Cohasset Jewelers
When owner Mark Cirone's wife was battling cancer, he created a "Labor of Love" pin, which raised more than $60,000 for the couple's local hospital. And if that doesn't make you want to shop at his store, your heart is harder than diamonds. Of course, an eye-popping selection of gems and watches helps, and Cohasset has them in spades. 790A Chief Justice Cushing Hwy., Cohasset, MA 2025, cohassetjewelers.com.
Straight Wharf Restaurant
The Straight Wharf remains one of Nantucket's toughest reservations. Perhaps guests know that the celebrity contingent (regulars include Brian Williams) might be on hand. But we're guessing it has more to do with the food—standouts like halibut chowder sprinkled with house-made bacon, and a clam bake featuring lobster and chorizo over corn and littlenecks. 6 Harbor Sq., Nantucket, MA 2554, straightwharfrestaurant.com.
La Residencia Spa
You could go to one of those fancy spas with the stark furniture and the green apples stacked perfectly so. But when you're in need of coddling, a place that's more welcoming than antiseptic is refreshing. La Residencia, located in a renovated two-story house with shabby-chic décor, has a cozy vibe. And a day there feels less like a clinic visit and more like a day with girlfriends—girlfriends who wax, extract, and massage, that is. 336 Elliot St., Newton Upper Falls, MA 2464, laresidenciaspa.com.
Abigail's Children's Boutique
Can't stomach another trip to Gymboree? This sibling-owned store will outfit your little ones in classic style from the time they're born through their preteens. You'll find an excellent array of formalwear, along with well-priced everyday gear and adorable accessories. No kiddie high heels, though — sorry, Suri. 93 Central St., Wellesley, MA 2482, abigails.com.
Courageous Sailing
One way to minimize your exposure to E. coli is to sail on Boston Harbor instead of the Charles River, and Courageous Sailing is the best way to go for the bucolic-urban experience. Courageous offers easy access to Harbor Islands State Park, where with a little advanced planning you can even go camping. The only year-round sailing center in Boston, it merits its name because of its iceboating events and other cold-weather adventures. 1 First Ave., Charlestown, MA .
The Computer Museum
Now you can double-click before you buy. On June 29, this museum opened a wonderful gallery that houses 14 terminals, all of which have access to 50 unabridged CD-ROM titles for children, plus plenty of additional recommendations. Families can peruse all the latest software for kids 2 to 12 years old for as long as they like. The excellent selection is the work of author-experts Cathy Miranker and Alison Elliot. 300 Congress Street, Boston, MA .
Casablanca
Next to a terrific moviehouse and a great coffeeshop, Casablanca is your best bet for a bar where you can actually have a conversation. Faux Middle Eastern decor, amusing Humphrey Bogart murals, Billie Holiday on the jukebox, an eclectic assortment of Left Bank literati, and odd little rick-shaw-like seats contribute to an overall pleasant vibe. 40 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA .
Dar Williams
Just off tour with folk legend Joan Baez, Dar Williams is now home in Belchertown savoring the critical success of her latest CD, Mortal City. When Williams originally moved to western Massachusetts from New York, she got a job with the Boston Opera Company and aspired to become a playwright or to direct operas. But the call of the coffeehouse was too strong, and Williams's modern folk style soon drew a following that recognized a new talent on the rise.
Cold Water Flat
Okay, so Paul Janovitz of Cold Water Flat is the brother of Buffalo Tom's Bill Janovitz. There's no sibling rivalry going on here. Buffalo Tom may have captured MTV and My So-Called Life, but CWF's new CD on a major label and opening appearances on Belly's worldwide tour last spring have garnered the group more than its fair share of attention. Look for them on Conan this fall.
Tower Records
One thousand publications await you, from audiovisual, business, and gay culture to photo, food, and fashion (in French and Italian), trains, travel, and woodworking. There's also a small but good selection of bestsellers and paperbacks; some are even discounted. You can browse to your heart's content, undisturbed, with plenty of room and good music. Hard to leave, and you can't do it empty-handed. 360 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
East Coast Grill & Raw Bar
The essence of a perfect margarita is in its simplicity: fresh lime juice, a dash of orange-flavored liqueur, and top-shelf tequila (we prefer gold). Any joint that junks up a fine shot of tequila with that presweetened sour mix just doesn't know what it's doing. That's far from a problem at the East Coast Grill, which does it all perfectly. Purists prefer their 'ritas on the rocks, with salt on the rim. But during an August heat wave, we'll happily endure the Grill's chilled take on tradition. 1271 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA .
Scandia
This long, narrow restaurant in the heart of Newburyport has a certain bistro appeal, and when lit with candles in the evening, it's, well, not exactly European but charmingly provincial. Caesar Salad and Steak Diane are house specialties— the salad may even be prepared tableside. But as you'd expect in this neighborhood, seafood is the marquee food group, so why stray? 25 State St., Newburyport, MA .
Truc
A warm and radiant person must be at the heart of a romantic restaurant, and chef-owner Corinna Mozo fills this sweet subterranean spot with her love of cooking and a sensual style. Walls in this intimate nook are painted a lusty green. The unstudied mix of artwork keeps you in a relaxed South End mindset. And since the menu is neither exclusively highfalutin nor high-priced, you can turn any meal into a celebration. Hint: The most romantic seats in the house are in the greenhouse. 560 Tremont St., Boston, MA .
Armani Cafe
Kill two birds with one stone: Armani Cafe —at the Prime Viewing Central between Fairfield and Exeter — is not only the best place to see other people, it's the best place to be seen in all your sartorial splendor. Required accouterments: cell phone, beeper, head-to-toe black Eurowear, and the Beemer double-parked nearby so all can see you coming and going. The pricey, trendy, yet tasty fare satiates cravings while you watch the creatures of Newbury stroll by. 214 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
John Dewar & Co.
Cognoscenti (including top chefs) admit that it's impossible to buy better meat anywhere in the city. Great cuts, fair prices (for the extraordinary quality you get), and straight talk about how many racks of lamb you need to feed your six ravenous friends. You might spend more here than you would elsewhere, but there won't be a morsel of meat left on anyone's plate. 753 Beacon St., Newton Centre, MA .