Dancing Deer

The butter yellow painted-brick facade houses marvelous treats—gingerbread in the fall, lemon-blackberry cake in the summer. Our absolute favorite item is available only on Sunday: sweet fruit bread studded with dried sour cherries, cranberries, raisins, and other fruits. Divine. 5197 Washington Street, West Roxbury, MA .

Render

For many, "grabbing a cup of coffee" means getting your buzz on fast. Render will encourage you to slow down and enjoy the process: All hot coffees are meticulously prepared using the pour-over method, which takes a few minutes per cup. It’s worth the wait for these, or the expertly pulled espresso drinks starring Counter Culture and Gracenote beans. If time is truly unlimited, have a seat and partake in the WiFi, the outlets, and the phyllo-crusted house-made quiche. 563 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA 2118, rendercoffeebar.com.

The Sturniolo Triplets

These nearly identical siblings from Somerville — 19-year-old Chris, Matt, and Nick — rose to YouTube fame with 20-minute videos of them bantering and goofing around in their car. Naysayers be damned, sustaining hours of giggling crosstalk about arbitrary subjects such as meatballs and toenails takes a certain effortless charm — and the Sturniolos are masters of that craft. Fans even pay to see them hang out together IRL: Earlier this year, the Sturniolos wrapped a 15-date cross-country tour with a sold-out show at the Sinclair. youtube.com/SturnioloTriplets.

Away

Getting ready to jet off somewhere fun but worried your worn-out luggage won’t make the trip? Away’s newest location on Newbury Street has a well-tested and traveler-approved solution. The brand’s hard-sided polycarbonate suitcases are scratch-resistant and lightweight, with a minimalist silhouette and sophisticated colors. Even the wheel performance and maneuverability outpace competitors, so the suitcase won’t slow you down when you run to catch a flight. In the event they do get nicked, all Away pieces come with a handy sponge to buff it out. 179 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, awaytravel.com.

Park-9 Dog Bar

There’s no other place we know of where you can order a cocktail for yourself and a perfectly paired treat for your canine. At New England’s first-ever dog bar, kick back with your BFF and enjoy a 10,000-square-foot space complete with lounge areas, two bars, and a cool backyard vibe. 48 Waters Ave., Everett, MA 02149, park9dogbar.com.

Mauro's Painting

Mauro Henrique made his name on This Old House; now he makes sure homes across the area are camera-ready through his Somerville-based business, Mauro’s Painting. With a focus on restoration and a background in carpentry, he’s a dream combination of handyman and artisan, with a calm demeanor and attention to detail to match. Also, unlike many painters, Henrique doesn’t use subcontractors, which means you’ll get consistent quality in every space he and his team transform. maurospainting.com.

The Little Flags Theatre's leaving Boston and blaming the critics for red-baiting.

Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

A visit to this sprawling 1928 manor and grounds is like a trip to your eccentric auntie’s house — without any strings attached. Enjoy unusual kid-friendly entertainment (Siamese cat hunt, anyone?); tours led by household staff in 1920s period dress; outdoor summer concerts; or a frolic on Crane Beach. Ownership by the Trustees of Reservations ensures robust programming, with special “CraneExplorer” activities for the under-12 set — typically mini hikes with more guided stops along the way (see: the popular twilight full-moon stroll). 290 Argilla Rd., Ipswich, MA 1938, thetrustees.org/place/castle-hill-on-the-crane-estate.

Emerge Spa

When was the last time you pulled up to a spa, threw your keys to the valet, and were led into a private VIP suite? The answer, obviously: never. But now you can do just that at the four-story Emerge, Boston's new grande dame of day spas, which boasts a host of standard and medical services for both genders (men get their own area), two in-house doctors, a juice bar, and locker rooms stocked with posh Kerstin Florian products. Spend an afternoon here, and you needn't exit as discreetly as you arrived. 275 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, emergespasalon.com.

Brewer's Fork

As much as we’ve enjoyed the silver lining that was takeout four-packs with our wood-fired pizza, nothing compares to a beer — fresh from the draft! — at the Brewer’s Fork bar. That’s because co-owner Michael Cooney brings craft-beer-world bona fides to this suds-and-pies joint, making it a place to find rarities — like an IPA from Bissell Brothers or sour beer from Jester King — from the buzziest breweries. 7 Moulton St., Charlestown, MA 02129, brewersfork.com.

Trevi Cafe and Wine Bar

Yes, it’s nestled within the tourist mecca of Mashpee Commons. No matter: Once you step into Trevi, you might as well be on a European vacation with your secret paramour. There’s an expansive covered terrace overlooking a soothing backlit fountain, a vast menu of global wines, and a list of generously poured cocktails (the Trevi Tini is our favorite). 25 Market St., Mashpee, MA 02649, trevicafe.com.

Barefoot Books

As moms and dads know a little too well, when kids find a book that works for them, they tend to go back to it again and again. And again. The same applies to our pick in this category. Four-time winner Barefoot Books brims with fresh, cleverly illustrated titles, and doubles as an independent publishing house run by parents dedicated to the art of old-fashioned storytelling. 1771 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2140, barefootbooks.com.

Mondi Hodgdon, Dani Wagener Beauty

A good brow-shaping can change your life. Really—every time we leave Mondi Hodgdon's chair, the compliments start pouring in. Did we lose weight? Get a tan? Suddenly we have cheekbones, and our eyes pop without mascara. Hodgdon's tools are tweezers and a bit of wax, but she might as well be sprinkling pixie dust. 125 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, daniwagener.com.

Abbicci

At first, we were hopelessly distracted by the eye candy, as Abbicci's exotic-looking French and Peruvian servers floated by sensuously to a soft instrumental soundtrack. Once the food arrived, though, our gazes were fully focused on the Mediterranean-inspired plates before us: scallion-and-pistachio-stuffed Peppadews, scotch-glazed squad, and pan-seared pork loin with sweet and sour pepperonata. Owner Marietta Bombardieri fiercely edits her wine list to match her menu. As for other types of matchmaking, you're on your own. 43 Main St. (Rte. 6A), Yarmouth Port, MA abbicci.com.

The New England Soup Factory

These unassuming storefronts take their motto—Feed Your Body Well—to heart, with some 75 alternating choices, all wholesome and flavorful. We slurped lentil; sweet and sour cabbage with fresh dill, white bean, and tomato; numerous chowders; and hearty chilis. Iced soups include banana, honey, and almond; blueberry and peach; and the old, spicy standard, gazpacho. And the Factory makes a matzoh-ball soup to make a Jewish grandmother proud. Our only complaint is that there isn't a Soup Factory in every neighborhood. 2-4 Brookline Place, Brookline, MA .