New Deal
When trying to lay your hands on the freshest catch in Boston, you could get up at 4 a.m., pull on rubber boots, and clump along to the fish pier to haggle with salty characters. Or you could sleep in until a decent hour, then do what the city's smartest cooks do: head to this venerable storefront in East Cambridge, where owner Carl Fantasia makes buying and preparing seafood a breeze, even for novices. He'll not only steer you to the tastiest specimens in the display case, but also point out which Portuguese olive oil will bring out the best in those bright-eyed sardines, and supply the nori needed to turn that sushi-grade tuna into hand-rolled maki. 622 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 2141, newdealfishmarket.com.
Bistro du Midi
Any restaurant can decrumb your table or change your silverware 500 times during a meal. True service is something else entirely, and no one does it better than Bistro du Midi. We stumbled in on a rainy night after getting rudely booted from another packed spot. "Make yourself comfortable," the hostess said with a smile. "Mind your knees," a server chirped as he nudged our seat in toward the table. It's the kind of coddling that puts an instant smile on your face—and chef Robert Sisca's coastal-French cuisine keeps it there. 272 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2116, bistrodumidi.com.
Good Vibrations
Whether you're a novice curious about spicing up your bedroom activities or a veteran dominatrix looking for new shackles, Good Vibrations has the right amount of kink to satisfy your inner freak: toys, how-to books…well, we're not sure how much more we can tell you without the good-taste police's raiding our office. Suffice it to say that this place has plenty of merchandise that will make your sex life more interesting. And the prices are reasonable enough that you'll get some serious bang for your buck. (Sorry. Couldn't help ourselves!) 308A Harvard St., Brookline, MA goodvibes.com.
State Room
Lovely Valentine/Oversize windows showcase the glowing cityscape at the State Room. Your parents’ best friends. Your favorite coworker. Your third cousin twice removed. Everyone’s invited to the party when you host it at this State Street standout, where the glass-walled Great Room and adjoining mezzanine offer 9,396 square feet of versatile event space. Of course, it’s not just the scale of the venue that earns our vote: The 21-foot ceiling and unrivaled skyline views have serious wow factor, too. 60 State St., Boston, MA 02109, longwoodvenues.com.
Dropkick Murphys at Fenway Park
Maddie Malhotra With our beloved ballpark’s 37,000-plus seats empty during prime baseball season this spring, what did Boston’s other hometown team, the Dropkick Murphys, do? They descended on the diamond to play a show, Streaming Outta Fenway, to raise money and spirits. The rocking two-hour set, which featured remote appearances from Bruce Springsteen and Fenway organist Josh Kantor, attracted more than 9 million viewers worldwide—and collected more than $700,000 for organizations such as Boston Resiliency Fund, Feeding America, and Habitat for Humanity in the process. dropkickmurphys.com.
Oak Bar
In a city full of bars with loud music, weak drinks, and meat-market mentalities, the Oak Bar is an oasis of refinement, elegance, and call brands. No sneakers, please. And do not, by any means, forget your jacket and tie. Or your martini preference—at last count, there were 21 varieties on the cocktail menu, including the 007, the Barbie-tini, and the Engaging Martini (which, for a modest $12,750, comes complete with a platinum and diamond engagement ring from Shreve, Crump & Low). But good martinis aren't all it takes. Rather, it is the quiet piano music, soaring gilt-covered, vaulted ceiling, plus chairs, and skilled bartenders—who will do so little as pour you a beer and so much as mix your margarita the way you like it— which put the Oak Bar into a category all its own. And the burgers aren't bad, either. Fairmont Copley Plaza, 138 St. James Avenue, Boston, MA oaklongbarkitchen.com.
Mill 1 at Open Square
Housed in a refurbished paper mill out west in Holyoke, Mill 1’s brick walls and pine beams take full advantage of the 5,000-square-foot space’s historical details while keeping elegance at the forefront. Better yet, the staff of expert event managers can deck out the venue to suit your style — from a white-linen affair among glittering bistro lights to a more pared-back fete with wooden farm tables and paper lanterns. Bonus: Open Square is a net-zero-energy development (it generates as much energy as it uses), so your wedding will be both beautiful and carbon-neutral. 4 Open Square Way, Holyoke, MA 1040, mill1events.com.
