Tasting Counter
Ambitious. Playful. Revelatory. Sound like a theater review? Well, indulging in one of chef Peter Ungár’s nine-course tasting menus is a lot like sitting down for a critically acclaimed performance. And it truly is an immersive one, as ticket-holding diners get to watch the chef and his team cook and plate each intricate dish—seaweed-cured kampachi with shiitake custard, tender pork shoulder in a pool of fermented red chili curry—in the small open kitchen. Applause, please. 14 Tyler St., Somerville, MA 02143, tastingcounter.com.
Current Vintage
Donning yoga pants on the mainland is one thing, but what you wear on Nantucket is an entirely different ball game. The bolder and more colorful the print, the better — and Current Vintage, a boutique vintage clothing and home-goods store in downtown Nantucket, is here with everything you need to look island-chic. Proprietor Elisabeth English has put together a collection of vibrant, hard-to-find apparel that’s classy, not costume-y (think: Emilio Pucci and vintage Lilly Pulitzer, originally known as the Lilly), along with wine, cheeses, and other goodies you’ll surely want to bring back home. 4 Easy St., Nantucket, MA 02554, currentvintage.com.
The Eliot Hotel
If you want blinking neon welcome signs, uninspiring neutral furnishings, and tasteless room service in an anonymous structure, don't come here. The four-star Eliot is an intimate and cozy home away from home (we should all live so well) with a decidedly European flair. Its beautifully furnished one- and two-bedroom suites, featuring living rooms and private pantries, are the perfect respire following a day exploring the Back Bay or simply as an urban retreat with your honey. And right downstairs is the nationally acclaimed restaurant Clio. 370 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA .
Mandarin
Another in the emergence of Chinese cooking on the Charles. You can order a half-duck as well as a whole one here. 323 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Solus
Surrender your soles to Kathy for a luxurious and relaxing pampering. One of her secrets: she wraps your toes in saran before you slip on your shoes so as not to disturb the polish—your pedicure will last for weeks. 115 Newbury St., Suite 301, Boston, MA .
Cheryl Ann's Bakery
Try as we did, we couldn't find another plait of challah that came close. We always buy two at a time, one for scarfing in the car, another to eat more ceremoniously at home. 1010 W. Roxbury Parkway, Putterham Circle, Brookline, MA .
Tim Capone
When a guest needed his clothes laundered late one night, Capone took them home to his apartment in the South End and washed them himself. The Westin Hotel-Copley Place, 10 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA .
Boston Sailing Center
We had one complaint from a year ago about the Sailing Center. But after checking it out, we found it didn't hold any water. 54 Lewis Wharf, Boston, MA .
J.Roc Design
Successfully designing city dwellings essentially boils down to one thing: creative use of space. And architect Jeremy Jih, the master of scale and proportion behind Boston-based J.Roc Design, has demonstrated his unique solutions for building in tight confines time and time again. One recent standout? A South End loft made roomier and airier thanks to a dramatic — yet space-saving — 20-foot spiral staircase that connects the home’s main level to a rooftop garden. 27 Wareham St., Boston, MA 02118, jrocdesign.com.
The Children’s Book Shop
The bad news: Bookstores dedicated solely to children are increasingly rare. The good news: The best one you’ll find anywhere has been in Brookline Village for almost 40 years. From board books to young-adult lit, the Children’s Book Shop offers nearly 30,000 choice volumes. Staffers are well versed in buzzy tomes and timeless classics alike, and the store regularly hosts poetry contests and authors to teach young ones that reading can be a communal experience. 237 Washington St., Brookline, MA 2445, thechildrensbookshop.net.
La Petite Maison
A baby boutique, home décor haven, and antiques shop rolled into one and tied with a fetching French bow, La Petite Maison spans gift-giving needs with élan. Highlights include luxury linens from Lulu DK by Matouk, Luckson crib toys, and one-of-a-kind vintage china pieces that owner Nanette Walsh collects on her annual visits to Paris (thereby saving the rest of us the airfare). 142 North St., Hingham, MA 2043, .
Williamstown Theatre Festival
Long lauded as one of the country's best summer stages, the Williamstown Theatre Festival attracts rapt audiences and first-class talent; past performers include Gwyneth Paltrow and David Hyde Pierce. Since assuming the role of artistic director last year, Tony Award-winning British actor Roger Rees has become one of the Berkshires' favorite sons. 1000 Main St., Williamstown, MA 1267, wtfestival.org.
Stacey Frasca, Studio 28
Photo by Jamie Grill What do Lorraine Bracco, Bryan Cranston, and Boston’s own Gretta Monahan have in common? They’ve all taken a spin in Stacey Frasca’s chair. With three decades of experience, the makeup artist’s glam yet natural style has attracted countless VIP clients and locals alike, who stop by Studio 28 for special-occasion makeup, spray tans, and one-on-one lessons. And with virtual services, you can up your cosmetic game without ever leaving home. 568 Washington St., Wellesley, MA 02482, studio28wellesley.com.
Lenox Sophia
Photo by Brian Samuels Southie didn’t need another pub. It needed, and received in Lenox Sophia, a fine foodie destination for popping in on the way home from work — having reserved one of the four chef’s-counter seats, ideally — and decompressing over a set prix fixe: steaky king trumpet mushrooms with honey-fermented garlic, miso, and tart dried plum might be on the menu from ones-to-watch chefs Shi Mei and Yesid Areiza. The wine? That’s whatever you bring: It’s BYOB. 87 A St., Boston, MA 02127, lenoxsophia.com.
Lizzie's Bakery
Photo by Molly Quill It can feel like a travesty to destroy one of baker Lizzie Johnson’s cakes by cutting into one, but oh, how glad you’ll be that you did: Featuring intricate floral motifs, stripes, and ribbons, her buttercream-iced custom confections are that beautiful and that delicious. Having trouble making a choice? Not to worry — Johnson offers prospective clients tasting boxes featuring six flavors so they can ponder the options (a.k.a. stuff their faces with as much cake as they please) from the comfort of home. lizziesbakery.com.