Minuteman Bike Path
Designed as a commuter bikeway, this 10-and-a-half mile trail has won the hearts of walkers, runners, and rollers (including cyclists, in-line skaters, and people who use those bizzarre dry-land cross-country skis). There are plenty of entry points along the way, but we recommend you begin west of Arlington Center to avoid having to cross cobblestones and four-way intersections. Moving past ponds, historic sites, and wooded areas lends the feeling that you're 700 miles from the city, instead of just seven. Alewife T Station, Cambridge-intersection of Railroad Avenue, Loomis Street, and South Street, Bedford, MA minutemanbikeway.org.
The Secret Garden Pet Resort
Situated on 30 acres of lush green fields, this full-service grooming and boarding facility offers large private kennels for all of its four-legged guests, each of whom get a gated outdoor space and a deluxe doggie bed. If you’d like to treat your pampered pooch to a vacation as lavish as your own, upgrade to a luxury suite and take advantage of à la carte services such as nature walks, play sessions, and face time with Fido (via Web cam). 1040 Central St., East Bridgewater, MA 2333, secretgardenpetresort.com.
Nordstrom
Now with four locations in Greater Boston—Natick, Burlington, Peabody, and a new outpost in Braintree—Nordstrom has the area's most exhaustive supply of dress shoes, boots, sneakers, and sandals. If this sounds overwhelming, know that staffers here are adept at recognizing the clueless shopper. These special agents can solve nearly any footwear dilemma and help you navigate brand names like Converse, John Varvatos, Ferragamo, and Santoni. 290 Speen St., Natick, MA 1760, nordstrom.com.
Kaps
For those who don't want to deal with Back Bay parking and traffic, Kaps is a welcome solution. This family-owned and operated business has four locations, all of which carry the kind of Italian labels that you might find on the male cast of Ally McBeal: Armani, Canali, Zegna, Hickey-Freeman, and others. Whether you're the wide-shouldered power suit type or prefer banker's grey or pinstripe, Kaps can outfit you in whatever suits your fancy. 5 Main St., Andover, MA .
The Frame Gallery
Who better to create a home for your beloved artwork than the team that’s framed masterpieces for the MFA and the Gardner Museum? For almost four decades, the Frame Gallery has been putting paintings, photographs, and even sports memorabilia in everything from shadow boxes to custom gold-leafed masterpieces that are works of art in their own right. Plus, they can give that antique Victorian frame passed down through your family for generations a little TLC, too. 357 Boylston St., Brookline, MA 02445, theframegalleryboston.com.
Grain Surfboards
One look at these artisanal wooden boards, and you’ll want to hang 10 with the best of ’em. Lovingly handcrafted from locally sourced, eco-friendly materials, Grain’s custom fish, midlength, and longboards are always the talk of the beach. Want to help make your own? Join the Grain crew during a four- or five-day workshop in York, Maine, for an unforgettable hands-on experience. 73 Webber Rd., York, ME 03909, grainsurfboards.com.
Ariadne Restaurant & Bar
It's not the easy parking or the sexy and refined décor that makes Ariadne our favorite newcomer—but those things help. Shimmering floor-to-ceiling raw-silk curtains in earthy tones of sage and wheat, candles that glow inside alabaster holders, crystal-accented light fixtures, and luxuriously upholstered half-moon banquettes are telling harbingers of the experience that awaits inside this Newton restaurant. The food, like the design, is refreshingly simple but prepared with passion and talent. Chef and owner Christos Tsardounis prefers seasonal and local ingredients for his Mediterranean-tinged menu, with offerings such as simple grilled squid. No fuss here, but the execution is flawless—as is the crisp-skinned roasted organic chicken served with a rich morel mushroom, fava bean, and creamy fingerling potato sauté and finished with a pan jus glaze. The full bar is also a welcome pleasure, and the wine list includes half bottles such as Billecart Salmon brut rosé and a few new names from around the globe. 344 Walnut St., Newton, MA .
Weloset Kennels
So it's a big far-flung. But if you're the type of person who recoils from the thought of tossing Toto into caged care, then this is your child we're talking about. Located in a woodsy setting with a knoll where you can stroll with babe before tearfully wishing him adieu, the kennel also has a fenced play area where the staff will take your pal for a few minutes of quality time. The pens are the largest we saw anywhere, at 80 to 100 square feet for large dogs, and have attached runs, bedding with heated floors in the winter, and constantly circulating fresh air. Grooming is also available, as is nondairy canine ice cream. Best of all, stays are reasonably priced at between $19 and $21 a day. Route 97, Boxford, MA .
