Hingham Farmer's Market
Start your Saturday with a snack from the Great Cape Baking Company—we suggest the apple-cider doughnut or a hunk of rosemary bread. Load up on local seafood from C&C Lobster & Fish (based in nearby Hull) and fresh produce from Mary Bukujian's Hanson farm. Enjoy the view of Bathing Beach. Drive home happy. Hingham, MA 2043, hinghamfarmersmarket.org.
Brick Cellar at Atria
Escape the pickled beach-bar crowd at this sexy subterranean spot, with its smart mix of single malts and blends, local beers, and a carefully cultivated wine selection. Order from upstairs restaurant Atria's menu—a dozen different juicy burgers are available—or simply cap off the night by raising a glass to your good taste with one of Brick Cellar's inspired cocktails (we dig the Edgartown Harbor Breeze). 137 Main St., Edgartown, MA 2539, atriamv.com.
Tower Records
One thousand publications await you, from audiovisual, business, and gay culture to photo, food, and fashion (in French and Italian), trains, travel, and woodworking. There's also a small but good selection of bestsellers and paperbacks; some are even discounted. You can browse to your heart's content, undisturbed, with plenty of room and good music. Hard to leave, and you can't do it empty-handed. 360 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
The Potted Geranium
Enthusiasts of eclectic home decoration adore the Potted Geranium, a cluttered catch-all craft and home accessories store. Need something to offset your dining room's midcentury modernity? Pick up a locally designed Mariposa aluminum bowl. Or maybe a hand-woven Kennebunk & Churchill throw. The constantly evolving jumble of merchandis—old and new, understated and bold—means you never know what you'll find, or find you suddenly can't live without. 188 Main St. (Rte. 28), West Harwich, MA 2671, pottedgeranium.com.
Hangar B Eatery
Enter this unassuming restaurant inside the tiny Chatham Municipal Airport, and questions abound: Should I order the croissant breakfast sandwich or the poached eggs with beet-and-sweet-potato hash? Is it appropriate to spoon the house-made blackberry-lemon jam directly into my mouth? Whatever you end up choosing (or spooning), one thing’s for certain: Chef Brian Erskine’s interesting and infinitely satisfying dishes take brunch to new heights. 240 George Ryder Rd., Chatham, MA 2633, hangarbcapecod.com.
Bead + Fiber
The only bead store in Boston specializes in the rare, bright, and shiny variety, sourced from around the world by owner and self-styled " personal bead shopper" Andrea Garr, who will happily hunt down that ultra-specific bauble you’ve seen in your mind (but nowhere else). There’s also a dizzying range of classes taught by local artists for novice and advanced crafters, including clay, Tunisian crocheting, bead-weaving, and metalwork, as well as introductory courses for kids. 460 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 2118, beadandfiber.net.
Giulia
This Porter Square gem won us over with its chewy, emmer-flour-based farro casarecce alone, tossed with red-wine-braised duck, sweet cherries, and foie-gras butter on the night we tried it. But in truth, any of chef Michael Pagliarini’s pastas—painstakingly crafted on a reclaimed-white-oak table at the back of the restaurant—are worth the trip. Cap off your pasta odyssey with a creamy scoop of pistachio gelato. 1682 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2138, giuliarestaurant.com.
Lynwood Café
When it comes to bar pizza on the South Shore, there are important standards to meet. Are the to-go pies placed between two cardboard plates and slid into a brown paper bag? Is the crust hand-pinched in the pan to give it the perfect crunch? Is the joint cash only? And, most important: Do the locals love it? Lynwood checks all the boxes. For bar pizza the way it’s meant to be experienced, commit to the house special, which comes loaded with baked beans (trust us), onions, and salami. 320 Center St., Randolph, MA 2368, lynwoodcafe.com.
Forêt Design Studio
First comes love, then comes the wedding florist, who can singularly set the tone for your big day. Ensure a blossoming affair with Rose Mattos and Erin Heath’s ethereal bouquets and centerpieces, characterized by stunning foliage, fruiting branches, and local, seasonal blooms. Some of their recent floral feats include wrapping lush white flowers around a wooden archway, stringing garland on a vintage Volkswagen, and swathing tree branches in lace. foretdesignstudio.com.
Bloomingdale's
Outfitting your postmarital life is no small feat, so finding everything you need in one place and getting sage advice certainly helps. Bloomie's consultants deftly provide estimates and mix-and-match services to help you build a highly personalized wish list. Table setups let you see just how that Waterford looks with the Villeroy & Boch flatware, and if you decide you want the Baccarat instead, swaps are a cinch. 225 Boylston St., Newton, MA 2467, bloomingdales.com.
Lindsay Griffin
Attention preppy brides, retro brides, downtown brides, and every bride in between: The special-event stylist Lindsay Griffin has the updo for your "I do"s. An alum of North End and Newbury Street salons, Griffin specializes in natural, modern looks that are polished but never fussy. Schedule a trial at the sparkling 800-square-foot space Griffin opened in Somerville's Ball Square earlier this year. 106 Bristol Rd., Somerville, MA lindsaygriffin.com.
Katrina Hess
Makeup savant Katrina Hess gives brides a glow so natural they seem lit from within. We'd guess it was magic, but Hess will also provide tips to help you re-create the look at home. And she doesn't tout just one particular line: She blends high-quality products such as Chanel, Laura Mercier, and Shu Uemura to find what works best with your coloring and skin type. 105 Newbury St., Boston, MA katrinahess.com.
Shreve, Crump & Low
Here today, here a decade ago, here when (odds are) you were still a glint in Daddy's eye—Shreve's diamond counter is one institution that has stood the test of time, and flawlessly. Quiz the professional, enthusiastic staff on the finer points of purchasing diamonds (we put them through the ringer for more than 45 minutes) and peruse the varied selection, from solitaires to princess-cut stones. Browse or buy to your heart's content; the stones and service are rock-solid. 330 Boylston St., Boston, MA shrevecrumpandlow.com.
Bloomingdale's
Outfitting your postmarital life is no small feat, so finding everything you need in one place and getting sage advice certainly helps. Bloomie's consultants deftly provide estimates and mix-and-match services to help you build a highly personalized wish list. Table setups let you see just how that Waterford looks with the Villeroy & Boch flatware, and if you decide you want the Baccarat instead, swaps are a cinch. 225 Boylston St., Newton, MA 2467, bloomingdales.com.
Flair
You don't want your girls in some garish getup out of 27 Dresses. Thankfully, a trip here makes finding the right dresses simple, owing to a tight selection of gorgeous (and, happily, understated) frocks from the likes of Coren Moore, Jenny Yoo, and Lynn Lugo. There are tons of colors, fabrics, and styles, and the service is both professional and patient. 10 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, flairbridesmaid.com.