Boomerangs
Whether you're in the mood to divest yourself of some previously enjoyed goods, or score a bargain on somebody else's, Boomerangs stands ready to help—and help others while doing it. This funky resale shop offers new and recycled merchandise: home furnishings, CDs, books, clothes, shoes, sporting goods, and collectibles, all at bargain prices, with the proceeds going to the AIDS Action Committee. We spotted an Yves St. Laurent men's suit for $24, an Escada wool crepe dress for $20, and a 31-piece set of Royal Doulton china for $30. Dependable Clenaers provides free dry-cleaning services (as well as dropoff facilities at each of its locations), so all clothing is fresh and clean. 80 Canal Street, Boston, MA .
FuLoon
Chinese eateries have long been stuck between a wok and a hard place: hew to the Americanized hit parade, or risk alienating the crowds craving kung pao. Thankfully, a coup is afoot, with renegade restaurateurs positing fiery Szechwan as a sexier alternative to Cantonese lite. Fragrant camphor-smoked duck, velvety beef braised in mouth-numbing neon-orange peppercorn oil—all safely segregated, menuwise, from more broadly palatable fare. The newly chili-head-friendly New Shanghai wins points for Chinatown proximity and the addictive chung qing spicy chicken. Yet we're irresistibly drawn to Malden for FuLoon's haunting home-style bean curd, the entire 'Wok Baked' series, and the bottomless pitchers of soothing H20. 375 Main St., Malden, MA 2148, fuloonrestaurant.com.
Twig
Unless they're dead (or dyed), we welcome almost any flowers that come our way—which is why it takes an outstanding florist to go beyond pretty, and deliver pretty damn amazing. Winston earns points for reliably gorgeous arrangements, but just as with designer clothing, if we can tell where it came from we're already bored. Ilex is the go-to for exotic numbers, yet its over-the-top approach can feel, well, too over-the-top. By contrast, Twig composes innovative, cleanly artistic bouquets, all fresh enough to last a week. A DIY option accommodates buyers on a carnation budget, while a home decorating service will thrill those who dream of a bed of roses. 558 Tremont St., Boston, MA 2114, twigboston.com.
Maggie Kesler, The Sports Club/LA Splash Spa
You don't have to belong to the Sports Club/LA to experience the stress-relieving, muscle-soothing magic of a massage by Maggie Kesler at the health club's on-site Splash Spa. Of course, after an hour or so having each and every tense muscle manipulated into relaxation (Kesler's technique combines a therapeutic blend of traditional Swedish strokes with pressure-point work and shiatsu), and a few minutes in the oversized steam and sauna rooms, you might find yourself signing up for a membership—or at least another massage appointment. Kesler has a way of leaving clients' previously aching muscles rejuvenated, restored, and ready for action, whether that's a heart-taxing spinning class or simply the long drive home. 4 Avery St., Boston, MA .
Flat Top Johnny's
Pool halls pop with American romanticism: Fast Eddie Felson, bourbon, the small-time hustle. They're supposed to be stark, shadowy places with heroin jazz playing softly, and a slow-twirling fan in the corner. And even though it's air-conditioned, with comfortable couches lining the back wall, Flat Top Johnny's can hold its own. It's tucked away in Kendall Square, with an unpretentious bar area and a laid-back mix of regulars who enjoy Coltrane as much as the Foo Fighters. For a first date on a Saturday night or for playing hooky on a Tuesday afternoon, it's a great spot to hide away and imagine, when you finally hit that bank shot in the corner, that you've just beaten Minnesota Fats. One Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA flattopjohnnys.com.
That the Boston Ballet's hiring of artistic director Mikko Nissinen, once dubbed "The Flying Finn," will put an end to the company's soaring exits and financial woes.
Daniela Corte
Somewhere between couture and casual wear, there is the striking work of Daniela Corte. First, there are her designs: wrap shirts that evoke Pucci's colors and Prada's lines; pants that run from pristine silk trousers to leopard-print capris; and vibrant halter dresses that would be at home on both Newbury Street and Cannes beach. Then there's her fit: each piece custom-cut to your exact measurements, and in the precise fabric, pattern, and color you want it. The pint-sized Corte, every inch a style doyenne, takes customers beyond mere label obsession and into the realm of real fashion: She fuses cuts from the best international designers, puts her own distinct stamp on the pastiche, and tailors it to perfectly flatter every customer—all from a tiny Back Bay studio. In a town that tends to be too buttoned-up in the clothing department, Corte is just the right fit. 271 Newbury St., Boston, MA danielacorte.com.
KingFish Hall
For a town that prides itself on its seafood, it can be tough to find a seafood restaurant that goes beyond the standard boiled lobsters or watery clam chowder. Enter KingFish Hall, where chef-owner Todd English has designed a menu that delights, with everything from traditional lobster rolls—sweet and tender lobster meat on a buttery, toasted nest of bread with just enough mayo and celery leaves to hold it together—to more complicated dishes, such as miso-marinated cod. There's also the "dancing fish" of the day (herb- and butter-basted fish placed on individual rotating skewers that spin around a circular wood-burning pit) and a daily chilled and briny selection of raw shellfish. As for the chowder, there's the not-so-traditional New England style, thick and delightfully creamy, or the ever-changing daily varieties accompanied by homemade oyster crackers. 188 South Market Building, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, MA .
