The Globe Corner Bookstore
Although the Globe Corner Bookstore no longer shares space with the home of Anne Hutchinson at Downtown Crossing, the remaining Cambridge and Boston stores will ably meet your escapist needs. Their comprehensive selection of travel books and mas can aid the adventurous on an exploration of everything from the Freedom Trail to the White Mountains to rural Mongolia. They also offer a decent selection of antique maps if there's a cartophile on your gift list. 28 Church St., Cambridge, MA .
Wet Paint Nail Spa
Wet Paint Nail Spa This eco-friendly, health-obsessed nail salon does things a little bit differently—for starters, you won't find your favorite OPI and Essie shades on offer (too many chemicals). What you do get: highly trained technicians; a bright, supremely clean atmosphere; and a fine selection of carcinogen-free polishes that can be combined to create custom hues dutifully recorded for your next visit. 143 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA wetpaintnailspa.com.
Trefler's
It's unfair to call the artists at Trefler's mere restorers. In fact, they are museum-level art conservators who perform miracles on ancient porcelain, paintings, antique furnishings, gilded frames, and books. These artisans will rescue your First Period blanket chest from the ravages of time, or save you much heartacheif a careless elbow sends your Ming dynasty vase tumbling. 29 Tower Rd., Newton, MA trefler.com.
Vetcall
Anyone who's ever tried to cram a hissing cat or a yelping dog into a pet carrier knows that a trip to the vet is the worst day of your furry friend's year. So spare everyone the ordeal and ring up Vetcall's Jake Tedaldi, a Harvard- and Tufts-trained DVM who'll examine Fluffy in your home and take care of vaccines on the spot. 304 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2115, vetcall.com.
Bricco Panetteria
Photo by Jesse Burke Start by following the simple sign pointing down a back alley off Hanover Street, then let your nose take you the rest of the way. Bricco Panetteria is where many of the Italian loaves served in local restaurants are made, and lucky for us, the olive ciabattas, crusty baguettes, and round mountain loaves are now sold to the public. Brush up on your Italian and bring cash. 241 Hanover St., Boston, MA bricco.com.
East by Northeast
Known for applying his French training to Chinese cuisine, chef Phillip Tang makes his phenomenal noodles in house, and infuses his inventive menu with seasonal bites like pork-and-fiddlehead shumai and steamed hake with house-cured prosciutto. Yet East by Northeast remains an intimate, friendly place with rock-bottom prices, a pleasing culinary package that's rounded out by a fine brunch, a small but well-chosen wine and beer list, and special events like a recent lamb tasting menu. 1128 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 2139, exnecambridge.com.
The Hawthorne
Enjoy hosting your friends in your über-cool city apartment while mixing up painstakingly hand-swizzled drinks? Going to the Hawthorne is a lot like that, with a built-in cleanup crew and a better bartender (no offense). This place is as persnickety about its elixirs as any cocktail bar in the country, but exudes a refreshing "Come in, let us make you happy" attitude. 500 A Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, thehawthornebar.com.
Menton
So many spots that boast great service smother you with attention, inserting themselves into your dinner conversation at every turn. Not Menton, where service isn't so much about delivering as it is about mind-reading—knowing the precise moment to whisk away an empty champagne flute, produce a fresh napkin, or appear with a few more brioche toasts for your foie gras—and then vanish. 354 Congress St., Boston, MA 2210, mentonboston.com.
No. 9 Park
Chalk it up to the anticipation of an unforgettable meal, the warm reception proffered at the host stand, or maybe just the impact of that briskly shaken craft cocktail in your hand. Whatever the reason, there's something so magical about No. 9 that your date suddenly seems to have gotten infinitely more attractive. And just wait till you try what Barbara Lynch's kitchen has created that day, be it sturgeon with pork belly en papillote, or a chocolate cream tart with saffron and grapefruit—two spoons, of course. 9 Park St., Boston, MA 2108, no9park.com.
Stone Soup Caf
It's barely noon and hungry lunchers slurping down soups already fill this bright and homey Ipswich café. Whether it's curried butternut squash, spicy black bean, or ripe tomato that strikes your fancy, every one is made from farm-fresh ingredients—and it shows. If you're particularly hungry, pair your bowl with a veggie-stuffed wrap or seared scallops over pasta, or just go with a second helping of that creamy lobster bisque. Zero Central St., Ipswich, MA 1938, .
Vinny's at Night
Word about its low-priced, generously portioned Sicilian fare got out a while ago, but dinner at this no-longer-hidden gem in East Somerville still makes you feel you're in on a well-kept secret. It could be because the no-frills dining room is set up in the back half of a corner store, where the handmade mafalda noodles are magnificent. Once you've feasted at Vinny's, you won't be able to resist boasting to all your foodie friends about your find. 76 Broadway, Somerville, MA vinnysatnight.com.
India Palace
The staff at India Palace is so friendly the locals and the waiters are on a first-name basis. But it's the food that keeps people coming back—delicately spiced tandooris, coriander-infused tomato soup, and the tandoor-baked naan. The ($6.95!) lunch buffet is like a trip to Hindi heaven. By the time you're nibbling your fennel seeds, you're already planning your return trip. 23 Union Square, Somerville, MA indiapalacesomerville.info.
Harvard Gardens
A bit loungey, a tad yuppie, Harvard Gardens is an ideal place to meet your dress-casual mate. The bar is crowded from Wednesday to Saturday, but the low lighting and comfy booths make the setting conducive to storing digits in your cell or just having a light getting-to-know-you conversation. Mostly for the 20s-to-30s set, this spot is especially popular on Thursdays, when you'll have ample opportunity to pitch the perfect pickup line. 316 Cambridge St., Boston, MA harvardgardens.com.
Party Favors
Party accessories may be this Coolidge Corner's true raison d'être, but the candy selection alone is worth a celebration. Bins of chocolate-covered Jordan almonds, Haribo gummy bears and sour fruits, and pound upon pound of Jelly Belly jellybeans are enough to sweeten any outlook. Small bags of chocolates wrapped in whimsical foil or Sour Patch Kids for around $1 are the kind of indulgences that still fall within a kid's (or parent's) budget. Don't bypass the chocolate case filled with Asher's Champagne truffles. 1356 Beacon St., Coolidge Corner, Brookline, MA partyfavorsbrookline.com.
Clio
Among Boston's power-breakfast set, Ken Oringer's otherwise high-profile restaurant (and the chef's own 'baby') has mostly remained a close-kept secret. Exquisitely mannered servers glide through the elegant dining room, quick with the coffee and sparing with the interruptions. The only risk is that the caviar scrambled eggs, banana galettes, and fresh-baked zucchini bread might have you paying more attention to your plate than to your breakfast companion. 370 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, cliorestaurant.com.