Gina DeWolfe
Gina DeWolfe inherited her leather-working tools from her grandfather, so we have him to thank, in part, for the ultra-chic leather backpacks, satchels, and wallets that the School of Fashion Design grad now crafts by hand, cutting and stitching each of the sleek pieces to perfection. ginadewolfe.com.
IFFBoston
The glowing reviews keep pouring in—not only for the movies IFFBoston shows, but for the festival itself. Highlights this past year included Dean, a dark comedy about family loss, and a documentary about Will Lautzenheiser, the world's third person to receive a double-arm transplant, thanks to Brigham and Women's Hospital. iffboston.com.
Sarah Ewald
In contrast to all the molecular tomfoolery of the moment (honey 'dust,' chocolate 'caviar'), Ewald's plates at Bistro du Midi are familiar yet refined. Ice cream melts into warm cherry clafouti; Armagnac infuses a plum-filled tart. Compared with this, the nouveau stuff seems about as tasty as, well, a freeze-driedgoji berry. 111 Chelsea St., East Boston, MA 2128, .
88 Supermarket
The Wal-Mart of Chinese markets, the 88 is an all-encompassing cultural experience. Among many other delights, it stocks fresh noodles, pigs' feet, frozen dumplings, inexpensive Chinese ceramics, ginseng gum, Vietnamese chili sauce, or koala-bear shaped Japanese chocolates packaged with origami-like complexity. 50 Herald St., Boston, MA .
Nightstage
Other clubs wow 'em with ambiance: plastic tropics or Beyond Thunderdome desolation. Nightstage relies on the real thing: music. With acts including Wynton Marsalis, Varl Perkins, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Dizzy Gillespie, Nightstage is the liveliest of Boston's live-music clubs. 823 Main St., Cambridge, MA .
Andy Seplow
Andy Seplow, part-time owner of a limited catering service called L'Alliance Pate, makes a firm, toothsome cheesecake based on cream cheese, sour cream, and ground almonds. It's available regularly at Peasant Stock, the Stock Pot, and Malben's Gourmet. 383 Somerville Ave., Somerville, MA .
A. Russo & Sons
We adore the cases brimming with imported and locally made cheeses (like fiore di latte from Everett's Mozzarella House), the boxes teeming with exotic Asian vegetables, and a deli counter loaded with top-notch finds. But the best part about a trip to Russo's is that we get whole foods without dropping an entire paycheck. 560 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 2472, russos.com.
LuxCouture
While other retailers stay home and (literally) phone in their orders, LuxCouture owner Sari Brown hits the European circuit to source the next obsessed-over bag. She built a business on being first, introducing customers to new shoulder bags, clutches, and totes from VBH, Adriana Castro, and Elena Ghisellini. The store's increasingly impressive supply of casual clothing helps dress the woman who accessorizes, but in Brown's eyes, the bags will always have it. 21 Lincoln St., Newton Highlands, MA 2461, .
Rustic Kitchen
Yes, it's in a shopping plaza (albeit an upscale one). And yes, it's technically a chain. But step inside and such details fade away. The gold-ceilinged trattoria is packed nightly with yuppies lounging around on ample outdoor seating, schmoozing at the indoor bar, and lingering over sambuca-steamed P.E.I. mussels and assorted raw-bar creations. The weekend brunch highlights seafood and a do-it-yourself bloody mary bar. 94 Derby St., Derby Street Shoppes, Hingham, MA rustickitchen.biz.
Henry Bear's Park
From the latest Pusheen merch and Tegu block sets to all sorts of crafts and STEM-themed kits, this spot stocks everything the kids in school are talking about and more. Best of all are the unfailingly friendly staffers, who are enthusiastic enough to tell you about their after-work games of Rat-a-Tat Cat. 17 White St., Cambridge, MA henrybear.com.
The Regattabar
The only place in town to catch big-name out-of-town acts like Sonny Rollins, Cassandra Wilson, and Tito Puente. A front-row table here for Betty Carter or Christian McBride is one of the most intimate world-class jazz experiences around. Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Cambridge, MA .
The Middle East
Whether you're upstairs in the "Bakery" taking in the music while dining on hummus and falafel or downstairs grooving in the spacious club, you're in heaven at the Middle East. Its variety of musical acts make it the place to enjoy music from Boston—and beyond. 472-480 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Zachary's Restaurant
If Germany had had Black Forest cake, they would have won the war. 120 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA .
Q Division Studios
Last year, Q joined the exodus that has seen just about every cool band, club, and scene relocate north of the Charles. Leaving the South End, Q's owners took their two vintage sound boards, a Neve 8068 and a Trident 80Band, and headed for the burgeoning Davis Square. Along the way, they acquired the requisite computer gizmos and hired engineer/producer extraordinaire Matthew Ellard. Even with the plush lounges, oodles of classic equipment, clients like James Taylor and Aimee Mann, and infamous annual who's-who-in-Boston-music Christmas party, Q still remembers the little voices: Local bands are welcome with open ears. 363 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA qdivision.com.
EHChocolatier
EH wins on the merits of its "Big Tasty" box alone, featuring gussied-up versions of classics like Almond Joys and Three Musketeers, as well as new creations (caramelized white-chocolate bars with cocoa nibs, a Jack D'or saison-spiked beernut bar). ehchocolatier.com.