Bike Tours of Cambridge
Novice bikers tend to get intimidated by drivers around here—and for good reason. But the gratis Bike Tours of Cambridge—led by the Cambridge Bicycle Committee and escorted by police—will put worried minds at ease. And where else but the People's Republic would you find themed treks covering everything from string theory to public art?
Bellacquer
Treating yourself to a mani/pedi at this recently opened salon is like taking a deep breath of fresh air: relaxing, satisfying, and totally necessary. The bright space strikes a balance between clinical and cushy, with skilled technicians ready to trim, shape, and polish your digits to perfection (and have fun with nail art, if you please). 1389 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 02446, bellacquer.com.
Julie Michaud, Michaud Cosmetics
The team at Michaud Cosmetics has brow shaping down to a fine art. Errant strays are whisked away, and the brow is coaxed into movie star-perfect arches. Though the artists here prefer to pluck, they will wax on request. Just make sure to allow some time. Eyebrows this good take at least a half hour. 297 Newbury St., Suite 21, Boston, MA .
Rugg Road Paper Company
For custom wedding invitations, stationery, and an excellent if overwhelming selection of fine papers from across the globe, this Beacon Hill shop is unparalleled. There are more than 600 papers to choose from and a savvy, helpful staff that gives each customer special attention. Classes are offered seasonally in the arts of bookbinding, origami, and candlemaking, to name a few. 105 Charles St., Boston, MA .
Brimfield Flea Market
Early American, Victorian, and Art Deco furnishings, oak, wicker, and rattan pieces, arcade and slot machines, antique books, dolls, china, jewelry, glassware, oriental rugs, silverware, telephones . . . Make a junket out to Brimfield September 15-16 for the last of three fairs this season. MA
Michela's
New-wave pizzas, pan-blackened shark, goat-cheese lasagna—these dishes are a far cry from the usual linguine with red sauce or stuffed manicotti. And they'll make you feel as though you've rediscovered the art of eating. 245 First St., Cambridge, MA .
Waterworks
Waterworks boasts a gorgeous catalog of responsibly made and stylishly designed bathroom fixtures and accessories, from freestanding copper bathtubs and Carrara-marble vessel sinks to graceful accessories like art deco inspired soap trays and braided organic jute bath rugs.
Boston Design Center, One Design Center Place, Ste. 147, Boston, MA 02210, waterworks.com.Bow Market
The steady stream of folks coming, going, and hanging at this outdoor haven isn’t an accident: It’s because there is truly something here for everyone—from trendy street-level cafés and indie boutiques to a brewery, a comedy studio, and an art gallery. Bow Market Way, Somerville, MA bowmarketsomerville.com.
Papercuts J.P.
Browsing in this shop feels less like shopping and more like snooping though a stylish friend’s library—if said friend happened to stock the city’s best collection of art monographs, emerging authors, and stories penned by kids at 826 Boston, that is. 5 Green St., Boston, MA 02130, papercutsjp.com.
Corinna Raznikov Photography
The love in this fine-art photographer’s wedding shots is palpable—here, a groom dips and kisses his bride on a snowy rooftop; there, a pair holds hands as they traipse through the ferns at a backyard reception. The occasion helps, of course, but it’s also Raznikov’s innate ability to capture couples’ natural beauty and spirit with ease. 638 Delano Rd., Marion, MA 2738, corinnaraznikov.com.
Newbury Comics
For all its diversification into DVDs, action figures, and Napoleon Dynamite doodads, Newbury Comics maintains an unparalleled selection of obscure art rock, under-the-radar hip-hop, and hard-to-find imports. And, as an unflagging booster of the local music scene, it always gives homegrown records top billing. 332 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2115, newburycomics.com.
Waterspot
Feel like having an interactive bathroom experience? Waterspot recently opened a 4000-square-foot show room featuring state-of-the-art displays and a selection of the most current products available, from Kerns-Wilcheck, Porcher, Grohe, Absolute, American Standard, THG, and others. 71 Worcester Rd., Route 9, Framingham, MA .
Little Beats
Classes focus on rhythm, balance, gross motor skills, tumbling, and more, but what really sets Little Beats apart are its sensitively designed adaptive classes for kids with autism, developmental delays, and sensory challenges, led by an expressive arts therapist. 94 Rowe St., Newton, MA 02466, littlebeatstda.com.
F.D. Hodge Interiors
There’s a certain lightness to a Frank Hodge–designed space. His rooms are polished, not stuffy. Artful, not overdone. Hodge has impressed us with projects ranging from a serene study with Venetian plaster walls and framed Claude Lorrain landscapes to his own South End brownstone, brimming with antique pieces. 748 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02118, fdhodgeinteriors.com.
Kimberly Mercurio Landscape Architecture
If designing outdoor spaces is both an art and a science, it follows that the portfolio of urban, rural, and coastal projects by Kimberly Mercurio—a trained landscape architect and ecologist—is the one to beat. With practices in Cambridge and Woods Hole, Mercurio counts a spruce-filled Falmouth yard with an infinity-edge pool and stone walls among her successes. 2 Mason St., Cambridge, MA 02138, kimberlymercurio.com.