Bistro Zinc
High on arts, low on nightlife, Western Mass. was never known for its cocktail scene. At least, not until Zinc arrived. Every night, Berkshire sophisticates and tourists mingle beneath a dented tin ceiling at the polished zinc bar for after-(insert-cultural-activity-here) drinks, choosing from among 10 martinis, 10 signature cocktails, and 14 wines by the glass. 56 Church St., Lenox, MA 2140, bistrozinc.com.
Coolidge Corner Theatre
The sad fact is that big corporate multiplexes show big corporate movies. Truly, you are what you screen. Which makes Brookline's Coolidge Corner Theatre an art-house jewel among the plastic giants. This 75-year-old, not-for-profit space boasts a classy schedule of documentary, international, and independent movies. The Coolidge also keeps a hand in the community by hosting readings, live performances, and film festivals. 290 Harvard St., Brookline, MA coolidge.org.
Kendall Square Cinema
Enjoying the artistry of independent cinema doesn't have to mean enduring drafty old theaters. The Kendall Square is as state-of-the-art as any megaplex, but with niche amenities like baked goodies from Dancing Deer Baking Company and green tea. Sure, the tickets and concessions are a little pricey, but inside the nine intimate Dolby Digital Surround EX theaters, the seats are comfy and come equipped with cup holders. Cheap parking and a convenient shuttle from the MIT-Kendall Square T stop make getting there a cinch. One Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA landmarktheatres.com/market/boston/kendallsquarecinema.htm.
Coolidge Corner Theatre
This Brookline landmark sure knows how to draw 'em in. While other art houses are content dishing out classics, these guys go right for the guts, with events like Annie Sprinkle's Herstory of Porn: Rell to Real, Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Animation Festival, the New England Film & Video Festival, and even a summer jazz series. They've got a new lease under negotiation, a new spirit, and a fresh pot of coffee brewing for late-night shows. 299 Harvard St., Brookline, MA .
Coolidge Corner Theatre
Since 1933, this not-for-profit theater has boasted a diverse schedule of international and independent movies and documentaries. Modern indie films; broadcasts from London's National Theatre and Europe's grand operas; big-screen classics; midnight cult films and sing-alongs; and weekend variety shows for the kids—it's all here in an art deco theater with retro appeal. The Coolidge also keeps a hand in the community by hosting readings, live performances, and film festivals. 290 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 2446, coolidge.org.
Somerville Car Wash and Detail Center
You care about your car. Somerville Car Wash and Detail Center does, too. With tons of affordable options, from hand wheel-polishing to an odor-control treatment (we’re looking at you, pet owners), this is the perfect place to get your ride looking like new. Bonus: The guys here are so well trained in the art of customer service that you’ll never feel judged, no matter how dirty your car was when you pulled up. 680 Somerville Ave., Somerville, MA 2143, seeyoushine.com.
Backbar
Discerning boozehounds have long since perfected the art of snaking into this legitimately industrial hideaway, but Backbar’s drink artistry also extends to its deceptively potent non-alcoholic offerings. The unexpected-in-one-glass flavors are what pack a punch. An "avocado piña colada" is at once hot and cold, with familiar coconut milk and pineapple spiked with throat-warming curry and unctuous avocado. A fennel-saffron " absinthe lemonade without any absinthe" is a brighter, more brilliant spin on Death in the Afternoon—without, you know, the impending death. 7 Sanborn Ct., Somerville, MA 2143, backbarunion.com.
Bricco Panetteria
The rustic mite loaves and prosciutto-and-Parmesan-studded ciabattas at this North End bakery, located down an alley off Hanover Street, are a reminder that bread-baking is not only a precise science, but also an art form. Across from the bakery you’ll find Bricco’s new salumeria and pasta shop, which offers another must-have: hearty, spongy focaccia topped with everything from artichokes to arugula. 241 Hanover St., Boston, MA 2113, bricco.com/panetteria.
Bella Sante
Unlike the various do-everything McSpas around town, Bella Sante succeeds with a focused approach: extremely well-trained aestheticians; European-made products; a clean, comfortable space; and a changing slate of seasonal treatments. The friendly, unobtrusive staff excels in the art of paying attention, and will have you blissfully self-absorbed (what meetings? what kids?) in no time. 38 Newbury St., Boston, MA bellasante.com.
The Centerpiece Flower Shop
Nothing cheers up a space like a gorgeous bouquet of fresh flowers. And these days, no one’s spreading more flower-powered joy than ángel Diaz. With an eye for design, the Venezuela native and owner of the Centerpiece Flower Shop — founded in 2020 — uses seasonal blooms and greenery to create artful arrangements bursting with color and texture. Bonus points for his monthly subscription service, which promises mood-boosting handtied bouquets delivered on your date of choice. 2051 Centre St., West Roxbury, MA 02132, thecenterpieceflowershop.com.
Michele Mercaldo Jewelry
Michele Mercaldo must have aced geometry — after all, this jewelry artist can sculpt the perfect rectangle and circle like no other. A MassArt alum, Mercaldo has devoted the past 30 years to creating ruby rings, brown-diamond necklaces, and prehnite druzy cufflinks, to name just a few. Browse the cases at her sparkling Shawmut Avenue studio, or make an appointment to have her custom-design something just for you in whatever shape you dream of. 276 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA 02118, michelemercaldojewelry.com.
Big Night Live
THE SCENE: The Hub on Causeway’s nightlife destination boasts state-of-the-art LEDs and luxe trappings — and not just for VIPs (did someone say champagne bottle service?). THE LINEUP: Globetrotting DJs like Steve Aoki and Slander, plus an eclectic menagerie of big names in pop-punk, death metal, old- and new-school rap, and everything in between. 110 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02114, bignightlive.com.
Peabody Essex Museum
For any Bostonian in search of beauty during a year of social isolation, the PEM’s fresh, eclectic slate of programming was well worth the trip up north. A survey of women who revolutionized fashion stood beside documentarian Peter Hutton’s film of a globetrotting container ship’s journey from construction to junkyard. Meanwhile, painter Jacob Lawrence’s landmark series The American Struggle shared a building with Indian street art, Zarah Hussain’s sound-and-animation exhibit detailing human breath, and Alexis Rockman’s collection of hyperreal paintings of famous shipwrecks. 161 Essex St., Salem, MA 01970, pem.org.
A Good Yarn
No matter what project they've got in mind, people with the gumption to make something themselves all need to start from the same place: that is, surrounded by the best materials. A Good Yarn stuffs quality supplies into every nook and cranny of its tiny Brookline Village store, enticing knit-wits with yarns in a wide spectrum of colors and weights (from baby to bulky to super bulky and beyond) by brands like Art Yarns and Colinette. The experts behind the counter can explain a tough pattern or point out the right needles or hooks for the job, and the store schedules classes for knitters at every level. 4 Station St., Brookline, MA 2445, agoodyarn.biz.
Vizio Optic
Galina Rabkin can't stand a smudged lens any more than she can abide a crooked frame. The petite Russian-born optometrist is a perfectionist through and through, and she's arranged her spare Brookline Village boutique accordingly: Polished specs by Chanel, Prada, Face à Face, and the cleverly kooky XIT decorate the backlit walls and fill the neat wood-and-glass cases. Behind the scenes, her spotless exam room and state-of-the-art vision equipment are organized and unintimidating. And should Vizio not have your preferred pair, Rabkin will go to great lengths to order or import them. 11 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 2445, viziooptic.com.