Mincho Pacheco, Avanti Salon
Emmanuel Boakye-Appiah Mincho Pacheco’s station at Avanti Salon is a revolving door of the city’s most put-together gents, from high-powered banker types to Boston Bruins—but really, everyone who makes an appointment is guaranteed to get the VIP treatment. The stylist’s passion for men’s cuts brought him from his native El Salvador to one of the most in-demand Newbury Street salons, where his precise technique makes a compelling argument for guys to ditch the barber shop once and for all. 20 Newbury St. , Boston, MA 02116, avantisalonboston.com.
Dungeon Rock, Lynn Woods Reservation
If your kids are balking at the prospect of a walk, tempt them with a trek to this spooky site. A gentle one-mile round-trip walk takes you to a 174-foot cave, once a hiding spot for a 17th-century pirate. Go between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays, when the park ranger props open the heavy iron door, then descend a wooden staircase and explore the tunnel within. ci.lynn.ma.us/citydepartments_lynnwoods.shtml..
Henry Canas, Emerge by Giuliano
On its third floor, Emerge has a men-only area where male patrons can get a classic barber's haircut and shave, massage, or mani-pedi in unblushing privacy. We were just as at ease in the coed salon one level below, where Henry Canas wields his scissors and clippers with the sure-handedness expected on Newbury Street, and none of the hauteur. 275 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, emergespasalon.com.
Ed Gordon
Forget the Ducks. The cultural, historic, and aesthetic richness of this city is in safer hands with the likes of Ed Gordon. He's an architectural buff who likes showing off undiscovered neighborhoods and his tours are heavy on anecdotes about how real people lived "back then," but he also points out the best shopping and nightlife. During one of his 1938 hours of the Combat Zone, Gordon was punched in the stomach by a stranger on the street. He got up, dusted himself off, and continued talking.
The Juice Bar
Island living might seem easy, but it sure ain't fair. Hear us out: Stroll past the Juice Bar and the aroma of homebaked waffle cones comes wafting out. Inside, the list of rotating flavors like cherry chocolate chunk and peanut butter cup proves irresistible; after just one taste, eating (and eating, and eating) ice cream becomes inevitable. Our bikinis are getting tighter just thinking about it. 12 Broad St., Nantucket, MA 2554, .
Formaggio Kitchen
Photograph by Toan Trinh Peek inside the musty underground caves where Formaggio’s young fromage is ripened (they’ll give you a tour if you ask nicely), and you’ll gain a newfound appreciation for the Comtés and clothbound sharp cheddars you pair with your pinot noir and artisanal crackers. Once you’re back above ground, ask one of the store’s expert cheesemongers to recommend a wedge from their impressive selection, and grab a bottle of vino and a few gourmet accoutrements on the way out. 244 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA 2138, formaggiokitchen.com.
The Nutshell
Shopping with kids in tow is a Sisyphean task, especially when one’s bored and another is wreaking havoc with a purple juice pack. Enter Milton boutique the Nutshell. While Mom browses the racks of staples from Tea and Joules and formalwear from Emile et Rose and Hartstrings, Junior can peruse the trinkets on display at the adjoining Toy Chest. It’s an arrangement that parents—and their little, ahem, angels—can get behind. 10 Bassett St., Milton, MA 2186, thenutshellmilton.com.
Hob Knob
Set back from the hubbub of downtown Edgartown, this eco-friendly, 17-room manse is quiet, unpretentious, and posh. (JFK himself once stayed here after an exhausting regatta.) Eat your made-to-order breakfast, then ride one of the cruiser bikes to the beach or to the island's farm institute to gather fresh eggs. And after that? Just linger in the Garden Room till it's time for cookies and tea. 128 Main St., Edgartown, MA 2539, hobknob.com.
New England Mobile Book Fair
Forgive this book shop for its bizarre name and oddball location. Once you get past the tiny storefront, the Mobile Book Fair stretches through a parking lot and nearly to the horizon: rows upon aisles upon alleys of books. It's as if the Internet put its entire inventory in one place. And the goods here are priced almost as competitively as what you'll find online. 82-84 Needham St., Newton Highlands, MA 2461, nebookfair.com.
Jeffrey Lyle
Once we were commitment-shy (dare we say promiscuous?) when it came to hair colorists—one specialist after another, never settling down. Then we met Lyle, and it was love at first highlight. While especially skillful at brightening blondes, he's made our brunette, redhead, and raven-haired pals happy, too. And despite his fancy address, Lyle's chairside manner is appropriately meticulous, never fussy. Emerge Spa & Salon, 275 Newbury St., Boston, MA emergespasalon.com.
Magic Beans
When it comes to guiding you through the bewildering array of diaper bags, baby carriers, and car seats out there, none of the other tot emporiums in town compares to Magic Beans. Exhibit A: the store's carriage questionnaire, which gets reviewed by one of Magic Beans' "stroller experts." From there, they can help you match the correct model to your needs—and for anxious new parents, that kind of coddling is always welcome. 312 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 2446, mbeans.com.
Bosso Ramen Tavern
How does Harvard Square newcomer Bosso stand apart in a town saturated with ramen joints? First, with its broth: the house tonkotsu is prepped with both chicken and pork bones, a double dose of collagen that ups the umami factor. Second, with the flavor profiles of its tasty bowls: the “umami” is enhanced by black garlic; sour “sanmi” benefits from tomatoes and green shiso; the salty “enmi” is brightened by yuzu; and the spicy vegan bowl is spiked with red chili oil. We’ll take one of each, please. 24 Holyoke St., Cambridge, MA 02138, instagram.com/bossoramentavern.
Ashur Restaurant
A spread of dishes at Ashur Restuarant. / Photo by Brian Samuels Regulars come from near and far for Ashur’s deeply comforting Middle Eastern and African food (particularly Somali cuisine), from spice-packed biryani to rich beef stew and fall-off-the-bone meat dishes. Bring a friend or two and split one of the entrées known as “sports plates” — the goat and lamb combo, served with rice and salad, is the way to go. 291 Roxbury St., Roxbury, MA 02119, ashur-restaurant.business.site.
Stanza Dei Sigari
What once was a 1920s speakeasy now hosts a pleasure that’s practically as forbidden as Prohibition-era booze: the cigar. This cozy subterranean bar is one of the city’s last refuges for the epicurean whose idea of the perfect nightcap is a 30-year tawny paired with a well-aged Macanudo. 292 Hanover St., Boston, MA 02113, stanzadeisigari.com.
Derby Farm Flowers & Gardens
Basic blooms may get the job done, but why stop there? Order one of owner Barbara Popolow's spectacular bouquets — a cluster of tulips and hyacinths, perhaps? — then add in little extras, like Chapon chocolates from France, to be delivered with the stems. 454 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, MA 2474, derby-farm-flowers.com.