The Laundry-Galleria
Lillian Bloom's North End hybrid features brand-new machines (Maytag, fifty cents), free coffee and tea, twenty-four-hour drop-off service, and inexpensive art on the walls. There's usually an artist in residence too. Buy a painting, and perhaps he'll fold your undies. 256 North St., Boston, MA .
F. Diehl and Son
All the missing parts for your crumbling Victorian—unique moldings, and unusual size clapboards, plus a helpful staff to walk you through the choices. Diehl's also has everything you'd expect from a full-service lumberyard, from pressure-treated decking to two-by-fours and plywood. 180 Linden Street, Wellesley, MA .
Tom Ponticelli
Surely, you must have done something right recently to deserve dessert at the Four Seasons. Whether you choose a dense and delicious chocolate mousse cake, the scones served warm from the oven, or platters of exquisite miniature pastries. Ponticelli's artistry is worth blowing your diet for. Skimp on calories somewhere else. Four Seasons Hotel, 200 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Concepts
Pat Piasecki Part art gallery, part theater, the new kid on the first block of Newbury Street is the go-to place for some of the world’s best streetwear, not to mention the ultimate in experiential retail (see: the DJ booth and on-site café). Expect an eclectic selection of sneakers, apparel, and accessories for men and women spread across three floors, from edgy Japanese brands such as A Bathing Ape and VisVim to haute labels like Balmain and Alexander McQueen. Just be sure to follow Concepts on Instagram for updates, as lines are often out the door thanks to frequent drops of exclusive merch. 18 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, cncpts.com.
Olympia Moving & Storage
Courtesy Photo/Meticulously manicured yards like this one are GreenOp’s specialty. The only thing more stressful than moving? Worrying about your movers. Will they show up on time, protect your china, and ensure the table makes it out of the dining room without hitting the door frame? You can let go of all of those fears when you book Olympia: The Watertown-based crew has been soothing anxious clients with their first-rate customer service (think: a dedicated move coordinator), helpful floor-and-wall protection kits, and superb shrink-wrapping skills for some 28 years. 17 Bridge St., Watertown, MA 02472, olympiamoving.com.
La Fábrica Central
Long the local torchbearers of Caribbean cuisine, Hector and Nivia Piña (the owners of Merengue, Vejigantes, and Doña Habana) have spread those rays of hot tropical sunshine across the river. Their new Central Square venture serves up a freewheeling mezcla of Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican flavors—think garlicky tostones, savory cubanitos, and showstopping rum-flamed rice dishes delivered to your table en fuego—in a lively atmosphere that includes both a jazz lounge and a nightclub. Need a little liquid courage before you hit the dance floor? Peruse the ample drink menu, which features a deep bench of high-end rums. 450 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, lafabricacentral.com.
Harvard Art Museums
Take your guests on a grand tour at the Harvard Art Museums, where European allure and venue options are in no short supply. Swap vows in the ivy-adorned courtyard of Adolphus Busch Hall, then head to the museum’s galleries to peruse paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts, including masterpieces from the Impressionist era, during cocktail hour. Afterward, you’ll make your official debut in Calderwood Courtyard, the museum’s Renzo Piano–designed atrium. Its glass roof suspends a massive mobile composed of oversize musical triangles—a harmonious backdrop for a dance floor. 32 Quincy St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, harvardartmuseums.org.
The Children's Book Shop
Like anything well loved by a child, this Brookline Village institution has become charmingly worn around the edges, the creaky floors a testament to decades of small roaming feet. It eschews the chain bookstores' gloss (and their piles of trinketry and TV tie-ins) for shelf after wonderful shelf of kids' titles—more than 21,000 in all. The shop may be considering spiffing up for its 30th anniversary this year, but here's hoping it'll always be a tad dog-eared: After all, that's how bookworms mark a place they want to go back to. 237 Washington St., Brookline, MA 2445, .
