Natale's of Hanover
Natale Agostino reminds his customers that clothes off the rack are a curiously American phenomenon. And he should know. Natale spent 11 years as a tailor's apprentice in Reggio Calabria, learning to meticulously cut the garment to the man. These days, although he sells some ready-made clothing along with the suits he custom-tailors, he still wanders the floor of his Hanover store seven days a week, on the prowl for slacks that are just a bit too long on one customer, or the jacket that could hug the shoulders of another just a little less. 2001 Washington St., Hanover, MA natalesclothing.com.
Square Cafe
What may be the South Shore's most fetching dining room (white tablecloths, cherry hardwood floors, plaid banquettes, soothing antique prints) now sports an equally alluring menu. Chef Andrea Schnell, an alumna of Duxbury's Windsor House, whips up newfangled, delectable New England favorites. The sweet, juicy tuna with chile vinaigrette alone is worth a visit. All's not perfect: The service here still needs work, and on some busy nights delivery can be slow. But between the convivial atmosphere and the pretty room, there's no better place to kill those extra minutes. 150 North St., Hingham, MA thesquarecafe.com.
Gypsy Bar
The average reveler out on the town cannot avoid certain pitfalls: long lines, jerk doormen, megaexpensive drinks. And so we mean this in the most complimentary of ways: At Gypsy, a bumpin' dance haven full of celebs (both quasi and real), the line isn't as intolerable, doormen aren't such jerks, and drinks are only mildly overpriced. There's a huge dance floor and a separate lounge, plus mesmerizing jellyfish-filled aquariums, all worth admiring if you can—or even care to—see past the haze of beautiful people bathed in red light. 116 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2116, gypsybarboston.com.
Avalon
Even after all the new additions to the roster of Lansdowne Street clubs, Avalon remains the life of the dance party. It's consistently packed, spotlights an endless supply of internationally renowned DJs, and pours some of the city's most potent cocktails. Things heat up around midnight when some 2,000 clubgoers, ranging from the techno-hungry to the daytime professional, hit the dance floor. The incomparable sound system and light show will pound your senses, whether you're there for a wildly themed Saturday night, Sunday gay night, or the VIP lounge. 15 Lansdowne St., Boston, MA .
Jan Gleysteen Architects
Perusing Jan Gleysteen’s portfolio, one word repeatedly comes to mind: timeless. With nearly four decades of experience under his belt, the Wellesley architect knows his way around traditionalism, dreaming up classic abodes—such as a grand suburban homestead with coffered ceilings and dramatic archway—that are built to last. 888 Worcester St., Wellesley, MA 02482, jangleysteeninc.com.
Jason Burke
In Burke's hands, a round brush is a magic wand. With it, he could do evil (a pageant bouffant, perhaps?), but he inevitably chooses to do good: not too big, not too flat, just soft and smooth. As for staying power, our Burke-blown mane remained fresh-looking for four full days. Kent Newton Salon, 1315 Washington St., Boston, MA 2118, .
Dropkick Murphys
Okay, a crushingly obvious choice. But consider that the Dropkick Murphys were able to get Bruce Springsteen on their first new studio album in four years—a kickass, heartfelt record that hit number six on the Billboard Hot 200. And now they're headlining at Fenway next month. dropkickmurphys.com.
Topgolf Boston-Canton
You don’t have to know the difference between a flop shot and a stinger to have a blast at this golf-entertainment complex. Opened last November, Massachusetts’ first Topgolf location boasts 90 high-tech hitting bays and a full-service restaurant across 60,000 square feet and three floors — all reasons the gamified driving range has quickly become a reliably popular destination for family outings and birthday parties. Best of all, the spacious bays are climate-controlled, so parents can chaperone restless kids here year round, bad-weather days be damned. 777 Dedham St., Canton, MA 02021, topgolf.com/us/canton.
