Copley Society of Art
A nurturing home for local art students and established professionals alike since its founding in 1879, this Newbury Street gallery/nonprofit displays works ranging from the fiercely abstract to the traditionally pictorial. Best of all, it’s always refreshingly accessible, never more so than during the Holiday Small Works show, where you can snag an original—and affordable—masterpiece for the art lover in your life.. 158 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, copleysociety.org.
Celeste
The ceviche is always stellar at this pint-size Peruvian spot, thanks to a vibrant marinade of leche de tigre (“tiger’s milk”) that’s a whole different animal from the limey bell-pepper water everyone else plies. Temper the punishing bursts of ají-chili fire with bites of cold sweet potato and an egg-white-velveted pisco sour before moving on to the kitchen’s creamy shredded-hen stew. “Celeste” means “heavenly,” and after sampling the menu here, we’d hardly disagree. 21 Bow St., Somerville, MA celesteunionsquare.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.
Yolqueria
Whatever your mark of a great brunch is—gooey cinnamon rolls, killer libations, or an outstanding eggs Benny—this Commercial Street gem delivers. With a background in sourcing organic ingredients for Whole Foods, chef-owner Brandon Quesnell brings the same fresh-and-local commitment to Yolqueria’s menu. The food is worth the wait and the patio is worthy of a cocktail. Paloma picantes and cowboy carnitas, anyone? yolqueria.com.
Joppa Flats Education Center
Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center offers wildlife educational programs designed to make nature fun—and a trip to the beach a (gentle) teaching moment. Kids and adults alike can explore marine touch tanks and art exhibits at the center, then set off on guided tours across the refuge’s 52 acres of salt marsh and mud flats, home to more than 300 species of birds, including bald eagles and snowy owls. massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/joppa-flats.
Montien Thai Restaurant
Stuck in a rice-noodle rut, or just maxed out on coconut-y curries? Refresh your Thai-food game at Montien, where the kitchen has dug deep into the cuisine for more than 30 years. Stick to the "authentic" menu for slabs of chewy-crisp pork, raw shrimp bathed in fiery lime juice, and whole fish deep-fried so expertly that you'll crave the skin like cracklings. 63 Stuart St., Boston, MA 02116, montienthaiboston.com.
Bondir
With a fragrant wood-burning fireplace, country-chic décor, and refreshingly casual vibes, dining at this Area 4 gem feels like sharing an intimate home-cooked meal—only with much, much better food. Chef Jason Bond's elegant six-course tasting menus—think roast duck with tare, and milk custard with green tea and honeycomb—give you plenty of time to linger with your beloved, especially when you splurge on wine pairings. 279A Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139, bondircambridge.com.
Little Donkey
Throwing all of the rules out the window doesn't take talent, but getting away with it sure does. For their latest local hot spot, chefs Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette (Toro, Coppa) have created a thrilling whirlwind of flavors, textures, and cooking styles. Shareable small plates—from matzo-ball ramen and halibut biryani to farro-kimchi fried rice—superbly meld high- and low-brow influences from around the world, making this destination restaurant feel right at home in diverse Central Square. 505 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, littledonkeybos.com.
Wellcoin
Wellcoin uses a time-tested strategy to encourage good behavior: bribery. By logging healthy activities—working out, eating right, walking the dog—users earn “Wellcoins” for tempting rewards, such as Whole Foods gift cards. Since the app is free, it’s a boost to your financial and physical health. Available for iOS and Android.
Havana Club
Never danced a step in your life? No problem. This Central Square club holds $12 salsa lessons every Friday and Saturday at 9 p.m., plus bachata lessons on Mondays at 8 p.m. You’ll look like a pro by the time the real party begins, with more than 300 dancers burning up the floor from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. 288 Green St., Cambridge, MA 02139, havanaclubsalsa.com.
Rose Art Museum
Six years ago, Brandeis University feared the recession would shutter its art museum. Thankfully, a public outcry and powerful art collectors reversed that plan, and the school hired a new director, Christopher Bedford, to add to the museum's collections. The Rose has always excelled at midcentury abstract expressionism and pop art, and recently fleshed out its contemporary and African-American holdings. Today, it's among the most expansive university-run modern-art museums in the U.S. 415 South St., Waltham, MA 02453, brandeis.edu/rose.
Chatham Bars Inn
Like the grandest of dames, the Chatham Bars Inn only gets more refined and elegant with age. This year marks the hotel’s centennial, and while the spirit of the seaside resort harkens back to the Gatsby era, the $100 million in recent renovations and updates have added ample modern touches (spa suites, private cabanas overlooking the ocean). We can only hope to look so good when we hit the century mark. 297 Shore Rd., Chatham, MA 2633, chathambarsinn.com.
Spoke
Fledgling wine aficionados, take heed: Laid-back Davis Square newcomer Spoke gamely removes the terror from the terroir, with servers who gently hold your hand through the ordering process. Of course, a glass of Ligurian pigato is only as good as the fregola risotto or fried quail and waffles it's paired with, which, thanks to chef (and No. 9 Park alum) John daSilva, are pretty darned terrific. 89 Holland St., Somerville, MA 2144, spokewinebar.com.
Gretta Luxe
Experienced "It bag" hunters know better than to play retail roulette, sifting through shelves upon shelves of mediocrity at department stores (or through pages upon pages of it online) in hopes of coming up a winner. Instead, they make tracks for Gretta-Luxe, where megafashionista Gretchen Monahan and company weed out all iffy looks in favor of on-the-pulse (and largely exclusive) designs by Chloé, Zac Posen, and similarly heady names. 94 Central St., Wellesley, MA 2482, grettaluxe.com.
Barneys New York
You have nothing to wear to the Best of Boston party, which is tomorrow. Hustle your Manolos over to Copley's new superstore, where clothing designers both ultrafamous (Marc Jacobs) and ascendant (Jovovich-Hawk) merge with bags, jewelry, and 3,700 square feet of shoes. What's more, an in-house concierge will offer opinions, fetch you lunch, and even arrange your ride home. (The hot date you'll have to get on your own.) 100 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 2116, barneys.com.