<em>The Donkey Show</em>
Follow the glitter trail to Oberon, where nearly every weekend, a blizzard of pixie dust transforms the cabaret into an immersive disco inferno. This lamé-and-polyester-sheathed version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream—an ode to both the Bard and Studio 54—may have launched in New York, but its 2009 revival in Cambridge gave it new life: After throwing 800-plus dance parties in the venue (christened in honor of the show’s Shakespearean fairy king turned sleazy nightlife impresario), it’s clear this disco is far from dead. 2 Arrow St., Cambridge, MA 02138, americanrepertorytheater.org/oberon.
Nightshade
We’d schlep to the moon for Rachel Miller’s Viet-American cooking—luckily, we only have to make it to Somerville’s vendor-stuffed Bow Market, where her long-running pop-up now appears at the Buenas storefront every Monday. The former Clio chef de cuisine brings a mélange of aromatics and textures to each and every bowl of her signature “Hot Noods”: steaming noodle bowls such as bánh canh with confit quail, and vermicelli with curried beef and tamarind-pebre raisins. They’re an early taste of Miller’s fixed noodle bar, opening in Lynn later this year. nightshadens.com.
the Rail Trail Flatbread Co.
Opened by three young entrepreneurs in 2012, this area hot spot almost single-handedly revitalized Hudson's now-booming Main Street, and the fire is still burning bright in the pizza oven today. Neighborhood types gather at the string-lit bar for pints of Notch black lager and Wormtown IPA, while families pack the dining room for creative, pillowy flatbreads you won't find anywhere else (don't miss the lamb confit layered with caramelized onions, artichokes, feta, and beet-pomegranate pur̩e) and fun, eclectic apps (Thai tempura Brussels sprouts, red-eye poutine). 33 Main St., Hudson, MA 1749, railtrailflatbread.com.
Asta
"We ask that the entire party order the same menu" is the familiar refrain at restaurants with tasting menus. Not so at this ambitious Back Bay restaurant, where diners at the same table can choose from the three-, five-, or eight-course menus, and chef Alex Crabb and his team will course them appropriately. If you're with friends who share, that means you can try Brussels sprouts tossed in nutty Marmite butter from the $75 five-course menu and beef ravioli with charred leeks from the $50 three-course version. Budget- and taste-wise, everyone wins. 47 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA 02115, astaboston.com.
Wequassett Resort and Golf Club
Here it's all about hospitality, from thoughtful kids' offerings like mini beach chairs and cabanas to a program that tracks repeat guests' preferences. Want a rare book delivered to your room? They thought so. Planning to propose—but need a violinist? She'll be right over. It doesn't hurt that Wequassett's on-site restaurant, Twenty-Eight Atlantic, is helmed by L'Espalier alum James Hackney, or that a roving Good Humor truck doles out post-swim snacks. At sunset, a newly expanded veranda with fire pits offers serene views of Pleasant Bay. 2173 Route 28, Harwich, MA 02645, wequassett.com.
Alan Bilzerian
Ready to move beyond the little LVs and Gs? Pay a visit to Alan Bilzerian’s Newbury Street storefront. Together with his daughter Harley, the sophisticated shop owner has curated a collection of handbags and accessories you won’t find anywhere else, whether you’re in the market for a high-end classic (Lanvin ostrich-leather purses), an ultramod design (geometric wallets from esteemed Japanese designer Issey Miyake), or a statement piece (Emmanuelle Khanh’s fish-shaped purses). For something with a local angle, check out the in-house line of crocodile- and python-leather hobo bags and backpacks. 34 Newbury St., Boston, MA alanbilzerian.com.
Toro
It’s half past five, and Toro is already at capacity: the dining room rollicking, the bar stools long since staked out. Mind you, few restaurants in Spain would have opened so early, but that slight inauthenticity is unavoidable when you’ve created such a culinary phenomenon. We don’t use the word “phenomenon” lightly: Here, the tantalizing pintxos (uni bocadillo, Serrano ham–wrapped dates) and tapas (most notably the crispy patatas bravas, set off by piquant tomato sauce and creamy aioli) justify the hype…and the wait. 1704 Washington St., Boston, MA 02118, toro-restaurant.com.