Scarlet Roots Photography
Kiley Sullivan and Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy at the Boston Public Library. / Photo by Scarlet Roots With a background in photography for well-known commercial brands, Julianne Meyers has an intuitive feel for creating magical shots. Her wedding images capture authentic moments: a couple running hand in hand down a deserted beach, sharing a secret on a crowded dance floor, or sitting behind the wheel of a vintage roadster like they’re in a scene from a 1950s movie. You’ll feel instantly at ease in front of the camera — in fact, you’ll probably laugh hysterically about something funny Meyers says at least twice — and the shots she gets will capture you and your betrothed’s most authentic selves. scarletroots.com.
Greydon House
Nantucket’s chic Greydon House. / Photo provided by Greydon House The talk of Nantucket since its debut in 2016, Greydon House continues to impress with its design-forward common spaces and guest rooms, to say nothing of its small-but-mighty restaurant and bar, helmed by Michelin-starred executive chef Marcus Gleadow-Ware. Settle into your new digs—decked out with reclaimed-chestnut floors, antique furniture, and maritime-inspired artwork—then head out to explore the town: The inn conveniently stands just a short bike ride away from many island destinations, including the ferry terminal. 17 Broad St., Nantucket, MA 02554, greydonhouse.com.
Misselwood
Imagine, if you will, an emerald-green lawn overlooking the ocean. Rows of white chairs face the water, flanking an aisle dusted with flower petals. It’s here that you’ll say, “I do,” reciting the vows you worked so hard on while waves ripple gently behind you. Afterward, you’ll reunite with loved ones in a soaring white tent, pitched atop a stone floor studded with sea glass. Can you see it? Now, head to Misselwood—a grand seaside estate in Beverly—to book the real thing. Complete with a French chateaux-style manse for smaller affairs, this formidable venue will far exceed your wildest dreams. 407 Hale St., Beverly, Massachusetts 01951, misselwood.com.
Magic Beans
Photograph by Mariel Tenney Restless kids? No problem. Multiple locations of this locally owned emporium have on-site play spaces, and all encourage tykes to take for-sale scooters for trial spins around the floor. Toilet trainer? Spacious restrooms are stocked with seats, stools, and wipes. But the real draw is the childhood-spanning selection that's heavy on educational items—Hape wooden toddler toys, Hexbug sets, and tween-girl-inspired Goldieblox and Roominate engineering kits—but never short on reliable crowd-pleasers, like Bruder trucks and Alex craft supplies. (Multiple locations.) 312 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 02446, mbeans.com.
Knight Moves Café
Not technically a bar (it's BYOB), New England's only board-game café offers gamers the opportunity to hang out in a comfier version of their living room while kicking their friends' asses in rounds of Settlers of Catan. A $5 or $10 drop-in cover is all you need to play any of the nearly 1,000 games neatly stacked from floor to ceiling, from Cards Against Humanity to Battleship to your favorite cult Euro import. Also featuring: comforting steampunk-lite décor, a Nutella milkshake, and fresh-baked pastries. 1402 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 02446, knightmovescafe.com.
The Altered Bride
There are a few things you won't find at the Altered Bride. Among them are polyester gloves and bags so cheesy you instinctively hunt for the crackers, or beautiful high-quality trinkets so prohibitively priced that only the Miller sisters could afford them. Here you'll find something between those two extremes: upscale, handmade accessories that are worth their price. Think crisp, cool, and feathery white veils (custom-made, if you don't find what you want on the floor), tiaras that are both elegant and playful, and shoes that are comfortable but classy and stylish. It's all enough to leave you in a truly altered state. 129 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Avenue Victor Hugo Book Shop
In a city of scribes, it's little wonder there are so many character-filled used bookstores. But fans of this Newbury Street shop know that every stroll into Victor Hugo uncovers a novel morsel. There's always a cat roaming the original brick floor, and there's always something fascinating to read among the 150,000 books and 250,000 magazines on the stacks, from the stash of Life magazines that date back to 1936 to the first-edition 1934 copy of H.G. Wells's Experiment in Autobiography: Discoveries and Conclusions of a Very Ordinary Brain (Since 1866). In Victor Hugo, even the ordinary is extraordinary. 339 Newbury St., Boston, MA avenuevictorhugobooks.com.