Kussin's: The Children's Shop
Kids need clothes for myriad occasions, from mud-puddle play dates to indoor, seen-but-not-heard affairs. Kussin's sells outfits for them all. With rugged Timberland jeans, Joan Calabrese tulle confections, Lilly Pulitzer sundresses, junior flight jackets, and seersucker suits, Kussin's actually makes shopping with little ones fun (we promise). 79 Main St., Concord, MA .
Tower Records
One thousand publications await you, from audiovisual, business, and gay culture to photo, food, and fashion (in French and Italian), trains, travel, and woodworking. There's also a small but good selection of bestsellers and paperbacks; some are even discounted. You can browse to your heart's content, undisturbed, with plenty of room and good music. Hard to leave, and you can't do it empty-handed. 360 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Credit Barnicle with this one too. In a column that outed Joe Kennedy and taunted then state senator George Bachrach, Kennedy's closest rival for Tip O'Neill's Eighth Congressional seat, Barnicle had this to say: "You can always tell Bachrach voters. They go to the Out-of-Town Newsstand in Harvard Square and ask Eddie Doyle, Are Pravda and Le Monde in yet?"
Hangar B Eatery
Enter this unassuming restaurant inside the tiny Chatham Municipal Airport, and questions abound: Should I order the croissant breakfast sandwich or the poached eggs with beet-and-sweet-potato hash? Is it appropriate to spoon the house-made blackberry-lemon jam directly into my mouth? Whatever you end up choosing (or spooning), one thing’s for certain: Chef Brian Erskine’s interesting and infinitely satisfying dishes take brunch to new heights. 240 George Ryder Rd., Chatham, MA 2633, hangarbcapecod.com.
Bloomingdale's
Outfitting your postmarital life is no small feat, so finding everything you need in one place and getting sage advice certainly helps. Bloomie's consultants deftly provide estimates and mix-and-match services to help you build a highly personalized wish list. Table setups let you see just how that Waterford looks with the Villeroy & Boch flatware, and if you decide you want the Baccarat instead, swaps are a cinch. 225 Boylston St., Newton, MA 2467, bloomingdales.com.
Vera Wang
Envisioning the perfect wedding-day attire is one thing — actually finding it is another. Enter Vera Wang's sleek Newbury Street location, which showcases a variety of the designer's impeccably crafted gowns organized smartly by material, style, and color. Whether you're imagining an ethereal ball gown, a demure lace number, or a sculptural modern masterpiece, you're sure to find it here. 73 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Tables of Content Catering
Mediocre meals are a mainstay at weddings: As long as it's edible, goes the conventional wisdom, no one will complain. That doesn't fly with Stephen Barck, chef and co-owner of Tables of Content. He wants every morsel to be memorable in both flavor and presentation. After a private tasting at the outlet's new Roslindale facility, you won't want to work with anyone else. 2 McCraw St., Roslindale, MA tablesofcontent.com.
Shreve, Crump & Low
Here today, here a decade ago, here when (odds are) you were still a glint in Daddy's eye—Shreve's diamond counter is one institution that has stood the test of time, and flawlessly. Quiz the professional, enthusiastic staff on the finer points of purchasing diamonds (we put them through the ringer for more than 45 minutes) and peruse the varied selection, from solitaires to princess-cut stones. Browse or buy to your heart's content; the stones and service are rock-solid. 330 Boylston St., Boston, MA shrevecrumpandlow.com.
Ana Hernandez
A well-tailored $5,000 wedding dress is one thing; an actual couture gown is quite another. Hernandez has built her considerable reputation on the latter, starting with sketches and "test garments" before she tackles the real deal. It pays off: Meticulously crafted in opulent silks and laces, her finished creations flatter every curve. 165 Newbury St., Boston, MA anahernandezbridalsalon.com.
Bloomingdale's
Outfitting your postmarital life is no small feat, so finding everything you need in one place and getting sage advice certainly helps. Bloomie's consultants deftly provide estimates and mix-and-match services to help you build a highly personalized wish list. Table setups let you see just how that Waterford looks with the Villeroy & Boch flatware, and if you decide you want the Baccarat instead, swaps are a cinch. 225 Boylston St., Newton, MA 2467, bloomingdales.com.
Grill 23
The better story would have been that finally, in this, the year of the cow, one among the city's numerous new upscale meateries had managed to dethrone our 14-time of Boston stalwart. Nothing doing. Mooo inherited the Federalist's matchless wine list. KO Prime has the offal around. But for a prime, dry-aged rib-eye with a power client (downstairs) or a significant other (the more intimate upstairs), Grill 23 still rules the herd. 161 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 2116, grill23.com.
Harbor View Hotel and Resort
You could camp out on the wraparound porch and have an amazing time at the Harbor View, what with the postcard view of the Edgartown lighthouse. But thankfully, they've got the goods inside, too: boutique-style rooms with balconies, a private marina with a fleet of charter boats, a heated pool, kids' programs, and Henry's, one of the best bars on the Vineyard. 131 N. Water St., Edgartown, MA 2539, harbor-view.com.
Straight Wharf Restaurant
The Straight Wharf remains one of Nantucket's toughest reservations. Perhaps guests know that the celebrity contingent (regulars include Brian Williams) might be on hand. But we're guessing it has more to do with the food—standouts like halibut chowder sprinkled with house-made bacon, and a clam bake featuring lobster and chorizo over corn and littlenecks. 6 Harbor Sq., Nantucket, MA 2554, straightwharfrestaurant.com.
Hingham
It's actually two markets in one: On Wednesdays you'll find goods by the town clock in Hingham Square, while on Saturdays the vendors set up shop at Hingham Bathing Beach. Either way, South Shore denizens stream in for the colorful array of produce, meats, and seafood from stands like Weir River Farm, Great Cape Bakery, River Rock Farm, and more. Saturdays May through November, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Hingham Bathing Beach; Wednesdays June through October, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in Hingham Square, Hingham, MA hinghamfarmersmarket.org.
The Grog
Temple to haute cuisine and artisanal cocktails it's not. But if what you crave is a frosty IPA, good-humored barkeeps, and feisty locals who aren't afraid to rock an open mike, there's no better spot to toss one back than the Grog. Weekends bring live music from reggae to blues, and occasional events with craft brewers keep beer geeks satiated. 13 Middle St., Newburyport, MA 1950, thegrog.com.