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.
Cakes to Remember
Leave it to the ever-professional Ellen Bartlett to create a confection as sweet—and original—as your wedding. Bartlett knows the pain suffered by so many wedding guests forced to eat flavorless wedding cakes the texture of Styrofoam. Her antidote: fresh, delectable cakes in any shape you can dream up. Maybe it's a Frangelico-soaked hazelnut dacquoise with mocha buttercream—in the shape of a sailboat. Or a deep chocolate framboise with fresh raspberries, festooned with delicate fondant flowers. You want it, odds are she can make it—and make you happy ever after. 248 Cypress St., Brookline, MA cakestoremember.biz.
Bliss Home
If happiness is platinum-rimmed white porcelain from northern Italy, then joy is a set of four ultrasuede coasters in seven different color combinations. Together, they represent the half-modern, half-classic nature of Bliss, a home-goods emporium that incorporates everything from chaise longues (made in Milan) to stainless steel—lined doggy bowls. Bliss earns the nod for best bridal registry not only because of the unusual and international flavor of its stock, but also for its accommodating employees, who are more than happy to educate the bride (and clueless grooms) about the difference between Waterford and Wedgwood. 121 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Priscilla of Boston
Combining classic, Old World methods with innovative design, Priscilla's talented seamstresses create some of the globe's most stunning wedding frocks. Designs run from tastefully simple silken A-lines to intricate, glamorous affairs like the Calais lace sheath gown, hand-beaded with more than 1,000 Austrian crystals and seed pearls. Priscilla's Charlestown-based design house and factory makes easy shipments and personalized service all but guaranteed—a godsend for any bride who has special requests or needs last-minute alterations. 801 Boylston St., Boston, MA priscillaofboston.com.
The Catered Affair
Your wedding caterer should be, above all else, a perfectionist. You don't want boring and bone-dry chicken any more than you want poorly timed service or cheesy table settings. The Catered Affair owner Holly Safford is just that—a perfectionist who runs her tight ship with equal parts creativity, fabulous taste, efficiency, and soul. What's more, she's been doing it for decades, and her seamless organization and calming demeanor has kept many a girl from turning into Bridezilla. Take that, Martha Stewart. Accord Park, Hingham, MA thecateredaffair.com.
Bliss Gift & Bridal Registry
Rather than furnishing newlyweds' houses from top to bottom, Bliss concentrates on outfitting them with some of the most exquisite and stylish tableware available. Feeling overwhelmed by the shelves of Alessi kettles, graceful Iittala glasses and vases, Bernardaud china, and CJ Vander flatware? Worry not. The staff here not only knows everything about this merchandise but also is well trained in the art of guiding couples through the selection process. Furthermore, the Web site lets guests easily make their purchases from afar, all registry gift wrapping is complementary, and there's a registry completion program that includes 10 percent off anything a couple purchases themselves after the wedding. 2257 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA blisshome.bridgecatalog.com.
America Dural
American Dural Among Cantabrigians' best-kept secrets is America Dural, hidden on a quiet street in Observatory Hill. An unfussy storefront conceals treasures from every period: midcentury Bertoia chrome chairs, ornate Georgian mahogany chests, a refreshing selection of contemporary art. Only a pro could set up such an enticing array of home furnishings—and, in fact, the showroom is part of Phillip Miller's interior design business. You could buy a single piece, but then again, why not just engage Miller to bring his cultivated eye to your entire home? 143 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA americadural.com.
Marathon Sports
Any running shop can outfit you with warm winter running tights, a cool stopwatch, or the best summer dry-fit shirt. But only the best can motivate you to actually get out and use the stuff you spent all that money on. Founded in 1975 and one of the first running specialty stores in the country, Marathon Sports provides as much inspiration as gear. The knowledgeable and eager salespeople invite you to test out your sneakers with a jog on the sidewalk before you buy, and the stores organize regular training runs and an annual 5-mile road race in Wellesley. Cheaper prices can be found, but with such expert guidance, Marathon Sports runs circles around the competition. 671 Boylston St., Boston, MA marathonsports.com.
