José Mateo Ballet Theatre
Going to the ballet is usually either a grand night out or an intimate black-box affair, but with this Cambridge-based company, it can be both. Presented in the cozy Sanctuary Theatre, which is itself within the Old Cambridge Baptist Church, each performance feels like it’s been prepared just for you. And in some ways, it has: Often featuring original choreography, the beautiful works are usually staged exclusively here, and set to an eclectic musical repertoire that ranges from the comforting tones of Bach and Schubert to the bracing modernism of Olivier Messiaen and Philip Glass. 400 Harvard St., Cambridge, MA 02138, ballettheatre.org.
City Sports
It has what a good sporting store should—which is to say, everything—but what sets City Sports apart is customer satisfaction. When we asked a sales associate which kind of catcher's mitt our nephew would need for his first season of Little League, we were impressed by the quick, unfazed response: He doesn't need a catcher's mitt. Better to get him a normal, cheaper glove. Kids that age don't throw hard anyway. If we'd actually had a nephew (some liberties were taken with the truth for research purposes), that's exactly what we would have done. 44 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA 2138, citysports.com.
Magic Beans
If you didn't even know you needed a baby-care timer, pee-pee teepee, or pacifier pod, make a beeline for local chainlet Magic Beans to get a primer on modern-day parenting supplies before the stork touches down. The married-with-kids owners, Sheri and Eli Gurock, and their gung-ho employees have done all the research for you (exhaustively reported on their blog, at spillingthebeans.net), testing hundreds of products in deciding what to stock. The result: everything your own parents never had when you were little, but wish they did. 200 Linden St., Wellesley, MA 2482, mbeans.com.
Antonio Vitale, Studio for Hair
Let the Newbury Street bigwigs battle it out for the spotlight. Color virtuoso Antonio Vitale is content to sit back in his humble Kenmore Square studio and fix any of their overzealous fiascoes. Vitale discreetly repairs even the worst mistakes; his eye for natural, flattering color is invariably dead-on. Little wonder, considering that his other career is as an artist. (This summer saw his gallery show of beautiful three-dimensional landscapes). And while there's nothing abstract about his talent with hair, Vitale brings the same respect for light, color tones, and nature to both of his vocations. 464 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA .
Gargoyles on the Square
Neither plain nor pretentious, this enchanting and candlelit treasure is a lesson in presenting good food with muted sophistication. Dishes including grilled salmon with tomato-tarragon butter or black-pepper pappardelle with chicken confit, fennel, and spinach, are as warm and agreeable as the earth-tone décor, while the bar menu shines with reasonably priced treats like frog legs with baby broccoli and oyster poboys. The room is cozy enough that finding a table on weekends can be competitive, but locals know the strawberry rhubarb croustada is worth lingering over. Besides, with such a lively bar, the wait is half the fun. 219 Elm St., Somerville, MA .
Clio
All too often, a chef's tasting simply comprises diminutive versions of regular-menu offerings, followed by a not-so-teeny tab. Done right, though, it's a chef's chance to do something truly imaginative or showcase some fleeting and wonderful seasonal ingredients. At his flagship restaurant, Clio, celeb chef Ken Oringer presents a series of nine or fourteen dishes that toy with the senses, like a savory burned-bread soup that tastes like the happy result of a kitchen snafu. He also offers tastes of ephemeral items like Japanese cherry-blossom trout, available for just a few weeks a year. Expect to be wowed—and charged accordingly. 370 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, cliorestaurant.com.
Clear Flour Bread
As you enter this charming little bakery tucked away on a Brookline side street, the aroma of warm bread hits you like a baguette to the head. While none of theartisans on our short list produced a loaf we didn'tenjoy, Clear Flour's inventory bested the rest in both texture and flavor. The "rustic Italian," with a crisp outer layer yielding to a chewy, airy interior, is the perfect landing pad for a schmear of triple-creme cheese; the aforementioned baguette, an excellent companion for high-quality olive oil. And the rustic Italian rolls with fire-roasted tomatoes? They need no accompaniment whatsoever. 178 Thorndike St., Brookline, MA 2446, clearflourbread.com.
