The Spa at Chatham Bars Inn
The massages here will put you into the I've-just-been-kneaded-to-the-point-of-blissed-out-distraction state that you were hoping for. But that's just the beginning. Take a dip in the hot tub, and dawdle in the sauna and the steam showers après rubdown. You'll return to the real world radiating calm. 297 Shore Rd., Chatham, MA chathambarsinn.com.
Urban Elements
Decor-savvy denizens of the North Shore come to this eco-minded boutique for home furnishings and accessories. Larger stores generally sell pieces made abroad, but much of what you'll find here is American-made, well built, and reasonably priced. 20 Pleasant St., Newburyport, MA urbanelementshome.com.
Community Servings
This charity gives non-cooks and harried cooks—the only two kinds during the holidays—perfect endings to Thanksgiving dinner: pumpkin, apple, or sweet potato-pie, from the kitchens of Julia Child, Jody Adams, Tony Ambrose, and dozens more. Proceeds benefit home-bound AIDS patients. 125 Magazine St., Roxbury, MA .
Sargent Summer
A citywide celebration of the art of John Singer Sargent—at the Museum of Fine Arts, the Fogg Art Museum, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Boston Public Library—provides a rare chance to see the complete picture of this fascinating fin-de-siècle expatriate artists who considered Boston his American home.
Bill Weld
Redhead is no Reagan republican, but his work habits are reminiscent of the Gipper. Regular squash games, Grateful Dead concerts, and a generally drowsy appearance suggest that Bill might be happier at home playing Nintendo. However, rumor that a 30-hour workweek will be a major plank of his campaign is apparently unfounded.
Generation X, Thursday nights only, at Quest
Stupid name, but otherwise the hot scene for the postcollege sub-boomer. Three levels of dancing, plus a roof deck where attractive waitrons serve sundaes, hot dogs, and other patio food. Up there you can actually hold a conversation. 1270 Boylston Street, Boston, MA .
Tutto Italiano
As if its gloriously stocked deli counter weren't enough, Tutto boasts a freezer full of home-cooked pasta sauces and soups. Maria and Marilena Locilento, wife and daughter of the owner, Angelo, will even slip you detailed cooking tips when they're working the counter. 1889 River St., Boston, MA 02136, tuttoit.com.
Emmet’s Irish Pub
In a sea of paint-by-numbers, pseudo-Irish pubs, Emmet’s abstains from the usual kitsch. No bric-a-brac-cluttered curio shelves here, just Beacon Hill lawyers enjoying a fantastic Guinness onion soup at lunchtime, with gregarious ringmaster Oran McGonagle presiding over the whole no-frills affair. 6-6B Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108, emmetsirishpubandrestaurant.com.
Esperia Grill
The pride is palpable at this family-owned outfit in Brighton Center, where you can order a super gyro at the counter or be ushered to a seat by doting servers. Big portions of comfort food—including a béchamel-blessed moussaka and a block of fried feta smothered with honey and fig jam—are marvelous, magnanimous expressions of Hellenic home cookery. 344 Washington St., Brighton, MA 02135, esperiagrill.com.
The Neighborhood
Do the math: $4.39 = orange juice, three eggs, home fries, fresh fruit or cream of wheat, toast, coffee and a plateful of pastries. All this served at no extra charge in the grapevine-canopied patio during the summer. Sometimes, though, the slow seatings make us want to sneak in our own table and chairs. 25 Bow St., Union Square, Somerville, MA .
Cutty's
This Brookline Village spot refers to itself as "Home of the skillfully crafted sandwich." Every entry on the menu, from the meat to the condiments to the bread selection—is obsessively chosen. The "Roast Beef 1000," for instance, contains a perfectly crafted formula of beef, shallots, sharp cheddar, and Thousand Island dressing, all on a black-pepper brioche bun. 284 Washington St., Brookline, MA 2445, cuttyfoods.com.
Mike's Gym II
The true test of a great gym is the leg equipment, and Mike's has it all—plus amenities including sauna, Jacuzzi, and tanning beds. From 5 to 8 on weeknights, Adonises jostle for pole position on the endless rows of benches. Otherwise, it's a laid-back place, with a mixed but mostly gay clientele. 88 Union Park, Boston, MA .
Stephanie's on Newbury Street
This take on the classic chicken salad is blessedly light on the mayo and heavy on the chicken. Capers and fresh herbs add flavor to the oversize chunks of breast meat—no thighs darken this recipe. The servings are generous enough to sustain you through a whole afternoon of shopping. 190 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Pasta Del Palato
The pasta is terrific, made with pure ingredients like whole eggs and extra fancy durum flour, rolled (not extruded), then cut into angel hair, linguine, fettuccine, or tagliatelle. We like the adventurous flavors: chipotle pepper, lemon, roasted garlic. Top it with the excellent pesto made with bunches of french basil. 579 Washington Street, Brighton, MA .
Savenor's
Long known for its exotic meats (this is the place to go for lion and bear), it's also the best place for pork. Try the home-smoked bacon and ham, and while you're there, pick up some bread from Iggy's, a cake or pie from Creative Gourmet, or some fresh pasta. 160 Charles Street, Boston, MA .