Anthony's Pier Four
Never mind the tourists; come for the wine. This is not only the greatest wine list in Boston, it's one of the greatest wine lists anywhere in America. Old, old bottles abound— and at astonishing prices. For only $40 you can choose between two wonderful, mature Sauternes from Chateux. Nairac, 1975 or 1976. For $85, you can drink a magnificent, minerally white Burgundy, the 1993 Corton Charlemagne from Domaine Louis Latour. For less than half that price ($40), you will be shocked at just how good a "mere" bourgeois Margaux— Ch. Angludet— can be when it's from a year like 1978. Northern Ave., Boston, MA .
The Boston Helicopter Company
Hovering over Fenway Park in a helicopter, Boston Magazine staffers recently watched the Red Sox lose another game. It was worth it though, if only for the adrenaline rush of liftoff. Boston Helicopter Copmany offers unsurprisingly smooth and scenic sightseeing flights, as well as helicopter lessons. Umphrey & Co. have a spotless safety record, in part because it turns down frequent injudicious requests. "A number of people have wanted to bungee jump off the helicopter," says pilot Ivan Jaffe. "One guy wanted us to drop eggs to him for an egg-catching competition." Hangar 1727, Hanscom Field (military side), Bedford, MA .
The Garden at Elm Bank
You don’t have to fly to Europe for an Italian-style garden wedding. Just take a quick drive to Wellesley, where you’ll find the Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s Garden at Elm Bank. The venue’s 36 acres of lush gardens are perfect for photo ops and cocktail hour; the historical indoor and tented venues swathed in twinkling lights, meanwhile, appeal to nature lovers and hopeless romantics alike. But first things first: the ceremony. For that, the romantic Olmsted-designed Italianate Garden (one of two Italianate gardens open to the public in the Bay State) is a no-brainer. 900 Washington St., Wellesley, MA 02482, masshort.org.
The Boston Athenaeum
This venerable institution reopened last November after a thorough $17 million renovation at the hands of Annum Architects’ Ann Beha, with a mission to shed its stuffy reputation as a Brahmin redoubt and to become a resource that’s inclusive and welcoming to all. Now even the hoi polloi can entertain at one of the country’s oldest independent libraries and art museums: The elegant space is available to rent for first-class events like private dinners, weddings, and other celebrations. Everybody’s welcome on the guest list — just don’t bump into that priceless marble bust. 10½ Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108, bostonathenaeum.org.
Boston Harbor Distillery
With a vibe that distillery founder Rhonda Kallman calls “refined grittiness,” this 1800s-era Dorchester mill building can be dressed up or down. For one event, that translated to candles and white tablecloths in the tasting room, outfitted with 40-foot Douglas fir post-and-beam ceilings and brick walls. For another, more-casual gathering, it meant comfy couches and whiskey-barrel tables. Then there are the bar offerings to take advantage of: From signature cocktails with BHD’s Putnam whiskey to a full-on tasting table, your guests will have the chance to sample all the goods. 12R Ericsson St., Boston, MA 02122, bostonharbordistillery.com.
McCue Garden Center
Those succulents you impulse-bought are thriving, and now you’re ready to take your gardening game outside. Head over to McCue in Woburn, where blooms, shrubs, and trees of all stripes are dressed to impress. Stroll through the greenhouses to find overflowing hanging planters and endless rows of vibrant annuals, or freshen up your skills with one of the free gardening courses. And if you aren’t quite ready to dig into an outdoor project, the family-owned nursery also offers hard-to-kill houseplants and pots that are too cute to resist. 200 Cambridge Rd., Woburn, MA 01801, mccuegardencenter.com.
Row 34
The recent shuttering of seafood landmark Island Creek Oyster Bar has made us even more protective of chef Jeremy Sewall’s legendary lobster roll, which lives on (thank heavens!) at his Row 34. There we find heaping portions of sweet and tender meat, caught by Sewall’s cousin, a Maine lobsterman. It’s served tossed in warm butter and sprinkled with sea salt, or mixed with cool mayo, cr&_egrave;me fra&_icirc;che, and pickles for “Ethel’s Lobster Roll,” named for Sewall’s grandmother — a family recipe for lasting success if there ever was one. Multiple locations, row34.com.
