Boston Children's Museum
This sprawling three-level temple of fun and learning has always been a place where tiny humans can go to play, touch, build, measure, and create. It’s also a place that’s constantly growing and evolving itself: After shutting down the beloved “Boston Black” exhibit this spring, it’s preparing to launch “You, Me, We”later this summer, exploring the concepts of bias, race, and belonging through a kid-friendly lens. Always kid-friendly, of course, is the gigantic climbing tower in the lobby for your budding Spider-Man (or Woman). 308 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210, bostonchildrensmuseum.org.
Salem
With its prime waterfront location and cute boutiques (hello, J Mode and Roost and Company), Salem has become so much more than ground zero for the witch-tourism industry. The town's many culinary offerings, including new seafood restaurant Sea Level Oyster Bar and a soon-to-open specialty cheese shop, keep gastronomes satisfied. The Peabody Essex Museum, meanwhile, is a must-visit for culture vultures. MA
Madeleine de Sinety
Finally, someone in the wedding industry who's as passionate about your wedding as you are. Artist, photojournalist, and all-around free spirit, de Sinety is demanded at weddings all over the country for her ability to capture every unique detail and lively moment of the big day. And given her busy schedule, New England couples are lucky to have her close by (she's based in Maine.) Specializing in black-and-white photography, de Sinety has had her work published and exhibited in museums and galleries nationally. desinety@exploremaine.com, MA madeleinedesinety.com.
AR Nail Bar & Lounge
After a harrowing drive to our appointment in heavy rain, we felt the tension melting away the second we stepped foot inside this immaculate Somerville salon. The staff? Competent and courteous. The service? Insta-worthy, with exemplary shaping, flawless polish application, and a much-needed hand massage. But what really wowed us was the ambiance, with softly playing music, a trickling water feature near the pedicure chairs, and low lighting creating a relaxing environment for express services, trendy color dips, and gel-based full sets alike. 485 Revolution Dr., Somerville, MA 02145, arnailbarsomerville.com.
Crossing Main
This pristine boutique is a museum of must-haves—except that nothing stays on the shelves for long. The sharp-eyed staff lays out a tempting guild of accessories (clean-lined Prada bags, funky Tocca totes) and outfits—just try walking away from the beautifully cut button-up shirts from Rayure or the many printed shifts from Theory. 5 Main St., Hingham, MA crossingmain.com.
Ritual Arts
You don't have to be a high priestess to shop here. With an intriguing array of crystals, incense, jewelry, and d̩cor, Ritual Arts is welcoming to anyone who appreciates a good Nag Champa. For extra good vibes, end your visit with head scratches for LoveBomb the cat. 153 Harvard Ave., Boston, MA 02134, .
The Art Store
Muses nonwithstanding, the Art Store sells everything your magnum opus needs, and at prices that won't leave the artist in you starving. Forget rummaging through piles of 200 pre-stretched canvases to find the size you want; it's all neatly ordered against the wall. Every shade of paint—oil, acrylic, watercolor, you name it—is represented, and the paper selection runs from handmade, violet-embedded sheets to plain foam core. Like to sit while you sketch? There's furniture here too, plus easels and mesh file boxes. Come to think of it, the large, open, and neatly arranged space may just inspire you after all—to organize your studio. 401 Park Dr., Boston, MA .
Kitchen Arts
Stepping into this small Newbury Street shop is more inspiring than a cooking show could ever be. The shelves are crammed with bakeware, pots, pans, appliances, and an envy-inducing selection of knives from makers including Henckels, plus such tempting doodads as neon-colored silicone pot holders. It's easy to imagine whipping up perfect little pastries in those scalloped tartlet pans or hearty, crowd-pleasing casseroles in the brightly colored Le Creuset French ovens. Can't cook? Kitchen Arts has you covered there, too, with a supply of crime-scene tape for use when kitchen exploits go awry. 161 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
KitchenArts
Not much changed when KitchenArts picked up and moved a block down Newbury this spring: Getting into the tiny space is still a squeeze, and getting out without buying anything is still a miracle. Stellar cooking gear beckons everywhere you look, from the heavyweights (Wüsthof knives, Le Creuset Dutch ovens) to the essentials (silicone spatulas, stainless steel measuring cups). Gizmos and thingamabobs are also out in full force, including but hardly limited to gnocchi paddles, collapsible potato mashers, crêpe scrapers, tomato corers, and salt pigs. All in all, it's really just about everything an Iron Chef wannabe needs to, er, set the world on fire. 215 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, kitchenarts.biz.
KitchenArts
Take home a few items from KitchenArts and you'll find yourself ordering lots less takeout. KitchenArts features designer cutlery at enticing prices, pots and pans so beautiful you'll hesitate to mess them up with food, and that unusually shaped pie crimper you've been coveting for years. The store's friendly owners are so in-the-know about all things culinary, you'll wish they'd invite you for dinner. 161 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Kitchen Arts
This family-owned store gets our raves for the chef (or wannabe) looking for the best items to outfit the serious kitchen. Competitive prices on brands such as Calphalon and All-Clad, but beats everyone on price for top-of-the-line cutlery. Nice selection of hard-to-find gadgets as well. 161 Newbury Street, Boston, MA .
Kitchen Arts
Price, but worth every penny. 161 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Cake Art
It's not just for Sabbath anymore. Knowing a good thing when they saw it, the bakers at Cake Art turned their fabulous challah into a variety of other goodies like onion rolls and hot dog buns. Just make sure that's a kosher dog on that roll. 374 South Main St., Sharon, MA .
ArtsEmerson
ArtsEmerson certainly brings the world to its stages. This season alone, it hosted acrobatic feats from Montreal's troupe Les 7 Doigts de la Main in Traces; Isabella Rossellini in her cult-tastic one-woman show, Green Porno; an oil-drums-and-marimba reimagining of Mozart's opera The Magic Flute, by South Africa's Isango Ensemble; and, from the Hub's own Israeli Stage, a North American premiere of the affecting Ulysses on Bottles. Most impressive, ArtsEmerson realizes its global vision while remaining audience-focused and community-centric. (Cutler Majestic Theatre, 219 Tremont St., Boston) 559 Washington St., Boston, MA 02111, artsemerson.org.
Kitchen Arts
A good cook knows a sharp knife is the fundamental ingredient of any recipe, and Kitchen Arts is the place to find a knife that will satisfy your inner Mario Batali. (It also sells sharpening steels for gourmands who want a surgeon's edge.) Once you get past the knives, you're ready for the nirvana of kitchen tools and accessories here, from tea strainers and seafood forks to copper pots and pans. 161 Newbury St., Boston, MA .