long as Boston’s stylish men never lose their taste for leather-scented candles and pants held up with twists of nautical rope, Sault will continue to be indispensable. A new women’s section appears not to have affected the store’s emphasis on laid-back yet fashionable accents for the fellas, from killer railroad-spike-inspired bracelets from metal jeweler Giles & Brother to leather bi-folds from Todder. And lest men be excluded from the self-care trend, the shop also offers an assortment of high-end grooming products, including beard oils and one very preppy whale-shaped nail brush. 577 Tremont St., Boston, MA saultne.com.
Moxie Salon
After one look at our tired tresses, bubbly owner Kerry Zirpolo proposed an action plan (permanent dye, low-maintenance lob) that made us feel understood, not pushed. She even gave us a nook to peck away at our laptop while waiting for the color to kick in. We left refreshed, renewed, and feeling like we'd just met a new friend. Even better? Weeks later, our hair still held its style, and our chestnut-brown touchup looked bold, not brassy. 691 Belmont St., Belmont, MA 2478, moxiebelmont.com.
Crossing Main
An enclave of high-wattage style in a region otherwise devoted to Talbots, Crossing Main covers all the bases. Racks of Tolonen tulle-covered miniskirts and Tracy Reese paisley tops do double duty as both edgy and pretty, Kay Unger and Laundry shifts play to the prim and sweet set, and Nanette Lepore floral pants and Vanessa Fox cocktail dresses have sophisticated all wrapped up. Of course, this is still Hingham, so the boutique gives ample space to neopreppy rants like embroidered cords in—what else—bright pink and green. 5 Main St., Hingham, MA crossingmain.com.
Boonsom Pasooktham, Bonnie's Boutique
Photograph by Bob Packert Sure, go ahead, get your pants shortened at your local cleaners. But if you have a more challenging job, why not entrust it to someone who understands complex clothing construction? Boonsom Pasooktham, of Bonnie’s Boutique, was trained in pattern-making, and while she can shorten, nip, or tuck your duds, she can also make just about anything from scratch. Which means, of course, that if you were so inclined, your tailor could also become your own personal designer. That’s an option we think is worth exploring. 43 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 2445, bonniesboutiquema.blogspot.com.
Chica
Chin up, island girl: Overcast days needn't be such downers. The breezy Chica, a mother-and-daughter shop next door to L'étoile, sells enough "where did you get that?" gear to lift any shopaholic's spirits. Here, folksy boho-chic reigns in the form of zigzag striped Ella Moss skirts, embroidered Johnny Was shrunken jackets, and edgy Da-Nang pants. If you begin to find yourself wishing for inclement weather, you're not alone—last summer, Chica answered shoppers' demands with a second outpost in Oak Bluffs. 12-A N. Water St., Edgartown, MA 2539, .
The Liberty Hotel
The former site of the Charles Street Jail now has the city’s hotel and nightlife scene on lock. Guests can escape to Alibi, the prison’s old drunk tank, to sip themed cocktails like “Jailbait” and “Doin’ Thyme” among brick cell walls, iron doors, and celebrity mug shots. No drab hotel dining here, either: Superchef Lydia Shire runs the better-than-it-has-to-be house restaurant, Scampo. And freshly revamped guest rooms boast herringbone wall coverings, library-style club chairs, wide-plank hardwood floors, and décor—scales of justice, old-key artwork—that recalls the building’s jailhouse past. Freedom never felt so good. 215 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, libertyhotel.com.
Rafanelli Events
Nothing chips away at an engaged couple's quality time (not to mention sanity) quite like wedding planning. Guest lists, save-the-dates, seating charts, the scores of teensy details that pop up along the way to "I do"—they can harry even the most come-what-may pair. Fete vet Bryan Rafanelli smoothly juggles it all to create an event unlike anything your guests have ever seen, whether the theme is winter wonderland or summer clambake. The only thing you lovebirds need to do is figure out how to put that extra free time to, ahem, good use. 142 Berkeley St., Boston, MA rafanellievents.com.
