Atlantic Fish and Chop House
It’s the closest thing to eating on the deck of a yacht without actually leaving dry land: Perched at the edge of the water, this Edgartown hot spot offers one of the prettiest views around of the boats moored in the harbor and the ferry shuttling people back and forth from Chappy. The view on the plate is equally top-notch — carnivores will delight in the selection of steaks, while seafood lovers can enjoy the fruits of the sea raw, grilled, or in chowder form (also an island best). 2 Main St., Edgartown, MA 02539, atlanticmv.com.
Mooncusser Fish House
The team behind Concord’s 80 Thoreau has splashed into Boston with dishes that combine gorgeous local catch and seasonal accompaniments in an elegant space. The rotating menu (smoked-scallop terrine, grilled tuna with chestnut spaetzle) hasn’t shown us a dud yet, and perceptive staffers excel at helping select wines from the intriguing list. 304 Stuart St., Boston, MA 02116, mooncusserfishhouse.com.
Five Spices House
The kung pao’s decent enough, but you’re here for the incendiary Sichuan—meat, fish, veggies, noodles, and more-adventurous morsels (duck tongue, pig kidney) that get wok-charred, deep-fried, braised, steamed, and/or boiled in cornstarch-"velveted" swaths, then lavished in glistening puddles of neon-orange chili oil. The punishment comes in waves: serious Scoville heat ("la") followed by a lip-numbing sensation ("ma"). Order the mala dry pot and you can choose your own adventure, Fire + Ice–style, from the refrigerated case. Then brace yourself. 58 Beach St., Boston, MA 02111, 5spiceshouseboston.com.
Le Couturier House of Alterations
Favored by some of the city's most discriminating boutique owners and clotheshorses, Dick Robasson is a stitch wizard straight out of another era. Holed up in his spartan Central Square space, with two sewing machines and a radio humming jazz in the background, the one-time Zegna staffer employs the same concentration when hemming pants as he does when whipping up a suit from scratch. 550 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2116, lecouturierma.com.
Joe Jones Wilderness House
Take two snowboard enthusiasts, one a black-diamond shredder, the other a bunny-slope first-timer. Drop them off at Joe Jones and check back in an hour. Odds are, they'll both have found precisely what they were looking for. This place has boards, bindings, boots, skis, helmets, gloves, jackets, snowshoes, and everything else you could possibly need to fall down face-first in the snow—and look awesome doing it. 1048 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, .
Bob Smith's Wilderness House
For many Bostonians, summer is a savored moment wedged between the brutal bookends of the New England winter. For skiers, it's an interruption. They're already dreaming of the first snowstorm. Bob Smith's Wilderness House caters to these people—novices and experts alike—because the staff feels their pain. Völkl, Salomon, Rossignol: The employees here know them all and can discuss at length the merits of each brand (and the best slopes to break them in). Custom boot fitting puts the icing on the cake. 1048 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA .
Bob Smith's Wilderness House
The Boston alpinist's Valhalla sells all the gear you'll need to get down the hill—and look damned good doing it. Bob Smith's stock of sticks is on a par with that of other ski shops, but the service is unparalleled, thanks to a staff that actually skis—a major plus, considering the impressive and serious selection of K2s, Völkls, and Salomons. Lest we forget the agony of suffering through a season in the wrong boot size (usually too large, he says), custom boot fitter Dave Prahl is on call to save us from ourselves, expertly assessing fit and alignment. 1048 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA .
Belle de Jour
The window displays at this Newbury Street boutique are sexy enough to make the most straitlaced Yankee blush. From sheer black chiffon nighties to exquisite embroidered lace-up corsets, the imported European lingerie here is welcome change from the mass-produced unmentionable found elsewhere. The staff is discreet but helpful, offering advice when asked and leaving shoppers to browse in peace when not. So what if the steep price tags can send the heart racing? So does the lingerie, which is why Belle de Jour is just as often filled with men sheepishly selecting lace peignoirs for their sweethearts as it is with women looking for embroidered bra and panty sets for themselves. 164 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Bob Smith's Wilderness House
First things first: If you're still skiing on old-fashioned straight skis, you should be ashamed of yourself. Skiing has changed dramatically in the past 10 years, thanks to improvements in equipment. Shorter, curved skis can make first-timers look like Picabo Street, and Bob Smith's Wilderness House is where to find them. The accessible, knowledgeable staff begins by determining where you'll be skiing (hard-core New England ice and rocks, or pansy-pants West Coast powder), your ability level, and budget, then points you to (and custom fits) the perfect pair. The wide selection—from Rossies to Völkl, K2 to Dynastar—means there's a fit for everyone. The shop also stocks a wide range of apparel and accessories, with everything from glove liners to back-country ski gear, and its end-of-season sales are a favorite with skiers in the know. 1048 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA .
House of Sarah Books
Loaf on the couches, chitchat with owner Jodi Malone, or mosey through the well-stocked stacks. This place feels like home, complete with a cat stunning in the front window. And the prices penciled in the front of the books are tough to beat. It's sweet relief from the sour pretension so often found in used bookshops. 1309 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA .
Pour Le Corps
Gives new meaning to feel the burn. Electrolysis is never a pleasant part of the grooming ritual, but this salon makes it easier with a relaxing ambience (and topical anesthetics). Your once-hirsute patch of skin may be tingling, but that's an improvement over the pain of more violent treatments. Since this delicate process takes time, it's especially comforting to find a competent, confidence-inspiring, and compassionate set of technicians. 224 Clarendon St., Suite 21, Boston, MA .
The tours at the Boston Athenaeum
They start up again in the fall, they're free, and the guides are straight out of Boston Brahmin Central Casting. Delightful. 10 1/2 Beacon St., Boston, MA .
Four Seasons Hotel
You have to walk through the Bristol Lounge to get to it, but the trip is worth it. Stalls measure 75 inches by 84.23 inches with individual marble sinks, Yardley liquid soap, and cloth hand towels. 200 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Phillips Candy House
So confident of their excellence that they offer to send you a free tasting kit including competitors' wares. 818 Morrissey Blvd., Dorchester, MA .
Henry's Hobby House
Name something they don't have (if you can) and they'll get it for you promptly. This is the only hobby store in the state we know of that carries a full line of "build from scratch" materials. 34 Franklin St., Worcester, MA .