William E. Carter Playground Tennis Courts
The five new-ish courts here are in such high demand there’s usually a 30-to-60-minute wait. Accordingly, players keep to a courteous one-hour limit, even under the twinkling lights at night (closing time is 11:30 p.m.). Got ankle-biters? No problem. The lively adjacent playground is the perfect distraction for your energetic tots while you serve up a storm. Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, .
Laurel Elliot, Vidal Sassoon Salon
Hair color is like a fine wine—richly layered and smooth. But unlike a delicious pinot noir, it doesn't get better with time (especially when it turns a shade too brassy, gray, or ashy). Laurel Elliot can take color that has soured and restore it to a resplendent radiance in under a couple of hours. Be warned that reserving a spot with her isn't easy. You may have to wait in line, but you'll do it with eager anticipation. 14 Newbury St., Boston, MA sassoon.com.
Neptune Oyster
Order it hot with butter, or cold with mayo. Either way, sizable chunks of lobster will overflow the warm brioche roll, leaving you to dig in with a fork before attempting to pick up any stragglers with your hands. Do not be distracted by the delicious, massive pile of accompanying fries; the sweet claw and tail meat is why you came—and why you waited an hour for a seat at this tiny gem. 63 Salem St., Boston, MA 2113, neptuneoyster.com.
Premiere Video
The customer-service orientation of this new mom-and-pop (and son) store ought to be a model for others. We love the 24-hour movie-drop-off box and the drive-through pickup window. A popcorn machine (help yourself!) and pizza restaurant are in the same space. It delivers movies and pizza to your home, if you're lucky to live anywhere nearby. 87 High St., Danvers, MA .
Caveau
The party’s on at all hours at this new hot spot from COJE Management Group: Unlike most clubs, doors at Caveau open at 5 p.m. Wednesday to Friday (7 p.m. on Saturdays) to accommodate early birds, while the kitchen serves chef Tom Berry’s menu of small bites, inspired by French Polynesia, until 11 p.m. No matter what time you arrive, the space — designed to look like an abandoned subway station turned secret party — will make you feel like you’re in a class of your own while you dance the night away. 1 Center Plaza, Boston, MA 02108, caveauofficial.com.
A4cade
A nondescript door in Roxy’s Grilled Cheese serves as a portal to your wildest retro fantasies. Pinball and Pac-Man await your high scores, and Technicolor tipples are poured into vessels shaped like Simba and R2D2. In other words, this joint puts the joy in joystick. 292 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, areafour.com.
Decorators' Clearing House, Mall at Echo Bridge
Marilyn Stahl offers designer furnishings at the kind of discounts interior decorators usually get. 1029 Chestnut St., Newton Upper Falls, MA .
The Winsor House at Island Creek Oyster Farm
They say it’s best to have oysters only in months that contain the letter “r,” but we wouldn’t blame you for craving Island Creek oysters year round. Luckily, Winsor House, the nationally renowned seafood company’s food and hospitality flagship, allows you to slurp down this delicacy from January through December. Even if you’re not hankering for something briny, the restaurant’s full menu of creative seafood dishes (think: delicate ghee-poached halibut) and the cozy, tavern-like atmosphere will keep you coming back for more. 390 Washington St., Duxbury, MA 02332, winsorhouse.islandcreekoysters.com.
<em>Look to Your Elders,</em> by Victor "MARKA27" Quinonez
Street art in Boston got a thrilling new addition this past May with Quiñonez’s Look to Your Elders, a vibrant painting on the side of Grove Hall pot shop Pure Oasis depicting a woman and young man surrounded by Caribbean plants and Indigenous patterns. A heartfelt nod to Boston’s generations of Caribbean and Afro-Latino residents, the piece is more than just a mural: It’s a stop-you-in-your-tracks work of art that has turned the spot into a must-visit. 430 Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester, MA 02121, marka27.com.
Paul Taylor Dance Company at the Opera House
Unlike Alvin Ailey and others, Taylor keeps making new dancers, not recycling old ones.
Warren Tavern
No self-respecting Townie goes to this older-than-God tavern for the food. You go for the beer, the too-loud music, and the chance to see your cousin, your neighbor, your accountant, and your handyman getting a little sloppy over a fifth round of Sam Adams—sometimes all at the same table. Have a couple of cold ones, and the fish and chips will seem like four-star cuisine. 2 Pleasant Street, Charlestown, MA 2129, .
John Lincoln Wright and the Sour Mash Boys
John Lincoln Wright and the Sour Mash Boys are still sweet. MA
House Speaker "Good Time" Charlie Flaherty
Breaking a long silence, Flaherty informed the Boston Herald that the mood in the House is just swell. This, notwithstanding the daily leaks from the federal grand jury reportedly investigating him for accepting illegal gratuities from lobbyists, plus the simmering war of succession between majority leader Richie Voke and House Ways and Means chair Tom Finneran. Say good night, Charlie.
Doggieday
Need someone to look after your critters? While you're away, DoggieDay will walk Spot four times a day, clean Fifi's litter box, grab your mail, water your plants, inject your diabetic gerbil with insulin, and taxi Dirk the boa constrictor to the vet—all for a competitive fee. Unlike most services, DoggieDay covers almost all of Greater Boston, and is registered with Pet Sitters International. Future services in the works include dog training at home while you're at work and massage therapy (for your pets, not you). 295 Devonshire St., Boston, MA .
Green Pinata Toys
Kids love toys. Kids also get bored of toys at lightning speed. Free your home from accumulating mounds of unused playthings — and cut your spend in half — with this straightforward and charming subscription box. For a monthly fee, you get up to four non-toxic, non-tech novelties per month. If (ahem, when) your little ones tire of the trinkets, you can simply ship them back and get a new box — making this a win-win for parents and kids alike. greenpinatatoys.com.