The Pumpkin Patch
Froggy rain boots, grass luau outfits, and pink flowery sundresses are staples at this beloved Newburyport boutique. Also procurable are newborn and toddler basics, stylish school clothes, and smart little bow ties by designers including Hartstrings, K.C. Parker, Letop, and Plum Pudding. 4 Market Sq., Newburyport, MA .
Sundog
Weekend visitors still dressed in their power suits and spiffy slacks should hasten to Sundog, where comfort always reigns supreme. The store's dark interior houses Turrau shirts, Izod pants, and affordable Tommy Bahama swim shorts. After a short and successful hunt, men reemerge into the sunlight looking island appropriate. 41 Lower Main St., Edgartown, MA .
BMW of North America
Foreign car-buff Jim Mullen (Wenham-based Mullen Advertising) took great pride in his two-year-old account. But that was before March, when BMW switched to a Minneapolis-based agency, costing Mullen an account worth an estimated $20 to $25 million.
David Boley at Hamilton Riding Club
In the rarified world of A-circuit equestrian and competition, the choice of an instructor is as personal as the selection of one's custom-made boots. At the European-style Hamilton Riding Club, master trainer David Boley and his staff fervently pursue show-jumping excellence, while his two-legged charges still have a whole lot of fun. 354 Highland St., Hamilton, MA .
Avenue Victor Hugo Bookshop
Find a copy of that out-of-print science-fiction novel you loved, or get a good price on a used classic, a vintage print, or an old copy of the Saturday Evening Post, in a store that reminds us of how bookshops used to look before they moved to malls. 339 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
The Tannery
They say the shoes make the man—so it’s best to be the guy donning cool Maison Martin Margiela high-tops or Lanvin chukka boots from the Tannery. The footwear spot stocks pairs for every occasion, from Converse sneakers to Salvatore Ferragamo brogues. 711 Boylston St., Boston; and 39 Brattle St., Cambridge, thetannery.com.
Paper Moss
The owners of this local company, Emily Hostetler and Anna Fenno, use environ-mentally friendly cotton paper and soy-based inks to craft letterpress suites with quirky typefaces and motley patterns, ensuring couples look as good on paper as they do on their wedding day. Boston, MA
Evacuation
When Boston Garden president Larry Moulter said, "Everybody get out of the building right now," they did. Sure, it was only for the fourth game of the Stanley Cup finals, when the power failed. But at least someone finally took action.
Twenty-Eight Atlantic
A true destination restaurant, Twenty-Eight Atlantic got an extra boost this year from the addition of former L'Espalier chef James Hackney to the kitchen. And the incomparable ocean vistas? Here they don't replace superb cooking—they make it that much easier to savor. 2173 Massachusetts 28, East Harwich, MA 2633, wequassett.com/dining.
Il Casale
The rustic ambiance of chef Dante de Magistris's ode to homestyle Italian cooking belies the refined dining experience here. Service is warm and knowledgeable—and the food ethereal, from the tangy tomato bread pudding to the gnocchi with a basil-pistachio pesto that's as fresh as spring. 50 Leonard St., Belmont, MA 2478, ilcasalebelmont.com.
Jimmy Choo
The new Jimmy Choo stocks a dizzying array of 3-inch-plus boots, sandals, and work-appropriate pumps in patent leather and calfskin, giving shoe fiends myriad options for killer ladder-climbing, first-dating, and pedicure-comparing power plays. 100 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 2116, .
Uniform
Owner Gary Ritacco and the rest of the gang at Uniform have both a superb eye for quality brands (think Trovata and Life After Denim) and a rebel's sense of style. So whether you leave the store with a new blazer, swim trunks, or a fedora, rest assured: You'll look sharp and stand out from the crowd. 511 Tremont St., Boston, MA 2116, uniformboston.com.
Gia Ventola
In a dressed-down economy, it's tempting for shop owners to forgo fancy frocks. Gia Ventola, however, is an outlier, stocking a sophisticated assortment of pieces in all ranges of affordability, from $150 dresses by Wink to moderately priced Rolando Santana styles to the Peabody store's own couture looks. giaventola.com.
Roche Bobois
It's playground of interior design, from armoires to sofas and chaises: A wall of woods, a wing of leathers, a nook of nubuck suedes. You'll start by changing your home's color scheme, but end up changing your way of life (and credit limit). 585 Commercial St., Boston, MA .
Hardware Outlet
This hole-in-the-wall looks like a cross between Bob Vila's garage and a grungy New York apartment. With enough searching, you'll find anything from drill bits and thumb tacks to gas masks and paint thinner. In the words of employee Ed Vryla, "We got everything." 51 High St., Boston, MA .