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.
Washington Square Tavern
Here's a tavern in the truest—and best—sense of the world: a homey magnet for folks from many walks of life, with good comfort food and plenty of drink. The Washington Square hits all the right marks on all the scales: high on quality and atmosphere, but low on pretense. Hang at the long wooden bar or the communal tables to chat with everyone from pierced college kids to nuclear families, or slide into one of the dark corner booths with your better half for a dinner for two. 714 Washington St., Washington Square, Brookline, MA washingtonsquaretavern.com.
Kendall Square Research Corporation
The America's Cup winner—there's no other way to say it—sank $40 million into the Waltham-based supercomputer company. But Koch might just be going down with the ship thanks to accounting problems and mounting losses. But hey, how 'bout that all-female Cup team?
Kendall Square Cinema
An award-winning design, coupled with a great sound system and a short-person-friendly seating arrangement-plus free parking!—make this new theater a moviegoer's delight. Then there's the speedy espresso machine and the array of designer snacks: Dancing Deer Bakery's mocha walnut and maple oatmeal cookies, Rosie's fudge nut brownies, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, Green Mountain coffees, and popcorn popped in canola oil. Oh yeah—good movies, too. One Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA .
Mill 1 at Open Square
Housed in a refurbished paper mill out west in Holyoke, Mill 1’s brick walls and pine beams take full advantage of the 5,000-square-foot space’s historical details while keeping elegance at the forefront. Better yet, the staff of expert event managers can deck out the venue to suit your style — from a white-linen affair among glittering bistro lights to a more pared-back fete with wooden farm tables and paper lanterns. Bonus: Open Square is a net-zero-energy development (it generates as much energy as it uses), so your wedding will be both beautiful and carbon-neutral. 4 Open Square Way, Holyoke, MA 1040, mill1events.com.
Newtonville Books
This charming suburban bookstore scores big points for originality. Not only do folks at Newtonville Books attract a superb crowd of writers; they up the literary ante with unique events like Books & Brews, which features beer and free snacks following author appearances. Readings take place upstairs in this former 19th-century fire station. Last year Newtonville Books also helped launch the ultra-successful Earfull series, which pairs authors and musicians at the Kendall Café in Cambridge for evenings of unadulterated creative combinations. 269 Walnut St., Newtonville, MA newtonvillebooks.com.
Gather Here
No idea what a blanket stitch or an embroidery hoop looks like? No matter—all it takes is one visit to this Inman Square shop to envision yourself hunkered down on the couch with a pair of knitting needles. The well-organized space is stocked with fabric and yarn in a rainbow of hues, embroidery kits, and sewing patterns aplenty. And if you need a little hands-on guidance before getting started, simply book a private lesson or a group class in the shop’s studio. 1343 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA gatherhereonline.com.
Bizen
We've been known to drive all the way to the Berkshires just to eat at Bizen. Owner Michael Marcus—a potter who makes all the restaurant's ceramics—values authenticity, as evidenced in his organic-everything menu of sushi, tempuras, noodles, and ;robata, cuts of fish and poultry seared over a special charcoal grill. Marcus even added a series of private Japanese tearooms next door, where diners sit in private enclaves and embark on 11-course, Kaiseki odysseys. 17 Railroad St., Great Barrington, MA 1230, .
The Dan'l Webster Inn
Four-poster beds. High-speed Internet. Full-service spa. This Sandwich inn, a blend of old-fashioned atmosphere and modern creature comforts, has 'em all. If you can pry yourself from your room's private whirlpool and heated bathroom tiles, indulge in cranberry wraps, marine eyelifts, and PermaSound facials at the on-site spa. Feeling hungry? Stop in the fine-dining Conservatory for a meal of fresh seafood paired with award-winning wine. 149 Main St., Sandwich, MA danlwebsterinn.com.
North Square Oyster
In a historical building steps from the Paul Revere House, Waypoint alum Pierce Boalt Juckett sates North Enders’ seafood cravings with platters of briny Eider Cove and Mookie Blues oysters, immaculate crudos, and—of course—buttery lobster rolls. 5 North Sq., Boston, MA 02113, northsquareoyster.com.
Ellis Square Social
During the two decades Jay Murray kept Grill 23 humming like a well-marbled machine, his creative artistry was mostly relegated to the specials board. At his new spot in Beverly, those thrilling flights of fancy finally get the run of the place, with eclectic, on-the-pulse small plates—duck wings laced with Ethiopian spices, mushroom croquettes with shiitake aioli—inspired entrées (see: swordfish with rice pilaf and a fresh chickpea-and-dill purée), and the sort of charry-edged steak perfection you get from 20 years of practice. 252 Cabot St., Beverly, MA 01915, ellissquaresocial.com.
Kelley Square Pub
It’s easy to see what drew Vinny Paz and Tommy Lee Jones to this watering hole: Here, conversation flows and the beverage selection is ample (including the most affordable pour of Woodford Reserve we’ve ever seen). 84 Bennington St., Boston, MA 02128, kelleyssquarepub.com.
The Rita Moreno, Gargoyles on the Square
A string of too many unfortunately flavored concoctions had put us off anything other than the classics...and then we met the Rita Moreno. A sexy southwestern cousin of the cosmo, it combines vodka, Rose's lime juice, and fresh lemon with sriracha and cilantro. The resulting creation strikes a perfect tart-sweet balance, then takes the experience to the next level with a spicy kick. 219 Elm St., Somerville, MA 2144, .
Rinaldi's Park Square
One of the best things about Boston is its walkability. The downside, however, is our oft-abused footwear. So when the insoles of our beloved boots begin to wear and the heel caps of our oxfords start to disintegrate, we lug them to this small shop in the Park Square building, where they're consistently refurbished to good as new—just in time to hit the pavement again. 31 St. James Ave., Boston, MA .