Tess & Carlos
Tess Enright knows what she likes—and, more to the point, what she does not. The sartorial littérateur has no interest in words like "trendy" or "hip," instead preferring ones like "seasonless," "ageless," and "assured." Her stores are filled with pieces she thinks every woman should own, in understated colors that purposefully override fad: Piazza Sempione cashmere coats, Prada ballet flats, Jil Sander suiting. Three locations include a new Newbury Street outpost, but Tess herself sticks close to Newton, where she's been doling out straightforward advice since 1999. 1241 Centre St., Newton Center, MA 2459, tessandcarlos.com.
Marathon Sports
There's a myth that says running requires nothing more than comfortable sneakers and willpower. Untrue: If you're serious about the sport (or are merely trying to look as if you are), you're also going to need some sweat-wicking shorts and shirts, a cardiac monitor, several pairs of cushy socks, a hat and/or sunglasses, maybe a windbreaker, and, oh yeah, one of those belts that holds little water bottles. Marathon Sports has all the gear you need, and some you probably don't. And its running-obsessed staff is clued in and honest enough to help you sort out which is which. 671 Boylston St., Brookline, MA 2445, marathonsports.com.
Eastern Standard
Step one (sufficiently difficult): Coordinate 15 schedules to pick a date for your birthday/ anniversary/coming-out party. Step two (near impossible): Find a place that will seat everyone. The private dining room at Eastern Standard—a plush, chandeliered alcove off the main dining area—will accommodate parties of up to 18 with ease. The waiter assigned solely to your group means you won't ever feel neglected; the fully enclosed space means you won't have to struggle to hear what your pals are discussing at the other end of the table. Hotel Commonwealth, 528 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA easternstandardboston.com.
The Model Café
Generally speaking, a person's favorite dive bar is the one closest to home. The Model is that rare specimen—a neighborhood bar that's gained destination status for drinkers from all over the city. Everything inside this 75-year-old Allston joint screams classic dive: loud tunes, a pool table, $2 Pabst Blue Ribbons on tap, $4 Bushmills on the rocks, a crowd that ranges from hip to drip, and urinals barely clean enough to, well, urinate in. Mediocre fare (this is a dive bar, after all) is served til 10. 7 North Beacon St., Allston, MA .
Coast Café
Dainty eaters, beware. Only those with a hankering for a little grease and gobs of pork-addled flavor are able to handle the made-to-order plates at Cambridge's stick-to-your-ribs haven. Sure, the chicken's great, but there's also smoked turkey with collard greens, and bread crumb-encrusted mac and cheese, and silky sweet potatoes, and (the only thing harder than settling on an order here, you'll find, is nabbing one of the few seats). Coast Café may not have much competition in these parts—KFC? Popeyes?—but it could surely hold its own in Dixie. 233 River St., Cambridge, MA 2139, .
Something Natural
Gigantic sandwich? Or gigantic cookie? Such are the tough choices at Something Natural, an out-of-the-way eatery with a fiercely loyal following. Meals can be brown-bagged for the beach or enjoyed at one of the picnic tables that dot the lawn, and lunch orders like Sheila's Favorite (mayo, Swiss, carrots, pickles, and tomatoes on home-baked oatmeal bread) and turkey salad with Granny Smith apples and raisins on wheat provide a solid base for what regulars know is a flawless chocolate chip. (Actually, now that we think about it, it's not a tough call after all: Obviously, you get the gigantic sandwich and the gigantic cookie.) 50 Cliff Road, Nantucket, MA 2554, somethingnatural.com.
Blantyre
It's easy to forget, in our world of PDAs and ADD, that drawn-out dining can be a thing of delight. Everything at this hotel restaurant, from its jacket-and-tie requirement and exacting service down to its immaculate china and crystal settings, speaks to a serious attention to detail. The Gallic-inspired menu spotlights delicacies such as Long Island duck breast with melon-basil salad, beef tenderloin with pea purée, and iced Key lime soufflé. And at the end of your leisurely meal, should you find yourself too stuffed to drive home, you can wend your way upstairs for a stay in one of Blantyre's opulent suites. 16 Blantyre Rd., Lenox, MA 1240, .
