Divine Design + Build
In kitchen design, conceiving the proper layout is half the battle. We’d trust the Divine Design team to lead the charge any day: The Wellesley firm—which also boasts a stunning showroom in Boston—once revamped a local space by swapping a restrictive peninsula for a granite-topped island with storage and seating. Multiple locations. 180 Linden St., Wellesley, MA 02482, divinedesignbuild.com.
State Room
Courtesy of Longwood Events Perched 33 stories above the city with glass walls overlooking the Custom House Tower, the State Room is a blank canvas with personalization options galore. Chef David Blessing, meanwhile, serves up customized menus that are as breathtaking as the views—think tuna poke in mini cones and adorable s’mores tartlets. 60 State St., Boston, MA longwoodevents.com.
Davis Square Plaza
There’s no better place to hang out when the sun’s out, so grab a cone at J.P. Licks, find a comfy bench, and enjoy some of the best people-watching and outdoor performances on this side of the Red Line.
Cheapo Records
In a world choking on Black Eyed Peas, this cluttered basement shop is a refuge for the lonely few who still cling to the classics. The R&B, soul, and blues vinyl selection is simply astounding, and the music-obsessed staffers are excellent navigators to little-known high notes. 645 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2139, .
Hallie Krechevsky
It's the thought that counts, but too often pricey flower arrangements arrive as if no thought went into them at all. Not so in Hallie Krachevsky's shop, where she lovingly assembles seasonal blossoms—many of them local—into mini masterpieces. And the store's good in a pinch: none of that "I need 24 hours!" business here. 248 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA 2138, .
Calypso
Calypso's colorful yet put-together offerings prove once and for all that there is life after gray. Renowned for its clothing and accessories in luxurious fabrics and hues of amethyst, saffron, tourmaline, and fuschia, the bohemian, hippy-chic styling of this shop make it the best place for those who like to stand out from the crowd. 115 Newbury Street, Boston, MA calypsostbarth.com.
Bobbi Brown
Fabulously flattering cosmetics for almost any skin tone, Bobbi Brown recognized what most lines didn't— that most complexions have yellow undertones, not pink. The line is comprised of subtle, simple to wear, and simple to apply makeup that makes you look natural, rested, and almost bare-faced. The Mall at Chesnut Hill, 199 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, MA .
Teuscher
Ever wonder why the church once outlawed chocolate as too sensual? Airlifted weekly from the little chocolate gnomes in Zurich, delectable with the finest cream, butter, and milk chocolate, these are the kind of chocolates you eat so slowly that they melt in your hand long before they get to your mouth. 230 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
The Bristol Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel
Finger sandwiches, Scottish cones, Viennese pastries, English tea breads, pots of preserves, genuine tea caddies, and service stops at 4:30 p.m. on the dot. Hotel GM Robin Brown's standards are strict—as befits a bloke from Grantham, Lincolnshire. 200 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Anonymous
You hear him everywhere—on the Common, in the subway station, on the street—and he's got a great tone. But all he whistles is the first few bars of "Yankee Doodle." With a little variety in the repertoire, this guy could be the Jean-Pierre Rampal of the mouth.
Best Fit
The elegantly appointed changing areas and owner Lyudmila Sletkova's painstaking workmanship evoke a bygone era. They also ensure that, whether you've gone a touch brideorexic or decided to don Mom's '70s-era gown, Sletkova can nip your dress into shape without any skimpy-curtain indecency. 268 Newbury St., Boston, MA bestfitinc.com.
Kloth
For the past two years, this high-end boutique in Hingham Center has given South Shore women the opportunity to shop small—and stylishly. Once a buyer for Prada, owner Katia Orth brings her impeccable taste and eye to the community, offering a curated selection of special pieces such as Grlfrnd jean jackets, James Smith leather slides, and Shoshanna swimwear. Forget farm-to-table—this is designer-to-closet at its best. 28 South St., Hingham, MA 02043, klothhingham.com.
The Butcher Shop
We like our wine bars like we like our Burgundies: aged 15 years, preferably with piles of rich salumi lurking somewhere convenient. Barbara Lynch’s meat-meets-Margaux South End stalwart, which opened in 2003, still has its bar-setting roster of high-toned Old Worlders by Cat Silirie, and its all-day hours (even sessionable Sundays!). But the seasonal menu and staff wisdom are showing better than ever. 552 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02118, thebutchershopboston.com.
Gre.Co
This new counter-service spot on Newbury serves up everything you love about classic Greek street food, only with less grease than you might find at a cart. With well-done classics like avgolemono and fluffy pita wraps with a few thick-cut fries tucked in, owner Demetri Tsolakis has created an Olympus-worthy lunch spot. 225 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, grecoboston.com.
Good Vibrations
If you think shopping for a new adult toy should be done under a veil of secrecy, you’re out of luck at Good Vibrations. The sex-positive store sells all the accessories needed for a good romp in the sheets in a brightly lit, well-designed space that easily blends with the neighboring stores in both locations. Bonus points for a calendar chock-full of events and seminars about various types of play, all of which confirms that talking about sex out loud is totally normal—and completely healthy. 52 JFK St., Cambridge, MA goodvibes.com.