Scituate
With its harbor vistas and wide sidewalks, Front Street always had the potential to be a South Shore destination—all it needed was a little pep. This year, we're finally seeing that potential fulfilled, with brand-new hot spots (Galley Kitchen & Bar, Lucky Finn Café); neighborhood stalwarts (T.K. O'Malley's, Mill Wharf); and high-end restaurants (Oro, Riva) all playing nicely along the charming half-mile strip. Day-trippers and locals alike enjoy movies at the Mill Wharf Cinemas, ice cream at Nona's, and browsing at sweet shops like the Welch Company and the Roman Table. The best part? It's right on the water. MA
Lab
Melding art gallery, record shop, and streetwear boutique, Lab's mad scientists have created a retail space with monster potential. 113 Brighton Ave., Allston, MA 2134, .
Lanes & Games
Bowling is enjoying an indubitable renaissance as of late, with funky alleys attracting a quasi-hipster bar crowd. But as much as we enjoy our fancy drinks, bowling is at heart a sport of beer in plastic cups and no-glam atmosphere. Lanes & Games in Cambridge has never had an identity crisis about what it is: a legitimately retro bowling alley (note the circa-1947 interior) with 54 lanes of candlepin and tenpin, a pro shop, and lots of leagues. From the "Grip it and Rip It" stickers to the bowling bag-sized lockers in the restrooms, this is the real deal. 195 Concord Tpke. (Rte. 2 East), Cambridge, MA lanesgames.com.
Boston Opera House
Attending a show here is not unlike sitting inside a gigantic inverted wedding cake. Three years after a painstaking $30 million restoration, the Opera House shines once again as the city's most opulent venue. As for the performances—whether flashy Broadway tours, big-name rock acts like the White Stripes, or Boston Ballet's Nutcracker—all seem to gain a bit of extra polish from this gilded Beaux Arts masterpiece. The 1920s proscenium mural alone is worth the ticket price. 539 Washington St., Boston, MA broadwayacrossamerica.com.
Gather Here
While the rainbows of yarn and yards of pretty-patterned fabric at Gather Here have kept Cantabrigians crafting since 2011, the hybrid sewing studio/fiber-arts supply store became particularly valuable to the community this year. Case in point: When face coverings became a required part of daily life, the shop posted simple DIY tutorials, assembled mask-making kits, and even rallied their dedicated customers to make thousands of masks for healthcare workers. If that’s not neighborly, we don’t know what is. 1343 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02139, gatherhereonline.com.
Tinailery
Similar to having your hair cut or colored, investing in nail art has the potential to completely transform your look—especially at Tinailery, an adorable Japanese-style salon that creates tiny masterpieces for your digits. Thumb through its vast collection of options (gems, glitter, and painted butterflies, oh my!) while enjoying tea served in graceful china, then let your nail artist work her magic. 92 State St., Boston, MA tinailery.com.
Fountain Street
A relatively new player in the SoWa arts district—they relocated in 2017 after six years in Framingham—the Fountain Street team not only champions contemporary arts, but also advocates for local creatives and collectors. Their membership-based gallery provides both well-established and emerging artists a chance at exhibiting, while their community events, installations, shows, and online marketplace allow buyers many different ways to score abstract paintings, mixed-media sculptures, metal prints, and more. 460C Harrison Ave., Ste. 2, Boston, MA fsfaboston.com.
Artist and Craftsman
This Central Square shop is an underground playground for arts and crafts aficionados. Beautiful pastels and oil paints, sculpting supplies, and surprises for the kids crowd the shelves, and the genial employees are happy to lend their expertise to dabblers and established craftspeople alike. 580 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2139, artistcraftsman.com.
Mario Diacono Gallery
Diacono chooses quality over quantity. Exhibitions at his Fenway gallery rarely include more than a few works, but they are always good works, like those of Italian neoexpressionists Francesco Clemente and Enzo Cucchi and New York painters Eric Fischl, Julian Schnabel, Philip Taaffe, and David Salle. 84 Petersborough St., Boston, MA .
Clark Gallery
Fine taste, strong commitment to the best local work. Lincoln, MA
Gallery Kayafas
Owner Arlette Kayafas's gallery represents a broad cross-section of Boston art. There are works from established local icons—Jules Aarons's photos of the old West End, First Night founder Clara Wainwright's quilts. But Gallery Kayafas has come into its own as the place to see new queer visual art in Boston from Boston, with artists such as Jess Dugan, Caleb Cole, and A. B. Miner grappling with the fast-shifting politics and emotions of today as they shape the landscape of the future. 450 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118, gallerykayafas.com.
Tinailery
Bedazzled with sparkly gemstones and pearls. Painted with watercolor vintage roses. Bespeckled with colorful polka dots. The fingernails-as-art trend continues at this sleek salon, which recently moved from downtown to a shiny new location in Brookline. Before your appointment, consult with your nail artist over text to collaborate and share ideas for your custom paint job — then sit back, relax, and watch her create 10 tiny gel masterpieces that last for more than four weeks. 1680 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 02446, tinailery.com.
Boston Common Band
Hire Boston Common Band, and they’ll treat you to a private concert. Watch as the lighting crew heightens the energy in the room with orange and red fixtures, and while the sound team keeps the music playing with state-of-the-art technology—all in the name of ensuring the eight-member group can focus solely on their music. Able to belt out anything from Adele to Queen, the band can even work with hometown hero Keytar Bear—available by request for cocktail hour—to start the evening on a high note. 290 Needham St., Dedham, Massachusetts 02026, bostoncommonband.com.
Back Bay Boxing
No hybrid cardio/bags classes or fancy locker rooms here—this small Newbury Street studio is dedicated to the no-frills art of boxing. Former professional Irish boxer John Murray starts by teaching novices proper mitts technique before they move on to heavy bags, all with personal attention from the master himself. Be prepared to keep blocking and throwing punches until the final bell rings. 350 Newbury St., Boston, MA backbayboxing.com.
Elisabeth Accardi, Upon a Star Events
With the friendliest vibe in the business, Accardi pinpoints your vision (and budget), creating kid-friendly bashes with unforgettable touches—ice-blue marshmallow fondue, retro toy stations, DIY designer-bag crafts. Employing former babysitters as her high-energy helpers, the Andover mom and former stage actress specializes in birthdays and bar/bat mitzvahs, but can make magic wherever you need to keep a group of kids entertained. uponastar.net.