Newbury Comics
For all its diversification into DVDs, action figures, and Napoleon Dynamite doodads, Newbury Comics maintains an unparalleled selection of obscure art rock, under-the-radar hip-hop, and hard-to-find imports. And, as an unflagging booster of the local music scene, it always gives homegrown records top billing. 332 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2115, newburycomics.com.
Waterspot
Feel like having an interactive bathroom experience? Waterspot recently opened a 4000-square-foot show room featuring state-of-the-art displays and a selection of the most current products available, from Kerns-Wilcheck, Porcher, Grohe, Absolute, American Standard, THG, and others. 71 Worcester Rd., Route 9, Framingham, MA .
Neiman Marcus
For men and women this is the best selection in town. Belts, bags, and wallets from the likes of Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Bottega Veneta make this the one-stop upscale shop for leather goods. If money is no object, the timeless Barry Kieselstein-Cord bags and belts are works of art commanding prices well into the thousands. 5 Copley Place, Boston, MA .
Boston Frame
Greg Mencoff custom mills every frame in his South End studio. The low rent keeps prices down, much to the happiness of local artists, sculptors (who love Mencoff's expertise in Plexiglas and wood construction), interior designers, and the Museum of Fine Arts. 450 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA .
Little Beats
Classes focus on rhythm, balance, gross motor skills, tumbling, and more, but what really sets Little Beats apart are its sensitively designed adaptive classes for kids with autism, developmental delays, and sensory challenges, led by an expressive arts therapist. 94 Rowe St., Newton, MA 02466, littlebeatstda.com.
Nobnocket Boutique Inn
Annabelle and Simon Hunton worked hard to maintain the integrity of their 1908 Arts and Crafts manor when transforming it into the seven-room Nobnocket Boutique Inn, but that doesn't mean they've skimped on the plush amenities: Expect loaner bikes for exploring, croquet (naturally), and one of the island's finest breakfasts, best taken on the veranda. 60 Mount Aldworth Rd., Vineyard Haven, MA 2568, nobnocket.com.
La Campania
The western ’burbs have no shortage of fine Italian restaurants, none as transporting—or as lovely—as this Waltham mainstay. The artfully prepared cuisine (tagliolini with fresh lobster and shrimp, duck-confit-and-fig pizza) and warm, rustic atmosphere (fresh flowers, wooden beams, hanging pots and pans) offer a window to southern Italy by way of Main Street. 504 Main St., Waltham, MA 2452, lacampania.com.
Beyond Gorgeosity
Forget staid Knoll or uptight George Nelson. In Peter Levis's world, midcentury modern is an absolutely exuberant period full of whimsy. Offering everything from Ico Parisi consoles to FontanaArte chandeliers, the mastermind behind this wonderfully chaotic Hingham emporium has inspired a cultlike following among the area's in-the-know designers. 15 Shipyard Dr., Hingham, MA 2043, beyondgorgeosity.com.
Simon Pearce
With artfully arranged pedestals of bowls, vases, and handcrafted housewares, Simon Pearce comes off more like an MFA gallery than a gift shop. These pieces, made by master potters and glass blowers at the Quechee, Vermont, flagship store, are undeniably luxurious, yet still affordable. 103 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 2116, simonpearce.com.
Bike Tours of Cambridge
Novice bikers tend to get intimidated by drivers around here—and for good reason. But the gratis Bike Tours of Cambridge—led by the Cambridge Bicycle Committee and escorted by police—will put worried minds at ease. And where else but the People's Republic would you find themed treks covering everything from string theory to public art?
Fourth-Floor Apartment
The Combat Zone has a number of good ones, but the best is to be seen on Newbury Street. Each afternoon, the occupant of a fourth-floor apartment near the Ritz disrobes, then cleans house. We applaud her lack of inhibition . . . and shades. Newbury St., Boston, MA .
F.D. Hodge Interiors
There’s a certain lightness to a Frank Hodge–designed space. His rooms are polished, not stuffy. Artful, not overdone. Hodge has impressed us with projects ranging from a serene study with Venetian plaster walls and framed Claude Lorrain landscapes to his own South End brownstone, brimming with antique pieces. 748 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02118, fdhodgeinteriors.com.
Kimberly Mercurio Landscape Architecture
If designing outdoor spaces is both an art and a science, it follows that the portfolio of urban, rural, and coastal projects by Kimberly Mercurio—a trained landscape architect and ecologist—is the one to beat. With practices in Cambridge and Woods Hole, Mercurio counts a spruce-filled Falmouth yard with an infinity-edge pool and stone walls among her successes. 2 Mason St., Cambridge, MA 02138, kimberlymercurio.com.
The Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists
Housed in an 1872 mansion, the NCAAA is one of the region's largest depositories of art from the African diaspora. The biggest draw is the replica burial chamber of the sixth-century B.C. Nubian King Aspelta, rescued from a Sudanese dam project. 300 Walnut Ave., Boston, MA 02119, ncaaa.org.
Down Under School of Yoga
In a saturated yoga market, studios have two routes to survival: They can push flashy classes and retail, or they can elevate the basics to an art form. The latter's what you'll find at Down Under, where Patricia Walden, one of America's foremost Iyengar yoga practitioners, is on the faculty. Multiple locations. 1054 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 02446, downunderyoga.com.