Natick Mall
Designer boutiques such as Louis Vuitton and Burberry. A recently opened Wegmans grocery store right inside the mall. Even an upcoming brick-and-mortar outpost of the locally grown home-goods website Wayfair: This mall takes the traditional suburban shopping experience and kicks it up a few notches. natickmall.com.
Solera
Who says the best things in life aren’t free? Situated on a charming brick patio, Solera offers complimentary wine tastings every Saturday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. Discerning drinkers can even solicit Solera’s vino experts to host a tasting at home. 16 Birch St., Boston, MA 02131, solerashrinetowine.com.
Local Root
Aspiring home chefs should forgo the big-box stores and their cheap gadgetry for Local Root, where owner Jonathan Henke, of Didriks fame, brings his sophisticated eye to everything cookware, proffering serious tools from the world’s best brands (Berti knives, Le Creuset sauciers). 221 Concord Ave., Cambridge; and 2284 Washington St., Newton, localroot.com.
Hudson
This charming Wellesley home store is dedicated to casual-elegant living. Vintage handpainted signs seamlessly mix with mirrored cabinets; brindle cowhides share space with woven ticking-stripe rugs. All of the goods are hand-selected by owner Jill Goldberg, who also offers interior design services. 61 Central St., Wellesley, MA 2482, .
Luxlash
This tiny beauty oasis focuses solely on the eyes—reassuring when it comes to the fastidious work of lash extensions. Combining patience and precision, the LuxLash pros will fill out your fringe with semipermanent synthetic lashes or your choice of colored and exotic styles. The result? A come-hither look that'll have everyone aflutter. 232 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, luxlash.com.
Jaipur Cafe
It's worth the trek to the 'burbs to try this Indian food influenced by various regions of India. The Cafe's tandoor specials include marinated whole fish and chicken burra kabab (marinated in a ginger, yogurt, and saffron sauce), and are consistently as good as their more traditional fare like the chicken tikka masala and vegetarian dishes. Galleria by the Green, 500 Providence Highway, Route 1, Norwood, MA .
The Spa at Chatham Bars Inn
The massages here will put you into the I've-just-been-kneaded-to-the-point-of-blissed-out-distraction state that you were hoping for. But that's just the beginning. Take a dip in the hot tub, and dawdle in the sauna and the steam showers après rubdown. You'll return to the real world radiating calm. 297 Shore Rd., Chatham, MA chathambarsinn.com.
Urban Elements
Decor-savvy denizens of the North Shore come to this eco-minded boutique for home furnishings and accessories. Larger stores generally sell pieces made abroad, but much of what you'll find here is American-made, well built, and reasonably priced. 20 Pleasant St., Newburyport, MA urbanelementshome.com.
Community Servings
This charity gives non-cooks and harried cooks—the only two kinds during the holidays—perfect endings to Thanksgiving dinner: pumpkin, apple, or sweet potato-pie, from the kitchens of Julia Child, Jody Adams, Tony Ambrose, and dozens more. Proceeds benefit home-bound AIDS patients. 125 Magazine St., Roxbury, MA .
Sargent Summer
A citywide celebration of the art of John Singer Sargent—at the Museum of Fine Arts, the Fogg Art Museum, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Boston Public Library—provides a rare chance to see the complete picture of this fascinating fin-de-siècle expatriate artists who considered Boston his American home.
Bill Weld
Redhead is no Reagan republican, but his work habits are reminiscent of the Gipper. Regular squash games, Grateful Dead concerts, and a generally drowsy appearance suggest that Bill might be happier at home playing Nintendo. However, rumor that a 30-hour workweek will be a major plank of his campaign is apparently unfounded.
Generation X, Thursday nights only, at Quest
Stupid name, but otherwise the hot scene for the postcollege sub-boomer. Three levels of dancing, plus a roof deck where attractive waitrons serve sundaes, hot dogs, and other patio food. Up there you can actually hold a conversation. 1270 Boylston Street, Boston, MA .
Niche Urban Garden Supply
Even if your home garden is a window box of salad greens, Niche is your local source for the seeds, planters, and garden tools that you’ll need to keep them thriving. 619 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02118, nicheboston.com.
Neptune Oyster
This North End gem trumps even North Shore clam shacks with its pristine, local whole-bellies; nonpareil crunch, courtesy of expert batter-frying; and exceptional tartar sauce. 63 Salem Street, Boston, MA 2113, neptuneoyster.com.
Grettaluxe
Chloe! Jimmy! Marc! The gang's all here. When choosing the clutches and everyday bags that fill her two shops, Gretchen Monahan shows a killer instinct for homing in on fashion's coolest kids. Westin Copley Place, Boston, MA grettaluxe.com.