Brookline Booksmith
Despite our devotion to Kindles and iPads, it takes just two minutes at Brookline Booksmith for us to fall in love with the printed word all over again: the scuffed hardwood floors, worn from decades of use; the steady, friendly conversation at the register; the lulling background jazz; and, of course, the bookshelves, chock full of fiction and non-, paperbacks and hardcovers, the very old and the novel new. 279 Harvard St., Brookline, MA brooklinebooksmith.com.
Yale Appliance & Lighting
A 20,000-square-foot space that stocks everything plus the kitchen sink: Sub-Zero fridges and Thermador stovetops, Maytag dish-washers, GE microwaves, and more. But the best part is that it's not just a showroom full of floor models; thanks to the seminars run by resident chef Kurt von Kahle and demos by area culinary pros, you can also see people cook using many of said appliances. Check out the scratch-and-dent selection for some killer steals. 296 Freeport St., Dorchester, MA 2122, yaleappliance.com.
Barneys New York
For shoe fiends, it's hard to top Barneys' rainbow assortment of Lanvin ballet flats, gladiators, and peep-toe Mary Janes. And that's just the beginning. Spread out across 3,500 square feet of first-floor space, the offerings are straight off the pages of Vogue: sky-high patent YSL stilettos, woven Prada platforms, badass Margiela boots. Recession? What recession? 100 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 2116, barneys.com.
Skip Cuddy, Ermenegildo Zegna
Skip brought his expertise from Louis Boston and Saks to Zegna, where he will outfit the harried male, offering wearable advice on everything from casual Fridays to afternoon weddings. This personal concierge will make sure your clothes are altered on time an delivered; he'll even give you first dibs on new designs before they hit the floor. 39 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
The Grolier Poetry Book Shop
This one-room shop nestled down the street from the Harvard Book Store has volumes of poetry stacked from floor to ceiling—and the most knowledgeable proprietor around. The selection is stunningly comprehensive, including hard-to-find collections and even the most obscure poets. Grolier's 26-year-old poetry-reading series features the famous, and again, the obscure, with a new event every week (less frequently in the summer) and the occasional book signing. 6 Plympton St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA .
Roma Tile
Though smaller in size than some of its competitors, this shop carries tiles you won't see anywhere else. They're the exclusive distributors of the Ann Sacks line—tiles which are custom- and hand-made in Oregon. Plus an endless array of tiles in fresh and different colors, vibrant patterns, and mosaic styles, as well as antique stone floors imported from Europe—when the price is no object. 55 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA .
E.P. Levine
A no-frills used-camera store on the fringes of Boston's photo district, Levine's is a collector's Toyland. Wend your way through the mounds of merchandise scattered on the floor, or climb the 15-foot shelves randomly piled with used goodies. Amidst the chaos you're likely to find the best used photo-equipment in Boston. If you're looking for something specific, it might be a good idea to call in advance. Boston Marine Industrial Park, 23 Dry Dock Avenue, South Boston, MA .
Maurizio's
Maurizio's two floors, connected by a spiral staircase, make for a cozy and playful atmosphere, where the service is friendly and the meal begins with a complimentary glass of champagne. Delicious pasta—linguini with littleneck clams, black fettuccini with smoked salmon in a tomato cream sauce-—and wonderful seafood—pan-roasted tuna steak and grilled red snapper fillet—at reasonable prices. 364 Hanover St., Boston, MA .
The Newes from America
We're channeling Frances Rivera here to deliver our special report: The best burgers and beers are at the Newes. This 'Colonial vintage' pub has creaky hardwood floors and a copper pipe-lined ceiling, and its food is just as classic—baskets of fish and chips, corned beef Reubens, plus the Smokin' Musket Turkey Sandwich and Bag of Onions onion rings, which reward taste buds in ways that belie their cheeseball names. The drink menu includes the so-called Rack of Beers, a flight of five brews. Kelley House, Edgartown, MA 2539, kelley-house.com.
Gypsy Bar
A constant stream of stylish singles flows through the doors of Gypsy Bar on weekends, where they entertain themselves before the eye-catching glow of the video-screen wall with cocktails such as the Deception martini. Behind the bar, an illuminated aquarium offers a conversation starter for the well-groomed men and stiletto-heeled women who flock here. Once they hit the dance floor, however, most of them find the music so loud that there's no need for small talk. 116 Boylston St., Boston, MA gypsybarboston.com.
Back Bay Brewing Co.
The vittles range from basic barbeque to frou-frou. But anyone who goes to a brew pub for the food is missing the point, which, obviously, is the beer. Back Bay features superb lagers and ales crafted by local brew guru Todd Mott. The classics—bitter, IPA, porter—are accented with a rotating seasonal offering (last winter's Imperial Stout was outstanding). And with two bars anchoring two floors, there's plenty of space to drink. 755 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Saturday Nights, BUZZ-Boston
The good news: Only gorgeous men seem to be allowed in Buzz on Saturdays. The bad news: Only gorgeous men seem to be allowed in Buzz on Saturdays. Sure, it's shallow, but it makes for superb cavorting (and, for straight women, spectating). For everyone, though, there's terrific dancing on two floors and prime real estate at a bar tended by scantily clad Adonises. 67 Stuart St., Boston, MA .
Epic Entertainment Boston
One thing’s for sure: These DJs know how to keep the party going. Owner and disc jockey Sheldon Gentles, or DJ Shelly Shell, and his Canton-based team bring undeniable energy and upbeat jams to weddings big and small. But they don’t need gimmicks or hype tricks to get people on the dance floor. Full of hip-hop, pop, and throwbacks, their action-packed playlists — built from special requests and good ol’ fashioned crowd reading — do that all on their own. epicentertainmentboston.com.
Landry & Arcari
When we rang Landry & Arcari to ask about a gorgeous salmon Oriental rug we spotted on the company’s website, a staffer patiently tracked it down, offered to ship it to the closest showroom (there are several), and secured a private appointment for us to peep the weave in person. It’s this personal attention that floors us, to say nothing of extra perks such as rug rentals for parties, custom designs, and even restoration services for well-trod pieces. Multiple locations, landryandarcari.com.
Lego Discovery Center
The best way to keep the words “I’m bored” at bay on gloomy days? Buying a day pass to Assembly Row’s freshly renovated Lego wonderland. Kids can get moving in the Hero Zone, which features a laser maze and climbing wall; rescue a princess on the Kingdom Quest ride; and build, build, build to their heart’s content — without scattering tiny pieces all over your living room floor. 598 Assembly Row, Somerville, MA 02145, legodiscoverycenter.com/boston.