Trattoria à Scalinatella
Tucked away on a second floor above Hanover Street, this tiny slice of Sicily is proof there's more to an authentic North End restaurant than red-and-white-checkered tablecloths. An elegant experience from start to finish (with a business attire-only dress code), Trattoria à Scalinatella pairs a refined room with a like-minded menu. Appetizers such as the lobster timballo showcase the kitchen's love of fresh flavors, while entrées like the olive-coated salmon are seductively simple. The flirty, macho waiters know their stuff when it comes to the menu and the wine list, and aren't afraid to show it. It's best to just sit back and let them guide you through your meal. Post meal drink in hand, curled up at a table by the cozy fireplace, you won't find a better way to relax. 253 Hanover St., Boston, MA .
Middlesex Lounge
Don't be put off by the lines for just about everything here (entry, drinks, the lav): When you're ready to get low, there's always room on the dance floor. This minimalist club has the feel of a house party, with front-row beats by Hearthrob, Soul Clap, DJ Kon, and other electronic mix-masters, plus strong theme nights that range from French pop to a '90s dance jam. While the Enormous Room's undeniably comfy couches tend to attract slouches, the Mid-sex keeps it lively with a monster video screen, benches that roll right up to (or away from) the action, and a crowd that's bumping from open to close on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights. 315 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2115, middlesexlounge.us.
The Paradise Rock Club
Who says rock is dead? With a club like the Paradise offering its stage to the kinds of acts that will never, ever get air time on MTV (and that's a good thing), the genre is thriving. Everything about the Paradise is designed for the audience: the acoustics, the lights, the five bars (the lines are never long for a drink), and the long, rectangular space that lets just about everyone get close to the stage. Which is why acts from the Donnas to Ryan Adams have lined up to play the Paradise this year, the club's 25th in business. With the addition of the adjacent Paradise Lounge, there's now a smaller stage for acoustic shows by local acts, plus a bar menu for between-show snacks. And unlike other Boston clubs, which stage their shows on the early side so they can turn their floors over to dancing by 10, the Paradise rocks all night long. 969 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA thedise.com.
The Liberty Hotel
The former site of the Charles Street Jail now has the city’s hotel and nightlife scene on lock. Guests can escape to Alibi, the prison’s old drunk tank, to sip themed cocktails like “Jailbait” and “Doin’ Thyme” among brick cell walls, iron doors, and celebrity mug shots. No drab hotel dining here, either: Superchef Lydia Shire runs the better-than-it-has-to-be house restaurant, Scampo. And freshly revamped guest rooms boast herringbone wall coverings, library-style club chairs, wide-plank hardwood floors, and décor—scales of justice, old-key artwork—that recalls the building’s jailhouse past. Freedom never felt so good. 215 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, libertyhotel.com.
Dr. Detail Car Wash
Most of us do very bad things in our cars, what with the speeding and the cussing and whatnot. Some of us also do very bad things to our cars, leaving them to suffer the indignity of coffee-stained dashes and trash-strewn floors. When the situation reaches the Good God, what is that smell? stage, it's time to pay a visit to Dr. Detail. At its three local mall-garage setups (bonus: shop while you wait) and flagship operation in Walpole (bonus: spot a Patriot), this auto aesthetician offers a decent hand-wash and vacuum for 30 bucks. But book a full detail, starting at about $160, and the guys will buff, shampoo, and vacuum away every last vestige of your sins. Consider it an exorcism, with new-car smell. Copley Place, Boston, MA 2116, drdetailcarwash.com.
Teatro
If dining is theater, then Teatro is the consummate Italian drama. Scene One: bold openers like over-the-top fresh antipasti and simple, but intensely flavored, steamed black mussels swimming in a smoky tomato and pesto sauce. Scene Two: The opus continues with such northern Italian minimasterpieces as fig-glazed duck legs atop a luscious mascarpone polenta, and a brightly flavored veal saltimbocca with prosciutto and creamed spinach. Studied performances by a fast and well-trained waitstaff, a superb list of Italian wines, and the fluid direction of Mistral's Jamie Mammano further elevate the staging. Then there's the set: the revamped former Galleria Italiana, electrified with a swanky, modern pale blue ceiling that arches over limestone walls and intricate terrazzo floors. All in all, a five-star production. 177 Tremont St., Boston, MA teatroboston.com.
Dr. Detail Car Wash
Most of us do very bad things in our cars, what with the speeding and the cussing and whatnot. Some of us also do very bad things to our cars, leaving them to suffer the indignity of coffee-stained dashes and trash-strewn floors. When the situation reaches the Good God, what is that smell? stage, it's time to pay a visit to Dr. Detail. At its three local mall-garage setups (bonus: shop while you wait) and flagship operation in Walpole (bonus: spot a Patriot), this auto aesthetician offers a decent hand-wash and vacuum for 30 bucks. But book a full detail, starting at about $160, and the guys will buff, shampoo, and vacuum away every last vestige of your sins. Consider it an exorcism, with new-car smell. Copley Place, Boston, MA 2116, .