Pump House Surf Shop
Opened with the money earned from a dish-washing job by a guy who started surfing on the Cape when he was 5, the Pump House has surf attitude. All the salespeople surf, of course; most wear board shorts in the store, whose back wall is stacked with 100 boards ready to throw on top of the VW and take to the nearest beach, five minutes away. The Pump House also offers rentals, repairs, and lessons, and sells apparel, Frisbees, and the wetsuits that are standard gear for any true New England surfer. 9 Cranberry Highway (Rte. 6A), Orleans, MA pumphousesurf.com.
Beijing House Restaurant
Chef Kwok Cheng's specialties include most of the usual suspects (lemon chicken, Dragon and Phoenix, the ubiquitous Family Delight), but Beijing House is much more Chinatown than anonymous suburban strip mall. The spring rolls, always the first and surest sign of quality, arrive hot, crispy, full of meat (not yesterday's wilting bean sprouts), and almost greaseless. The lightly battered wedges of lemon chicken are unusually crisp, and the Beijing sesame shrimp could be the closest you'll get to Chinatown without having to take the Orange Line. 456 Washington St., Norwell, MA beijinghouserestaurant.com.
Mansion House Inn
Vineyard Haven may be a dry town, but you won't need any spirits to lift yours at the Mansion House Inn. The newly renovated inn has roof-deck views of tall ships and blue-gray waters, plus plasma TVs, an ultra-indulgent day spa, and gourmet breakfasts. But it also takes you back to the island of the 1800s with rooms cloaked in authentic period color patterns, archival photos in the halls, and a majestic wraparound porch. 9 Main St., Vineyard Haven, MA mvmansionhouse.com.
Morton's of Chicago Steak House
You've got to hand it to those Midwesterners: they have a way with red meat. 1 Exeter Plaza, Boston, MA .
Anthony's Pier Four
It's a shame the food isn't as good. 140 Northern Ave., Boston, MA .
Union Oyster House
Oysters on the half shell at the Union Oyster House, 41 Union St., Boston. Straight from the Cape, fresh daily. Stay at the raw bar ($2.95 for six); upstairs they cost more. 41 Union St., Boston, MA .
Parker's, in the Parker House
Besides the usual, this elegant establishment offers finnan haddie, pate, hearts of palm, lamb chops, veal Marsala, croissants, and live jazz harp music—all for $8.50. The two seatings, at 11:30 and 1:30, are usually booked by Wednesday, so make reservations early. 60 School St., Boston, MA .
Hilltop Steak House
Two of these will blot out the thundering herd. 855 Broadway, Saugus, MA .
Bike Tours of Cambridge
Novice bikers tend to get intimidated by drivers around here—and for good reason. But the gratis Bike Tours of Cambridge—led by the Cambridge Bicycle Committee and escorted by police—will put worried minds at ease. And where else but the People's Republic would you find themed treks covering everything from string theory to public art?
House Speaker George Keverian's
Whose typical response to a political thwarting is to retire to his office for a good long sulk. Will someone please tell George to grow up and take his lumps like a big boy.
Imperial Tea House
It's time to put the Imperial into the Hall of Fame. 76 Beach St., Boston, MA .
The Banks Fish House
This souped-up spin on a classic succeeds thanks to its middle-of-the-road thickness, a bit of elegance (and flavor contrast) from the bright-green chive oil, and the sheer amount of clams and pork belly. The double-carb side — oyster crackers and a tasty little dinner bun — doesn’t hurt. 406 Stuart St., Back Bay, MA 02116, thebanksboston.com.
Abbicci
At first, we were hopelessly distracted by the eye candy, as Abbicci's exotic-looking French and Peruvian servers floated by sensuously to a soft instrumental soundtrack. Once the food arrived, though, our gazes were fully focused on the Mediterranean-inspired plates before us: scallion-and-pistachio-stuffed Peppadews, scotch-glazed squad, and pan-seared pork loin with sweet and sour pepperonata. Owner Marietta Bombardieri fiercely edits her wine list to match her menu. As for other types of matchmaking, you're on your own. 43 Main St. (Rte. 6A), Yarmouth Port, MA abbicci.com.
Broadway Bicycle School
"If you want something done right, do it yourself" is a nifty aphorism, but it's also true that we could all use a little help sometimes. The versatile grease monkeys at this bike co-op offer options for all levels of hands-on experience. Stand-and-tool rental runs $9 per hour, an unflappable mechanic to talk you through your repair costs $18 per hour, and if you just can't be bothered, they'll tune your ride to perfection at reasonable rates. If you really want to get your fingernails dirty, the school offers classes in repair and wheel building. 351 Broadway, Cambridge, MA broadwaybicycleschool.com.