Kitchen Arts
A good sharp knife makes the difference between sawing through cooking chores and slicing through them. Don't get sucked into the manufacturer's preselected set of top quality knives. Kitchen Arts discounts all the top brands (up to 30 percent off three or more knives). Best prices around for Wusthof, the BMW of cutlery. Knowledgeable salespeople help you assemble your at-home arsenal. 161 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Bob Smith Sporting Goods
Just because it's not the biggest doesn't mean it's not the best. Anyone who shells out $1,000 for skis, boots, poles, and the attendant paraphernalia might want to come back for adjustments or advice—and at Bob Smith you can. The helpful salespeople won't give you the hard sell, but will listen attentively when you describe your skiing needs and what type of skier you are. 9 Spring Lane, Boston, MA .
The Globe Corner Bookstore
Although the Globe Corner Bookstore no longer shares space with the home of Anne Hutchinson at Downtown Crossing, the remaining Cambridge and Boston stores will ably meet your escapist needs. Their comprehensive selection of travel books and mas can aid the adventurous on an exploration of everything from the Freedom Trail to the White Mountains to rural Mongolia. They also offer a decent selection of antique maps if there's a cartophile on your gift list. 28 Church St., Cambridge, MA .
The Barn
The Barn's motto is It's Hard to Find a Better Buy in Shoes. We'd add that it's hard to find The Barn, hidden as it is behind a Citgo station off Washington Street. But when you do, you've found the Holy Grail: high-quality children's shoes, from little Keds to soccer cleats, experienced fitters, and discount prices. Also, lots of sports gear—bike helmets, lacrosse sticks, and backpacks. Adults will appreciate the grownups' selection of athletic shoes as well. 25 Kempton Place, Newton, MA .
The Frame Gallery
Who better to create a home for your beloved artwork than the team that’s framed masterpieces for the MFA and the Gardner Museum? For almost four decades, the Frame Gallery has been putting paintings, photographs, and even sports memorabilia in everything from shadow boxes to custom gold-leafed masterpieces that are works of art in their own right. Plus, they can give that antique Victorian frame passed down through your family for generations a little TLC, too. 357 Boylston St., Brookline, MA 02445, theframegalleryboston.com.
Injeanius
Navigating the designer-jeans maze has never been more fun or flattering, thanks to Alison Barnard O’Brien’s denim bar and style lounge, which moved into its permanent Seaport home a year ago. From Agolde to Moussy to AG, you’ll find all of the premium jean brands here — plus luxe cashmere, chic tops, accessories, and more, all handpicked for optimal sustainability and style. 70 Pier 4 Blvd., Boston, MA 02210, injeanius.com.
Fig.a
Shops, like people, are most interesting when they have a strong point of view — and that’s definitely the case at this pretty Hingham boutique dedicated to all things lifestyle. From workout gear to outerwear to home goods, everything here is imbued with a chic, minimalist aesthetic. Owner Aja Amontea also makes it a point to source brands dedicated to sustainability, meaning shopping here will not only make you look and feel good, it’ll also help you do good. 102 North St., Hingham, MA 02043, fig-a.com.
SunBug Solar
You’re in good hands with these solar specialists, widely considered the go-tos by homeowners in the biz. Their estimates and proposals are free; they handle all permitting; and they’re quick, with most installations completed in three months. Of course, their service skills shine, too: When we called for help, they immediately pulled up a radar image of our home and chatted patiently about an unwieldy tree and the pros and cons of a new roof. sunbugsolar.com.
Franklin Cafe
In a town that goes to bed early, it's nice to know there's still a place where insomniacs can get a decent bite to eat. The Franklin Café, with its candlelit tables and always-packed bar, is that place, serving up a gourmet menu until 1:30 a.m. every day—even in the late hours of a deserted Sunday night. And this is not your ordinary bar food: Chef Steve Ryan serves up sophisticated fare such as garlic grilled calamari with pesto and an unbeatable spicy black pepper—seared tuna. Steak lovers can get their fix here, too—one taste of the bone-in beef tenderloin with garlicky spinach and even the most die-hard night owl will sleep well. 278 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA franklincafe.com.
Select Oyster Bar
Nineteenth-century urban planning may have transformed an ocean inlet into the Back Bay neighborhood, but about 150 years later, inspired chef Michael Serpa is still filling it with (fabulous) Mediterranean-inspired fish: sea bream, whole-roasted and sauced with parsley, mint, and oregano; swordfish with champagne mango and rose harissa; and salmon crudo augmenting towers of oysters and crab salad. A whip-smart wine list—including a nice pool of reds—pays equal attention to terroir. 50 Gloucester St., Boston, MA selectboston.com.
Idle Hour
It’s great fun whiling away a night with friends at this charmingly quirky Quincy newcomer. Sip on a well-curated lineup of craft beers and creative cocktails—such as the Count Dracula, smoky mezcal with Campari, raspberry cacao, and mole bitters—while sharing bites of chef Ashley Gaboriault’s globally inspired comfort food: say, a crispy fried-chicken sandwich topped with kimchi, and not-quite-mozzarella sticks stuffed with Cajun risotto. idlehourquincy.com.
Fini Concierge
The perpetually overwhelmed will find relief in the care of the errand-vanquishing team at Fini. Need your car detailed, your trip to Reykjavik arranged, and the cable guy dealt with, but have more pressing things eating up your day? Hoping to deck out your stoop with the neighborhood’s spookiest Halloween decorations but don’t have the time (or the eye for artificial cobwebs)? The pros at Fini, who’ve been doing this for 15 years now, have your back. 665 Beacon St., Boston, MA finiconcierge.com.
The Urban Grape
Husband-and-wife team TJ and Hadley Douglas wrote the book (literally) on Progressive Shelving, their innovative, palate-broadening system that organizes wines by body rather than region or grape. The shop’s whole culture, really, is forward-thinking—see: its Clink Progressively education series, which hosted a virtual Juneteenth panel about issues facing Black winemakers, or its new Wine Studies Award for Students of Color, which will send ambitious oenophiles through wine school and connect them to paid internships. 303 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA 02116, theurbangrape.com.
Achieve Fitness (@AchieveFitnessBoston)
Rather than fill your Instagram feed with impossible-to-achieve abs and “detoxifying” weight-loss teas, why not fill it with news you can actually use in the gym or at home? Somerville gym Achieve Fitness’s social community of almost 500,000 followers get valuable advice on living a healthy lifestyle. And if you still have questions, they’ll answer them via their story for the benefit of all. 42 Merriam St., Somerville, MA achievefitnessboston.com.
Gustazo
Just off the north side of Moody Street, Waltham’s restaurant row, sits this slice of Havana heaven. During the Cuban eatery’s bustling brunch, crêpes stuffed with slow-roasted pork are washed down with guava-mint mimosas and other hairs of particularly delightful dogs. The Spanish Colonial–inspired digs sport artsy Cuban movie posters, overhead mambo beats lend as much pep as the fresh-brewed Umbria coffee, and warm servers make this hacienda a home. 663 Main St., Waltham, MA 02451, gustazo-cubancafe.com.