Eagle's Deli
When it comes to burgers, size matters. Test your gastrointestinal fortitude with Eagle's Deli's 'small' 1-pound Godzilla burger, topped with four slices of cheese and accompanied by a pound of fries, or the outrageous 3-pound Reilly burger, with a dozen slices of cheese and 5 pounds of fries. Each bite (and there are many) proves how good flavorful beef on a toasted bun can be. 1918 Beacon St., Brighton, MA 2135, .
Jane Maxwell's Room Service
She'll deliver the spread to your door, and it's delicious. Twenty-four dollars buys quiche, Perrier, French bread, sweet butter, broccoli and eggplant in a shallot vinaigrette, and pears with crème chantilly. She will also prepare more elaborate dishes (cold poached salmon, with sauce verte) and choose your wine (Maxwell used to be the sommelier at the Parker House). 266-8277.
Bob Crane
And we don't mean the star of "Hogan's Heroes." The local Crane show is just as long-running but our Bobby has had better luck getting out of tight spots. As state treasurer, Crane has survived thirteen years under four governors, emerged unscathed from a lengthy Justice Department probe of his financial affairs, and now, with re-election time at hand, he has managed to make his opponent's magical name—Kennedy—a political liability. Now that's wizardry.
Young's Bicycle Shop
Photo by Elizabeth Cecil Call it the OG of Nantucket bike rentals: For nearly 100 years, this family-owned business has been operating just steps from the ferry terminal, marked by the trademark spinning bike wheel out front. And considering the wide selection of beach cruisers, mountain bikes, and mopeds on offer, it’s no surprise it’s been around so long. Need four wheels for your adventure? Check out the selection of over-sand vehicles for rent. 6 Broad St., Nantucket, MA 02554, youngsbicycleshop.com.
Lenox Sophia
Photo by Brian Samuels Southie didn’t need another pub. It needed, and received in Lenox Sophia, a fine foodie destination for popping in on the way home from work — having reserved one of the four chef’s-counter seats, ideally — and decompressing over a set prix fixe: steaky king trumpet mushrooms with honey-fermented garlic, miso, and tart dried plum might be on the menu from ones-to-watch chefs Shi Mei and Yesid Areiza. The wine? That’s whatever you bring: It’s BYOB. 87 A St., Boston, MA 02127, lenoxsophia.com.
Everything But Water
In a region with four distinct seasons, it can be near impossible to find a retailer that stocks bathing suits year round. Rather than resign yourself to hit-or-miss online shopping for that midwinter trip to warmer climes, head west to Everything but Water. Looking for a retro-inspired one-piece? A specific shade of orange to match your new lipstick? This Natick store has it all, from designers like Nanette Lepore and Trina Turk, gorgeously displayed in January, July, and every month in between. Just add water, indeed. Natick Mall, 1245 Worcester St. #1126, Natick, MA 01760, everythingbutwater.com.
SRV
After tag-teaming at culinary heavyweights like L’Office and Del Posto, chefs Kevin O’Donnell and Michael Lombardi have taken their talents to the South End, opening a stellar Venetian-style bacaro. The marble-topped bar is the perfect place to kick back with a glass of aglianico and a few bite-size cicchetti, but don’t miss the chefs’ fresh pasta—including an alluring garganelli with foraged mushrooms and shaved egg yolk—all made with Four Star Farms grain milled in-house. 569 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA 02118, srvboston.com.
Station Eight
A place where you can linger over a cocktail and a steak on date night, and sate the kids with flatbreads and burgers on a busy weeknight: Marshfield's new hot spot is exactly what this end of the South Shore has been missing. Co-owned by four local couples, it offers live music Wednesday through Sunday, local beer on draft, and a cozy, welcoming vibe. 1899 Ocean St., Marshfield, MA 2050, stationeight-marshfield.com.
Bryan Rafanelli
If the words "wedding coordinator" call to mind a shrieking, melodramatic worrywart, think again. In the calm, confident hands of Rafanelli and his efficient crew, weddings seem all but effortless. Rafanelli molds wedding dreams into reality, based on the clients' own ideas, personalities, and tastes. From the elegant invitations and arrays of gorgeously fresh bouquets to every last perfectly placed fork (all four types of them), Rafanelli whisks away the stress of the event. 142 Berkeley St., Boston, MA rafanellievents.com.
Optica
Four eyes never looked so good. Optica offers homegrown and imported couture for the face, as well as a staff that bends over backward to match a customer's eye shape and face size to the right pair of high-quality specs. Exquisite frames by Cartier and Sama share shelf space with the store's own designs, which range from nearly weightless modern shields to new takes on iconic classics, Prudential Center, Boston, MA .
The Urban Hound
Photo by Jesse Burke There are pets, and then there are babies who just happen to have fur. For the four-legged companions in the latter camp, the Urban Hound is ready to stand in as surrogate parent. The 8,500-square-foot boutique hotel has pristine private suites and large indoor and outdoor play areas. The service menu includes grooming and an on-site training program that will have you wondering who's had more fun on vacay—you or them. 129 Malden St., Boston, MA urbanhounds.com.
Warren Tavern
No self-respecting Townie goes to this older-than-God tavern for the food. You go for the beer, the too-loud music, and the chance to see your cousin, your neighbor, your accountant, and your handyman getting a little sloppy over a fifth round of Sam Adams—sometimes all at the same table. Have a couple of cold ones, and the fish and chips will seem like four-star cuisine. 2 Pleasant Street, Charlestown, MA 2129, .
Nesting On Main
Ascending the worn wooden stairs to reach Nesting on Main recalls a trip to Grandma's attic. The three owners, each with a talent for finding charm in the humblest of artifacts, have covered almost every inch of surface in their four-room boutique with antique card-catalog drawers, beveled mirrors, birdcages, glass doorknobs, chess pieces—the list is seemingly endless. If by chance you don't find what you're after, just write it down in the "wish list" book, and let the buyers work their magic. 44 Main St., Concord, MA 1742, .
Bill Rodgers's
Last December, the Boston Marathoner went to the Globe with a sob story about how evil Bank of Boston was foreclosing on his happy Dover home to settle a bank loan to Rodgers's running-goods store. Lo and behold, four months later, Rodgers announced that the bank had given him a fair price on his home and had signed him to a personal-services contract. Hmmm.
French Memories
As if life on picturesque Duxbury Harbor wasn't sweet enough, French Memories steps in with a cadre of top-notch carbs to up the ante. On hand are tiny petits fours and crunchy baguettes that would hold their own anywhere along the Seine. But the standouts are the truly irresistible almond croissants. Their crispy, buttery layers and dense, nutty filling condense into one cakelike bite. 459 Washington St., Duxbury, MA frenchmemories.com.