Brewer’s Fork
Moody’s-sourced Jersey pork roll dripping with spicy ketchup and melted American cheese, vintage ’80s cartoons projected over the bar, and a crisp Centennial-hopped pilsner cooling in your palm: Welcome to bleary-eyed bliss. At this hair-of-the-dog miracle worker in Charlestown, toast the end of your weekend with co-owner Michael Cooney’s cache of craft-beer rarities and a menu of celestial breakfast hits ranging from sweet (banana-bread waffles) to savory (chilaquiles) to downright delicious (bacon-and-onion breakfast pizza). 7 Moulton St., Charlestown, MA 02129, brewersfork.com.
Scott Levine, the Studio
Despite all your preparations (and no thanks to the open bar) no one will recall the details until the photos arrive. And while shots of Uncle Leo's Electric Slide are always entertaining, you don't really need them in your album. The more crucial pics are of the day's poignant, fleeting moments. Scott Levine gets those—he gets everything—with the uncanny sense of timing and sharply trained eye that come from 20 years on the circuit. He posts photos online for six months, letting you browse and reorder the best of the bunch. 21 Fieldstone Drive, Stoneham, MA thestudiosl.com.
Bliss Home
New digs in the Back Bay have given this business a little room to spread out its wares. In addition to the tabletop necessities—magisterial Couzon flatware, Bernardaud china, classic modernist Scandinavian glass (both Kosta Boda and Iittala)—Bliss now has space for ultrachic Paola Lenti furniture. The bridal registry in the back leads couples through the selection thicket, and the Web site is cross-indexed every which way to help wedding guests who are shopping from afar. After the honeymoon, newlyweds can pick up their remaining needs at a 10 percent discount. 121 Newbury St., Boston, MA blisshome.bridgecatalog.com.
The Altered Bride
There are a few things you won't find at the Altered Bride. Among them are polyester gloves and bags so cheesy you instinctively hunt for the crackers, or beautiful high-quality trinkets so prohibitively priced that only the Miller sisters could afford them. Here you'll find something between those two extremes: upscale, handmade accessories that are worth their price. Think crisp, cool, and feathery white veils (custom-made, if you don't find what you want on the floor), tiaras that are both elegant and playful, and shoes that are comfortable but classy and stylish. It's all enough to leave you in a truly altered state. 129 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Barmakian Jewelers
The folks at Barmakian know it's the engagement ring—ever the showstopping diva—that gets all the oohs and aahs, which is why they specialize in wedding bands that complement, rather than compete. The store offers hundreds of men's, women's, and unisex rings in white gold, yellow gold, and platinum, accented by any gem or engraved pattern imaginable. It'll also design a match for that heirloom engagement ring from your fiance's grandmother, making you and your sweetheart just one of two perfect pairs that will have everyone buzzing on the Big Day. 333 Washington St., Boston, MA barmakian.com.
India Samraat
While lachha paratha, kadahi paneer, and the other spice-redolent dishes at this 17-year-old Back Bay outpost may be a challenge to pronounce, none are a struggle to polish off. Saffron basmati rice and steaming onion naan accompany curried meat and vegetable dishes; the tandoori chicken, often too dry elsewhere, is packed with savory juices. The gilded decor is a tad kitschy, so if an abundance of drapes and mirrors isn't exactly your thing, there's the option of delivery. Just remember to order early, as weekend nights bring wait times of up to an hour and a half. 51A Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA indiasamraat.com.
Phoenix Landing
Discussions of Boston’s Irish pubs typically involve squirrely notions of authenticity. The problem is, no such thing exists, and most attempts ring about as true as some "Ireland-land" simulacrum at Epcot. So this year we decided to give the nod instead to the best pub, period, which just so happens to be Irish (a subtle but important distinction). The Phoenix Landing is like four bars in one: You can go for a quiet afternoon pint alone, brunch with the family, crack-of-dawn soccer broadcasts, or nighttime dancing to some of the best DJ talent around. 512 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2139, phoenixlandingbar.com.
EHChocolatier
Whether you’re a cacao purist or someone who thinks outside the standard chocolate box, you’ll no doubt find something to savor from this Somerville-based online chocolatier. Cofounders Elaine Hsieh and Catharine Sweeney have a knack for inspired flavor pairings (pomegranate, jasmine tea, and Guinness Stout have all shown up in their chic bonbons), but their more-traditional varieties—hazelnut bark, single-origin dark chocolate "pods," chocolate-chew candy bars—are just as fun to savor. And because the duo recognizes that we eat with our eyes first, each handcrafted confection is as strikingly beautiful as it is delicious. ehchocolatier.com.