SEE
Whether you're searching for classic no-frills frames or the latest lenses spotted on Gisele, find your way to SEE. A toy store for the visually challenged, this optical boutique has all of its frames out on the shelves so you can browse and try on glasses freely without having to constantly ask for a case to be unlocked. The employees are helpful without being pushy, know their stuff, and are happy to help you glam it up with some aviator sunglasses or the lightest frames around—so light you'll forget you're wearing them. 125 Newbury St., Boston, MA seeeyewear.com.
Newbury Comics, Back Bay location
Newbury Comics is to Nick Hornby as music megastores are to Carson Daly. The trucker hat—wearing kids who staff this eclectic pop culture emporium truly know their stuff, and they're quick to help shoppers navigate the impressive selection of CDs crammed between the movies and kitschy collectibles that crowd the aisles. With new releases often priced at $10 or less, ample shelf space set aside for local artists, and sought-after acts frequently dropping in for appearances, browsing for albums here almost beats downloading them for free on your home computer—and, as an added bonus, doesn't create the same risk of being sued for copyright infringement. 332 Newbury St., Boston, MA newburycomics.com.
Stellabella Toys
Children grow up way too fast. But at Stellabella Toys, everything slows down—at least long enough to free the inner child—in as many parents as kids. More of a play studio than a toy store, this expansive space in Inman Square is stuffed with educational resources for child-rearing. The colorful dolls, storybooks, science kits, and costumes are displayed in a space that's big enough to also fit a playroom and a toy house kids can climb on. The store hosts playgroups for infants and toddlers, family yoga, new-parent meet-ups, and musical get-togethers. With its strict no-guns-for-sale policy, this is more than just a neighborhood toy store: It's a mini enclave of enlightenment. 1360 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA stellabellatoys.com.
Waterworks
Your bathroom never had it so good. Every inch of Waterworks is dedicated to the senses, and every item—each perfectly placed and folded—is luxury incarnate. The sweet aroma of French soaps welcomes you first. Then come bath towels so soft, you'll think you're back in the womb. Next up: gleaming shower fixtures, faucets, tiles, and tubs—in as many classic styles as newfangled modern designs. The staff is informed and charming, and if you absolutely must have those frosted glass tiles by the weekend, many of the items are available for delivery within eight days of the date of purchase. 103 Newbury St., Boston, MA waterworks.com.
Neiman Marcus
One step inside and your willpower begins to fade. After three steps, you're fixated on a lustrous, lacy negligee. Soon you're too weak-kneed to take any more steps. And here's why: set after set of bras, underwear, corsets, and simply sublime undergarments so beautiful, they'd make Roseanne Barr feel like Cameron Diaz. Far from tacky, these are quality labels like Cosabella and La Perla—all pricey, all worth splurging. How will you ever decide? With the help of the friendly and efficient staff, of course. 5 Copley Place, Boston, MA neimanmarcus.com.
Out of Town News
Big-city newsstands have mostly gone the way of afternoon dailies, but there are a couple of exceptions. Out of Town News gets the nod this year for four reasons. First, it's bigger than fellow standard-setter Copley Square News, and the extra real estate means it offers even more newspapers and magazines from all over the world. Second, it's a national historic landmark, meaning it's in little danger of disappearing. Third, it's right in Harvard Square, where the people-watching is first rate. And last, because Nini's Corner, directly across Massachusetts Avenue, is a pretty good newsstand itself—a boon to anyone too lazy to cross the street to find a magazine. Zero Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA .
Stellabella
Kid alert: This well-laid-out shop in Inman Square has lots of room for wandering feet, plus fun and interactive on-site activities for curious minds. There's a play area with a crawl-through tunnel; a plastic structure holding more than 200 balls for jumping around in; a large-piece floor puzzle; a plastic house for climbing in and out of; and, most important, a storyteller the first Wednesday of every month at 4 p.m. And those things aren't even on sale! Stelabella has top-notch goods, including the usual suspects, like Radio Flyers and Lincoln Logs, as well as an impressive selection of arts and crafts kids. Open seven days a week. 1360 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA stellabellatoys.com.