Charles Street Supply Company
If you've got the project, they've got the product: More than 24,000 home-maintenance tools and supplies cram the shelves at this emporium of all things useful. Need an obscure garden tool? A specific brand of all-weather paint? The gregarious employees have a talent for putting their hands on it fast. The store's old-fashioned setting is paired with an up-to-date outlook—it has, for example, one of the city's best displays of eco-friendly compact fluorescent light bulbs—making it a primo resource for the modern home. 54 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, charlesstsupply.com.
Lavender Home & Table
We're pretty sure there's not an insomniac Lavender Home couldn't cure. At the Newbury store, the treatments for sleeplessness take the form of genuine linen by Libeco, organic cotton from SDH's Purists line, and bold modern designs by Matteo and Due by Matteo, embellished with duvet covers, shams, antique linen pillows, baby-soft throws, and other finishing touches. You also can custom-order colors and fabrics, or avail yourself of the shop's own rich inventory. 173 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Sacco's Bowl Haven
Sacco's is the grandfather of the Hub's candlepin bowling scene, and not just because it opened in 1939. There's the charmingly outdated style (the decor hasn't changed since the 1950s), the ample free time (patrons rarely have to wait for a game), and the tsk-tsking of modern prices (why squander good money elsewhere when here it's $3 per nighttime round?). Other alleys may have more frills, but for the simple pleasures of a simple game, Sacco's is it. 45 Day St., Somerville, MA 2144, .
Bab Al-Yemen
Boston needs more occasion-worthy Middle Eastern restaurants, so the 2022 arrival of this pretty Yemeni spot was especially welcome. Its lower-level dining room evokes the colors of the modern San’a skyline, while the homey yet plush first floor offers both Western seating and traditional Yemeni dining on low tables and floor cushions. It’s a lovely and atmospheric setting for the halal delights of Yemeni cuisine: enormous flatbreads, airy legume spreads, and hearty lamb stews and roasts. 468 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, babalyemenboston.com.
Date & Time
Elegant, modern ambiance and top-notch service define this aptly named jeweler, right down to the buttery lounge chairs (ideal for weary shopping companions) and soft lighting. Browse luxury timepieces and understated baubles from Messika and Pomellato, and be treated like a gem too: Our dented antique ring that cried out for resetting and embellishment was given the same care as a prized diamond. 5 Concord Rd., Sudbury, MA 01776, dateandtimema.com.
Recollective
Kate Straley Marx and Hthaiwon Layne know that two hands are better than one—and in the case of their vintage collective, many hands: Vendors from all over New England stock the racks with well-sourced styles, from Escada denim to ’70s tees. This past spring, Recollective moved into a larger space in Southie and added a home-goods vendor into the rotation, making it the rare vintage store in town where you can buy a ’90s Champion sweatshirt and a midcentury-modern lamp in one visit. 416 W. Broadway, Boston, MA 02127, shoprecollective.com.
The Coonamessett Inn
After a top-to-bottom 2018 renovation by Lark Hotels brought breezy “modern coastal” décor and integrated technology to every guest room, this old-school Falmouth inn is ready to welcome a new generation of guests. Sip a cocktail on the lushly furnished lakeside patio, groove to live tunes at the on-site music venue, or simply stretch out on the plush king bed after a long day in the sun: Your long-weekend wish is the Coonamessett’s command. thecoonamessett.com.
Derby St. Shops
No need to don a fancy hat to enjoy this derby: With community events, pop-ups from local entrepreneurs, and new shops and eateries cropping up all the time, it’s clear that this browsers’ paradise has become the modern, beating heart of the South Shore since opening 15 years ago. Shop classics like Anthropologie as well as harder-to-find spots such as Evereve and Nic+Zoe—then stop by Cava to pick up a hearty grain bowl, all without having to race back to your car. derbystshops.com.
Museum of Fine Arts
A venerable palace of classic works, the MFA upped its contemporary game last fall with #mfaNOW, a celebration of modern art that presented the unique opportunity for visitors to watch all 24 hours of Christian Marclay's real-time video collage The Clock at an overnight party. But the institution hasn't neglected its roots, kicking off the warmer months with a Henri Matisse exhibit that you can see for yourself until July 9. 465 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, mfa.org.
Tim Wiechmann, Bronwyn, T.W. Food
Under the watchful eye of Tim Wiechmann, T. W. Food has hummed along for years as a warm Cambridge bistro serving seriously progressive food. Wiechmann's skill in marrying German fare with modern technique next made a splash at Somerville's Bronwyn. With the upcoming debut of Eastern European sandwich shop Playska, this year will commence Wiechmann's long-overdue anointment as a creative force. (Multiple locations.) 255 Washington St., Somerville, MA 02143, bronwynrestaurant.com.
Kyla Salon
Don’t ask Cape Ann’s well-coiffed denizens about Heather Murray’s Gloucester salon, a modern space that belies its charming Victorian exterior. Everyone wants to keep the seasoned hairstylist’s magic hands (and scissors) to themselves. Cuts are sharp without being too trendy, and color is natural, not forced, just like Kyla Salon’s atmosphere. 33 Pleasant St., Gloucester, MA 01930, kylasalon.com.
Rose Art Museum
Six years ago, Brandeis University feared the recession would shutter its art museum. Thankfully, a public outcry and powerful art collectors reversed that plan, and the school hired a new director, Christopher Bedford, to add to the museum's collections. The Rose has always excelled at midcentury abstract expressionism and pop art, and recently fleshed out its contemporary and African-American holdings. Today, it's among the most expansive university-run modern-art museums in the U.S. 415 South St., Waltham, MA 02453, brandeis.edu/rose.
Shreve, Crump & Low
Browsing Shreve, Crump & Low is a lot like strolling around an art gallery dedicated to the fine work of the Swiss. You’ll see the classics, of course, from Jaeger-LeCoultre to Audemars Piguet, as well as more modern interpretations by Roger Dubuis, all brightly illuminated for your viewing pleasure. Every so often, a true masterpiece will stop you in your tracks—for us, it was IWC’s "Portuguese Sidérale Scafusia," a watch so splendid it’s made only by special request. 39 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, shrevecrumpandlow.com.
Chatham Bars Inn
Like the grandest of dames, the Chatham Bars Inn only gets more refined and elegant with age. This year marks the hotel’s centennial, and while the spirit of the seaside resort harkens back to the Gatsby era, the $100 million in recent renovations and updates have added ample modern touches (spa suites, private cabanas overlooking the ocean). We can only hope to look so good when we hit the century mark. 297 Shore Rd., Chatham, MA 2633, chathambarsinn.com.
Lux Bond & Green
When your getup calls for jewels that are more red carpet than red-tag sale, Lux Bond & Green has the fix. Anthony Nak's breathtakingly beautiful, delicate chandelier earrings, necklaces, and bracelets are the stars here, but the store's buyers are constantly scouting for new designers yet to appear in fashion magazines. Modern gemstone necklaces and other pieces by David Yurman and Marco Bicego round out the collection. 416 Boylston St., Boston, MA lbgreen.com.