Ayanna Pressley
If we thought Ayanna Pressley had nerves of steel for challenging and taking down one of our longest-serving Democratic congressmen, it was only because we hadn’t yet seen her take on the Trump administration. In her first speech on the floor of the House in January, she delivered a scathing rebuke of President Donald Trump and the government shutdown. More recently, in an exchange that went viral, she scolded Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson for interrupting her and evading her questions. As a result, Pressley’s take-no-prisoners approach has made her a star on the national political stage. Read more
Vivant Vintage
Stroll into Vivant Vintage, and you’ll immediately understand why this Allston shop gets its name from the French word for living: Each and every one of the old-school-cool finds here has a story just waiting to be told. Slip into psychedelic platform sandals and a tie-dyed Grateful Dead tee, and you can almost hear the music playing at Woodstock. Try on a pair of perfectly broken-in Levi’s and a hand-dyed flannel, and be transported to the Friends set with Rachel and the gang. Then step out of the store and make these vintage treasures your very own. 318 Lincoln St., Allston, MA vivantvintage.com.
Doremi
The chance to sing for hours in a disco-ball-outfitted private den with loud, sweaty friends armed with tambourines is reason alone to love DoReMi, but did you know this bastion of Asian-style karaoke offers off-key nightlife in 13 languages? In the rec-plush lobby—inexplicably furnished with an exercise bike—you’ll inevitably bump into the purest international cross-section of Allston. Way preferable to battling a bachelorette party, dumped out of an SUV limo, at one of those downtown singalong joints. Note to budding Demi Lovatos: Croon here soon before the space gets razed by redevelopers, who have been sniffing around. 442 Cambridge St., Allston, MA 2134, doremikaraoke.net.
The Dog Scoop
Some of the area’s boarding facilities seem better suited to humans than dogs (TV? Treadmills? Come on). The folks at the Dog Scoop, however, know how to make a tail wag. The crate-free facility, which was expanded in 2012, is a doggie paradise. After spending the day running around their huge indoor/outdoor play space, canines (any breed is welcome) crash on leather couches in the company of the Dog Scoop’s 24/7 staff, one of whom sleeps in the room alongside them. It’s like overnight camp for man’s best friend. 216 Webster St., West Newton, MA 2465, thedogscoop.com.
Yolanda's Bridal Salon
Yolanda's showroom is a mecca for brides-to-be, who make pilgrimages from across New England to worship at the shrine of Vera Wang and Richard Tyler. The front parlor is adorned with your typical frilly affairs, but the enterprising customer has only to utter a single, magic phrase ("I'm looking for something simpler") to find herself in one of the cool, spalike dressing rooms, immersed in a pile of tasteful, elegant, and streamlined creations. Yolanda's staff is happy to tell you when your 5-foot-2 frame just won't accommodate your dream gown—but with such grace and goodwill that you'll gladly accept the advice and thank them for it later. 355 Waverly Oaks Rd., Waltham, MA .
The Tannery
Despite recent hubbub over Salem's retail revival, the miles-walked-to-treasures-found ratio at the Tannery—an old leather mill packed with more than 40 shops and services—remains the most enticing on the North Shore. It boasts two previous Best of Boston winners, Shanti Salon and luxe homegoods shop Wishbasket, as well as two of our favorite kinds of independents: bookstore (Jabberwocky Books) and toy store (Eureka). Summer has the added lure of the local farmers' market; during the holidays, the Tannery has a lock on one-stop gift shopping. 75 Water St., Newburyport, MA 1950, tannerymarketplace.com.
Vizio Optic
Squint through those frumpy, outdated spectacles of yours and take a good look around this sleek Brookline Village shop. You'll readily appreciate the cache of 1,000 or so designer frames, dotted with cult brands (Kamuro, Kata) and European faves (Face Face, Lafont). You'll admire optometrist-owner Galina Rabkin's staff of brainy-chic glamazons. And you'll absolutely obsess over the one-of-a-kind photo booth providing a 360-degree view of how various pairs of glasses work with your face—something that, while it might seem gimmicky, can save hours of agonizing in hindsight. 11 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 2445, viziooptic.com.
Robert Desiderio, Daryl Christopher Salon and Day Spa
If you want another boring blowout, go anywhere. But when you need hair that will stop traffic, sit yourself down in Desiderio's seat. Everything the man does (which includes a mean color if you need it) is creative but tasteful, intricate but seemingly effortless. He gives just the right bounce to shags, pins sleek braided updos with aplomb, and lends curls just the right twist. One of the city's most outgoing hair wizards, Desi (as he's known to everyone) listens intently to his clients' needs, and employs his experience to deliver. 37 Newbury St., Boston, MA .