New England Soup Factory
At least four different seasonal soups made form scratch every day, as well as chili, chowder, triple—strength chicken vegetable soup, and a range of appealing salads make this a popular destination among Brookline's lunch seekers. We loved the root vegetable for gloomy days, the chilled wild berry for sunny ones. A perfect takeout idea for dinner when packed to travel. And their Soup-o-Gram is just the ticket for friends who are under the weather. 2-4 Brookline Place, Brookline, MA .
Rumor
Step into Rumor on a Saturday night—assuming you can get in at all—and enter a world where women dance on platforms, curtains billow from the ceiling, and DJs seamlessly mix Shakira, Kanye, and the Black Sheep. VIPs frequent the club's exclusive Latin Room, while a diverse crowd of scantily dressed youngsters shake it on the main hip-hop and house floor until 2 a.m. Short of hopping a flight to Miami, this is as close as a Bostonian can get to South Beach hedonism. 100 Warrenton St., Boston, MA 2116, rumorboston.com.
Papas Fritas
Many starry-eyed bands crawl up from the primordial soup of Somerville, but few are chosen. On the trio's latest Minty Fresh release, Helioself Papas Fritas consistently transcends the merely catchy to achieve solid Beatles-reminiscent pop you don't mind having stuck in your head all day. Papas Fritas has arrived.
The Computer Museum
Now you can double-click before you buy. On June 29, this museum opened a wonderful gallery that houses 14 terminals, all of which have access to 50 unabridged CD-ROM titles for children, plus plenty of additional recommendations. Families can peruse all the latest software for kids 2 to 12 years old for as long as they like. The excellent selection is the work of author-experts Cathy Miranker and Alison Elliot. 300 Congress Street, Boston, MA .
When toungue-tied former state representative Roger "Sparky" Goyette turned in his long-awaited 65-page report on the "marine biota," on April 1, 1988. Sparky, a former mechanic, has been hired at $30,000 a year by the House to research the environmental "project" after New Bedford voters threw him out at the polls.
Billie Brenner
A veritable font of bath-related knowledge, Billie Brenner has been in the high-end fixture business for 40-some years, and today presides over her Design Center showroom with her daughter, Robin. They carry every European line worth floating over the Atlantic, including Lulu, Belle de Jour, and Jado, and have exclusive dibs on several boutique U.S. brands. 1 Design Center Place Suite 429, Boston, MA 2210, .
Coelho Contracting
In slightly less than a decade in business, Emanuel Coelho's firm has painted hundreds of houses around Boston. The secret of its success boils down to that magical combination rarely seen in contractors: top-quality workmanship—backed by a five-year, no-chip warranty—and a rate that leaves clients with a little extra cash for other home-improvement projects. 14 William St., Medford, MA 2155, .
La Petite Maison
Bastion of awe-inspiring seaside houses that it is, the South Shore is flush with well-stocked home shops. Among that crop, the undisputed attention-getter is the nine-year-old La Petite Maison, brimming with French-inspired panache. Its trove of sumptuous Yves Delorme bedding, Matouk towels, eye-catching Juliska glassware, and vintage silver and porcelain is unparalleled in making the interiors of local oceanfront manses as fabulous as their views. 142 North St., Hingham, MA 2043, .
The Spa at Chatham Bars Inn
No need to forfeit the Cape’s sea breeze when you unwind with a treatment at the Chatham Bars Inn’s spa: Surrounded by nature and the salty air from the ocean less than a quarter-mile away, its private outdoor cabanas are the perfect spot to unwind with a bliss-inducing deep-tissue CBD massage. If you’re looking to make relaxation the full focus of your Cape getaway, book one of the hotel’s spa suites (in-room soaking tub, sauna, and steam shower included). 297 Shore Rd., Chatham, MA 02633, chathambarsinn.com.
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club
After a long drive across the bridge, sometimes all you want is to sit back, relax, and not touch your car keys again for the weekend. That’s possible at Ocean Edge, where guests at the Mansion have access to the private Bay Pines beach and everyone can enjoy pickleball and tennis courts, multiple pools, a spa, and a private 18-hole golf course. Plus, if you do need a change of scenery, the resort is just minutes from Nickerson State Park and the Cape Cod Rail Trail. 2907 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631, oceanedge.com.
The Point Clothing Lounge
From the vintage NBA Jam arcade to the bar brimming with gratis whiskey, this place makes shopping for new threads — dare we say it? — enjoyable. But it’s not all fun and games here: Unrivaled in its selection of casual-cool clothing, accessories, and sneakers from more than 30 brands (including exclusives such as 7Diamonds, BYLT, and Oliver Cabell), the recently opened Southie shop makes it easier than ever to upgrade your wardrobe. 135 Emerson St., Boston, MA 02127, thepoint02127.com.
The Wellness Atelier
We’ve all had those nights — the ones where you wake up the next morning with a blinding headache and an appetite for nothing but saltines. Plan ahead, and next time you can roll right out of bed and into Dr. Daniela Winston’s Newbury Street studio for the cheekily named “About Last Night” IV, a hydrating treatment designed to lessen hangover symptoms. The concierge medicine practice also offers a variety of other nutritional IVs that infuse your body with the stuff it needs to not just survive but thrive. 36 Newbury St., 3rd Fl., Boston, MA 02116, thewellnessatelier.com.
Tiffany Von
No one encapsulates the “fine art” photography style of atmospheric, painterly perfection better than Tiffany Von Noronha. Although she’s been cultivating national clientele with weddings in far-off destinations and appearances in Martha Stewart Weddings, the Boston-based virtuoso is still right at home in the Hub’s finest indoor and outdoor venues — effortlessly capturing moments and details in romantic, unposed shots you’ll want to hang on your wall forever. tiffanyvon.com.
Plymouth G Pub
Hoops and hard cider make a great pairing. That’s the thinking, at least, behind this newly opened spot in West Plymouth Square, which serves up local brews and fanciful cocktails alongside a variety of nostalgic arcade games (pinball, anyone?) that’ll make you feel like a kid again. Elevated pub fare, meanwhile — short-rib poutine, tuna poke bowls — make it a one-stop spot for kicking back when your own kids are with the babysitter. 101 Carver Rd., Plymouth, MA 02360, gpubrestaurants.com/plymouth.
Bellacquer
You know you’ve enjoyed your trip to the nail salon when you leave feeling more beautiful — and relaxed — than when you first strolled in. And Bellacquer, a neighborhood standout since it first opened its doors in 2017, delivers that satisfaction every time. Performed by diligent technicians with serious trimming, shaping, and polishing skills, the nail services here are consistently excellent whether you stick to the basics, splurge on a paraffin pedicure, or go for a trendy dipping-powder mani. 1389 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02446, bellacquer.com.