Formaggio Kitchen
Last year Food and Wine magazine named Formaggio one of the five cheese shops in the nation, and Cambridge Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Louise Gluck wrote an ode to the shop, included in her latest book and printed in the New Yorker. Overkill? Au contrarire. Formaggio's selection is amazing: from Pecorino di Pienza and Fontina Valle d'Aosta from Italy to Castellano and Manchego from Spain. The shop even has a ripening cellar where more than 100 cheeses—including English cheddars and Italian pecorinos—age in perfect humidity. Don't get us started on Formaggio's noncheese delectables... 244 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA .
The Farmer's Market on Cohasset Common
Held only once a week (every Thursday afternoon), this farmstand is worth the wait. Some of the South Shore's freshest produce is found here from early June through mid-October. Local growers trot out terrific stuff, from vine-ripened tomatoes and hefty cucumbers, to more greens than you'll find in all the big chain superstores combined. In addition to local growers (who, as one farmer put it, strive to "shorten the distance from land to mouth"), there are potters, bakers, and craftspeople selling quilts, stools, soaps, and such. Cohasset Common, Cohasset, MA .
Airi Jewelry & Gallery
We all have go-to ensembles, the ones we pull from the closet at least once a week because they make us feel good. But when you need just a little something extra to make yours special enough for [insert occasion here], a pair of statement earrings goes a long way. Enter the wearable art from Boston-based Airi. Crafted from stainless steel and tarnish-resistant brass, founder Maya Alia’s geometric wired pieces — we especially love the golden arches and the floral-shaped “ear jackets” — make even the simplest outfit look chic. shopairi.com.
Niche Urban Garden Supply
Even if your home garden is a window box of salad greens, Niche is your local source for the seeds, planters, and garden tools that you’ll need to keep them thriving. 619 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02118, nicheboston.com.
Neptune Oyster
This North End gem trumps even North Shore clam shacks with its pristine, local whole-bellies; nonpareil crunch, courtesy of expert batter-frying; and exceptional tartar sauce. 63 Salem Street, Boston, MA 2113, neptuneoyster.com.
Grettaluxe
Chloe! Jimmy! Marc! The gang's all here. When choosing the clutches and everyday bags that fill her two shops, Gretchen Monahan shows a killer instinct for homing in on fashion's coolest kids. Westin Copley Place, Boston, MA grettaluxe.com.
John Havlicek's
So neat that is has been awarded the Better Homes & Garden Seal of Approval. Stacks of soap, piles of towels, and little bottles of Desinex all in a row. Taught Beth everything she knows. MA
The Kitchen Shelf
The Kitchen Shelf sells coobooks—and only cookbooks. It features a world-class selection of regional cookbooks, as well as a tasty vegetarian and healthful-cooking section, all sure to please professionals and home cooks alike. 1308 Beacon St., Brookline, MA .
Columbo Invisible Reweaving & Reknitting
It won't be cheap, but when your favorite sweater has been visited by moths or some other holey disaster, Toni Columbo's magical reweaving process will render the damage virtually invisible. 72 Broad St., Boston, MA invisiblereweaving.com.
Pepper's
We love the way they use herbs and plants (cucumber in a cleanser and aloe in some lipsticks), the recycling program, the championing of socially correct causes, and the whole PC atmosphere. And we love the obliging return policy. 745 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Stan Frankenthaler, Choice Catering
We'll let Jasper White's former assistant chef make and deliver dinner to our house anytime. Can dining at home get any better than this? 256 Marginal St., East Boston, MA .
Jim Simpletary and Bo Smith of the MFA's film program
Why do these two hosts of the MFA film series hold forth on thematic interpretation of every film in plodding, painstaking detail...before it starts? We'd like to give them some advice: Shhh, no talking at the movies.
Mandarin Oriental, Boston
Slippers on, phone off, Zen ahead: Simply arriving at Boston’s grand dame of day spas is a treat for the soul. And once you’re checked in, your massage, body scrub, or facial is just the beginning: The facility’s peaceful thermal amenities, including a warm plunge pool and quartz-crystal steam room, are more than worth carving out a little extra time for. Still craving a few more hours (ahem, days) of pampering? Settle in for one of the hotel’s new three- or five-night wellness retreats with luxuries such as butlered bath service, yoga, daily organic meals, and, of course, plenty of spa time. 776 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02199, mandarinoriental.com/boston/back-bay/luxury-hotel.
Black Eyed Susan's
Fine dining meets fine diner at this tiny, locally beloved restaurant, which has turned a counter-and-table setting into one of the island's best spots for creative New American cuisine. Be prepared to wait outside for a table: reservations are accepted for 6 p.m. only. Once you're seated in the wood-paneled dining room, be prepared to be impressed—especially with the festive weekend brunch featuring a flurry of fluffy pancakes bursting with just-picked blueberries, real grits, and picante eggs with salsa fresca, beans, and homemade ranchero sauce. 10 India St., Nantucket, MA black-eyedsusans.com.
Lower Mills Tavern
This cozy joint checks all the right boxes—the cocktails are potent, the beer list long, the vibe distinctly homey. And the team seems genuinely happy to host you: With friendly servers and bartenders quick to dole out thoughtful recommendations, it’s clear that all are welcome here. 2269 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester , MA 02124, lowermillstavern.com.