Kendall Square Cinema
It's not the fresh popcorn, hot cappuccino, or high-gloss neon that draws the crowds to this megaplex arthouse near MIT. Sure, those things don't hurt. But even if the seats weren't plush and the parking weren't plentiful, crowds would still flood to this theater for one of the largest selections of eye-sprinting subtitles on the East Coast. With nine screens of foreign and indie flicks, this is the place to catch an obscure tearjerker while boning up on your Czech or Urdu. 1 Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA .
Kendall Square Cinema
No crying babies, chatty teens, or bleeping cell phones. That's why your parents, professors, and primary-care provider choose to catch the latest film-festival hits and indie first-runs at this Landmark Theatres location. They also come because parking is a pittance ($3), the theater offers high-quality snacks (dried fruit, gluten-free cookies), and the guy behind the ticket counter is totally stoked to discuss Fassbinder's use of Brechtian aesthetics. 355 Binney St., Cambridge, MA 2139, landmarktheatres.com.
Bostix Booth at Copley Square
Finally—equal access to tickets for the rest of us! The charming Graham-Gund-designed booth at Copley Square allows residents and office workers in the Back Bay to compete for discount tickets with the tourists roaming Faneuil Hall Marketplace.
Frugal Bookstore
Looking to bolster your collection of anti-racist literature and books about the Black experience? This Nubian Square mainstay has you covered. But what makes owners Leonard and Clarrissa Egerton’s shop an irreplaceable part of Boston’s literary scene is its role as a hub for book groups and social gatherings where both authors and readers of color can feel welcome and be celebrated. Bostonians across the city are vowing to finally listen to Black voices—Frugal has been amplifying them for 12 years and counting. 57 Warren St., Roxbury, MA 02119, frugalbookstore.net.
Newtonville Books
How did book lovers ever live without Itty Bitty Booklights and Page-a-Day calendars and frightfully clever refrigerator magnets? Quite nicely, as proven by this 10-year-old independent where the bibelots are scarce and the books are wall-to-wall. Though founder Tim Huggins stepped down last year, new owner Mary Cotton (a former employee) has preserved the hallmarks—a highly literate staff, a robust calendar of events and big-name authors—while adding things like summer-camp care packages and Grub Street writing workshops. Like so much of what it stocks, Newtonville Books remains a classic. 296 Walnut St., Newtonville, MA 2460, .
Cornerstone Books
With tarry-awhile touches like overstuffed chairs, a fireplace, and a wee café offering bites from nearby bakery A&J King, this handsome independent shop encourages people to lose themselves in books. It's also impressively devoted to luring them back out again, as Cornerstone regularly throws open its historic loft space for readings, live music performances, and club meet-ups (Boston's venerable Grub Street writing program recently established its North Shore base here). Part literary salon, part community living room, the store gives bookworms the space—and a gentle nudge—to be social animals as well. 45 Lafayette St., Salem, MA 1970, .
Commonwealth Books
This independent bookstore's inventory might not be as large as the hangar-size Barnes & Noble across the street, but it wins on originality and quirkiness. Recent arrivals include La Bible Mythes et Réalités, Bibliography of Islamic Philosophy, and A History of Haiku. Cluttered and cozy, the Comm. Ave. shop welcomes both literati and loiterers and has built up a solid following of crusty bibliophiles. Best of all is the bookshop's aroma: the musty, pungent odor of literary history. Browse the shelves and breathe it in for yourself. 526 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, commonwealthbooks.com.
The Frame Gallery
From photos to posters to high art of every style, The Frame Gallery's vast selection will get the job done to picture perfection. 2 Summit Ave., Brookline, MA .
Simon Pearce
Photograph by Jared McCabe With artfully arranged pedestals of bowls, vases, and handcrafted housewares, Simon Pearce comes off more like an MFA gallery than a gift shop. These pieces, made by master potters and glass blowers at the Quechee, Vermont, flagship store, are undeniably luxurious, yet still affordable. 103 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 2116, simonpearce.com.
Barefoot Books
As moms and dads know a little too well, when kids find a book that works for them, they tend to go back to it again and again. And again. The same applies to our pick in this category. Four-time winner Barefoot Books brims with fresh, cleverly illustrated titles, and doubles as an independent publishing house run by parents dedicated to the art of old-fashioned storytelling. 1771 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2140, barefootbooks.com.
Barefoot Books
Imagine, if you will, a philosophy built of peace, love, and understanding—but instead of obsolete, ever-groovy libertarianism, it has underpinnings of discipline, education, and enviable creativity. That's the story behind the stories on the shelves of Barefoot Books, the internationally recognized publishing company and retailer, where you'll find We All Went on Safari and Thesaurus Rex. Good luck finding any book here that isn't smart, funny, and gorgeously illustrated. Barefoot Books targets kids' imaginations with texts that open their minds to the world—no tie-dye required. 1771 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA barefootbooks.com.
Barillair Books
Great service, great stock, and an espresso bar/patio. What more could a bookworm snuggle into? One Mifflin Place, Cambridge, MA .
The Book Case
Bring in your used books and get cash or credit on their fine, wide selection. 42 Church St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA .
Post Office Square
Six pristine color- and flower-coded levels, a car-wash service on the bottom level, and cashiers in the lobby to avoid idling at the gate when you're rushing back to the 'burbs. Our only complaint: At $21.50 for anything more than three hours after 8:30 a.m., the car wash should be free.