Magpie
You can't help but smile at the fetching, affordable curios at this Somerville shop: stylish tumblers and flasks for beer lovers, Ex-Libris journals made from recycled books for stationery geeks, and, for the sassy Somervillian who frequents farmers' markets, grocery bags with the phrase "I'm a Grown-Ass Lady and I Do What I Like." The store also sells edgy gifts for tots, just a small sampling of what's available at its nearby sister shop, Magpie Kids. 416 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02144, magpie-store.com.
Tres Gatos
The brunch at this record shop/tapas bar caters to savory seekers—and hangover chasers. Here the "put an egg on it" philosophy reigns supreme, evidenced by dinner-menu staples like the lamb bocadillo, which gets the morning-after huevos treatment come brunch. While you're waiting for your table (there will be a wait), browse the back bookshop for fiction, art books, vinyl, and a broad collection of food magazines that will surely whet your appetite. 470 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, tresgatosjp.com.
Brattle Theatre
The fortunes of mainstream movie theaters may ebb and flow with the success of the latest comic-book adaptation, but this small theater will always have a stellar lineup of the odd, the obscure, and the cultishly adored. Whether it's running a Bad Hombres/Nasty Women series (grit your teeth like Clint in A Fistful of Dollars) or taking part in film festivals throughout the city, the theater is sure to introduce you to the next movie that makes you rethink cinema. 40 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA 02138, brattlefilm.org.
The Townshend
Like a favorite old book, this warm tavern from Barbara Lynch Gruppo alum Devin Adams is a place we come back to again and again. On any given day, you'll find Van Morrison on the speakers, regulars hoisting Jack's Abby at wooden tabletops, and, oh yeah, some seriously upgraded comfort food, from braised pork belly with grilled-corn salsa and chimichurri to bone-in lamb shank with baby zucchini, walnut gremolata, and ricotta salata. 1250 Hancock St., Quincy, MA 2169, thetownshend.com.
Commonwealth Worldwide
With some limo companies, it's hard to know exactly who will be holding a sign for you at Logan—or what kind of wheels you'll be cruising in. (Jaguar or jalopy?) To get rid of the guesswork, book with Commonwealth, which puts only its own employees behind the wheels of its shiny black Town Cars, Benzes, vans, and hybrids. These career chauffeurs show up on time (even tracking flight status if you're delayed) and crisply uniformed. 250 Everett St., Boston, MA 2134, .
Park Plaza Travel
Name a place—any place. Name it any time—even hours before you need to get there. Now toss in some tough-to-meet requests: You need a periwinkle blue Lexus waiting for you when you get there, say, or you want a meeting booked in Manhattan's most popular restaurant. Park Plaza Travel can set it up. All of it. The always-courteous, cost-conscious, and efficient, and staff is as fast on the draw and as detail-oriented as most companies get—probably yours included. 2 Park Plaza, Boston, MA .
Pet Shop Girls
Okay, so it isn't the fanciest place in town. But wouldn't you rather have a place where your pooch feels comfortable? Groomer George has loving touches with the brushes and clippers, but you have to book a week in advance because this earthy South End favorite is a hit with commuters who drop off Fido on the way to work. Pet Shop Girls also grooms cats. 276 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA .
Matthew Pearl
Cambridge's Matthew Pearl has combined literary mystery with historical fiction in such best-selling novels as The Dante Club and Poe's Shadow. He recently released his fourth novel, The Technologists, a big, burly thrill ride of a book that takes readers back to 1860s Boston, where students in the inaugural class of MIT seek the cause behind a series of catastrophes in the city. MA matthewpearl.com.
Great Scott
A terrific core of rock clubs anchors Boston's music scene, places like T. T. the Bear's, the Middle East, and the Midway Café. But if you're into discovering emerging bands, Great Scott is the finest; it's been booking the best new talent for years (including early concerts from Of Montreal and MGMT). What's more, the sound is exceptional, and the place is so tiny there's no backstage area, leaving musicians little choice but to mingle with the crowd. 1222 Commonwealth Ave., Allston, MA 2134, greatscottboston.com.
Skinner
Collectors know that the best way to score something both reasonably priced and unusual is to skip the boutiques and go a-paddling at Skinner. The company’s many themed auctions (Persian rugs, art, rare books, midcentury modern) allow buyers to bid on everything from nearly priceless works of art to common Victorian armoires. Hunters without a specific agenda should attend Skinner’s eclectic Discovery Auctions, held every month at the Marlborough location. 63 Park Plaza, Boston; and 274 Cedar Hill St., Marlborough, skinnerinc.com.
Stellabella Toys
Whether you're the grandma seeking something educational or the free-spirited auntie who extols the virtues of dress-up, Stellabella has gifts sure to please you—and, er, the kids you're shopping for. All the latest in toys, games, books, and stuffed animals will delight builders, princesses, foodies, artists, gamers, and the rest, and the cheery adults who run the place have endless suggestions on what to get the kid who has it all. 1360 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 2139, stellabellatoys.com.
The Globe Corner Bookstore
Although the Globe Corner Bookstore no longer shares space with the home of Anne Hutchinson at Downtown Crossing, the remaining Cambridge and Boston stores will ably meet your escapist needs. Their comprehensive selection of travel books and mas can aid the adventurous on an exploration of everything from the Freedom Trail to the White Mountains to rural Mongolia. They also offer a decent selection of antique maps if there's a cartophile on your gift list. 28 Church St., Cambridge, MA .
The Newbury Boston
What better place to celebrate your future than in a glamorous ballroom steeped in Boston’s past? When the former Taj reopened in 2021, the 1927 landmark building was reimagined as the Newbury Boston, complete with updates to the hotel’s storied party spaces. Book the Assembly Ballroom for thoughtfully preserved crystal chandeliers, silver-leaf-adorned ceilings, and dramatically draped, floor-to-ceiling windows that frame sweeping Public Garden views. 1 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, thenewburyboston.com.
Cuffs & Collars
Even the most reluctant shopper will enjoy Cuffs & Collars, which offers ample options for designing the perfect wedding-day getup. Host a private event in the store, where you and your crew can choose from thousands of fabrics with a cocktail in hand, or book the company’s “We Come to You” service, during which a tailor will take your measurements at your home or office and then send the finished product, made to order in Italy, to your door in just four to six weeks. One Federal St., Boston, MA 02110, cuffsandcollars.com.
Green Turtle Floating Bed and Breakfast
Want to get away without actually going anywhere? Book a night aboard one of the Green Turtle’s floating guest rooms. Docked in Boston Harbor, the comfortable 45-foot yacht and houseboat lovingly tended to by proprietors Jon Dolence and Karen Maciejewski feel like they’re a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city, even if you can still see the skyline while savoring breakfast and coffee from the dock. One Pier 8 13th St., Charlestown, MA 02129, greenturtlebb.com.