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.
SBI
True, it's in a shopping mall, or at least the closest thing Harvard Square has to a shopping mall. And it's part of a bigger chain. But it's still one of those photo stores where the staff loves to talk about cameras, and the prices are some of the best around. A standard Minolta flash that costs more than $100 around the corner sells here for $75. After buying the flash, our agent asked for an expensive gizmo to connect it to his light meter. "Oh no," said the salesguy. "You don't need it. We use the same light meter in the studio I work at and I'm sure you don't need it." 57 JFK Street, Harvard Square Galeria, Cambridge, MA .
Ombe
At this integrative health center four floors above Copley Square, our therapist kicked off the 80-minute massage by asking about problem areas and preferences—and actually listened. After guiding our limbs through a series of stretches on the heated table, she kneaded shoulders, back, neck, and quads with the hard pressure we crave (and often request, but don't get). And green practices (down to the organic Badger balm and body oil and linens cleaned with an eco-friendly detergent) left our inner tree-hugger at peace, too. 551 Boylston St., Boston, MA ombecenter.com.
Zona
Charles David may have the dazzling hair-color bar and AZ Studio the highly shoppable product boutique, but Zona's got the talent, times two. Andrew Zona recently closed his top-notch Hingham Square salon to join brother Frank's equally favored setup in Queen Anne Plaza, uniting the third generation of a hairdressing family that traces its roots back to 1800s Italy. Despite that long history, nothing feels dated about either the space, which got a swank facelift last year, or the services, which could hold their own on Newbury. 10 Washington Street, Norwell, MA 2061, .
Trade
We knew that Jody Adams had it in her to open another outstanding restaurant. And now that we've enjoyed the bold, world-inspired cuisine at Trade, the companion to her Harvard Square flagship, Rialto, we only wish it hadn't taken her so darned long. Then again, if time is what Adams needed to craft her spicy lamb-sausage flatbreads, cool yet crisp squid salad with borlotti beans, and tender, flaky whole-roasted fish with flattened cumin-dusted potatoes—all within the confines of an industrial-chic space—well, we're happy she didn't rush. 540 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA 2210, trade-boston.com.
T.T. the Bear's Place
If you follow the Boston music scene, you already know you can find your favorite up-and-coming rock stars on an almost weekly basis at T.T.'s, the intimate, gargoyle-adorned Central Square club so important to the rock circuit that it might as well be the living room of the local music community. T.T.'s perfect rock club layout lets you skip the opening act and still catch the headliner—or vice versa—while playing pool or hanging out at tables away from the stage, thanks to speakers that let you actually carry on conversation. 10 Brookline Ave., Cambridge, MA ttthebears.com.
The Esplanade
The Minuteman Bikeway may seem the obvious choice for bike enthusiasts, but it's too straight for our taste. A good bike path needs some twists and turns, with long, empty stretches of solitude and glimpses of the city skyline. Only the Esplanade provides all that. The paths along the Charles River in Boston and Cambridge are usually so packed they require complete attention, but once you reach Newton and Watertown, the ride is all yours. The stretch? Watertown Square, where you glide over wooden bridges, swoop under low-hanging trees, and, for a few wonderful, brief moments, hear nothing but the crickets and the whir of your pedals. MA
Stereo Jack's
When “Stereo” Jack Woker learned a weed dispensary would displace his Cambridge record store’s longtime Mass. Ave. storefront, it sadly seemed time to retire his 40-year-old vinyl business. But employee and drummer Chris Anzalone had a better idea, buying out Woker's voluminous inventory, purchasing the Stereo Jack’s name, and relocating the operation to Somerville’s Ball Square. Now with Anzalone at the helm, Stereo Jack’s remains a veritable Boston music clubhouse, the kind of impeccably curated place where you could find the Britney Spears discography on wax one day and a stack of jazz-head idiosyncrasies the next. 736 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144, stereojacks.com.
