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Food & Drink
Lunch
Myers + Chang
There’s something here for every variation of Asian-food craving. Must-haves from the dinner service include tea-smoked ribs, wok-roasted mussels and Indonesian nasi goring, while dim sum go-tos include pork belly buns and pot stickers. If your idea of lunch necessarily comes between two slices of bread, try the short rib–with–Asian pear banh mi, washed down with a glass of sweet, house-made cherry-ginger soda. And no one should miss the delectable Chinese chicken salad.
Photo credit: Emily Knudsen
1145 Washington St., Boston » 617-542-5200 » myersandchang.com -
Bars & Clubs
Neighborhoods: Cambridge: Central Square
Plough & Stars
Talk about Ireland forever: This is the auld sod at its finest. Founded by renegade geniuses Peter O’Malley and Dewitt Henry (who also started the literary magazine Ploughshares) in 1969, the Plough has provided terrific food, strong drink, live music and brainiac craic for the likes of Bob Dylan, Philip Roth and Bonnie Raitt, never mind the hundreds of regulars who covet their select beers, whiskeys and freshly made cocktails.
Credit: Heather McGrath
912 Mass. Ave., Cambridge » 617-576-0032 » ploughandstars.com -
Arts & Entertainment
Exhibit
Chihuly: Through the Looking Glass at the Museum of Fine Arts
Dale Chihuly’s career as a studio pioneer could have ended after a car accident left him blind in one eye, but this new perspective helped his art reach unprecedented heights. Chihuly directs a team of glass-blowers in the creation of his vibrant but soothing, strong but delicate sculpture. Through Aug. 7, the Museum of Fine Arts' Gund Gallery showcases 40 years of pieces from the RISD grad, including the 56-foot-long “Mille Fiori” (Italian for “A Thousand Flowers”) and the “Lime Green Icicle Tower” installations—the latter created specifically for the new Shapiro Courtyard.
Photo credit: © 2011 Chihuly Studio, all rights reserved/Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Ave., Boston » 617-267-9300 » mfa.org/exhibitions/chihuly -
Goods & Services
Home Boutique
Abodeon
The first thing you’ll notice when entering Abodeon is that it's a cell phone–free store—you shouldn’t have any distractions while exploring this impressively stocked treasure chest. For the past 14 years, this wickedly modern (and occasionally vintage) boutique has been selling new and used goods to both serious collectors and dabblers just looking to spruce up their living rooms. You’ll find everything from tables and chairs to a near-perfect centerpiece, like a maple chess set from the 1960s. The focus is on superlative design, selected with style.
Photo Credit: Katie Noble
1731 Mass. Ave., Cambridge » 617-497-0137 » abodeon.com -
Fashion
Women's Vintage Store
Oona’s
An institution in Harvard Square, Oona’s welcomes visitors with a proper guest book to sign. After that, it’s a vintage orgy—1940s baubles, cowboy boots, cable sweaters, mink jackets and rhinestone-encrusted gowns. Perfect for costume parties or high-quality, of-the-moment looks, the boutique has a glut of inexpensive, eclectic merchandise from yesteryear.
Photo Credit: Katie Noble
1210 Mass. Ave., Cambridge » 617-491-2654 -
Beauty & Health
Women’s Haircut
Lindsey Bieber at Jorgo Salon
Whether you’re seeking long bohemian locks or short soft waves, Lindsey Bieber is your best bet. Realizing that one cut isn’t for everyone, Bieber (no relation to Justin) works with a woman’s hair type and face shape to create a flattering coif. No fear of having a ’do you can’t do: Bieber ensures that clients can recreate their look at home. “Transforming people, honestly, is just so fun,” she says. “To turn someone around in the chair and have someone say, ‘This is the best haircut I’ve ever had.’”
Photo credit: Jessica Scranton
168 Newbury St., Boston » 617-262-9300 » jorgosalon.com -
Bridal
Florist
Blooms of Hope
Pairing owner Nicole Pirani’s love of flowers with her passion for giving back, this studio provides brides with gorgeous bouquets, then uses half of the profits to buy flowers for a dozen or so nonprofits. Among them are homeless shelters, Community Cooks, the Children’s Room and, Pirani's personal favorite, Room to Grow, which helps young families living at the poverty line. A bonus for brides: spend more than $5,000 and the choice of charity is yours.
Photo Credit: Katie Noble
81 Fairmont St., Belmont » 781-698-9855 » bloomsofhopefloral.com
Contributing writers: Liz Bomze (Food & Drink), Sarah Corrigan (Arts & Entertainment), Ezra Dyer (People & Places, Sports), Carolyn Faye Fox (Bars & Clubs), Nancy Gaines (Bars & Clubs), Kim Girard (Beauty & Health), Lean Mennies (Food & Drink), Mike Miccoli (Goods & Services), Lisa Pierpont (Fashion).
