Castle Island
There’s only one sign of spring that matters: opening day at Sullivan’s. Once Castle Island’s venerable concession stand starts slinging fried clams, we know it’ll soon be time to romp shoeless on the sandy shores of Pleasure Bay and wander the 184-year-old Fort Independence. 2010 Day Blvd., Boston, MA 02127, mass.gov/visit-massachusetts-state-parks.
deWolfe Leather Goods
Wherever Gina deWolfe has crafted her leather bags, she’s brought a pack of creatives with her. In her newest Newbury workspace, deWolfe, painter Jordan Piantedosi, and jeweler Julie Darnell share their talents with the public during workshops. 250 Newbury St., Boston, MA dewolfeleathergoods.com.
Eben House
Housed in a building dating to 1776, this Provincetown inn eschews the floral ruffled bed skirts typical of historically minded B & Bs in favor of crisp white duvets, restored hardwood floors, and inspired breakfast options. Add in the saltwater pool opening this summer, and you may never want to take the short walk to Commercial Street. 90 Bradford St., Provincetown, MA 2657, ebenhouse.com.
Giblees Tuxedos
When it comes to outfitting men for a wedding, easy and no-nonsense are the watchwords. That means laid-back, knowledgeable service coupled with a smart selection of formalwear. Giblees offers both (via labels such as Joseph Abboud and Calvin Klein), plus a pool table and coffee bar for the groom and his guys. 85 Massachusetts 114, Danvers, MA 1923, gibleestux.com.
Vizio Optic
Regardless of your spectacle tendencies—quirky or clean—Brookline's Vizio Optic will identify the most flattering frames for your face, then present you with options: Chanel, Beausoleil, and Ray-Ban are just a few of the brands carried. An optician on site guarantees that you'll soon be seeing—and looking—much better. 11 Harvard St., Brookline, MA viziooptic.com.
Stellabella Toys
What you won't find here: Bratz dolls, shoot-'em-up Xbox games, and Disney Princess overload. What you will find: instruments, fantastical costumes, and puzzles you'll be tinkering with long after the kiddos are in bed. 1360 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 2139, stellabellatoys.com.
Circle Furniture
Sourced from New England workshops (thus, Yankee to the core), this local company's beds, dining tables, and upholstered pieces are classically styled and built to last. And don't avoid the sales associates her—they'll help you navigate their catalogs to discover finish options beyond what's on the showroom floor. 199 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge, MA 2138, circlefurniture.com.
Emma's
It's this simple: Nothing satisfies a pizza craving like a piping hot pie from the kitchen at Emma's. Choose from more than a dozen tasty (and sometimes bizarre) toppings, including dried cranberries, sweet potatoes, and goat cheese. The near-perfect, thin-crust pies will satiate all your taste buds. 40 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA emmaspizza.com.
Nine Zero
The city is smitten with Nine Zero. And what's not to love? Travelers embrace its classic contemporary elegance, streamlined design, and central downtown location. The spacious in-room workstations and Louis Boston and Armani personal shoppers are reasons to check in; the upscale Mario Russo bath products and soft, luxury bedding are reasons to never check out. 90 Tremont St., Boston, MA ninezero.com.
Lester Harry's
This store offers a mix of apparel, bedding and accessories, furniture, and eclectic items for infants and toddlers. Other times include sterling silver charm bracelets for kids, handmade, quilts, spoons, Moses baskets—in short, not your standard mall-store fare. 140 Washington St., Marblehead, MA .
Tower Records
No babel in this Tower, but a vertical, sensible, well-delineated selection of everything you're looking for, whether in the roomful of world music or on that rack of local bands. Can't decide? Ample sampler booths stand at the ready, a necessary pleasure when the staff knows less than it should. 360 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
John Kent & Co.
While most other high-end linen shops stock only their own labels, Kent carries a kaleidoscopic selection of Italian, French, and British manufacturers. In addition to sheets and the usual bedding accessories, the store also has great robes, slippers, and PJs. 232 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Brendan Behan Pub
Far too many of our Irish pubs cater to students, putting flat-screens on the walls and wings on the menu. Suddenly you're not in a pub at all, but some grotesque shamrock-themed sports bar. Here, there are no such transgressions. No LCDs. An extensive beer and whiskey list. This is what makes the Behan Irish. And this is why it beats them all. 378 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA 2130, .
Cantina La Mexicana
Surging past a field of (alas) generally bland contenders, the recently renamed Union Square taqueria packs its 'burro' with grilled veggies and savory charred pork, distributes those goodies evenly, and mercifully eases up on the rice padding. 247 Washington St., Somerville, MA 2143, lataqueria.com.
Dumpling Cafe
You won't find xiao long bao (here, known as "mini juicy buns") with a better proportion of molten broth, ground pork filling, and thin dough wrapper anywhere else in town. Also not to be missed are the pan-fried "Taiwan-style" dumplings, shaped like petite cigars. 695 Washington St., Boston, MA dumplingcafe.com.