Mike Mamula
The BC linebacker was rated no better than a third-round pick when he declared for the draft. Scouts and scribes said he was too small and too slow. A few 40-yard dashes and strength drills later, Mamula became the seventh pick overall of the Philadelphia Eagles. In three years he will make more than those scouts and scribes scrape together in a lifetime.
O Ya
How to lure people back downtown? Pristine nigiri — say, wild squid brushed with smoky bonito soy and flecked with salted cherry blossom — certainly seems to do the trick at O Ya, where seats for the omakase, now the sole offering, are booking a solid two months in advance. Fifteen years after opening and $400 (if you opt for wine pairings) later, it’s still the city’s favorite destination for any night you need to turn into a special occasion. 9 E St., Boston, MA 02111, o-ya.restaurant.
Mirbeau Inn & Spa
Hotels should be more than just a place to rest your head. That was the mindset, at least, of Mirbeau founders Linda and Gary Dower, who opened this luxury retreat by the water in Plymouth nearly a decade ago. Whether you’re looking for a weekend away or a weeklong vacation from reality, you’ll find plenty to do here. Relaxing with a candlelight yoga class? Check. Unwinding in a mineral bath? Sign us up. Sipping on a glass of the new hotel-branded vino at the wine bar? Every single night. 35 Landmark Dr., Plymouth, MA 02360, plymouth.mirbeau.com.
Encore Boston Harbor
Photo by Encore Boston Harbor Let’s count the reasons why this is the premier spot for fun. There’s the casino, of course, including the new WynnBet Sportsbook. More than a dozen dining and drinking options. A full-on Vegas-style nightclub. And a gorgeous water shuttle that gets you into the action in 25 minutes from downtown Boston. Come to think of it, you’re probably going to want to book more than one night. One Broadway, Everett, MA 02149, encorebostonharbor.com.
Sesuit Harbor Cafe
Brian Samuels Photography We wait all year to dig into Sesuit Harbor’s lobster roll dripping with butter, crisp fried scallops with slaw, and mountains of succu- lent Barnstable Harbor littlenecks. But it’s not just the food that brings us back to this buoy-festooned clapboard shack—it’s the feeling we get after ordering from the takeout window and then unloading our fresh catch on a picnic table at water’s edge—the very definition of summer. 357 Sesuit Neck Rd., Dennis, MA 02638, sesuit-harbor-cafe.com.
Red Sky
Let’s be honest: When you say you want al fresco dining, what you really want is waterfront dining. And no place does that better than this recently opened northern-Italian spot in Hull’s Steamboat Wharf Marina, where the views of the water and World’s End on the expansive patio are worth the visit alone. Be sure to stop by at sunset to experience the namesake red sky with a glass of your favorite red and a bubbling-hot pizza from the restored vintage brick oven. 48 George Washington Blvd, Hull, MA 02045, redskyhull.com.
AR Nail Bar & Lounge
After a harrowing drive to our appointment in heavy rain, we felt the tension melting away the second we stepped foot inside this immaculate Somerville salon. The staff? Competent and courteous. The service? Insta-worthy, with exemplary shaping, flawless polish application, and a much-needed hand massage. But what really wowed us was the ambiance, with softly playing music, a trickling water feature near the pedicure chairs, and low lighting creating a relaxing environment for express services, trendy color dips, and gel-based full sets alike. 485 Revolution Dr., Somerville, MA 02145, arnailbarsomerville.com.
Guarino's Swimming Pool Service
If you dove headfirst into last year’s pool-installation craze, a professional maintenance team is likely top of mind. Who better to look after your new oasis than a firm that builds some of the finest swimming holes around? Trust the experts at Guarino’s Swimming Pool Service — a subset of acclaimed pool contractor SSG — to open and close your in-ground gem each year, keep the water clean and balanced, and respond swiftly and skillfully to leaks and faulty equipment. ssgpools.com/guarinos-pool-service.
The Estate at Moraine Farm
Frederick Law Olmsted brought Moraine Farm to life in the late 19th century, and nearly 150 years later, it’s just as beautiful as ever—and perfect for your big day. With multiple ceremony and reception locations to choose from, including the waterfront lawn, you can say your vows on the shores of Wenham Lake and enjoy exclusive use of the grounds after. 719 Cabot St., Beverly, MA 01915, estateatmorainefarm.com.
Shepard
Is there any dish more irresistible than a heaping plate of hot fries? We think not. And the pommes frites at Shepard—owner René Becker and chef Scott Jones’s ode to French-inspired dishes—are everything you’d want them to be. Dark and crispy, but not burned. Soft, but not mushy, in the middle. Salted, of course, but not over-seasoned. Grab ’em at the restaurant’s bar, where servers deliver the tempting taters with a side of creamy aioli. One Shepard St., Cambridge, MA 02138, shepardcooks.com.
Celeste
The ceviche is always stellar at this pint-size Peruvian spot, thanks to a vibrant marinade of leche de tigre (“tiger’s milk”) that’s a whole different animal from the limey bell-pepper water everyone else plies. Temper the punishing bursts of ají-chili fire with bites of cold sweet potato and an egg-white-velveted pisco sour before moving on to the kitchen’s creamy shredded-hen stew. “Celeste” means “heavenly,” and after sampling the menu here, we’d hardly disagree. 21 Bow St., Somerville, MA celesteunionsquare.com.
Shred
Boston's fitness studios offer just about every workout under the sun. But to take SurfSet—a boot-camp-style class held on mock surfboards that simulates the feeling of being on water—you have to visit this three-year-old spot in Quincy. Once you finish blasting your core on the boards, head back to solid land for Shred's Spinning, reformer Pilates, and mat Pilates classes. 453 Washington St., Quincy, MA 2169, shredbody.com.
Punjabi Dhaba
You don't go to Punjabi Dhaba for the atmosphere, though there's a divey charm to the metal cafeteria trays and Styrofoam water cups. But that kitchen sure knows its poori from its paratha, so to speak. There's legit smoke flavor coming off the tandoor-grilled meats, and those aforementioned flatbreads—puffy like a fried balloon, and buttery like a croissant, but with the tug of naan, respectively—really are the greatest thing since... 225 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA 02139, punjabidhaba.co.
Deep Ellum
At 10 years old, this Allston watering hole still fits the niche Max Toste and Aaron Sanders first set out to fill: a spot to crush mug after mug of sessionable, European-style beers—from dry-hopped farmhouse saisons and low-octane porters to Guineu Riner, a 3 percent Spanish import you don't often see at other beer bars. 477 Cambridge St., Allston, MA 02134, deepellum-boston.com.
Kit and Ace
Find a gentle way to break up with your dry cleaner, because just about everything at Kit and Ace—even the cashmere—is machine- or hand-washable. And if the sleek basics (tissue-soft sleeveless turtlenecks, work-ready pants as comfy as your weekend sweats, ultra-cozy blanket wraps) don’t fit perfectly off the rack, don’t sweat it. The newly opened shop can make in-store alterations while you sip on complimentary sparkling water. Bliss. 208 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, kitandace.com.