Goods Lingerie
Whether your lingerie fantasies run to the Victorian bride look or something out of a French romantic novel, you're likely to find the goods in this charming shop. The selection of silk camisoles is so lovely you'll want to wear your underwear as outerwear. 207 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Phillip Tang, East by Northeast
Having cooked at chef-owned spots Hungry Mother, T.W. Food, and Lumiere, it's no surprise that Tang would create a deeply personal restaurant. His debut, East by Northeast, has remarkable clarity (Taiwanese- and Chinese-inspired cuisine) as well as a mission (serve sustainable meat and produce). The results? Unpretentiously delicious. 1128 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 2139, exnecambridge.com.
Salon Marc Harris
Have a spare $125 and need a new do? Marc Harris's adroitly angled razor cuts are the sharpest in town. An updated, more sophisticated look—one that actually accentuates your face's particular shap—is always money well spent. 30 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, salonmarcharris.com.
Lynda Hartigan, Peabody Essex Museum
What was once a stuffy North Shore institution has become a must-visit attraction. From a comprehensive look at Joseph Cornell to the unveiling of one of the greatest private collections of 17th-century Dutch art, the shows under chief curator Lynda Hartigan's direction have solidly positioned the PEM on the world stage. East India Square, Salem, MA pem.org.
The Midway Cafe
Here's a low-key J.P. hangout, strewn all year long with Christmas lights, where the drinks are cheap and everyone is welcome—especially on Thursday evenings, when revelers dance on stage between songs during Queeraoke/Women's Dance Night. Machine may be the place to hook up, but the Midway is the place to make friends. 3496 Washington St., Jamaica Plain, MA midwaycafe.com.
Alden Merrell
Alden Merrell's chocolate-fudge layer cake, topped with a velvety sour-cream frosting, is so rich and delicious, you'll actually look forward to your birthday. For something a little different, try the carrot cake, spiced just right and slathered in cream-cheese icing. 1361 Beacon St., Brookline, MA .
O Ya
Photography by Kristin Teig In this "Put an egg on it" era, it's easy to forget how delicious eggs can be as the centerpiece of a meal. O Ya's Tim Cushman reminds us with his custardy "Onsen"-style version, cooked low and slow and enhanced with dashi sauce, truffle salt, and homemade pickled garlic. 9 East St., Boston, MA 2111, oyarestaurantboston.com.
Southwest Corridor Park
Photograph by Julia Hopkins Looking for a place to stretch your legs? At this 4.7-mile, 52-acre linear park, you'll find dedicated bicycling and jogging paths for the hardy, basketball and tennis courts for the sporty, and jungle gyms and skate parks for the kiddies. 38 New Heath St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, swcpc.org.
Hilton's Tent City
This equipment emporium, which moved from the West End to Central this year, stocks all the camping gear, boots, backpacks, and tents you need for your next rugged hike in the White Mountains. Including one remnant of the original location: a wall of trail maps and postcards. 565 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02114, hiltonstentcity.com.
Old Ship Unitarian Church
The only extant seventeenth-century church in Massachusetts, it is so historic that Alistair Cooke used it in his "America" series. The Old Ship features imposing open beams and a rooftop lookout station. If God were from Massachusetts, this is where She would live. Hingham, MA
Lauren Genatossio, Sarra
Lauren Genatossio knew exactly how to bring our brows to a fuller, more natural place, meticulously tweezing each individual hair to sculpt our arches to perfection. We left with homework (don't tweeze anything, start brushing upward to train the hair to grow properly) and a transformed look that earned compliments for weeks. 840 Summer St., South Boston, MA 02127, sarrastudios.com.
Trident Galley & Raw Bar
A rustic marina enclave featuring tin ceiling tiles, driftwood façades, and one colossal raw bar, Trident manages to be upscale, elevated, and relaxed at the same time. It’s the sort of place where visiting in-laws mix seamlessly with flip-flopped day boaters, and where no one looks twice if you pair a dozen glistening oysters with a glass of Sancerre or a can of High Noon. And trust us: The mimosas are among the South Shore’s finest. 23 Shipyard Dr., Hingham, MA 02043, tridentrawbar.com.
The Feeding Frenzy at Maria Mitchell Association Aquarium
Ever heard of an orange lobster? If the answer is no, we implore you to meet Clementine, a one-in-30-million orange lobster who resides alongside Nantucket’s more common crustaceans in the Maria Mitchell Association’s new aquarium on Washington Street. The private Feeding Frenzy gets you a first look at the creatures before the aquarium opens as they chow down on breakfast (algae, anyone?). Expect some laughs, some cuteness, and even some education on what’s lurking in Nantucket’s diverse waters. 32 Washington St., Nantucket, MA 02554, mariamitchell.org/aquarium.
Neiman Marcus
Where else in town can you score cult faves from hard-to-find lines such as Augustinus Bader, Supergoop!, and Lilah B., not to mention free facials, makeup consultations, and basically all things trending in beauty? It’s Neiman all the way. The department store’s curated high-end cosmetics selection, as well as tools and accessories, can always be found online, but we’re looking forward to making our way through the Copley Place outpost’s recently redesigned beauty department ASAP. Copley Place, Boston, MA 02116, neimanmarcus.com.
Blossom Bar
Mona Miri Bright colors, deep flavors, and lush textures define the drinks at beverage guru Ran Duan’s superlative cocktail bar—and his reformulated recipes to go. Each just-add-booze bottle of Craft Blossom Mixers, designed for COVID-era pickup or delivery, provides for five tropics-invoking libations (think: the vibrantly violet “Halo Halo” shaken with purple ube, coconut, and citrus). You can even order flower garnishes, flamingo-topped swizzle sticks, and drinkware in shapes like a pineapple grenade. 295 Washington St., Brookline, MA 02445, blossombarbrookline.com.