Ed Gordon
Forget the Ducks. The cultural, historic, and aesthetic richness of this city is in safer hands with the likes of Ed Gordon. He's an architectural buff who likes showing off undiscovered neighborhoods and his tours are heavy on anecdotes about how real people lived "back then," but he also points out the best shopping and nightlife. During one of his 1938 hours of the Combat Zone, Gordon was punched in the stomach by a stranger on the street. He got up, dusted himself off, and continued talking.
The Juice Bar
Island living might seem easy, but it sure ain't fair. Hear us out: Stroll past the Juice Bar and the aroma of homebaked waffle cones comes wafting out. Inside, the list of rotating flavors like cherry chocolate chunk and peanut butter cup proves irresistible; after just one taste, eating (and eating, and eating) ice cream becomes inevitable. Our bikinis are getting tighter just thinking about it. 12 Broad St., Nantucket, MA 2554, .
Formaggio Kitchen
Peek inside the musty underground caves where Formaggio’s young fromage is ripened (they’ll give you a tour if you ask nicely), and you’ll gain a newfound appreciation for the Comtés and clothbound sharp cheddars you pair with your pinot noir and artisanal crackers. Once you’re back above ground, ask one of the store’s expert cheesemongers to recommend a wedge from their impressive selection, and grab a bottle of vino and a few gourmet accoutrements on the way out. 244 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA 2138, formaggiokitchen.com.
The Nutshell
Shopping with kids in tow is a Sisyphean task, especially when one’s bored and another is wreaking havoc with a purple juice pack. Enter Milton boutique the Nutshell. While Mom browses the racks of staples from Tea and Joules and formalwear from Emile et Rose and Hartstrings, Junior can peruse the trinkets on display at the adjoining Toy Chest. It’s an arrangement that parents—and their little, ahem, angels—can get behind. 10 Bassett St., Milton, MA 2186, thenutshellmilton.com.
Hob Knob
Set back from the hubbub of downtown Edgartown, this eco-friendly, 17-room manse is quiet, unpretentious, and posh. (JFK himself once stayed here after an exhausting regatta.) Eat your made-to-order breakfast, then ride one of the cruiser bikes to the beach or to the island's farm institute to gather fresh eggs. And after that? Just linger in the Garden Room till it's time for cookies and tea. 128 Main St., Edgartown, MA 2539, hobknob.com.
New England Mobile Book Fair
Forgive this book shop for its bizarre name and oddball location. Once you get past the tiny storefront, the Mobile Book Fair stretches through a parking lot and nearly to the horizon: rows upon aisles upon alleys of books. It's as if the Internet put its entire inventory in one place. And the goods here are priced almost as competitively as what you'll find online. 82-84 Needham St., Newton Highlands, MA 2461, nebookfair.com.
Jeffrey Lyle
Once we were commitment-shy (dare we say promiscuous?) when it came to hair colorists—one specialist after another, never settling down. Then we met Lyle, and it was love at first highlight. While especially skillful at brightening blondes, he's made our brunette, redhead, and raven-haired pals happy, too. And despite his fancy address, Lyle's chairside manner is appropriately meticulous, never fussy. Emerge Spa & Salon, 275 Newbury St., Boston, MA emergespasalon.com.
Magic Beans
When it comes to guiding you through the bewildering array of diaper bags, baby carriers, and car seats out there, none of the other tot emporiums in town compares to Magic Beans. Exhibit A: the store's carriage questionnaire, which gets reviewed by one of Magic Beans' "stroller experts." From there, they can help you match the correct model to your needs—and for anxious new parents, that kind of coddling is always welcome. 312 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 2446, mbeans.com.
Ashur Restaurant
Regulars come from near and far for Ashur’s deeply comforting Middle Eastern and African food (particularly Somali cuisine), from spice-packed biryani to rich beef stew and fall-off-the-bone meat dishes. Bring a friend or two and split one of the entrées known as “sports plates” — the goat and lamb combo, served with rice and salad, is the way to go. 291 Roxbury St., Roxbury, MA 02119, ashur-restaurant.business.site.
Bosso Ramen Tavern
How does Harvard Square newcomer Bosso stand apart in a town saturated with ramen joints? First, with its broth: the house tonkotsu is prepped with both chicken and pork bones, a double dose of collagen that ups the umami factor. Second, with the flavor profiles of its tasty bowls: the “umami” is enhanced by black garlic; sour “sanmi” benefits from tomatoes and green shiso; the salty “enmi” is brightened by yuzu; and the spicy vegan bowl is spiked with red chili oil. We’ll take one of each, please. 24 Holyoke St., Cambridge, MA 02138, instagram.com/bossoramentavern.
Good
Owner Paul Niski scours the globe for handmade jewelry that's as beautifully crafted as it is just plain beautiful. Exotic leathers, carved bone, hammered metals, and precious stones unite to create one-of-a-kind pieces that turn the human form into a backdrop for exquisite design. 133 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, shopatgood.com.
Inviting Company
Dressed up with rich linings, ribbons, and custom monograms, owner Lynne Johnson's smart pocketfold designs are at once substantially complex and stylishly organized. She's also an expert calligrapher, which makes her Back Bay studio a true one-stop shop. 213 Newbury St., Boston, MA invitingcompany.com.
The Barking Crab
We're suckers for any patch of down-home coastal life dropped smack in the heart of downtown Boston. But, even if we weren't, the Barking Crab would still be the best catch in its category. Cheap, straightforward seafood—fragrant steamers, crab legs so big they're architectural structures, and cod that flakes in moist, white chunks—is the draw. Don't expect to write home about the service: This place is on island time. But, somehow, the meal, the kitschy breeze-blown fishing nets on the walls, the salty air, the creaky wooden floorboards, and the ice-cold beer evoke the kind of sunburned day that loosens our standards—and our belts—a little. And isn't that, after all, the very definition of clam shack chic? 88 Sleeper St., Boston, MA barkingcrab.com.
Savenor's
Boston has become a bona fide haven for conscientious carnivores, what with Whole Foods boasting displays packed with New England meats and Lionette's Market touting pork from central Massachusetts and Vermont. Still, only Savenor's hits it right on the snout, with its reasonable (for the quality) prices and wide selection, which includes grass-fed Vermont beef and lamb for the leave-tiny-footprints contingent, plus generously marbled wagyu and sweet wild boar bacon for the occasional indulgence. Call ahead to its Cambridge flagship or its smaller shop on Beacon Hill, and they'll prep almost anything you'd want to roast or grill—from a trimmed crown roast to a trussed and ready-to-stuff whole goose. 92 Kirkland St., Cambridge, MA 2138, .
Montage
This store's 10,500 square feet of floor space on Arlington Street is brimming with a minimalist but immaculate selection of contemporary pieces from designers such as B&B Italia, Cassina (including designs by Philippe Starck), and Antoine Proulx. Clean lines, solid colors, and 18-foot ceilings accentuate the two-level showroom where co-owners Christopher and Liz Bates are on hand most days to consult. Showcased in roomlike groupings, the pieces here combine to create uncluttered living spaces of sleek, simply lined sofas, multilevel coffee tables, and softly spherical lamps echoing 1950s futurama motifs. Definitely on the pricier side (sectionals can run into five figures), Montage's original selections will nonetheless last well into your home's next retro phase. 75 Arlington St., Boston, MA montageweb.com.