Ceraldi
A seven-course chef’s tasting — in Wellfleet, you say? Yes, it’s here, and yes, it’s 100 percent worth springing for. Chef Michael Ceraldi’s menu changes daily based on what’s available from the food purveyors surrounding him: That means one night you might find black-licorice ravioli with P-town diver lobster; another night monk-liver torchon with seaweed bagna cauda. Ceraldi, meanwhile, holds court at the center of this nightly dinner party, explaining each dish to diners at two seatings per evening as the consummate host. 15 Kendrick Ave., Wellfleet, MA 02667, ceraldicapecod.com.
Underground at Ink Block
Take a stroll underneath the I-93 overpass between the South End and Southie, and you’ll discover the city’s most exhilarating art exhibit. Sprawled over 8 acres, the once-desolate zone now features 18 murals, nine of which were added last summer. Highlighting local artists such as Silvia López Chavez, national ones like Def Jam’s founding creative director Cey Adams, and international ones including Spain’s Muro, the concrete, metal, and asphalt burst with color and forward-thinking vision 90 Traveler St., Boston, MA 02118, undergroundinkblock.com.
Tremendous Maid
Few things are more intimate than hiring someone to clean your home. Tremendous Maid, thankfully, is all business: Fill out an Internet request form with your square footage and home layout, and you'll quickly hear back about scheduling options. The actual cleaning was both impressive and a bit guilt-inducing, as the team scrubbed items we willfully ignore: baseboards, toaster oven, mini blinds. By the time they were done, our house was as pristine as the day it was built. 270 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA tremendousmaid.com.
S+H Construction
When it comes to upscale renovations, S + H Construction has been making its mark in the Greater Boston area for more than four decades. Clients appreciate the professionalism, personalized service, and cost efficiency that this residential construction firm brings to each project. But what they love even more is the craftsmanship: Whether dealing with an old home or a newer build, the company’s experienced staffers apply their in-depth knowledge and expertise to all of their work. shconstruction.com.
Discovery Museum
Taking the little ones to a kids’ museum is typically a rainy-day activity. This fun spot, however, is the perfect destination for families when the sun is shining, too, thanks to an awesome outdoor play area with a treehouse, wiggly bridge, nest swing, and nature trails. Inside, there’s just as much to explore — kids can learn about air, water, light, and sound in a variety of science-themed exhibits, play conductor on a train replica, and cook up some delicious pretend meals in the diner-style “restaurant.” Expect a good nap on the way home. 177 Main St., Acton, MA 01720, discoveryacton.org.
Laundromutt
What’s worse—a dog in desperate need of a bath, or one that returns from the groomer smelling like cheap air freshener? At Laundromutt, the emphasis on all-natural products means your pooch will be shampooed with olfactory-pleasing scents like honey-almond and pomegranate. Fido, meanwhile, will be in great hands with the company’s expert groomers, who handle matted fur and overgrown coats with ease. And if a romp in the mud needs urgent attention, there’s also the DIY bath, which doesn’t require an appointment. Waterproof smocks are included—hair in the drain of your home tub, mercifully, is not. 489 Concord Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, laundromutt.com.
Common Vines
Here’s one of those whip-smart, why-didn’t-someone-think-of-it-sooner concepts: a wine bar and shop that work together to help you discover your next favorite pour. From Croatian plavac mali to Monterey-grown malvasia, all of the by-the-glass selections at Jennifer Scott and Chris Hsi’s Taste Wine Bar & Kitchen are also available to tote home by the bottle at Common Vines, their vino boutique right across the street. Not enough time for a full pour? Pop into the shop for a free tasting; themes—such as "Wines with a Long Finish" on Marathon Monday—change by the day. 100 Summer St., Boston, MA 02110, commonvines.com.
Jumbo Seafood
It stands to reason that seafood is the speciality of the house at this bright little spot near the Chinatown gate. To wit: The restaurant is decorated with tanks of live fish, lobsters, eels, crabs, and shrimp. The atmosphere itself is delightful, including a huge mural of Hong Kong adorning one wall, and the constant chatter of both Chinese and English filling the air. Favorite dishes: crispy orange shrimp and calamari with mixed green vegetables; lobster sauteed with ginger and scallions; Hunan-style crispy whole fish. All meals finish with chocolate-dipped fortune cookies. Jumbo Seafood is open seven days a week until 2 am. 5-9 Hudson Street, Boston, MA newjumboseafoodrestaurant.com.