Yankee Clipper Inn
There are surprisingly few seaside inns within an hour of Boston. But when you've found this one— and can afford the upper-end price tag— who needs others? Many of the 26 rooms located in four diverse buildings of the inn's compound overlook the ocean. Many have fabulous sun decks or glassed-in porches with a view of waves directly below. Thick lawns and colorful gardens roll down to the water's edge. There's no sandy shore, but there is a pool and a gazebo. Plan ahead: The dining room is strictly BYOB, as Rockport is a dry town. 96 Granite St., Rockport, CT .
Oleana
Lovebirds find a year-round habitat in Oleana, which beckons with a lush hidden garden in summer months and a cozy fireplace when the snow flies, as well as a menu of eastern Mediterranean sumptuousness that sets the mood no matter what the season. Chef Ana Sortun does contemporary riffs on moussaka, kibbeh, bisteeya, and other exotica that beg to be shared (bonus for vegetarian couples: a tasting menu that marries sophisticated spice with produce from Sortun's family farm). Should the evening's canoodling lead to something more permanent, Oleana's private-party setup and Sortun's inventive menu planning make for a truly unforgettable wedding feast. 134 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA 2139, oleanarestaurant.com.
French + Italian
What was once considered a fleeting sojourn into sweatpants has now become the new virtual-business casual — but when you want to step it up a bit for your video calls (while still remaining comfy, of course), you’d do well to pop into Aimee Lombardi’s chic Beacon Hill boutique. Slouchy but well-tailored, classic but vibrant enough to stand out on camera, the carefully curated racks of linen button- downs from Aspesi and sunflower-yellow jersey pants by Sofie D’Hoore will carry you from Zoom calls to a nap to dinner al fresco. Multiple locations, frenchitalian.com.
Hummingbird Bridal & Events
As couples grapple with uncertain wedding plans during the coronavirus outbreak, virtual celebrations have emerged as promising alternatives—and Hummingbird Bridal & Events as the firm to make them happen. Helmed by planner Mandy Connor, the nearly 11-year-old Boston-based company can help coordinate an intimate live-streamed ceremony before whisking you away for a festive meal for two, complete with a bespoke playlist, to keep the party going. Want to make sure your guests feel the love? Connor is happy to send out DIY cocktail kits to your nearest and dearest so they can join in on the fun from afar. 213 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, hummingbirdbridal.com.
Current Vintage
Donning yoga pants on the mainland is one thing, but what you wear on Nantucket is an entirely different ball game. The bolder and more colorful the print, the better — and Current Vintage, a boutique vintage clothing and home-goods store in downtown Nantucket, is here with everything you need to look island-chic. Proprietor Elisabeth English has put together a collection of vibrant, hard-to-find apparel that’s classy, not costume-y (think: Emilio Pucci and vintage Lilly Pulitzer, originally known as the Lilly), along with wine, cheeses, and other goodies you’ll surely want to bring back home. 4 Easy St., Nantucket, MA 02554, currentvintage.com.
Fox & the Knife
Our nonnas could argue for hours about what defines the perfect pasta. One thing they would all agree on, though, is the distinctive precision and vision at work in Karen Akunowicz’s kitchen, from the just-so suppleness of her raviolo carbonara to the tortelli, cooked a tiny bit al dente in a buttery green bath of wild nettles, English peas, and garlic. On your way out, scoop up fresh-made styles sold by the bagged pound for your own cooking adventures — and get excited for the in-house pasta shop planned for Bar Volpe, Akunowicz’s upcoming second Southie restaurant. 28 W. Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127, foxandtheknife.com.
Wequassett Resort and Golf Club
Here it's all about hospitality, from thoughtful kids' offerings like mini beach chairs and cabanas to a program that tracks repeat guests' preferences. Want a rare book delivered to your room? They thought so. Planning to propose—but need a violinist? She'll be right over. It doesn't hurt that Wequassett's on-site restaurant, Twenty-Eight Atlantic, is helmed by L'Espalier alum James Hackney, or that a roving Good Humor truck doles out post-swim snacks. At sunset, a newly expanded veranda with fire pits offers serene views of Pleasant Bay. 2173 Route 28, Harwich, MA 02645, wequassett.com.