Reed's Country Way Nursery and Florist
On a bucolic pond in Hingham, you'll find the answers to every horticultural question you've ever thought to ask—and some you probably haven't. Reed's employs a team of garden experts to educate customers with thumbs of even the palest green about hanging baskets (a particular specialty) and their assortment of more than 600 varieties of perennials. If your car isn't already loaded down with flats, stop at the garden shop on the way out: With a selection of candles and pottery, you can't go wrong. 387 East St., Hingham, MA .
Red Rock Bistro & Bar
The food at Red Rock Bistro & Bar is a bonus. The beautiful view of the pounding Atlantic surf and Boston skyline is filling enough. On the other hand, we would never give up chef Allen Bohnert's brunch menu of fluffy mushroom-, cheese-, and spinach-stuffed omelets; challah French toast with ruby-red strawberries; or blueberry flapjacks with cassis butter. It's worth setting the alarm clock on a Sunday. Ease out of your postbrunch food coma with a long walk along the soft sand beach below the restaurant. 141 Humphrey St., Swampscott, MA redrockbistro.com.
Anna Cherkasska, Salon Capri
Anna Cherkasska takes her work seriously, which means clients take her work vigorously. Expect lots of effective pressure that goes deep tissue, gets right to the middle of the muscle, and leaves you ache-free and loose as a rubber band. Cherkasska is charming, diligent, and not at all shy; don't be surprised if she jumps on your back to face down a knot. The salon itself provides a slew of other top-notch services and a serene but sophisticated setting. 31 Lincoln St., Newton Highlands, MA saloncapri.com.
F1 Boston
Forget Schwarzenegger films, mini golf, and laser tag. Once you've felt your own adrenaline spike through you from one mere inch above the ground at Braintree's indoor "Formula 1"-style kart-racing complex, just about everything else seems lame. NASCAR lovers, take note: This is, by any standards, a luxury establishment, with conference rooms, cafés and lounges, billiards, and exhibitions. 290 Wood Rd., Braintree, MA f1boston.com.
Mighty Mighty BossTones
Ska may come and ska may go, but the BossTones are forever. Going on 20 years, the band is forcing listeners to again Pay Attention with a best selling new studio release. Notwithstanding some catchy hooks, the album features a more melodic side of the plaid-bedecked eight-some, or, as frontman Dicky Barrett says, songs that are "thought out, not just half-assed." Get your tix for the Throwdown now! bosstones.com.
Sacco's Bowl Haven
If you happen to own custom-made bowling gloves and look down on those who roll anything under 220, then this Somerville candlepin joint isn't for you. But if you've got some skeeball chops and a penchant for craft beer, grab a lane between a toddler's birthday party and a gaggle of college freshmen, order a few fabulous Flatbread Company pizzas, and get your game on. 45 Day St., Somerville, MA 2144, .
Mottley's Comedy Club
Performing a set at a sweaty, cramped, underground club like Mottley's is the embodiment of what comics call paying your dues. Owned, operated, and booked by two funnymen (and their business partner), Mottley's is a proving ground for some of Boston's most promising comedy talent. The stage show is the main attraction, but if you hang back by the bar, you'll get a second serving of entertainment—eavesdropping on the performers' post-set repartee—for the same reasonable admission price ($8 to $20, depending on the show). Trinity Bar, 61 Chatham St., Boston, MA 2109, mottleyscomedy.com.
Silhouette Cocktail Lounge
If you require more than two ingredients in your cocktail (ice and booze), the Silhouette is likely not for you. True to dive décor, the walls are cheaply paneled and the floors cheaply tiled; the windows are largely covered to keep swillers insulated from school, work, the light of day, etc. The Tam may have the craziest clientele and TC's the most Big Buck Hunter nuts, but the Silhouette reigns as the best no-frills place to be, or start becoming, hung over. 200 Brighton Ave., Allston, MA 2134, .
Digital City Boston (www.digitalcity.com/boston)
A simple way to sort through the cultural offerings on any given day, Digital City Boston does all the little things right. A single movie page, for instance, tells you when and where a film is playing, and gives a synopsis, a critic's review, and a chance to submit your own rating. The dining area constantly updates the top 10 users' choices; it's also easy to search for restaurants by location, price range, or name.
Kendall Square Cinema
Culture and film buffs thank the celluloid gods for this place to see all the idiosyncratic flicks that get reviewed in The New Yorker and The New York Times. Still the sole straddler of the art house/multiplex genres, it offers a great selection on nine screens and in many languages. Great snacks too: real biscotti and cappuccino, and birdbath-size containers of high-quality popcorn. All this and gumfree floors. One Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA .
Club Cafe
One of the few gay bars you can go to where your friends— male and female, gay and straight— can all have a good time. Whether in a group or with a friend this is the best bet for a good time. The weekend can turn into a meat market, but the atmosphere is friendly enough that you feel comfortable approaching that cute someone in the baseball hat. 209 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA .
Dar Williams
Just off tour with folk legend Joan Baez, Dar Williams is now home in Belchertown savoring the critical success of her latest CD, Mortal City. When Williams originally moved to western Massachusetts from New York, she got a job with the Boston Opera Company and aspired to become a playwright or to direct operas. But the call of the coffeehouse was too strong, and Williams's modern folk style soon drew a following that recognized a new talent on the rise.
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Contemporary doesn't have to mean mod. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams gets this, and sells a mix of retro furnishings alongside pieces with cleaner, more classical lines. There are sophisticated neutrals and playful colors, accent pillows and striking lamps, even stylish "seating" for your pet. Best of all, many of the items we like most are affordable. 142 Berkeley St., Boston, MA mgbwhome.com.
Artcliff Diner
A Vineyard Haven mainstay, the Artcliff Diner is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. Try the popular almond-crusted French toast; get indulgent with the Green Monster, which loads scrambled eggs, cheese, avocado, and spinach on top of tortilla chips; or go big with the hearty Irish breakfast. Brunch is served daily, and staffers never allow your coffee cup to dip below half full. 39 Beach Rd., Vineyard Haven, MA .
5 Corners Kitchen
This French-inspired restaurant is not what you'd expect to find in a quaint seaside town. The feel is trendy but unpretentious; the space is open and airy; and the wine list rivals those you might see in Boston. The food itself is a wonderfully eclectic mix of country cooking and local seafood, with everything from escargots and oysters to bacon cheeseburgers and house-made squid-ink spaghettini represented on the menu. 2 School St., Marblehead, MA 5cornerskitchen.com.