Royal Jewelers
This is where to go after you've checked that shiny new Rolex (which Royal doesn't carry) off your wish list and are ready to start building a collection around more-exotic lines. Since 1948, the family-run business has catered to aficionados with hundreds of models from top brands like Ulysse Nardin and Vacheron Constantin—both exclusive to Royal in the Boston area—and an in-house repair service. Plus, the excellent salespeople don't work on commission, so feel free to take your sweet time. 58 Main St., Andover, MA 1810, royaljewelers.com.
MaidPro
When your abode has become inhabitable, call on this Boston-based cleaning service for quick, friendly, and professional help. Founded in a small Beacon Hill storefront 10 years ago, MaidPro now keeps houses spick-and-span here and in 10 other states. With its 49-point checklist (are the baseboards clean? Lamp shades dusted?) there will be no surface left uncleaned. of all, MaidPro's team is well versed in the art of straightening, rather than putting away, so that all of your belongings will be exactly where you expect to find them—only neater. 180 Canal St., Boston, MA maidpro.com.
Consignment Galleries
If you've tried to furnish your first apartment or even looked for that much-needed desk or even a lamp, you know what the prices are. And we're not even talking period pieces— just something of a certain age, with that certain feel, at just the right price. We've found a good selection of four-drawer chests between $220 and $450; a mahogany twin-pedestal dining table for $550; a carved oak mirror for $95; and a set of 10 Maddox cups and sauces for $65. If your grandmother did not leave you anything, this is for you. 2044 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Common Vines
Here’s one of those whip-smart, why-didn’t-someone-think-of-it-sooner concepts: a wine bar and shop that work together to help you discover your next favorite pour. From Croatian plavac mali to Monterey-grown malvasia, all of the by-the-glass selections at Jennifer Scott and Chris Hsi’s Taste Wine Bar & Kitchen are also available to tote home by the bottle at Common Vines, their vino boutique right across the street. Not enough time for a full pour? Pop into the shop for a free tasting; themes—such as "Wines with a Long Finish" on Marathon Monday—change by the day. 100 Summer St., Boston, MA 02110, commonvines.com.
Artcliff Diner
Housed in a little shack just outside downtown Vineyard Haven, Artcliff is the epitome of an island establishment, beloved by locals and tourists alike. Slurp down your bottomless cup of joe at one of the counter stools before sinking your teeth into the delightfully uncomplicated Hot Stuff breakfast sandwich—two eggs, chorizo, jalapeño, and pepper jack on toast or an English muffin. For something with a little more local flavor, order up the Bull’s Eye—a codfish cake with two eggs and spicy hollandaise. No matter what you choose, you won’t leave hungry. 39 Beach Rd., Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, .
Rubin's
There's a reason places like the Harvard Club and the Four Seasons Hotel send out to Rubin's when their guests want kosher meals. This is homemade food the way your bubbie used to make it. Sure, the prices are a little steep, but the brisket melts in your mouth and the knishes are to die for, even since the deli changed hands for the first time in its 70-year history. And the guys behind the counter have that distracted "Hurry-up-and-order, I've-got-a-county-to-run" attitude that can make the hardiest New Yorker homesick. 500 Harvard St., Brookline, MA .
Drysdale's All-Natural Carpet Care
Owner Mark Dullea is to dirty carpets and sofas what Mr. Clean is to the rest of your house. And unlike other companies, Dullea uses non-toxic cleaning agents that won't harm the kids or upset the pets. 140 Main St., Suite 148, Charlestown, MA .
The Crane Estate
Scott Zuehlke This 2,100-acre wonderland of woodlands and beaches offers three gorgeous ways to make waves on your wedding day: by the sea, in a historical barn, or on the rolling grounds of the 1920s Great House on Castle Hill. 290 Argilla Rd., Ipswich, MA craneestateevents.co.