The Spa at Encore Boston Harbor
If you think Encore is all bright lights and spinning reels, you’d be right … unless, that is, you’ve taken the elevator up to its state-of-the-art spa, a 19,000-square-foot oasis that feels both ultra-extravagant and profoundly Zen. Before your treatment, unwind in the sauna, relax in the eucalyptus-infused steam room, or take a soak in the hot tub. For the full experience — and a welcome shot of endorphins — alternate between any of these hot options and the cold plunge pool. Your body, and your soul, will thank you. One Broadway, Everett, MA 02149, encorebostonharbor.com.
KitchenArts
Not much changed when KitchenArts picked up and moved a block down Newbury this spring: Getting into the tiny space is still a squeeze, and getting out without buying anything is still a miracle. Stellar cooking gear beckons everywhere you look, from the heavyweights (Wüsthof knives, Le Creuset Dutch ovens) to the essentials (silicone spatulas, stainless steel measuring cups). Gizmos and thingamabobs are also out in full force, including but hardly limited to gnocchi paddles, collapsible potato mashers, crêpe scrapers, tomato corers, and salt pigs. All in all, it's really just about everything an Iron Chef wannabe needs to, er, set the world on fire. 215 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, kitchenarts.biz.
Harkertown
Boston lost many restaurants to COVID, but few closings caused more anguish for local foodies than the loss of Garrett Harker’s Kenmore Square trio: beloved brasserie Eastern Standard, New England seafood spot Island Creek Oyster Bar, and peerless speakeasy the Hawthorne. Thus the hallelujahs from food geeks, cocktail mavens, and Fenway bound fans alike when a reborn Eastern Standard and the Hawthorne-like Equal Measure opened less than a half-mile from the stomping grounds of their former incarnations. Who says you can’t go home again? 775 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02215, easternstandardboston.com; equalmeasurebos.com.
Brattle Theatre
After 65 years of bringing movie magic to Harvard Square, this repertory theater has left us with memories as cinematic as any scene projected onto the screen: Where else could we see John Hodgman introduce The Dead Zone, snicker at Trash Night’s grade-Z dreck, and experience David Lynch’s Lost Highway in 35mm—all in the same month? Harvard alum Natalie Portman must feel the same way, given that she chose the Brattle to stage her Boston Calling Film Festival. 40 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA 02138, brattlefilm.org.
Royal Jewelers
The passing years haven't tarnished the appeal of this venerable family business, which is on the cusp of turning 60 with no sign of incipient stodginess. The nearly 5,000-square-foot space has a bounty of classic sparkle (Cartier, Chopard) mixed with a good deal of contemporary flash; among the newest of the 50-plus designers here are celeb-favored ToyWatch and high-drama Italian jeweler Pianegonda. The only thing that gives away Royal's age, in fact, is the assured sales staff, who gently guide bedazzled shoppers with time-earned expertise. 58 Main St., Andover, MA 1810, royaljewelers.com.
Beauty and Main
With their baffling variety and often-condescending staff, department-store makeup counters can intimidate the bravest shoppers. Skip the drama and visit Beauty and Main, where there's nary a frantic perfume spritzer or overeager eye shadower in sight. The sales clerks at the local chain's Harvard Square location will patiently steer you toward skin type-appropriate selections from upscale lines like Nars, Fresh, and Laura Mercier; also available are shaving oils, manicure tools, and body washes. We always knew it was possible: a cosmetics shop that has everything but attitude. 92 Derby St., Hingham, MA 2043, beautyandmain.com.
Stellabella Toys
Children grow up way too fast. But at Stellabella Toys, everything slows down—at least long enough to free the inner child—in as many parents as kids. More of a play studio than a toy store, this expansive space in Inman Square is stuffed with educational resources for child-rearing. The colorful dolls, storybooks, science kits, and costumes are displayed in a space that's big enough to also fit a playroom and a toy house kids can climb on. The store hosts playgroups for infants and toddlers, family yoga, new-parent meet-ups, and musical get-togethers. With its strict no-guns-for-sale policy, this is more than just a neighborhood toy store: It's a mini enclave of enlightenment. 1360 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA stellabellatoys.com.