Brookline Booksmith
As megachains and the Internet continue their assault on small retailers, we give thanks to every independent bookshop still out there fighting the good fight. And Brookline Booksmith reminds us why we love bookstores in the first place. From the creaky wooden floor to the smell of freshly printed pages, this is what a bookstore is supposed to be. It's a place for customers to linger, with knowledgeable salespeople and tables full of bargain books. You won't find that (or the quirky newsletter and terrific reading series) on Amazon.com. And there's something else reassuring about visiting this busy store: proof that there are a lot of other people who still read. 279 Harvard St., Brookline, MA brooklinebooksmith.com.
Hudson
Some people, we want to raid their closets; others, their kitchens. If Hudson owner Jill Goldberg's home is anything like her domestic-décor mecca, though, we'd make off with the whole darn thing. From floor to ceiling her South End shop (there's another in Wellesley) is stuffed with big-ticket gorgeousness like brindle cowhide rugs and artsy chandeliers, as well as smaller accents with outsize personality, such as plates decoupaged with old French pharmacy labels. And in contrast with most other high-end home-design spots, there's zero attitude here. Note: When we say 'zero,' we mean well-mannered dogs are allowed inside. 12 Union Park St., Boston, MA 2118, hudsonboston.com.
Circle Furniture
Despite the relentless country-cute styling of the showroom floor, for every table, bed, and chair on display there are at least 20 customizable options, making this strip mall-friendly mini chain a surprise winner almost by dint of choice alone. Because most pieces are made to order (in small workshops right here in New England), it's a breeze to swap out cherry for walnut, trade traditionally styled molding for up-to-the-minute details, and get that classic chair upholstered in a brashly modern fabric. And while the prices are right, the quality is even better, with rock-solid bookcases and ottomans begging for years of use. 199 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge, MA 2138, circlefurniture.com.
City Salon
Huge second-floor bay windows and sky-blue walls make you feel like you're floating int he clouds as your cranium is massaged with soothing-scented liquids. The walls are lined with works by local artists, and the eight barber chairs are spaced comfortably apart in an airy room. But best of all is the zero-attitude, down-to-earth mentality of the stylists. No hippier-than-thou hair bullies here. The staff is friendly and helpful— co-owner Jeffrey cheerfully washes clients' hair; stylish Tonya volunteers techniques for blow-drying tresses to perfection at home. 118 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Stellabella
Kid alert: This well-laid-out shop in Inman Square has lots of room for wandering feet, plus fun and interactive on-site activities for curious minds. There's a play area with a crawl-through tunnel; a plastic structure holding more than 200 balls for jumping around in; a large-piece floor puzzle; a plastic house for climbing in and out of; and, most important, a storyteller the first Wednesday of every month at 4 p.m. And those things aren't even on sale! Stelabella has top-notch goods, including the usual suspects, like Radio Flyers and Lincoln Logs, as well as an impressive selection of arts and crafts kids. Open seven days a week. 1360 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA stellabellatoys.com.
Salon Capri
Photo by Jesse Burke Salon Capri conquered the suburbs decades ago, so we wondered if its recent move to Newbury Street would feel like a minivan parking in a row of Porsches. But the sleek new space with floor-to-ceiling windows is a stunner, and so were we after a visit. We loved the massage chairs during the shampoo, and the shoulder-straightening weights (similar to an X-ray bib) to prevent lopsided cuts. And when we were handed a mimosa and serenaded by a jazz trio (Saturdays only) during our trim, we nearly shouted, "Welcome to the neighborhood." 11 Newbury St., Boston, MA saloncapri.com.
Soma
Call it spadenfreude: The hedonistic pampering you receive here is made that much more delicious by knowing people all around you are putting their bodies through the wringer. Opened in 2004, this spa sits on the second floor of fitness megaclub Bosse Sports, and yet a world away. Exotic touches like orchids and carved masks are a nod to Soma's exclusive Wisdom of Africa products, used in everything from body wraps to decadent manicures. Wrap yourself in one of the microterry-lined silk robes, inhale the scent of baobab oil and Kalahari melon, and remember: no pain, all gain. Bosse Sports, 141 Boston Post Rd. (Rte. 20), Sudbury, MA 1776, .