Trina's Starlite Lounge
The overwhelmingly friendly service goes a long way toward making Trina's feel cool, but without any pretension—a lot like Inman Square itself. What to Order: The fried chicken and buttermilk waffles; southern-style ramen. 3 Beacon St., Somerville, MA trinastarlitelounge.com.
Trina's Starlite Lounge
The whole point of brunch is that it's an excuse for indulgence. So why not inject a dash of naughtiness and have it on a weekday? We're talking about industry brunch on Mondays at Starlite, where calling in sick is rewarded with a pile of biscuits and gravy, or the brunch burger (crowned with a fried egg). The crowd, mostly restaurant types shaking off the prior night's last call, won't bat an eye at your request for a second butter-maple bourbon with a chocolate-covered bacon slice. 3 Beacon St., Somerville, MA 2143, trinastarlitelounge.com.
Trina's Starlite Lounge
The H-word may be ill defined—something about young, vaguely cool people having fun in a place where you're not. Unless you happen to be at Trina's. Equal parts dive bar, cocktail lounge, diner, and comfort-food joint, it has the type of lived-in authenticity the you-know-whats can't resist. 3 Beacon St., Somerville, MA 02143, trinastarlitelounge.com.
Trina's Starlite Lounge
Hipsters, locals, and industry folk mingle at this Inman hangout, where stiff drinks and retro vibes accompany seriously good late-night eats, cranked out by the kitchen staff till midnight on weekends. The crisp tots with rosemary-garlic aioli pair well with a Green Goblin (a neon mezcal-based tipple), as does the beefy Starlite chili with a side of cornbread—a butter-soaked masterpiece so good, you might as well order an extra slice to take home for breakfast. Correction, June 26, 11 a.m.: In the July issue of Boston, we misstated how late Trina's serves (midnight). We regret the error. 3 Beacon St., Somerville, MA 02143, trinastarlitelounge.com.
Chel Bella
Lululemon sometimes seems like the unofficial South Shore uniform. So what a delight it was to discover Chel Bella. Run by Chelsea Orr, daughter-in-law of hockey legend Bobby Orr, the shop delivers designer clothing like Vince leather separates and Trina Turk resort wear. 66 South St., Hingham, MA 02043, chelbella.com.
Lord & Taylor
If the idea of swimwear shopping conjures feelings usually reserved for the dentist's office, fret not: Lord & Taylor's selection should soothe even the most reluctant buyer. Make a beeline for the first floor, where you'll find Trina Turk bikinis and anything-but-boring Diesel men's board shorts. Prudential Center, Boston, MA 02199, lordandtaylor.com.
Parlor Sports
Just because it's not in the shadow of Fenway doesn't mean this Somerville staple can't hang in the big leagues. Catch any game on one of a dozen TVs while knocking back $10 cocktails and craft beers from the small but stacked list—or fried-plaintain-topped nachos from the kitchen Parlor shares with neighboring Trina's Starlite Lounge. 3 Beacon St., Somerville, MA 02143, parlorsportsbar.com.
Acquire
There's nary an item over $100 inside Nikki Dalrymple's ode to cool dcor. Choose from goodies like Trina Turk needlepoint pillows ($55 apiece), vintage cordial glassware sets (around $40), and globes printed with 18th-century maps, which at less than $30 each, prove great design doesn't require stratospheric spending. 61 Salem St., Boston, MA 2113, acquireboutique.com.
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 .
Wish
Half the fun of a party is planning what to wear. That's why we shop at Wish. The Beacon Hill boutique carries bright Diane von Frustenberg wraps, girly Nanette Lepore A-lines, and delicate Helen Wang strapless dresses—all ideal for an afternoon wedding, a cocktail party, even a black-tie affair. Accessorize your outfit by adding a trendy Trina Turk clutch, and you're ready to play. 49 Charles St., Boston, MA wishboston.wordpress.com.
Wish and Moxie
Admittedly, we're taking some liberties by calling two separate stores a one-stop shop. But if you're trying to put together an inspired head-to-toe ensemble, these side-by-side boutiques on Beacon Hill are a match made in retail heaven. Wish is stocked with versatile frocks from Trina Turk, Milly, and Ella Moss, while Moxie covers the accessories and shoes. One stop, two doors, and zero department-store drudgery? Ring us up. 49-51 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, wishboston.com; moxieboston.com.
The Paddle Inn
The team behind Trina's Starlite Lounge injected some much-needed energy into Newburyport with a beach-inspired, rum-fueled hangout that fits the bill from day to late night. Brunch here means strong and spicy bloody marys (with or without bacon), doughnut holes, shakshuka, and an egg sandwich worth traveling for. "Dessert" is the Sandy Point paloma, made with Clown Shoes Clementine Witbier, grapefruit cordial, tequila, and a lime-salt rim. Then you nap. 27 State St., Newburyport, MA 1950, paddleinnsurf.com.
Lord & Taylor
While everyone was gushing over its flashier neighbors—the new Barneys, the renovated Saks—underdog Lord & Taylor quietly cornered the city's bikini market. (In fact, starting in early March, swimwear commands almost a third of the lower level of this Back Bay stalwart.) And though the department store may have an old-fashioned rep, its bikini selection entices with trendsetters like Trina Turk, Betsey Johnson, and Vix. More-modest one-pieces from Gottex and La Blanca are chic, not frumpy. 760 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2199, .
Wish
You'll wish you had more occasions to wear girlie dresses after you visit this starry-eyed Beacon Hill boutique. The small space is filled to the brim with trendy threads and accessories, but the collection of flirty dresses, skirts, and petal-soft cotton Ts merits special attention. The selection is comfortably eclectic—think Trina Turk, Ella Moss, Tibi, Susana Monaco, Paper Denim & Cloth, Velvet, How & Wen, and Shoshanna, just for starters. You're bound to find yourself circling the racks, spying new must-haves with every pass. 49 Charles St., Boston, MA wishboston.wordpress.com.
Bella Skin
Likable as Trina Holland and Chani Leighton are, you'd think twice about meeting them in a dark alley. Focused, relentless, whip-quick—the seemingly easygoing owners of Bella Skin harbor serious ninja skills. As it happens, that makes for outstanding hair-removal technique: Armed with hard wax (sticks to hair, not skin) and chitchat, they strip clients smooth in a near-painless flash. While everything from furry brows to fuzzy toes is fair game, first-time bikini and Brazilian waxes are a specialty. Newbies never know what hit 'em. 846 Walnut St., Newton, MA 2459, .