The Four's
The most important thing in the most important sports town in America is, aside from victory itself, finding the right place to soak up all the action. If you can't be courtside or behind home plate, that place is the Fours, the venerable North Station sports bar that's as classic as Fenway turf and Garden parquet. Whereas newer suds-and-scores hangouts tend to come wallpapered in TVs (leaving us feeling as if we're trapped in a Best Buy), the Fours leaves ample room for signed jerseys, vintage game photos, and other memorabilia it's accumulated in its 30-odd years. Adding to the ambiance: Many a sports scribe and team executive have been known to tip back a glass here after a game at next-door neighbor TD Garden. 166 Canal St., Boston, MA 2114, thefours.com.
Crane Beach
The long, winding boardwalks and grassy dunes at Crane Beach can magically readjust the tired mind of even the most citified creature. After sinking your toes into the beach's soft white sand, you may decide to trade in your power suit for a bathing suit—permanently. Bird lovers, bring your binoculars—Crane is home to more than 200 aviary species, including wild turkeys. Getting there a problem? For those without wheels, take the commuter rail to downtown Ipswich, and then bike five miles to the beach. For those who drive: Stop to go antiquing in nearby Essex on the way. For kids of all ages: Don't miss Crane's annual sand-sculpture competition on August 12. Beach amenities: ample parking, refreshments, clean bathhouses, and outside showers. Argilla Road, Ipswich, MA .
Anna's Taqueria
Anna's doesn't serve the biggest burritos in town, and purists might—might—argue that some of its ingredients (particularly the carnitas) trail those prepared by its competitors. But Anna's burritos are, without question, the best put together. And as any hardcore burrito enthusiast knows, structural integrity is the true standard by which a burrito should be judged. The quick-working craftsmen who staff this busy local chain's assembly lines start by steaming each tortilla individually—a step often skipped by other shops—then pile on carefully calibrated scoops of freshly prepared fillings. At the final station, burrito-rolling is elevated to its rightful status among the culinary arts, ensuring that everything holds together until the last blissful bite. 1412 Beacon St., Brookline, MA annastaqueria.com.
Serenade Chocolatier
Witness the alchemy firsthand: Confections at Serenade, Brookline Village's intimate chocolatier, are prepared before customers' eyes using smooth, buttery Callebaut direct from Belgium. It's a show that has lured in locals, siren-like, for some 15 years now. Then there's the serenade itself: the chocolate. The truffles are an adagio in their own right, each subtly laced with flavor (Champagne, Grand Marnier, raspberry) that plays to a smooth, dense ganache core encased in a layer of chocolate. The French truffle dusted in bittersweet cocoa is a standout, but the house signature is the Viennese, a fat square of layered dark and milk chocolate infused with hazelnut butter. Serenade also runs a small stand in South Station, lulling the train-bound and softening the commute home. 5 Harvard Sq., Brookline Village, MA serenadechocolatier.com.
Waban Shoe Repair
Cobblestones are charming. Replacing a $900 pair of limited-edition size 11 Louboutins because a heel snapped off in that picturesque paving material—again—is not. We scoured the city for a place that could doctor our ripped soles and scratched leather, and refasten the aforementioned broken heel, plus replace stray straps and buckles and refurbish unusual materials in unusual colors, but it wasn't until we looked west that we found our fix, some 20 minutes away in Waban. The reverse commute is worth it: The walls of the tiny shop are lined with boxes of rehabbed Ferragamos, Chanels, and Pradas, all mended expertly within a week. Going anywhere else would be like sending the Rolls to a Jiffy Lube. 1637A Beacon St., Waban, MA 2468, .
Boston Children's Museum
The Boston Children's Museum has been mobbed since it unveiled its 23,000-square-foot expansion and accompanying renovation in April, so chances are good you'll arrive to find a long queue snaking from the door. Try to tough it out: Your reward is just inside, in the form of a corkscrew-shaped three-story contraption that the museum calls the New Balance Climb, and grateful parents might regard as the mother of all monkey bars. Even if your kids don't hit another exhibit, a scamper across, up, through, and under its twisting platforms will leave them too exhausted to do anything but go home and watch their SpongeBob DVDs until the clouds part. 300 Congress St., Boston, MA 2210, bostonchildrensmuseum.org.
East Coast Grill
To endorphin addicts, East Coast is the place to go for a dose of intensely spiced, pan-tropical dinners, but brunch fanatics know it offers something more: It's also home to a truly spectacular Sunday brunch. Be sure to eat light the night before: You'll want to save room for the soul-satisfying fresh fish tacos, avocado and black bean omelets, and (in case you need it) hangover hash. The bloody mary bar lets you make up your own glass, preferably loaded with fresh lime. Tabasco, fresh tomato juice, Absolut, and a zap of Worcestershire sauce. The rest is simple. Kick back to the room's low buzz in your spacious booth with a friend or two, and dig into plates of grilled fresh pineapple wedges and smooth-as-custard grits. It just doesn't get any better. 1271 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA eastcoastgrill.net.