The Regattabar
The only place in town to catch big-name out-of-town acts like Sonny Rollins, Cassandra Wilson, and Tito Puente. A front-row table here for Betty Carter or Christian McBride is one of the most intimate world-class jazz experiences around. Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Cambridge, MA .
The Middle East
Whether you're upstairs in the "Bakery" taking in the music while dining on hummus and falafel or downstairs grooving in the spacious club, you're in heaven at the Middle East. Its variety of musical acts make it the place to enjoy music from Boston—and beyond. 472-480 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Lucy Danger, Lindsay Griffin + Co.
Curly hair, flat hair, hair that parts how it wants: Known as the “connoisseur of bobs,” Lucy Danger specializes in creating face-framing cuts that accentuate her clients’ natural beauty. 106 Bristol Rd., Somerville, MA lindsaygriffin.com.
East Coast Toast English Muffins
After several disappearing acts, these terrific English muffins are back, but only in the plain flavor. If muffin mavens start demanding them, maybe the other flavors will make a comeback, too. Mrs. Kay's Cafe, The Atrium Mall, 300 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, MA .
The Yard Rock Cafe
That's right—with a Y. It's in Joe's Pub, across form the Quincy Shipyard's main gate, and its regulars describe it as an "excellent little hideaway," a "wicked great bar," and a nurturing setting for local blues acts. 132 East Howard Street, Quincy, MA .
Spit
Because you'll never be able to hear the nasty things you say to each other over the din. 13 Landsdowne St., Boston, MA .
Café Sushi
Here, you can have it all: delicate nigiri crafted from local and Japanese seafood; imaginative omakase with treats like raw octopus and monkfish-liver torchon; and, last but not least, plenty of reasonably priced maki (including a solid spicy tuna). Best of all, you won't part with a week's paycheck in the process. 1105 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, cafesushicambridge.com.
<em>The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon</em>
Talk about the Curse. Shortly after the book came out this spring, Gordon had his record consecutive-save streak snapped, then blew out his arm. As for King he got hit by a van on the road near his Maine home.
The Maids Home Services
The Maids didn't so much clean our apartment as unleash a hellfire of spic-and-span. Wearing vacuums on their backs and armed with motorized bottles (seriously), the housecleaners left no corner, crack, or crevice undusted, unscrubbed, or unwashed. They even tackled that war zone underneath the couch cushions. 179 Boylston St., Jamaica Plain, MA 2130, maids.com.
Sportello
The best part of a meal at this Italian-inspired diner? Watching the kitchen staffers work their magic from behind the counter. What to Order: The potato gnocchi with mushroom ragu, peas, and cream; fettuccine with shrimp, ramps, hen of the woods mushrooms, and Calabrian chili. 348 Congress St., Boston, MA sportelloboston.com.
Bia Bistro
Bia is a labor of love for owners Tristen and Brian Houlihan—and a setting for love for the rest of us. The food hits plenty of amour-inspiring notes with time-honored Mediterranean dishes such as mussels in saffron cream, bouillabaisse, and velvety tart Tatin. But it's the service—carefully timed and discreet—that ultimately sets the stage for an enchanting evening. 35 S. Main St., Cohasset, MA biabistro.com.
Jordan Hall at the New England Conservatory
This 1,019-seat hall, with its rich gilt-and-oak stage, is as intimate a medium-size hall as you'll find. Jordan Hall is surrounded, in part, by practice rooms, so a little wandering allows you to hear students playing everything from jazz trumpet to classical piano.
Date & Time
Elegant, modern ambiance and top-notch service define this aptly named jeweler, right down to the buttery lounge chairs (ideal for weary shopping companions) and soft lighting. Browse luxury timepieces and understated baubles from Messika and Pomellato, and be treated like a gem too: Our dented antique ring that cried out for resetting and embellishment was given the same care as a prized diamond. 5 Concord Rd., Sudbury, MA 01776, dateandtimema.com.
Whim Events
Natalie Pinney and Moira Thompson may have started their aptly named wedding-planning firm on a whim, but the dynamic duo is all business when it comes to coordinating and executing the details of their luxe celebrations. The business partners lend their design savvy and exceptional taste to all aspects of event production, dreaming up fairy-tale parties with elegant signage, Insta-worthy tablescapes, and killer floral arrangements. MA whimevents.com.
Gre.Co
This new counter-service spot on Newbury serves up everything you love about classic Greek street food, only with less grease than you might find at a cart. With well-done classics like avgolemono and fluffy pita wraps with a few thick-cut fries tucked in, owner Demetri Tsolakis has created an Olympus-worthy lunch spot. 225 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, grecoboston.com.