Boston Center for Adult Education
On the social faux pas scale, making a fool of yourself on the dance floor ranks second only to bad karaoke. And with dance so popular these days, your chances of blowing it publicly are increasing exponentially. What to do? Sign up for a class at the Boston Center for Adult Education, where sympathetic and experienced instructors will have you gliding like Astaire in a matter of weeks—for under $100. And you don't have to have a partner to enroll. 5 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA .
Casablanca
Next to a terrific moviehouse and a great coffeeshop, Casablanca is your best bet for a bar where you can actually have a conversation. Faux Middle Eastern decor, amusing Humphrey Bogart murals, Billie Holiday on the jukebox, an eclectic assortment of Left Bank literati, and odd little rick-shaw-like seats contribute to an overall pleasant vibe. 40 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA .
The Cape Codder Resort & Spa
The resort itself may feel a bit stuck in the '70s, but the Cape Codder's spa has surely caught up with the times. Such treatments as cranberry-enzyme facial peels and detoxifying seaweed-clay masques and massages are always perfectly performed. And after you're done being pampered, your kids can frolic in the hotel's oceanlike indoor pool, which boasts two big water slides and two-and-a-half-foot waves. 1225 Iyannough Rd. (Rte. 132), Hyannis, MA capecodderresort.com.
Farfar's Danish Ice Cream Shop
The real ice-cream aficionado's conundrum: Once you've gone Danish, you'll never go back. If that Danish is Farfar's, however, you'll go back repeatedly. This isn't your over-the-top carnival of crazed flavor and obnoxious and undiscriminating mix-ins. Farfar's is about amazing, rich texture and simple but intense fresh flavors. The cinnamon is a coup de cremerie. The peanut butter reaches deep into the nut's truest flavor. And the sweet cream tastes like innocence itself. 272 Saint Georges St., Duxbury, MA farfarsicecream.com.
Grettacole
Push through the glass and wood storefront, past the bright pots of Trish McEvoy cosmetics and rows of neatly packaged Molton Brown potions (you can hit all of the above on your way out), and head straight for the heart of this operation: the spa. The intimate setting in back serves as the stage for some world-class pampering—whether it's a custom-designed massage at the hard-working hands of Amy Nicalek or a soul-saving pedicure. The entire staff works at the expert level. Better yet, they're downright sweet. 300 Boylston St. (Rte. 9), Atrium Mall, Chestnut Hill, MA grettacole.com.
Periwinkles
Glowing candles and a well-scrubbed interior may keep it more refined than your average fish shack, but Periwinkles' sea fare is straight-off-the-boat fresh. The crabmeat pie is a sweet and thick bit of retro revelry; the fresh lobster pizza on sourdough crust is tangy, filling, and scrumptious. Sitting on the deck perched over the Essex River at sunset, with an Ipswich Ale and a plate of grilled swordfish, provides an experience with which few places on earth can compete. 74 Main St., Essex, MA periwinklesrestaurant.com.
Kendall Square Cinema
It's not the fresh popcorn, hot cappuccino, or high-gloss neon that draws the crowds to this megaplex arthouse near MIT. Sure, those things don't hurt. But even if the seats weren't plush and the parking weren't plentiful, crowds would still flood to this theater for one of the largest selections of eye-sprinting subtitles on the East Coast. With nine screens of foreign and indie flicks, this is the place to catch an obscure tearjerker while boning up on your Czech or Urdu. 1 Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA .
Kendall Square Cinema
No crying babies, chatty teens, or bleeping cell phones. That's why your parents, professors, and primary-care provider choose to catch the latest film-festival hits and indie first-runs at this Landmark Theatres location. They also come because parking is a pittance ($3), the theater offers high-quality snacks (dried fruit, gluten-free cookies), and the guy behind the ticket counter is totally stoked to discuss Fassbinder's use of Brechtian aesthetics. 355 Binney St., Cambridge, MA 2139, landmarktheatres.com.
Granite Links Golf Club
The views of the Boston skyline make this Quincy course stand out, but Granite Links is much more than a pretty picture. The private course offers an astounding 27 holes of golf for members and the public, and includes a large, lighted practice range that stays open late. After a grueling round with your buddies, the on-site restaurant is a welcome respite, with a fun-loving crowd and a range of food and drink options. 100 Quarry Lane, Quincy, MA 2186, granitelinksgolfclub.com.
American Repertory Theatre
The A.R.T. has added major buzz to its stages, from Amanda Palmer's work in Cabaret to a punk musical about Prometheus. Artistic director Diane Paulus has displayed the clout to bring in star turns by John Lithgow and Amy Brenneman, as well as the vision to produce the U.S. premiere of robot opera Death and the Powers, written by MIT prof Tod Machover. This is a theater that keeps your eye on the calendar for what's coming next. 64 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA 2138, americanrepertorytheatre.com.
Cold Water Flat
Okay, so Paul Janovitz of Cold Water Flat is the brother of Buffalo Tom's Bill Janovitz. There's no sibling rivalry going on here. Buffalo Tom may have captured MTV and My So-Called Life, but CWF's new CD on a major label and opening appearances on Belly's worldwide tour last spring have garnered the group more than its fair share of attention. Look for them on Conan this fall.
Michael Albor, The Loft Salon
Warm, natural, and beautifully blended—that’s the work of Michael Albor, a true color artist. Every time we emerge from his salon, we receive a slew of compliments from unlikely sources, though admirers often struggle to pin down exactly what’s different. Which is perfect, because whether you’re covering up the grays or just looking to enhance your chestnut locks, it’s important never to divulge beauty secrets. 253 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, theloftsalonboston.com.
76 Main
This sleek downtown inn offers rooms done up in stripes and poppy colors by Boston designer Rachel Reider, as well as plenty of modern amenities (iPads, Apple TVs). Your best bet is Room 16 or 17 in the guesthouse, each of which features a patio complete with a fire table and a private entrance from the inn’s pretty courtyard. 76 Main St., Nantucket, MA 2554, 76main.com.
Izakaya Ittoku
At an authentic Japanese izakaya, the food is meant to serve as a supporting role to the endless flow of sake. But at this Brighton hangout, the infinitely snackable dishes—flame-licked yakitori-style skewered meats, crisp fried oysters, the noodle omelet hybrid known as omusoba—are just as much of a draw. Maximize your experience of the massive menu (and the hefty platters of pan-fried pork and kimchi) by indulging with friends. 1414 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2135, .
Clear Flour Bread
You know you’ve found the perfect croissant when you can hear the flaky pastry layers coming apart as you take your first bite. That certainly describes the buttery, ethereal pastries rolled by hand at this Brookline institution. The classic, chocolate-filled, and Gruyère-stuffed croissants are baked fresh daily (and worth the pilgrimage), but if you want to sample the luscious apricot or raspberry versions, you’ll have to make the trek on Saturday or Sunday, and early: They sell out fast. 178 Thorndike St., Brookline, MA 2446, clearflourbread.com.