Abe & Louie's
It's the oldest story in the book: Man tours steakhouses, steakhouses run gamut, man eliminates fading relics, lesser chains, and 'modern' meateries where the flourishes outshine the beef. And by the final page, Abe & Louie's and Grill 23 once again have emerged as the heroes of our tale. In terms of overall atmosphere, it's a draw (lively merriment versus relaxed elegance), but Abe & Louie's cuts are a touch more flavorful, the wine list a tad kinder to our bottom line, and the non-steak options—like the addictive crab cakes—a little nearer to perfection. After all, in a showdown this sizzling, victory is measured by degrees. 793 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2116, abeandlouies.com.
Chuck Bass, Jean-Pierre Salon
Chuck Bass isn't fond of small talk (so don't even try to land any Gossip Girl jokes). Sure, there'll be the usual banter about what you're looking for in a trim, but as soon as he lifts the scissors, he'll go ninja on your locks, stealthily maneuvering through his multi-step shearing (first wet, then dry, and once more after the blowout). By the time you leave, every hair on your head has been restored to its rightful length and place. 116 Newbury St., Boston, MA chuckbass.com.
Goody's Moving Service
There comes a moment during most moves—usually preceded by the sound of breaking glass—when homeowners wonder if they'd have been better off on their own. Following their own move-gone-awry five years ago, brothers Eric and Aaron Goodwine rounded up an eight-person crew and set out to turn their frustration into a business. Goody's wraps and pads like the big companies, and even offers a post-move-out 'old-school toothbrush and white glove' cleaning to your now former abode. It almost makes us want to break out the boxes. Almost.
T.T. the Bear's Place
Boston has no shortage of excellent small music venues, but T.T.'s just keeps edging out the competition. Perhaps it's because former Clash guitarist Mick Jones chose this Central Square nook to showcase his new group last April. Or because it features a healthy mix of worthy local bands and visiting punk veterans like New Model Army and Jesse Malin. Or because some weekends DJ Chris Ewen busts out our favorite '80s New Wave classics. Whatever. It's cramped, it's sticky, it's totally authentic—and it's unbeatable. 10 Brookline St., Cambridge, MA 2139, ttthebears.com.
The Dog Walking Hour, Commonwealth Avenue Mall
In the romantic hour when streetlights first crackle to life, lonely singles prowl the city from Commonwealth Avenue Mall to Minuteman Bike Path with naught but their trusty pooches for companionship. And for many of them, the motive is pure, unadulterated animal attraction. We're talking high long-term potential here: If someone can take care of Max's daily needs, then he or she can probably feed a human relationship. And it's easy to meet other owners; unlike some of their owners, dogs aren't afraid to stop, check each other out, and shamelessly pair off. MA
Frank's Steakhouse
Sadly, the rediscovery of the cocktail culture has perverted the once noble activity of drinking, reducing it to a runway show for an unfortunate breed of baseball cap-sporting frat rats, who choke on cigars, while wincing through martinis. The lounge at Frank's Steak House, in North Cambridge, is sufficiently off the beaten path to attract the fully grown who really enjoy the basics—conviviality, entertainment, and, of course, booze. The rat-packy lounge is free of the smarmy irony that characterizes some of the Johnny-Come-Lately cocktail spots; Frank's has been open since 1938, and some of the patrons look as though they've been glued to their barstools since opening day. 2310 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
The Nields
The Nields were once an acoustic trio—two Nield sisters, Nerissa and Katryna, and Nerissa's husband, David, who took their name—before evolving into an electric quintet. Although the Nields successfully made the transitoin form folk to rock—its latest release, Gotta Get Over Greta, was produced by U2/Sinead O'Connor producer Kevin Moloney—the band has not completely lost touch with its folk roots. It now lies somewhere in between, and is part of the new breed of folk that includes artists such as Ani DiFranco and Sarah McLachlan.
New England Treatment Access
Soaring ceilings, marble accents, mahogany casework, and a huge waft of fresh bud? What was once the main branch of the Brookline Bank is now the area’s finest medical marijuana dispensary. Here you’ll find a sampling of more than 60 highly calibrated strains of green, all grown in Franklin, designed to give patients relief from chronic pain and nausea. NETA’s extremely professional approach to manufacturing is evident everywhere, from the illuminated cases to the beautifully designed packaging of their edibles, topicals, vape products, and flowers. 160 Washington St., Brookline, MA 02114, netacare.org.