Boston Sailing Center

Five-day lesson plans with a fleet of 27-foot boats. Large enough to get a sense of sophisticated sailing, small enough for a novice to handle. 54 Lewis Wharf, Boston, MA .

John Henry Williams

Son John Henry Williams's bonehead plan to have Ted Williams cryogenically preserved after the Red Sox legend died last month.

Irving Fryar

Nice touch, the trunkful of weapons. Perhaps he was just frightened that the scab players he screamed at on the Sullivan Stadium picket line might plan some retribution.

Onyva

This Newbury newcomer offers an innovative membership plan that includes one de-matting treatment to start and then two deep cleanings and unlimited brush-and-go quick visits, nail trimmings, and teeth cleanings every month. 171 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, onyvadogspa.com.

Cafe Pamplona

Waiters in white shirts and black pants serve strong cafe con leche to an eclectic cast of regulars. 12 Bow St., Cambridge, MA 2138, .

The Hawthorne

This swanky spot in the Hotel Commonwealth combines the comforts of a hotel bar—plush chaise lounges, velvet armchairs—with the top-notch libations and luxurious snacks of a craft-cocktail den. Unwind with an Aperol-and-bourbon-laced "Paper Plane" and an order of the raclette-topped fingerling "potato skins," and you just might forget you're not sleeping upstairs. 500A Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA thehawthornebar.com.

General Cinema Fenway

It's expensive, it's crowded, and the lobby has as much charm as an airplane hangar. But then, you don't exactly go to a movie theater for the ambiance. You go to escape reality for a couple of hours, which Fenway's stadium-style auditoriums accomplish exquisitely. Pay your nine bucks, nestle into your personal Barcalounger, drink in the immensity of a 63-foot-wide screen, and soak in the explosions from a Sony Digital Dynamic Surround Sound system. You'll swear those fighter planes are bombing Kenmore. 201 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA .

Castle Island

What more could you want in a picnic spot? There's grass for the kids and animals, picnic tables, water surrounding you on all sides and a 2.1-mile exercise loop to work off your lunch. Want to picnic without packing? Swing by Sullivan's, a takeout eatery serving burgers, fries, seafood, and ice cream at the entrance to Castle Island. The kicker? Free entertainment in the form of planes roaring over the area seconds before they land at Logan. William J. Day Boulevard, South Boston, MA mass.gov/dcr/parks/metroboston/castle.htm.

Vince Martelli's plan to take a moth-balled aircraft carrier and transform it into a floating parking garage.

The Seven Sisters

Born-and-bred Vineyarder Ty Sinnett views her store not only as a shop but as a mission to support slow fashion and design. As such, the worldly goods on offer here are as thoughtfully sourced as they are gorgeous, from sustainably crafted hand towels to zero-waste hair accessories. After all, what’s a better gift than helping to preserve our planet? 19 Main St., Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, thesevensisters.co.

Sullivan's

Where Carson Beach and Fort Independence meet sits a summer shack that's been a Southie icon for 60 years. There you'll find plump, grilled Kayem franks topped with fixings and tucked into toasted-dry buns. Order a Sully's trifecta—dog, crinkle-cut fries, and soft-serv—then stroll around Castle Island digesting the rest of it: harbor breezes, descending Logan-bound planes, and a return to old-fashioned summer nights. 2080 William J Day Blvd., Boston, MA 2127, sullivanscastleisland.com.

Patricia Van Buskirk

Harvard-trained landscape architect Patricia Van Buskirk's vision turns so-so yards into perfectly planned outdoor havens. Case in point: a playground that appears to have sprouted straight from nature. Hingham, MA patriciavanbuskirk.com.

East Coast Grill

Sure, there's the bloody mary bar. But after a big night, the best plan may be to divert the pain from your temples to your tongue with the Hangover Cure from Hell: a plate of spicy sausage and roasted habaneros. 1271 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 2139, eastcoastgrill.net.

Freedberg of Boston

It's open only on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. You have to shop for winter in August and summer in February, But there's no better source for well-cut suits and pants in top-shelf wools, cottons, and linens. 112 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, MA .

Lisa DeCobert, Louis Boston

DeCorbet's girly chatter and down-to-earth approach is a welcome relief from the hard sell of many other makeup artists around town, so it's easy to regard her as a pal. But make no mistake. She can do what no other friend on the planet can: transform you from plain Jane into a smoldering starlet. Better still, she's not loyal to any one brand and has a penchant for mixing and matching from the specialty lines at her counter. 234 Berkeley St., Boston, MA louisboston.com.