Tafari Wraps
Our hair is an important part of who we are. No one understands that better than Tafari founder Imani McFarlane. Celebrating the culture of the African diaspora, her gorgeous silk and Ankara head wraps (to say nothing of the sharp headbands and scrunchies) promise to protect, nourish, and beautify. McFarlane also offers tutorials and personalized consultations, so everyone can learn the art of head-wrapping. tafariwraps.com.
All Too Human
Two years after Louis closed, All Too Human proprietor Jessica Knez's outside-the-box selection is breathing new life into the city's fashion scene. Her storefront just off Newbury Street is indicative of her aesthetic, which is slightly left of the mainstream. Lesser-known designers such as Alyx and Strom mingle with fashion heavyweights like Proenza Schouler and Dries Van Noten, while the walls between the racks frequently act as a makeshift gallery: Recently Knez has displayed works from artists Daniel Arsham and Baron Von Fancy, proving that good style is indeed an art form. 236 Clarendon St., Boston, MA 02116, alltoohumanboston.com.
America Dural
Among Cantabrigians' best-kept secrets is America Dural, hidden on a quiet street in Observatory Hill. An unfussy storefront conceals treasures from every period: midcentury Bertoia chrome chairs, ornate Georgian mahogany chests, a refreshing selection of contemporary art. Only a pro could set up such an enticing array of home furnishings—and, in fact, the showroom is part of Phillip Miller's interior design business. You could buy a single piece, but then again, why not just engage Miller to bring his cultivated eye to your entire home? 143 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA americadural.com.
Casa Design Outdoor
Looking for an easy way to channel the tranquil vibes of that tropical vacation you were supposed to take this year? Pop into Casa Design Outdoor. Part of Casa Design Group’s family of showrooms, the petite SoWa space is outfitted with a lush faux-plant accent wall, artfully styled outdoor-furniture vignettes, botanical-print wallcoverings, and windows that stream in sunlight. Take a slice of paradise home with patio pieces that range from city sleek (Royal Botania dining tables) to coastal chic (braided Kettal daybeds, pictured), all so luxurious you’ll forget you’re not actually at a posh resort. 460 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118, casadesigngroup.com.
Constantine "Gus" Hampers
When Constantine "Gus" Hampers didn't get the job as head of W. R. Grace, he tried, and failed, to buy back Waltham-based National Medical Care, the subsidiary that he'd sold to Grace a decade ago.
Mass Audubon's Boston Nature Center
What kid doesn’t love learning about slugs, snails, raccoons, and opossums? Start your morning in the great outdoors at Mass Audubon’s Boston Nature Center, which offers hundreds of weekend classes on topics like these year-round. 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan, MA 02126, massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/boston-nature-center.
James Hook + Co.
There's only one decision you need to make at this waterfront institution: regular roll ($16) or large ($19)? After that, pull up a chair and tuck into the sturdy bun overflowing with fresh lobster, heavy on the tail meat and tossed with just enough mayo. 15-17 Northern Ave., Boston, MA 02210, jameshooklobster.com.
Inner Space
Though it's shared with karate classes, this no-frills studio is a sanctuary of calm. Teachers hailing from the neighborhood instruct special sessions for kids and teens, as well as a respectable selection of adult classes. This fall, the ever expanding studio will offer a prenatal class for mothers-to-be, and a 'Mommy and Me' course taught by new mother Sheri Garf. 17 Station St., Brookline Village, MA 2445, yogainthevillage.com.
Minuteman Bikeway
Built on an abandoned rail line, this flat, winding path running between Cambridge and Bedford is wide enough, long enough, and popular enough that it seems less like a track and more like an 11-mile highway plucked from a post-oil utopian future. MA minutemanbikeway.org.
Ari Boston
Someone once said you can tell a man's personality from his tie. Ari Boston has a selection to reflect even the most complex psyches, in fine woven silks from Italy. 6 Liberty Square, Boston, MA .
NYNEX
NYNEX has failed so far to unplug the Boston Phoenix's escort-service ads, even though (hypocrisy alert) the NYNEX yellow pages contain 15 pages of escort-service ads. Score another one for the First Amendment.
Evacuation
When Boston Garden president Larry Moulter said, "Everybody get out of the building right now," they did. Sure, it was only for the fourth game of the Stanley Cup finals, when the power failed. But at least someone finally took action.
Neptune Oyster
It takes a special kind of hot lobster roll to best its chilled brethren, but Neptune's much-beloved version manages to pull it off. Seven ounces of lobster are tossed in melted butter and heaped on a grilled brioche bun that struggles under the weight of so much sweet claw and tail meat. 63 Salem St., Boston, MA 02113, neptuneoyster.com.
Harvard Book Store
Miss seeing your favorite writers in living color? The good news is the beloved author talks at this bibliophile’s paradise are still happening as many as five times a week online, now with an added perk—celebrity moderators. Recent pairings include longtime Globe book critic Gail Caldwell discussing her deeply personal memoir with Gloria Steinem, and former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy chatting about his latest book on health with former First Daughter Barbara Bush. 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, harvard.com/index.php?.
Harbor Lounge
This P-town bar has become the de facto cocktail klatch for the pre-cabaret and post-disco crowds, practically guaranteeing you’ll run into familiar faces from the South End gay scene. But the waterfront lounge attracts more than strictly LGBTQ vacationers thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the waves, as well as a pier where revelers rest stiff cocktails on rails and shoot the always-delightful breeze while the tide rolls in. 359 Commercial St., Provincetown, MA 02657, theharborlounge.com.